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Title:
FASTENING DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/088449
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Device for fastening at least a first component comprising a through opening to at least a second component also comprising a through opening, comprising - a fastening bushing with a sleeve section (12) and with a sleeve head (14), wherein the sleeve section comprises at least one locking section (20) and at least two recesses (16) in its wall running in axial direction, and wherein the sleeve head (14) comprises a through opening (22) aligned with the sleeve section (12), - a fastening pin with a pin section (14) and with a pin head (26), wherein the pin head comprises at least one locking section (28) and wherein stop (18, 32) means are provided between the fastening pin and the fastening bushing, wherein the pin section (24) is designed to be inserted through the sleeve section (12) and through the through opening (22) of the sleeve head (14), wherein at least one of the locking sections (20, 28) is configured as a thread and engaging means (30) are provided with which the pin head can be screwed out of the sleeve section for demounting.

Inventors:
ECKSTEIN FRANK (DE)
LIMPERT ALEXANDER (DE)
KLUGE MARTIN (DE)
Application Number:
PCT/US2011/066920
Publication Date:
June 28, 2012
Filing Date:
December 22, 2011
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS (US)
ECKSTEIN FRANK (DE)
LIMPERT ALEXANDER (DE)
KLUGE MARTIN (DE)
International Classes:
F16B19/10
Domestic Patent References:
WO1995025469A11995-09-28
Foreign References:
US4810141A1989-03-07
US3279304A1966-10-18
DE4445454A11996-06-27
US4969785A1990-11-13
Other References:
None
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
HAUPTMAN, Benjamin J. (Suite 300Alexandria, Virginia, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims :

1. Device for fastening at least one first component comprising a through opening on at least one second component also comprising a through opening, comprising

- a fastening bushing with a sleeve section (12) which is designed to be inserted through the through openings of the components and with a sleeve head (14) which is designed to abut on a surface of one of the components when the sleeve section (12) is inserted through the through openings of the components, wherein the sleeve section (12) comprises at least one locking section and at least two receptions (16) in its wall running in axial direction and, wherein the sleeve head (14) comprises a through opening (22) aligned with the sleeve section (12),

- a fastening pin with a pin section (24, 24') and with a pin head (26, 26 ') wherein the pin head (26, 26') comprises at least one locking section and, wherein stop means are provided between the fastening pin and the fastening bushing, wherein the pin section (24, 24') is designed to be inserted through the sleeve section (12) and through the through opening (22) of the sleeve head (14) such that the pin head (26, 26 ') is initially also inserted into the sleeve section (12) until reaching the stop formed by the stop means, and subseguently locks with the locking section of the sleeve section (12) upon spreading of the wall of the sleeve section (12) and a length reduction of the sleeve section (12) associated herewith, wherein at least one of the locking sections is formed as a thread and engaging means are provided with which the pin head (26, 26 ') can be screwed out of the sleeve section (12) for demounting. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve section (12) comprises an inner thread (20) and/or that the pin head (26, 26 ') comprises an outer thread (28, 28').

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engaging means are provided on the pin head (26, 26 ') and/or on the pin section (24, 24 ' ) .

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening pin comprises a predetermined breaking point (40, 40') at which the fastening pin (24, 24') can be broken off the pin head (26, 26 ') in the fastened state of the device .

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop means comprise means for providing a force closure and/or a form closure between the pin head (26, 26 ') and the sleeve section (12).

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop means comprise at least one locking reception provided on the pin head (26, 26') and at least one locking projection provided on the sleeve head (14), wherein the at least one locking projection engages with the at least one locking reception upon insertion of the pin head (26, 26 ') into the sleeve head (14) and such forms the stop.

Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stop means comprise at least one locking reception provided on the sleeve head (14) and at least one locking projection provided on the pin head (26, 26 ') wherein the at least one locking projection engages with the at least one locking reception upon insertion of the pin head (26, 26') into the sleeve head (14) and such forms the stop.

Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the at least one locking reception is at least one locking groove (32) running in the circumferential direction of the pin head (26, 26') or the sleeve head (14) .

Description:
Fastening device

The invention relates to a device for fastening at least a first component comprising a through opening to at least a second component also comprising a through opening. In the automotive industry, such a device is used to fasten flat components, such as trim panels, to one another. It is known to connect the two components to each other by riveting. High retention forces, combined with small installation space, are hereby achieved. A drawback is, however, that a nondestructive demounting of the device, and thus of the components, is not possible.

Starting from the described state of the art, the object of the invention is to provide a device of the type stated in the introduction, which device, given simple mounting and high retention forces during operation, in simple manner allows nondestructive demounting .

