CN110815074A

CN110815074A - Multi-part clip for fastening one element to another element

Info

Publication number: CN110815074A
Application number: CN201910736441.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 斯文·宾科特
Original assignee: A Raymond SARL
Current assignee: A Raymond SARL
Priority date: 2018-08-09
Filing date: 2019-08-09
Publication date: 2020-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-09
Also published as: WO2020030475A1; DE102018006297A1; CN212095983U; CN110815074B

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-part clip for fastening an element to another element, wherein the clip has at least one first component and a fastening element.

Description

Multi-part clip for fastening one element to another element

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a multi-piece clip according to the present invention. These clamps make it possible in particular to visually recognize whether a secure fastening is achieved by these clamps.

Background

Such a clamp is known from US 2015/0300388 a 1. A disadvantage of the known clamp is that the catch element in the first position is in contact with the fastening pin in the intermediate position. The catch element and the fastening element are coupled such that pressing the catch element into the second position moves the fastening pin, so that the fastening pin is moved out of the opening in the base body. This means that the fastening element is no longer reliably in the intermediate position and can be moved out of this position, for example, in the event of an impact. In the worst case, the fastening element can fall out of the opening of the component.

Another disadvantage of the known clamp is that the fastener may undesirably slip off during final installation due to external forces. The relative position between the fastening element and the component is thereby changed as a signal which indicates whether the snap connection is reliably achieved by the clamp, which can lead to an incorrect determination of the snap connection. In the worst case, the fastening element can also fall out of the component.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the reliability of this type of clamp.

The object of the invention is achieved by a clamp according to the invention.

The core idea behind the invention is that in the intermediate position the securing pin does not contact the catch element located in the first position. The securing pin in the intermediate position is thereby decoupled from the catch element in the first position. This has the advantage that the catch element cannot move the fastening pin when the catch element is moved from the first position into the second position. As a result, the abutment between the projection of the fastening pin and the edge of the opening in the base body cannot be cancelled by the snap-in element. In this case, the fastening element is thereby held in the intermediate position independently of the movement of the catch element. For example, it is advantageous to press in the snap-in element during the pre-installation phase and at the same time to retain the fastening element in the intermediate position. The final mounting until the fastening pin is in the end position is ensured in that the fastening pin does not undesirably fall out of the component. The reason for the falling out can be, for example, the force that moves the fastening pin out of the component when transporting the pre-installed product. Another reason may be, for example, the weight of the fastening pin in the intermediate position with the head pointing downwards.

A further advantage is that the clamp according to the invention enables a new installation method to be implemented in which the snap-in element is in the second position in the pre-installed state, while the fastening pin remains reliably in the intermediate position until the fastening pin is subsequently brought into the terminal position in a subsequent installation step. Thus, without interaction between the snap-in element and the fastening pin in the intermediate position, a new application in installation, for example, stepped installation, is achieved.

At least the first member is a fixture. The purpose of the first member is to secure the first element to the second element. The member has a head portion and a stem portion with a tip. The stem extends forward from the head along a stem axis toward the tip. The shank has a base and a snap-in element. The snap element has a contact surface extending forward from the tip. The head also has a contact surface, but its contact surface faces the tip. These contact surfaces thus face each other. It is thereby possible to arrange two elements to be fixed to each other between these contact surfaces. In particular clamping the components between the contact surfaces to achieve a secure connection.

To achieve the fixing, the component is introduced with a tip into a recess provided in the element. In this case, the catch element passes the edge of the recess and is thereby moved from the first position into the second position. This movement is possible because the catch element is usually embodied resiliently. If the catch element, upon continued introduction, already passes the element and thus no longer comes into contact with the edge of the recess, the catch element will spring back into the first position. In this way, the element is located between the contact surface of the head and the contact surface of the snap-in element, thereby being reliably fixed.

A secure fastening is only achieved when the catch element springs back into the first position again after being pushed in. Without this spring back, the element is not clamped between the contact surfaces and is not reliably fixed. To avoid this, fasteners are used. The relative position between the fastener being pushed into the member and the member is a signal indicating whether the fastening is secure. If this relative position gives a signal that there is no secure fixing, corrective measures can be taken, in particular by the installer, for example pressing the component into the recess of the element with greater force.

