Structural component with a hinge element and method for producing a floor assembly of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11511682-B2
Application number	US-201917255573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Aug 8, 2018
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A structural component for a floor assembly of a vehicle. The structural component is formed integrally and includes at least one hinge element and a base part. The base part is configured to support the structural component on the vehicle when the structural component is installed in the vehicle. The at least one hinge element includes at least one flap element which is connected at least in regions to the base part and is configured to be pivoted relative to the base part and, in an end position, to at least partially enclose at least one predetermined construction space of the vehicle. The at least one flap element is furthermore configured in order, in the end position, to abut or to engage in a form-fitting manner against or on respective vehicle elements delimiting the at least one construction space of the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A structural component for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one hinge element,
a base part,
wherein the structural component is removed or is removable or is to be removed in a single mold removal direction from a production mold for producing the structural component,
wherein the base part is configured to support the structural component on the vehicle when the structural component is installed in the vehicle,
wherein the at least one hinge element comprises at least one flap element which is connected at least in regions to the base part and is configured to be pivoted relative to the base part from a production position to an end position, to at least partially enclose at least one predetermined construction space of the vehicle, and
wherein the at least one flap element is configured to be maintained in the production position until moved into and maintained in the end position to abut or to engage in a form-fitting manner against or on respective vehicle elements delimiting the at least one construction space of the vehicle.

2. The structural component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap element of the at least one hinge element is to be pivoted about a hinge axis relative to the base part into the end position.

3. The structural component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hinge element comprises a plurality of flap elements which is arranged along at least one hinge axis, and
wherein the flap elements are arranged spaced or abutting with respect to one another.

4. The structural component according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one hinge axis is produced as part of the hinge element by a pressing process.

5. The structural component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap element comprises at least one rigid contact surface and at least one movable flap surface.

6. The structural component according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hinge element is configured to provide, in the end position, a cover by means of which all the vehicle parts to be potentially arranged on the at least one construction space are to be covered or are coverable.

7. The structural component according to claim 1 , wherein the structural component comprises a plurality of hinge elements, each comprising a hinge axis, along which at least one flap element is to be pivoted, and wherein the respective hinge axes of the respective hinge elements are arranged along a circumferential line of the at least one construction space.

8. A production method for a floor assembly of a vehicle, wherein an integral structural component with a base part and at least one hinge element is arranged in the vehicle, wherein the structural component is arranged in the vehicle in such a manner that the base part of the structural component is supported on the vehicle, and wherein at least one flap element of the at least one hinge element, which is connected at least in regions to the base part, is pivoted relative to the base part from a production position to an end position, so that at least one construction space of the vehicle is enclosed at least partially by the at least one flap element, in such a manner that the at least one flap element is maintained in the production position until moved into and maintained in the end position and abuts or engages in a form-fitting manner against or on respective vehicle elements delimiting the at least one construction space of the vehicle.

9. The production method according to claim 8 , wherein the structural component is produced by pressing in a mold,
wherein, during the production of the structural component, the at least one flap element of the at least one hinge element, together with a base part, is provided in a common plane,
wherein the structural component is taken out or removed from the mold in a single mold removal direction,
wherein, in order to introduce the structural component into the vehicle, the at least one flap element is brought into an installation position,
and
wherein, at an installation site of the structural component, the at least one flap element is brought from its installation position into the end position which is in particular perpendicular relative to the base part.

10. The production method according to claim 8 , wherein the construction space of the vehicle comprises a vehicle part and/or is filled with a filling material.

11. The production method for a structural component according claim 1 , wherein the structural component is generated in a mold and taken out of the mold in a single mold removal direction, wherein, during a generation process for producing the structural component, at least one flap element of at least one hinge element of the structural component, together with a base part of the structural component, is provided in one plane, and wherein, before taking the structural component out of the mold, the at least one flap element is folded into a removal position which is in particular perpendicular relative to the base part, so that an undercut of the structural component by the at least one flap element is avoided.

12. The structural component according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one hinge element comprises a plurality of flap elements which is arranged along at least one hinge axis, and
wherein the flap elements are arranged spaced or abutting with respect to one another.

13. The structural component according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one hinge axis is produced as part of the hinge element by a pressing process.

14. The structural component according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one flap element comprises at least one rigid contact surface and at least one movable flap surface.

15. The structural component according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one flap element comprises at least one rigid contact surface and at least one movable flap surface.

16. The structural component according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one flap element comprises at least one rigid contact surface and at least one movable flap surface.

17. The structural component according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one hinge element is configured to provide, in the end position, a cover by means of which all the vehicle parts to be potentially arranged on the at least one construction space are to be covered or are coverable.

18. The structural component according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one hinge element is configured to provide, in the end position, a cover by means of which all the vehicle parts to be potentially arranged on the at least one construction space are to be covered or are coverable.

19. The structural component according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one hinge element is configured to provide, in the end position, a cover by means of which all the vehicle parts to be potentially arranged on the at least one construction space are to be covered or are coverable.

20. The structural component according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one hinge element is configured to provide, in the end position, a cover by means of which all the vehicle parts to be potentially arranged on the at least one construction space are to be covered or are coverable.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Schweiger Stephan

Classifications

• B60R13/013 Primary

  comprising removable or hinged parts, e.g. for accessing storage compartments · CPC title

• B29L2031/22

  Hinges {, pivots} · CPC title

• B29C53/063

  combined with folding · CPC title