Motor vehicle body with filler piece

Abstract

A motor vehicle body includes an A-pillar panel, an outer skin body panel, which together with an edge of the A-pillar panel delimits a gap. A windshield is adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the A-pillar panel. A filler piece has a first portion which fills out the gap and a second portion which conceals a gap between the longitudinal edge of the A-pillar panel and the windshield.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle body comprising an A-pillar panel, an outer skin panel, which together with an edge of the A-pillar panel delimits a gap, a windshield adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the A-pillar panel and a filler piece having a first portion filling out the gap and a second portion concealing a gap between the longitudinal edge of the A-pillar panel and the windshield.

2. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the gap is located on a front lower end of the A-pillar panel.

3. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the filler piece is in positive engagement on the A-pillar panel.

4. The motor vehicle body according to claim 3, wherein the positive engagement is formed by way of at least one engagement protrusion of the filler piece and an opening formed in the A-pillar panel for receiving the engagement protrusion.

5. The motor vehicle body according to claim 4, wherein the opening is formed in a flange angled off the edge of the A-pillar panel.

6. The motor vehicle body according to claim 5, wherein the first portion of the filler piece comprises an angular profile having a first leg butting up against the flange and a second leg extending from the flange in the direction of the outer skin panel.

7. The motor vehicle body according to claim 6, wherein the angular profile is U-shaped.

8. The motor vehicle body according to claim 6, wherein the second leg reaches behind the outer skin panel when viewed from outside.

9. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is fixed on the longitudinal edge by way of a bond.

10. The motor vehicle body according to claim 9, wherein the A-pillar panel comprises a flange extending along the longitudinal edge on which the bond adheres.

11. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the outer skin panel comprises an engine hood.

12. The motor vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the filler piece comprises a one-piece molded plastic part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

(2) FIG. 1 is a detail of a motor vehicle body;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates the detail of FIG. 1 from another perspective;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates the lower front end of an A-pillar panel;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the A-pillar panel with filler piece mounted thereon;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic section through the front edge of the A-pillar panel and the filler piece engaged thereon;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a first perspective view of the filler body;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a second perspective view, and

(9) FIG. 8 illustrates a third perspective view of the filler piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) 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.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a lower front corner of a windshield 1 of a motor vehicle body, a rear corner of an engine hood 2 following the windshield 1 and a part of an A-pillar 3, in a perspective view, seen across the engine hood 2. FIG. 2 shows the same detail from a substantially opposite direction wherein in each case below the A-pillar panel 3 and the engine hood 2 a piece of a front fender 4 is still visible.

(12) Gaps 5, 6 extend in the view of FIG. 2 between a front edge 10 of the A-pillar panel 3 and the engine hood 2 or between lower edges 11 from A-pillar panel 3 and engine hood 2 on the one hand and the fender 4 on the other hand. The gap 5 is filled out by a filler piece 7 that is injection-molded from plastic which, as is visible in FIG. 1, forms a side wall of a water box 8 at the foot of the windshield 1 and from there extends to a flange 9 of the A-pillar panel 3, which rises substantially vertically and orientated in vehicle longitudinal direction on the edge of the windshield 1.

(13) FIG. 3 shows, in the same perspective as in FIG. 1, the lower edge of the windshield 1 and the A-pillar panel 3 adjoining thereon without the engine hood 2 and without the filler piece 7. On the front edge 10 of the A-pillar panel 3 a flange 12 is angled into the vehicle interior. The flange 12 is provided with two openings 13.

(14) FIG. 4 shows the same detail of FIG. 3, however with filler body 7 mounted on the A-pillar panel 3. The filler piece 7 includes a portion 14 in the form of a flat angle profile with a leg 15 butting up against the flange 12 and a leg 16, which stands away obliquely from the flange 12 in order to bridge the gap 5 as far as to the rear edge of the engine hood 2 that is not shown in FIG. 4.

(15) FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section through the portion 14 that is mounted on the flange 12 and the rear edge of the engine hood 2. The leg 16 engages, seen from the outside, as far as to behind the engine hood 2 thereby barring any insight to the engine compartment for as long as the hood 2 is in the closed position.

(16) FIG. 4 shows two fastening feet 17 of the filler piece 7, of which one is visible in section in FIG. 5. The fastening feet 17 each extend in extension of the leg 15, and butting up flat against the flange 12, each carry a fastening clip 18. The fastening clips each have a stiff shank 19 emanating from the fastening foot 17 and two elastic wings 20, which diverge arrow-like from the tip of the shank 19 in order to be pressed against one another when the fastening clip 18 is pushed into one of the openings 13 and by expanding again after passing the opening 13, engage the filler piece 7 on the openings 13 of the flange 12.

(17) Molded to the upper end of the elongated portion 14 is a plate-shaped portion 21 in one piece which, as is evident by comparing FIGS. 4 and 3, engages into a gap between the flange 9 and the windshield 1. The plate-shaped portion 21 butts up against the flange 9 over a large area and is fastened to the same by gluing. A web 22 which stands away from a lower edge of the plate-shaped portion 21 engages below the windshield 1.

(18) The FIGS. 6-8 show the filler piece 7 for illustration of its shape in various perspective views. The perspective of FIG. 6 is similar to those of FIG. 4 and clearly shows the plate-shaped portion 21 and the elongated portion 14 with the fastening feet 17; the fastening clips 18 are hidden behind the fastening feet in the perspective of FIG. 6.

(19) FIG. 7 shows the filler piece 7 from a view direction which approximately corresponds to the arrow VII from FIG. 6. Visible is the surface of the plate-shaped portion 14 which in the mounted state faces the flange 9 with a piece of double-sided adhesive tape 23 adhering thereon. The adhesive tape 23 can be directly glued onto the portion 21 following the injection-molding of the filler piece 7 and be protected by cover paper, which is only removed immediately before the filler piece 7 is installed in the vehicle.

(20) A second web 24 extends parallel to web 22 on the opposite surface of the plate-shaped portion 14. The two webs 22, 24 can be embodied elastically and support the filler piece 7 on a surface of the supporting structure located below, for example the upper edge of a front wall extending between engine compartment and passenger cells.

(21) The view direction of FIG. 7 is parallel to the plane of the leg 15 which for this reason is merely visible as a narrow strip; clearly visible are the legs 16 and the fastening clips 18, which in each case on opposite sides project from the leg 15.

(22) FIG. 8 shows the filler piece 7 seen from a direction that is approximately perpendicular to the leg 15 corresponding to the arrow VIII in FIG. 7.

(23) In order to be able to keep the molds used for injection-molding the filler piece simple, it can be practical to provide a film or foil hinge on the filler piece 7, which makes possible adapting its shape prior to the installation in the vehicle. Fastening means for anchoring the filler piece on the vehicle should be provided on both sides of such a foil hinge, when for example such a foil hinge is provided along an edge 25 between the portions 14 and 21, the one portion 14 can be fixed by way of engagement with the help of the fastening clips 18, the other 21 through gluing by means of the adhesive tape 23, and a secure seat of the entire filler piece 7 be ensured.

(24) 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.