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DE-102025103940-B3 - Bumper cover with one-sided open undercut geometry for a motor vehicle and sensor mounting arrangement for fixing a sensor, as well as motor vehicle

DE102025103940B3DE 102025103940 B3DE102025103940 B3DE 102025103940B3DE-102025103940-B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper cover (20) for a motor vehicle (10) comprising: an outer surface (22) and an inner surface (24); at least one surface area provided for creating an opening for receiving a sensor device, wherein the sensor device (30) has a sensor holder (32) and a sensor (34) fixed in the sensor holder (32), wherein the sensor (34) has a sensor front (36) and a sensor back (38); an undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) adjacent to the surface area, open on one side, for at least one retaining clip (50, 50a, 56), wherein the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is located on the inner surface (24) of the bumper cover (20); wherein the sensor (34) can be secured on the sensor rear side (38) in the intended installation position on the inside (24) of the bumper cover (20) by the retaining clip (50, 50a, 56) clipped into the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44); and the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is formed in one piece with the rest of the bumper cover (20).

Inventors

  • Tim Köhler

Assignees

  • VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250204

Claims (9)

  1. Bumper cover (20) for a motor vehicle (10) comprising: - an outer surface (22) and an inner surface (24); - at least one surface area provided for creating an opening for receiving a sensor device, wherein the sensor device (30) comprises a sensor holder (32) and a sensor (34) fixed in the sensor holder (32), the sensor (34) having a sensor front (36) and a sensor back (38); - an undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) adjacent to the surface area for at least one retaining clip (50, 50a, 56), wherein the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is located on the inner surface (24) of the bumper cover (20); wherein - the sensor (34) on the sensor rear side (38) can be secured in the intended installation position on the inside (24) of the bumper cover (20) by the at least one retaining clip (50, 50a, 56) clipped into the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44); and - the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is formed integrally with the rest of the bumper cover (20); characterized in that - the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is open on one side; - the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is arranged outside the sensor holder (32).
  2. Bumper cover (20) after Claim 1 , wherein the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) is designed as a channel formed by two parallel webs, wherein at least one of the webs has an L-profile, wherein the angled leg of the L-profile is oriented towards the other web.
  3. Bumper cover (20) after Claim 2 , wherein the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) comprises at least one pair of opposing channels (40, 42); or two pairs of opposing channels (40, 42, 40a, 42a); or a circumferential channel (44) with a closed contour.
  4. Sensor mounting arrangement for a motor vehicle (10), comprising: - a bumper cover (20) according to one of the preceding claims; - a sensor device (30) comprising a sensor holder (32) and a sensor (34) fixed in the sensor holder (32), wherein the sensor (34) has a sensor front (36) and a sensor back (38); - at least one retaining clip (50, 50a, 56) which additionally fixes the sensor (34) to the sensor back (38), wherein the retaining clip (50, 50a, 56) has at least one locking lug (52, 54) which engages positively in the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44) of the bumper cover (20).
  5. Sensor mounting arrangement according to Claim 4 , wherein the retaining clip (50, 50a, 56) is formed in one piece with a circumferential locking lug with a closed contour which engages in a corresponding circumferential undercut geometry (44) with a closed contour; or is formed in two pieces and forms a U-shape, with a locking lug (52, 54) at each end for fixing in the undercut geometry (40, 42, 40a, 42a, 44).
  6. Sensor mounting arrangement according to Claim 5 , comprising two two-part retaining clips (50, 50a) which are arranged in an X-shape relative to each other.
  7. Sensor mounting arrangement according to one of the Claims 4 until 6 , where the sensor (34) is a parking distance control sensor (PDC sensor).
  8. Sensor mounting arrangement according to one of the Claims 4 until 7 , wherein the sensor mounting arrangement comprises the sensor holder (32) and/or the Sensor (34) remains essentially stationary in its intended installation position during a pendulum test performed with an impact speed of at least 2.6 km/h.
  9. motor vehicle (10) with a bumper cover (20) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 or a sensor mounting arrangement according to one of the Claims 4 until 8 .

