Element for securing a body into a wall

Details Element for securing a body into a wall Element for securing a body into a wall

1999-12-13

2001-08-28

Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)

Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.

Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof

With specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or...

C024S459000, C403S326000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06279210

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The present invention related to an attachment element for a body that can be inserted into a hole in a wall. German Published Patent Appln. No. 38 12 182 A1 describes a known attachment element, in which an ultrasonic transducer with a cylindrical body is inserted, for attachment, through a hole in a bumper of a motor vehicle, and retained from the back side by a resilient element to prevent it from falling out. It has been found that an attachment element of this kind can be installed only within a limited installation angle with respect to the wall. Given the variety of different vehicle models and the fact that the installation locations of the ultrasonic transducer also differ from one manufacturer to another, very different angles of inclination of the ultrasonic transducer with reference to the road then occur, so that various attachment elements are necessary depending on the vehicle model, which in turn increases the number of attachment elements to be produced.
International Patent Publication No. WO 96/14512 describes an attachment element in which mutually interengaging snap hooks are arranged between the attachment element and the sensor, which latter can be inserted through a hole into a wall. A portion of the attachment element is elastically deformable such that the mutually interengaging snap hooks, release from one another as the elastic portion of the attachment element deforms, and the attachment element is removable from the body.
It is thus usual, in order to install a body in a wall, for example, an ultrasonic sensor in a bumper, to use an attachment element which receives the sensor and which can then be inserted into a hole in the bumper. The attachment element can be anchored in the motor vehicle in various fashions. As already described above, retention can be accomplished by spring force, which has the advantage that the component can readily be detached again. It is also known to anchor the attachment element in the bumper by ultrasonic welding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The attachment element according to the present invention has, in contrast to the known existing art, the advantage that the body to be attached by way of the attachment element can be installed in a wall having any desired curvature. The fact that the attachment element includes a flexible region for adaptation to the wall and a rigid region for receiving the body to be attached has the advantage that an attachment element can be used in many ways because it is adaptable and at the same time dimensionally stable. The provision of an elastic intermediate piece for joining the rigid and the flexible regions of the attachment element moreover has the advantage that any force acting on the rigid region can be absorbed elastically. Lastly, it is thereby possible to flexibly handle differences between the contact surface and attachment element.
It is particularly advantageous that the degree of flexibility can be established by way of the groove depth between the individual ridges.
Because of its flexible region, the attachment element can optimally conform to the wall so that the attachment element can be joined very effectively to the wall by adhesive bonding, for example, using a double-sided adhesive system. Because of the flexibility, no peeling effect occurs at the joining point, so that the mechanical loading experienced by the adhesive joining is insignificant or absent.
The provision of spacers at the corners of the attachment element offers the advantage that very good alignment and adjustment of the attachment element is possible prior to final attachment to the wall.
A further advantage exists because of the provision of a collar to receive the body that is to be installed, since no additional devices are necessary in order to center the body being attached in the attachment element.
Lastly, in the event of a replacement or a repair that has become necessary, it is easily possible to take the body out of the attachment element toward the rear, thereby substantially reducing the complexity and thus cost of replacement.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3295806 (1967-01-01), Modeme
patent: 4752178 (1988-06-01), Greenhill
patent: 4971121 (1990-11-01), Guertin
patent: 5207462 (1993-05-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5497536 (1996-03-01), Hart
patent: 5890831 (1999-04-01), Kato
patent: 38 12 182 (1989-10-01), None
patent: 0 818864 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 1072849 (1954-09-01), None
patent: 2591450 (1987-06-01), None
patent: WO 96 14512 (1996-05-01), None

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