FLAP WITH INDICATOR MEANS

Abstract

A flap for a motor vehicle is disclosed which has a side with an actuating region for manually unlocking the flap. An indicator is provided for optically indicating the actuating region on the flap.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A flap arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising: a flap displaceable with respect to the motor vehicle, the flap having an actuating region on an outer surface for manually unlocking the flap; and an indicator positioned beneath the actuating region and operably for optically indicating the actuating region at the outer surface.

17. The flap according to claim 16, wherein the indicator is switchable between a first operating mode wherein the actuating region is not indicated and a second operating mode wherein the actuating region is optically indicated.

18. The flap according to claim 16, wherein the indicator comprises a light source configured to backlight the actuating region.

19. The flap according to claim 16, wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode.

20. The flap according to claim 18, wherein the light source is deactivated in the first operating mode and activated in the second operating mode.

21. The flap according to claim 18, wherein the light source is arranged underneath the outer surface such that the flap is optically homogenous in the first operating mode and at least partially transilluminated by the light source in the second operating mode.

22. The flap according to claim 16, wherein a surface area of the actuating region and an indicating surface of the indicator amounts to no more than 50% of a surface area of the side.

23. The flap according to claim 16, further comprising a locking element, wherein the actuating region and an indicating surface of the indicator lies on the side within a circle around a position of the locking element and amounts to no more than 50% of a surface area of the side.

24. The flap according to claim 16, wherein the flap comprises a tank flap for covering an interface for supplying at least one of fuel or electrical energy.

25. A flap arrangement according to claim 16, further comprising a base on which the flap is pivotably mounted.

26. The flap arrangement according to claim 25, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the flap, wherein said locking mechanism is configured to unlock by manually depressing and subsequently releasing the actuating region.

27. The flap arrangement according to claim 25, further comprising a prediction device configured to detect an intention to unlock the flap and a switch configured to switch the indicator from a first operating mode wherein the actuating region is not indicated to a second operating mode wherein the actuating region is optically indicated based on a detected intention to unlock the flap.

28. The flap arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the prediction device comprises a detector configured to detect a hand approaching the side thereby indicating an intention to unlock the flap.

29. The flap arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a radar sensor or a camera.

30. A motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body with a flap arrangement according to claim 16.

31. A method for facilitating the manual unlocking of a flap comprising: providing a flap arrangement for a motor vehicle having a flap displaceable with respect to the motor vehicle, the flap having an actuating region on an outer surface for manually unlocking the flap, and an indicator positioned beneath the actuating region and operably for optically indicating the actuating region at the outer surface; detected an intention to unlock the flap; and switching the indicator from a first operating mode wherein the actuating region is not indicated to a second operating mode wherein the actuating region is optically indicated based on the detected intention to unlock the flap.

32. The method according to claim 31 further comprising: detecting when a hand approaches the side; and detecting the intention to unlock the flap based on a detected approach.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a flap arrangement with a tank flap of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows the flap with indicated actuating region;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a section through the flap with an enlarged detail; and

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a method for facilitating the manual unlocking of the flap according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a flap arrangement with a tank flap 3 of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The flap arrangement is pivotably mounted on a base 11 by a hinge arm 1 (see FIG. 3).

[0042] The flap arrangement features a locking mechanism 12 with a locking or latching element 4 (see FIG. 3) that is arranged on and serves for locking the flap 3. The locking mechanism can be unlocked by manually depressing and subsequently releasing an actuating region A (see FIG. 2) on a front side of the flap 3 in FIG. 1.

[0043] The flap 3 features an indicator 6 (see FIG. 6) for optically indicating the actuating region A. The indicator 6 is arranged on this actuating region A and can be switched over from a first operating mode illustrated in FIG. 1 to a second operating mode illustrated in FIG. 2 in order to optically indicate the actuating region. The indicator 6 features a multi-piece light source in the form of multiple LEDs 9 for backlighting the actuating region A (see FIG. 3). These LEDs are arranged on a printed circuit board 8 and in a transparent carrier 7, which in turn is arranged in a recess of a base body 2 of the flap 3.

[0044] The side with the actuating region A features a paint or plastic coating 10 that homogenously covers the base body 2 and an indicating surface of the indicator 6 in the form of a front side B of the transparent carrier 7. This coating is sufficiently thin that it is transilluminated by the activated LEDs 9 as indicated in FIG. 2.

[0045] The flap arrangement features a prediction device with a detector in the form of a proximity sensor 5 for detecting when a hand approaches the side in order to thereby detect an intention to unlock the flap, as well as a switch in the form of a control that is integrated into the printed circuit board 8 and serves for switching over the indicator 6 from a first operating mode to a second operating mode based on a detected intention to unlock the flap.

[0046] The prediction device detects an intention to unlock the flap 3 if the proximity sensor 5 detects in step S10 (see FIG. 4) that a hand approaches the side, particularly that the distance of a hand from the side falls short of a predefined limiting value (S10 “Y”). The control subsequently switches the indicator 6 from the first operating mode into the second operating mode, in which it energizes the LEDs 9, in step S20. These LEDs then partially transilluminate the side and thereby optically indicate the actuating region A (see FIG. 2).

[0047] The LEDs 9 may remain energized during the entire opening process of the flap.

[0048] Subsequently, the method once again returns to step S10 and the indicator 6 is switched back to its first operating mode. In this operating mode, the side is optically homogenous due to the now deenergized LEDs and the uniform layer 10.

[0049] According to FIG. 2, a surface area of the actuating region A and a surface area of the indicating surface B respectively amount to no more than 50% of a surface area of the side and are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the locking element 4.

[0050] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.