This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

The invention achieves the object by virtue of a device for fastening at least a first component comprising a through opening to at least a second component also comprising a through opening, comprising

a fasten 1 bushing with a sleeve section which is designed o be inserted through the through openings the components and with a sleeve head which is designed to bear against a surface of one of the components when the sleeve section is inserted through the through openings of the components, wherein the sleeve section comprises at least one locking section and at least two axially running recesses in its wall, and wherein the sleeve head comprises a through opening aligned with the sleeve section,

a fastening pin with a pin section and with a pin head, wherein the pin head comprises at least one locking section and wherein stop means are provided between the fastening pin and the fastening bushing, wherein the pin section is designed to be inserted through the sleeve section and through the through opening of the sleeve head such that the pin head is firstly also inserted into the sleeve section until reaching the stop formed by the stop means, and subseguently locks with the locking section of the sleeve section upon expansion of the wall of the sleeve section and a herewith associated length reduction of the sleeve section, wherein at least one of the locking sections is configured as a thread and engaging means are provided with which the pin head can be screwed out of the sleeve section for demounting .

The components to be fastened with the inventive device can in particular be flat components of an automobile, for example trim panels. More than two components can also be connected to each other with the inventive fastening device. The fastening device here basically has the function of a rivet. The sleeve section can in particular have a substantially cylindrical wall, which delimits a cylindrical sleeve opening. The cylindrical wall can be breached by at least two, preferably more than two axial recesses. These enable the expansion of the sleeve section, accompanied at the same time by a reduction in length. The sleeve head has an enlarged cross section in relation to the sleeve section which emanates therefrom, so that the sleeve head, when the sleeve section is inserted fully through the components, bears against one of the components. Correspondingly, the pin head, at least in the region of its locking section, also has an enlarged cross section in relation to the pin section emanating therefrom. The pin section and/or the pin head can have a cylindrical shape.

It is possible that the fastening pin and the fastening bushing, prior to mounting on the components and in particular prior to insertion into the through openings of the components, are already slid one into the other, and thus premounted, by the time the stop is reached. It is likewise possible to insert the fastening bushing firstly through the through openings of the components and only subseguently insert the fastening pin in the fastening bushing. In both cases, the pin section, for mounting by means of a suitable tool which can be part, moreover, of the inventive device, is pulled through the fastening section to the point where the locking sections interlock. The pin section and the pin head are here firstly inserted up to the stop and, thereupon into the sleeve section, in particular without deformation of the latter. When the pin section is pulled further through the sleeve section and the sleeve head, a deformation of the sleeve section, in particular an expansion, then ensues, effected by the force transmission in the region of the stop. The wall of the sleeve section hereupon expands, enabled by the axial recesses, and the sleeve section is considerably reduced in its length. In particular, the length of the sleeve section is reduced in the course of assembly to a fraction of the original length. The installation space of the device in the mounted state is hereby diminished .

In the ready-mounted state, the locking engagement between the locking sections, and thus a secure fastening of the fastening bushing and fastening pin to the components, which are thereby fixedly connected to each other, materializes. The assembly can thus be realized, m particular, without a relative rotary movement between the fastening pin and the fastening bushing. At the same time, the expansion of the sleeve section leads to the device being unable to be pulled back out of the through openings of the components. Thus, in the ready-mounted state, the sleeve head bears against the surface of one component and the expanded sleeve section bears against the opposite surface of the other component.

A particularly simple assembly, accompanied at the same time by high retention forces, is thus achieved. In addition, according to the invention, at least one of the locking sections is configured as a thread. This allows a simple and nondestructive demounting of the device and, thus of the components, by unscrewing of the fastening head from the fastening bushing by means of a suitable demounting tool, which can likewise be part of the inventive device. Damage to the fastening device or to the components can here be reliably prevented .

The fastening pin and/or the fastening bushing can respectively be configured in one piece. In addition, the fastening pin and/or the fastening bushing can consist of a plastic, produced, for example, by plastic injection molding. It is also conceivable, however, for the fastening pin and/or the fastening bushing to consist of a metal material.

According to one embodiment, the sleeve section can comprise an inner thread and/or the pin head can comprise an outer thread. Particularly when both the sleeve section and the pin head comprise a thread, i.e. a thread and a mating thread are provided, a particularly secure hold of the fastening device and a simple demounting by unscrewing is enabled. According to a further embodiment, the engaging means can be provided on the pin head and/or on the pin section. The engaging means can be arranged on the, in the mounted state of the device, outer side and/or on the, in the mounted state, inner side of the device. This can be chosen in dependence on the accessibility in the mounted state. The engaging means can comprise, for example, an internal or external hexagon (Torx) or similar, which is configured, for example, on the pin section and can be actuated by means of a corresponding demounting tool. In particular, an internal engagement for a demounting tool up to the pin head can be guided through the pin section. In this way, a demounting via this engagement is also possible once the pin section has been removed after the assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the engaging means can also be configured at that end of the pin head which is facing away from the pin section. The engaging means can be constituted, for example, by engaging grooves, in which a suitable demounting tool engages. The engaging grooves can run, for example, in the axial direction of the pin head, so that they can transmit a torgue exerted by a demounting tool .

