Alignment element for positioning an attachment part

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10632897-B2
Application number	US-201716073140-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2017
Priority date	Jan 29, 2016
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

The invention relates to an alignment element ( 10 ), with which an attachment part ( 50 ) can be positioned on a structure part ( 42 ) of a motor vehicle. The alignment element ( 10 ) is also suitable for retaining the attachment part ( 50 ) at a defined distance to the structure part ( 42 ) under non-destructive force transmission, and for compensating an occurring angular adjustment (W). The invention also relates to an illumination assembly ( 28 ) for a vehicle having the alignment element ( 10 ) and a corresponding method for mounting an illumination device ( 34 ) on the vehicle. Finally, a vehicle ( 32 ) comprising the illumination assembly ( 28 ) is also an object of the invention.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustment element, for positioning an attachment part on a structural part of a vehicle, having:
an adjustment section which can be connected to the attachment part, and
a bearing section wherein the bearing section is mounted movably on the adjustment section and has a supporting face which can bear against the structural part of the vehicle,
wherein the bearing section is fastened to the adjustment section via a resilient connection having a first end connected to the bearing section, a second end connected to the adjustment section, and a middle region located between the first end and the second end, wherein a cross-section of the middle region is smaller than a cross-section of the first end and smaller than a cross-section of the second end.

2. The adjustment element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bearing section is mounted movably on the adjustment section in such a way that the supporting face can be pivoted with respect to the adjustment section.

3. The adjustment element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the adjustment section comprises:
a sleeve which can be connected to the attachment part, and
a supporting body which can be adjusted with respect to the sleeve and on which the bearing section is mounted.

4. The adjustment element as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the sleeve has an internal thread and the supporting body has an external thread.

5. The adjustment element as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the sleeve can be connected to the attachment part in a positively locking and/or non-positive or integrally joined manner.

6. An illumination arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least one adjustment element as claimed in claim 1 .

7. The illumination arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising:
an illumination apparatus which can be arranged in a receiving section of a surface of the vehicle;
a mount, via which the illumination apparatus is mounted on the vehicle such that it can be moved in at least one degree of freedom, and via which said illumination apparatus can be moved at least in sections in the direction of the surface of the vehicle or away from said surface; and in which
an adjustment section of the adjustment element is connected to the illumination apparatus, and a supporting face of the adjustment section can bear against a structural part of the vehicle.

8. A method for assembling an illumination apparatus in a vehicle, comprising the steps:
a) assembling an illumination arrangement for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6 ;
b) bearing of a supporting face of a bearing section of an adjustment element of the illumination arrangement against a structural part of the vehicle; and
c) setting of the adjustment section.

9. A motor vehicle, comprising at least one illumination arrangement as claimed in claim 6 .

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag
• Boellhoff Verbindungstechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Hübner Torsten
• Borsutzky Andreas
• Jodeleit Martin

Classifications

• B60Q1/2638

  Positioning the device housing by indexing means separate from the fastening means, e.g. pins, rails · CPC title

• B60Q1/045 Primary

  with provision for adjusting the alignment of the headlamp housing with respect to the vehicle body · CPC title

• F16B5/0233

  allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates · CPC title

• B60Q1/0433

  the housing being fastened onto the vehicle body using screws (adjustable headlamp by rotation of a screw B60Q1/0683) · CPC title

• B60Q1/2626

  Screw-nut fasteners · CPC title