CN110873098A

CN110873098A - Fastening system

Info

Publication number: CN110873098A
Application number: CN201910785435.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 于尔根·克勒
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2018-08-29
Filing date: 2019-08-23
Publication date: 2020-03-10
Also published as: DE102018214629A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening system (1), comprising a base (10) having an opening (11) and a projection (20) having two snap-in elements (21), wherein the two snap-in elements (21) are spaced apart in a gap direction (B) and can be elastically pressed together, so that the two snap-in elements (21) can be inserted into the opening (11) in order to snap onto the base (10) by springing apart from one another. In order to provide a snap-fit connection with improved reliability, it is provided according to the invention that the base (10) has at least one locking element (13), which locking element (13) protrudes into the opening (11) and can be deflected elastically by inserting the snap-in elements (21) and when the snap-in elements (21) are snapped into place the at least one locking element (13) can be moved between the snap-in elements (21) by spring-back in order to counteract the effect of the snap-in elements (21) being pressed together.

Description

Fastening system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fastening system having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Background

In modern vehicles, body elements, such as for example vehicle doors facing the vehicle interior, are provided with lining elements, on the one hand for mechanical shielding purposes and on the other hand for providing attractive visual and tactile qualities. In order to fix such lining elements, on the one hand a screw connection is used, which however involves high material and assembly costs, and on the other hand a snap connection is used, which, although cost-effective, generally does not provide a sufficient holding force and therefore the force is not sufficient, for example from a safety point of view.

An insert plate for an opening in a liner plate is known from US 5,639,140 a. The insert plate here has integrally formed flexible hook elements designed to engage with the side walls of the opening. An elastically deformable lip is formed on the backing plate and extends into the opening. When the hook element is inserted into the opening, the lip is deflected in the insertion direction, while the hook element with the ramp portion is simultaneously deflected transversely to the insertion direction. Adjacent to the ramp portion is a snap-fit portion that snaps into the sidewall snap, whereby the hook member can spring back. Thus, the lip may also spring back to a starting position in which the lip prevents elastic deflection of the hook element.

EP 0909672B 1 discloses a component for fastening to the dashboard of a motor vehicle, such as a control panel. The member has an elastic wall portion on the surface, the elastic wall portion being on the side in the insertion direction. These wall portions have a receiving groove into which the instrument panel can be snapped and which is bounded on both sides by bevels. Here, an air gap is provided between the wall section and the component housing, which air gap deflects the wall section. The panel covering the component has filling projections which are inserted into the respective air gaps when the panel is mounted, thereby preventing deflection of the wall portion and undesired detachment of the component from the instrument panel.

WO2014/036944a1 discloses a sealing element for an opening of a wall. It has a handle portion and two flexible snap-in elements which are provided for insertion into the opening and snap-in on the wall by means of barbed hooks. The respective barbed hook is connected to a tear-away portion by a resilient base, which tear-away portion is in turn connected to a handle. Further, the barbed hook is connected to the handle by a connecting arm. If an attempt is made to remove the sealing element from the opening after the barbed hook snaps into place, this results in the tear-away portion tearing away from the handle, while the barbed hook continues to remain connected to the handle portion via the arm portion.

In view of the prior art already described, there is considerable room for improvement in the reliability of snap-fit connections.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a snap connection with improved reliability.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a fastening system having the features of claim 1, wherein the dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description may be combined in any technically meaningful way and show further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The invention provides a fastening system having a base with an opening and a projection comprising two snap-in elements which are spaced apart in the direction of the gap and can be pressed together elastically so that they can be inserted into the opening to snap onto the base by being separated from one another by the elastic force. The fastening system may also be referred to as a connection system and has a base and a protrusion. In this regard, the following terms should in no way be construed as limiting and used substantially to distinguish concepts. In particular, the base and the projection may be parts of a motor vehicle and the projection may be a lining element, for example a trim element or an inner lining. For example, the projection may be a lining of the door interior, while the base is an interior sheet or door module of the vehicle door made of plastic. The base is typically made of plastic or fibre reinforced plastic, but other materials, such as steel or aluminium alloys, are also conceivable. In this respect, the term "sheet" should not be construed in a limited manner as an inner panel which must be made of metal. There is in principle no restriction on the material of the projection either, but preferably at least the projection is made at least predominantly of plastic, which represents a typical material for the lining element.

