HOLDING ELEMENT FOR HOLDING A COMPONENT TO BE SECURED, AND HOLDING SYSTEM WITH SUCH AN ELEMENT

Abstract

A holding element for holding a component to be secured includes: a base region with a first receiving and holding region for an elongate fixing element, a second receiving and holding region for the component, and a first hollow cylindrical engagement region; a spacer element with a spacer surface and a second hollow cylindrical engagement region in engagement with the first hollow cylindrical engagement region; and a sealing element, of a softer material than the spacer element, and having a hollow insertion region, wherein the insertion region has an inner round casing surface configured to bear against the elongate fixing element all around when the fixing element is secured in the holding element and thus seal against wet or dirt, wherein the distance from the spacer surface to the base region can be adjusted.

Claims

1. A holding element for holding a component to be secured on a part of a vehicle, wherein the holding element comprises the following: a base region with a first receiving and holding region for an elongate fixing element, a second receiving and holding region for a component to be secured, and a first hollow cylindrical engagement region; a spacer element with a spacer surface and a second hollow cylindrical engagement region which is in engagement with the first hollow cylindrical engagement region of the base region; and a sealing element which consists of a softer material than the spacer element, wherein the sealing element has a hollow, elongate insertion region which is inserted in or formed on the first hollow cylindrical engagement region of the base region, wherein the insertion region has an inner round casing surface which is configured to bear against the elongate fixing element all around when the fixing element is secured in the holding element and thus seal against wet or dirt, wherein the distance from the spacer surface to the base region can be adjusted.

2. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first receiving and holding region has an opening with an internal thread, wherein an outer thread radius is defined by a thread base of the internal thread, wherein the inner round casing surface has an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer thread radius.

3. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element has an axial overhang at an inner periphery of a radial contact surface which rests at least in regions on the spacer surface.

4. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base region, the spacer element and the sealing element are made of plastic, and wherein the sealing element is made of a thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second receiving and holding region is configured at least substantially as a clamp with a first leg and a second leg and has a main extension direction.

6. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first hollow cylindrical engagement region extends from the first leg orthogonally to the main extension direction of the second receiving and holding region, and wherein the first receiving and holding region extends orthogonally from the second leg.

7. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first hollow cylindrical engagement region and the first receiving and holding region are arranged relative to each other such that an elongate fixing element can be introduced through the sealing element, the spacer element and the base region up to the first receiving and holding region.

8. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second receiving and holding region has an insertion region and a latching device.

9. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 8, wherein the latching device and the insertion region are arranged at opposite ends in the extension direction of the second receiving and holding region.

10. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 8, wherein the insertion region comprises an insertion aid, and wherein the latching device comprises a recess.

11. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second hollow cylindrical engagement region of the spacer element has an internal thread, and wherein the first hollow cylindrical engagement region of the base region has an external thread.

12. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 11, wherein the distance from the spacer surface to the base region is adjusted by rotating the spacer element in the first hollow cylindrical engagement region of the base region.

13. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer surface has a at least substantially circular recess in which the radial contact surface of the sealing element is received.

14. The holding element for holding a component to be secured as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component to be secured is a rear light of a vehicle.

15. A holding system for holding a component to be secured on a part of a vehicle, wherein the holding system comprises the following: a holding element as claimed in claim 1; and an elongate fixing element which is inserted through the sealing element, the spacer element and the base region and is in engagement with the first receiving and holding region; and wherein the inner round casing surface has an inner diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of the elongate fixing element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In the following text, the invention will be described in greater detail on the basis of the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended drawings.

[0048] In the drawings:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a holding element in accordance with the present invention,

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the holding element in accordance with the present invention,

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the holding element in accordance with the present invention from above, and

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the holding system according to the invention with a holding element in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] In the following text, reference is made first of all to FIG. 1 which shows a plan view of a holding element 100 of the present invention.

[0054] The holding element 100 has a base region 110, a spacer element 120 and a sealing element 130.

[0055] The base region 110 has a first receiving and holding region 111 which is configured with a thread in the case of this embodiment. The thread serves to come into engagement with an elongate fixing element 200 (not shown) (for example, a screw).

[0056] Furthermore, the base region 110 has a second receiving and holding region 112. The latter is arranged above the first receiving and holding region 111 in FIG. 1 and is configured at least substantially as a clamp. The second receiving and holding region serves to receive and to hold a component 10 to be secured.

[0057] Moreover, the base region 110 has a first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113. The latter is arranged above the second receiving and holding region 112 in FIG. 1. More precisely, the first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 is arranged opposite the first receiving and holding region 111, wherein the second receiving and holding region 112 is arranged between the two regions.

[0058] The first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 has an external thread in the case of this embodiment of the invention.

[0059] The spacer element 120 is in engagement with the first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 of the base region 110. More precisely, a second hollow cylindrical engagement region 122 of the spacer element 120 is in engagement with the first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113. Accordingly, the second hollow cylindrical engagement region 122 is an internal thread.

[0060] Moreover, the spacer element 120 has a spacer surface 121 which is arranged at one end of the second hollow cylindrical engagement region 122. The spacer surface 121 provides a radial contact surface.

[0061] The distance of the spacer element 120 and therefore the distance of the spacer surface 121 from the base region 110 can be adjusted by rotating of the spacer element 120 relative to the base region 110.

[0062] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the sealing element 130 is introduced at least in regions into the second hollow cylindrical engagement region 122.

[0063] As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the sealing element 130 has an elongate insertion region 132 here which extends downward from a radial contact surface 131 into the second hollow cylindrical engagement region 122. The elongate insertion region 132 has an inner round casing surface 133 which bears against the fixing element all around when the fixing element is secured and thus seals against wet or dirt.

