Bridging component and edge trim strip as well as system made from them

Abstract

In a system made from an edge trim strip and a bridging component for the bridging, especially in optical manner, of a structural transition between the edge trim strip and the bridging component, a simple and secure connection of the edge trim strip and the bridging component should be made possible with the simplest possible fabrication and design of the edge trim strip. The securing of the bridging component to the edge trim strip is accomplished solely by a fastening leg provided on the edge strip and forming an undercut, and the fastening leg is the sole leg of the cross section profile of the edge trim strip serving to secure the bridging component. The bridging component has a locking means in the form of a locking groove, which is able to engage at top and bottom with the fastening leg provided with the undercut in a locking manner.

Claims

1. An edge trim strip for mounting on the edge of a vehicle door of a passenger car, wherein the edge trim strip is trimmed in an end section, where a structural transition to an adjoining strip part is realized when the edge trim strip is arranged per design on the motor vehicle, in order to approximate the contour of the adjacent strip part, the edge trim strip comprises in the end section a cross section profile with a base leg, which forms an outer decorative surface when the edge trim strip is arranged per design on the vehicle, an inwardly facing fastening leg is provided, emerging from the base leg, when the edge trim strip is arranged per design on the motor vehicle, for the fixation of a bridging component on the edge trim strip, wherein the fastening leg is the sole section of the cross section profile of the edge trim strip serving to secure the bridging component.

2. The edge trim strip according to claim 1, wherein there is no middle web extending inwardly from the base leg.

3. The edge trim strip according to claim 2, wherein the fastening leg extends inwardly starting from a lower visible edge of the edge trim strip.

4. The edge trim strip according to claim 3, wherein the fastening leg subtends with the base leg an angle less than 90, preferably an angle less than 45, more preferably an angle less than 30.

5. The edge trim strip according to claim 4, wherein in the region of its end facing away from the base leg the fastening leg forms an undercut, in order to produce a locking element acting transversely to the lengthwise direction of extension of the edge trim strip and able to be grasped by the bridging component.

6. The edge trim strip according to claim 5, wherein the undercut is formed by a thickening, a bend, a depression or a locking lug.

7. The edge trim strip according to claim 6, wherein the edge trim strip has a middle section and a trimmed end section at one end or at both ends, wherein the edge trim strip has in the middle section a C-shaped cross section profile with an upper profiled leg bent inwardly from an upper visible edge and the upper profiled leg is eliminated in the region of the end section as a result of its trimming.

8. The edge trim strip according to claim 7, wherein a material region of the edge trim strip is turned over at the end of the edge trim strip in order to create an end surface.

9. A bridging piece for the bridging, especially in optical manner, of an edge trim strip on a motor vehicle and a structural transition forming a strip component adjacent to the edge trim strip it, wherein the bridging component has a cross section with at least one locking portion which is designed to engage with an undercut located on a fastening leg of the edge trim strip when the bridging component is arranged on the edge trim strip, wherein the locking portion moans is formed by a locking groove, which engages at top and bottom with the fastening leg provided with the undercut in a locking manner.

10. The bridging piece according to claim 9, wherein the locking groove has a widened portion in order to accommodate a locking element located on the fastening leg.

11. The bridging piece according to claim 10, wherein the locking groove has an upper groove leg and a lower groove leg and at least one of the two groove legs has a constriction engaging with the undercut of the fastening leg.

12. The bridging piece according to claim 11, wherein the locking groove has an upper groove leg and a lower groove leg and at least one of the two groove legs forms an abutment for the other groove leg engaging with the undercut of the fastening leg.

13. The bridging piece according to claim 12, wherein one groove leg extends beyond the other groove leg in length, looking in a direction W of principal action of the interlocking.

14. The bridging piece according to claim 13, wherein the bridging component is configured so that it is set on the edge trim strip transversely to its lengthwise extension.

15. A system made from an edge trim strip for mounting on the edge of a vehicle door of a passenger car, and a bridging piece for the bridging, especially in optical manner, of an edge trim strip on a motor vehicle and a structural transition forming a strip component adjacent to the edge trim strip, wherein the fixation of the bridging component on the edge trim strip is done only at the fastening leg.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the direction W of principal action of the interlocking between bridging component and edge trim strip is oriented in the yz direction in relation to the vehicle and when the edge trim strip is arranged as designed on the vehicle.

17. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The following drawings and the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments illustrate the features and advantages of the invention. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1a is a cross section through an edge trim strip with a bridging component set thereon according to the prior art,

[0025] FIG. 1b is a back side of an end section of the edge trim strip of FIG. 1 without any bridging component mounted on it,

[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross section of an edge trim strip with a bridging component mounted on it at the back side,

[0027] FIG. 3a is a first view of an end section of the edge trim strip of FIG. 2 with bridging component mounted on it or shown detached from the edge trim strip,

[0028] FIG. 3b is a second view of an end section of the edge trim strip of FIG. 2 with bridging component mounted on it or shown detached from the edge trim strip, and

[0029] FIG. 3c is a third view of an end section of the edge trim strip of FIG. 2 with bridging component mounted on it or shown detached from the edge trim strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1a shows an edge trim strip 1 with a bridging component 2 mounted on it at the back side, as is known in the prior art. FIG. 1b shows an end section of the edge trim strip 1 in a rear view without the bridging component.

