Joints and connections – Biased catch or latch – Leaf spring
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-12
2003-11-11
Binda, Greg (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Biased catch or latch
Leaf spring
C403S408100, C024S295000, C411S045000, C411S508000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644886
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 200 15 848.1, filed on Sep. 13, 2000, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a connection arrangement for the detachable connection of two components with a retaining pin, a retaining-spring arrangement, a disengaging element and a detent pin, where the disengaging element is mounted movably on the retaining pin and which is actuated by the detent pin which is axially movable in the retaining pin.
2. Discussion of Background Information
A connection arrangement of this type is known in the prior art and is described in German utility model 299 204 98.7.
Such a prior art connection arrangement is shown in
FIGS. 12A
,
12
B,
12
C. This connection arrangement is used for the detachable connection of two components with aligned openings in components MP
1
′ and MP
2
′. A retaining pin or bolt B is located in a bush BU joined to the first component MP
1
′. This retaining pin projects through the opening of the second component MP
2
′. At its end, the retaining bolt B has a ring-shaped retaining groove H, into which the ends of the free leaf-spring arms F
1
and F
2
engage when the retaining bolt B is pressed into a leaf-spring arrangement F joined to the second component MP
2
′. By utilizing a transverse ridge V, a detent pin S is permanently attached to the disengaging element E, which is located movably on the retaining bolt B.
The transverse ridge V passes through window-like openings W in the wall of the retaining pin B, wherein the openings serve as a guiding track.
In order to connect both components MP
1
′ and MP
2
′, the retaining bolt B with its tapered tip is pressed in a direction U. This causes the ends of the leaf springs F
1
and F
2
to widen outwardly until they engage in the retaining groove H.
A vibration-damping ring R has a peripheral bulge with a groove N for receiving the second component MP
2
′. The edge of the opening in the second component MP
2
′ fits into this groove N.
FIG. 12C
illustrates the attachment of the disengaging element E, located outside the retaining bolt B to the detent pin S guided within the retaining bolt B.
The disengaging element E is attached permanently to the transverse ridge V which is guided in the window-like recess W (
FIG. 12B
) of the retaining-bolt wall. The transverse ridge V is fixed to the detent pin S by way of a fastening pin P permanently fixed to transverse ridge V. The fastening pin P is inserted permanently in a hole in the detent pin S.
The ring-shaped retaining groove H functions with a leaf-spring arrangement which requires at least two and preferably three leaf-spring arms distributed as evenly as possible around the circumference.
The arms of the leaf springs taper towards their free end. They have a common base (see
FIG. 5
, DE 299 204 98.7). When the detent pin S moves in the retaining bolt B, the disengaging element E moves on the retaining bolt as far as the length of the window-like opening W permits.
To release the connection arrangement for the two components MP
1
′ and MP
2
′, (one component is connected with the retaining bolt B, the other directly or indirectly with the leaf-spring arrangement F), the detent pin S in the retaining bolt B is pressed in direction U until the disengaging element E widens the ends of the leaf-spring arms F
1
and F
2
out of the retaining groove H (or more accurately, out of the engagement area).
To ensure easy widening of the ends of the leaf springs F
1
and F
2
, it is important that these can slide smoothly along the taper of the retaining bolt B under increasing spring pressure without encountering any undesirable resistance from edges, gaps, shoulders etc.
In addition to quick assembly, a connection arrangement of this kind also has the advantage of allowing easy dismantling of components for repair and maintenance purposes.
Connection arrangements of this kind are most commonly used for fastening interior paneling in vehicles and aircraft.
However, the above arrangement, according to the prior art, has the disadvantage of being costly and time-consuming to design.
To avoid such disadvantages, the object of the invention is to provide an improved connection arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a particularly effective and easily manufactured leaf-spring arrangement for such a connection arrangement as well as for other arrangements with a ring-shaped retaining groove.
Furthermore, the invention provides for a connection arrangement which damps vibrations.
Accordingly, the invention provides for a connection arrangement for detachably connecting a first component with a second component, the first and second components having aligned openings, the arrangement comprising a retaining bolt including an internal opening, at least one side wall opening and an external ring-shaped retaining groove, the retaining bolt being adapted to be connected to the first component, a retaining-spring arrangement having at least one leaf-spring arm and being adapted to be connected to the second component, the ring-shaped retaining groove of the retaining bolt being adapted to extend through the aligned opening of the second component, a free end of the at least one leaf-spring arm being engagable with the ring-shaped retaining groove, a movable disengaging element being adapted to disengage the at least one leaf-spring arm from the retaining groove of the retaining bolt, and a detent pin being movably disposed in the internal opening of the retaining bolt and being engagable with the detaching element via the at least one side-wall opening.
A portion of the detent pin may be adapted to directly engage a portion of the disengaging element in the area of the side-wall opening. The detent pin may be adapted to engage a portion of the disengaging element which extends within the internal opening of the retaining bolt. An end of the detent pin may be adapted to project through the side-wall opening. A portion of the detaching element may project into the internal opening of the retaining bolt via the side-wall opening. The disengaging element may comprise a deformed hollow cylinder. The retaining-spring arrangement may comprise a base part and at least two leaf-spring arms extending therefrom and each of the at least two leaf-spring arms may be tapered towards the ring-shaped retaining groove and is engagable via the disengaging element. The base part may comprise projections which extend outwardly and may be adapted to extend over the aligned opening of the second component.
The retaining-spring arrangement may comprise a single piece construction. The retaining-spring arrangement may be formed from spring-steel plate.
The arrangement may further comprise a bushing arranged in a central opening of the retaining-spring arrangement. The bushing may comprise at least one flange or shoulder.
The arrangement may further comprise a vibration-damping ring. The vibration-damping ring comprises an elastic material. The vibration-damping ring may be mounted to the aligned opening of the second component via a peripheral groove.
The arrangement may further comprise a bushing arranged in a central opening of the vibration-damping ring and the bushing may be adapted to secure the retaining-spring arrangement to the second component.
The invention also provides for a connection arrangement for detachably connecting two components having aligned openings, the arrangement comprising a retaining bolt adapted to be coupled to one component via the aligned opening and adapted to project through the aligned opening of other component, the retaining bolt having a retaining mechanism comprising one of a groove or a ring-shaped engaging area. A retaining-spring arrangement is adapted to be coupled to the other component and includes at least one leaf-spring arm wh
Binda Greg
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Schwarz Verbindungs-Systeme GmbH
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