Component for a Transportation Device, Transportation Device, and Method for Producing the Component

Abstract

A component for a transportation device includes a support structure, a cover portion, an elastic seal portion, which is formed between the support structure and the cover portion and which is integrally bonded to the support structure and/or to the cover portion, and an optical waveguide. The support structure, the cover portion and the seal portion delimit a receptacle, which is sealed by the seal portion and in which the optical waveguide is accommodated.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A component for a transportation device, the component comprising: a support structure, a cover portion, an elastic sealing portion which is formed between the support structure and the cover portion and is connected in an integrally bonded manner to the support structure and/or to the cover portion, and an optical waveguide, wherein the support structure, the cover portion and the sealing portion bound a receptacle which is sealed by the sealing portion and in which the optical waveguide is accommodated.

12. The component according to claim 11, wherein: the support structure is formed monolithically and/or as a thermoplastic, and/or the support structure is reflective or light-scattering at least in sections.

13. The component according to claim 11, wherein: the support structure has a depression which forms part of the receptacle, and the optical waveguide is arranged at least in sections in the depression, as viewed in cross section through the optical waveguide.

14. The component according to claim 11, wherein the support structure is fastened to the cover portion so as to be releasable without being destroyed.

15. The component according to claim 11, wherein: a region of the cover portion that bounds the receptacle is light-permeable at least in sections, and/or the cover portion has a translucent or substantially opaque decorative portion which overlaps the sealing portion on its side facing the cover portion at least in sections.

16. The component according to claim 11, wherein: the sealing portion is in a form of a thermoplastic elastomer or a thermoplastic polyurethane, and/or a material of the sealing portion is directly adjacent to a material of the support structure and/or to a material of the cover portion.

17. The component according to claim 11, wherein the sealing portion is provided with a holding device which is configured to hold the optical waveguide captively on the support structure or on the cover portion.

18. The component according to claim 11, wherein the sealing portion is provided with a holding device which is configured to hold the optical waveguide captively on the support structure or on the cover portion by elastic deformation of the holding device.

19. The component according to claim 11, wherein: the optical waveguide comprises one or more light guide fibers, and/or the optical waveguide is configured to emit light propagating in an interior of the optical waveguide into the receptacle.

20. A transportation device comprising: the component according to claim 11, wherein the support structure is fastened to the cover portion.

21. The transportation device according to claim 20, wherein the component is arranged on the exterior of the transportation device such that the cover portion is directed outward with respect to the transportation device.

22. A method for producing a component for a transportation device, the method comprising: carrying out a two-component injection molding process comprising: performing a first injection by firstly injecting a first molding compound into a first cavity of a first injection mold such that one of the following parts of the component is formed: a support structure of the component or a cover portion of the component, and performing a second injection by secondly injecting a second molding compound into a second cavity of a second injection mold while the part formed by the first injection is arranged in the second cavity, so that an elastic sealing portion is cast on the part formed by the first injection; providing the other part of the component that is not formed by the first injection; and arranging the cover portion, the sealing portion and the support structure such that the cover portion, the sealing portion and the support structure form a receptacle which is sealed by the sealing portion and in which the optical waveguide is accommodated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a component in a cross sectional view, wherein the sealing portion is connected in an integrally bonded manner to the cover portion, and the support structure has the depression in which the optical waveguide is arranged in sections.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a component in a cross sectional view, wherein the sealing portion is connected in an integrally bonded manner to the support structure.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a component in a cross sectional view, wherein the sealing portion is connected in an integrally bonded manner to the cover portion.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a transportation device having the component, wherein the component is arranged in the region of the front of the transportation device.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a method for producing the component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a component 10 which is designed here by way of example as a frame for a front-side covering of a transportation device 100. The component 10 comprises a support structure 12, a cover portion 14, an elastic sealing portion 16 and an optical waveguide 18. The elastic sealing portion 16 is formed between the support structure 12 and the cover portion 14. In this variant, the sealing portion 16 is cast onto the cover portion 14 (by way of injection molding) and such that a direct connection (here without an intermediate layer, in particular without an adhesive layer) is produced between the cover portion 14 and the sealing portion 16. The connection between the cover portion 14 and the sealing portion 18 is therefore integrally bonded. The support structure 12, the cover portion 14 and the sealing portion 16 define a receptacle 20 which is sealed by the sealing portion 16 and in which the optical waveguide 18 is accommodated.

