TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device for fastening an add-on part to a carrier component, in particular for the connection of vehicle parts, comprising a housing part with a receiving opening, and a clip part which is received in the receiving opening of the housing part, wherein the clip part is introduced in an introducing direction into the housing part and is received in the housing part so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the clip part has latching means which, in the locking position, protrude outwards in relation to the housing part and, in the unlocking position, are accommodated within the housing part, wherein the latching means of the clip part are designed in order, in a state of the housing part inserted into the carrier component, to latch in the locking position on an opening of the carrier component.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Fastening devices of the above-mentioned type serve in the automotive sector, for example, to fasten a trim part to a vehicle body. In the case of known fastening devices, both the housing part and the clip part also frequently have latching means, wherein the housing part is fixed with its latching means to the carrier component and the clip part is fixed with its latching means to the add-on part. In this case, the housing part is usually connected permanently to the carrier component, i.e. cannot be dismounted. Such a fastening device is known, for example, from EP 2 279 356 Bl.

[0003] WO 2016/069 125 Al describes a three-part fastening element with a box-shaped base body, a clip part inserted into the base body and with a pair of elastically deformable wings which are in engagement with the clip part. For mounting, the box-shaped base body is inserted into a correspondingly shaped opening of a vehicle component, wherein the wings protrude on opposite sides through openings in the side walls of the base body and deform during introduction elastically into the base body. Subsequently, the wings once again exit from the base body and fix the fastening means on the vehicle component. As a result of a rotation of the clip part about its longitudinal axis, the wings are pulled under deformation back into the housing, as a result of which the fastening element can be removed from the vehicle component. Such a fastening element is structurally complex and does not have a very long service life due to the high mechanical load which occurs as a result of the deformation. [0004] WO 2018/009 288 Al relates to a fastening element with a base body and a core with a torsion bar, wherein the core can be pivoted via an axis into the base body and out of it again. During insertion of the fastening element into an opening of a vehicle component, a projection of the torsion bar comes into contact with an edge of the vehicle component, as a result of which the torsion bar is twisted about a longitudinal axis. After the projection passes through the opening of the vehicle component, the torsion bar moves back into its original position, wherein the projection fixes the fastening element on the vehicle component. In order to release the fastening element, a tool is introduced into the head of the torsion bar and the torsion rod is once again twisted in relation to the main body and thus the projection comes out of contact with the vehicle component. In this case too, due to torsion, high mechanical loads occur which have a negative effect on the service life of the fastening device.

[0005] German patent application 10 2017 117 002 which was not previously published discloses a fastening device with a box-shaped housing part and a clip part mounted in a rotationally movable manner therein, wherein the clip part has latching means for latching on a carrier component and can be adjusted between a locking and an unlocking position by rotation of the clip part by 90°. During introduction of the fastening device into openings of an add-on part and a carrier component, the latching means of the clip part deform inwards and after passing through the openings back to the outside, as a result of which the fastening device is fixed on the carrier component.

SUMMARY

[0006] Proceeding from the explained prior art, the object on which the invention is based is to provide a device for fastening an add-on part to a carrier component which has a particularly long service life and enables reliable and reversible fastening.

[0007] The invention achieves the object by means of a device as claimed in claim 1.

Advantageous configurations are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

[0008] In the case of the device according to the invention of the above-mentioned type, the clip part is rotatable without deformation between the locking position and the unlocking position. The housing part furthermore has elastic holding means which are designed to hold the clip part in the locking position in relation to rotation about the axis of rotation and in relation to an axial movement counter to the introducing direction. [0009] The carrier component can be, for example, a vehicle body. The add-on part can be a trim part, for example, an underbody trim. The add-on part can also be a door module. The carrier component can be a vehicle door or a vehicle door part, such as a vehicle door panel. The vehicle can be a car or an HGV. Such a door module can hold, for example, loud speakers or motors for electric window lifters of a car. The door module can, however, also be a door trim. The door trim can, for example, hold an interior door handle.