The base has an opening which corresponds to some extent to the two snap-in elements of the projection. The two snap-in elements can be formed in one piece with the projection, in particular by one-shot forming, for fastening the projection on the base or for connecting the projection to the base. The two snap-in elements are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the gap, but can be pressed together elastically. "can be pressed together" here generally only means that the gap between the snap-in elements can be reduced. This is dependent on the elastic deflection or deformation of at least one of the snap-in elements (usually two snap-in elements). By pressing the elements together, the gap can be reduced to even zero. By pressing together resiliently, the snap-in elements can be inserted into the openings, i.e. when they are not pressed together, the size of the gap between the snap-in elements is usually not such as to allow such insertion or to limit a certain degree of insertion without being possible to snap in. The gap direction here extends generally at right angles to the direction in which the snap-in element is inserted into the opening, i.e. the insertion direction mentioned below. In general, the snap-in elements can have identical or mirror-symmetrical design.

When the snap-in elements are pressed together as described above, they can be inserted and then spring apart from one another, with them snapping onto the base. "spring away from each other" means of course that snap-in elements which were elastically pressed together in advance are separated from each other by the restoring force and thus the gap between them increases. By means of the snap-in element, a form-fitting connection is produced between the snap-in element and the base, which prevents the snap-in element from being extracted from the opening. In particular, it can snap onto the edge of the opening. In this respect, the edge of the opening is the area of the base element which is arranged around the opening. In the snap-in state, the snap-in element may be arranged at least partially on the edge, typically on opposite sides of the opening.

According to the invention, the base has at least one locking element which projects into the opening and can be deflected elastically by inserting the snap-in elements and can be moved between the snap-in elements by spring-back when the snap-in elements are snapped into place in order to counteract the effect of the snap-in elements being pressed together. The locking element is preferably integrally formed with or forms part of the base. The locking element protrudes into the opening and may be given a different size than the opening. For example, the length of the locking element protruding into the opening may be 10% to 90% or 20% to 50% of the transverse dimension of the opening. Since the locking element projects into the opening, the latter is partially blocked to some extent, contrary to the insertion of the snap-in element. However, at least one locking element can be deflected elastically by an inserted snap-in element. In other words, the insertion of the snap-in element into the opening is facilitated by the elastic deflection or deformation of the locking element. Due to the elastic deflection, the at least one locking element allows the passage of the snap-in element.

When the snap-in elements snap into place and thus spring away from each other, the locking element springs back, whereby it moves into the enlarged intermediate space between the snap-in elements. In this case, the snap-in elements thus snap into place, and the intermediate space between them is at least partially filled by the at least one locking element. It can also be said that the locking element establishes at least a partial form-fitting connection with the two snap-in elements. For this purpose, the dimension of the locking element in the direction of the play should not be greater than the play between the snap-in elements in the snapped-in state. On the other hand, the corresponding dimensions are usually larger than the gap between the snap-in elements during insertion into the opening. The position at which the locking element is arranged between the snap-in elements can be referred to as the locking position. As a result, the snap-in elements are prevented from being pressed together, i.e. they may be pressed together only to a small extent or may not be pressed together at all. This pressing together is necessary to undo the snap-in-place. If the pressing together of the snap-in elements is limited by the positioning of the locking element between the snap-in elements, so that the snap-fit connection between the snap-in elements and the base cannot be broken, the connection between the base and the projection is no longer easily releasable. To achieve this, measures need to be taken on the locking element. Simply exerting a force on the snap-in element can no longer release the connection.

The fastening system according to the invention is therefore characterized by a high degree of reliability and as far as possible prevents undesired or accidental detachment. This is also the case when a considerable force is applied between the base and the projection, whereby the fastening system is comparable to, for example, a threaded connection in terms of reliability. However, this can be achieved by relatively simple means, since the snap-in element can be integrally formed with the projection and the base in the same way as the at least one locking element. This connection is easy to manufacture, since the resilient deflection of the locking element takes place automatically to some extent when the snap-in element is inserted, and when the snap-in element is snapped into place, the locking element is likewise in the locked position without any further action having to be taken.

