Joints and connections – Biased catch or latch
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-24
2001-07-03
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Biased catch or latch
C403S254000, C403S316000, C403SDIG001, C403S328000, C403S329000, C403S386000, C248S221120
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254302
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to the connector art and, more particularly, to a connector system that finds particular application in automobiles to provide a connection between a support member such as a car body part of a motor vehicle and a plate element such as interior trim covering components. The connector includes a substantially rectangular plate member having at least one pocket including an insertion slot that is adapted to receive a flange mounted on the end of an associated elongate holding element. The plate member and holding element are brought together into their intermated position by moving the components together in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction or axis of the holding element, so that the flange and end of the holding element are received in the pocket of the plate member.
Connectors of the type under consideration are commonly used in the art to connect interior trim and other items to car body parts of motor vehicles. As an example, a connector is described in EP 0 726 401 A1 including an upper part or member having two parallel extending pockets adapted to receive a pair of holding element flanges positioned an axial distance from each other on an elongate holding element. In that connector, the upper flange of the pair of flanges carried on the elongate holding element has an elastic middle region which is equipped with a set of spirally wound radially extending arms.
The connector described above provides good tolerance compensation that is useful in the automotive sector for attaching, as an example, door coverings on the inside of automotive vehicles which are exposed to a range of temperature stresses and the like. However, in known connector constructions of the type described above, one drawback is the physical size of the overall connector that is required. The excessive size is due mainly to the pair of parallel extending pockets which are adapted to receive the two flanges. The relatively large construction of connectors of this type often make them limited in application.
Another connector known in the art enables auxiliary components to be fastened relative to a work piece. Such a connector is described in EP 0 432 855 A1. As described there, a substantially flat work piece is provided with a punched-in or pocket-like bulged-out surface adapted to receive a second component. Typically, the second component is inserted into the flat work piece.
One disadvantage of connectors of this type is that the holding effect or efficiency is relatively low and thus, the second component can sometimes be easily removed from the flat work piece. Moreover, connectors of the type described immediately above provide no tolerance compensation.
In contrast to the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive connector system or assembly, while retaining excellent installation possibility and extremely good tolerance compensation, results in a significant reduction in the overall height of the entire connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved according to the invention in that a first connector member is formed as a substantially rectangular plate member and has a holding zone and a single pocket that are adapted to each respectively receive the free end of an elongate holding element and a flange carried on the holding element, respectively. The holding zone is elastically constructed and preferably includes a set of spiral radially extending arms that support a ring shaped holding zone member relative to the substantially rectangular plate member. The ring-shaped holding zone member firmly surrounds and selectively connects with the free end of the holding element.
It is an advantage of the present invention that tolerance compensation is effected by the bottom surface of the rectangular plate member via the elastic holding zone disposed in the center of the rectangular plate member rather than via the flange member of the holding element as has been the practice heretofore. As a result, a significant reduction in the overall height of the connector construction is realized according to the present invention while retaining all of the benefits of know prior constructions.
In accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the invention, an elastic middle region is provided in the substantially rectangular plate member. The middle region includes a holding zone adapted to receive the front lead end of the holding element. The holding zone is connected with the back flat surface of the rectangular plate member using a set of spiral radially extending flexible arm members.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the elastic middle region of the rectangular plate member is formed in the shape of a fork and includes at least a pair of resilient opposing elastic arms with free ends that form mirror images of each other. The supported ends of the elastic arms are connected to the back flat surface of the rectangular plate member. Further, the pair of elastic arms are equipped with a conically tapering insertion region and a bulged area which is adapted to engage the free end of the elongate holding element. Thus, the conically tapering insertion region of the pair of elastic arms assist in guiding the free end of the elongate holding element into its final intermated rest position whereat the free end is held snugly in place by the bulged region of the elastic arms.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the back flat surface of the rectangular plate member can be shaped in round, oval, or rectangular patterns or configurations and can be provided with a central elastic region adapted to receive the free end of the elongate holding element. Further, in accordance with the present invention, it is also possible to arrange the elastic region in a laterally offset position relative to the center of the substantially rectangular plate member so that the overall construction is asymmetric.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a recess is defined in the rear flat surface of the substantially rectangular plate member to assist in guiding the free end of the elongate holding element into its intermated rest position relative to the plate member. An insertion slot is formed as an entranceway into the elastic region. In addition, a sloped insertion latch member is disposed adjacent the insertion slot for latching the free end of the elongate holding element in its intermated rest position relative to the plate member. The insertion latch member has a sloped surface that terminates on one end at substantially the height of the insertion slot defined in the rectangular plate member. The recess and insertion slot together with the latch member enable the upper flange of the free end of the elongate holding element to be inserted easily and simply into the single pocket defined in the rectangular plate member.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the width of the elongate recess defined in the rectangular plate member substantially corresponds to the width or the diameter of the free end of the elongate holding element to enable the holding element to be guided along the recess. To that end, the free end of the holding element can be formed in a variety of shapes and configurations such as, for example, as a simple cylinder, as a spherical or conical segment, or in a rectangular shaped cross section. Other shapes and patterns are possible as well. It is contemplated that certain shapes such as, for example, a rectangular cross section form provides, in particular, protection of the elongate holding element against twisting relative to the rectangular plate member.
In accordance with still yet a more limited aspect of the invention, in order to facilitate the relative movement between the elongate holding element and plate member towards their intermated rest position, the insertion slot is defined on opposite sides by an arched insertion region formed as a tapered opening for guiding a central peg portion of the holding element
Browne Lynne H.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Garcia Ernesto
TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
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