[0010] The device according to the invention comprises a housing part and a clip part which can be inserted into the housing part. The housing part and/or the clip part can in each case be formed in one piece. The housing part and/or the clip part can be composed of plastic, produced, for example, in a plastic injection-molding process. The housing part can be designed in particular to be box shaped, i.e. rectangular in cross-section. The housing part can have an introducing portion for introduction into an opening of the carrier component and a bearing portion following on from the introducing portion counter to the introducing direction for bearing on the add-on part. The introducing portion can have, in particular, two side openings arranged on opposite sides, wherein the latching means of the clip part protruding outwards in the locking position can engage through the side openings. In particular, the latching means can comprise two latching arms which protrude outwards on two opposite sides of the clip part. Each of the latching arms can then engage in each case through one of the side openings of the housing part in the locking position.

[0011] Due to the housing part and the clip part, the fastening device according to the invention is formed in two parts. The housing part and clip part can in particular be manufactured separately and subsequently connected to one another. In this case, the clip part can be introduced through an introducing opening of the housing part into the receiving opening of the housing part, wherein the latching means of the clip part can deform in particular elastically and elastically revert back to their original form after passing through the introducing opening. The housing part can be brought into a mounting position inserted into the opening of the add-on part and into an opening of the carrier component with the clip part located in the locking position by movement in a linear mounting direction. In this case, the latching means of the clip part can deform inwards within the housing part and deform outwards again after penetration of the opening, in particular without rotation of the clip part, i.e. without the clip part leaving the locking position. The device is thus fixed on the carrier component or the add-on part in such a manner that it cannot be detached from the carrier component or the add-on part in the case of a clip part in the locking position by movement in a linear dismounting direction counter to the linear mounting direction. In the unlocking position, the latching of the latching means of the clip part on the opening of the carrier component is released so that the device can be detached from the carrier component or the add-on part by movement along the linear dismounting direction. The device can also be inserted with the clip part located in the unlocking position into the openings of the add-on part or the carrier component, wherein a fixing of the device is then carried out by rotation of the clip part about its axis of rotation into the locking position.

[0012] According to the invention, in this case, the clip part is rotatable without deformation about the axis of rotation between the locking position and the unlocking position. This means that in particular the latching means of the clip part are not deformed during this movement. Indeed, as mentioned above, the latching means can in principle be elastically deformable. No deformation of the latching means occurs, however, during the movement of the clip part between locking and unlocking position. In particular, no torsion of the clip part occurs. The fastening device according to the invention can thus easily be mounted and dismounted again. The fastening device according to the invention also undergoes lower mechanical loads than the above-mentioned fastening devices since the clip part - in particular the latching means of the clip part - can be moved without deformation.

[0013] The device according to the invention thus has a particularly long service life, can in particular frequently be mounted and dismounted. The elastic holding means of the housing part further hold the clip part in the locking position. The clip part can thus initially be fixed in relation to the housing part. The elastic holding means in this case perform a double function in that they hold the clip part in the locking position in relation to a rotation about the axis of rotation in the direction of the unlocking position and on the other hand also axially fix it. In the locking position, the elastic holding means thus prevent an unintentional movement of the clip part out of the locking position and also prevent, in particular, the clip part from being able to detach from the housing part. The elastic holding means hold the clip part in the locking position in such a manner that a defined holding resistance must be overcome for a movement of the clip part out of the locking position into the unlocking position. A rotational movement of the clip part about the axis of rotation is consequently possible insofar as the torque applied for this exceeds the holding resistance of the holding means. The holding means can comprise in particular holding arms.

[0014] According to one configuration, the holding means comprise holding arms protruding from an inner surface of the housing part into the receiving openings and engagement grooves formed in an outer surface of the clip part, wherein the holding arms and the engagement grooves are in engagement with one another in the locking position. By engagement in the respective engagement groove, the elastic holding arms can consequently hold the clip part in the locking position. If a sufficiently high torque is applied during a rotation of the clip part about the axis of rotation starting from the locking position, the holding arms come out of engagement with the engagement grooves and the clip part can be moved into the unlocking position, as explained above.

