RELATED FIELD

[0001] This invention claims the priority of the Chinese patent application 202110697343.8 filed on June 23th 2021, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated by reference. The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of vehicle trim, and more particularly, to a decorative assembly for a vehicle and a vehicle including the decorative assembly.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The front of a vehicle (such as the front grille, headlights, etc.) is generally provided with an electroplated decorative strip to obtain better visual effects. As to the existing electroplated decorative strip, a decorative strip body is generally formed in advance by injection molding, and then a decorative bright surface is formed by electroplating on the surface of the decorative strip body. The electroplated decorative strip is generally chrome- plated. This chrome-plated decorative strip is made by chrome-plating on the outer surface of the decorative strip body. The silver-white chrome-plated layer has high hardness and gloss, and has good heat-resistance and wear-resistance.

[0003] However, the decorative strip body is formed by injection molding, and a parting line inevitably exists on the surface thereof. The parting line protrudes from the surface of the decorative strip body and will remain in the subsequent electroplating process. When the electroplated decorative strip is mounted on a vehicle, the parting line thereof is generally exposed, causing appearance defects to the vehicle.

[0004] At present, there are some technical solutions to solve the problem of poor appearance of the vehicle caused by the electroplated decorative strip. One of these technical solutions is to injection-mold an additional shielding edge on a plastic component of the vehicle adjacent to the electroplated decorative strip to shield the parting line of the electroplated decorative strip.

SUMMARY [0005] An object of the present disclosure is to propose an improved technical solution for solving the problem of exposed parting line of the decorative strip.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a decorative assembly for a vehicle is provided, which includes: a decorative strip formed by molding and defining a longitudinal edge extending in a longitudinal direction; a cover arranged along the longitudinal direction to at least cover a longitudinal parting line on an outer surface of the decorative strip; wherein the decorative strip and the cover are separate parts, the cover and/or the decorative strip define a limiting structure, and the cover is held on the decorative strip by the limiting structure.

[0007] The cover in the decorative assembly according to the present disclosure can be held on the decorative strip and cover the parting line of the decorative strip to provide good appearance quality, regardless of whether the structure surrounding the decorative assembly can shield the parting line of the decorative strip, which expands the application position of the decorative assembly to a certain extent. This is particularly advantageous in the case where there are no plastic components around the decorative assembly and thus it is impossible to injection-mold a shielding edge on the plastic components to cover the parting line. Further, the cover and the decorative strip can be held together by the limiting structure defined by themselves, and no additional connection structure is required, which facilitates the assembly of the cover and the decorative strip and saves the space otherwise occupied by the additional connection structure.

[0008] According to the above technical concept, the first aspect of the present disclosure may further include one or more of the following optional forms.

[0009] In some optional forms, the cover and the decorative strip define a first limiting structure together, and the first limiting structure comprises a limiting protrusion provided on the decorative strip and a limiting hole correspondingly provided on the cover; the limiting protrusion is configured to pass through the limiting hole for holding the cover on the decorative strip.

[0010] In some optional forms, the cover is arranged along the longitudinal edge of the decorative strip, and the limiting protrusion is in the form of a tab and is protruded from the longitudinal edge; the limiting protrusion has a proximal section adjacent to the longitudinal edge, and the proximal section at least partially broadens in a direction away from the longitudinal edge.

[0011] In some optional forms, the cover at least partially has a substantially C-shaped or U- shaped cross-section for being wrapped around the longitudinal edge of the decorative strip.

[0012] In some optional forms, the decorative strip comprises a mounting bracket extending from the longitudinal edge for mounting the decorative strip to the vehicle; the mounting bracket defines a second limiting structure, and the second limiting structure comprises a limiting surface for abutting the cover to prevent the cover from being separated from the longitudinal edge.

[0013] In some optional forms, the mounting bracket further defines a guiding surface, and the guiding surface extends from the limiting surface in a direction away from the longitudinal edge for guiding the cover to be wrapped around the longitudinal edge.

[0014] In some optional forms, the cover comprises an anti-interference window through which the mounting bracket extends when the cover is wrapped around the longitudinal edge.