The force exerted by the contact surfaces on the elements to fix them to one another (clamping force) is also related to the thickness of the sections of the elements and, if necessary, to the thickness of other components (e.g. spacers) that need to be arranged between the contact surfaces (package thickness). Typically, the spacing between the contact surfaces is constant or substantially constant. However, in order to always enable the first member to exert a sufficient clamping force when the thickness of the package varies, a compensating element may be used. The compensating element is in particular a spring element which on the one hand compensates for the difference in thickness and on the other hand increases the clamping force.

The base body of the shaft has a test field. When the catch element is in the first position, the section without the catch element is located in the checking region. If the catch element is in the second position, a section of the catch element is located in the test region. The section of the snap-in element located in the test region also has the function of preventing the inner part from moving into the end position of the base body.

The fastening pin of the inner part has a section of the inner part up to the end-of-insertion position into the test region. However, if a section of the latching element is located in the test region, it comes into contact with said section of the fastening pin when an attempt is made to push the fastening pin into the test region, and thus prevents the inner part from being pushed further into the base body. In particular, the outer part of the fastening element is thus at a greater distance from the head of the component than in the case of a reliable snap connection (when the inner part of the fastening element is pushed into the end position in the base body). It is clear here whether a reliable snap connection is achieved.

In the context of the present invention, "not in contact" is to be understood to mean that in the intermediate position the securing pin does not contact the catch element located in the first position or at least only contacts such that the securing pin does not change its position by moving the catch element from the first position into the second position. Preferably, the fastening pin in the intermediate position also does not contact the catch element when the catch element is in the second position. It is particularly preferred that the fastening pin in the intermediate position also does not contact the catch element when the catch element is moved from the first position into the second position.

In a preferred embodiment, the fastening pin is embodied so as to be springable and the projection can be pressed back into the interior of the base body against an increasing restoring force from the position where the projection comes into contact with the edge of the opening.

In the context of the present invention, a "projection" is to be understood as meaning that part of the fastening pin which engages through the opening in the base body of the shank in the intermediate position and bears against the edge of the opening, so that the fastener is prevented from being pushed further beyond the intermediate position, wherein the extent to which the projection can be pressed in the direction of the interior of the base body is such that the fastener can be pushed further beyond the intermediate position.

The expression that the projection engages through the opening means that at least a part of the projection is located in the opening, wherein in particular embodiments are also within the scope of this expression in which at least a part of the projection also projects out of the base body through the opening (projecting part of the projection). The expression also includes embodiments in which the projection contacts the opening edge (as is the case in the intermediate position) as well as embodiments in which the projection does not contact the opening edge.

Preferably, the projecting portion of the projection is adapted to have a force applied thereto, which determines a pressing of the projection in the direction of the interior of the base body. The process of pressing the projection in the direction of the interior of the base body is referred to as resetting. Accordingly, the force causing the reset is a reset force. The magnitude of the restoring force depends in particular on the point of action of the force, the shape of the projection and the manner of connection of the projection to the securing pin. The resetting force may vary in magnitude during resetting, e.g. be larger or smaller. This can be the case, for example, when the point of action is displaced during the resetting, for example, because the edge of an element is displaced along the projection of the projection when the clamp is pushed in. The cause of the resetting force may thus be a contact between the protruding part of the protrusion and an element. It is also conceivable that the restoring force is generated by the tool acting on the projecting part of the projection.

In particular, the projection of the projection is provided in such a way that a restoring force which extends parallel to the insertion direction but opposite thereto and acts on the projection of the projection causes the restoring. In order to achieve this, the extension part comprises an outer contour, for example an outer side or outer edge, which extends partly non-parallel to the push-in direction (inclined part). Advantageously, the inclined portion has an angle of substantially 45 °, 60 °, 65 ° or 75 ° with respect to the pushing-in direction, wherein a portion of the inclined portion closest to the opening is closer to the tip than a portion of the inclined portion furthest from the opening.

This preferred function and characteristic of the projecting portion of the projection enables the projection to be pressed from the edge of the opening of an element in the direction of the interior of the base body when the clip is pushed into the opening of the element. Preferably, the resetting in this way does not result in the projection being pressed completely into the interior of the base body.