According to a further embodiment, the fastening pin can comprise a predetermined breaking point at which the fastening pin can be broken off the pin head in the fastened state of the device. In particular, that part of the fastening pin which protrudes from the components after the fastening of the same can in this embodiment be sheared off in a particularly simple manner, so that the structural size of the ready- mounted device is further diminished. The shearing off or breaking off of the pin section can be realized with the tool which is used for mounting of the device. Such a tool can be, for example, a rivet gun or riveting tongs . According to a further embodiment, the stop means can comprise means for providing a force closure and/or a form closure between the pin head and the sleeve section. In this regard, it can further be provided that the stop means comprise at least one locking fixture configured on the pin head and at least one locking projection configured on the sleeve head, wherein the at least one locking projection engages with the at least one locking fixture upon insertion of the pin head into the sleeve head and so forms the stop. It is further possible that the stop means comprise at least one locking fixture configured on the sleeve head and at least one locking projection provided on the pin head, wherein the at least one locking projection engages with the at least one locking fixture upon insertion of the pin head into the sleeve head and so forms the stop. Moreover, the at least one locking fixture can be at least one locking groove running in the peripheral direction of the pin head or of the sleeve head.

In particular, at least two or more than two locking projections can be provided. As the fastening pin head is inserted into the fastening sleeve, they engage with the at least one locking fixture. A force closure between the fastening pin and the fastening bushing is thereby effected. The pin head, when inserted further into the fastening bushing, hence takes the sleeve section along with it and, in so doing, deforms the latter. This force closure advantageously also leads to at least partial renewed unfolding of the fastening bushing during demounting. The fastening device can thereby be removed again from the components in one piece and without damage, for example for servicing or repair. An illustrative embodiment of the invention i s explained in greater detail below with reference to the figures, wherein, in schematic representation: figure 1 shows a fastening bushing of an inventive device in a first perspective view,

figure 2 shows the fastening bushing from figure 1 in a second perspective view,

figure 3 shows the fastening bushing from figure 1 in a vertical sectional view,

figure 4 shows a fastening pin of an inventive device in a first perspective view,

figure 5 shows the fastening pin from figure 4 in a second perspective view,

figure 6 shows an inventive device in a premounted state in a side view,

figure 7 shows the device from figure 6 in a top view,

figure 8 shows the device from figure 6 in a first perspective view,

figure 9 shows the device from figure 6 in a second perspective view,

figure 10 shows the device from figure 6 in a ready- mounted state in a side view,

figure 11 shows the device from figure 10 in a top view,

figure 12 shows the device from figure 10 in a sectional view,

figure 13 shows a fastening pin of an inventive device according to a second illustrative embodiment in a perspective view, figure 14 shows an inventive device according to the second illustrative embodiment in a premounted state in a side view, figure 15 shows the device from figure 14 in a sectional view,

figure 16 shows the device from figure 14 in the ready-mounted state in a side view, figure 17 shows the device from figure 16 m a top view, and

figure 18 shows the device from figure 16 in a side view .

Unless otherwise stated, the same reference symbols denote in the figures the same objects. In figure 1, a fastening bushing of an inventive device is shown. It has a, in the shown example, cylindrical sleeve section 12 and a, in the shown example, hexagonally configured sleeve head 14. The sleeve section 12 delimits a cylindrical sleeve opening. In the shown example, the cylindrical sleeve wall is provided with four axial recesses 16 arranged evenly distributed over the periphery of the wall. At its free end, the sleeve section 12 has in the shown example four locking projections 18, which, radiating from the cylindrical sleeve wall, project radially inward. The locking projections 18 are elastic. Furthermore, the sleeve section 12, in the region of its end facing toward the sleeve head 14, is provided with an inner thread 20. The sleeve head 14 additionally has a circular through opening 22 aligned with the cylindrical opening formed by the sleeve section 12.

In figures 4 and 5, a fastening pin of an inventive device according to a first illustrative embodiment is shown. The fastening pin has a cylindrical pin section 24, one end of which is adjoined by a likewise substantially cylindrical pin head 26. The pin head 26 has an outer thread 28. In the shown example, the pin head 26 comprises as engaging means two axial grooves 30, which are configured on opposite sides and in which a demounting tool can engage, as will be explained in greater detail further below. Moreover, the pin section 26 has in the region of its free end a locking groove 32 running round the periphery of the pin section 26. The locking groove 32 is adjoined by a head section 34. The head section 34 is provided with a plurality of recesses 36.

