Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Glare screen or visor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-30
2001-04-24
Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Glare screen or visor
C296S097900, C296S214000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220645
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for the screwless mounting of at least one accessory in a cutout of a vehicle support structure, in particular for mounting a grab handle on a body sheet metal section of a motor vehicle, with a base body having resiliently formed locking elements which can be locked on cutout edges, and with a blocking wedge which can be driven between locking elements inserted in the cutout, wherein at least one locking element is separated from the base body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Screwless fastening elements or devices are increasingly employed in vehicle manufacturing, in particular automobile manufacturing, for fastening accessories, in particular for the pre-assembly of entire components.
In connection with a device known from International Patent Publication WO 96/17178, the frame-shaped base body is connected with the vehicle support structure in a tension-resistant manner only on the side on which a locking element has been connected in one piece with the base body. Since the other locking element is separated from the base body because of its mobility required for the insertion into the cutout and locking behind the cutout edges, under a load it is possible for the base body to be lifted off this non-supported side of the support structure or an accessory placed against the support structure there. In case of the connecting area between the base body and the locking body becoming fatigued, this can result in a permanently gaping split. Furthermore, the local load in the connecting area between the base body and the one locking element is impracticably high, and the support force, which can normally be generated with all locking elements, can only be incompletely utilized, since only one locking element, so to speak, provides support. Laterally projecting fastening tongues are formed in the connecting area of the two locking elements, which allow pre-assembly of the device in a recess of a headliner, which thereafter in a further assembly step is anchored on the vehicle support structure by means of the same device.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to create a device of the type mentioned at the outset, in the course of whose mounting it is easily possible to achieve the seating of the device, secure on all sides, in the vehicle support structure. The device furthermore is intended to make possible an easy and secure fastening in an accessory which is to be affixed on the vehicle support structure.
This object is attained by a device for the screwless mounting of at least one accessory in a cutout of a vehicle support structure, such as for mounting a grab handle on a body sheet metal section of a motor vehicle, wherein the device includes a base body having at least one resiliently formed locking element which can be locked on the edges of said cutout, at least one locking element separated from the base body, a blocking wedge that can be driven against the locking element inserted in the cutout, and a detent mechanism positioned between the base body and the locking element separated from the base body, such that in the mounted position of the device, the detent mechanism permits the base body to be supported on the locking element at least opposite to the insertion direction.
Thanks to the detent mechanism, the shaping of the one locking element in a manner advantageous to its production and mounting, without a direct connection with the base body in the mounted position of the device, has no longer a negative effect on the holding capabilities of the device. Following the end of mounting, during which the mobility of the locking element is required, the base body is solidly connected in the extraction direction from the cutout of the vehicle support structure with the locking element, which then is solidly supported at the cutout edge anyway. Even large forces acting on the device then no longer can lift the one side of the base body off the vehicle support structure. These large forces are advantageously transmitted approximately evenly to the locking elements, and from them to the support structure.
The detent mechanism is particularly suitably actuated by means of the blocking wedge, as soon as the latter is driven in for the final securing of the device. By means of this, a high degree of assurance is provided that the detent mechanism is actually and compulsorily actuated and connects the base body with the locking element in a tension-resistant manner, that it can no longer be automatically released, but nevertheless can be released again for possible disassembly after removal of the blocking wedge.
In a simple production-technological manner, the detent mechanism has at least one engagement element and one counter-engagement element, which are provided, each usefully made of one piece, on the locking element, or respectively on the base body.
In one embodiment, the engagement element is at least one protruding hook on the locking element and the counter-engagement element is at least one hook-receiving pocket in the base body. In this configuration, the engagement and counter-engagement elements can be easily manufactured by shaping technology. They require little structural space and yet assure a force transmission device which can be greatly stressed and released.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the engagement element and the counter-engagement element have an inclined tightening surface. In this manner, a coupling free of play is achieved by the inclined tightening surface, and it is even possible by means of the action of the blocking wedge to pull the base body against the support structure with pre-stress.
In another embodiment, the base body is designed as a frame with an insertion opening for the blocking wedge. On a first edge of the insertion opening a second locking element is formed that extends approximately vertically in respect to the frame through the insertion opening. The second locking element includes a support shoulder for the cutout edge and a deformable joint area at a distance behind the frame to which the first locking element, which is separated from the base body, is connected with the second locking element. The first locking element extends back to the insertion opening with an obliquely descending section and with an end section which is approximately parallel with the second locking element. The end section includes a support shoulder for extending behind the cutout edge and the engagement element of the detent mechanism. An edge of the insertion opening includes a counter-engagement element proximate the engagement element. In this embodiment, the device is advantageously shaped and great holding forces can be achieved.
In another embodiment, a raised flange area with contact surfaces surrounding the insertion opening is provided on the back of the base body facing away from the visible side of the base body. The rigidity of the shape is thereby increased by the flange area. In addition, the flange area permits a large-surfaced connection with the support structure, or respectively with an accessory arranged between the support structure and the base body, such as a headliner or the like.
For purposes of pre-assembly, the device can be attached by means of the flange area in a recess of the accessory which, in a further assembly step, is fixed in place against the vehicle support structure by means of the device.
Stable pre-fastening of the device on such an accessory can be achieved by including a cutting strip extending in the insertion direction and at least one projecting fastening bracket that is approximately parallel with and spaced apart from the base body.
A particularly practical embodiment of the invention ensues from further including at least one fastening tongue hingedly attached to the base body with the fastening tongue being movable from an insertion position into a fastening position and which, in the fastening position, protrudes outward past the perimeter of the flange area and rests against a rear surface of the
Becker Group Europe GmbH
Dayoan D. Glenn
Foley & Lardner
Morrow Jason
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