The projection extends from the fastening pin at an angle to the insertion direction. Preferably the angle is substantially 90. The projection is advantageously arranged on a face of the fastening pin which is substantially parallel to the insertion direction. Preferably, the projection is arranged on the end of the inner part facing away from the outer part, such that the projection is the first part of the entry member of the fastening pin when the inner part is pushed into the member.

The restoring function is ensured by the fastening pin being designed to be sprung.

According to the invention, the projection engages through the opening in the base body of the shank in the intermediate position and bears against the edge of the opening, so that the fastener is prevented from being pushed further beyond the intermediate position. This can be achieved in particular by: the projection has a section (stop section) which comes into contact with the edge of the opening when no restoring force acts on the projection of the fastening pin in the intermediate position. The stop section preferably has a side which is intended to be brought into contact with the opening edge in the intermediate position and extends substantially perpendicularly to the insertion direction.

In particular, the projection also prevents the fastener from being pulled out of the component in the intermediate position. This is achieved in particular by: the projection stops against the edge of the opening when an attempt is made to pull the fastener out of the component. Preferably, the fastener can be moved counter to the insertion direction only when the projection is completely pressed into the base body. The projection is pressed completely into the base body when the projection no longer engages through the opening.

The projection can be pressed in the direction of the interior of the base body until the fastening element can be pushed further beyond the intermediate position. This can be achieved in particular by: the stop section of the projection no longer abuts against the edge of the opening, but rather the section of the projection which effects further insertion of the fastening element, for example the inclined section of the projection. For example, the inclined portion can be slid along the opening edge on the fastener when the fastener is pushed in further until the projection is completely inserted into the base body.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner part has a second fastening pin which has a section which reaches into the test region until the inner part is pushed into the end position and which has a projection which extends at an angle to the push-in direction and which, in the intermediate position, engages through the second opening in the base body of the shank and comes into contact with an edge of the second opening, so that the fastening element is pushed further beyond the intermediate position until the contact between the projection and the edge of the second opening is cancelled, in which case the second fastening pin does not contact the catch element in the first position.

The second fastening pin is preferably of the same type as the first fastening pin. In particular, the first fastening pin and the second fastening pin have the same size and shape and are made of the same material. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the first fastening pin is of one type and the second fastening pin is of another type.

Preferably, the first fastening pin and the second fastening pin are arranged opposite, in particular mirror-symmetrically opposite, with respect to a plane having the longitudinal axis of the inner part.

In a preferred embodiment, the shank has a second catch element. The second catch member has a contact surface extending forward from the apex and is movable between a first position and a second position. In this case, in the first position, a part of the second catch element protrudes from the base body of the shank. In the second position, the second catch element projects from the base body either less or not at all than in the first position.

The catch element is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a part of the catch element protrudes from the base body of the shank. The portion has a contact surface extending forward from the tip. This contact surface can thus co-act with the contact surface of the head facing the tip, so that the component located between these contact surfaces is clamped.

In the second position, the catch element projects less or not at all from the base body than in the first position.

The catch element is preferably designed to be springable. In this case, it is particularly preferred that the catch element is in the unloaded state in the first position and can be moved into the second position by a force, wherein the catch element is moved back into the first position by the force being removed.

The contact surface is preferably formed by a plurality of, in particular two, partial surfaces. These sub-surfaces are preferably spatially separated from each other. Preferably, the partial surfaces are connected to one another in such a way that they move synchronously with one another.

The second snap-in elements are preferably of the same type as the first snap-in elements, in particular they have the same size and shape and consist of the same material. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the first catch element to be of one type and for the second catch element to be of another type.

In a preferred embodiment, the outer portion of the fastener has a flat front face. The side flaps are connected via hinges to the part of the outer part which bears against the flat front face. The side flaps are swingable between a position at a larger angle with respect to the front face and a position at a smaller angle with respect to the front face.

The position of the shoulder serves as a signal indicating whether the clamp has been securely fastened. Preferably, the side flap swings from a position at a larger angle relative to the front face into a position at a smaller angle relative to the front face while the side flap is continuously pressed against the head by further pushing the fastening pin into the component.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "hinge" is to be understood as meaning that two parts are connected to one another in such a way that the parts can be rotated relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the device. Although the term also includes hinges as generally defined (e.g., hinges used to connect a door to a frame). But the term "hinge" is understood according to the present invention to mean that any device fulfilling the function generally defined for a hinge can be counted as a hinge. Thus, in the context of the present invention, a device which is flexible and elastic, for example due to its shape or its material, is to be understood as a hinge when it connects two parts to each other such that the parts can rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the device. Thus, when the device and the component are molded from one material (e.g., by injection molding), the connection can be achieved, for example, without connecting elements, such as screws, pins, or adhesives.

