CONNECTOR FOR CONNECTING A COMPONENT WITH A BOLT AND SYSTEM WITH A BOLT AND SUCH A CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A SYSTEM

Abstract

A connector for connecting a component to a bolt has a base part and at least one holding part arranged displaceably on the base part. The base part has a connecting section for connecting to the component, a receptacle for receiving the bolt, and a clamping element which partially delimits the receptacle. The clamping element, in a delivery state of the connector, in which the bolt has not yet been inserted into the receptacle, assumes a first position and can be moved outward into a second position. The holding part has a first holding lug, which in the delivery state is arranged in a first latching recess of the base part or in the delivery state is arranged at a distance from the first latching recess of the base part.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a component to a bolt, wherein the connector is of multi-part design and has a base part and at least one holding part displaceably arranged on the base part, wherein the base part has a connecting section for connecting to the component, and the base part has a receptacle for receiving the bolt, wherein the base part has a clamping element which partially delimits the receptacle, wherein the clamping element assumes a first position in a delivery state of the connector in which the bolt has not yet been inserted into the receptacle and can be moved outward into a second position, wherein the holding part has a first retaining lug which is arranged in a first latching recess of the base part in the delivery state or is arranged at a distance from the first latching recess of the base part in the delivery state, but can, however, be brought into the first latching recess of the base part by a relative movement in a first direction between the holding part and the base part, wherein the arrangement of the first retaining lug in the first latching recess blocks a relative movement between the holding part and the base part in the first direction wherein the holding part has a spring arm, wherein the spring arm engages in a delivery recess of the base part in the delivery state or does not engage in the delivery recess of the base part in the delivery state, but, however, the delivery recess can be brought into engagement with the delivery recess by a relative movement in a second, opposite direction between the holding part and the base part wherein the delivery recess has a wall and, if it engages with the delivery recess, the spring arm can come into contact with the wall and an abutment between the spring arm and the wall blocks a relative movement between the holding part and the base part in the second direction, wherein when moving from the first position to the second position from the inside, the clamping element comes into contact with the spring arm when the spring arm is in engagement with the delivery recess, and the spring arm is not in engagement with the delivery recess when the clamping element is in the second position.

2. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a locking state, wherein in order to achieve the locking state, the holding part must be moved in the direction of the second direction relative to the base part from the delivery state, wherein in the locking state the first retaining lug of the holding part is arranged in a second latching recess of the base part, wherein the arrangement of the first retaining lug in the second latching recess blocks a relative movement between the holding part and the base part in the first direction, or second retaining lug is provided on the holding part, which retaining lug is arranged in the second latching recess of the base part in the locking state, wherein the arrangement of the second retaining lug in the second latching recess blocks a relative movement between the holding part and the base part in the first direction.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the base part has a window leading from an outer surface of the base part to the receptacle, and wherein the holding part has an engagement tab which, in the locking state, engages through the window and protrudes into the receptacle.

4. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising an installation detection surface on the base part, wherein the installation detection surface is covered by the holding part in the delivery state and is not covered by the holding part in the locking state.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the base part is a plastic part and/or the holding part is a metal part.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the base part has a holding part section which is cuboid in cross section and in which the receptacle is arranged, and/or which the holding part is cuboid.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the base part has guide surfaces and wherein the holding part has mating surfaces which can come into contact with the guide surfaces, wherein in the relative movement of the holding part relative to the base part, when the holding part is moved from the delivery state to the locked state, the holding part is guided by the contact of the mating surface with the guide surface.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the spring arm engages in a locking recess of the base part in the locking state.

9. A system comprising a bolt and a connector according claim 1, wherein the bolt is at least partially in the receptacle and the holding part is in the locking state.

10. A method for generating a system according to claim 9, wherein a connector according to claim 1 is provided, wherein the spring arm engages with the delivery recess, the bolt is inserted into the receptacle, wherein the insertion of the bolt into the receptacle causes the clamping element to be moved from the first position in the direction of the second position, wherein the movement of the clamping element from the first position in the direction of the second position causes the clamping element to come into contact with the spring arm and, when the movement in the direction of the second position continues, presses the spring arm out of the delivery recess, and the holding part is moved relative to the base part in the second direction when the spring arm has left the delivery receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The invention will be explained below with reference to drawings illustrating only embodiments of the invention. The following are shown in the drawing:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a connector according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment in the delivery state;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the connector according to FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic, perspective view of the connector according to FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through the connector according to FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a schematic, perspective view of the connector according to FIG. 1, wherein the holding part has already been displaced somewhat in the second direction;

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of the connector according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in the locking state;

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a schematic, perspective view of the connector according to FIG. 6;

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view through the connector according to FIG. 6;

[0052] FIG. 9 shows a schematic, perspective view of a connector according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment in the delivery state;

[0053] FIG. 10 shows a schematic bottom view of the connector according to FIG. 9;

[0054] FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of the connector according to FIG. 9;

