ANGLE COUPLING

Abstract

An angular coupling for fastening a first component, especially a mounting part in a vehicle, to a second component, especially a vehicle body, which comprises a coupling bolt with a head and a coupling socket in which the coupling bolt can be pivoted in a plane angle portion while the head of the coupling bolt is locked releasably or not releasably. The coupling socket comprises an arch with a push-in opening, a fastening collar surrounding the push-in opening having a not round shape with a longitudinal axis and a shorter transverse axis, wherein the arch encloses a pivoting plane generated by the longitudinal axis of the push-in opening and the push-in direction, which defines a variable angular orientation of the lockable coupling bolt in a plane angle portion which is limited at the maximum by an inner wall of the arch.

Claims

1. Coupling socket in which a head of a coupling bolt for fastening at least two components at each other is lockable and which comprises the following features: a. a dome-like arch of a circumferential wall which comprises an open end with a push-in opening for a pushing-in of the coupling bolt in a push-in direction R and an end with an inner locking structure adjacent thereto for the head of the coupling bolt, b. a fastening collar surrounding the push-in opening and enclosing an opening face of the push-in opening, c. the push-in opening has a non-round shape so that the opening face can be described by a longitudinal axis A.sub.L and a shorter transverse axis A.sub.Q extending transverse thereto, wherein d. the dome like arch encloses a pivoting plane which is spanned by the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the push-in opening and the push-in direction R, which defines a variable angular orientation of the lockable coupling bolt in a plane angle range which is delimited at the maximum by an inner wall of the dome-like arch.

2. The coupling socket according to claim 1, in which the push-in opening has an oval shape.

3. The coupling socket according to claim 1, in which a lockable coupling bolt can be pivoted in an angle range of 0<60 within the dome like arch when the head of the coupling bolt is locked within the inner locking structure.

4. The coupling socket according to claim 1, comprising two sections opposite to each other which are arranged perpendicular to the transverse axis A.sub.Q and which form a lateral guiding of the lockable coupling bolt at variable angular orientations of the coupling bolt.

5. The coupling socket according to claim 1, the circumferential wall of which comprises at a radial outer side adjacent to the fastening collar a plurality of circumferentially distributed locking noses with inserting slants which form an undercut opposite to the push-in direction R.

6. The coupling socket according to claim 1, the fastening collar of which comprises a circumferentially arranged flexible sealing collar extending in push-in direction R of the coupling socket and extending preferably up to a height of the undercut formed by the locking noses.

7. The coupling socket according to claim 1, comprising at the end of the arch a partly open or closed ball socket in combination with a locking web projecting radially inwardly from an inner wall of the arch.

8. An angular coupling for fastening a first component at a second component, comprising a coupling bolt having a head and a coupling socket according to claim 1 in which the coupling bolt can be pivoted in a plane angle range while the head of the coupling bolt is locked releasably or not releasably.

9. A manufacturing method for a coupling socket according to claim 1, which comprises the following steps: a. providing an injection mold defining the shape of the coupling socket according to claim 1, b. injection molding of the coupling socket in the injection mold and c. de-molding the coupling socket from the injection mold.

10. A manufacturing method for a coupling socket according to claim 1, in which the coupling socket according to claim 1 is manufactured by means of an additive method.

11. An installation method for the coupling socket according to claim 1 in a not round installation opening (82) with opening edge (84) of a component, which comprises the following steps: a. adjacent to an end of the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the opening face of the push-in opening, clamping a section of the opening edge between at least a locking nose and the fastening collar. b. lengthening the coupling socket in push-in direction R and displacing the coupling socket in push-in direction R into the installation opening and c. locking the coupling socket in the installation opening in that the opening edge is retained between a plurality of locking noses and the fastening collar.

12. A coupling socket according to claim 2, in which a lockable coupling bolt can be pivoted in an angle range of 0<60 within the dome like arch when the head of the coupling bolt is locked within the inner locking structure.

13. A coupling socket according to claim 2, comprising two sections opposite to each other which are arranged perpendicular to the transverse axis A.sub.Q and which form a lateral guiding of the lockable coupling bolt at variable angular orientations of the coupling bolt.

14. A coupling socket according to claim 2, the circumferential wall of which comprises at a radial outer side adjacent to the fastening collar a plurality of circumferentially distributed locking noses with inserting slants which form an undercut opposite to the push-in direction R.

15. A coupling socket according to claim 2, the fastening collar of which comprises a circumferentially arranged flexible sealing collar extending in push-in direction R of the coupling socket and extending preferably up to a height of the undercut formed by the locking noses.

