IP Library Granted Patent US 8,950,043
Granted Patent B2
US 8,950,043 · App. 13/376,205 · Granted Feb 10, 2015

Connecting assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,950,043
App. No.
13/376,205
Granted
Feb 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connecting assembly ( 10 ) for fastening a mount-on part ( 12 ) to a carrier part ( 14 ), having a clip ( 16 ) which includes a deformable locking section ( 18 ) for fastening the clip ( 16 ) to the carrier part ( 14 ), and a separate locking pin ( 20 ) which is adapted to be received by the clip ( 16 ) by a movement in a mounting direction ( 22 ) along a mounting axis (A), the clip ( 16 ) and the locking pin ( 20 ) including cooperating latching members ( 24, 26 ) which form snap connections in a preassembly position and a locking position to fix the locking pin ( 20 ) axially on the clip ( 16 ). In the preassembly position the locking pin ( 20 ) and the clip ( 16 ) form a preassembled connecting assembly which is insertable into mounting openings ( 28, 30 ) of the mount-on part ( 12 ) and of the carrier part ( 14 ) by a movement along the mounting axis (A) and is movable to a fastening position.

Claims (32)

1. A connecting assembly ( 10 ) for fastening a mount-on part ( 12 ) to a carrier part ( 14 ), comprising

a clip ( 16 ) which includes a deformable locking section ( 18 ) for fastening the clip ( 16 ) to the carrier part ( 14 ), and

a separate locking pin ( 20 ) which is adapted to be received by the clip ( 16 ) by a movement in a mounting direction ( 22 ) along a mounting axis (A),

the clip ( 16 ) and the locking pin ( 20 ) including cooperating latching members ( 24 , 26 ) which form a snap connection in a preassembly position and a snap connection in a locking position to fix the locking pin ( 20 ) axially on the clip ( 16 ),

wherein in the preassembly position the locking pin ( 20 ) and the clip ( 16 ) form a preassembled connecting assembly which is insertable into mounting openings ( 28 , 30 ) of the mount-on part ( 12 ) and of the carrier part ( 14 ) by a movement along the mounting axis (A) and is movable to a fastening position,

the snap connection in the preassembly position having an axial holding force which is greater than an axial force of resistance when the connecting assembly ( 10 ) is moved to and out of the fastening position, and

in the fastening position the locking section ( 18 ) of the clip ( 16 ) has a detachable snap connection with the mount-on part ( 12 ) and/or the carrier part ( 14 ),

the clip ( 16 ) being formed in two pieces and including a deformable locking part ( 50 ) and a holding part ( 52 ) receiving the locking part ( 50 ), at least the locking part ( 50 ) being produced from metal.

2. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clip ( 16 ) and the locking pin ( 20 ) include cooperating blocking members ( 36 , 42 ) which in the preassembly position form a latching connection and prevent a nondestructive dismounting movement of the locking pin ( 20 ) in relation to the clip ( 16 ) contrary to the mounting direction ( 22 ).

3. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clip ( 16 ) includes a web ( 38 ) and a pair of opposite side walls ( 40 ) connected by the web ( 38 ), each of the side walls ( 40 ) including a deformable locking section ( 18 ).

4. The connecting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein each of the side walls ( 40 ) includes a deformable blocking member ( 42 ).

5. The connecting assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the locking section ( 18 ) includes the blocking member ( 42 ) and/or the latching member ( 26 ).

6. The connecting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the side walls ( 40 ) each include a deformable latching member ( 26 ).

7. The connecting assembly according to claim 3 , wherein each of the side walls ( 40 ) includes a pair of deformable latching members ( 26 ) and a blocking member ( 42 ) in between.

8. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the locking pin ( 20 ) is a substantially rigid plastic part.

9. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clip ( 16 ) is a metal clip.

10. The connecting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the clip ( 16 ) is formed in one piece.

11. A connecting assembly for fastening a mount-on part to a carrier part, comprising

a clip which includes a deformable locking section for fastening the clip to the carrier part, and

a separate locking pin which is adapted to be received by the clip by a movement in a mounting direction along a mounting axis,

the clip and the locking pin including cooperating latching members which form snap connections in a preassembly position and a locking position to fix the locking pin axially on the clip,

in the preassembly position the locking pin and the clip forming a preassembled connecting assembly which is insertable into mounting openings of the mount-on part and of the carrier part by a movement along the mounting axis and is movable to a fastening position,

the clip and the locking pin including cooperating blocking members which in the preassembly position form a latching connection and prevent a nondestructive dismounting movement of the locking pin in relation to the clip contrary to the mounting direction,

the clip including a web and a pair of opposite side walls connected by the web, the side walls each including a deformable locking section, and

the side walls each including a pair of deformable latching members and a blocking member in between.

12. A connecting assembly for fastening a mount-on part to a carrier part, comprising

a clip which includes a deformable locking section for fastening the clip to the carrier part, and

a separate locking pin which is adapted to be received by the clip by a movement in a mounting direction along a mounting axis,

the clip and the locking pin including cooperating latching members which form snap connections in a preassembly position and a locking position to fix the locking pin axially on the clip,

in the preassembly position the locking pin and the clip forming a preassembled connecting assembly which is insertable into mounting openings of the mount-on part and of the carrier part by a movement along the mounting axis and is movable to a fastening position,

the clip and the locking pin including cooperating deformable blocking members which in the preassembly position form a latching connection,

the clip including a U-shape with a web and a pair of opposite side walls connected by the web, each of the side walls including both a deformable locking section and one of the cooperating deformable blocking members.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2017
From: ITW FASTENER PRODUCTS GMBH
To: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
Reel/Frame 042271/0964 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2016
From: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
To: ITW FASTENER PRODUCTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 039355/0187 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2011
From: HOFMANN, JUERGEN; ELSNER, MARKUS; LOEWE, HUBERT
To: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 027461/0544 →