Supports – Resilient support
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-26
2001-08-21
Ramirez, Ramon O (Department: 3632)
Supports
Resilient support
C248S634000, C248S638000, C248S635000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276652
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening a housing, especially a filter housing, to a supporting structure.
In the state of the art a large number of fastening elements are known. The simplest kind is a screw fastener. This, however, has the disadvantage that additional elements such as a screw and a nut are necessary, and assembly requires considerable effort.
It is also known to mount a housing on a supporting structure with a snap fastener. To this end a pin, for example, is provided on the housing, and is snapped into a corresponding opening in the supporting structure. A disadvantage of this system, however, is the need for close tolerances. Also, several working steps are required in the manufacturing process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a fastening element which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which also eliminates the need for close manufacturing tolerances, and offers good acoustical isolation.
This object is achieved by providing a fastening element for securing a plastic housing to a supporting structure, wherein a holding area is provided on the housing, and a rubber-elastic element is formed on said housing in said holding area and is connected to the supporting structure.
The important advantage of the invention is that the fastening element is equipped with a rubber-elastic element, which is made especially by the two-component injection molding method. Such a fastening element can be disposed on the plastic housing in a single procedure during the manufacture of the latter. No subsequent treatment or additional processing are necessary.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rubber-elastic element is composed of an elastomer, especially a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
TPE can be worked by injection molding and has rubber-elastic properties which can be adapted in their composition to a particular application.
An additional advantageous embodiment provides for configuring the rubber-elastic element so as to achieve great tolerance-compensating effects.
This can be accomplished, for example, in that this element has a kind of pleated structure, or in that parts of the element are configured in the manner of a cradle held at both ends.
One advantageous embodiment envisions the rubber-elastic element being provided with a vibration-damping body structure. Here again the use of TPE has the advantage that this material has high damping qualities and consequently vibrations caused by the supporting structure to which it is fastened are not transmitted to the housing, especially the filter housing. Such vibrations are created, for example, in a motor vehicle. Especially the components of the motor, such as the filter housing and other peripheral elements, must be effectively decoupled from these vibrations. The fastening element is suitable for doing this.
In order to affix the housing to the supporting structure, the fastening element is lockingly engaged with a corresponding counterpart member. This can be, for example, a screw or a pin. Of course, other fastening elements are conceivable, such as straps. For fastening by means of a screw it is desirable to provide in the rubber-elastic element a metal bushing which defines the effective screw length.
An advantageous variant of the invention provides for configuring the fastening element with a plug-in shape in the form of a pin. This pin is inserted into an opening in the supporting structure. Here, too, various shapes can be achieved which display both a tolerance compensating and a vibration damping action.
These and other features of preferred embodiments of the invention are to be found not only in the claims, but also in the description and the drawings; whereby the individual features each can be realized by themselves alone or in subcombinations in the embodiment of the invention, and can be applied to other fields of use and constitute advantageous as well as independently patentable features, for which protection is here claimed.
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Crowell & Moring , L.L.P.
Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
Ramirez Ramon O
Wood Kimberly
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