16. A coupling socket according to claim 2, comprising at the end of the arch a partly open or closed ball socket in combination with a locking web projecting radially inwardly from an inner wall of the arch.

17. A coupling socket according to claim 3, comprising two sections opposite to each other which are arranged perpendicular to the transverse axis A.sub.Q and which form a lateral guiding of the lockable coupling bolt at variable angular orientations of the coupling bolt.

18. A coupling socket according to claim 3, the circumferential wall of which comprises at a radial outer side adjacent to the fastening collar a plurality of circumferentially distributed locking noses with inserting slants which form an undercut opposite to the push-in direction R.

19. A coupling socket according to claim 3, the fastening collar of which comprises a circumferentially arranged flexible sealing collar extending in push-in direction R of the coupling socket and extending preferably up to a height of the undercut formed by the locking noses.

20. A coupling socket according to claim 3, comprising at the end of the arch a partly open or closed ball socket in combination with a locking web projecting radially inwardly from an inner wall of the arch.

Description

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0030] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

[0031] FIG. 1 a perspective exploded view of the angular coupling with coupling socket and coupling bolt,

[0032] FIGS. 2a-c several perspective lateral views of the coupling bolt locked in the coupling socket in different angular orientations with respect to the coupling socket,

[0033] FIG. 3 a lateral cross-sectional view of the coupling bolt which is locked in the coupling socket,

[0034] FIG. 4 a further lateral cross-sectional view of the coupling bolt locked into the coupling socket in another angular orientation with respect to FIG. 3,

[0035] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a further embodiment of the coupling socket,

[0036] FIG. 6a a further perspective view of an embodiment of the coupling socket,

[0037] FIG. 6b an illustration of a further embodiment of the inserting face of the inserting opening,

[0038] FIG. 7 a lateral cross-sectional view of the coupling socket for the illustration of the pivoting of the coupling bolt,

[0039] FIG. 8 a lateral cross-sectional view of the coupling socket parallel to the transverse axis of the inserting opening,

[0040] FIG. 9 an enlargement of an extract of a construction of the fastening collar with sealing collar and locking noses,

[0041] FIG. 10 a view of a shape of the installation opening in the first component,

[0042] FIG. 11 a schematic illustration of an installation step for fastening the coupling socket in the installation opening.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an angular coupling 1 which is composed of a coupling socket 10 and a coupling bolt 50 with coupling head 52. The coupling socket 10 is fastened in an installation opening 82 of a first component 80. The first component 80 may be a shell structure of a vehicle, a supporting element in the construction industry or a frame element in engineering.

[0044] The coupling bolt 50 is connected to a second component 90. Here, it may be a mounting part as for example a lamp or a cover in the vehicle construction or generally a mounting part. The coupling bolt 50 is screwed, glued, riveted, locked or otherwise reliably connected releasable or not releasable to the second component 90 according to known methods.

[0045] According to a further embodiment, the coupling head 52 is a ball head. In the following, the coupling bolt 50 with ball head 52 is described exemplarily for all conceivable head geometries. These head geometries include for example a lens head, a polyhedron head or other known head geometries which allow a locking and pivoting in a coupling socket.

[0046] The coupling head 52 is releasably lockable in the coupling socket 10. For ensuring a reliable connection despite an angular arrangement of the two components 80, 90 with respect to each other the coupling bolt 50 and the coupling socket 10 are connectable with each other in a variable angular orientation. This means that the coupling bolt 50 can be present in different angular orientations in a pivoting plane with a coupling head 52 locked in the coupling socket 10. By means of these different angular orientations, the angular coupling 1 is variably adapted to different component alignments with respect to each other. These different possibilities of orientation of the coupling bolt 50 in the coupling socket 10 are illustrated in FIGS. 2a-c.

[0047] FIGS. 3 and 4 show each a cross-section through the coupling socket 10 and the coupling bolt 50. To this end, the coupling bolt 50 is shown in a sectional view in longitudinal direction. The coupling socket 10 is shown in a sectional view parallel to a longer side 14 of an inserting opening 12. As can be seen based on FIGS. 3 to 5 the coupling socket 10 comprises a dome-like arch 16 which forms a receiving and fastening space 18 for the coupling bolt 50. The dome-like arch 16 may consist of a continuous circumferential wall 20. At an inner side 22 of the wall 20, a locking web 24 is provided. The locking web 24 acts together with a ball socket 26 to retain the coupling bolt 50 via the ball head 52 despite the pivotability of the coupling bolt 50. According to FIGS. 3 to 5 the ball socket 26 is arranged adjacent to a closed end of the arch 16. It also may be preferred to form the end adjacent to the ball socket 26 open as long as the fastening of the head of the ball bolt 50 is ensured.

