Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Trim molding fastener – Having laterally extending biasing appendage
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2001-01-30
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Trim molding fastener
Having laterally extending biasing appendage
C024S297000, C024S453000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178605
ABSTRACT:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for fixing mechanisms and/or accessories that are usually made of plastic and fitted in the interior of motor vehicles, which fixing takes place through the modular elements constituting the ceilings, panels, inlaid work of linings, etc., in order to be definitively fixed in the holes purposely made in the bodywork shell of the relevant vehicle.
The object of the invention is to provide a system for coupling and fixing plastic material accessories to modular self-supporting elements and the latter to the bodywork of motor vehicles, by inserting a resilient plastic device integrated in the actual accessories and/or mechanisms, in windows purposely provided in the structural elements of the latter, although for a definitive arrangement, the device may be previously coupled to and supported on the relevant modular self-supporting element, thereby to allow manipulations to be made until the accessory or mechanism is definitively fitted in the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain accessories and/or mechanisms mounted in the interior of vehicles, such as hangers, grips, door handles, etc., are fixed by means of elements that cross the ceiling, door panels, etc., and are anchored in windows or holes purposely provided in the vehicle bodywork shell.
Plastic parts are normally used in systems used for this mounting and fixing, which are attached on the one hand to the accessory or mechanism at issue, passing through the self-supporting elements and being anchored in the window of the vehicle bodywork shell.
Currently known mechanisms or means to carry this out have a number of drawbacks and disadvantages, namely that they are difficult to disengage in order for the accessory to be dismounted and/or replaced, wherever this is necessary, indeed resulting in the actual mechanism being broken and having to be replaced with another one which shall logically fulfill the said function.
Similarly, complex manipulations are required when it comes to mounting and fixing, for it is difficult, with conventional systems and devices, to hold the assembly whilst it is being manipulated to be locked in the window of the vehicle bodywork shell.
Wherever mounting and/or dismounting is relatively simple, or poses no serious problems, then fixing is not sufficiently rigid, clearances being created within short time periods which result in noise and bother for the actual user.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The system subject hereof has been devised to fully solve the above drawbacks and is based on the accessory to be fixed being linked to a mechanism with a pyramid-shaped protuberance, that could in principle be described as being “incomplete”, projecting therefrom, the contour of its base having a small slot in which a thin plastic holding blade will be inserted having an identical window as the shell of the vehicle bodywork, with a rectangular, circular and other outer contour, depending on the projecting base of the mechanism to be held, wherein said thin plastic blade allows said mechanism as a whole to be held to the self-supporting element (ceiling, door panel, etc.), once the latter has been sandwiched between the blade and the base of the pyramid-shaped protuberance.
The thickness of said blade plus the shell thickness must equal the width of the slot at the base of the pyramid-shaped protuberance, specifically in a small vertical skirt on the perimeter of such a base and in which the slot is logically cut, which shall be taken up by the relevant fringe on the exterior of both windows once insertion has been completed.
The pyramid-shaped protuberances are considered “incomplete”, as noted hereinbefore, because if the bottom of the slot provided in the skirt of the pyramid-shaped base should define therein a smaller square section than that of its base, albeit with dimensions identical with those of the shell window, then insertion would not be possible. Now then, if two quadrants of the pyramid can be cleaved off (as defined by planes parallel to the axis and to the traces of the diagonals from the base) in order for two facing edges to remain immovable, namely the edges lying between two parallel planes equidistant from the plane defined by these two edges and another plane perpendicular thereto, shifted parallel to the other diagonal such that the section defined leaves the dimension of the window diagonal on the outside of its base, and if the edge remaining between the two parallel planes is made to be able to flex from the peak toward the main axis, then it will be possible for the distance between the vertices of this and the opposite edge to be equal to or less than the shell window diagonal, thereby for the pyramid defined by these four edges altogether to be able to enter the windows, moving diagonally and its fixed part being inserted over the two adjacent sides of the windows, the flexible part being supported on the opposite corner, thereby being clipped and fulfilling in principle the coupling function.
If a solid body, hereinafter referred to as a supplementary wedge element, which may or may not be solidly attached to the mechanism, is sandwiched under pressure between the fixed and flexible portions, a perfect fixing will be achieved by embedding which will in many applications more than suffice for this purpose to be fulfilled.
Nevertheless, faced with heavy stressing, the system may be complemented with an additional moveable part to finish off or replace the pyramid sections initially eliminated, the total supporting effect on the outer perimeter of the window being therefore completed and its effect being therefore resisting. It is also noteworthy that it is in this case necessary to sandwich a supplement under pressure between the fixed and the moveable portions in order to cause a suitable side embedding against all four sides of the window.
Having regard to the above-mentioned two cases, it can indeed be assured that the supporting effectiveness at the perimeter can reach up to 46% in the case of the full pyramid and 67% in the latter case. Now then, if the effectiveness of the first case is compared with the second case, the difference is only 10% lower, which confirms what was said hereinbefore regarding to less demanding applications.
The system described may also be used on windows with a slightly greater side, using two side integrated runners that shall to some extent replace the second case referred to above, albeit without a central clippable member, in which case its effectiveness would remain at 46%.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2402287 (1946-06-01), Kearns
patent: 2627094 (1953-03-01), Bedford
patent: 4312614 (1982-01-01), Palmer et al.
patent: 4804303 (1989-02-01), Statkus
patent: 4981322 (1991-01-01), Dowd et al.
patent: 5028187 (1991-07-01), Sato
patent: 5290137 (1994-03-01), Duffy, Jr.
patent: 5409336 (1995-04-01), Jericevich et al.
patent: 5507545 (1996-04-01), Krysiak
patent: 5759002 (1998-06-01), Essenberg
patent: 5920957 (1999-07-01), Wagner
patent: 0088931 (1983-09-01), None
patent: 2064444 (1995-02-01), None
patent: 9523294 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 9617178 (1996-06-01), None
Barrero Serrano Felipe
Romero Magari{tilde over (n)}o Antonio
Irausa Ingenieria, S.A.
Ladas and Parry
Sandy Robert J.
LandOfFree
System for coupling and fixing plastic material accessories... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for coupling and fixing plastic material accessories..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for coupling and fixing plastic material accessories... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2510983