TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a fastener for simplifying the fitting of various components. The invention is primarily intended for heavy/commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses and the like but may of course also be employed on other vehicles or machines where the need arises to fit heavy and/or bulky components, particularly in confined spaces, as in cars, contractor machines, aircraft, watercraft etc. The invention relates also to a vehicle provided with a fastener according to the invention. STATE OF THE ART

It is usual for various vehicle components such as panels of various kinds, e.g. noise protection panels or claddings etc., to be fitted by means of various types of special fasteners in the vehicle's chassis. Fitting takes place in various kinds of surroundings, not infrequently in confined spaces, and the parts concerned are often both bulky and heavy and therefore difficult and unergonomic for handling by one fitter alone needing perhaps to hold the part in position while at the same time fastening or releasing threaded connections which are difficult to reach, or other types of connections such as lockable pins etc. Two, or even more than two, fitters are often required for this handling, making the fitting operation both cramped, complicated and not cost-effective.

Many attempts have been made to solve these problems and various different fasteners have been designed and are

currently available on the market. Disadvantages of these known solutions comprise their design being not sufficiently simple or standardised, which makes them expensive, and the fact that they do not usually help the fitter to hold in position during the fitting operation the component which is to be fitted/removed. Many fasteners are specially made to meet a specific and individual need, which makes them expensive both to design, produce, handle and store. Moreover, some fasteners have the adverse effect of increasing the vehicle's weight, which is preferably to be avoided .

Prior art thus does not refer to any fastener which

anticipates the present invention and which in a simple, functional and cost-effective way helps to speed up and ensure quick fitting/removal of heavy and/or bulky components which can be performed by one fitter alone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to solve the above problem and propose a fastener so configured as to simplify the fitting of heavy and/or bulky components in confined spaces in such a way that the work can be performed by one fitter alone.

A further object of the invention is that the fastener be of simple design and made of standardised components, making it easy and cost-effective to adapt to different requirements. A further object of the invention is that the fastener be easy to handle and fit and lighten the load upon the fitter during the fitting operation.

A further object of the invention is that the fastener be of simple and functional design, consist of as few parts as possible and be easy to use in a vehicle without substantial modifications of the manufacturing process or of parts which are to be fitted. A further object of the invention is that the constituent parts be easy and inexpensive to make so that the manufacture may take place cost-effectively. A further object of the invention is that the constituent parts be light in weight and make as little difference as possible to the vehicle's total weight. These and further objects and advantages are achieved

according to the invention by a device defined by the features indicated in the characterising part of the independent claim 1. An important object of the invention is to make it easy for one fitter alone to handle and fit heavy and/or bulky

components in confined spaces, e.g. in a vehicle. The

invention is mainly achieved by proposing a fastener

consisting of two elements which are detachably fixable to one another and are based on a standardised channel section, channel member or the like, made with advantage of metal such as steel or sheet metal and available on the market in many different dimensions. Such channel members are commonly available by the metre and their dimensions, e.g. length, thickness and shape, may be freely chosen such that the fastener may be suited to different requirements and to withstanding necessary loads. The channel member may of course also be made of materials other than steel, e.g.

aluminium, plastic or the like if the loads on the fastener may be expected to be slight. Using standardised channel members results in a cost-effective fastener. Channel members are easy to make, e.g. by extrusion, and making their flanges broad/high results, from the strength perspective, in

relatively rigid and strong construction, making it possible to keep down the fastener's material thickness and weight.

Fitting two fastener elements or channel members in or against one another also results in a fastening element which is very strong and resistant to torsion. The solution according to the invention therefore involves two channel members used in combination, a first upper fastener element or channel member being somewhat narrower than a second lower fastener element or channel member. The first channel member is provided with a preferably conical recess at one outer end portion. This first channel member serves as a fixed or "stiff" bracket and is firmly fitted as a first phase in, for example, a vehicle. The second, somewhat broader, channel member is fitted firmly in the bulky/heavy component, e.g. in a noise protection panel, which is intended for fitting in the vehicle. A guide in the form of a cotter, pin, screw, bolt or the like is placed a certain distance into and transversely to the second channel member in purpose-made holes which run through the middle of each of the flanges, and the final fitting of the component involves the second channel member being suspended in the first channel member by the guide in the second channel member being inserted into and fitted in the conical recess provided in the end portion of the first channel member. The channel section of the first fastener element is therefore arranged to be insertable into, or down in, the channel section of the second fastener