At least one snap-in element preferably has a snap-in lug which points away from the other snap-in element and which is designed to engage with the base. Typically, both snap-in elements have corresponding snap-in lugs. Snap-in lugs are usually projections which project from the respective snap-in element and are exactly transverse to the direction in which the snap-in element is inserted into the opening. In particular, the snap-in lugs may be designed to engage with the edges of the opening.

According to one embodiment, the base is designed like a plate at least in the edge region, and the snap-in lugs can snap in on the rear side of the opening. The rear side is here the side facing away from the projection. The plate-like construction corresponds, for example, to the design of a vehicle body part or other vehicle part made of sheet metal or fiber-reinforced plastic. In this embodiment, the edges are characterized by a thickness due to the plate-like structure. The corresponding snap-in element has a length which is greater than this thickness, so that the snap-in lugs can engage to some extent under the edge and snap onto the rear side of the opening. In other words, a form-fitting connection is formed with the edge of the opening rear side.

The at least one locking element advantageously extends transversely to the provided insertion direction and can be elastically bent in the insertion direction by inserting the snap-in element. The insertion direction here corresponds to the direction in which the snap-in element is moved during insertion. This, of course, also corresponds to the relative direction of movement of the projection with respect to the base. In this embodiment, the locking element can be designed as a tongue or web which extends into the opening. This may be combined with the embodiments explained above, wherein the base has a plate-like design, wherein the locking element may represent a part of the base having a reduced thickness, thereby being elastically deflectable (to a greater extent). When the snap-in element is inserted, the locking element is elastically bent in the insertion direction, wherein the end of the locking element is moved not only in the insertion direction but also laterally. In particular, the latter movement component can release the path of the snap-in element.

According to one embodiment, the at least one locking element extends into the opening in a transverse direction transverse to the gap distance. The transverse direction extends at right angles to the gap distance, wherein both directions may extend at right angles to the insertion direction. In particular, in the untensioned state, the locking element can extend at right angles to the gap direction. In this case, the movement of the locking element in the region between the snap-in elements can generally be achieved particularly well.

The invention can be easily implemented by just one locking element. According to another embodiment, the base element has two opposing locking elements. The respective locking elements may start from opposite sides of the edge and extend therefrom into the opening. They may in particular be opposite one another in the transverse direction. This embodiment may have various advantages. On the one hand, the required elastic deformation of the individual locking elements can be lower. The locking function can also be improved or stabilized by two locking elements. Finally, in this embodiment, only one locking element can also fulfill the locking function, so that, for example, if one of the locking elements fails due to material defects or the like, the locking function is maintained and thus prevents an undesired extraction of the snap-in element.

At least one snap-in element advantageously has a ramp portion which is inclined with respect to the insertion direction and which, when the snap-in element is inserted, is designed to generate a force by interaction with the edge in order to press the snap-in elements together. Such a ramp portion is provided on the side of the snap-in element oriented with respect to the opening edge and generally opposite the other snap-in element. By means of the inclination of the ramp portion, a force component acting transversely to the insertion direction is generated in the insertion direction under the action of the force between the snap-in element and the edge, which force component presses the snap-in elements together. The force acts at least proportionally in the direction of the gap. The ramp portion may be formed, in particular, on the snap-in lug. The inclination of the ramp portion with respect to the insertion direction is typically less than 45 °, for example between 20 ° and 40 °.

Furthermore, the at least one snap-in element can have a retaining portion which is opposite the ramp portion in the insertion direction and which extends at an angle of between 70 ° and 90 ° relative to the insertion direction. At the same time, the ramp portion serves to generate a transverse force component to press the snap-in elements together when inserted, and the retaining portion should generate as little such a force component as possible when it interacts with the base. Its function is to support the surface of the base (for example, the surface of the border) (which may be formed in a complementary manner) and the latter transmits the pulling force which acts between the base and the projection by means of a friction connection. The angles 70 ° to 90 ° described above each relate to the smaller of the two angles with respect to the insertion direction. The retention portion may be formed on the snap-in lug in the same manner as the ramp portion.

