Clamping Element and Component Connection Having a Clamping Element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016262500-A1
Application number	US-201615164065-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 25, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2014
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A component connection has a first component, from which a fixing element protrudes, and a clamping element, which in a tightened rotating position is directly supported relative to the first component directly by way of the fixing element or is indirectly supported relative to the first component by way of a further component. The clamping element has a recess into which the fixing element protrudes from a lower side of the clamping element, wherein a seat portion of the recess is designed in the form of an ascending spiral staircase or thread and at least one free end of the fixing element reaches behind this seat portion in an interlocking manner, such that the at least one free end is seated on the seat portion and when the clamping element is in the tightened rotating position, presses against the seat portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A clamping element configured to produce an interlocking component connection, comprising:
a clamping element body, wherein the clamping element body has:
a circumferential wall,
a recess located internally of the circumferential wall, the recess being accessible from a bottom side of the clamping element body, and
a rising supporting portion configured in a thread or spiral staircase manner, the rising supporting portion being configured on an inner side of the circumferential wall or being recessed in the circumferential wall.

2 . A component connecting, comprising:
a first component having a fixing element protruding therefrom; a clamping element which, in a tightened rotational position, is supported: (i) directly via the fixing element, and (ii) directly in relation to the first component or indirectly in relation to the first component via a further component, wherein:
a recess is provided in the clamping element, the fixing element projecting into the recess from a bottom side of the clamping element,
the recess having a supporting portion configured in a rising thread or spiral staircase manner, a free end of the fixing element being configured to engage behind the supporting portion in an interlocking manner such that the free end rests on the supporting portion, and in said tightened rotational position of the clamping element, presses against the supporting portion.

3 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the clamping element has an end stop configured to define a maximally tightened rotational position of the clamping element.

4 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein:
the supporting portion has at least one latching point, and in the tightened rotational position, the fixing element bears at the at least one latching point against the supporting portion and engages behind the supporting portion at the at least one latching point.

5 . The component connection according to claim 4 , wherein
the supporting portion has a plurality of latching points arranged to follow one another in a longitudinal direction of the supporting portion, and a distance of the latching points following one another, as measured from the bottom side of the clamping element, increases or decreases from one latching point to a following latching point.

6 . The component connection according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one latching point is configured as a trough-shaped depression in the supporting portion.

7 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the free end of the fixing element has a convex shape.

8 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the free end of the fixing element is configured as a sphere or a ball-shape.

9 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the fixing element has at least two free ends, each of the at least two free ends pressing against different portions of the supporting portion in the tightened rotational position of the clamping element.

10 . The component connection according to claim 9 , wherein the at least two free ends are configured as a sphere or ball-shape.

11 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the fixing element is composed of metal, and the metal fixing element is integrally bonded to the first component.

12 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the fixing element comprises a plurality of spheres or ball-shapes that are welded to one another.

13 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the clamping element is an injection molded plastic clamping element.

14 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein:
the clamping element has a circumferential wall, the supporting portion is configured on or in an inner side of the circumferential wall.

15 . The component connection according to claim 14 , wherein a profiling is provided on an outer side of the circumferential wall.

16 . The component connection according to claim 14 , wherein:
the clamping element has a brim-shaped supporting portion that protrudes radially obliquely downward on an outside from a lower region of the circumferential wall, and in the tightened rotational position, the clamping element is supported via the brim-shaped supporting portion in relation to the first component directly on the first component or indirectly on the first component via the further component.

17 . The component connection according to claim 16 , wherein the brim-shaped supporting portion is configured to be flexurally elastic.

18 . The component connection according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a second component arranged between an upper side of the first component and a bottom side of the clamping element, wherein the first component and the second component are pressed against one another via the clamping element in the tightened rotational position.

19 . The component connection according to claim 18 , wherein the second component has a through-hole through which the fixing element of the first component extends.

20 . The component connection according to claim 2 , wherein the clamping element has a top cover by which a top side of the clamping element opposite the bottom side into which the fixing element extends is openable or closable.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Van Niekerk Johann
• Hammer Maik

Classifications

• A44B17/007

  Stud-member · CPC title

• A44B17/0076

  Socket member · CPC title

• A44B17/0023

  Press-button fasteners in which the elastic retaining action is obtained by the own elasticity of the material constituting the fastener · CPC title

• A44B17/0041 Primary

  Press-button fasteners consisting of two parts (A44B17/0029 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R13/00

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