[0031] The edge trim strip 1 has a base leg 3, which forms by its outwardly facing surface when mounted as intended on the motor vehicle an outwardly visible decorative surface 5. The decorative surface is bounded at the bottom side by a lower visible edge 4. Starting from this lower edge, an auxiliary leg 6 extends inwardly.

[0032] The bridging component 2 on the one hand engages by a locking protrusion 8 with the locking lug 9 of a middle web 7 extending inwardly from the back side of the base leg 2 and on the other hand is braced by a bearing 10 against the auxiliary leg 6. Thus, for the interlocking of the bridging component 2 on the edge trim strip 1, the bearing 10 and locking protrusion 8 interact with the auxiliary leg 6 and middle web 7.

[0033] It is evident from FIG. 1b that in the region of the trimmed end section E an upper profiled leg 11 still existing in the middle section M of the edge trim strip has been removed due to the trimming of the edge trim strip evident from FIG. 1b. The trimmed and thus in the end section eliminated upper profiled leg 11 is indicated by broken line in FIG. 1a. The middle web 7 initially becomes necessary on account of the elimination of this upper profiled leg 11, which would basically be suitable for a grasping and locking of the bridging component on the edge trim strip, since without the middle web 7 it would not be possible to produce any two-sided locking acting on the bridging component 2 and securing it adequately against the edge trim strip 1.

[0034] FIG. 1b further illustrates that, when it is necessary to form an end surface A produced by overturning a material region 12 at the end of the edge trim strip, the middle web 7 and the auxiliary leg 6 have to be removed in a machining region B, or else they would stand in the way of an overturning of the material region 12.

[0035] The embodiment of FIG. 2 and FIGS. 3a-3c makes it clear that there is no middle web for the edge trim strip 1 shown there in cross section. Here as well, the upper profiled leg 11 still present in a middle section M of the edge trim strip 1 has been eliminated in the end section E, being indicated visually by a broken line in FIG. 2.

[0036] Instead of the middle web, the cross section profile of the edge trim strip 1 shown in FIG. 2 has a fastening leg 13, which forms a thickening 14 at its end facing away from the base leg 3, which is grasped at the top and bottom by a locking groove 15 formed on the bridging component 2 in a locking manner. The thickeningwhich could also be a bend or a locking element formed in a different manner, forming an undercutforms an undercut acting in a direction W of principal action of the interlocking (yz direction in relation to the motor vehicle and transversely to the lengthwise direction of extension of the edge trim strip) and thus constitutes a locking element able to be grasped by the bridging component.

[0037] The fastening leg 13 starting from the lower visible edge 4 extends inwardly and makes with the base leg an acute angle . The locking groove 15 grasping the fastening leg 13 has an upper groove leg 16 and a lower groove leg 17, while the lower groove leg extends significantly beyond the upper groove leg in the direction W of principal action of the locking connection or protrudes significantly from it. Thus, the lower groove leg is longer than the upper groove leg, starting from the base of the groove.

[0038] Considering the locking groove 15, it is evident that the upper groove leg 16 grasps the thickening 14 by a locking lug 18, which forms a local constriction of the locking groove 15. The lower groove leg serves here as an abutment, counteracting a swinging of the upper region of the bridging component away from the edge trim strip. In the region of the bottom of the groove, the locking groove has a widening adapted to the locking element arranged on the fastening leg in order to accommodate the locking element situated on the fastening leg, especially a thickening or bend arranged on the fastening leg.

[0039] It has been found that this configuration makes it possible to produce the edge trim strip without the middle web 7 still required in FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b and nevertheless securely lock the bridging component 2 to the edge trim strip 1. The fastening leg 13 in the region of the trimmed end section E of the edge trim strip 1 forms here the sole section of the cross section profile of the edge trim strip serving for the fastening of the bridging component 2. The fixation of the bridging component 2 to the edge trim strip 1 occurs only on the one fastening leg 13. Thus, the bridging component is held solely by the locking connection formed from the locking groove 15 and the fastening leg 13 on the edge trim strip 1.

[0040] FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b and FIG. 3c illustrate in graphic manner through different perspective views the configuration of the bridging component 2 and edge trim strip 1 and moreover illustrate the trimming performed in the end section E for the upper edge region of the edge trim strip, by which the upper profiled leg 11 still present in the middle section M is removed in this region.

[0041] On the side of the bridging component facing the inside of the edge trim strip there are provided two locking grooves 15. Two protrusions, projecting beyond the surface of the bridging component facing the inside of the edge trim strip, form the upper groove leg 16 of the locking grooves.

[0042] The machining region B shown in FIG. 1b need not be machined in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and in FIGS. 3a-3c despite the providing of an end surface A of the edge trim strip produced by overturning of a material region 12.

[0043] The bridging component is preferably an injection moulded part made of plastic. The edge trim strip is preferably an extruded metal profile, especially one made of aluminum.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1 Edge trim strip [0045] 2 Bridging component [0046] 3 Base leg [0047] 4 Lower visible edge [0048] 5 Decorative surface [0049] 6 Auxiliary leg [0050] 7 Middle web [0051] 8 Locking protrusion [0052] 9 Locking lug [0053] 10 Bearing [0054] 11 Upper profiled leg [0055] 12 Overturned material region [0056] 13 Fastening leg [0057] 14 Thickening [0058] 15 Locking groove [0059] 16 Upper groove leg [0060] 17 Lower groove leg [0061] 18 Locking lug [0062] E End section [0063] M Middle section [0064] A End surface [0065] B Machining region [0066] W Direction of principal action