When a connection is made between the base and the projection, it may be advantageous to have a positioning aid which allows the person performing the assembly to establish by touch whether the two parts are correctly oriented with respect to each other, and which may also actively assist in this orientation. According to a preferred embodiment, the intermediate space is formed next to the at least one locking element in the transverse direction, and the at least one snap-in element has a positioning portion at its end which tapers in the transverse direction and is designed to be insertable into the intermediate space without any elastic deformation of the at least one locking element. Although the above-described slope portion may correspond to, for example, a gradual narrowing with respect to the gap direction, the positioning portion is gradually narrowed in the lateral direction. Here, a continuous narrowing may be performed or the positioning portion may be stepped. However, the positioning portion itself may also form part of the ramp portion. The intermediate space is formed next to the at least one locking element in the transverse direction, i.e. the at least one locking element occupies the entire opening in the transverse direction, but the above-mentioned intermediate space is retained. The positioning portion is conical here, so that the positioning portion can be inserted into the intermediate space even without elastic deflection of the at least one locking element. The locating portion may be inserted without any particular force and thus allows the person performing the operation to confirm by touch the correct location of the protrusion relative to the base. At the same time, the positioning element can form a form-fitting connection in the transverse direction with at least one locking element, which prevents an undesired displacement from the ideal position.

In the case of two locking elements, the positioning portion can in particular be designed such that it can be inserted into the intermediate space formed between the two locking elements without any elastic deformation. For example, two locking elements may extend into the opening in the transverse direction from opposite sides of the edge, wherein, however, their ends do not touch and the above-mentioned intermediate space remains in the transverse direction.

Drawings

Further advantageous details and effects of the invention are described in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures. The drawings show the following:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a fastening system according to the present invention in producing a connection;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along the plane II-II in FIG. 1;

fig. 3 shows a sectional view along the plane III-III in fig. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the fastening system before the connection is made;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the fastening system after the connection is made;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along the plane VI-VI in FIG. 5; and

fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the plane VII-VII in fig. 5.

Detailed Description

In the drawings, like parts have like reference numerals; therefore, they are usually described only once.

Fig. 1 to 3 show a fastening system 1 according to the invention during the production of a connection. In the present case, the fastening system 1 has a base 10 of the vehicle door made of plastic and a projection 20 also made of plastic. The base 10 may be, for example, a door module of a vehicle door, and the projection 20 may be a lining element arranged inside the vehicle door. The base 10 has a substantially rectangular opening 11, the opening 11 being delimited by an edge 12 and two elastically formed locking elements 13 projecting into the opening 11. The locking element 13 is likewise of rectangular design and has a lower material strength than the surrounding area of the base part 10. The two locking elements 13 can thus be elastically deflected in the insertion direction a. The locking element 13 is also referred to below as a locking tongue 13. Two identical or mirror-symmetrically formed snap-in elements 21 are integrally formed on the projection 20, the snap-in elements 21 being spaced apart from one another in the gap direction B. The two snap-in elements 21 are formed elastically and can be pressed together in the gap direction B. Fig. 1 to 3 show a state of being pressed together, in which the snap-in element 21 can be inserted into the opening 11. Each snap-in element 21 has at its end a snap-in lug 22, the snap-in lug 22 being guided away from the respective other snap-in element 21.

A ramp portion 23 is formed on one side of the snap-in lug 22, which ramp portion 23 is inclined by about 30 ° in the present case with respect to an insertion direction a, which extends at right angles to the gap direction and along which the snap-in element 21 can be inserted into the opening 11. A holding portion 24 extending at an angle of 90 ° to the insertion direction a is formed opposite the ramp portion 23 with respect to the insertion direction a. Furthermore, each snap-in element 21 has a positioning portion 25 at its end, which positioning portion 25 tapers in a transverse direction C, which transverse direction C extends at right angles to the insertion direction a and the clearance direction B. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, an intermediate space 14 extending in the transverse direction C is provided between the locking tongues 13.