Preferably, two side flaps are arranged on the front face. Particularly preferably, the side flaps are arranged on two opposite sides of the front face.

For the purposes of the present invention, "at a smaller angle" also includes the case where the angle between the side flap and the front face is 0 °. In particular in this case the side flaps lie in a plane with the front face. This arrangement of the side flaps and the front face is well suited to signal that the clip is securely fastened due to the simple geometry.

In particular, when the inner part is pushed in the push-in direction up to the end position in the main body, the shoulder is located in a position at a small angle to the front side.

In a preferred embodiment, the first component is made of metal and/or the fastening element is made of plastic.

The component is preferably made of metal. Alternatively, the member may be made of plastic. Embodiments are also contemplated in which one part of the member is made of metal and another part of the member is made of plastic.

The fastener is preferably made of plastic. The fastener may be made, for example, by injection molding. Alternatively, the fastener may be made of metal. Embodiments are also contemplated in which one portion of the fastener is made of metal and another portion is made of plastic.

A further aspect of the invention is based on the core idea that the fastening of the fastener is such that the inner part does not undesirably move out of the opening in the head. The relative position between the fastener and the component, which is defined by the insertion depth of the inner part in the component, is a signal which indicates whether a secure fastening by means of a clamp has been achieved. Undesired removal of the inner part from the head opening can change this relative position and pose a risk of false assumptions about whether a secure fixation is possible. The multi-piece clip according to the present invention improves reliability.

According to the invention, the inner part has at least one resiliently movable latching finger which can be moved by force from a projecting position into a less projecting position and which, in the event of a force cancellation, springs back from the less projecting position in the direction of the projecting position. The engaging finger has an engaging surface, which is directed opposite to the pushing-in direction. When the snap fingers are in the protruding position, the fastener cannot be pulled out of the opening of the head due to the snap faces engaging the opening edge from behind.

The head of the member has an opening defined by an edge. Through which the inner part of the fastener can be pushed in the push-in direction. The opening is preferably arranged on the face of the head facing away from the tip. Preferably, the opening lies in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction.

Preferably, a force is applied to the snap fingers to move them into a less protruding position as they are continuously pressed against the edge of the opening by continued pushing of the fastener into the member. The snap fingers slide along the edge of the opening on the opening until a defined insertion depth is reached, at which the snap fingers spring back.

For the purposes of the present invention, "protruding position (abstehende Lage)" is understood to mean a position in which the snap-in action is at a greater distance from the longitudinal axis of the inner part than in the less protruding position. The position of the snap finger furthest from the longitudinal axis of the inner member is the absolute projecting position. In this position, no forces act on the snap fingers which move them in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inner part.

For the purposes of the present invention, "spring back" is understood to mean a movement from a less protruding position to a protruding position. In this case, the snap finger does not necessarily have to be moved back into the position of absolute projection (but this is conceivable), but can also be moved into a second, less projecting position, in which the snap finger is farther away from the longitudinal axis of the inner part than in the less projecting position. In this case, the force action is not cancelled, but only its absolute value is reduced.

In the context of the present invention, the term "canceling force action" includes the case in which the force acting on the snap finger to move it in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inner part is cancelled and the magnitude of this force is reduced. The term relates to which conditions are related to whether the snap finger is sprung back to an absolutely protruding position or to a (relatively) protruding position.

The reason for the spring back may be, for example, the shape of the snap fingers. The shape can, for example, have a setback on the end of the section that is intended to be pressed against the edge of the opening, so that after the section has passed the edge of the opening, the end reaches the edge of the opening, whereby the snap fingers spring back.

It is conceivable for the ends of the snap fingers to have a section which projects from the opening of the head until the inner part is pushed into the end position, so that this section can be pressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the inner part in order to release the fastening element from the component again. Thereby for example reusing the fastener.

The engaging finger has an engaging surface which is directed opposite to the pushing direction. The purpose of the catch face is to prevent the fastener from being pulled out of the opening in the head after the catch fingers have been pushed into the opening when the catch fingers spring back into the protruding position.

