Functional element for attachment to a plastic component and a component assembly

1. A functional element ( 10 ) of metal having a flange ( 14 ) of larger diameter forming an attachment surface ( 12 ) and a centering section ( 16 ) arranged inside the attachment surface and extending away from the flange, an adhesive ( 30 ) is arranged around the centering section ( 16 ) and adjacent to the attachment surface ( 12 ) and at least one recess ( 38 ) is formed in at least one of the flange ( 14 ) and the centering section ( 16 ) to take up excess adhesive, the recess ( 38 ) being a ring recess which is arranged radially outside of the attachment surface ( 12 ) as an axial groove in the flange ( 14 ), the attachment surface ( 12 ) is arranged radially inside a contact surface ( 40 ) and is set back relative to the latter in an axial direction ( 64 ) of the centering section ( 16 ), the contact surface ( 40 ) forms an outer ring surface and the attachment surface ( 12 ) forms an inner ring surface, and wherein the ring recess ( 38 ) which accommodates excess adhesives is provided between the contact surface ( 40 ) and the attachment surface ( 12 ).

2. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adhesive ( 30 ) has the shape of a ring ( 30 ), one side ( 35 ) of which is designed for attachment to the functional element ( 10 ) and the second side ( 33 ) of which is designed for attachment to a plastic component.

3. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the adhesive ring ( 30 ) is realized as one of a transfer adhesive and a two-sided adhesive element.

4. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is an adhesive which hardens under pressure.

5. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is present in the form of an adhesive ring ( 30 ) with a rectangular cross-section.

6. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the adhesive ( 30 ) has at least one component present in at least one of micro-capsules and nano-capsules and adheres to the functional element at at least one of the attachment surface ( 12 ) and the centering section ( 16 ) by means of a bonding agent which holds the capsules together and to the functional element prior to the attachment to a component and prior to bursting of the micro-capsules or nano-capsules containing at least one component of the adhesive.

7. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the centering section ( 16 ) has a shape in cross section which is one of:

a round circular shape,

a ring shaped,

a polygonal shape,

a grooved shape and

a ribbed shape.

8. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein it is one of the following elements:

a nut element,

a bolt element,

a hollow element,

an element having a cylindrical projection for receiving one of a shaft clip and a bearing sleeve.

9. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein it is provided in conjunction with a plurality of like functional elements ( 10 ), with the functional elements being arranged in one row or in a plurality of rows in a flexible carrier band ( 31 ; 102 ) and being capable of being buttoned out of the carrier band by bending over of the carrier band.

10. A functional element ( 10 ) in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the carrier band ( 31 ) is formed at its surface confronting the functional elements ( 10 ) as a protective film for the adhesive or adhesive ring ( 30 ).