A coupling instrument is provided that can easily attach or detach a main body to or from a cleaning part in a cleaning device. The coupling instrument includes a first coupling member including a bulging part having a slant part. A side peripheral part of the slant part is tapered toward a tip thereof. A first protruding part is formed in a protruding manner around the bulging part. The coupling instrument further includes a second coupling member including a fitted part in which the bulging part can be loosely fitted, and a second protruding part formed in a protruding manner around the fitted part. The second protruding part is adjacent to the first protruding part; and the second coupling member has a plurality of engaging parts arranged around the fitted part.

The invention relates to a possibly reversible mechanical assembly, comprising a first component (1), a second link itself comprising a stud (3) linked to the first component (1) and formed of a stock (30) terminated by a radial bulge (31), and holding means (4) linked to the second component (2) and comprising a housing (40) dimensioned to receive the stud (3) and at least one elastic lock (41) designed to elastically hold the radial bulge of the stud in the housing (40). According to the invention, the housing (40) is formed by drilling of the second component (2) along its thickness, and each elastic lock (41) is essentially formed by an elastically flexible lug (41) formed in the thickness of the second component (2) and exhibiting a degree of radial play of non-zero amplitude.

An engaging mechanism includes an engaging member and an engaged member freely detachably engageable with the engaging member. The engaging member includes an engaging main part and an engaging claw part formed on the engaging main part, both resiliently deformable. The engaging claw part has an inwardly curved engaging surface defined by a first curvature continuous curve. The engaged member includes an engaged part engageable with the engaging claw part and having an outwardly curved engaged surface defined by a second curvature continuous curve. The engaging surface and the engaged surface contact each other at a linear contact area at a time from when the engaging claw part and the engaged part are in engagement with each other through to when the engaging claw part is disengaged from the engaged part. A curvature of the engaging surface at the linear contact area is smaller than a curvature of the engaged surface at the linear contact area.

Described is a combination fastener for attaching an object to a stud extending from or an opening formed in a component. The combination fastener includes a carrier portion to retain the object and a fastener portion. The fastener portion includes a body sidewall that defines a central longitudinal axis and a hollow space configured to receive the stud. A plurality of stud-retention features are resiliently coupled to an interior surface of the body sidewall to retain the stud within the hollow space. Each of the plurality of stud-retention features are angled toward the central longitudinal axis to deflect outward from the central longitudinal axis as the stud passes through the hollow space. A plurality of panel-retention features resiliently coupled to an exterior surface of the body sidewall to retain the combination fastener within the opening.

In aspects, a disclosed mounting system includes a device support plate, a base mounting plate, and at least one fastening element. The base mounting plate includes at least one bracket for coupling to the device support plate. The fastening element for securing the device support plate to the base mounting plate. The device support plate includes at least one connector defined by a wall arranged about a central longitudinal axis. The wall includes a plurality of resilient wall portions. An internal peripheral surface of the wall includes a channel defining a receiver for receiving the fastening element. The fastening element including at least two engagement members that include an external peripheral surface defining a mating surface for contacting a corresponding mating surface of the receiver.

An apparatus for connecting a first component to a second component by a ball which is fastened to the first component and which is fastenable in an opening of the second component includes a tool which includes two gripping elements and a retainer. The ball can be encompassed and pulled into the opening in a fastening direction by the two gripping elements. The second component is holdable in a position relative to the tool along the fastening direction by the retainer. The two gripping elements are movable relative to the retainer along the fastening direction to pull the ball into the opening until the first and second components are in contact with one another. The tool is movable in three dimensions by a robot.