Abstract:
A motor vehicle has a wing ( 3 ) with a cutout ( 16 ) and a covering part for covering the cutout ( 16 ). The covering part is formed by a panel ( 10 ) that is visible from outside and by a closing part ( 11 ) that holds the panel ( 10 ) from the inside against the cutout ( 16 ). To further increase the functionality of the covering part a connection in terms of flow extends between the closing part ( 11 ) and/or the panel ( 10 ) and headlight unit/lamp unit ( 2 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2009 014 368.8 filed on Mar. 21, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a covering part for a motor vehicle with a wing. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    It is known from the series manufacturing of vehicles to provide a cutout in the wing behind the wheelhouse. The cutout is covered decoratively by a covering and is provided for ventilating driving engines, for example internal combustion engines. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2005 042 688 A1 discloses integrating an indicator or the like into the covering part. 
         [0007]    The object of the invention is to further increase the functionality of a covering part of this type. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention uses the pressure difference between a separation edge of a cutout in a wing and the pressure prevailing at a headlight unit or other illumination system mounted upstream in the direction of travel. For this purpose, a covering covers the cutout and is connected in terms of flow to the headlight unit, for example via a ventilation hose. A greater pressure prevails at the inflow opening in the headlight unit than at the cutout in the wing during the driving mode. The pressure difference is sufficient to minimize a misting of the headlamp and to accelerate thawing/ventilation. 
         [0009]    In a preferred refinement of the invention, the connection in terms of flow can be produced by a hose that connects a connecting piece on the closing part to the ventilation opening on the headlight unit. 
         [0010]    The closing part and the panel can form a channel in the vicinity of the connecting piece to assist the flow from the ventilation opening to the separation edge. 
         [0011]    For manufacturing reasons, the border region of the wing that forms the cutout can be formed by a peripheral embossment. Therefore, the peripheral border region of the panel can bear against the embossment in the fitted position. 
         [0012]    X-positioning ribs that permit reproducible installation can be provided for positioning the panel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, Z-positioning ribs that interact with corresponding stops of the cutout and prevent a displacement in the vertical direction of the vehicle can be provided for positioning the panel in the vertical direction of the vehicle. 
         [0014]    For tool-free installation, the closing part may be latched by connecting holding tabs of the closing part to latching hooks of the panel. 
         [0015]    An advantageous refinement of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a front end of a motor vehicle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a view of the rear side of the wing according to  FIG. 1  with a panel inserted into the cutout in an embossment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a detail A according to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a detail B according to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the rear side of the wing according to  FIG. 1  with the panel and closing part inserted. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a detail C according to  FIG. 5 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a detail D according to  FIG. 5  in a latched fitted position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows the detail D according to  FIG. 7  in the removal position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a front end  1  of a motor vehicle (not illustrated further). A headlight unit  2  is arranged in the front region of the front end  1 . A wing  3  is connected behind the headlight unit  2 . The wing  3  extends over a wheelhouse  4  as far as the A pillar  5  (not illustrated). A lower part of the wing  3  is connected to the door sill  6  by means of two fastening tabs  7  and  8 . 
         [0025]    An elongate embossment  9  with a cutout (not visible in  FIG. 1 ) is provided in the wing  3  behind the wheelhouse  4  and is covered decoratively by a panel  10 . 
         [0026]    A closing part  11  holds the panel  10  on the cutout in the embossment  9 . The configurations of the panel  10  and the closing part  11  and the installation thereof are discussed in more detail below. 
         [0027]    A connecting piece  12  is provided on the upper end of the closing part  11  and preferably is formed integrally thereon. 
         [0028]    The connecting piece  12  can be adjoined by a flexible hose  13  or a shaped tube, which, in turn, is connected to a ventilation opening  14  in the headlight unit  2 . The headlight unit  2  also has an air inlet opening. To minimize misting within the headlight unit, it is desirable for air to flow through the headlight unit  2  from the air inlet opening  15  to the ventilation opening  14  in the direction of the arrow A. 
         [0029]    The separation edge formed by the embossment  9  causes a negative pressure to be produced in the region of the embossment  9  during movement of the motor vehicle. The negative pressure is illustrated schematically by arrows B. A higher pressure is produced in the driving mode at the front air inlet opening  15  on the headlight unit  2 . The resultant pressure difference between the air inlet opening  15  and the embossment  9  is used to generate a flow of air in the hose  13  in the direction of the arrow C so that air flows through the headlight unit  2  in the direction of the arrow A. It has been shown that the throughflow is sufficient to effectively minimize misting of the headlight unit from the inside. 
         [0030]    The installation of the panel  10  and the closing part  11  is explained in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 8 . 
         [0031]    As mentioned above, the embossment  9  comprises a cutout  16 . A fitter inserts the panel  10  into the cutout  16  in the embossment  9  from the outside. The panel  10  has hollow profiles  30  to  35  that are arranged one above another and adjoin one another. The hollow profiles  30  to  35  are connected to one another by a peripheral frame  36  that bears against the embossment  9 . The hollow profiles  30  to  35  are separated from one another by ribs  37  to  41 . 
         [0032]    X-positioning ribs  17  are provided on the panel  10  to position the panel  10  in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle. Each positioning rib  17  has a run-on slope  18  and a latching lug  19 . Upon insertion, the run-on slope  18  is pushed over the edge of the cutout  16  and latches behind the edge of the cutout  16  by means of the latching lug  19 . 
         [0033]    Upper and lower Z-positioning ribs  45  and  46  are provided on the panel  10  and limit displacement of the panel  10  in the vertical direction (Z) of the vehicle. The upper and lower Z-positioning rib  45  and  46  interact with stops  47  and  48  formed on the cutout  16 . 
         [0034]    Latching hooks  23  protrude from the rear side of the panel  10  in the direction of the closing part  11 . The closing part  11  together with the panel  10  forms, at least in the upper region, a channel that opens out in the connecting piece  12 . Holding tabs  24  are provided for fastening the closing part  11  to the panel  10 . The holding tabs  24  correspond to the latching hooks  23  are provided and are held in the fitted position by the latching hooks  23 . The latching hooks  23  are provided on one side with a lug  50  that engages behind the holding tab  24  in the fitted position (cf.  FIG. 7 ) to ensure secure latching of the closing part  11  on the panel  10 . 
         [0035]    Flexible supporting feet  25  are provided on the side of the closing part  11  that faces the cutout  16  to compensate for tolerances in the longitudinal direction (X) of the vehicle. The supporting feet are supported against the embossment  9  upon latching. 
         [0036]    The latching hooks  23  of the panel  10  are formed only on one side with a lug  50 . The lugs  50  come out of engagement with the holding tab  24  of the closing part  11  by displacing the closing part  11  vertically downwards. The closing part  11  subsequently can be removed counter to the direction of travel (X). It is therefore possible for the closing part  11  to be removed without being destroyed.