[0015] According to one configuration, the latching means have two latching arms which are arranged on opposite outer sides of the clip part and each extend away from the clip part, wherein, in the locking position, the latching arms each reach through one of two mutually opposite side openings of the housing part. In particular, the housing part can have an introducing portion for introduction into an opening of the carrier component or of the add-on part and a bearing portion adjoining the introducing portion counter to the introducing direction for bearing on the add-on part. The two mutually opposite side openings can then be arranged in particular on two opposite sides of the introducing portion, as already mentioned above. In the locking position, the latching arms can thus protrude via the housing part, in particular via the introducing portion of the housing part. It can in particular be provided that the latching arms, in the locking position, are received into the housing part, in particular into the introducing portion of the housing part, i.e. do not reach through the side openings. The latching arms can thus be adjusted into the housing part, as a result of which the device can in turn be detached from the add-on part or the carrier component.

Adjustment of the clip part between unlocking position and locking position is carried out in particular without deformation of the latching arms. In particular, the latching arms can maintain in each case their extent in the radial direction in relation to the axis of rotation during pivoting of the clip part about its axis of rotation. Each point which lies on the respective latching arm can therefore remain at a constant distance to the axis of rotation during pivoting of the clip part about its axis of rotation.

[0016] According to one configuration, the clip part is rotatable by 90° in the housing part between the locking position and the unlocking position. The clip part can be rotatable between the two positions, however, also by another angle, for example, by 80° or 110°.

[0017] According to one configuration, the housing part has at least one stop surface for the latching means, wherein the stop surface is designed to limit a rotational movement of the clip part beyond the unlocking position. In the case of latching arms which are adjustable into the housing part as latching means, a stop surface can be provided in particular within the receiving openings of the housing part. A separate stop surface can be provided for each of the latching arms. In the unlocking position, the latching means can stop against the stop surfaces and thus limit the rotational movement of the clip part. It can thus be achieved that the clip part is movable only in one direction of rotation about the axis of rotation from the locking position into the unlocking position. A movement of the clip part from the unlocking position into the locking position can then correspondingly be carried out in the opposite direction of rotation. The stop surface can provide an operator with haptic feedback as to whether the unlocking position was reached. In particular, display means could thus be omitted which visually display the respective position of the clip part relative to the housing part.

[0018] According to one configuration, further holding means are provided which are designed to hold the clip part in the unlocking position axially in relation to the introducing direction in the housing part. According to one configuration in this regard, the further holding means comprise at least one holding projection extending adjacent to the at least one stop surface into the receiving openings at an angle. While the elastic holding means provided according to the invention hold the clip part in the locking position axially in relation to the introducing direction, the further holding means can hold the clip part in the unlocking position axially in relation to the introducing direction. It is thus ensured both in the locking position and in the unlocking position that the clip part cannot detach from the housing part.

[0019] According to one configuration, the latching means of the clip part are first latching means, wherein the housing part has second latching means interacting with the first latching means, wherein, in a state of the housing part inserted into the add-on part and the carrier component, the first latching means latch on the opening of the carrier component and the second latching means latch on an opening of the add-on part, and therefore the add-on part and the carrier component are held between the first and second latching means. Add-on part and carrier component can thus be pushed onto one another by the first and second latching means of the fastening device. In this case, the first latching means of the clip part engage on the carrier component and the second latching means of the housing part engage on the add-on part. According to one configuration in this regard, the second latching means are designed to be elastic. The latching means of the housing part can consequently be deformable. In particular, the second latching means of the housing part can form a seal. As a result of the elastic design, a particularly tight and secure connection between add-on part and carrier component can be achieved.

[0020] According to one configuration, positioning means are provided which position the clip part in relation to the housing part in the locking position and/or in the unlocking position.

According to one configuration in this regard, the positioning means comprise positioning grooves or positioning ribs running on an inner surface of the housing part in the introducing direction and positioning ribs or positioning grooves running on an outer surface of the clip part in the introducing direction, wherein the positioning grooves and the positioning ribs are in engagement with one another in the locking position and/or in the unlocking position. For example, positioning grooves can be provided on an inner surface of the housing part and positioning ribs can be provided on an outer surface of the clip part. A reverse arrangement is, however, also conceivable. The positioning grooves and positioning ribs are rotationally offset in particular in pairs by the rotational offset between the locking position and the unlocking position, for example, by 90°. The positioning means can be arranged in particular on a head portion of the clip part and on an inner surface of the housing part opposite the head portion. The clip part can consequently be positioned in the locking position or in the unlocking position via the positioning grooves and positioning ribs which are in engagement with one another. Positioning can mean in particular in this case that the clip part is held in the locking position or the unlocking position in relation to a rotation about the axis of rotation, i.e. has a certain resistance in relation to such a rotation. In particular, the clip part can latch into the locking position or the unlocking position via the positioning means. The positioning means can consequently hold the clip part in relation to the housing part by means of a latching, wherein the latching can be released by a small torque. It provides the operator with haptic feedback when the locking position or the unlocking position is reached.

