Trunk switch module for vehicle

A trunk switch module for a vehicle includes: a housing, of which a rear side is partially inserted into a trunk lid of the vehicle, having a mounting space at a front side of the housing; a trunk switch disposed in the mounting space to selectively open the trunk lid according to an operation of a user; a cover assembly attached to a front edge of the housing to close the opened front side of the housing, the cover assembly having a button sealing unit which corresponds to the trunk switch; a protection film attached to the front surface of the cover assembly; and an emblem mounted on the cover assembly at a front side of the protection film.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0025734 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 27, 2017, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a trunk switch module for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a trunk switch module for a vehicle, which encapsulates a trunk switch unlocking a trunk lid in an emblem attached to the trunk lid to enhance an external appearance of a trunk and enhance a degree of design freedom of the trunk.

BACKGROUND

In general, a trunk loading a cargo is provided at the rear of a vehicle. The trunk is constituted by a trunk body forming a trunk space and a trunk lid for opening/closing the trunk body.

In addition, a trunk switch for opening the trunk as an unlocking device capable of unlocking the trunk lid outside the trunk is installed in the trunk lid.

Further, the trunk switch is connected with a trunk latch having locking and unlocking functions of the trunk lid and the trunk latch unlocks the trunk lid by actuation of the trunk switch to open the trunk body.

In recent years, a trunk switch is installed in an emblem representing a manufacturer at the rear of a vehicle to actuate the trunk switch through an operation such as pressing or pulling the emblem.

For example, there are trucks switch which draws the emblem, which rotates the emblem, and which pushes the emblem are disclosed.

Among them, the case of an emblem integrated trunk switch in the related art is configured in a structure in which when a front surface of the emblem is pressed or depressed by making the emblem into a button, the emblem moves to the inside or the outside while being guided by a button stroke guide of a switch body to turn on or off a switch assembly.

However, the emblem integrated trunk switch in the related art has a disadvantage in that when water is introduced between the button stroke guide and the switch body, the water is drained due to a capillary phenomenon.

In addition, since an area between the button stroke guide and the switch body is large, when the introduced water is frozen by a low temperature in the wintertime, an operation stroke of a button significantly increases, and as a result, it is difficult to operate the trunk switch and it is impossible to operate the trunk switch when the switch is frozen at a subzero temperature.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide a trunk switch module for a vehicle, which prevent water from being introduced to the inside of a trunk by integrally providing a button sealing unit to correspond to a trunk switch positioned at an upper portion of an emblem and adopting a cover assembly to which a protection film is applied to enhance watertightness and prevent an operation malfunction phenomenon of the trunk switch due to freezing of the water, thereby enhancing switch operating performance.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a trunk switch module for a vehicle, including: a housing of which a rear side is partially inserted into a trunk lid of the vehicle, having a mounting space at a front side of the housing; a trunk switch disposed in the mounting space to selectively open the trunk lid according to an operation of a user; a cover assembly attached to a front edge of the housing to close opened front side of the housing, the cover assembly having a button sealing unit which corresponds to the trunk switch; a protection film attached to the front surface of the cover assembly; and an emblem mounted on the cover assembly at a front side of the protection film.

The cover assembly may include a main body having a mounting hole at an upper portion of the main body to correspond to the trunk switch so that the button sealing unit is provided, a flange unit integrally formed on an outer circumference of the main body, and a vehicle body sealing unit integrally formed on a rear surface of the flange unit.

An engagement protrusion may be integrally formed so that a lower part of the button sealing unit covers the outer circumference in the main body below the mounting hole.

The button sealing unit and the vehicle body sealing unit may be insert-injected into the main body and the flange unit, respectively.

The button sealing unit and the vehicle body sealing unit may be thermoplastic poly urethane (TPU) materials.

A coupling groove may be formed on the rear surface of the main body to correspond to a coupling protrusion formed in the housing.

The main body may be coupled to the housing through ultrasonic fusion while the coupling protrusion is inserted into the coupling groove.

The housing is ultrasonically fused to the rear of the main body to be coupled to the main body.

The front surface of the main body may be painted with the same color as a body of the vehicle.

The protection film may be an anti-chipping film that protects a painted surface painted on the front surface of the main body.

the trunk switch may include

a tack switch mounted on the insider of the rear of the housing, and a push block mounted on the mounting space to move forward and backward to correspond to the tack switch so as to selectively contact the tack switch and turning on or off the tack switch while selectively contacting the tack switch.

A contact protrusion contacting the tack switch may be formed at the rear of the push block.