[0048] The ball head 52 is connected to a cylindrical shaft 56 by means of a tapered section 54. The cylindrical shaft 56 comprises a fastening end 58, here with a threading to fasten the coupling bolt 50 at the second component 90. The tapered section 54 may form a receiving space for the locking web 24 to ensure a maximum pivotability of the coupling bolt 50 in the ball socket 26 and the pivoting plane.

[0049] The cylindrical shaft 56 serves for a radial supporting of the coupling bolt 50 at an inner side of the arch 16 or at least at an inner side 28 of the inserting opening 12. The perspective view of the inserting opening 12 and the receiving or fastening space 18 is shown in FIG. 6.

[0050] The inserting opening 12 is surrounded by a fastening collar 30. The fastening collar 30 encloses a plane inserting face 32 which represents the shape of the inserting opening 12. The inserting face 32 thus forms the imagined or fictitious end of the receiving space 18 opposite to the ball socket 26.

[0051] The inserting opening 12 and the inserting face 32 may have a not round, not angular or angular shape. The inserting opening 12 may be formed oval so that it can be described with a longitudinal axis A.sub.L and a transverse axis A.sub.Q extending perpendicular thereto (see FIG. 6a). In the same way it may be preferred to form the inserting opening 12 in rectangular shape having a long and a short side. In this case, it can also be described by means of the longitudinal axis A.sub.L and the transverse axis A.sub.Q.

[0052] The inserting opening 12 in the oval shape may be symmetrically to the longitudinal axis A.sub.L and to the transverse axis A.sub.Q. Further, the shape of the inserting opening 12 and thus also the inserting face 32 may be formed by a central parallelogram P and two circular arcs KB which are arranged opposite to each other (see FIG. 6b). The circular arc portions KB may provide the abutment portions of the fastening collar 32 at which the cylindrical shaft 54 of the coupling bolt 50 abuts at a maximum angular displacement. Exemplarily for a rectangular inserting opening 12, the parallelogram P without the circular arcs KB may be used.

[0053] The sides of the parallelogram P which are arranged opposite to each other, which are not arranged adjacent to circular arcs KB, illustrate inner straight extending wall sections 28 of the inserting opening 12 or the coupling socket 10. These straight extending wall sections support the cylindrical shaft 56 of the coupling bolt 50 laterally and/or limit its lateral displacement in the direction of the transverse axis A.sub.Q. Thus, the wall sections 28 or a respective boundary of the fastening collar 30 ensure that the coupling bolt 50 is adaptable only in its pivoting plane to angular orientations of the components 80, 90 to be connected. It is understood that for this purpose the wall sections 28 or the respective portions of the fastening collar 30 should not clamp the cylindrical shaft 56 of the coupling bolt 50 but should be arranged with a gap thereto which allows the pivoting movement.

[0054] The inserting direction R is described by the course of a straight line. This may extend through a point of the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the inserting opening 12 or the inserting face 32 representing the same and through a geometric central point M of the ball socket 26. Even if the ball socket 26 is generally formed as socket for the coupling head 52 it clamps the coupling head 52 in a centered position whereby also a geometric central point of the socket is determined.

[0055] Further, the straight extending sections of the longer side 14 of the inserting opening 12 force the coupling bolt 50 into a central position between these longer sides 14. In the locked condition of the coupling bolt 50 its longitudinal axis L thus may extend through the geometric central point M of the ball socket 26 and a point of the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the inserting opening 12.

[0056] The size of the plane pivoting angle a of the coupling bolt 50 is limited by the inner wall 52 of the arch 16 which is arranged adjacent on both sides. At the inner wall 22, the coupling bolt 50 may abut by means of the cylindrical shaft 56 if the coupling bolt 50 has been pivoted at a maximum.

[0057] If the inner wall sections 22a, 22b at which the coupling bolt 50 may abut at maximum displacement are approached by straight lines (see dotted lines in FIG. 7) the intersection thereof defines the maximum plane pivoting angle a of the coupling bolt 50. The coupling bolt 50 may be planely or two-dimensionally pivotable in the locked condition in an angle range of 0<60, or 0<45 or 0<35 within the dome-like arch.

