SCREW CONNECTION

Abstract

The invention describes a screw fastening for fixedly joining together two components, and has a first component, which at one edge thereof has a rib-shaped joining region, as well as a joining member, which is arranged fixedly at said joining region, a self-tapping screw and a second component. The second component is joined fixedly to the joining member and the first component by way of this screw. The joining member has a hole along the first component on the first side thereof, and has an abutment portion, which is arranged on a second side, remote from the first side, of the first component. The joining member has a slot-like recess at the abutment portion, through which the first component extends. The hole in the joining member protrudes over the first component, such that the screw screwed thereinto is screwed into the first component in a thread formed by said screw.

Claims

1. A screw fastening for fixedly joining together two components, wherein said screw fastening has: a first component, which at least in places has a rib-shaped joining region at one edge thereof, a joining member, which is arranged fixedly on said rib-shaped joining region of said first component, a self-tapping screw, a second component, which is joined firmly to said joining member and said first component by way of said self-tapping screw, wherein said joining member has a hole, wherein said hole is arranged along or parallel to said first component on a first side of said first component, and wherein said joining member has an abutment portion, wherein said abutment portion is arranged on a second side, remote from said first side, of said first component, wherein said joining member has a recess at said abutment portion and said first component extends through said recess, said hole in said joining member protrudes at least in part over said first component, such that said screw screwed into said hole is screwed into said first component in a thread formed by said screw.

2. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said hole in said joining member protrudes by at least 5% of a diameter of said hole over or into said first component.

3. The screw fastening according to claim 2, wherein said hole in said joining member protrudes by up to 35% of a diameter of said hole over or into said first component.

4. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said screw engages within or along said hole in said first component.

5. The screw fastening according to claim 4, wherein said screw engages along said entire hole in said first component.

6. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said first component has a receiving recess at said edge, wherein said joining member is inserted into said recess in such a way that said joining member is offset further away from said edge toward a face of said first component.

7. The screw fastening according to claim 6, wherein an end face of said joining member, through which said hole extends, is flush with an end face of said first component.

8. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said joining member has a supporting element at least on one side of said recess, wherein said supporting element abuts one side of said first component.

9. The screw fastening according to claim 8, wherein said supporting element abuts said two sides of said first component in a manner of a clamp.

10. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said recess of said joining member overlaps said hole in said joining member at least in part.

11. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein a width of said recess in said joining member corresponds to a thickness of said first component in said joining region.

12. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said hole in said joining member is a through-hole open at both ends.

13. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said joining member consists of a plastics material.

14. The screw fastening according to claim 13, wherein said joining member is a plastics injection molding.

15. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said joining member is of U-shaped configuration.

16. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said second component is a bell-shaped attachment joined to a third component.

17. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said second component is of plate-shaped configuration.

18. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein said first component is of plate-shaped configuration.

19. The screw fastening according to claim 1, wherein a rib-like tongue is formed in said joining region of said first component by two parallel slots, wherein said joining member is placed onto said rib-like tongue so as to completely surround said rib-like tongue.

20. The screw fastening according to claim 19, wherein said joining member extends with joining ribs joined to said abutment portion into said two parallel slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The drawings illustrate advantageous embodiments of the invention. These and further embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below. In the figures:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from above and behind onto a screw fastening according to the invention with two fixedly joined components and a first embodiment of a joining member, wherein a second component is a bell-shaped attachment,

[0028] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along a line II-II in FIG. 1,

[0029] FIG. 3 is a sectional view along a line III-III in FIG. 2,

[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view obliquely from above and the front onto a screw fastening with two fixedly joined components and a second embodiment of a joining member, wherein the second component is a bell-shaped attachment,

[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view obliquely from above and behind onto the screw fastening of FIG. 4,

[0032] FIG. 6 is a sectional view along a line VI-VI in FIG. 5,

[0033] FIG. 7 shows the screw fastening of FIG. 5, wherein the joining member is inserted into a beveled receptacle in the first component,

[0034] FIG. 8 is a sectional view along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7,

[0035] FIG. 9 is the sectional view of FIG. 3, wherein a third component is joined to the bell-shaped second component,

[0036] FIG. 10 is the sectional view of FIG. 3, wherein the second component is of plate-shaped configuration,

[0037] FIG. 11 is a sectional view along a line XI-XI in FIG. 10,

[0038] FIG. 12 a sectional view along a line XII-XII in FIG. 10,

[0039] FIG. 13 a perspective view obliquely from below onto a third embodiment of a joining member and