An air vent hole may be formed at one side of a lower end of the housing for ventilation in the mounting space.

A label tape may be attached to the emblem so that a position of the trunk switch is displayed on an upper front surface corresponding to the trunk switch.

A mounting pad for fixing the housing in the trunk lid may be mounted on the rear of the housing.

As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a trunk switch module for a vehicle prevents water from being introduced to the inside of a trunk through a trunk switch by integrally providing a button sealing unit to correspond to a trunk switch positioned at an upper portion of an emblem and adopting a cover assembly to which a protection film is applied to enhance watertightness and prevent an operation malfunction phenomenon of the trunk switch due to freezing of the water, thereby enhancing switch operating performance.

Further, the trunk switch is integrally configured in the emblem and a paint having the same color as the vehicle is applied to the cover assembly to enhance a degree of design freedom of a trunk lid.

In addition, a vehicle body sealing unit is integrally formed on a rear surface of the cover assembly contacting a vehicle body to minimize friction with a vehicle body painting surface and enhance sealing performance.

Furthermore since the watertightness can be enhanced by applying the cover assembly without a separate waterproof device, a structure can be simplified and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Prior to this, configurations illustrated in the exemplary embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present specification are only the most preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present disclosure, and thus it is to be understood that various equivalents and modified examples, which may replace the configurations, are possible when filing the present application.

Since size and thickness of each component illustrated in the drawings are arbitrarily represented for convenience in explanation, the present disclosure is not particularly limited to the illustrated size and thickness of each component and the thickness is enlarged and illustrated in order to clearly express various parts and areas.

In addition, the terms “unit”, “means”, “part”, and “member”, which are described in the specification, mean a unit of a comprehensive configuration that performs at least one function or operation.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a trunk switch module for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG. 2is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 1,FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of the trunk switch module for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 4as a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B ofFIG. 3is a cross-sectional view of a cover assembly applied to the trunk switch module for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to drawings, a trunk switch module100for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the preset disclosure prevents water from being introduced to the inside of a trunk through a trunk switch120by integrally providing a button sealing unit133to correspond to the trunk switch120positioned at an upper portion of an emblem150and adopting a cover assembly130to which a protection film140is applied to enhance watertightness and prevent an operation malfunction phenomenon of the trunk switch120due to freezing of the water, thereby enhancing switch operating performance.

To this end, the trunk switch module100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing110, the trunk switch120, the cover assembly130, the protection film140, and the emblem150.

First, a rear side of the housing110is partially inserted into a trunk lid10provided in the vehicle, and a front side of the housing110is opened to form a mounting space S in the housing110. The trunk switch120is provided in the mounting space S.

The housing110may be configured by an elliptical box of which a cross section has an elliptical shape to correspond to a shape of the emblem150.

Herein, an air vent hole112may be formed at one side of a lower end of the housing110for ventilation in the mounting space S.

When the cover assembly130is mounted on the housing110to seal the mounting space S, the air vent hole112may release pressure generated in the mounting space S so as to prevent the trunk switch120from being not actuated due to internal pressure of the mounting space S.

That is, the air vent hole112allows the mounting space S to be in communication with the outside.

A mounting pad170for fixing the housing110in the trunk lid10may be mounted on the rear side of the housing10configured as such.

In the exemplary embodiment, the trunk switch120is mounted on the mounting space S so as to selectively open the trunk lid10according to an operation of a user.

Herein, the trunk switch120includes a tack switch122and a push block124.

First, the tack switch122is mounted inside the rear side of the housing110in the mounting space S.

Herein, the tack switch122may be electrically connected with a latch (not illustrated) provided in the trunk lid10.

That is, the tack switch122as a printed circuit board (PCB) integrated switch is electrically connected to the latch through a wiring. Since the tack switch as a general tack switch applied to the trunk switch120corresponds to known technology, a detailed description of a structure and a function of the tack switch122will be hereinafter omitted.

In addition, the push block124is mounted on the mounting space S to move forward and backward to correspond to the tack switch122so as to selectively contact the tack switch122.

The push block124may turn on or off the tack switch120while selectively contacting the tack switch122.

A contact protrusion126contacting the tack switch122may be formed at the rear of the push block124.

The contact protrusion126protrudes to the rear of the push block124by a predetermined length. Accordingly, when actuation force of the user is applied to the push block124, the push block124may smoothly contact the tack switch122through the contract protrusion126.

