CONNECTION PART FOR AN INDUSTRIAL ASSEMBLY PROCESS, PART CONNECTION AND METHOD FOR ADHESIVELY CONNECTING A CONNECTION PART AND A MATING PART

Abstract

A connection part having a body portion and a connection surface being arranged on the body portion. The connection surface is configured for being connected to a mating part. Moreover, the connection part has at least one positioning protrusion being located at a distance (d) away from an edge of the connection surface and being movably connected to the body portion. In a pre-assembly position, the positioning protrusion at least partially protrudes with respect to the connection surface. In an assembly position, the positioning protrusion is flush with the connection surface or is retracted with respect to the connection surface. Furthermore, a part connection including such a connection part and a mating part is presented. Additionally, a method for adhesively connecting a connection part and a mating part is explained.

Claims

1. A connection part for an industrial assembly process, the connection part comprising: a body portion and a connection surface being arranged on the body portion, the connection surface being configured for being connected to a mating part, and at least one positioning protrusion being located at a distance (d) away from an edge of the connection surface and being movably connected to the body portion, wherein in a pre-assembly position the positioning protrusion at least partially protrudes with respect to the connection surface, and in an assembly position the positioning protrusion is flush with the connection surface or is retracted with respect to the connection surface.

2. The connection part according to claim 1, wherein the connection surface is formed by an adhesive layer being arranged on the body portion.

3. The connection part according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive tape.

4. The connection part according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning protrusion is movably connected to the body portion via an elastically deformable section of the body portion and/or an elastically deformable section of the positioning protrusion.

5. The connection part according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning protrusion is leg-shaped, one end portion thereof being connected to the body portion.

6. The connection part according to claim 1, wherein at least two positioning protrusions are provided on the body portion.

7. The connection part according to claim 1, comprising a securing means, wherein in the assembly position the at least one positioning protrusion is secured on the body portion by the securing means.

8. The connection part according to claim 7, wherein the securing means comprises a securing protrusion and a corresponding securing depression for each of the positioning protrusions, wherein in the assembly position the securing protrusion engages the securing depression and in the pre-assembly position the securing protrusion and the securing depression are disengaged.

9. The connection part according to claim 7, wherein the securing means is configured for producing a sound when reaching the state in which the at least one positioning protrusion is secured on the body portion.

10. The connection part according to claim 7, wherein the securing means is configured such that the state in which the at least one positioning protrusion is secured on the body portion is reached by applying a force equaling, exceeding or being smaller than a predefined mounting force (F).

11. The connection part according to claim 1, wherein the body portion and the positioning protrusion are formed as an integral structure.

12. A part connection comprising the connection part according to claim 1 and a mating part having a mating part body with a counter-connection surface, wherein the connection part and the mating part are connected via the connection surface and the counter-connection surface.

13. A method for adhesively connecting a connection part and a mating part, the connection part having a body portion, a connection surface being arranged on the body portion, and at least one positioning protrusion being located at a distance (d) away from an edge of the connection surface and being movably connected to the body portion, and the mating part having a mating part body with a counter-connection surface, the method comprising: bringing the at least one positioning protrusion in contact with the mating part body, wherein the at least one positioning protrusion at least partially protrudes with respect to the connection surface such that the connection surface and the counter-connection surface are arranged within a predefined distance (D) from each other, and pressing the connection part and the mating part towards one another until the connection surface and the counter-connection surface contact each other and such that the at least one positioning protrusion is moved to a position in which it is flush with the connection surface or is retracted with respect to the connection surface.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising sliding the at least one positioning protrusion on the mating part body and bringing the connection surface and the counter-connection surface in a desired relative position while the connection surface and the counter-connection surface are arranged within the predefined distance (D).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein pressing the connection part and the mating part towards one another comprises applying a mounting force (F) to at least one of the connection part and the mating part, the mounting force (F) being oriented non-parallel to the connection surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Examples of the disclosure will be described in the following with reference to the following drawings.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a connection part according to the present disclosure and a mating part, wherein the connection part and the mating parte are in a disconnected state, and

[0037] FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 partially show the connection part and the mating part of FIG. 1 along a direction II during the performance of a method according to the present disclosure for forming a part connection according to the present disclosure.

[0038] The figures are merely schematic representations and serve only to illustrate examples of the disclosure. Identical or equivalent elements are in principle provided with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a connection part 10.

[0040] The connection part 10 includes a body portion 12.

[0041] A connection surface 14 is arranged on the body portion 12.

[0042] In the present example, the connection surface 14 is formed by an adhesive layer 16 being arranged on the body portion 12.

[0043] The adhesive layer 16 includes an adhesive tape 18.

[0044] The connection part 10 further includes four positioning protrusions 20.

[0045] The positioning protrusions 20 are located at a distance d away from an edge of the connection surface 14 respectively. Put otherwise, the positioning protrusions 20 are located outside the connection surface 14.

[0046] In the present example, the positioning protrusions 20 are leg-shaped.

[0047] The positioning protrusions 20 substantially extend parallel to the connection surface 14.

