FASTENING DEVICE, COMBINATION OF FASTENING DEVICE, FUNCTIONAL UNIT AND RECEIVING UNIT, AND COMBINATION OF A HEAD-PROTECTIVE GEAR WITH SUCH A FASTENING DEVICE

Abstract

A fastening device for releasably fastening a functional unit in a connection direction to a receiving unit. The fastening device comprises a functional unit comprising a functional unit abutment surface and a receiving unit comprising a receiving unit abutment surface. The functional unit abutment surface and the receiving unit abutment surface are configured to abut against each other in a connected state. The fastening device comprises at least one pair of magnets comprising at least one functional unit magnet allocated at or within a proximity to the functional unit abutment surface and at least one receiving unit magnet allocated at or within the proximity to the receiving unit abutment surface. The at least one functional unit magnet and the at least one receiving unit magnet exert an attractive force to each other.

Claims

1. A fastening device for releasably fastening a functional unit in a connection direction to a receiving unit, comprising: a functional unit comprising a functional unit abutment surface; a receiving unit comprising a receiving unit abutment surface; wherein the functional unit abutment surface and the receiving unit abutment surface are configured to abut against each other in a connected state; and at least one pair of magnets comprising: at least one functional unit magnet allocated at or within a proximity to the functional unit abutment surface, and at least one receiving unit magnet being allocated at or within a proximity to the receiving unit abutment surface wherein the at least one functional unit magnet and the at least one receiving unit magnet of the at least one pair of magnets exert an attractive force to each other.

2. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the functional unit magnet or the receiving unit magnet is an active magnet.

3. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein a position of the at least one functional unit magnet and a position of the at least one receiving unit magnet in the connected state when viewed in a connection direction are at least partially overlapping.

4. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the functional unit comprises a housing and a functional device within the housing, and wherein the fastening device comprises at least two pairs of magnets located outside the functional device.

5. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the functional unit abutment surface comprises at least one inclined functional unit abutment surface portion, wherein the receiving unit abutment surface comprises at least one inclined receiving unit abutment surface portion, wherein the at least one inclined receiving unit abutment surface portion is in the connected state of the functional unit, and wherein the receiving unit is at least partially aligned to the at least one inclined functional unit abutment surface portion.

6. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the fastening device further comprises at least one mechanical locking unit, the at least one mechanical locking unit comprising: a functional unit locking element allocated to the functional unit; and a receiving unit locking element allocated to the receiving unit, wherein the functional unit locking element and the receiving unit locking element are configured to cooperate with each other.

7. The fastening device of claim 1, further comprising at least one mechanical locking unit at each lateral side of the functional unit and the receiving unit.

8. The fastening device of claim 6, wherein the at least one mechanical locking unit comprises a snap-lock unit, the snap-lock unit comprising at least one catch element and at least one trap element configured to cooperate with each other.

9. The fastening device of claim 8, wherein the at least one trap element comprises a trap sliding surface, wherein the at least one catch element comprises a catch sliding surface, and wherein the trap sliding surface and the catch sliding surface, when sliding along each other, elastically deflect a catch end of the catch element to a locking preparation position.

10. The fastening device of claim 8, wherein the at least one catch element comprises a resilient web connecting the catch end to a respectively allocated unit, the respectively allocated unit comprising the receiving unit or the functional unit.

11. The fastening device of claim 10, further comprising a backing wall element extending substantially parallel to the resilient web at a predetermined distance from the connection of the resilient web to the respectively allocated unit.

12. The fastening device of claim 8, wherein the functional unit extends externally beyond the at least one catch element.

13. The fastening device of claim 1, further comprising a securing element transferable between a securing position and a releasing position, wherein the securing element is configured to prevent, in a securing position of the securing element, a movement of the functional unit relative to the receiving unit in a detaching direction, while allowing, in a releasing position of the securing element, the movement.

14. The fastening device of claim 13, wherein the securing element is provided at an allocated unit of the securing element, wherein the allocated unit of the securing element comprises the receiving unit or the functional unit.

15. The fastening device of claim 13, wherein the securing element is formed in a U-shape.

16. The fastening device of claim 13, wherein the fastening device further comprises one or more of: first movement limiting means configured to prevent the securing element from being moved beyond the securing position; or second movement limiting means configured to prevent the securing element 4444 from being moved beyond the releasing position.

17. The fastening device of claim 1, further comprising a stopper surface provided at the receiving unit and a stopper counter-surface provided at the functional unit adapted and intended to cooperate with the stopper surface to limit a movement of the functional unit relative to the receiving unit in a direction opposite to the detaching direction.

18. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the functional unit comprises a communication device.

19. The fastening device of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is part of a head protection gear or formed as a separate unit operatively fixable to the head protection gear.

