Adjustable spacer sleeve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746212-B2
Application number	US-201616064592-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 23, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

An adjustable distance sleeve consisting of an outer sleeve, a hollow cylindrical inner sleeve as well as an abutment disc fastened to an axial collar of the outer sleeve. Due to the adaption in shape between the outer sleeve and the component opening, a rotation-proof fastening of the distance sleeve in the component is possible in a simple manner. Thereafter, the length adjustment of the distance sleeve takes place.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable distance sleeve by means of which a distance between a first and a second component is bridgeable by adjusting a length of the distance sleeve, wherein the distance sleeve comprises the following features:
a. an outer sleeve having a central thread opening,
b. a hollow cylindrical inner sleeve arranged adjustably in the central thread opening, the inner sleeve having an outer thread at a radial outer side which corresponds to an inner thread of the thread opening, and
c. an axial collar extending axially from a face side of the outer sleeve at which a radially extending abutment disc is arranged in a rotation-proof manner, wherein
d. the abutment disc comprises at least one fastening feature extending in the direction of the outer sleeve into a portion between the abutment disc and the outer sleeve by means of which a form-fit rotation lock and/or a force-fit rotation lock can be established in an opening of the first component, in which
e. the outer sleeve and the abutment disc comprise each an outer contour extending radially beyond the axial collar for forming a fastening gap portion.

2. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 1 , the abutment disc of which is formed resiliently in the axial direction of the distance sleeve and which comprises at least one rotation-lock web projecting into the fastening gap portion.

3. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 1 , the abutment disc of which is formed non-resilient in the axial direction and which comprises at least one ramp surface projecting into the fastening gap portion.

4. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 1 , the inner sleeve of which comprises a threadless through-opening and at least one drive means by means of which the inner sleeve is rotatable in the outer sleeve and the length of the distance sleeve is adjustable.

5. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 4 , in which the drive means is arranged within the through-opening by means of a non-round inner contour.

6. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 4 , in which the drive means is arranged at an axial face side of the inner sleeve, which makes a form-fit rotation connection with a tool possible.

7. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 4 , in which the drive means is arranged at the radial outer side of the inner sleeve, which comprises a polygonal or a non-round contour having a plurality of radial elevations on which the outer thread of the inner sleeve is arranged while a free space as drive means for the engagement or abutment of a tool is present between adjacent radial elevations.

8. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 1 , the inner sleeve of which comprises a threadless through-opening and no drive means, wherein the inner sleeve is rotatable manually or by means of a frictional connection between a tool and an inner wall of the through-opening.

9. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 8 , in the inner sleeve of which at least one annular elastic dragging member is arranged, which narrows the through-opening of the inner sleeve.

10. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 9 , the dragging member of which has a radially inwardly protruding sealing lip, which is arranged circumferentially at the dragging element and can sealingly abut a fastening screw.

11. The adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 8 , the inner sleeve of which comprises adjacent to an end face an insertion cone into the through-opening of the inner sleeve, by means of which a frictional engagement with a rotary tool can be produced.

12. A connection between at least a first component and an adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 1 , in which the first component comprises a non-round component opening and an edge of the component opening is fastened in a fastening gap of the distance sleeve solely by axially inserting and subsequent rotating of the distance sleeve in the component opening.

13. The connection according to claim 12 , in which an outer contour of the outer sleeve of the distance sleeve is adapted to the non-round component opening such that in a first rotation angle orientation around a longitudinal axis of the distance sleeve, an axial inserting of the distance sleeve into the non-round component opening is ensured, while in a second rotation angle orientation of the distance sleeve, an axial removing of the distance sleeve from the non-round component opening is prevented by form-fit.

14. The connection according to claim 12 , in which the distance sleeve is supported at a second component by means of a rotatingly adjustable inner sleeve and the first and the second component are connected to each other by means of a fastening screw extending through the distance sleeve.

15. A connection between a first and a second component by means of an adjustable distance sleeve according to claim 1 , through which a fastening screw extends.

16. A method for installing a distance sleeve according to claim 1 , into a non-round component opening of a first component, the method comprising the following steps:
a. inserting the outer sleeve of the distance sleeve, preferably with an inner sleeve into the non-round component opening contour of which is adapted to the non-round component opening, until an edge of the non-round component opening is supported on the abutment disc of the distance sleeve,
b. rotating the outer sleeve around a longitudinal axis so that the edge of the non-round component opening is received in the fastening gap portion between the abutment disc and the outer sleeve and thereby
c1. snapping-in of a rotation-lock web projecting into the fastening gap portion into the non-round component opening or into a lock opening or into a lock groove at the first component and/or
c2. clamping a ramp surface projecting into the fastening gap portion at a side of the first component facing the ramp surface.

17. Method according to claim 16 , in which the first component is a support in the roof portion of a vehicle body at which a roof body is supported by means of an inner sleeve of the distance sleeve, wherein the distance sleeve is installed in the component opening only from one side opposite the roof body.

18. Method according to claim 16 , comprising the further step:
rotating the inner sleeve of the distance sleeve for bridging a distance between the first component and a second component with
i. a tool that establishes a frictional connection in a through-opening of the inner sleeve without drive means, or
ii. a tool that establishes a form-fit rotation connection with a drive means at an axial face side of the inner sleeve, or
iii. a tool that establishes a form-fit rotation connection with a drive means at a radial inner side or a radial outer side of the inner sleeve.

19. Method according to claim 16 with the further step:
establishing a sealing connection between the fastening screw and a sealing lip extending circumferentially around the fastening screw in the through-opening of the inner sleeve.

Assignees

• Boellhoff Verbindungstechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Burger Ingo
• Figge Hans-Ulrich
• Zelmer Viktor

Classifications

• B60R9/058

  characterised by releasable attaching means between carrier and roof · CPC title

• F16B5/0233 Primary

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

• F16B21/02

  Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation (with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08) · CPC title