Here, when the snap finger is in the protruding position, the fastener cannot be pulled out from the opening of the head due to the snap face engaging the edge of the opening from behind.

In a preferred embodiment, the catch face engages the edge of the opening from behind when the inner part has reached the end position. Since the inner part can preferably only be pushed into the end position when the snap-fit connection is reliably achieved by the clip, the inner part can no longer be moved in the end position due to the snap-fit faces engaging behind the opening edge according to the preferred embodiment, so that the relative position between the fastening element and the component remains unchanged. Since the relative position between the fastening element and the component is a signal that indicates whether the snap connection is reliable, a reliable signal is provided by this preferred embodiment even if external forces change the relative position, for example during the mounting process.

In a preferred embodiment relating to the second aspect of the invention, the inner part has a further snap finger which can be moved by a force from a projecting position into a less projecting position and which, in the event of a force cancellation, springs back from the less projecting position in the direction of the projecting position. The other engagement finger has an engagement surface which points opposite to the insertion direction. When the snap fingers are in the projecting position, the fastener cannot be pulled out of the opening of the head, since the snap face of the other snap finger engages the opening edge from behind. In this case, the other snap finger is arranged opposite the first snap finger with respect to a plane having the longitudinal axis of the inner part.

The further snap finger is preferably of the same type as the first snap finger. In particular, they may be of the same size and shape and be made of the same material. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the first snap finger is of one type and the other snap finger is of another type.

The other latching finger is arranged opposite to the first latching finger with respect to a plane having a push-in direction. In particular, the first snap finger and the further snap finger are arranged opposite one another mirror-symmetrically with respect to this plane.

The application of the further snap fingers according to this embodiment improves the reliability of the connection between the inner member and the base body. Especially when the inner part is positioned obliquely in the basic body, an undesired loosening of the connection becomes less likely. Furthermore, the force with which the inner part is pulled out of the base body is distributed over a plurality of snap fingers, which reduces the load on each snap finger.

In a preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the inner part can be pushed into the base body in the pushing-in direction to the end position, wherein the inner part has a fastening pin which has a section which reaches the test region until the inner part is pushed into the end position and which has a projection extending at an angle to the pushing-in direction, which engages through an opening in the base body of the shank in the intermediate position and bears against an edge of the opening, so that the fastener can be prevented from being moved further into beyond the intermediate position, until the intermediate position can press the projection in the direction of the interior of the base body, until the fastener can be pushed further into beyond the intermediate position, in which the inner part is partially pushed into the base body, but has not yet reached the end position. In this case, the securing pin does not contact the catch element in the first position in the intermediate position.

The first and second aspects of the present invention are achieved by this embodiment. Thus, in one embodiment, two inventive advantages are achieved. In particular, the reliability of the clamp according to the invention is improved.

Preferably, the first catch element and the second catch element are arranged opposite, in particular mirror-symmetrically opposite, with respect to a plane having the longitudinal axis of the base body. In this case, the opening in the base body through which the projection of the first fastening pin engages and the opening in the base body through which the projection of the second fastening pin engages are preferably arranged opposite to each other, in particular mirror-symmetrically, with respect to a plane having the longitudinal axis of the base body. It is particularly preferred that the two planes are substantially perpendicular to each other. In particular, it is preferred that the base body has four sides and that two latching elements are arranged on two opposite sides and that the openings are arranged on the other two opposite sides. It is particularly preferred to arrange the opening closer to the head than the catch element.

The invention also relates to a system having one element and another element and a clamp according to the invention. The contact surface of the head abuts against the one element and the contact surface of the snap-in element abuts against the other element.

Flat components are particularly suitable as elements. In this case, for example, it can be a plate or sheet metal which is formed as part of a frame in the vehicle interior.

Drawings

The invention is described below with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which show only exemplary embodiments of the invention. Wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a multi-piece clip according to the present invention with an inner member of a fastener in a neutral position;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows another cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the first member of FIG. 1;

fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of a multi-piece clip according to the invention, which differs from the embodiment in fig. 1 in that a spring element is provided as a compensating element;

FIG. 7 shows the multi-piece clip of FIG. 1 with the inner member of the fastener in a terminal position;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7;

fig. 9 shows another cross-sectional view of the embodiment of fig. 7.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a multi-piece clip for securing one element to another element, which incorporates two aspects of the present invention. The clamp has a first component 1 and a fastening element 2.

