Fastening element for clamping sheets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9458869-B2
Application number	US-201214115405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2012
Priority date	May 13, 2011
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A fastening element ( 100 ) for clamping together a stack of sheets ( 410 ), ( 411 ) comprising at least two sheets. The fastening element comprises at least one base portion ( 101 ) extending along the stack of sheets and perpendicular to the planes of the sheets. Further, the fastening element comprises a flange portion ( 102 ) which extends substantially perpendicular from the base portion, and a pointed element ( 103 ) which extends in an acute angle with respect to the base portion. The flexible fastening element generates a spring force which clamps the sheets of the stack of sheets together between the at least one flange portion and the at least one pointed element. In this grip position, the at least one pointed element grips at least one edge of a bottom sheet of the stack of sheets, and a top sheet of the stack of sheets is allowed to move in relation to the at least one flange portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light-emitting arrangement comprising:
a stack of sheets comprising at least two sheets;
a fastening element comprising:
at least one base portion extending along at least a portion of at least one edge of said stack of sheets and perpendicular to planes of said sheets,
at least one flange portion extending substantially perpendicular from said base portion, and
at least one pointed element extending in an acute angle with respect to said base portion, and
a center portion, wherein said at least one base portion extends substantially perpendicular from a plane of said center portion, said center portion being configured to fix said fastening element to a housing,

wherein said fastening element is flexible and, clamps together with a spring force the sheets of said stack of sheets between said at least one flange portion and said at least one pointed element,
wherein said at least one pointed element grips at least one edge of a bottom sheet of said stack of sheets,
wherein a top sheet of said stack of sheets is capable of moving in relation to said at least one flange portion, and
wherein, in response to a force applied to the center portion of the fastening element along a direction from the top sheet to the bottom sheet to fix said fastening element to the housing, said at least one pointed element is released from said at least one edge of said bottom sheet of said stack of sheets.

2. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one pointed element extends towards said at least one flange portion.

3. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one flange portion is provided at a first end of said at least one base portion and said at least one pointed element is provided at a second end of said at least one base portion; said first end being provided opposite said second end.

4. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said at least one flange portion has a tip pointing in a direction substantially parallel with said base portion, and wherein said at least one pointed element points towards said tip.

5. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said fastening element is made of metal sheet.

6. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said at least one pointed element is triangular-shaped.

7. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the fastening element further comprises:
at least one auxiliary flange, arranged to release said at least one pointed element from said at least one edge of a bottom sheet of said stack of sheets to thereby move said fastening element from said grip position to a locking position when said center portion is fastened to the housing, said fastening element thereby generating a spring force which clamps together the sheets of said stack of sheets between said at least one flange portion and said center portion while allowing a top sheet of said stack of sheets to move in relation to said at least one flange portion.

8. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said auxiliary flange, from said center portion, extends beyond the at least one pointed element in a direction parallel with the plane of said center portion.

9. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said auxiliary flange provides a rotational axis of said fastening element in a direction perpendicular to a normal of said center portion and perpendicular to the direction of said at least one pointed element.

10. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said at least one pointed element extends in a direction substantially perpendicular with said flange portion.

11. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said center portion is substantially rectangular and said fastening element comprises at least two base portions arranged on opposite sides of said center portion.

12. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said center portion further comprises a hole arranged for allowing a fixation of said fastening element to said housing.

13. The light-emitting arrangement of claim 1 , wherein a first one of the stack of sheets comprises a carrier, comprising at least one light-emitting diode, LED, for emitting light, and a second one of the stack of sheets comprises a lens element, arranged for refracting the light emitted by said at least one LED, and
wherein the fastening element is configured to clamp together said lens element and said carrier.

14. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said lens element and said carrier comprise at least one cavity arranged for housing said fastening element.

15. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one pointed element comprises a plurality of points.

16. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said plurality of points form a jagged edge.

17. The light-emitting arrangement as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said plurality of points extend in an acute angle with respect to said base portion and toward at least one flange portion.

Assignees

• Van Gompel Waltherus Emericus Johannes
• De Koning Niels
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Van Gompel Waltherus Emericus Johannes
• De Koning Niels

Classifications

• F16B5/0635

  fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates · CPC title

• F21V17/12

  by screwing · CPC title

• Y10T403/76

  having a cam, wedge, or tapered portion · CPC title

• F21V17/164

  the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints · CPC title

• F16B5/004

  and using C-shaped clamps · CPC title