[0055] FIG. 12 shows a sectional view through the connector according to FIG. 9;

[0056] FIG. 13 shows a schematic, perspective view of the connector according to FIG. 9, wherein the holding part has already been displaced somewhat in the second direction;

[0057] FIG. 14 shows a schematic, perspective view of the connector according to the invention according to FIG. 9 in the locking state;

[0058] FIG. 15 shows a schematic, perspective bottom view of a detail of the connector according to FIG. 14;

[0059] FIG. 16 shows a sectional view through the connector according to FIG. 14;

[0060] FIG. 17 shows a schematic view from below of the connector according to FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 18 a, b, c, d show schematic views of the base part of the connector according to FIG. 1,

[0062] FIG. 19 a, b, c, d show schematic views of the holding part of the connector according to FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 20 a, b, c, d show schematic views of the base part of the connector according to FIG. 9;

[0064] FIG. 21 a, b, c, d show schematic views of the holding part of the connector according to FIG. 9; and

[0065] FIG. 22 shows the sectional view through the connector according to FIG. 4 with bolts inserted into the receptacle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 shows the connector 1 according to the invention for connecting a component (not shown) to a bolt 14 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 but shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The connector 1 is multi-part, namely two-part. It has a base part 2 and a holding part 3. The holding part 3 is displaceably arranged on the base part 2.

[0067] The base part 2 has a connecting section 4 for connecting the connector 1 to the component. Furthermore, the base part 2 has a receptacle 5 for receiving a bolt 14.

[0068] The base part 2 has two clamping elements 6 which each partially delimit the receptacle 5 and are arranged opposite each other. In the delivery state shown in FIG. 4, the two clamping elements 6 have a first position in which the bolt 14 has not yet been inserted into the receptacle 5. In this first position, the clamping elements 6 project further into the receptacle 5. Furthermore, the clamping elements 6 have a second position in FIG. 22, in which the clamping elements 6 were moved outward in relation to the first position.

[0069] The connector 1 has a holding part 3 in addition to the base part 2. The holding part 3 has a first holding lug 7. In the delivery state of the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first retaining lug 7 is arranged in a first latching recess 8. The arrangement of the first retaining lug 7 in the first latching recess 8 blocks a relative movement between the holding part 3 and the base part 2 in the first direction, which is shown in FIG. 1 by the arrow A. The arrangement of the retaining lug 7 in the first latching recess 8 blocks a removal of the holding part 3 from the base part 2 in this first direction A. The first retaining lug 7 is designed on a spring arm, which is part of the holding part 3.

[0070] The holding part 3 has a spring arm 9. The spring arm 9 engages in a delivery recess 10 of the component 2 shown in FIG. 1. The delivery recess 10 has a wall 11. If the spring arm engages with the delivery recess 10, the spring arm 9 can come into abutment with the wall 11. Contact between the spring arm 9 and the wall 11 blocks a relative movement between the holding part 3 and the base part 2 in the second direction shown by the arrow B in FIG. 1. Contact of the spring arm 9 with the wall 11 prevents the holding part 3 from being pushed further onto the base part 2.

[0071] When moving from the first position into the second position, the clamping element 6 comes into contact with the spring arm 9 from the inside when the spring arm 9 is in engagement with the delivery recess 10. When the clamping element 6 is in the second position, the spring arm 9 is not engaged with the delivery recess 10. When moved from the first position, the clamping element 6 has pushed out the spring element 9 from the inside out of the delivery recess 10. Since the spring element 9 is now no longer engaged with the delivery recess 10, the blocking of the relative movement between the holding part 3 and the base part 2 is lifted in the second direction B and the holding part 3 can be pushed further onto the base part 2.

[0072] The connector 1 according to the invention has a locking state shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8. In order to achieve the locking state, the holding part 3 must be moved relative to the base part 2 from the delivery state (cf. FIGS. 1 to 5) in the direction of the second direction B.

[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the first retaining lug 87 of the holding part 3 is arranged in a second latching recess 12 in the locking state. The arrangement of the first retaining lug 87 in the second latching recess 12 blocks a relative movement between the holding part 3 and the base part 2 in the first direction A.

[0074] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, 17, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 22, the spring arm 9 engages in a locking recess 13 of the component 2 in the locking state.

[0075] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, 17, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 22, the base part has a holding part section which is cuboid in cross-section and in which the receptacle 5 is arranged. The connecting section 4 adjoins the cuboid holding section. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the holding part 3 is cuboid in shape. The holding part 3 has side walls 20. The spring arm 9 and the spring arm, at the end of which the first retaining lug 7 is formed, are implemented in the side walls 20. The holding part 3 also has a rear wall 21. Furthermore, the rectangular holding part 3 selected has an upper wall 22.