The first member 1 has a head 3 and a shaft 4 extending forwardly from the head along a shaft axis, the shaft 4 having a tip 5. The shank 4 has a base body 6 and two catch elements 7. The two catch elements 7 each have a contact surface 8 continuing from the tip 5. In the present exemplary embodiment, the contact surface 8 is formed by two

partial surfaces

8a and 8 b. The head 3 has a contact surface 9 facing the tip 5.

The catch element 7 is movable between a first position, in which (as shown in fig. 1) a part of the catch element 7 protrudes from the base body 6 of the shank, and a second position, in which (not shown) the catch element 7 does not protrude at all from the base body 6, according to this embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the clamp. As shown in fig. 2, a test region 10 is provided in the base body 6 of the shaft 4, in which test region 10 there is no section of the catch element 7, since the catch element 7 is located in the first position. If the snap-in element 7 is completely pressed in and thus in the second position, at least a part of the snap-in element 7 is located in the checking region 10.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3: the fastening element 2 has an outer part 11, the outer part 11 being provided for holding out of the component 1 (as can be seen from fig. 1). The fastening element 2 also has an inner part 12, which inner part 12 can be pushed into the base body 6 in a push-in direction into a final position. The inner part 12 has two fastening pins 13, each of which 13 has a section 19, which sections 19 reach the test region 10 when the inner part 12 is pushed into the end position.

Each fastening pin 13 also has a projection 14 extending at an angle to the insertion direction, which projection 14 engages through an opening 15 in the base body 6 of the shank (see fig. 1) in an intermediate position, in which the inner part 12 is partially inserted into the base body 6, but has not yet reached the end position, and abuts against the edge of the opening 15, so that the fastening element 2 is prevented from moving further in beyond the intermediate position. Figure 1 shows the fastener 2 in an intermediate position.

Referring now to fig. 4, fig. 4 shows another cross-sectional view of the clamp with the fastener 2 in the neutral position. The projection 14 can be pressed as far as possible in the direction of the interior of the base body 6 (see force a) until the fastening element 2 can be pushed further beyond the intermediate position (see force B). In the intermediate position each fastening pin 13 does not contact the catch element 7 located in the first position. This can be clearly seen from fig. 4.

The head 3 of the component has an opening 16 (see fig. 5) defined by means of an edge, through which opening 16 the inner part 12 of the fastener 2 can be pushed in the direction of the pushing-in direction (as can be seen from the combined view of fig. 1 and 3).

Reference is now made to FIG. 2: in the present exemplary embodiment, the inner part 12 has two snap fingers (Rastfinger)17 which can be moved from a protruding position into a less protruding position under the action of a force and spring back from the less protruding position in the direction of the protruding position without the action of a force. In fig. 2, the snap fingers 17, which can be sprung in, are in the projecting position.

Each engagement finger 17 has an engagement surface 18, the engagement surface 18 pointing in the opposite direction to the pushing-in direction. When the snap fingers 17 are in the projecting position, the fastener 2 cannot be pulled out of the opening 16 of the head 3, since the snap faces 18 engage the edge of the opening 16 from behind (see fig. 8).

Still referring to FIG. 2 below: the outer part 11 of the fastener 2 has a flat front face

20. In the present exemplary embodiment, the two side wings 21 are connected via a hinge 22 to the part of the outer part 11 which is designed with the flat front side 20. The side flaps 21 can swing between a position at a larger angle relative to the front face 20 and a position at a smaller angle relative to the front face 20. The more angled position is shown in fig. 2.

The position of the shoulder 21 serves as a signal indicating whether the clamp has been securely fastened. Here, the side flap 21 swings from a position at a greater angle with respect to the front face 20 (see for example fig. 2) to a position at a smaller angle with respect to the front face 20 (see for example fig. 8) when the side flap 21 is held pressed against the head 3 and slides on the head 3 by the fastener 2 being pushed further into the component 1 until the side flap 21 lies approximately in the plane of the front face 20. Due to the simple geometry, this arrangement of the side wings 21 and the front face 20 may be well suited for signaling a secure fixation of the clamp. This arrangement therefore occurs when the inner part 12 has been pushed into the end position, whereby the snap element 7 moves back into the first position after being introduced into the recess of the element. Since the inner part 12 can only be pushed into the end position when the snap-in element 7 is in the first position, since the test region 10 (see fig. 2) is now free for the section 19 (see fig. 3).