element. The holes in the flanges of the two fastener

elements will thus automatically be mutually aligned, i.e. central to one another, when the second fastener element is released and the guide rests in position in the conical recess. The lower edge of the recess is configured with a certain angle which creates a slight upward slope to prevent the guide in the second channel member from sliding out of the fastener element/the recess after the guide has been pushed into place, and the flange corners/the edges in the outer end portion of the first fastener element are cut or rounded, or chamfered, to allow sufficient pivoting or rotation about the guide which serves as a pivot point when the two fastener elements are fitted together. The centre of gravity of the second channel member has to be outside the pivot point/the guide relative to the first fastener element to enable the component, e.g. the vehicle panel, to reach a position of rest and be fixed and suspended correctly in the fastener before the final fitting stage. Using for example two fasteners spaced from one another for a given component means that the component will be suspended securely at exactly the right location without any manual help, enabling the fitter to complete the fitting operation, e.g. by inserting dowels, locking pins, guarter-turn locks or other suitable threaded connections through the fastener elements to stabilise and lock them to one another.

If the channel members are provided on all sides with holes at suitable distances from one another, with certain specified spacing, the width/depth of the fastener may easily be adapted to different fitting requirements and a very flexible fastener may be achieved. The fastener according to the invention thus allows the fastener elements to be locked in different

positions so that the parts which are to be fitted to one another may be at different distances from one another. The solution according to the invention entails for example no substantial changes in the production line, making the novel solution relatively easy and therefore inexpensive to

implement in the manufacture of new vehicles. The solution according to the invention may also be employed in the

refitting of previously manufactured vehicles.

Further features and advantages of the invention are indicated by its more detailed description set out below and the

attached drawings and other claims.

BRIEF LIST OF DRAWINGS The invention is described in more detail below in some preferred embodiment examples with reference to the attached drawings .

Figures la-b depict side views of a fastener according to the invention consisting of an upper fastener element and a lower fastener element. Figures 2a-f depict perspective views of various phases of assembling the two elements of the fastener. Figures 3a-b depict side views of a fastener according to the invention in which the fastener elements have been assembled but with mutual displacement relative to what is depicted in Figures 2a-f. Figures 4a-d depict side views of an alternatively configured fastener according to the invention at various phases of being assembled .

Figure 5 depicts a perspective view of a fully assembled fastener according to Figures 4a-d.

Figures 6a-b depict detailed views from the side and obliquely from above of a first/upper element of the fastener according to Figures 4a-d and 5.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure la depicts a side view of a first element of a fastener 1 according to the invention intended for example to be fastened more permanently in a vehicle chassis (not depicted) . The fastener may be configured in various ways, e.g. as a bracket made from a channel section with limbs in the form of a joining portion 2 and a fitting portion 3 which are bent to an angle of 90 degrees to one another. The angle of the bracket does of course not have to be precisely 90 degrees, as it may be varied to suit fitting requirements. The fastener is provided with side flanges 4 not only to increase its strength so that the material thickness and weight can be minimised, but also to make it possible to accommodate a number of holes 5 for flexible fitting of dowels, pivot pins, threaded connections or the like (see Figure lb) . The strength of the fastener may also be improved by increasing the width of the flanges or the material thickness of the channel section. The end portion 6 of one limb, the joining portion 2, is provided with a substantially conical recess 7, the lower bearing edge 8 of which is with advantage configured with a slight counterslope , i.e. angled somewhat upwards, e.g. at an angle a of 1-10 degrees, relative to a notional horizontal plane 9 through the fastener 1, this angle a preferably being 2-5 degrees, to ensure that the fastener's elements la,b do not slide apart after their initial fitting.