[0036] The component 10 is substantially in the form of a U profile, wherein the main direction of extent of the frame runs perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet, and the front side (visible side) of the component 10 is at the top in FIG. 1. The U profile has a base 22 running along the front side and two side limbs 24, 26 extending virtually parallel from the base in the direction of the rear side of the component 10 (at the bottom in FIG. 1). The support structure 12, the cover portion 14 and/or the sealing portion 16 are each produced by way of injection molding and therefore are each formed monolithically. The support structure 12 here is in the form of a (for example white) light-scattering thermoplastic and the sealing portion 16 is in the form of a thermoplastic elastomer, in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPE/TPU component).

[0037] In the region of the base 22 of the component 10, the cover portion 14 runs substantially flat, whereas the support structure 12 has a depression 30. The sealing portion 16 is likewise configured with a recess 28 in the region of the base 22. The depression 30 and the recess 28 together form the receptacle 20 for the optical waveguide 18 (cf. cross sectional view from FIG. 1) which is correspondingly likewise arranged in the region of the base 22 of the component 10 and extends along the frame (perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet in FIG. 1).

[0038] FIG. 1 illustrates the sealing portion 16 spaced apart from the optical waveguide 18 for the sake of better visibility, the optical waveguide 18 being arranged in a form-fitting manner in the depression. In the completely assembled state of the component 10, the support structure 12 and the cover portion 14 are pressed onto each other by a form-fitting fastening device 40 (a screw connection or rivet connection here), which is releasable without being destroyed, and therefore the sealing portion 16 is compressed in the radial direction with respect to the main direction of extent (i.e. vertically in FIG. 1). As a result, the sealing portion expands in the circumferential direction (accordingly horizontally in FIG. 1) and clamps the optical waveguide 18 such that the latter does not rattle while the transportation device 100 is traveling. With this mechanism, a surface of the sealing portion 16 adjacent to the optical waveguide 18 therefore forms a holding device 36 for the optical waveguide 18.

[0039] The sealing portion 16 extends from the base 22 of the component 10 in the form of a surface coating 41 along an inner side of the side limbs 24, 26, i.e. along an inner circumference of the profile. On the side limbs 24, 26 sealing louvers 42 are formed which extend from the cover portion 14 in the direction of the support structure 12 and lie against the latter in the mounted state of the component in order to provide further sealing between the cover portion and support structure. Each of the sealing louvers 42 can extend along the entire extent of the component 10 (perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet in FIG. 1).

[0040] The optical waveguide 18 comprises a light guide fiber with a core and a sheath. It is designed to outcouple the light propagating within the optical waveguide 18 by total reflection (in more precise terms in the core) by an outcoupling device, not illustrated specifically in the figure, into the receptacle 20. This outcoupled light finally exits through a light exit surface of the cover portion 14 in the direction of the front side and out of the component 10. The light exit surface here is that region of the cover portion 14 which is not covered by the sealing portion 16. The light exit surface is, for example, clear and transparent.

[0041] A further component 10 shown in FIG. 2 differs from the component from FIG. 1 in that the sealing portion 16 is not cast on the cover portion 14 but rather on the support structure 12. Furthermore, only the support structure 12, but not the cover portion 14, is in the shape of a profile. The cover portion 14 is illustrated in a plate-like manner in FIG. 2, but may also be shaped differently. On the rear side of the cover portion 14 facing the support structure 12, an opaque decorative portion 34 in the form of a decorative film is formed which has an opening in the region of the light exit surface. The decorative film connects the cover portion 14 in an integrally bonded manner to the sealing portion 16. Accordingly, the decorative portion 34 completely conceals the sealing portion 16.