[0021] According to one configuration, display means are provided which visually display the reaching of the locking position and/or unlocking position. For example, such display means can be provided on an upper side of the housing part directed counter to the introducing direction. The display means can comprise, for example, a closed lock to represent the locking position and/or an open lock to represent the unlocking position.

[0022] According to one configuration, the clip part is mounted rotatably with a foot end in a foot receptacle of the housing part on a base of the receiving opening. According to one configuration in this regard, the foot receptacle has interruptions which penetrate through a circular bearing opening with opposing side walls of the housing part. The clip part can thus be supported on the base of the receiving openings. In particular, the foot end of the clip part can be designed to be circular in accordance with the circular bearing opening of the foot receptacle and run along inside the circular bearing opening during a rotational movement of the clip part about the axis of rotation. The clip part is thus guided through the bearing opening. As a result of the interruptions in the bearing opening which pass through the side walls of the housing part, the bearing opening does not describe a complete circle, rather only partial circles, in particular two opposing quadrants. Due to the interruptions, in particular simpler production of the housing part using injection molding can be carried out since no complicated tools such as, for example, slides are necessary to form the explained bearing opening.

[0023] The invention furthermore relates to a system comprising a carrier component, in particular a first vehicle component, with a first passage opening and an add-on part to be fastened to the carrier component, in particular a second vehicle component, with a second passage opening, further comprising a device according to the invention inserted into the first passage opening and into the second passage opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detail below on the basis of figures. Schematically, in the figures:

[0025] Figure 1 shows a fastening device according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0026] Figure 2 shows the housing part of the fastening device from figure 1 in a side view,

[0027] Figure 3 shows the clip part of the fastening device from figure 1 in a side view,

[0028] Figure 4 shows the fastening device from figure 1 in a side view with the clip part in the locking position,

[0029] Figure 5 shows the fastening device from figure 1 in a side view with the clip part in the unlocking position,

[0030] Figure 6 shows the fastening device from figure 4 in a second side view rotated by 90 degrees, and

[0031] Figure 7 shows a section through the fastening device represented in figure 4.

[0032] Unless indicated otherwise, the same reference numbers designate the same articles below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The figures show a device according to the invention for fastening an add-on part to a carrier component. The device is configured in two parts and comprises a housing part 10 as well as a clip part 20 received in housing part 10. Housing part 10 comprises a bearing portion 12 with second latching means 14 and a central introducing opening 15 for introduction of clip part 20 into housing part 10 along an introducing direction E as well as an introducing portion 16 which adjoins bearing portion 12 in introducing direction E with a receiving opening 18 for clip part 20. Clip part 20 comprises a head portion 22, a foot end 26 opposite head portion 22 and a shaft 24 extending between head portion 22 and foot end 26. Two first latching means designed as latching arms 28 extend from shaft 24 on opposite sides of clip part 20. Clip part 20 is designed to be rotatable by 90° relative to housing part 10 about an axis of rotation D between a locking position and an unlocking position. [0034] In the perspective representation in figure 1 and in the representations in figures 4, 6 and 7, clip part 20 is located in the locking position. In this case, latching arms 28 protrude in each case through a side opening 17 of introducing portion 16 of housing part 10 and thus out of introducing portion 16. In this case, the locking position is indicated by display means 30 on a surface of housing part 10 that points counter to introducing direction E. Clip part 20 is furthermore held in the locking position via positioning means 19, 2 la in a latching manner in the locking position, wherein positioning ribs 19 formed on an inner surface of bearing portion 12 of housing part 10 and running in the introducing direction are in engagement with positioning grooves 2 la running on an outer surface of the clip part. In this exemplary embodiment, two mutually opposite positioning ribs