Figure lb depicts a side view of a second lower element lb of a fastener 1 according to the invention, e.g. for fitting in a detachable vehicle panel or similar component for fastening to a vehicle chassis. This second element lb is likewise

configured as a bracket with limbs 10,11 bent about 90 degrees to one another. The joining portion 10 of this second

fastener element lb is provided with holes 5 which run through side flanges 12 of the channel section or channel member. A guide 13 in the form of a dowel, screw or the like is inserted through one of the pairs of holes in this lower fastener element to serve as a pivot pin during the assembly of the fastener elements al,b. Where the guide 13 is placed in the fastener element lb decides what distance the panel will for example be from the vehicle's chassis.

The holes 5 in the fastener's two elements la,b have to be at the same spacing to make it possible to adapt the fastener's length/width flexibly to the respective fitting requirements.

Figure 2a depicts a perspective view of a first phase of assembling the fastener's two elements la,b, more specifically how a guide is placed crosswise through a pair of holes in the two flanges 12a, b of the second/lower fastener lb. The upper fastener element la is here about to be inserted, fitted in, between the two side flanges 12a, b of the lower fastener element lb. Figure 2b depicts the fastener 1 in Figure 2a but at a second phase of assembly in which the second/lower fastener element lb has been angled somewhat to allow the guide 13 to be inserted in the recess 7 in the first/upper fastener element la.

Figure 2c depicts the fastener 1 as in Figures 2a-b but at a third phase of assembly in which the guide 13 in the second fastener element has been inserted in position in the recess 7 in the first fastener element la and is now resting

articulatedly in the recess.

Figure 2d shows the second fastener element lb turned about the guide 13 and now angled upwards so that its joining portion 10 abuts against, bears upon, the first fastener element la and more specifically the lower edges of the latter' s flanges 4.

Figure 2e shows finally how for example two threaded

connections 14, 15 are placed through the two fastener

elements la,b, one of them transversely and the other

vertically, so that the fastener elements la,b are durably locked mechanically to one another. Instead of a threaded connection, other types of locking devices may be used, e.g. a locking dowel, a bolted connection, a quarter-turn lock or the like.

Figure 2f depicts a side view of the assembled fastener la,b with both transverse and vertical threaded connections 14,15 fitted. Figure 3a depicts a side view of a fastener 1 according to the invention with its elements la,b assembled but mutually displaced by one hole pitch β relative to the previous

diagrams. The distance between for example the notional vehicle chassis and the vehicle panel will thus here be one hole pitch β greater. The fastener la,b is thus flexible and entirely adjustable in longitudinal directions on the basis of the distribution of the holes 5, and the joining portions 2,10 of the fastener elements la,b may be made long or short, depending on the requirements of the particular fitting situation .

Figure 3b depicts a perspective view of the assembled fastener la,b according to Figure 3a.

Figure 4a depicts a side view of an alternatively configured fastener 1 according to the invention but with the fastener elements 16a, b in the form of straight channel members. It shows a first assembly state in which the fastener elements 16a, b are placed parallel with one another.

Figure 4b depicts a phase of assembling the fastener according to Figure 4a in which the second/lower fastener element 16b is angled somewhat relative to the upper fastener element 16a to allow the guide 13 to engage with the substantially conical recess 17 (see Fig. 4a) in the first/upper fastener element 16a.

Figure 4c shows the next phase of assembling the fastener, in which the second/lower fastener element 16b has been realigned and is partly enclosing the first/upper fastener element 16a and its flanges 18.

Figure 4d shows finally a first connection 19, e.g. a threaded connection, placed vertically and a second connection 20 placed horizontally through the two fastener elements 16a, b so that they are durably locked mechanically to one another.

Figure 5 depicts a perspective view of a fully assembled fastener 1 according to Figures 4a-d, with vertical and horizontal threaded connections 19,20 fitted.

Figure 6a depicts a detailed view from the side of the

first/upper fastener element 16a according to Figures 4 and 5, showing the conical recess 17 in more detail.

Figure 6b depicts finally a perspective view of the portion depicted in Figure 6a, showing more clearly the mutual

locations of the holes 5,21. It shows the hole 21 in the bottom web 22 of the fastener element 16a displaced, e.g. by half a hole pitch β, relative to the hole 5 in the flanges 12 of the fastener element 16a.

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and is of course not restricted to the embodiments indicated, as other variants of the

invention are also possible and conceivable within the scope of the inventive concept and the protective scope of the claims set out below.