IP Library Granted Patent US 8,857,900
Granted Patent B2
US 8,857,900 · App. 13/671,840 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Water box and method for production

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,857,900
App. No.
13/671,840
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water box, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided. The water box includes a back wall, which rises from a lower side up to below a front window frame from where it continues as a covering the longitudinal direction of which is arranged transversely to a traveling direction in order to create an impact protection, and a front wall, which extends from the lower side in the direction of an engine compartment. The back wall, the covering and the front wall are embodied unitarily. A method for producing a water box is also provided.

Claims (25)

1. A water box for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a back wall, which rises from a lower side up to below a front window frame, the back wall having a first back wall end and a second back wall end, the second back wall end coupled to the lower side,

a covering, which continues from the first back wall end, the covering arranged transversely to a traveling direction of the motor vehicle and including at least one predetermined breaking point that breaks in response to a force loading in order to create an impact protection, and

a front wall which extends from the lower side in the direction of an engine compartment, the front wall having a first front wall end and a second front wall end, the second front wall end coupled to the lower side,

wherein the back wall, the covering and the front wall are embodied unitarily in one piece, the covering extends outwardly from the first back wall end towards the first front wall end, and the first front wall end is spaced apart from the covering.

2. The water box according to claim 1 , wherein a lower part element is attached to the lower side of the back wall.

3. The water box according to claim 1 , wherein the covering further comprises at least one impact zone in which a wall thickness is reduced so that the impact zone yields in the case of a force loading.

4. The water box according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the back wall, the covering and the front wall further comprises at least one reinforcing means.

5. The water box according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one reinforcing means is formed by introducing a reinforcing material with greater loading capacity.

6. The water box according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one reinforcing means is formed through reinforcing a wall thickness of the water box.

7. The water box according to claim 1 , wherein the back wall, the covering and the front wall is produced by an injection molding method.

8. The water box according to claim 1 , wherein the back wall, the covering and the front wall is produced by a hybrid injection molding method.

9. The water box according to claim 1 , wherein between the back wall and the covering a connecting element in the form of at least one partial diagonal bracing is unitarily attached.

10. A method for producing a water box for a motor vehicle, comprising:

providing an injection mold; and

injection molding the water box including a back wall, which rises from a lower side up to below a front window frame from where it continues as a covering, the longitudinal direction of which is arranged transversely to a traveling direction in order to create an impact protection, and a front wall, which extends from the lower side in the direction of an engine compartment, wherein the back wall, the covering and the front wall are molded unitarily and the front wall is spaced apart from the covering.

11. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a water box including a back wall, which rises from a lower side up to below a front window frame, the back wall having a first back wall end and a second back wall end, the second back wall end coupled to the lower side, a covering, which continues from the first back wall end, wherein a longitudinal direction of the covering is arranged transversely to a traveling direction of the motor vehicle in order to create an impact protection, the covering having a first side facing an exterior of the motor vehicle and a second side opposite the first side, and a front wall which extends from the lower side in the direction of an engine compartment, the front wall having a first front wall end and a second front wall end, the second front wall end coupled to the lower side and the second side of the covering facing the front wall,

wherein the back wall, the covering and the front wall are embodied unitarily in one piece by injection molding, the covering includes a plurality of predetermined breaking points, with at least one of the plurality of predetermined breaking points formed on the first side of the covering and at least one of the plurality of predetermined breaking points formed on the second side of the covering, each of the plurality of predetermined breaking points breaking in the case of a force loading, and the covering extends outwardly from the first back wall end towards the first front wall end, with the covering spaced apart from the first front wall end.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein a lower part element is attached to the lower side of the back wall.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the covering further comprises at least one impact zone in which a wall thickness is reduced so that the impact zone yields in the case of a force loading.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the back wall, the covering and the front wall further comprises at least one reinforcing means.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one reinforcing means is formed by introducing a reinforcing material with greater loading capacity.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one reinforcing means is formed through reinforcing a wall thickness of the water box.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein between the back wall and the covering a connecting element in the form of at least one partial diagonal bracing is unitarily attached.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0601 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2013
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 030694/0591 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2013
From: JUETTNER, MARC; VOLLHARDT, JUERGEN
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 029777/0964 →