There is provided a joint structure for a vehicle, the joint structure including: a plate-shaped first member; a plate-shaped second member, of which at least a portion is superposed with the first member in a plate thickness direction of the first member; plural crimped portions provided in a region at which the first member and the second member are superposed, the first member and second member being joined at the crimped portions by mechanical clinching from a side at which the first member is disposed; and a reinforcing portion provided at the first member, the reinforcing portion being inflected toward a substantially normal direction in a vicinity of the crimped portions.

A clip for releasably connecting a first component, in particular a first plate element, to a second component, in particular a second plate element, wherein the first component comprises at least one projecting edge portion, wherein the edge portion comprises a respective recess at its opposite end regions, and the second component comprises at least one elongated hole, wherein the edge portion penetrates the elongated hole in an assembled state and projects out of the elongated hole at least so far that the recesses project at least partly out of the elongated hole. The clip comprises: two longitudinal elements each having a first and a second end, wherein the two longitudinal elements are movably connected to each other at the respective first end; a closure element provided at the second end of at least one longitudinal element, wherein the closure element is configured to releasably connect the second ends of the longitudinal elements; and at least two holding segments which are provided in opposite end regions of the longitudinal elements and which are configured to be engaged with the respective recesses of the edge portion of the first component and releasably connect the components to each other.

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a overlapping connection, in which at least two overlapping components are connected to one another via a folded flange, with a first edge of a first component being folded over a second edge of a second component to form the folded flange, along with a body component that includes such an overlapping connection for a vehicle and a stamping tool for such a body component. According to the disclosure at least one connection region is formed on the folded flange, in which the stamping tool stamps the first component through the second component at least one stamping point, with displaced material of the first component passing into the second component and producing a positive connection.

A structural bracket for use with a solar mounting system is provided. The bracket has a first planar portion, and a second planar portion angularly positioned relative to the first planar portion, a mounting tab coupled to the second planer portion proximate a distal end of the second planer portion and a hook extending outwardly from the mounting tab at an angle, wherein the hook is configured to securely lock the structural bracket to a mating beam using an interference fit.

Disclosed are a connecting arrangement of a fiber composite component with a second component and a process for producing the arrangement. The second component comprises at least one flat section having one or more cut-outs which pass through the flat section. The flat section is arranged between at least two sublayers of the fiber composite component and at least one of the at least two sublayers with a layer thickness S.sub.F comprises one or more embossments which have an essentially even layer thickness S.sub.F and are molded into the one or more cut-outs.

A method of connecting a first component and a second component with the aid of an auxiliary joining part, wherein the auxiliary joining part is formed from a pin and a plate. A position of intended fracture is present between the plate and the pin. The first component, the second component and the auxiliary joining part are brought into a stacked arrangement such that the plate contacts the first component and the pin projects away from the side of the plate remote from the first component. A force is exerted on the pin of the auxiliary joining part in the direction towards the stacked components which leads to a fracture at a position of intended fracture and the pin is used in order to pierce slugs from the stacked components. The end of the pin which is pressed through the second component, and/or a washer which is optionally provided there, is deformed in order to provide a form-locked connection to the second component or to a washer which is provided there. Furthermore, an auxiliary joining part is claimed.

Combined sheets and a method of producing combined sheets. A combined sheet includes a main sheet including a first main indentation feature providing a first overhang over a first portion of the main sheet and a second main indentation feature providing a second overhang over a second portion of the main sheet. The combined sheet also includes a foundation sheet abutting the main sheet. The foundation sheet includes a first foundation indentation feature crimped to the first main indentation feature and a second foundation indentation feature crimped to the second main indentation feature. The first overhang and the second overhang provides overhangs in different directions to prohibit separation of the foundation sheet from the main sheet. The method of producing the combined sheet includes co-locating the main sheet to abut the foundation sheet and pressing one or more indentation punches for forming indentation features providing overhangs in different directions.

The present invention is a part positioning mechanism configured to insert a protruding portion constituting a part of a second sheet metal part into an opening formed in a first sheet metal part. The first contact portion which contacts the first convex portion of the first sheet metal and the second contact portion which contacts the second convex portion of the first sheet metal are disposed to be shifted in an orthogonal direction which intersects orthogonally with the plate thickness direction and an insertion direction for the protruding portion. The edge of the opening of the first sheet metal part has a first edge which is distant from the protruding portion increases from the first convex portion to the second convex portion, and a second edge which is distant from the protruding portion increases from the second convex portion to the first convex portion.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a connection system with a projection on a first connector and a cooperating cavity on a second connector to provide push-through connection of the connectors in first and second configurations in which the projection extends to first and second depths respectively within the cavity, wherein one or more of the projection or cavity is movable in two dimensions perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the projection when received in the cavity, wherein the first and second connectors have cooperating locking surfaces arranged to engage each other when the projection is received at the second depth to prevent said movement in two dimensions and wherein the cooperating locking surfaces do not engage each other so as to prevent said movement in two dimensions when the projection is received at the first depth in the receiving cavity.

Disclosed is an elastic fastener assembly for fastening objects to gap between the car window and the trim panel. The elastic fastener assembly includes an elastic fastener having a first piece for supporting the elastic fastener assembly and a second piece serving as a fastener of the elastic fastener assembly. The second piece has an opening provided with a flange for allowing the elastic fastener to be inserted in a gap between a trim panel and a car window glass to securely fasten the elastic fastener assembly to an inner side of the trim panel. The elastic fastener assembly includes an object jointer for jointing objects. The neck of the object jointer is spaced apart from the flange by a distance longer than the thickness of the trim panel, thereby ensuring the elastic fastener assembly to be fastened to the inner side of the trim panel during the installation process.