Reference is now made to FIG. 6: the force (clamping force) exerted by the contact faces 8a, 8b and 9 on the elements to fix the elements to one another is dependent in particular on the thickness of the sections of the elements and, if necessary, on the thickness of other components (for example, spacers) which need to be arranged between the contact faces 8a, 8b and 9 (the contact face 9 of the respective head is not visible in fig. 6). The spacing between the contact surfaces 8a, 8b and 9 is substantially constant in the present embodiment. However, in order to always be able to apply a sufficient clamping force to the first component 1 with a variable package thickness, a spring element 23 can be provided as a compensating element, which compensates for the difference in thickness on the one hand and increases the clamping force on the other hand.

Referring now to fig. 7, fig. 7 illustrates the multi-piece clip of fig. 1. In contrast to fig. 1, in fig. 7 the fastening element 2 is not in the intermediate position, but rather in the end position. In this case, the projection 14 no longer engages through the opening 15 in the base body 6. Alternatively, the projection 14 is located entirely in the base. This can be seen in fig. 9, which shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-piece clip of fig. 7.

Claims

1. A multi-part clip for fastening an element to another element, wherein the clip has at least one first component (1) and a fastening element (2), wherein the first component (1) has

A head (3) and

a shaft (4) extending forward from the head (3) along a shaft axis, the shaft (4) having a tip (5),

wherein the shank (4) has a base body (6) and a catch element (7), wherein the catch element (7) has a contact surface (8) which extends forward from the tip (5) and the head (3) has a contact surface (9) which faces the tip (5), wherein the catch element (7) is movable between a first position, in which a part of the catch element (7) protrudes from the base body (6) of the shank (4), and a second position, in which the catch element (7) protrudes either less from the base body (6) than in the first position or does not protrude at all from the base body (6), wherein a checking region (10) is provided in the base body (6) of the shank (4), when the catch element (7) is in the first position, in which there is no section of the snap-in element (7) and in which there is a section of the snap-in element (7) when the snap-in element (7) is in the second position, wherein the fastening element (2) has an outer part (11) and an inner part (12), the outer part (11) being arranged to be held outside the component (1), the inner part being able to be pushed into the base body (6) in a push-in direction to an end position, wherein the inner part (12) has a fastening pin (13), the fastening pin (13) has a section (19), the section (19) reaches into the inspection region (10) until the inner part (12) is pushed into the end position, and the fastening pin (13) has a projection (14) extending at an angle to the push-in direction, the projection (14) engages through an opening (15) in the base body (6) of the shank (4) in an intermediate position in which the inner part (12) is partially pushed into the base body (6) but has not yet reached the end position and bears against an edge of the opening (15) in order to prevent the fastening element (2) from being pushed further beyond the intermediate position, wherein the projection (14) can be pressed in the direction of the interior of the base body (6) until the fastening element (2) is pushed further beyond the intermediate position,

characterized in that in the intermediate position the securing pin (13) does not contact the catch element (7) in the first position.

2. A multi-part clip for fastening an element to another element, wherein the clip has at least one first component (1) and a fastening element (2), wherein the first component (1) has

A head (3) and

a shaft (4) extending forward from the head (3) along a shaft axis, the shaft having a tip (5),

wherein the shank (4) has a base body (6) and a catch element (7), wherein the catch element (7) has a contact surface (8) which extends forward from the tip (5) and the head (3) has a contact surface (9) which faces the tip (5), wherein the catch element (7) is movable between a first position, in which a part of the catch element (7) protrudes from the base body (6) of the shank (4), and a second position, in which the catch element (7) protrudes either less from the base body (6) than in the first position or does not protrude at all from the base body (6), wherein a checking region (10) is provided in the base body (6) of the shank (4), when the catch element (7) is in the first position, in the test region, there is no section of the snap-in element (7) and, when the snap-in element (7) is in the second position, there is a section of the snap-in element (7) in the test region, wherein the fastening element (2) has an outer part (11) which is arranged to remain outside the component (1) and an inner part (12) which can be pushed into the base body (6), wherein the inner part (12) has a section (19), the section (19) reaching into the test region (10) when the inner part (12) is pushed into the base body (6),