The positioning portion 25 is dimensioned here such that it can be inserted into the intermediate space 14 without elastic deflection of the locking tongues 13 and is then located between the locking tongues 13 in the transverse direction C. This can be clearly seen in fig. 4, which is a sectional view according to a sectional plane, which extends parallel to the plane II-II but is slightly offset with respect to the plane. In the state shown here, the projection 20 and the base 10 are still slightly spaced apart from one another. In this stage, one needs to find the correct relative position during assembly, which can be found in the transverse direction C by inserting the conical positioning portion 25 into the intermediate space 14. Subsequently, the snap-in element 21 is inserted into the opening 11 in the insertion direction a, wherein the locking tongue 13 is elastically deflected in the insertion direction a, as shown in fig. 1 to 3. At the same time, the snap-in elements 21 are resiliently pressed together in the gap direction B by the interaction of the respective ramp portions 23 with the edge 12, as can be seen in particular in fig. 3. In this case, the clearance between the snap-in elements 21 is so small that the bolt 13 cannot pass between them.

This change causes the retaining portion 24 to engage positively with the edge 12 when the snap-in element 21 is inserted such that the snap-in lugs 22 snap into place on the rear side of the opening 11 in the edge 12. The snapping-in is accompanied by a spring-out action, whereby the gap between the snap-in elements 21 is enlarged to the extent that the bolt 13 can pass between the snap-in elements 21. The corresponding locking positions are shown in fig. 5 to 7. The two locking tongues 13 form a positive-locking connection with the two snap-in elements 21 in the gap direction B. As a result, the snap-in elements 21 almost completely stop being pressed together, thereby preventing an undesired pulling-out of the snap-in elements 21 from the opening 11.

List of reference numerals:

1 fastening system

10 base

11 opening

12 edge

13 locking element/tongue

14 intermediate space

20 projection

21 snap-in element

22 Snap-in lug

23 ramp section

24 holding part

25 positioning part

A direction of insertion

Direction of gap B

C transverse direction

Claims

1. Fastening system (1), the fastening system (1) having a base (10) with an opening (11) and a projection (20) comprising two snap-in elements (21), the snap-in elements (21) being spaced apart in a gap direction (B) and being elastically pressable together, whereby the two snap-in elements (21) can be inserted into the opening (11) in order to snap onto the base (10) by springing apart from one another,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the base (10) has at least one locking element (13), which at least one locking element (13) protrudes into the opening (11) and can be deflected elastically by inserting the snap-in elements (21), and when the snap-in elements (21) snap into place, the at least one locking element (13) can be moved between the snap-in elements (21) by spring back in order to counteract the effect of the two snap-in elements (21) being pressed together.

2. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a single fastener,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

at least one snap-in element (21) has a snap-in lug (22), the snap-in lug (22) being remote from the other snap-in element (21), the snap-in element (21) being designed to engage with the base (10).

3. The fastening system according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the base (10) is designed like a plate at least in the region of the edge (12) of the opening (11), and the snap-in lugs (22) can be snapped in on the rear side of the opening (11).

4. The fastening system of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

at least one locking element (13) extends transversely to the provided insertion direction (A) and can be elastically bent in the insertion direction (A) by insertion of the snap-in element (21).

5. The fastening system of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

at least one locking element (13) extends into the opening (11) in a transverse direction (C) transverse to the clearance distance (B).

6. The fastening system of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the base (10) has two opposing locking elements (13).

7. The fastening system of any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

at least one snap-in element (21) has a ramp portion (23) which is inclined relative to the insertion direction (A) and is designed to generate a force pressing the snap-in elements (21) together by interacting with the edge (12) when the snap-in element (21) is inserted.

8. The fastening system of claim 7, wherein the fastener is a single fastener,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

at least one snap-in element (21) has a retaining portion (24), the retaining portion (24) being opposite the ramp portion (23) in the insertion direction (A) and extending at an angle of between 70 ° and 90 ° relative to the insertion direction (A).

9. The fastening system according to one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

an intermediate space (14) is formed in a transverse direction (C) alongside the at least one locking element (13), and the at least one snap-in element (21) has a positioning portion (25) at its end, which positioning portion (25) narrows in the transverse direction (C) and is designed to be insertable into the intermediate space (14) without any elastic deformation of the at least one locking element (13).

10. The fastening system of claim 9, wherein the fastener is a single fastener,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the positioning portion (25) is designed to be insertable into an intermediate space (14) formed between two locking elements (13) without any elastic deformation of the two locking elements (13).