In figures 6 to 9, an inventive device according to a first illustrative embodiment, comprising the fastening bushing according to figures 1 to 3 and the fastening pin according to figures 4 and 5, is shown. It can be seen that the fastening pin has been inserted with its pin section 24 firstly through the sleeve section 12 of the fastening bushing and then through the through opening of the sleeve head 14. In the premounted position shown in figures 6 to 9, the locking projections 18 of the sleeve section 12 have engaged with the peripheral groove 32 of the pin head 26. The groove 32 and the locking projections 18 thus form stop means, which in the state shown in figures 6 to 9 provide a force closure between the sleeve section 12 and the pin head 26 and thus form a stop. In this premounted state, the inventive device can be slid with the sleeve section 12 through the two, for this purpose, mutually aligned through openings of components (not shown) to be connected to each other, until the sleeve head 14 bears with its bottom side facing toward the sleeve section 12 against the surface of one of the two components to be fastened.

For the final assembly of the inventive device, the pin section 24 can then be pulled further through the sleeve section 12 and the through openings of the sleeve head 14 by means of a suitable tool, for example a rivet gun. This finally mounted state is represented in figures 10 to 12. Due to the above-described force closure by the locking projections 18 and the locking groove 32, an expansion of the sleeve section 12 hereupon ensues, accompanied at the same time by a considerable reduction in length of the sleeve section 12. Furthermore, in the course of this final assembly, a locking between the outer thread 28 of the pin head and the inner thread 20 of the sleeve section 12 materializes. In the state shown in figures 10 to 12, the device is firmly held. The components to be fastened together are here held in the free space 38 apparent in figures 10 and 12 securely between the sleeve head 14 and the sleeve section 12.

At that end of the pin section 24 which is facing toward the pin head 26, a predetermined breaking point 40 in the form of a diametric reduction is additionally provided. Along this predetermined breaking point 40. the pin section 24, in the ready-mounted state shown in figures 10 to 12, can be sheared off from pin head 26. The device can be demounted again in a nondestructive manner by means of a suitable demounting tool. For this purpose, the demounting tool engages in the engaging grooves 30 of the pin head 26. The pin head 26 can then be unscrewed from the inner thread 20 of the sleeve section 12. The sleeve section 12 hereupon at least partially unfolds again, so that the inventive device can be removed from the components in a nondestructive manner and without damage thereto for servicing or repair, for example. In figures 13 to 18, a second illustrative embodiment of an inventive fastening device is represented. This illustrative embodiment differs from the illustrative embodiment shown in figures 1 to 12 with respect to the fastening pin. By contrast, the fastening bushing is configured as described above in relation to figures 1 to 12, so that reference should be made to these figures. The fastening pin from figures 13 to 18, like the fastening pin from figures 1 to 12, has a cylindrical pin section 24', which merges into a pin head 26' with an outer thread 28'. Unlike the fastening pin from figures 1 to 12, the fastening pin from figures 13 to 18 has, in place of the axial grooves 30, a, in the shown example, hexagon socket 42', which begins at the free end of the pin section 24' and extends within the pin section 24' to into the pin head 26'. At its free end, the pin head 26' once again has a circumferential locking groove 32' and a thereto adjoining head section 34' with recesses 36'. The function and configuration of the fastening pin according to figures 13 to 18, apart from the hexagon socket 42', corresponds to the above-described function and configuration according to figures 1 to 12, so that reference should be made hereto. In particular, the device according to figures 13 to 18 is brought into the premounted position shown in figures 14 and 15 in the same manner as described above in relation to figures 1 to 12. After this, the device is brought into the end-mounted position shown in figures 16 to 18 likewise in the manner described above in relation to figures 1 to 12. In the view of that side of the sleeve head 14 which is facing away from the sleeve section 12, the hexagon socket 42' can be seen. The pin section 24' once again has a predetermined breaking point 40', at which the pin section 24', in the end-mounted position shown in figures 16 to 18, can be sheared off. Due to the hexagon extending through the pin section 24' to the pin head 26', it is possible in the embodiment according to figures 13 to 18 to unscrew the fastening pin from the inner thread 20 of the sleeve section 12 even after the pin section 24' has been sheared off by means of a suitable tool, in the present case a hexagon tool, engaged with the then hexagon socket 42' accessible in the pin head 26'.

In the two inventive illustrative embodiments, a simple and nondestructive demounting of the device, and thus of the fastened-together components, is possible.