Releasable fastening device and a method for operating a releasable fastening device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11746807-B2
Application number	US-202217752374-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2022
Priority date	Dec 13, 2019
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

A releasable fastening device includes a socket, an engagement structure, and first and second lever arms. The socket is insertable into an opening of an object from a first side. The first and second lever arms are pivotably attached to the socket at respective pivot points and are slidably connected to the engagement structure. The fastening device moves between a mounting position where the fastening device is insertable into the object and a fastening position where the fastening device is attached thereto. The first and second lever arms have respective attachment surfaces, respectfully configured to engage a first engagement surface on a second side of the object in connection to the opening in the fastening position and a second engagement surface on the second side of the object in connection to the opening in the fastening position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A releasable fastening device, comprising a socket, an engagement structure, a first lever arm, and a second lever arm, wherein the socket is configured for being inserted into an opening of an object from a first side of the object,
wherein the first lever arm is pivotably attached to the socket in a first pivot point and the second lever arm is pivotably attached to the socket in a second pivot point, wherein the first lever arm is slidably connected to the engagement structure and the second lever arm is slidably connected to the engagement structure,
wherein the fastening device is configured for being movable between a mounting position in which the fastening device is insertable into the object and a fastening position in which the fastening device is attached to the object,
wherein the first lever arm comprises a first attachment surface and the second lever arm comprises a second attachment surface, wherein the first attachment surface is configured for engaging a first engagement surface arranged on a second side of the object in connection to the opening in the fastening position, and wherein the second attachment surface is configured for engaging a second engagement surface arranged on the second side of the object in connection to the opening in the fastening position.

2. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fastening device comprises a first axle connected to the socket and the first lever arm, and a second axle connected to the socket and the second lever arm; wherein the first lever arm is pivotably arranged around the first axle in the first pivot point; and wherein the second lever arm is pivotably arranged around the second axle in the second pivot point.

3. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first lever arm comprises a first arm section extending between the first pivot point and a first arm end, wherein the first arm end is slidably connected to the engagement structure; and wherein the second lever arm comprises a second arm section extending between the second pivot point and a second arm end, wherein the second arm end is slidably connected to the engagement structure.

4. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first lever arm comprises a third arm section extending between the first pivot point and a third arm end, wherein the first attachment surface is arranged in connection to the third arm end; and wherein the second lever arm comprises a fourth arm section extending between the second pivot point and a fourth arm end, wherein the second attachment surface is arranged in connection to the fourth arm end.

5. The releasable fastening device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the first lever arm comprises a third arm section extending between the first pivot point and a third arm end, wherein the first attachment surface is arranged in connection to the third arm end; and wherein the second lever arm comprises a fourth arm section extending between the second pivot point and a fourth arm end, wherein the second attachment surface is arranged in connection to the fourth arm end, and
wherein the first arm section and the third arm section are extending in different directions from the first pivot point, and wherein the second arm section and the fourth arm section are extending in different directions from the second pivot point.

6. The releasable fastening device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the first arm section and the second arm section are configured to be positioned in an X-like configuration in relation to each other in the fastening position.

7. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the socket comprises a support structure with a support surface, wherein the support surface is configured for engaging the first side of the object.

8. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the socket comprises an extension structure, wherein the extension structure is configured for protruding into the opening of the object.

9. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engagement structure comprises one or more slots, wherein the first arm end and the second arm end are slidingly connected to the one or more slots.

10. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fastening device comprises a locking device configured for releasably locking the engagement structure to the socket in the fastening position.

11. The releasable fastening device according to claim 10 ,
wherein the locking device comprises one or more locking slots arranged in the engagement structure and one or more locking pins arranged in the socket, wherein each locking pin is configured for being in locking engagement with a corresponding locking slot in the fastening position.

12. The releasable fastening device according to claim 11 ,
wherein the locking device comprises one or more locking channels arranged in the socket, wherein each locking pin is slidably connected to a corresponding locking channel.

13. The releasable fastening device according to claim 12 ,
wherein the locking device comprises one or more springs, wherein each locking pin is slidably connected to the corresponding locking channel via a corresponding spring.

14. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engagement structure is configured for moving in a direction towards the socket when the fastening device is displaced from the mounting position to the fastening position; and wherein the engagement structure is configured for moving in a direction away from the socket when the fastening device is displaced from the fastening position to the mounting position; wherein the first lever arm is configured for pivoting around the first pivot point when the fastening device is being displaced between the mounting position and the fastening position, and wherein the second lever arm is configured for pivoting around the second pivot point when the fastening device is being displaced between the mounting position and the fastening position.

15. The releasable fastening device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the engagement structure is arranged as a hood, and wherein the engagement structure is configured for at least partly encompassing the socket in the fastening position.

16. A method for operating a releasable fastening device, wherein the fastening device comprising a socket, an engagement structure, a first lever arm, and a second lever arm, wherein the first lever arm is pivotably attached to the socket in a first pivot point and the second lever arm is pivotably attached to the socket in a second pivot point, wherein the first lever arm is slidably connected to the engagement structure and the second lever arm is slidably connected to the engagement structure, wherein the first lever arm comprises a first attachment surface and the second lever arm comprises a second attachment surface,
wherein the fastening device is movable between a mounting position in which the fastening device is insertable to an opening of an object and a fastening position in which the fastening device is attached to the object;
wherein the method comprising the steps: inserting the socket into the opening from a first side of the object when the fastening device is arranged in the mounting position, displacing the fastening device from the mounting position to the fastening position, and during movement of the fastening device from the mounting position to the fastening position engaging a first engagement surface arranged

Assignees

• Ningbo Geely Automobile Res & Development Co Ltd
• Geely Holding Group Co Ltd
• Ningbo Geely Automobile Res & Development Co

Inventors

• Edberg Martin

Classifications

• F16B2/20 Primary

  Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening · CPC title

• F16B21/06

  Releasable fastening devices with snap-action {(quickly-detachable or mountable nuts to threaded bolts F16B37/0842)} · CPC title

• F16B2/10 Primary

  using pivoting jaws · CPC title

• F16B13/0833

  with segments or fingers expanding or tilting into an undercut hole (F16B13/0858 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B21/065

  with an additional locking element · CPC title