[0064] The radial contact surface 131 of the sealing element 130 radially surrounds the bore, in which the elongate insertion region 132 of the sealing element 130 is received, with the result that no wet or dirt can penetrate the component 10 to be secured here either.

[0065] As FIG. 2 shows, moreover, it can be advantageous if the spacer surface 121 of the spacer element 120 has an at least substantially circular recess 121a. Here, the at least substantially circular recess 121a is configured in such a way that it can receive the radial contact surface 131 of the sealing element 130.

[0066] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the sealing element 130 or the radial contact surface 131 thereof has an axial overhang 131a which extends axially in a direction which is opposed to the elongate insertion region 132. That is to say, the axial overhang 131a extends from the radial contact surface 131 upward in FIG. 2. As can be seen later in conjunction with FIG. 4, the axial overhang 131a can further improve the sealing action.

[0067] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the base region 110 which is configured at least substantially as a clamp has a first leg 112a and a second leg 112b. Here, the first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 is arranged on the first leg 112a, and the first receiving and holding region 111 is arranged on the second leg 112b. Here, the first receiving and holding region 111 and the first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that they share a common rotational axis. That is to say, they are arranged opposite one another, and the elongate fixing element 200 can be guided through them.

[0068] As can be seen in FIG. 2, moreover, the base region 110 or, more precisely, the second receiving and holding region 112 has an insertion region 114 on the left and a latching device 115 on the right. The component 10 to be secured can be introduced through the insertion region 114 into the second receiving and holding region 112. The latching device 115 serves to hold the component 10 to be secured reliably in the second receiving and holding region 112.

[0069] It can be seen in the case of the insertion region 114 that the distance from the first leg 112a to the second leg 112b decreases in FIG. 2 from the left to the right (that is to say in the insertion direction). This leads to an insertion aid being configured for the component 10 to be secured.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the holding element 100 from above. It can be seen here that the base region 110 is of substantially rectangular configuration as viewed from above. The spacer surface 121 of the spacer element 120 is of at least substantially circular configuration as viewed from above. Here, however, parts of the outer periphery can be angled over. The radial contact surface 131 of the sealing element 130 is at least substantially circular as viewed from above.

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a holding system 1000 which holds a component 10 to be secured on a part 300 of a vehicle. In particular, the component 10 to be secured is a rear light, and the part 300 of the vehicle is a vehicle body part of the vehicle.

[0072] As can be seen in FIG. 4, the rear light or an at least substantially two-dimensional securing region of the rear light is received in the second receiving and holding region 112 of the base region 100. Here, the component 10 to be secured, that is to say the rear light, has a bore, with which the holding element 100 is oriented in a fitting manner in the assembly position. In this context, “fitting” means that it is possible to plug the fixing element 200 through the sealing element 130, the spacer element 120, the base region 110, the bore in the rear light, and the bore in the part 300 of the vehicle. That is to say, the bore in the component 10 to be secured, the bore in the part 300 of the vehicle, the sealing element 130, the spacer element 120, the first receiving and holding region 111 and the first hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 of the base region 110 have a common rotational axis.

[0073] Here, the inner diameter of the sealing element (inner round casing surface) is smaller than the outer diameter of the elongate fixing element. The sealing element therefore bears securely all around on the outside against the elongate fixing element, with the result that a reliable seal against wet or dirt is made possible.

[0074] As can likewise be seen in FIG. 4, an outer region of the element 10 to be secured comes into engagement with the latching device 115. Here, the latching device 115 is a recess, and the outer region of the component 10 to be secured is an overhang. It is possible to overcome distances of different magnitude between the part 300 of the vehicle and the component 10 to be secured by way of the spacer element 120. That is to say, tolerances can be compensated for by way of the spacer element 120.

[0075] The sealing element 130 or, in particular, the radial contact surface 131 thereof is pressed upward (in the direction of the part 300) by the spacer surface 121 of the spacer element 120 in FIG. 4. The radial contact surface 131 of the sealing element 130 lies radially around the bore in the part 300 of the vehicle. Furthermore, the radial contact surface 131 is clamped between the spacer surface 121 and the part 300 of the vehicle. Here, the axial overhang 131a of the radial contact surface 131 reaches into the bore of the part 300.

[0076] The spacer element 120 is preferably screwed out in the case of a screwing operation by way of a left-handed thread by means of a frictionally locking connection by way of the fixing element 200 with respect to the sealing element 130, to such an extent until the spacer element 120 bears against the part 300 of the vehicle. A blocked situation occurs here, and the fixing element 200 (for example, screw) is locked, that is to say tightened. Therefore, in one screwing operation, the tolerance compensation takes place in the screwing axis between the receiving and holding region 111 and the spacer element 120, and finally the screwing torque/screwing connection takes place between the component 10 to be secured and the part 300 of the vehicle with a final sealing function.

[0077] Overall, a satisfactory seal can thus be achieved at the point of the bore in the part (300) by way of the holding system 1000.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0078] Component to be secured 10 [0079] Holding element 100 [0080] Base region 110 [0081] First receiving and holding region 111 [0082] Second receiving and holding region 112 [0083] First hollow cylindrical engagement region 113 [0084] Insertion region 114 [0085] Latching device 115 [0086] Spacer element 120 [0087] Spacer surface 121 [0088] Circular recess 121a [0089] Second hollow cylindrical engagement region 122 [0090] Sealing element 130 [0091] Contact surface 131 [0092] Axial overhang 131a [0093] Elongate insertion region 132 [0094] Casing surface 133 [0095] Elongate fixing element 200 [0096] Part of a vehicle 300 [0097] Holding system 1000