[0040] FIG. 14 is a perspective view obliquely from above onto the joining member of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0041] As is illustrated in the figures on the basis of a plurality of exemplary embodiments, the screw fastening according to the invention is configured for fixedly joining together two components 1, 2, preferably at right angles. To this end, the screw fastening comprises a first component 1, which at least in places has a rib-shaped or plate-shaped joining region 3 at one edge 14 thereof, a joining member 4, which is arranged fixedly on the joining region 3 of the first component 1, a self-tapping or thread-rolling screw 5 and a second component 2. Overall, the component 1 is flat or plate-shaped, although it does not necessarily have to be completely planar everywhere and may also otherwise be curved. The second component 2 is bell-shaped and joined fixedly to the joining member 4 and the first component 1 by way of the screw 5. It so to speak generally stands for a second component.

[0042] The joining member 4 has a hole 6, which is arranged along or parallel to the first component 1 on a first side 7 of the first component 1. Moreover, it has an abutment portion 8, which is arranged on a second side 9 of the first component 1 remote from the first side 7, as shown for example in FIG. 3. The joining member 4 is joined preferably fixedly, in particular also undoably, to the joining region 3 of the first component 1.

[0043] In the screw fastening according to the invention, the joining member 4 has a recess 10 at the abutment portion 8, wherein the first component 1 extends through the recess 10, as is illustrated in particular in FIG. 3. The hole 6 in the joining member 4 protrudes at least in part over or into the first component 1, or extends thereover, in such a way that the screw 5 screwed into the hole 6 is screwed into the first component 1 in a thread 11 formed or cut by said screw 5, as is shown in particular in FIGS. 3 and 12. In the process, the screw 5 cuts or rolls partial threads into the first component 1.

[0044] In the embodiments shown, the first component 1 is made from a plastics material, such as for example a thermoplastic or a thermoset. In alternative embodiments, the first component 1 may be made from wood, from a soft metal, such as for example aluminum, zinc or magnesium, or from a hard metal, such as for example steel. In any event, the materials for the first component 1 and for the screw 5 should be selected such that the screw 5 can, as described, cut or roll partial threads into the first component 1. The first component 1 is preferably an injection molding.

[0045] To assemble or join the two components 1, 2 together, the joining member 4 is firstly placed or slipped onto the first component 1, in particular at the joining region 3, by way of the recess 10. The first component 1 thus extends in the slot-like recess 10. The second component 2 can then be placed onto the first component 1 or onto a top or end face 13 of the joining member 4, and screwed thereto or joined with the screw fastening according to the invention. The screw 5 is then screwed through the second component 2 into the hole 6 in the joining member 4. In the process, the screw 5 cuts or rolls a thread 11 in one outer side of the first component 1, at least in the joining region 3 of the latter. In the embodiments shown, the screw 5 cuts or rolls a thread 11 only in the joining region 3 of the first component 1. The inside of the hole 6 in the joining member 4 here serves as a type of abutment for the screw 5, such that the thread of the screw 5 is formed or cut to the greatest extent possible into the first component. In alternative embodiments, the screw 5 additionally cuts or rolls a thread into the joining member 4. In this way, it may overall form a more robust joint, and above all these partial threads, which extend over far more than half the circumference of the screw 5, may also give said screw 5 a firmer hold.

[0046] In one structurally advantageous embodiment, the hole 6 in the joining member 4 protrudes by at least 5%, preferably by at least 10%, of the diameter D.sub.B of the hole 6 over the first component 1, as is shown in particular in FIG. 12. In this case, it protrudes by somewhat less than 20%. The extent of an overlap ? between the hole 6 in the joining member 4 and the first component 1 preferably corresponds substantially to a thread depth of the screw 5, the screw 5 thus here being able to cut in as far as its screw core.

[0047] In the embodiments shown, the diameter D.sub.S of the screw 5 corresponds to the diameter D.sub.B of the hole 6, as illustrated in particular in FIG. 3. As a result, the thread of the screw 5 preferably merely engages in the first component 1. In alternative embodiments, the hole 6 in the joining member 4 abuts the first component 1. In this case, the diameter D.sub.S of the screw 5 is greater than the diameter D.sub.B of the hole 6, such that, when the screw 5 is screwed in, the thread thereof is formed or cut into the first component 1.