wherein the head (3) of the component (1) has an opening (16) defined by edges, through which opening (16) the inner part (12) of the fastening element (2) can be pushed in the direction of the pushing-in direction,

characterized in that the inner part (2) has at least one resiliently movable latching finger (17) which can be moved from a projecting position into a less projecting position by force and which, in the event of a force cancellation, springs back from the less projecting position in the direction of the projecting position, wherein the latching finger (17) has a latching surface (18) which points counter to the insertion direction and, when the latching finger (17) is in the projecting position, the fastening element (2) cannot be pulled out of the opening (16) of the head (1) as a result of the latching surface (18) engaging behind the edge of the opening (16).

3. Clip according to claim 2, characterized in that the inner part (12) has a resilient further snap finger (17), which further snap finger (17) can be moved under force from a projecting position into a less projecting position and springs back from the less projecting position in the direction of the projecting position in the event of a force cancellation, wherein the further snap finger (17) has a snap face (18), which snap face (18) points counter to the pushing-in direction, and when the snap finger (17) is in the projecting position, the fastener (2) cannot be pulled out of the opening (16) of the head (3) as a result of the snap face (18) of the further snap finger (17) engaging behind the edge of the opening (16), wherein the further snap finger (17) lies opposite the first snap finger (17) with respect to a plane having the longitudinal axis of the inner part (12) Is arranged.

4. Clamp according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the inner part (12) can be pushed into the base body (6) in a push-in direction into a terminal position, wherein the inner part (12) has a fastening pin (13) which has a section which reaches into the test region (10) until the inner part (12) is pushed into the terminal position and the fastening pin (13) has a projection (14) which extends at an angle to the push-in direction and which, in an intermediate position in which the inner part (12) is partially pushed into the base body (6), but has not yet reached the terminal position, is engaged by an opening (15) in the base body (6) of the shank (4) and bears against an edge of the opening (15), so that the fastening element (2) is prevented from being pushed in further beyond the intermediate position, wherein the projection (6) can be pressed in the direction of the interior of the base body (6) until the fastening element (2) can be pushed in further beyond the second position, wherein in the intermediate position the fastening pin (13) does not contact the catch element (7) in the first position.

5. The clamp according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the fastening pin (13) is embodied resiliently, the projection (14) being pressable against a gradually increasing restoring force into the interior of the base body (6) from a position in which the projection (14) abuts against an edge of the opening (15).

6. The clamp according to one of claims 1, 4 or 5, characterized in that the inner part (12) has a second fastening pin (13) which has a section which reaches into the checking region (10) when the inner part (12) is pushed into the end position and the second fastening pin (13) has a projection (14) which extends at an angle to the pushing-in direction and which, in the intermediate position, engages through a second opening (15) in the base body (6) of the shank (4) and bears against an edge of the second opening (15) in order to prevent the fastening element (2) from being pushed further in beyond the intermediate position, wherein the projection (14) can be pressed in the direction of the interior of the base body (6) until the fastening element (2) is pushed further in beyond the intermediate position, wherein in the intermediate position the second fastening pin (13) does not contact the catch element (7) in the first position.

7. Clamp according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shank (4) has a second snap-in element (7), wherein the second snap-in element (7) has a contact surface (8) which extends forward from the tip (5), wherein the second snap-in element (7) is movable between a first position, in which a part of the second snap-in element (7) protrudes from the base body (6) of the shank (4), and a second position, in which the second snap-in element (7) protrudes from the base body (6) either less than in the first position or not at all from the base body (6).

8. The clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the outer part (11) of the fastener (2) has a flat front face (20), and in that a side wing (21) is connected via a hinge (22) to the part of the outer part (11) which is configured with the flat front face (20), and in that the side wing (21) can be swung between a position at a larger angle relative to the front face (20) and a position at a smaller angle relative to the front face (20).

9. The clamp according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first member (1) is made of metal and/or the fastener (2) is made of plastic.

10. A system with one element and another element and a clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the contact surface (9) of the head bears against the one element and the contact surface (8) of the snap-in element (7) bears against the other element.