Assembly with a clip connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816543-B2
Application number	US-201515301369-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2015
Priority date	Apr 2, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A clip connection for coupling at least two components together, e.g., for fastening a first component to a second component in a joining direction, may include a plug-in pin arranged on the first component and having a longitudinal center axis extending parallel to the joining direction. The pin may include a conical longitudinal section that tapers in the joining direction. A radially resilient engagement hook may be provided engageable with an engagement contour. A sleeve may be arranged on the second component and have a longitudinal center axis extending parallel to the joining direction. The sleeve may include a plurality of radially resilient spring elements having a free end that supports the plurality of spring elements on the conical longitudinal section of the pin under radial preload when the sleeve and the pin are plugged together. The pin may be pluggable into the sleeve in the joining direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clip connection for coupling at least two components together, comprising:
a plug-in pin arranged fixed on a first component and having a longitudinal centre axis extending parallel to a joining direction, the plug-in pin including a conical longitudinal section that tapers in the joining direction;
a radially resilient engagement hook engageable with at least one engagement contour; and
a sleeve arranged fixed on a second component and having a longitudinal centre axis extending parallel to the joining direction, the sleeve including a plurality of radially resilient spring elements having a free end supporting the plurality of spring elements on the conical longitudinal section of the plug-in pin under radial preload when the plug-in pin and the sleeve are plugged together;
wherein the plug-in plug is pluggable into the sleeve in the joining direction.

2. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the engagement hook is integrally moulded on the plug-in pin spaced from the conical longitudinal section;
the at least one engagement contour is integrally moulded on the sleeve or on the second component; and
the plug-in pin includes the engagement hook disposed on a leading end with respect to the joining direction and pluggable into the sleeve.

3. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the plug-in pin further includes a cylindrical longitudinal section having a free face end, wherein the engagement hook extends from the free face end of the cylindrical longitudinal section and the cylindrical longitudinal section adjoins the conical longitudinal section.

4. The clip connection according to claim 3 , wherein the sleeve defines an interior including at least one axial stop, the at least one axial stop axially interacts with the free face end to delimit a plug-in depth for the plug-in pin when the plug-in pin and the sleeve are plugged together, and wherein an axial distance is provided between the at least one axial stop and the free face end when the engagement hook axially engages against the at least one engagement contour.

5. The clip connection according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of engagement hooks extending from the plug-in pin along the longitudinal centre axis, wherein the at least one engagement contour is common to all of the plurality of engagement hooks, and the at least one engagement contour is defined by a face end of the sleeve.

6. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve defines an interior including a guide groove for axially guiding the engagement hook when plugging the plug-in pin into the sleeve.

7. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the engagement hook is arranged on the sleeve; and
the at least one engagement contour is arranged on the plug-in pin or on the first component.

8. The clip connection according to claim 7 , wherein the engagement hook is arranged on the sleeve on a radially outside and extends parallel to the joining direction.

9. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spring elements are arranged on the sleeve distributed in a circumferential direction, the plurality of spring elements projecting axially from the sleeve and separated from one another in the circumferential direction by a respective axial slot.

10. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the free end of the plurality of spring elements defines a chamfered insertion region of the sleeve.

11. The clip connection according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking element structured to impede radial disconnect of the engagement hook from the at least one engagement contour.

12. The clip connection according to claim 11 , wherein the locking element is plugged into an interior of the sleeve in a region of the at least one engagement contour against the joining direction.

13. The clip connection according to claim 11 , wherein the plug-in pin is configured hollow and the locking element is passable through the plug-in pin, and wherein the locking element is adjustable in the joining direction as far as into a region of the engagement contour.

14. The clip connection according to claim 11 , wherein the locking element is adjustably mounted on the plug-in pin parallel to the joining direction.

15. The clip connection according to claim 11 , wherein the locking element is adjustably arranged on the plug-in pin between an unlocking position, in which the locking element facilitates a radial movability of the engagement hook disposed on the plug-in pin, and a locking position, in which the locking element impedes the radial movability of the engagement hook.

16. The clip connection according to claim 15 , further comprising a detent, wherein the detent is arranged in an engagement region of the engagement hook with the at least one engagement contour when the locking element is in the locking position to impede the radial movability of the engagement hook, and the detent is arranged spaced from the engagement region of the engagement hook with the at least one engagement contour to facilitate the radial movability of the engagement hook when the locking element is in the unlocking position.

17. The clip connection according to claim 16 , wherein the locking element includes a rod fixedly connected with the detent and extending through a central opening of the plug-in pin so that the detent and the locking element are transferable into the locking position when the plug-in pin is plugged together with the sleeve and the engagement hook engages with the at least one engagement contour in the joining direction.

18. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the plug-in pin is integrally moulded on the first component.

19. The clip connection according to claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is integrally moulded on the second component.

20. A joint assembly, comprising:
a first component and a second component;
a clip connection coupling the first component and the second component together in a joining direction, the clip connecting including:
a plug-in pin securable to the first component and having a longitudinal centre axis extending parallel to the joining direction, the plug-in pin including a conical longitudinal section that tapers in the joining direction;
a radially resilient engagement hook engageable with at least one engagement contour; and
a sleeve securable to the second component and having a longitudinal centre axis extending parallel to the joining direction, the sleeve including a plurality of radially resilient spring elements having a free end supporting the plurality of spring elements on the conical longitudinal section of the plug-in pin under radial preload when the plug-in pin and the sleeve are plugged together;
wherein the plug-in plug is pluggable into the sleeve in the joining direction.

Assignees

• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Morgillo Ivano
• Brand Winfried
• Hausner Thomas

Classifications

• F16B21/065 Primary

  with an additional locking element · CPC title

• F16B21/071

  the socket being integrally formed with a component to be fasted, e.g. a sheet, plate or strip · CPC title

• F16B21/14

  Details of locking-pins or split-pins · CPC title

• F16B21/088

  the stud, pin or spigot being integrally formed with the component to be fastened, e.g. forming part of the sheet, plate or strip · CPC title

• F16B17/00

  Connecting constructional elements or machine parts by a part of or on one member entering a hole in the other {and involving plastic deformation}(riveting F16B19/04) · CPC title