Vehicle Having a Spoiler and Method for Mounting a Spoiler on a Vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle has a spoiler fastened to an outer skin component of the vehicle. For this purpose, clip elements are provided on the outer skin component and are in engagement with corresponding mating clip elements of the spoiler. The clip elements have an end stop in a z-direction, which is oriented transversely to the surface of the outer skin component. Between the spoiler and the outer skin component there is an intermediate element, which is elastically compressed in the z-direction and presses the spoiler against the end stop. A method is provided for mounting the spoiler on the vehicle.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A vehicle, comprising: a spoiler; an outer-skin component of the vehicle; clip elements provided on the outer-skin component; mating clip elements of the spoiler, wherein the clip elements are in engagement with corresponding ones of the mating clip elements, the clip elements have an end stop in a z-direction, which is directed transversely in relation to a surface of the outer-skin component; an intermediate element arranged between the spoiler and the outer-skin component, which intermediate element is elastically compressed in the z-direction and pushes the spoiler against the end stop.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the intermediate element is adhesively bonded to the spoiler.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the intermediate element is made of a foam material.

15. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the spoiler is a shell component having an outer shell, which forms a visible side of the spoiler, and a lower shell, which is directed toward the vehicle, and the mating clip elements are arranged on or in the lower shell and the intermediate element is fastened on the lower shell.

16. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the intermediate element is formed at least along a front edge and a rear edge of the spoiler.

17. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the intermediate element is configured to run around an edge of the spoiler.

18. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the clip elements are adhesively bonded to the outer-skin component.

19. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the clip elements are arranged on a common carrier plate, which is adhesively bonded to the outer-skin component.

20. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the spoiler is a fiber-reinforced plastic component and the outer-skin component is a metal component.

21. A method for mounting a spoiler on a vehicle, comprising: applying clip elements at a predetermined position to an outer-skin component of the vehicle, wherein the clip elements have an end stop in a z-direction, which is directed transversely in relation to a surface of the outer-skin component; providing a spoiler, wherein the spoiler has mating clip elements corresponding to the clip elements; latching the clip elements to the mating clip elements of the spoiler, wherein an intermediate element, which is arranged on the spoiler, is elastically compressed in the z-direction between the spoiler and the outer-skin component and generates a counterpressure, which pushes the spoiler against the end stop.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein, for applying the clip elements to the outer-skin component, mounting a plurality of clip elements on a common carrier plate, and adhesively bonding the carrier plate to the outer-skin component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a tailgate with a spoiler fastened thereon;

[0033] FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views of exemplary clip elements; and

[0034] FIG. 4 shows different steps for mounting the spoiler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an outer-skin component 10 which is part of a motor vehicle and is in the form of a tailgate. A spoiler 20, also referred to as a Gurney flap, is arranged on the tailgate and fastened on the tailgate 10. The spoiler 20 is designed in the form of a shell component and has an outer shell 22, which forms the outer side of the spoiler 20, which is visible on the vehicle, and also has a lower shell 24, which serves for fastening the spoiler 20 on the vehicle and for stabilizing the spoiler. The outer shell 22 and lower shell 24 are adhesively bonded to one another. The outer shell 22 is preferably designed in the form of a fiber-reinforced plastic component and can have its look enhanced, in particular, by a fiber reinforcement, e.g. using visible carbon fibers or colored glass fibers. The outer shell 22 can be coated, e.g. using a color coating and/or a clear coating.

[0036] For the purpose of fastening the spoiler, two or more clip elements 30 are adhesively bonded to the outer-skin component. Just one clip element 30 is shown in FIG. 1. Nevertheless, two, or preferably more, clip elements 30 are used in order to fasten the spoiler 20. It is possible for the clip elements 30 to be formed, e.g. as an injection molding, on a common carrier plate 32, see, in this respect, also the plan view in FIG. 2, or to be mounted on the common carrier plate 32. As an alternative, it is also possible for the clip element 30 to be formed as a plurality of individual elements, which are separate from one another and are adhesively bonded to the outer-skin component 10 at a distance apart from one another, see the plan view in FIG. 3.

[0037] The spoiler has mating clip elements 26, which correspond to the clip elements 30 in terms of position and shape. In the simplest case, the mating clip elements 26 can be through-holes, which are formed in the lower shell 24. The clip elements 30 are in engagement with the mating clip elements 26, for which purpose a protrusion 34 of the clip elements 30 engages behind the corresponding mating clip element 26 in the manner of an undercut. The shoulder surface of the protrusion here forms an end stop 36 in the z direction, and this prevents the spoiler 20 from being removed from the outer-skin component 10 in the z direction.

[0038] An elastically compressible intermediate element 28 is provided at least along the front and rear edges 27, 29, and possibly also all the way around the entire edge, of the spoiler 20 and is adhesively bonded to the lower shell 24. This intermediate element projects from the spoiler 20 in the direction of the outer-skin component 10. The intermediate element 28 is compressed in the z direction between the outer-skin component 10 and the spoiler 20, to be precise the lower shell 24. As a result, the intermediate element 28 generates a counterpressure G in the z direction, which pushes the spoiler 20 away from the outer-skin component 10 and against the end stop 36 of the clip element 30, see, in this respect, FIG. 4.

[0039] FIG. 4 depicts different method steps for mounting the spoiler 20 on the vehicle. First of all, the clip elements 30 are adhesively bonded at a predetermined position, by means of an adhesive-bonding layer 40, to the outer-skin component 10 of the vehicle. This adhesive-bonding layer can be formed, for example, by a liquid/pasty adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape being applied.

[0040] It is also the case that the spoiler 20, which has been described in relation to FIG. 1, is supplied. For the purpose of mounting the spoiler 20, a mounting-operation force F is applied to the spoiler 20 and the spoiler 20 is pushed onto the clip elements 30 along the z direction. The z direction denotes a direction transverse to the surface of the outer-skin component 10. In particular in the case of the example shown, it can coincide with a vertical axis of the vehicle (Z axis); in this case, accordingly, the X axis denotes the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the Y axis denotes the transverse axis of the vehicle. Once mounting has taken place, the clip elements 30 extend through the mating clip elements 26 or apertures in the lower shell 24 and engage behind the same by way of their protrusions 34. The elastic intermediate element 28, which is arranged on the spoiler 20, is compressed here in the z direction. The clip elements 30 and mating clip elements preferably have an amount of play in the z direction, and therefore the position of the spoiler in the z direction is not yet clearly defined by the clip elements alone.

[0041] If the mounting-operation force F is removed once the spoiler has been mounted, then the elastically compressed intermediate element 28 generates a counterpressure force G, by means of which the spoiler 20 is pushed away from the outer-skin component 10 and is pressed, by way of the lower shell 24, onto the end stop 36 of the clip elements 30.

[0042] The spoiler 20 assumes a defined position in the z direction. Any tolerances which may be present in the z direction, and can occur in particular at the tailgate or on the outer shell 22, are compensated for as a result.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0043] 10 Outer-skin component [0044] 20 Spoiler [0045] 22 Outer shell [0046] 24 Lower shell [0047] 26 Mating clip element [0048] 27 Front edge [0049] 28 Intermediate element [0050] 29 Rear edge [0051] 30 Clip elements [0052] 32 Carrier plate [0053] 34 Protrusion [0054] 36 End stop [0055] F Mounting-operation force [0056] G Counterpressure force [0057] X, Y, Z Directions