[0076] The spring arm 9 runs parallel to the first direction A and parallel to the second direction B. The first retaining lug 7 is designed at the end of a further spring arm 15 which runs parallel to the first direction A and parallel to the second direction B. The spring arm 9 is designed as a punching section in the side surface 20 of the holding part 3 and extends from a foot section at which the spring arm 9 merges into the parts surrounding it of the side surface 20 to a free end section provided for abutment with the wall 11. The further spring arm 15, on which the first retaining lug 7 is designed as a punching section in a side surface 20 of the holding part 3 and extends from a foot section at which the further spring arm 15 merges into the parts of the side surface surrounding it to a free end section. The end section is provided for engaging in the first latching recess 8. Relative to the arrangement in the direction of the second direction, the foot section of the first spring arm 9 is arranged in the region of the end section of the further spring arm 15, and the end section of the spring arm 9 is arranged in the region of the foot section of the further spring arm 15.

[0077] The holding part 3 has a recess 24 on its underside 23. In the delivery state, the recess 24 is in alignment with the receptacle 5. The bolt 14 to be connected to the connector 1 can be pushed through the recess 24 in the underside 23 through the holding part 3 into the receptacle 5 of the base part 2.

[0078] Furthermore, the lower side 23 of the holding part 2 has engagement tabs 25. If the holding part 3 is in the locking state, the engaging tabs 25 engage with a thread on the bolt 14 (see FIG. 8). The engagement tabs 25 thus prevent the holding part 3 and with the holding part 3 from being able to remove the base part 2 from the bolt 14.

[0079] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, 17, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 22, a structure detection surface 26 is provided on the component 2. In the delivery state (cf. FIGS. 1 to 5), the installation detection surface 26 is hidden by the holding part 3. In the locking state (see FIG. 6), the installation detection surface 26 is not hidden by the holding part 3.

[0080] On the upper wall 22, the holding part 3 has a window 27. In the locking state, the window 27 comes into alignment with the installation detection surface 26 so that the installation detection 26 in the locking state is not covered by the holding part 3.

[0081] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, 17, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 22, the base part 2 is a plastic part, while the holder part 3 is a metal part produced from a metal sheet section by means of bending and punching.

[0082] The cuboid shape of the holding part section and the cuboid shape of the holding part 3 form guide surfaces 28 on the base part 2, namely the outwardly pointing surfaces of the cuboid holding part section, which can come into contact with counter surfaces 29, namely the inwardly pointing surfaces of the cuboid holding part 3, so that in the relative movement of the holding part 3 relative to the base part 2, when the holding part 3 is moved from the delivery state to the locking state, the holding part 3 is guided by the contact of the mating surfaces 29 with the guide surfaces 28.

[0083] The second embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 16, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, 17, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 22 in that the first retaining lug 7 is located on the underside 23 of the retaining part 3 and the first latching recess 8 and the second latching recess 12 are also formed on the underside of the base part 2. Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 to 16, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, a window 30 is provided in the base part 2 and leads from an outer surface of the base part 2 to the receptacle 5. The holding part 3 has an engagement tab 25 which, in the locking state (cf. FIG. 14, FIG. 16), passes through the window 30 and projects into the receptacle 5. There, the engagement tab 25 engages with an external thread on the bolt 14. The interaction of the engagement tab 25 with the external thread of the bolt 14 prevents the bolt 14 from being pulled out of the recess 5.

[0084] The terms “comprising” or “comprise” are used herein in their broadest sense to mean and encompass the notions of “including,” “include,” “consist(ing) essentially of,” and “consist(ing) of. The use of “for example,” “e.g.,” “such as,” and “including” to list illustrative examples does not limit to only the listed examples. Thus, “for example” or “such as” means “for example, but not limited to” or “such as, but not limited to” and encompasses other similar or equivalent examples. The term “about” as used herein serves to reasonably encompass or describe minor variations in numerical values measured by instrumental analysis or as a result of sample handling. Such minor variations may be in the order of ±0-25, ±0-10, ±0-5, or ±0-2.5, % of the numerical values. Further, The term “about” applies to both numerical values when associated with a range of values. Moreover, the term “about” may apply to numerical values even when not explicitly stated.

[0085] Generally, as used herein a hyphen “-” or dash “—” in a range of values is “to” or “through”; a “>” is “above” or “greater-than”; a “≥” is “at least” or “greater-than or equal to”; a “<” is “below” or “less-than”; and a “≤” is “at most” or “less-than or equal to.” On an individual basis, each of the aforementioned applications for patent, patents, and/or patent application publications, is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety in one or more non-limiting embodiments.

[0086] It is to be understood that the appended claims are not limited to express and particular compounds, compositions, or methods described in the detailed description, which may vary between particular embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims. With respect to any Markush groups relied upon herein for describing particular features or aspects of various embodiments, it is to be appreciated that different, special, and/or unexpected results may be obtained from each member of the respective Markush group independent from all other Markush members. Each member of a Markush group may be relied upon individually and or in combination and provides adequate support for specific embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

[0087] The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims. The subject matter of all combinations of independent and dependent claims, both single and multiple dependent, is herein expressly contemplated.