Description

The present invention relates to a bumper cover for a motor vehicle, a sensor mounting arrangement for fixing at least one sensor, and a motor vehicle with such a bumper cover or sensor mounting arrangement. DE 10 2010 050 575 A1 This relates to a mounting device for sensors, in particular ultrasonic sensors, on vehicle components such as bumpers. Here, a sensor is attached to the vehicle component by means of a clamp-shaft combination comprising a sensor mounting device, a clamp that can be attached to a mounting projection of the vehicle component, and a shaft that receives the clamp and is firmly connected to the mounting device. CN 109 649 312 A relates to a two-part mounting device for vehicle radar sensors, in particular ultrasonic sensors, comprising a sensor holder made of hard plastic with an integrated feedthrough sleeve for the ultrasonic sensor and a connecting plate, and an elastic clamping mechanism attached to the bumper, comprising a horizontal locking groove that limits the horizontal movement and forward/backward movement of the sensor holder, and elastic locking teeth below the horizontal locking groove that restrict the vertical movement of the sensor holder. Furthermore, the GB 2 572 963 A a generic bumper cover. The purpose of the invention is to enable a simple and secure fixing of a sensor to a bumper cover. This problem is solved by the subject matter of the dependent claims. Further possible embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims, the description, and the figures. Features, advantages, and possible embodiments set forth in the description for one of the subject matter of the dependent claims are to be regarded, at least analogously, as features, advantages, and possible embodiments of the respective subject matter of the other dependent claims, as well as of any possible combination of the subject matter of the dependent claims, optionally in conjunction with one or more of the dependent claims. According to the invention, a bumper cover for a motor vehicle is provided, comprising: an outer surface and an inner surface; at least one surface area provided for producing an opening for receiving a sensor device, wherein the sensor device has a sensor holder and a sensor fixed in the sensor holder, the sensor having a sensor front and a sensor back; an undercut geometry adjacent to the surface area, open on one side, for at least one retaining clip, wherein the undercut geometry is located on the inner surface of the bumper cover; wherein the sensor can be secured at the sensor back in the intended installation position on the rear of the bumper cover by the at least one retaining clip clipped into the undercut geometry; and the undercut geometry is formed integrally with the rest of the bumper cover. Furthermore, the invention provides that the undercut geometry is arranged outside the sensor holder. The invention has the advantage that the sensor remains securely in its intended installation position even when external force is applied to the bumper cover, such as in a parking collision, and even if any adhesive or welded connections are damaged or loosened, for example, by shear forces. Furthermore, the invention has the advantage that the undercut geometry, which is formed integrally with the rest of the bumper cover, eliminates the need for additional assembly or joining steps. This makes the manufacturing process particularly advantageous. The undercut geometry, open on one side, can also be manufactured with exceptional stability and precision, with minimal tolerances. The undercut geometry is designed in such a way that no special precautions are required to protect it from potential damage during stacking, transport, removal for installation, and the installation of the bumper cover. The invention thus enables time- and cost-efficient initial assembly as well as a sustainable method of sensor fixation, since damage to the undercut geometry is minimized even in the event of a possible repair or replacement of a sensor. A motor vehicle within the scope of the invention can be understood as a powered vehicle. In particular, a motor vehicle within the scope of the invention can be a passenger car. A sensor device within the scope of the invention can be understood as a device comprising a sensor holder and a sensor mounted in the sensor holder. The sensor is fixed in a sensor holder, the sensor holder of the sensor device serving to hold the sensor within the sensor device in a defined position and orientation. A sensor front side within the scope of the invention can be understood as the side of the sensor that is visible in the intended installation position of the sensor when the front of the bumper cover is viewed. The sensor front side can thus be understood as the side of the sensor that is oriented for data acquisition or for interaction with the environment of the motor vehicle. A sensor rear side within the scope of the invention can be underst