Expanded – threaded – driven – headed – tool-deformed – or locked-thr – Headed fastener element with nut – washer – securing means or cap – Lap bolt or fastener
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2002-04-16
Wilson, Neill (Department: 3627)
Expanded, threaded, driven, headed, tool-deformed, or locked-thr
Headed fastener element with nut, washer, securing means or cap
Lap bolt or fastener
C411S041000, C411S171000, C411S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06371707
ABSTRACT:
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1
fastening stud
2
groove
3
outer peripheral surface
4
frontal opening
5
structure
7
raised portion (stud)
8
slot
9
axial window
10
assembly part
11
;
21
receiving space
12
;
22
wall
13
;
23
raised portion (assembly part)
14
clamping member
15
end of receiving space
16
mushroom-like head
17
screwdriver slot
18
;
28
inner surface
20
assembly part
24
gap
25
,
26
line clip
27
locking element
29
,
30
resilient enclosure
31
longitudinal opening
32
,
33
supporting element
34
first foot
35
second foot
36
first bead
37
second bead
38
first groove
39
second groove
40
component
41
material connection
42
through-opening
43
head
44
recess
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an assembly system having a fastening stud and an assembly part mountable thereon as well as to a method of forming an assembly system. The assembly part may be, in particular, a holder for fastening lines to components of an automobile. The fastening stud may preferably be a weld stud, in particular a radially resilient hollow stud.
Assembly systems having a fastening stud and an assembly part mountable thereon are known. During mounting of the assembly part, the material of the assembly part is plastically deformed. The fastening studs usually have a textured surface, the raised portions of which may, even after the mounting process, continue to press into the material of the fastening part, particularly when the material is plastic material.
From DE-GM 296 20 020 and DE-GM 296 11 741 assembly systems are known, in which the fastening stud is a weld stud having an external thread. The weld stud is, as a rule, solid.
From DE-GM 295 16 868 an assembly system is known, in which an assembly part is mounted onto an externally profiled gudgeon formed on a structure. A two-dimensional material may be introduced into lateral recesses in the assembly part and/or between the head of the assembly part and the structure so that the two-dimensional material is fixed to the structure. Such an assembly system is used particularly in the motor vehicle industry for fastening carpets, floor mats, insulating mats and the like of relatively complex geometries to a structure such as, for example, a vehicle body. The assembly parts of such assembly systems are also known as fastening clips.
From WO 94/03735 a hollow, sleeve-like fastening stud is known, which is capable of resilient compression and expansion in a radial direction. By utilising the resilience, various types of assembly part may be mounted on the fastening stud. The hollow fastening stud is weldable by one axial end to a structure. In a specific embodiment, the fastening stud has an external thread. Also known from WO 94/03735 are assembly parts which are mountable onto the fastening stud, in particular assembly parts which may be secured in their assembled state of connection to the fastening stud by means of a locking element insertable into the interior of the sleeve-like fastening stud, thereby preventing a radial compression of the fastening stud. In a special embodiment, the fastening stud has lateral indentations or holes, into which projections of correspondingly shaped assembly parts may latch or engage, thereby securing an assembly connection. Mounting of the assembly part is effected utilising the resilience of the fastening stud in radial direction.
From DE 38 02 698 C2 a line holder mountable onto a profiled stud or gudgeon is known, which comprises a plurality of receivers in the shape of a graduated circle for receiving lines. After lines have been inserted, the retaining connection is closed by mounting a wedge-type bracket over the receiver openings.
The object of the present invention is to indicate a method of forming an assembly system, in which the assembly part is easy to mount onto the fastening stud but hard to pull off.
By fastening studs in the context of the present specification are meant not only solid studs but any fastening parts having stud-like external contours, in particular also the sleeve-like, radially resilient fastening studs described above, which are fastenable to a structure or formed on the structure in the manner of a gudgeon.
A further object of the invention is to indicate an assembly part for such an assembly system.
In accordance with the present invention an assembly part having a receiving space is mounted onto a fastening stud, which is radially resilient at least in the region of a frontal opening. The assembly part is mounted in such a way onto the fastening stud that the fastening stud projects into the receiving space. A clamping member is then moved from a first position outside of the fastening stud into a second position inside the fastening stud. The clamping member in the second position projects without clearance or with little clearance into the opening of the fastening stud. The inner surface of the receiving space and the outer surface of the fastening stud form a frictional connection. The connection between the assembly part and the fastening stud may be achieved with a relatively low expenditure of force. By virtue of the fact that the clamping member projects into the fastening stud, the fastening stud is pressed radially outwards by the clamping member, thereby forming between the fastening stud and the assembly part a very good frictional connection which may be released only with a considerable expenditure of force.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is proposed that before or after a movement of the clamping member the assembly part is fitted to at least one component.
The formation of an assembly system may also be simplified by the clamping member being connected by a material connection, in particular integrally, to the assembly part. During the movement of the clamping member from a first position outside of the fastening stud into a second position inside the fastening stud, the clamping member is separated from the assembly part. This means that the material connection between the assembly part and the clamping member is broken, enabling a new positive engagement or frictional connection to form between the clamping member and the assembly part. Because the clamping member and the assembly part form a structural unit, there is substantially only one part which has to be manipulated. The proposed procedure lends itself particularly well to automation because only one component has to be manipulated.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method, it is proposed that, after the assembly part has been mounted onto the fastening stud, a locking element firmly connected to the clamping member is moved from a first position outside of the fastening stud so far into a second position inside the fastening stud that the locking element in the second position acts at least at two opposing points upon the outer periphery of a wall of the receiving space. Said embodiment has the advantage that the locking element exerts upon the wall a radially inwardly directed force, by means of which the frictional connection between the fastening stud and the receiver is enhanced. It is therefore even more difficult to pull the assembly part from the fastening stud.
In the assembly system according to the invention, the fastening stud is at least partially radially resilient. Said property is preferably achieved by designing the fastening stud in the manner of a sleeve having a slot extending substantially in longitudinal direction. The resilience of such a fastening stud may be increased by at least one axial window, which extends over part of the axial length of the fastening stud. The receiving space of the assembly part is preferably fashioned in such a way that the fastening stud during the mounting process is radially compressed. Because of the resilience of the latter, outwardly directed restoring forces arise, by means of which optionally a frictional connection is achieved between the fastening stud and the assembly part.
In the assembly system according to the invention, the fa
Emhart Inc.
Harness & Dickey & Pierce P.L.C.
Wilson Neill
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