[0015] In some optional forms, the cover is made of TPE or rubber material.

[0016] In some optional forms, the TPE or rubber material has a hardness of about 85 to 95 Shore A.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided, wherein the vehicle includes the decorative assembly for a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0018] The decorative assembly for a vehicle and the vehicle according to the present disclosure can provide a good appearance, and the decorative assembly has a wide application range, is easy to assemble, and occupies a small space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily understood through the following preferred embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components.

[0020] FIG. l is a rear view of a decorative assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; [0021] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are exploded views of the decorative assembly of FIG. 1 from different perspectives;

[0022] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are perspective views of a decorative strip and a cover of the decorative assembly of FIG. 1, respectively; [0023] FIG. 4A is a partly enlarged view of the decorative assembly of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 4A;

[0025] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 4A;

[0026] FIG. 5 A is another partly enlarged view of the decorative assembly of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 5 A; [0028] FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 5A;

[0029] FIG. 6 shows the assembly process of the decorative assembly of FIG. 1; and

[0030] FIG. 7 is a partly sectional view of the decorative assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0031] The implementation and usage of the embodiments are discussed in detail below.

However, it is conceivable that the specific embodiments discussed are merely intended to illustrate specific ways of implementing and using the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. When describing structures and positions of components, the direction-related expressions herein, such as "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical" and so on are not absolute, but relative. When the components are arranged as shown in the drawings, these direction-related expressions are appropriate, but when the positions of these components in the drawings are altered, these direction-related expressions should be altered accordingly. In the present disclosure, the longitudinal direction of a component refers to the length direction of the component.

[0032] FIG. 1 to FIG. 3B illustrate a decorative assembly 100 for a vehicle and its constituent components according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows a side of the decorative assembly 100 that is invisible when the decorative assembly 100 is mounted on a vehicle, that is, the undecorated rear side of the decorative assembly 100. The decorative assembly 100 may be used to decorate various parts of a vehicle, such as a vehicle front grille, headlights, daytime running lights, and the like.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3B, the decorative assembly 100 may include a decorative strip 102 and a cover 104. The decorative strip 102 is formed by molding and defines a longitudinal edge 108 extending in a longitudinal direction D. The cover 104 is arranged along the longitudinal direction D to at least cover a longitudinal parting line 103 on an outer surface of the decorative strip 102. The decorative strip 102 and the cover 104 are separate parts. Further, the cover 104 and/or the decorative strip 102 define a limiting structure, and the cover 104 is held on the decorative strip 102 by the limiting structure.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3A, the decorative strip 102 may be substantially slender and extend in the longitudinal direction D. In the illustrated embodiment, the decorative strip 102 may have a certain curvature to match the shape of a part to be decorated. The decorative strip 102 may be an electroplated decorative strip made by injection molding first and then electroplating metal on the formed semi-finished product. Optionally, the decorative strip 102 may be chrome-plated. For the slender decorative strip 102, a parting line 103 extending substantially along the longitudinal direction D will be formed during the injection-molding process.

[0035] The decorative strip 102 may include a decorative strip body 106. The parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102 is located on the decorative strip body 106. The decorative strip body 106 defines the longitudinal edge 108 extending in the longitudinal direction D.

[0036] The decorative strip 102 may include a limiting protrusion 110 extending from the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip body 106 for holding the cover 104 on the decorative strip 102, which will be described in detail below. The decorative strip 102 may have multiple limiting protrusions 110 spaced along the longitudinal direction D to firmly hold the cover 104 on the decorative strip 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the decorative strip 102 may have three limiting protrusions 110.