20. (canceled)

21. A head protective gear with a fastening device comprising: a head protective gear; a fastening device comprising: a functional unit comprising a functional unit abutment surface; and a receiving unit forming part of or affixed to the head protection gear and comprising a receiving unit abutment surface, wherein the functional unit abutment surface and the receiving unit abutment surface are configured to abut against each other in a connected state; at least one pair of magnets comprising: at least one functional unit magnet allocated at or within a proximity to the functional unit abutment surface; and at least one receiving unit magnet allocated at or within a proximity to the receiving unit abutment surface, wherein the at least one functional unit magnet and the at least one receiving unit magnet exert an attractive force to each other.

22. The fastening device of claim 2, wherein the active magnet comprises a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

23. The fastening device of claim 3, wherein the position of the at least one functional unit magnet and the position of the at least one receiving unit magnet in the connected state when viewed in the connection direction are substantially aligned to each other.

24. The fastening device of claim 4, wherein the at least two pairs of magnets are located outside the functional device at opposite sides of the functional device when viewed in a longitudinal direction or in a transverse direction.

Description

[0035] The invention will be described in more detail with respect to a specific embodiment referring to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a fastening device in a detached state according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a side cross-section view of the fastening device in a connected state;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a mechanical locking unit; and

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a securing element of the fastening device.

[0040] In FIG. 1, a fastening device is generally denoted by reference numeral 100. The fastening device 100 is adapted and intended to releasably fasten a functional unit 102 to a receiving unit 104. Both, the functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104, are three-dimensional bodies extending in a longitudinal direction L, a transverse direction T and a height direction H.

[0041] In order to fasten the functional unit 102 to the receiving unit 104, the functional unit 102 is approached to the receiving unit 104 in a connection direction C extending substantially parallel to the height direction H.

[0042] The functional unit 102 has a functional unit abutment surface 106 and the receiving unit 104 has a receiving unit abutment surface 108. In a connected state of the functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104, the functional unit abutment surface 106 and the receiving unit abutment surface 108 are abutting against each other and are aligned to each other. While FIG. 1 shows the functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104 separated from each other, in other words in a detached state, FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104 in a connected state.

[0043] In addition to the functional unit abutment surface 106 and the receiving unit abutments surface 108, the fastening device 100 comprises at least one pair of magnets 110. Said at least one pair of magnets 110 comprises at least one functional unit magnet 112 allocated to the functional unit 102 and at least one receiving unit magnet 114 allocated to the receiving unit 104. In the connected state of the fastening device 100 shown in FIG. 2, the positions of the at least one receiving unit magnet 114 and the at least one functional unit magnet 112 are substantially aligned to each other in a plane extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T. The at least one functional unit magnet 112 is located in a functional unit recess 116 provided in the functional unit 102 close to the functional unit abutment surface 106, and the at least one receiving unit magnet 114 is located in a receiving unit recess 118 provided in the receiving unit 104 close to the receiving unit abutment surface 108.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the functional unit 102 comprises two pairs 110 of magnets 112, 114, namely a first pair 110 located in longitudinal direction L at the front end of a housing 102a of the functional unit 102, i.e. in front of a functional device 102b of the functional unit 102, and a second pair 110 located in longitudinal direction L at the rear end of the housing 102a, i.e. behind the functional device 102b. Based on this arrangement, the magnets' effect on the electrical components of the functional device 102b, in particular the capacitors thereof, and, in case of the functional device 102b including a communication device, the RF antenna(s) thereof, may be reduced.

[0045] Although in the present embodiment, the magnets 112, 114 of the at least one pair of magnets 110 both are permanent magnets, i.e. active magnets, it is to be noted that it is also conceivable that one of the magnets may be a passive magnet, i.e. a magnet having a magnetic field only due to being magnetized by an active magnet.

[0046] As may be seen from FIG. 1, the functional unit abutment surface 106 comprises at least one inclined functional unit abutment surface portion 106a, and the receiving unit abutment surface 108 comprises at least one inclined receiving unit abutment surface portion 108a. Said at least one inclined functional unit abutment surface portion 106a and said at least one inclined receiving unit abutment surface portion 108a extend at substantially the same inclination angle. As shown in FIG. 2, the at least one inclined functional unit abutment surface portion 106a and the at least one inclined receiving unit abutment surface portion 108a abut against each other in the connected state. As may be seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of inclined functional unit abutment surface portions 106a and a plurality of inclined receiving unit abutment surface portions 108a may be provided around the circumference of the functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104, respectively.

[0047] As may be seen from FIG. 1, the receiving unit 104 further comprises electrical contacts 120 which are adapted and intended for being electrically connected to electrical counter-contacts (not shown) of the functional unit 102. As is per se known, these contacts 120 and counter-contacts in their connected state are intended for supplying commands input via an operating element 122 or signals derived from such commands to signal lines 124 and/or 126 connected to the receiving unit 104 and leading to at least one remote device (not shown).

