Functional element comprising a ball-like welded element, combination of components comprising a functional element of said type, and method for manufacturing a combination of components of said type

Abstract

A method is provided for manufacturing a combination of components. The method includes the following steps: manufacturing a functional element by providing a plate-type base element and integrally bonding a ball or a ball-shaped element to the plate-type base element, in particular by welding a ball or a ball-shaped element onto a flat plate-type element, and joining the functional element to a first component.

Claims

1. A combination of components, comprising: a first component; a functional element connected to the first component, the functional element having a plate-shaped main element, to which a ball or a ball-shaped element has been connected before the connection of the functional element to the first component via welding of the ball or the ball-shaped element onto the plate-shaped main element; wherein the plate-shaped main element has a circumferential edge with an indentation or a depression; wherein the first component defines a through hole with an edge; wherein the plate-shaped main element is disposed in the through hole of the first component such that the edge of the through hole is received in the circumferential edge of the plate-shaped main element to result in a first undercut of the edge of the through hole with respect to a first surface of the plate-shaped main element.

2. The combination of components as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second component clipped or clamped fixedly to the ball or the ball-shaped element.

3. The combination of components as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second component engages into a region which is situated between an equatorial plane of the ball or the ball-shaped element and an upper side of the main element or the first component, which region results in an undercut.

4. The combination of components as claimed in claim 3, wherein a second ball or a second ball-shaped element is fixed on the ball or the ball-shaped element.

5. The combination of components as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second component engages into a region which is situated between equatorial planes of the two balls or the two ball-shaped elements.

6. The combination of components as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped main element is disposed in the through hole of the first component such that the edge of the through hole is received in the circumferential edge of the plate-shaped main element to result in a second undercut of the edge of the through hole with respect to a second surface of the plate-shaped main element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one exemplary embodiment of a functional element according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional element which is pressed into a first component and onto which a clip element is clipped; and

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram showing functional element which has a double ball and onto which a clip element is clipped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(4) FIG. 1 shows a functional element 1 which has a plate-like main element 2 and a ball 3 or a ball-like element which is connected thereto. The functional element 1 can be manufactured from metal, in particular from steel or aluminum. The ball 3 or the ball-like element can be welded onto the main element 2.

(5) In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the main element 2 is configured so as to be flat and in the form of a circular plate. Here, a circumferential edge 4 of the main element 2 has a groove-shaped or channel-shaped design. As an alternative to this, the edge 4 might also be profiled, that is to say provided with depressions or elevations. It is advantageous if the edge is not straight or smooth, but rather has a “profiling” in the form of a circumferential groove, grooving, a multiplicity of elevations or depressions or the like, since the edge can then “mesh” with a first component in a very satisfactory manner during pressing of the main element 2 into the first component, which results in a high-strength positively locking connection.

(6) In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a functional element 1, as shown in FIG. 1, is pressed by way of its main element 2 into a first component 5. A through hole 6 is provided in the first component 5. During pressing in of the main element 2, material of the first component 5 flows into the channel-like depression 4, which results in an undercut, via which the main element 2 is connected to the first component 5 in a positively locking and non-releasable manner. In the exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 2, an edge 7 of the hole covers the main element 2 to a certain extent, which results in an additional undercut.

(7) A clip element 8 is clipped onto the ball 3 of the functional element 1. The clip element 8 which is shown here has concavely designed clamping jaws 9, 10 which bear tightly from the outside against the ball 3. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the clamping jaws 9, 10 bear against the ball, in particular, in a region between an equatorial plane 11 of the ball 3 and an upper side 12 of the main element 2 or the first component 5. This results in an undercut which counteracts a pulling force 13 which acts on the second component 8 or on the clip element 8.

(8) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment, in which a functional element 1 is used having a “double ball” construction. A first ball 3 is welded onto the main element 2 and a second ball 3a, which adjoins said first ball 3 in the manner of a pearl necklace, is welded onto the first ball 3. A clip element 8 is clipped onto the “double ball” which is formed by the two balls 3, 3a, the clamping jaws of said clip element 8 engaging into a region which is situated between the two equatorial planes 11, 11a of the balls 3, 3a. This results in an undercut which counteracts a pulling force which acts on the clip element 8.

(9) It is to be mentioned expressly that individual balls or spherical elements can be welded on sequentially or, as an alternative, individual balls or spherical elements can first of all be welded to one another and the “multiple ball” which is formed by the plurality of balls or spherical elements which are welded to one another is subsequently welded onto the first component.

(10) In the exemplary embodiment which is shown in FIG. 3, the main element 2 is connected to the first component 5 via a welded connection 13.

(11) As an alternative, it goes without saying that, in this exemplary embodiment, the main element 2 of the functional element 1 might also be connected in a positively locking manner to the first component, for example by way of pressing or punching of the main element 2 into the first component 5 or by way of clinching of the main element 2 to the first component 5.

(12) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.