[0048] A first end portion 22 of each of the positioning protrusions 20 is connected to the body portion 12.

[0049] Moreover, each of the positioning protrusions 20 includes an elastically deformable section 24.

[0050] Thus, the positioning protrusions 20 are movably connected to the body portion 12 via these sections 24.

[0051] In the present example, the positioning protrusions 20 and the body portion 12 are formed as an integral structure. More precisely, the connection part 10 is an injection molded part made from plastics material. Thus, the body portion 12 and the positioning protrusions 20 are formed together in a single injection molding process.

[0052] In FIG. 1, the positioning protrusions 20 are shown in a pre-assembly position. In this position, the positioning protrusions 20 at least partially protrude with respect to the connection surface 14.

[0053] In the example, second end portions 26 of each positioning protrusion 20 being arranged opposite the respective first end portion 22 protrude over the connecting surface 14.

[0054] Due to the movability of the positioning protrusions 20, they can also assume an assembly position wherein the positioning protrusions 20 are flush with the connection surface 14 or are retracted with respect to the connection surface 14.

[0055] The connection part 10 also includes a securing means 28.

[0056] More precisely, a securing means 28 is provided for each of the positioning protrusions 20.

[0057] In the present example, each securing means 28 includes a securing protrusion 30 being located on the corresponding positioning protrusion 20 and a securing depression 32 being located on the body portion 12.

[0058] The securing means 28 is configured for securing the corresponding positioning protrusion 20 in the assembly position.

[0059] To this end, each of the securing protrusions 30 engages the corresponding securing depression 32.

[0060] Obviously, in the pre-assembly position as shown in FIG. 2, the securing protrusions 30 and the securing depressions 32 are disengaged.

[0061] Furthermore, the securing means 28 are configured such that the state in which the corresponding positioning protrusion 20 is secured on the body portion 12 may be reached by applying a force equaling a predefined mounting force. This means that the positioning protrusions 20 will be moved into the assembly position when the connecting part 10 is mounted to a mating part as will be explained further below.

[0062] This force is used for moving the securing protrusions 30 into the corresponding securing depressions 32, thereby also elastically deforming the elastically deformable sections 24.

[0063] Additionally, the securing means 28 is configured for producing a sound when the securing protrusion 30 reaches the corresponding securing depression. Thus, a user can be sure that the corresponding positioning protrusion 20 is secured in the corresponding assembly position. The user receives an acoustic confirmation. Consequently, no visual inspection is necessary.

[0064] The connection part 10 is configured for being connected to a mating part 34 via the connection surface 14.

[0065] Also the mating part 34 has a mating part body 36.

[0066] On the mating part body 36 a counter-connection surface 38 is provided.

[0067] The connection part 10 and the mating part 34 are configured for being connected via the connection surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38.

[0068] Once connected, the connection part 10 and the mating part 34 form a part connection 40.

[0069] In the following, with additional reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, a method for adhesively connecting the connection part 10 and the mating part 34 is explained. In other words, using the method, a part connection 40 is produced.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a situation corresponding to FIG. 1, wherein the connection part 10 and the mating part 34 do not at all contact each other.

[0071] A first step of the method is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0072] The first step includes bringing the positioning protrusions 20 in contact with the mating part body 36.

[0073] The positioning protrusions 20 are in the pre-assembly position, i.e. they protrude with respect to the connection surface 14.

[0074] Consequently, the connection surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38 are arranged within a predefined distance D.

[0075] In this configuration, the positioning protrusions 20 may slide on the mating part body 36 in order to bring the connection surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38 in a desired relative position.

[0076] Possible sliding directions are indicated by arrows 42, 44.

[0077] While sliding, the connection surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38 are arranged within the predefined distance D.

[0078] Thereafter, a mounting force F is applied to the connection part 10. The mounting force F is directed towards the mating part 34 (cf. FIG. 4).

[0079] More precisely, the mounting force F is oriented perpendicular to the connection surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38.

[0080] As a consequence of the mounting force F, the connection part 10 and the mating part 34 are pressed towards one another. In this context, the elastically deformable sections 24 of the positioning protrusion 20 are deformed elastically such that the positioning protrusions 20 are bent towards the body portion 12 of the connection part 10.

[0081] The mounting force F is applied until the connection surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38 contact each other (cf. FIG. 5). In this state, the positioning protrusions 20 reach the assembly position in which they are retracted with respect to the connection surface 14.

[0082] Moreover, each of the securing protrusions 30 engages the corresponding securing depression 32. This means that the positioning protrusions 20 are secured in the assembly position.

[0083] The securing protrusions 30 produce a sound 46 when engaging the corresponding securing depression 32.

[0084] It is noted that in the example shown in the figures, the form of the connection part 10 and the mating part 34 is purely illustrative. The connection part 10 and the mating part 34 can have any form as long as the connecting surface 14 and the counter-connection surface 38 are suitable for contacting each other.

[0085] In other examples, the connection part 10 and/or the mating part 34 are formed as portions of a respective bigger part.

[0086] Other variations to the disclosed examples can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed disclosure, from the study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.