Patent Application
20080201920
The invention relates to a fastening device, in particular for fastening a module support and a panelling piece on a raw component such as a door plate of a motor vehicle.
Module supports usually serve for the fastening of mechanical and/or electrical operating- and control modules which are integrated in a vehicle door, such as window levers for example. The module supports which are currently used are aluminium parts which are fastened to the raw component of the vehicle door with metal blind rivets. Through this type of fastening, an undulation of the module support can occur, from which a lack of tightness can result.
The fastening of the inner door lining on the raw component of the vehicle door usually takes place by fastening elements which are mounted on the lining or panelling piece and which are detachably connected with the raw component.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastening device by which both the module support and also the panelling piece are jointly fastened in a detachable manner on the raw component of the vehicle, such as a door plate, and by which, through simplifying the working steps during the fastening of the module support and the inner panelling of the door, the installation time and therefore also the installation costs can be reduced.
According to the invention, the fastening device comprises a fastening clip and a module support part having an opening to receive the fastening clip, wherein the fastening clip has a shaft and a head part which is formed onto the shaft. Locking elements are provided on the shaft underneath the head part, which locking elements engage into the opening of the module support part and secure the fastening clip on the module support part.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a multi-part fastening device having detent elements in the lower part of the fastening clip for fastening to the body of the vehicle, in particular for mounting in a bore of the raw component of the vehicle body, and having a mounting bore in the head part of the fastening clip comprising further detent elements for engaging with a pin-shaped fastening element which holds the door panelling. The module support part can be formed from plastic. The fastening device according to the invention makes multiple, non-destructive dismantling possible. In addition, by simplifying the working steps during the fastening of the module support and the door panelling, the installation time and therefore the installation costs are reduced.
Preferable embodiments of the invention are indicated in the sub-claims. In particular, the locking elements on the fastening clip can be formed by one or more projections protruding radially from the shaft. Thereby, it is possible to quickly and safely secure the fastening clip to the module support part in the form of a bayonet lock.
The head part of the fastening clip preferably has a disc-shaped element with a circumferential seal for sealing the opening in the head part. In addition, the head part can have a mounting for a fastening element of the panelling part and a drive section comprising an outer edge, respectively.
The opening in the module support part preferably corresponds to the shape of the locking elements on the shaft of the fastening clip. Further, the module support part may have a stop for the locking elements. The module support part also preferably has a flange for tight abutment against the raw component of the vehicle body.
The fastening clip and the module support part preferably form a pre-assembled unit so that the mounting of the assembly into the vehicle is significantly facilitated.
Moreover, the fastening element of the panelling part preferably has a pin-shaped section which engages into the mounting of the head part. The shaft of the fastening clip may include a cavity corresponding to the mounting in the head part and the pin-shaped section of the fastening element engages into the cavity. Further, the pin-shaped section preferably has a detent ring by which the pin-shaped section is secured in the mounting in the head part.
The pin-shaped section may have a seal for sealing the pin-shaped section to the opening in the module support. The detent ring preferably has a sealing lip which seals the pin-shaped section against the mounting in the head part.
The fastening clip and the module support part are preferably formed from plastic. This contributes to simple and inexpensive manufacturing by injection molding. Finally, the fastening element for the panelling part can also have a head part comprising tolerance equalizing means.
a shows the introduction of the fastening clip into the opening of the module support;
b shows a view from the underside of the module support with the fastening clip introduced;
A preferred embodiment of the fastening device according to the invention is shown in the enclosed drawings,
The locking elements 22 are preferably formed by one or more projections protruding radially from the shaft 18. The head part 20 of the fastening clip 12 may additionally have a disc-shaped element 24 with a circumferential seal 26. In the assembled state, the opening 16 of the module support 14 is sealed with the disc-shaped element and the encircling seal 26.
In the head part 20, a mounting 28 is formed for a fastening element, designated by reference number 30, of a panelling part (not illustrated). Furthermore, the head part has a drive section 32 with an outer edge which is formed as an octagon in the embodiment shown. The fastening clip 12 which is introduced into the module support part 14 can be rotated via the drive section and can be locked on the module support part 14. A stop 34 is preferably formed on the underside of the module support part 14, which stop 34 delimits the rotation of the locking elements 22 and defines the position of the fastening clip 12 in the module support part 14.
As illustrated in
The fastening element 30 of the panelling part comprises a pin-shaped section 44 by which it engages into the mounting 28 in the head part 20 of the fastening clip 12. A centering of the fastening element 30 takes place via a chamfer 46 in the mounting 28.
The pin-shaped section 44 of the fastening element has in addition a detent ring 48 by which the pin-shaped section 44 is secured in the mounting 28 in the head part. The detent ring can additionally be provided with a sealing lip 50 which seals the pin-shaped section 44 against the mounting 28 in the head part 12. Furthermore, the pin-shaped section 44 has a sealing ring 52 in the form of an O-ring which, in the mounted state, seals the pin-shaped section 44 to the opening 16 in the module support.
Finally, the fastening element 30 can have a head part with tolerance-equalizing means designated with reference numeral 58 for equalizing of tolerances in the doghouse of the door panelling, as shown in
Referring to
The detention of the pin-shaped section of the fastening element to the fastening clip 12 is shown by reference numeral 56. The expected extraction force of the fastening element is about 130 N.
Reference numeral 52 denotes the seal at the fastening element 30 which seals the fastening element 30 to the fastening clip 12 in the mounted state.
Referring to
Reference numeral 60 denotes the securing of the detent elements 40 by the fastening element 30 in the final mounting position. The expected extraction force of the fastening clip 12 from the door plate is greater than about 250 N. The extraction force of the fastening element 30 from the fastening clip 12 should be lower that the extraction force of the fastening clip 12 from the door plate.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 2007 002 595.5 | Feb 2007 | DE | national |