19 and two mutually opposite positioning grooves 2la are provided, wherein in figure 1, for the purpose of improved clarity, only in each case one positioning groove or one positioning rib is provided with a reference number. Positioning grooves 2 la are in this exemplary embodiment also connected to one another via a tool receptacle 23 which extends via head portion 22 of clip part 20. Clip part 20 is furthermore held in housing part 10 in the locking position via elastic holding arms

11 in relation to a rotation about an axis of rotation D running parallel to the introducing direction and along a longitudinal axis of clip part 20 and in relation to an axial movement counter to introducing direction E. This is apparent in particular in figure 4. In this case, elastic holding arms 11 engage in engagement grooves 25 which are formed in shaft 24 of clip part 20. Foot end 26 of clip part 20 is accommodated in a bearing opening 32 of introducing portion 16 of housing part 10. Bearing opening 32 and foot end 26 are designed to be circular in cross-section corresponding to one another, wherein, at the opposite side of introducing portion 16, bearing opening 32 has interruptions 34 which form a passage from bearing opening 32 through the opposite sides of introducing portion 16 to the outside. These interruptions 34 form part of side openings 17. Bearing opening 32 is thus ultimately formed by two remaining quarter circles. Counter to introducing direction E above bearing opening 32, introducing slopes 35 are provided which are at an angle to introducing direction E or axis of rotation D and during insertion of clip part 20 into housing part 10 guide clip part 20 with its foot end 26 into bearing opening 32.

[0035] Proceeding from the locking position, clip part 20 can be adjusted into an unlocking position which is apparent in figure 5, wherein latching arms 28 of clip part 20 are adjusted into introducing portion 16 of housing part 10. In the unlocking position, latching arms 28 of clip part

20 stop on stops 36 which are formed on opposite inner sides of housing part 10 and extend into receiving openings 18. In particular in figures 4 and 5, further holding means 38 are apparent which comprise two holding projections 38 extending adjacent in each case to stop surfaces 36 into receiving openings 18 at an angle. Holding projections 38 hold clip part 20 axially in relation to a movement counter to introducing direction E in housing part 10 in the unlocking position. [0036] It is apparent in particular in the side view of the device in figure 6 and the side view in figure 7 that, in the locking position, latching arms 28 protrude beyond introducing portion 16 of housing part 10. In the mounted state of the device according to the invention, housing part 10 is introduced with its introducing portion 16 so far through a passage opening of an add-on part, not represented, and a passage opening of a carrier component, also not represented, which bears against the add-on part that latching arms 28 of clip part 20 latch on the carrier component while bearing portion 12 latches with its second latching means 14 on the add-on part. Add-on part and carrier component are clamped against one another as a result of interaction of clip part and housing part. Second latching means 14 of bearing portion 12 can be designed in this case in particular to be elastic, which can lead to an even more secure and tighter connection. The device according to the invention can be guided with the clip part in the locking position through the passage openings of add-on part and carrier component, wherein latching arms 28 then deform elastically inwards towards shaft 24 and revert to the outside back to their idle position after passing through the passage openings.

[0037] A deformation of latching arms 28 during a rotational movement of clip part 20 between the locking position and the unlocking position about axis of rotation D is, however, not possible according to the invention. In the case of such a rotational movement, latching arms 28 instead maintain their orientation in relation to shaft 24, in particular the latching arms remain at a constant radial position to axis of rotation D at every point. The remaining elements of the clip part also do not deform during such a rotational movement, in particular shaft 24 is not twisted. The fastening device according to the invention thus undergoes less mechanical loading in particular during dismounting and has a higher degree of durability.

List of reference numbers

10 Housing part

11 Holding arms

12 Bearing portion

14 Second latching means

15 Central introducing opening

16 Introducing portion

17 Side opening

18 Receiving opening

19 Positioning ribs

20 Clip part

2la Positioning grooves

22 Head portion

23 Tool receptacle

24 Shaft

25 Engagement grooves

26 Foot end

28 Latching arms/first latching means 30 Display means

32 Bearing opening

34 Interruptions

36 Stop surface

38 Holding projection

D Axis of rotation

E Introducing direction