[0058] According to the embodiment of the coupling socket 10 shown in FIG. 7, the inner wall 22a is arranged almost perpendicular to the inserting face or to the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the inserting opening 12. It also may be preferred to arrange also the inner face 22a in an acute angle with respect to the inserting face or the longitudinal axis A.sub.L of the inserting opening 12 to increase the plane pivoting angle a of the coupling bolt 50. In this embodiment, both inner faces 22a, 22b would be arranged in an acute angle with respect to the inserting face.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a lateral sectional view along the longitudinal axis L of the coupling bolt 50 and parallel to the transverse axis A.sub.Q of the inserting face or the inserting opening 12. It can be seen that the longer sides 14 of the inserting opening 12 may support the cylindrical shaft 56 of the coupling bolt 50 and force the shaft 56 in the orientation of the pivoting plane. Due to this, a displacement of the coupling bolt 50 out of the above-described pivoting plane is prevented.

[0060] With respect to FIG. 5, the coupling socket 10 comprises at the outer side several locking noses 40 with installation inclinations or slants 42. If the coupling socket 10 is pushed in the installation opening 82 of the component 80, an edge of the installation opening 82 slides along the installation slant 42 and locks between a locking face 44 and an abutment face 46. The locking face 44 forms an undercut against a releasing of the coupling socket 10 out of the installation opening 82.

[0061] At the fastening collar 30, additionally a circumferential sealing collar 48 is arranged. The sealing collar 48 is inclined in the direction of the locking noses 40. An installed edge of the installation opening 82 which is arranged between the sealing collar 48 and the locking faces 44 is thus pressed from the sealing collar 48 against the locking faces 44. As the sealing collar 48 may abut completely at the surface of the component 80, it seals in this way the connection of coupling socket 10 and component 80 to the outside. The sealing collar 48 may extend to this end up to the height of the locking faces 44 as it is shown in FIG. 9.

[0062] It may further be preferred to adapt the course and the arrangement of the outer circumferential face A.sub.U of the coupling socket 10 in such a way to the course of the edge and the dimension of the installation opening 82 that the coupling socket 10 is retained in a radial press fit in the installation opening 82. In this way, loads induced by oscillations of the component 80 of the coupling socket 10 are reduced and the lifetime of the coupling socket 10 and thus of the connection of coupling socket 10 and coupling bolt 50 are increased.

[0063] According to a first embodiment, the above-described coupling socket is produced or manufactured as part of an injection molding method. For this purpose, an injection mold is manufactured which defines the above-described or a selection of the above-described constructive features of the coupling socket in a complementary shape. As soon as this injection mold is present, the injection molding of the coupling socket 10 in the injection mold takes place in a second method step. After a hardening of the coupling socket 10 in the injection mold, it is de-molded in a further step from the injection mold.

[0064] As an alternative to an injection molding method, it may also be preferred to manufacture or produce the coupling socket with the above-described constructive features or a selection thereof by means of an additive method. Such additive methods are also known as 3D-print method.

[0065] The coupling socket 10 may be produced from a material of the TPE family. This material may be provided with different degrees of hardness depending on the case of application. To the TPE family belong for example Santoprene or Arnitel. According to a further embodiment, the coupling socket 10 may consist of Arnitel having a hardness of 33 Shore D. This material provides a smooth surface so that the mounting of the coupling socket 10 in the installation opening 82 is supported. It may also be preferred to adjust the hardness of the material such that it supports the installation of the coupling socket 10 in the installation opening 82. Accordingly, the above-mentioned hardness of the material may be decreased or increased.

[0066] With respect to FIG. 10, the installation opening 82 is adapted in its shape to the outer shape or the course of the outer circumferential face A.sub.U or coupling socket 10. According to the different embodiments of the inserting opening 12 (see above) also the installation opening 82 is formed. Thus, it may also be preferred to form the installation opening 82 rectangularly (not shown). For installing the coupling socket 10 in the installation opening 82, first of all an opening edge 84 is clamped adjacent to a shorter side 13 of the installation opening 12 between the sealing collar 48 and at least a locking face 44. In a subsequent installation step, a pin-like tool is inserted in the receiving space 18 of the coupling socket 10 and the coupling socket 10 is pushed in installation direction RI into the installation opening 82. Due to this pressure which is applied by the inserted tool, the coupling socket 10 is lengthened in installation direction. This results at the same time in that the coupling socket 10 is tapered in radial direction so that the edge 84 of the installation opening 82 may slide more easily on the installation slants 42 and can lock between the locking faces 44 and the sealing collar 48. The locking of the edge 84 between the locking faces 44 and the sealing collar 48 results also in that the connection between component 80 and coupling socket 10 is sealed by the circumferential sealing collar 48.

[0067] As soon as the coupling socket 10 is reliably arranged in the installation opening 80 the coupling head 52, such as a ball head, of the coupling bolt 50 can be locked into the coupling socket 10.