Plug-in coupling from coupling element and ball stud

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9995331-B2
Application number	US-201615061496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2016
Priority date	Mar 6, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a coupling element for the releasable connection of a first component to a second component. The coupling element has an annular basic element comprising a fastening structure at a radially outer side. Further, the basic element comprises a socket-like holding structure at a radially inner side. The socket-like holding structure comprises a centrally arranged supporting element as well as a plurality of holding webs. The holding webs comprise at least a first and a second web section. The first web section encloses with an axis of symmetry S of the coupling element an angle ∝ from a range of 45°≤∝≤90° and the first web section and the second web section are arranged in an obtuse angle with respect to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Coupling element of a plug-in coupling for the releasable connection of a first component to a second component, in which a ball stud is receivable in the coupling element, and which comprises the following features:
a. the coupling element is constructed in one piece of plastic having an annular basic element forming a receiving opening for the ball stud and that
a1. comprises a fastening structure at a radially outer side of the basic element by means of which the coupling element is fastenable in an opening of the first component, and that
a2. comprises a socket-like holding structure at a radially inner side of the basic element, in which a ball-shaped end of the ball stud can snap-in and from which the ball-shaped end is detachable without damaging the holding structure, wherein

b. the socket-like holding structure comprises:
a centrally arranged supporting element at which the ball-shaped end of the ball stud can abut, as well as
a plurality of holding webs integrally formed at one side with the annular basic element, wherein the holding webs protrude resiliently radially inwardly and inclined in an insertion direction of the ball stud into the coupling element, wherein
the holding webs comprise at least a first and a second, preferably straight, web section which are arranged angularly with respect to each other and which are connected to each other, wherein the first web section encloses with an axis of symmetry of the coupling element an angle α from a range of 45°≤α≤90° and the first web section and the second web section are arranged in an obtuse angle with respect to each other.

2. Coupling element according to claim 1 , in which the ball-shaped end of the ball stud can be abutted by a radial inner end of the first web section with respect to the coupling element and the second web section is formed longer as the first web section.

3. Coupling element according to claim 2 , in which the first web section encloses with the axis of symmetry of the coupling element the angle α from the range of 45° to 60°, preferably 55° to 60°.

4. Coupling element according to claim 2 , in which the first and the second web section enclose an angle γ of 90°<γ<140°.

5. Coupling element according to claim 2 , comprising a plurality of radial leading webs, preferably three leading webs equally distributed in circumferential direction, which connects the annular basic element and the socket-like support structure with each other.

6. Coupling element according to claim 2 , at the basic element of which the fastening structure for the coupling element is provided, which comprises a flange, which protrudes radially outwardly and extends circumferentially around the basic element, as well as a plurality of locking webs, which are attached with one side at the coupling element and which are inclined against an insertion direction of the ball pin into the coupling element.

7. Coupling element according to claim 6 , in which the circumferential flange and the locking webs are connected to each other by means of an annular circumferential wall.

8. Coupling element according to claim 2 , which consists of a plastic having a shore hardness in the range of 50 to 90 shore A.

9. Coupling element according to claim 1 , in which the first web section encloses with the axis of symmetry of the coupling element the angle ∝ from the range of 45° to 60°, preferably 55° to 60°.

10. Coupling element according to claim 9 , in which the first and the second web section enclose an angle γ of 90°<γ<140°.

11. Coupling element according to claim 9 , comprising a plurality of radial leading webs, preferably three leading webs equally distributed in circumferential direction, which connects the annular basic element and the socket-like support structure with each other.

12. Coupling element according to claim 9 , at the basic element of which the fastening structure for the coupling element is provided, which comprises a flange, which protrudes radially outwardly and extends circumferentially around the basic element, as well as a plurality of locking webs, which are attached with one side at the coupling element and which are inclined against an insertion direction of the ball pin into the coupling element.

13. Coupling element according to claim 1 , in which the first and the second web section enclose an angle γ of 90°≤γ≤140°.

14. Coupling element according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of radial leading webs, preferably three leading webs equally distributed in circumferential direction, which connects the annular basic element and the socket-like support structure with each other.

15. Coupling element according to claim 1 , at the basic element of which the fastening structure for the coupling element is provided, which comprises a flange, which protrudes radially outwardly and extends circumferentially around the basic element, as well as a plurality of locking webs, which are attached with one side at the coupling element and which are inclined against an insertion direction of the ball pin into the coupling element.

16. Coupling element according to claim 15 , in which the circumferential flange and the locking webs are connected to each other by means of an annular circumferential wall.

17. Coupling element according to claim 1 , which consists of a plastic having a shore hardness in the range of 50 to 90 shore A.

18. Plug-in coupling having a coupling element according to claim 1 , and a ball stud having a ball shaped end that is fastened or fastenable in the coupling element.

19. Connection of a first and a second component, in which the first component comprises a coupling element according to claim 1 , and the second component comprises a ball stud, the ball-shaped end of which is fastened or fastenable in the coupling element.

20. Injection moulding method for a coupling element of a plug-in coupling comprising the following steps:
providing an injection mould having the complementary features of the coupling element according to claim 1 ,
injection moulding of the coupling element in the injection mould,
cooling down of the coupling element and
de-moulding the coupling element from the injection mould.

Assignees

• Boellhoff Verbindungstechnik Gmbh

Inventors

• Heimann Vanessa
• Vorderwisch Alexander

Classifications

• F16C11/0695

  Mounting of ball-joints, e.g. fixing them to a connecting rod · CPC title

• F16C11/069

  with at least one separate part to retain the ball member in the socket; Quick-release systems · CPC title

• F16C11/0657

  the socket member being mainly made of plastics · CPC title

• F16B35/06 Primary

  Specially-shaped heads (special shape in order to rotate the bolt F16B23/00 {; separate hook adaptors for bolts F16B43/025}) · CPC title

• F16B1/02

  Means for securing elements of mechanisms after operation (means for bringing members to rest F16D) · CPC title