[0037] The decorative strip 102 may further include a mounting bracket 112 extending from the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip body 106 for mounting the decorative strip 102 to the vehicle, for example, to a part to be decorated by the decorative strip 102 or to other vehicle components or vehicle parts around the part to be decorated. The decorative strip 102 may have multiple mounting brackets 112 spaced along the longitudinal direction D to firmly hold the decorative strip 102 to the vehicle. The configurations of the multiple mounting brackets 112 may be the same or different. In the illustrated embodiment, the decorative strip 102 may have four mounting brackets 112.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the limiting protrusions 110 and the mounting brackets 112 of the decorative strip 102 may be alternately arranged, so that each limiting protrusion 110 may be located between two mounting brackets 112.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2A, 3B, and 5C, the cover 104 may be arranged along the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102 to cover the parting line 103 on the decorative strip body 106. The cover 104 may be substantially slender. The cover 104 may be made of TPE or rubber material so that the cover 104 has certain elasticity. The TPE or rubber material of the cover 104 may have a hardness of about 85-95 Shore A, so that the cover 104 can have suitable elasticity and stiffness at the same time. Preferably, the TPE or rubber material of the cover 104 may have a hardness of about 90 Shore A. Besides, the cover 104 may be manufactured in a suitable color according to the color of the vehicle to obtain a better overall appearance. For example, the cover 104 may be black.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 2A-5C, in the illustrated embodiment, the cover 104 may have a variable cross-section. The cover 104 may mainly include three types of segments, namely, a first segment 114 having a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, a second segment 116 that fits with a portion of the decorative strip 102 having the limiting protrusion 110, and a third segment 118 that fits with a portion of the decorative strip 102 having the mounting bracket 112. Since the limiting protrusions 110 and the mounting brackets 112 of the decorative strip 102 are alternately arranged along the longitudinal direction D, correspondingly, the second segments 116 and the third segments 118 of the cover 104 are also alternately arranged, and the first segment 114 may be between the second segment 116 and the third segment 118 adjacent to each other. FIGS. 5C, 4C and 5B show cross-sections at the first segment 114, the second segment 116 and the third segment 118 of the cover 104, respectively.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5C, the first segment 114 of the cover 104 may have a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section to be wrapped around or to receive the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102. From the perspective of FIG. 5C, the first segment 114 can prevent the cover 104 from moving up and down relative to the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5C, the first segment 114 includes an upper portion 114a, a lower portion 114b, and an intermediate portion 114c connecting the upper portion 114a with the lower portion 114b. The upper portion 114a of the first segment 114 can cover the parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102 so that the parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102 is invisible. The intermediate portion 114c of the first segment 114 may be stopped by the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102 to prevent the cover 104 from moving rightward relative to the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, the second segment 116 of the cover 104 may include an upper portion 116a, a lower portion 116b, and an intermediate portion 116c connecting the upper portion 116a with the lower portion 116b, so as to be wrapped around or to receive the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102. The upper portion 116a of the second segment 116 can cover the parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102 so that the parting line

103 of the decorative strip 102 is invisible.

[0043] The second segment 116 of the cover 104 and the decorative strip 102 may define a first limiting structure together. The first limiting structure includes the limiting protrusion 110 provided on the decorative strip 102 and a limiting hole 116f correspondingly provided in the intermediate portion 116c of the second segment 116. The limiting protrusion 110 can pass through the limiting hole 116f for holding the cover 104 on the decorative strip 102.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the limiting protrusion 110 is in the form of a tab and is protruded from the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102. The limiting protrusion 110 may have a proximal section 110a adjacent to the longitudinal edge 108, and the proximal section 110a at least partially broadens in a direction away from the longitudinal edge 108, so that the proximal section 110a can prevent the cover 104 from being separated from the longitudinal edge 108 after the limiting protrusion 110 is passed through the limiting hole 116f in the elastic cover 104 under an external force. This can prevent the cover 104 from moving upward (from the perspective of FIG. 4B) away from the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102. This plug-in-type limiting structure can also prevent upward, downward, leftward and rightward movement (from the perspective of FIG. 4A) of the cover 104 relative to the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102, where the leftward and rightward movement of the cover 104 relative to the decorative strip 102 is the movement of the cover

104 along the longitudinal direction D relative to the decorative strip 102.

[0045] The limiting protrusion 110 may further have a distal section 110b away from the longitudinal edge 108. The distal section 110b may taper in a direction away from the longitudinal edge 108, so that the limiting protrusion 110 can be easily inserted into the limiting hole 116f under an external force.

