Method and apparatus for mounting a motor vehicle component

Inventors: Carsten Fuchs (Essen, DE); Armin Handke (Duisburg, DE); Matthias Ochtrop (Dorsten, DE); Andreas Sohlbach (Mülheim, DE)

Assignee: KIEKERT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

E05B85/02 B62D65/06 E05B77/34

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12669000
App. No.: 18/262,996
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A plastic housing for a motor vehicle component and to a method for mounting a motor vehicle component having a plastic housing, a housing opening closed by at least one plastic film and a mechanism arranged in an interior of the housing, in which the mechanism is mounted, the housing is then closed and the mechanism is subsequently actuated through the housing opening, and in which the housing opening is sealed again after the actuation.

Claims (19)

1 . A method for mounting a motor vehicle component with a plastic housing comprising the steps of:

mounting a mechanism such that the mechanism is arranged in an interior of the housing,

subsequently closing a housing opening of the housing by at least one plastic film,

actuating the mechanism through the housing opening by piercing the at least one plastic film with an actuating tool, and

sealing the piercing in the at least one plastic film by applying a mounting foam to the at least one plastic film at the piercing.

2 . The method for mounting according to claim 1 , wherein by actuating the mechanism a test and/or a final mounting of the motor vehicle component is enabled.

3 . The method for mounting according to claim 1 , wherein actuating the mechanism includes piercing the plastic film with an actuating tool and actuating the mechanism with the actuation tool.

4 . The method for mounting according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting foam is applied as a foam bead around the housing opening.

5 . The method for mounting according to claim 1 , wherein a surface for applying the mounting foam is treated with a heat source before application.

6 . The method for mounting according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting foam is applied in the form of a PUR (polyurethane) foam.

7 . A plastic housing of a motor vehicle component, wherein the component is inserted in a region of the plastic housing accessible to moisture, comprising:

a housing opening closed by at least one plastic film, and

a mechanism arranged in an interior of the housing, wherein the mechanism is actuated through the housing opening by piercing the at least one plastic film with an actuating tool, and wherein the piercing in the at least one plastic film is closed after actuation by a foam bead and/or hot stamping applied to the at least one plastic film at the piercing.

8 . The plastic housing according to claim 7 , further comprising a survey arranged at least in a region of the housing opening.

9 . The plastic housing according to claim 8 , wherein the survey forms a contact surface for the mounting foam and/or a material accumulation for hot stamping.

10 . The method for mounting according to claim 5 , wherein the heat source is a laser.

11 . The method for mounting according to claim 3 , wherein closing the housing opening again after actuating the mechanism includes resealing the piercing in the plastic film made by the actuating tool.

12 . The method for mounting according to claim 4 , wherein the foam bead is applied at a periphery of the housing opening and extends sufficiently to overlap a center of the housing opening.

13 . The method for mounting according to claim 4 , wherein the plastic housing includes at least one survey, and the foam bead is applied at a position supported by the at least one survey.