Patent ID: 8052203

Claim:
A modular, replaceable side panel for a vehicle, comprising a pivotable cover plate which is connected to a vehicle chassis by means of an upper fastening and a lower fastening, the upper fastening comprising a joint, and a securing device of the joint also being present and the lower fastening comprising a releasable locking device, the cover plate being held in a closed position by the upper fastening and the lower fastening, wherein the securing device comprises a lever attached to the cover plate with a spring clip articulated thereto, the lever and clip together forming a toggle joint, and a spring catch also being present such that the toggle joint, with the cover plate pivoted at an opening angle of considerably greater than 90° and less than 180°, is located behind a dead center position, whereby the lever which is fastened to the cover plate, extends at an opening angle substantially vertically so that the toggle joint, proceeding from a folded-up position, is located behind a dead center position, in which the alignment of the lever and the alignment of the spring clip are substantially parallel and at the same time the spring clip is engaged in the spring catch so that the cover plate is secured at the opening angle of considerably greater than 90° and less than 180°.