[0042] In this variant, the holding device 36 is formed by an undercut of the sealing portion 16. The recess 28 thus tapers beginning from the support structure 12 toward the cover portion 14 such that the optical waveguide 18 is held in a force-fitting manner in the recess 28. Additionally, the holding device 36 contains securing lips 38 adjacent to the cover portion 14, the securing lips assisting the securing of the optical waveguide 18 in the recess 28. Since, in this variant, the absorption of force between the optical waveguide 18 and support structure 12 by way of the depression 30 is absent, the sealing portion 16 is larger and more solid than in the case of the variant from FIG. 1. Accordingly, the support structure 12 has an elevation 42 on which the optical waveguide 18 is supported, wherein the radial extent of the sealing portion 16, as viewed in the cross section from FIG. 2, is larger than the diameter of the optical waveguide 18. In the case of this variant, a fastening device 40 can be provided for fastening the component 10 to the transportation device 100.

[0043] Otherwise, the component 10 from FIG. 2 comprises all of the features of the component 10 from FIG. 1.

[0044] A component 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 differs in turn from the component 10 from FIG. 2 in that the sealing portion 16 is again cast on the cover portion 14. In respect of the configuration of the receptacle 20 and the holding device 36, the cover portion 14 virtually takes up the role of the support structure 12, i.e. the receptacle 20 tapers toward the support structure 12. This undercut is sufficient here to secure the optical waveguide 18, and therefore the securing lips 38 are dispensed with. The cover portion 14 differs in respect of its profile from the support structure 12, these two parts, as in FIG. 1, being clamped on each other by the fastening device 40. The sealing portion 16 again has a portion in the form of a surface coating 41 on the cover portion 14.

[0045] Otherwise, the component 10 from FIG. 3 comprises all of the features of the component 10 from FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows the transportation device 100 which here in particular is a vehicle. The transportation device 100 comprises the component 10 from one of FIGS. 1 to 3, wherein the support structure 12 is fastened releasably to the cover portion 14 by the fastening device 40. The component 10 is arranged as a frame for an assembly, in particular a covering panel (e.g. for a vehicle sensor system), or for another component of the vehicle. The optical waveguide 18 and the light exit surface run along a contour of the assembly or of the other component and form contour lighting as part of an exterior lighting device of the transportation device 100. The cover portion 14 is arranged on the outer side, i.e. on an outer surface, relative to the transportation device 100. The component can be secured on a portion of the transportation device 100 adjacent to the component 10 by the fastening device 40, in particular by a screw connection holding the support structure and the cover portion together.

[0047] A method 200 illustrated in highly schematized form in FIG. 5 serves for producing the component 10 from FIG. 1. In the method 200, first of all a two-component injection molding process is carried out. The latter comprises firstly injecting 202 a first molding compound into a cavity of a first injection mold such that the support structure 12 of the component 10 is formed. Subsequently, a second injection 204 of a second molding compound into a cavity of a second injection mold is carried out while the support structure 12 which has been produced is arranged in the second cavity such that an elastic sealing portion 16 is cast on the support structure 12. The second injection mold can be the first injection mold if the second cavity is larger than the first cavity.

[0048] The cover portion 14 is then produced 206, for example, analogously to the support structure 12. Finally, an assembly step of arranging 208 the cover portion 14, the sealing portion 16 and the support structure 12 is carried out in such a manner that the cover portion 14, the sealing portion 16 and the support structure 12 form a receptacle 20 which is sealed by the sealing portion 16 and in which the optical waveguide 18 is accommodated. First of all, the optical waveguide 18 is placed into the depression 30 and the cover portion 14 with the sealing portion 16 cast thereon is then attached such that the optical waveguide 18 is arranged in the recess 28, and finally the cover portion 14 is clamped to the support structure 12 by the fastening device 40.