[0046] Correspondingly, the upper portion 116a of the second segment 116 of the cover 104 may include a shielding lug 116d to cover over the limiting protrusion 110 of the decorative strip 102, so that, for example, when the decorative assembly 100 is viewed from above (from the perspective of FIG. 4C), the limiting protrusion 110 of the decorative strip 102 is invisible, providing a better appearance.

[0047] In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, by limiting the cover 104 with the C- shaped structure of the first segment 114 and the substantially horizontally extending limiting protrusion 110 of the second segment 116, the size of the decorative assembly 100 in the vertical direction can be reduced, so that space for installation is saved.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the third segment 118 of the cover 104 may also cover the parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102 so that the parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102 is invisible. The third segment 118 and the adjacent first segment 114 of the cover 104 together form an anti-interference window 124. As shown, the mounting bracket 112 extends through the anti-interference window 124 when the cover 104 is wrapped around the longitudinal edge 108.

[0049] The mounting bracket 112 of the decorative strip 102 defines a second limiting structure. The second limiting structure includes a limiting surface 126 for abutting the cover 104 to prevent the cover 104 from being separated from the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102. Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the mounting bracket 112 defines a limiting surface 126 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102, and the limiting surface 126 may abut the third segment 118 to prevent the cover 104 from being separated from the longitudinal edge 108. That is, from the perspective of FIG. 5B, the limiting surface 126 may abut the left side of the third segment 118 to prevent the cover 104 from moving leftward relative to the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102.

[0050] The mounting bracket 112 further defines a guiding surface 128, and the guiding surface 128 extends from the limiting surface 126 in a direction away from the longitudinal edge 108 for guiding the cover 104 to be wrapped around the longitudinal edge 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the guiding surface 128 and the limiting surface 126 form an obtuse angle. With reference to FIGS. 5B-6, when the cover 104 is mounted on/wrapped around the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102 by rotating the cover 104 in the R direction, the third segment 118 can smoothly enter the comer formed by the limiting surface 126 and the longitudinal edge 108 of the decorative strip 102, thereby covering the parting line 103 of the decorative strip 102.

[0051] The cover in the decorative assembly according to the present disclosure can be held on the decorative strip and cover the parting line of the decorative strip to provide good appearance quality, regardless of whether the structure surrounding the decorative assembly can shield the parting line of the decorative strip. For example, above the daytime running light at the front of the vehicle may be a metal engine hood, and it is impossible to additionally injection-mold a shielding edge on the engine hood to shield the parting line of the decorative strip. However, the decorative assembly 100 according to the present disclosure itself has a cover 104 which can be used to decorate the daytime running light under the engine hood. In this application scenario, as shown in FIG. 7, the area circled by the box A in the figure is the visible area (decorative area) of the decorative assembly 100, and the area circled by the box B is the normally invisible area (i.e., covered by the engine hood) of the decorative assembly 100.

[0052] It should be understood that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 only illustrate the shape, size and arrangement of each optional component of the decorative assembly 100 for a vehicle according to the present disclosure. However, these embodiments are merely intended to illustrate, rather than limit. Other shapes, sizes and arrangements may be adopted without departing from the idea and scope of the present disclosure.

[0053] For example, in the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover and the decorative strip can be held together by their own structures without using other additional connection structures. It is conceivable that additional connection structures may be employed to further enhance the connection between the cover and the decorative strip.

[0054] For another example, in the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure, the cover at least partially has a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section. It is conceivable that the cover may have no segment with a C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, as long as the cover can cover the parting line on the surface of the decorative strip. For example, the cover may have a substantially L-shaped cross-section, and in this case, the position or configuration of the limiting structure may be adjusted to ensure that the cover is stably held on the decorative strip.

[0055] For yet another example, it is conceivable that the size of the cover can be designed according to the position of the actual parting line of the decorative strip, so that the cover can cover the parting line of the decorative strip.

[0056] The technical contents and technical features of the present disclosure have been disclosed above. However, it can be understood that, those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the above-disclosed concept under the creative concept of the present disclosure, and all these various changes and improvements still fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. The description of the foregoing embodiments is exemplary rather than restrictive, and the protection scope of the present disclosure is determined by the appended claims.