[0048] In order to fasten the functional unit 102 to the receiving unit 104, the fastening device 100 comprises two mechanical locking units 130, one at each lateral side of the fastening device, and only one being shown in FIG. 1. Each mechanical locking unit 130 comprises a functional unit locking element 130a allocated to the functional unit 102 and a receiving unit locking element 130b allocated to the receiving unit 104.

[0049] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fastening device 100 cut along a plane spanned in transverse direction T and height direction H and shows the design of the mechanical locking unit 130 in more detail.

[0050] The mechanical locking unit 130 is designed as a snap-lock unit and comprises a catch element 132 and a trap element 134. The catch element 132 is provided with a catch sliding surface 132a and a catch end 132b. The trap element 134 is provided with a trap sliding surface 134a and a catch end 134b. Further, the functional unit 102 comprises a functional portion 102b extending laterally beyond the catch element 132.

[0051] The catch element 132 further comprises a resilient web 132c connecting the catch end 132b to the allocated unit, here the receiving unit 104. For preventing an overbending of the resilient web 132c, a backing wall element 138 is provided at a predetermined distance d from the connection of the resilient web 132c to the allocated unit, here the receiving unit 104.

[0052] For establishing the connected of the fastening device 100 shown in FIG. 2, the functional unit 102 is approached to the receiving unit 104 in the connection direction C. When approaching the functional unit 102 towards the receiving unit 104, the at least one pair of magnets 110 exerts an attractive force supporting the approaching and resulting in a self-centering effect of the two units 102, 104. This self-centering effect is enhanced by the cooperation of the at least one inclined functional unit surface portion 106a and the at least one inclined receiving unit surface portion 108a.

[0053] During the last phase of the approaching movement, the trap sliding surface 134a and the catch sliding surface 132a of the at least one mechanical locking unit 130 slide along each other and the catch end 134b of the catch element 134 is deflected to a locking preparation position LPP indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3. This is enabled by the resilient web 132c being elastically deflected towards the backing wall element 138.

[0054] The catch sliding surface 132a and the trap sliding surface 134a slide along each other in connection direction C in a guided manner, until the trap end 132b passes the catch end 134b. As a consequence, the elastic deflection of the catch end 134b is reversed and the catch end 134b automatically returns to its undeflected position shown in FIG. 3. The catch element 134 and the trap element 132 engage with each other. In particular, the catch end 134b engages into the trap recess 132d. As a result, the functional unit 102 is locked to the receiving unit 104. This process is supported by the attractive force of the at least one pair of magnets 110.

[0055] The functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104 are attached to each other in connection direction C by the attractive force exerted by the at least one pair of magnets 110 and the snap-lock engagement of the at least one mechanical locking unit 130.

[0056] As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the fastening device 100 further comprises a securing element 140 securing the functional unit 102 from being detached from the receiving unit 104 in a detaching direction D extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the securing element 140 in its securing position.

[0057] According to the embodiment shown, the securing element 140 is provided at and integrally formed with the receiving unit 104 (see FIG. 1). Formed in a U-shape, the securing element 140 extends partially around the receiving unit 104. The securing element 140 includes a connecting web 140a connects two side webs 140b. The connecting web 140a is extends substantially in transverse direction T, while the two side webs 140b extend substantially in longitudinal direction L, and are attached by their free ends to the receiving unit 104.

[0058] In the securing position of the securing element 140 (see FIG. 4), the connecting web 140a thereof blocks any movement of the functional unit 102 in the detaching direction D (see reference numeral BL).

[0059] In order to allow detachment of the functional unit 102 from the receiving unit 104 in said detaching direction D, the securing element 140 may be transferred from the securing position SP to a releasing position RP indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 4, in particular by deflecting its connecting web 140a downwards in the height direction H.

[0060] The securing position SP is defined by the cooperation of a movement limiting abutment surface 142a provided at the securing element 140 and a cooperating movement limiting abutment surface 142b provided at the receiving unit 104. The movement limiting abutment surface 142a and the cooperating movement limiting abutment surface 142b together form first movement limiting means 142. The first movement limiting means 142 prevent the securing element 140 from moving beyond the securing position SP.

[0061] In an analogous manner, the releasing position RP is defined by the cooperation of a further movement limiting abutment surface 144a provided at the securing element 140 and a further cooperating movement limiting abutment surface 144b provided at the receiving unit 104. The further movement limiting abutment surface 144a and the further cooperating movement limiting abutment surface 144b together form second movement limiting means 144. The second movement limiting means 144 prevent the securing element 140 from moving beyond the releasing position RP.

[0062] While the securing element 140 in its securing position SP prevents a movement of the functional unit 102 relative to the receiving unit 104 in the detaching direction D, a stopper surface 150 (see FIG. 1) provided at the receiving unit 104 and a stopper counter-surface 152 provided at the functional unit 102 prevent a relative movement in a direction opposite to the detaching direction D. The stopper surface 150 and the stopper counter surface 152 abut against each other in the connected state of the functional unit 102 and the receiving unit 104 (see FIG. 2).