Add-on element, system and method for producing an add-on element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10875472-B2
Application number	US-201816193750-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2018
Priority date	May 18, 2016
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

An add-on element for adding onto a passenger-compartment component of a motor vehicle includes a basic body composed of a flexible first material, and at least one actuator body composed of a flexible second material. The at least one actuator body is deformable by being acted upon with an actuator source. The basic body has at least one receiving region with a receiving-region shape, wherein the at least one actuator body is arranged in the at least one receiving region. By way of a change in shape of the at least one actuator body, the receiving-region shape of the at least one receiving region can be changed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system of an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising:
an add-on element, wherein the add-on element comprises:
a basic body made of a first material;
at least one actuator body made of a second material, wherein
the at least one actuator body is reversibly deformable by applying an actuator source,
the basic body has at least one receiving region having a receiving region shape,
the at least one actuator body is arranged in the at least one receiving region,
the receiving region shape of the at least one receiving region is changed as a result of a shape change of the at least one actuator body; and
the add-on element is a design element relating to design of the interior of the motor vehicle; and

an interior component of the motor vehicle, wherein the interior component is disposed in the interior of the motor vehicle and wherein the add-on element is disposed on a surface of the interior component of the motor vehicle.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the basic body has a plurality of receiving regions, and
the receiving regions in one section of the basic body are formed at least on two different sides of the basic body.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the basic body has a wave-shaped cross section, at least in some areas.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the basic body has a plurality of receiving regions, and
the receiving regions in one section of the basic body are formed substantially on a same side of the basic body.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein
the basic body has a comb-shaped cross section, at least in some areas.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the at least one receiving region has receiving walls and at least one functional wall formed differently from the receiving walls.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein
the functional wall has a hollow space.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein
the hollow space has a rectangular, trapezoidal or oval cross section.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
electric current or a pressurized fluid provide the actuator source.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein
the actuator source is compressed air.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein
the actuator body is a closed body and has at least one interface for a flow of the pressurized fluid into and/or out of the actuator body.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first material has a higher stiffness than the second material.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
a providing device for providing the actuator source;
at least one line element for guiding the actuator source between the providing device and the at least one add-on element, and
a control unit for open-loop and/or closed-loop control of the providing device.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein
the system has at least one operating element for operating the control unit.

15. A method for forming an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
producing an add-on element, the add-on element having a basic body made of a first material, and at least one actuator body made of a second material, wherein the at least one actuator body is reversibly deformable by applying an actuator source, wherein the basic body has at least one receiving region having a receiving region shape, wherein the at least one actuator body is arranged in the at least one receiving region, and wherein
the receiving region shape of the at least one receiving region is changed as a result of a shape change of the at least one actuator body,
producing the basic body from the first material, wherein the basic body has the at least one receiving region with receiving walls;
introducing a free-flowing second material into the at least one receiving region to produce the actuator body made of the second material; and
solidifying edge zones of the second material,
wherein the add-on element is a design element relating to design of the interior of the motor vehicle; and
disposing the add-on element on a surface of an interior component of the motor vehicle, wherein the interior component is disposed in the interior of the motor vehicle.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein
at least part of the free-flowing second material is driven out of the receiving region such that at least one continuous cavity surrounded by the solidified edge zones is formed, the expulsion being carried out by a pressurized fluid and/or by way a dissolved propellant.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Roth Bruno
• Huynh Dienhung

Classifications

• B60N2/763

  adjustable · CPC title

• B60H2001/3471

  Details of actuators · CPC title

• B60N2/806

  movable or adjustable · CPC title

• B60H1/3407

  providing an air stream in a fixed direction, e.g. using a grid or porous panel · CPC title

• B60R13/02 Primary

  {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) · CPC title