Herein, a spring (not illustrated) is interposed between a rear surface of the push block124and an inner surface of the mounting space S. When external force is not applied to the push block124, the spring provides elastic restoration force to the push block124to continuously return the push block124to an initial position.

Meanwhile, a magnitude of the actuation force applied to the push block124may be controlled by adjusting a length of the contact protrusion126or controlling elastic force of the spring (not illustrated). That is, the magnitude of the actuation force of the push block124may be controlled according to a request of the user to satisfy the request of the user.

In the exemplary embodiment, the cover assembly130is mounted on a front surface of the housing110so as to close the opened front surface of the housing110. The button sealing unit133is integrally formed in the cover assembly130to correspond to the trunk switch.

In addition, the protection film140is attached onto the front surface of the cover assembly130. The emblem150is mounted on the cover assembly130at the front of the protection film140.

Herein, the cover assembly130further includes a main body132, a flange unit134, and a vehicle body sealing unit135.

First, the main body132has the same shape as the front surface of the housing110. A mounting hole131is formed at an upper portion of the main body132to correspond to the trunk switch120so that the button sealing unit133is provided in the main body132.

The button sealing unit133may prevent the push block124of the trunk switch120from being exposed to the outside through the mounting hole131. At the same time, the button sealing unit133may prevent water or foreign materials from being introduced into the mounting space S through a space between the push block124and the mounting hole131.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flange unit134is integrally formed on an outer circumference of the main body110. In addition, the vehicle body sealing unit135is integrally formed on the rear surface of the flange unit134.

That is, the rear surface of the flange unit134contacts the trunk lid10when the trunk switch module100is mounted on the trunk lid10. In this case, the vehicle body sealing unit135may prevent the flange unit134from directly contacting the trunk lid10and minimize friction.

Herein, the button sealing unit133and the vehicle body sealing unit135may be insert-injected into the main body132and the flange unit134, respectively.

The button sealing unit133and the vehicle body sealing unit135may be a thermoplastic poly urethane (TPU) material.

Since the TPU material as a material which has large durability and is not well abraded corresponds to widely known technology, a more detailed description of the TPU material will be hereinafter omitted.

In an exemplary embodiment, an engagement protrusion136may be integrally formed in the main body110so that a lower part of the button sealing unit133covers the outer circumference below the mounting hole131.

That is, the button sealing unit133is mounted in the mounting hole131of the main body132while covering the outer circumference of the engagement protrusion136during insert-injection to be stably formed in the main body132.

Herein, a coupling groove137may be formed on a rear surface of the main body132to correspond to a coupling protrusion114formed in the housing110.

Further, the main body132may be coupled to the housing110through ultrasonic fusion while the coupling protrusion114is inserted into the coupling groove137.

As a result, the cover assembly130is ultrasonically fused to the front surface of the housing110to seal the mounting space S of the housing110.

The front surface of the main body132may be painted with the same color as the trunk lid10which is a body of the vehicle.

As a result, the protection film140may be formed by an anti-chipping film that protects a painted surface painted on the front surface of the main body132.

In addition, a label tape160may be attached onto the emblem150so that the position of the trunk switch120is displayed on an upper front surface corresponding to the trunk switch120.

That is, the user may easily recognize and operate the position of the trunk switch120hidden at the rear of the button sealing unit133in the cover assembly130painted through the label tape160.

In the trunk switch module100configured as such, the cover assembly130, in which the button sealing unit133is integrally formed, enables the user to operate the trunk switch120mounted in the mounting space S and prevents the trunk switch120from being exposed to the outside to prevent the water or the foreign materials from being introduced into the housing110.

Accordingly, when the trunk switch module100for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the preset disclosure, which is configured as above is applied, the water is prevented from being introduced to the inside of the trunk through the trunk switch120by integrally providing the button sealing unit133to correspond to the push block124positioned at the upper portion of the emblem150and adopting the cover assembly130to which the protection film140is applied to enhance watertightness and prevent an operation malfunction phenomenon of the trunk switch120due to freezing of the water, thereby enhancing switch operating performance.

Further, the trunk switch120is integrally configured in the emblem150and a paint having the same color as the vehicle is applied to the cover assembly130to enhance a degree of design freedom of the trunk lid10.

In addition, in the trunk switch module100for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle body sealing unit135is integrally formed on a rear surface of the cover assembly130contacting the vehicle body to minimize friction with a vehicle body painting surface and enhance sealing performance.

Furthermore since the watertightness can be enhanced by applying the cover assembly130without a separate waterproof device, a structure can be simplified and manufacturing cost can be reduced.