[0048] In one structurally advantageous embodiment, the screw 5 engages within or along the hole 6 in the first component 1, as shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10. In the embodiments shown, the screw 5 is wholly accommodated in the joining member 4, as shown in particular in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0049] In a method which is not shown, the screw 5 engages along the entire hole 6 in the first component 1. In further embodiments which are not shown, the screw 5 engages in the first component 1 outside the hole 6, in particular downstream of the hole 6 in the screw-in direction.

[0050] In one advantageous configuration, the first component 1 has a receiving recess 12 at the edge 14, into which recess 12 the joining member 4 is inserted in such a way that it is offset further away from the edge 14 toward the face of the first component 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As a result, an end face 13 of the joining member 4, through which the hole 6 extends, is flush with an end face 19 of the first component 1, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the second component 2 lies directly on the first component 1 or the end face 13 of the joining member 4.

[0051] In advantageous embodiments, the joining member 4 has a supporting element 17 at least on one side 15, 16 of the recess 10, which supporting element abuts one side 7, 9 of the first component 1, as shown in FIG. 1. The supporting element 17 functions as an additional lateral support and secures the joining member 4 against torsion and/or deformation on screwing in of the screw 5, in particular in the event of high tightening torques at the screw 5. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the supporting element 17 abuts the two sides 7, 9 of the first component 1 in the manner of a clamp. As a result, a distance between the two mutually facing inner clamp faces 27, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, corresponds to a thickness de of the first component 1 in the joining region 3. In this way, the clamp faces 27 abut the first component 1 in form-locking manner and ensure a robust joint.

[0052] In one structurally advantageous method, the recess 10 of the joining member 4 at least in part overlaps with the hole 6 in the joining member 4, as shown in particular in FIG. 13.

[0053] In one embodiment which is not shown, the recess 10 of the joining member 4 directly abuts the hole 6 in the joining member 4.

[0054] In one advantageous configuration, a width b.sub.A of the recess 10 of the joining member 4 corresponds to a thickness d.sub.B of the first component 1 in the joining region 3, as shown in FIG. 3. In this way, the joining member 4 is or may be placed form-lockingly or with an exact fit onto the first component 1.

[0055] In one further structurally advantageous method, the hole 6 in the joining member 4 is a through-hole open at both ends, as shown in FIGS. 3, 9 and 10.

[0056] In one embodiment which is not shown, the hole 6 in the joining member 4 is a blind hole closed at one end, in particular the opposite end from the end face 13.

[0057] In advantageous embodiments, the joining member 4 consists of a plastics material. In this case, the joining member 4 is preferably an injection molding. The joining member 4 is preferably made from a fiber-reinforced plastics material, wherein the plastics material is, for example, reinforced with glass fibers. In alternative embodiments, the joining member 4 is made from a metal, for example from steel or cast iron.

[0058] In one structurally advantageous embodiment, the joining member 4 is of U-shaped configuration. In this case, one side of the joining member 4 has the hole 6 for the screw 5 and the other side has the abutment portion 8 or corresponds thereto, as shown in particular in FIGS. 3 to 5. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 13 and 14, the joining member 4 is configured as a box or block or is closed at the side.

[0059] In advantageous embodiments, the second component 2 is a bell-shaped attachment 23, which is joined to a third component 22, as shown in FIG. 9. To this end, in the embodiment shown the third component 22 has a hole 24, into which the bell-shaped attachment 23 is form-lockingly inserted. The third component 22 is joined to the first component 1 or to the joining member 4 by way of the bell-shaped attachment 23. To this end, the bell-shaped attachment 23 has a hole 25 corresponding to the hole 6 in the joining member 4.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the second component 2 is of plate-shaped configuration. In this case, the second component 2 preferably has a hole 26, through which the screw 5 is screwed into the joining member 4, so joining the second component 2 firmly to the first component 1.

[0061] In one structurally advantageous embodiment, a rib-like tongue 18 is formed in the joining region 3 of the first component 1 by two parallel slots 20, onto which rib-like tongue 18 the joining member 4 is placed so as to completely surround said rib-like tongue 18, as shown in FIG. 2. The joining member 4 extends, with joining ribs 21 joined to the abutment portion 8, form-lockingly into the slots 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 13.

[0062] As is clear from the exemplary embodiments illustrated and mentioned above, the invention provides a screw fastening which offers advantages over conventional screw fastenings or indeed other clamped connections, in particular with regard to structure, manufacturing cost, assembly and disassembly effort, functionality, flexibility, robustness and/or re-usability.