Fastening claw

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10549703-B2
Application number	US-201614990896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 18, 2013
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

A fastening claw has an annular section with a radial inner side, from which at least two flexible, tongue-type elements project inwards and obliquely upwards towards an upper side of the fastening claw. The tongue-type elements have free ends which define a central, open region of the fastening claw, into which region a securing element can be introduced from the underside of the fastening claw and can be clamped between the free ends of the tongue-type elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A component connection, comprising:
a first component;
a male fixing element projecting from the first component, the male fixing element having a first spherical section connected directly to the first component and a second spherical section connected to directly the first spherical section; and
a fastening claw comprising
a circular ring-shaped section having a radial inner side; and
at least two resiliently elastic tongue elements projecting from the radial inner side inwardly and upwardly in a direction of a top side of the fastening claw, wherein
the tongue elements have free ends that define a central open region of the fastening claw into which, from a direction of an underside of the fastening claw, the male fixing element is insertable,
the tongue elements are configured to clamp the mate fixing element between the free ends, and
the fastening claw is clipped onto the male fixing element such that the free ends of the tongue elements bear obliquely from below and externally against the second spherical section of the male fixing element in a region between a top side of the first component and an equatorial plane of the second spherical section.

2. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue elements are separated from one another by slots which extend substantially radially inward from a region spaced apart from the radial inner side of the circular ring-shaped section.

3. The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein radially outer ends of the slots provided between the tongue elements are rounded.

4. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue elements taper toward their free ends.

5. The component connection according to claim 4 , wherein the free ends are rounded.

6. The component connection according to claim 4 , wherein the free ends are of straight form and extend tangentially with respect to the central open region of the fastening claw.

7. The component connection according to claim 4 , wherein the free ends are of concave form, such that they can bear closely against a fixing element of rounded form.

8. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue elements project at an angle from a plane formed by the circular ring-shaped section, said angle lying in a range between 10° and 40°.

9. The component connection according to claim 8 , wherein the angle lies in a range between 20° and 30°.

10. The component connection according to claim 8 , wherein the angle is greater than 28°.

11. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue elements are arranged so as to be distributed uniformly in a circumferential direction of the circular ring-shaped section.

12. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the tongue elements are of identical form.

13. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein only two tongue elements are provided.

14. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein only three tongue elements are provided.

15. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein only four tongue elements are provided.

16. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening claw is made of metal.

17. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the circular ring-shaped section is planar.

18. The component connection according to claim 1 , further comprising:
multiple shield ring sections that project radially outward from the circular ring-shaped section, wherein the shield ring sections are arranged so as to be distributed in the circumferential direction of the circular ring-shaped section.

19. The component connection according to claim 18 , wherein two successive shield ring sections in the circumferential direction are separated from one another in each case by a shield ring slot which extends in a radial direction.

20. The component connection according to claim 19 , wherein radially inner ends of the shield ring slots are rounded.

21. The component connection according to claim 19 , wherein the shield ring slots are offset in the circumferential direction in relation to slots provided between the tongue elements.

22. The component connection according to claim 18 , wherein the shield ring sections project obliquely downward from the circular ring-shaped section.

23. The component connection according to claim 18 , wherein the number of shield ring sections is equal to or greater than the number of tongue elements.

24. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening claw is a metal sheet punched part, wherein the tongue elements have been bent up.

25. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening claw is a case-hardened part.

26. The component connection according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a coating material lining the fastening claw.

27. The component connection according to claim 1 , further comprising a corrosion prevention coating lining the fastening claw.

28. The component connection according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrically insulating coating lining the fastening claw.

29. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening claw is made of plastic.

30. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening claw is an independent component and is not an integral constituent of any other part or of any other component.

31. The component connection according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second component having a passage hole, wherein the male fixing element extends through the passage hole, and
wherein the fastening claw is arranged between a top surface of a second component and the equatorial plane of the spherical section.

32. The component connection according to claim 31 , wherein:
the ring-shaped section and/or shield ring sections that project radially outward from the ring-shaped section bear against the top side of the second component in a region near the passage hole and oppose a detachment of the second component from the first component, and
a detachment force acting on the second component is converted into forces acting in a longitudinal direction of the tongue elements, said forces being supported by the second spherical section of the male fixing element to provide a self-locking action opposing the attachment force.

33. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein
the first section of the male fixing element is a spherical section, in which case the male fixing element comprises two spherical sections welded to one another.

34. The component connection according to claim 33 , wherein the male fixing element is made of metal.

35. The component connection according to claim 1 , wherein the first section of the male fixing element is welded directly to the first component.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Korber Franz

Classifications

• F16B2/22

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16B5/0642

  the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other · CPC title

• F16B5/0664

  at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• F16B43/004

  with a radial cut in order to improve elasticity of the washer (F16B43/005 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R13/00 Primary

  Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes · CPC title