EP3866275A1 - Snap connector and snap connection - Google Patents
Snap connector and snap connection Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3866275A1 EP3866275A1 EP20157051.2A EP20157051A EP3866275A1 EP 3866275 A1 EP3866275 A1 EP 3866275A1 EP 20157051 A EP20157051 A EP 20157051A EP 3866275 A1 EP3866275 A1 EP 3866275A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- snap
- snap connector
- hook
- elastic beam
- catch
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
- H01R13/502—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces
- H01R13/506—Bases; Cases composed of different pieces assembled by snap action of the parts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/627—Snap or like fastening
Definitions
- the invention refers to connection of parts, more specifically to connection by snapping.
- a commonly used snap connection has a hook on a protrusion, the hook intended to engage a catch.
- a gap between the hook and the catch is required.
- Such a gap may be unacceptable due to sealing requirements.
- the hook-catch arrangement may be a source of noise.
- relative movement between hook and catch e.g. as a result of vibration of the snap connection, may lead to increased wear.
- Components of the snap connection e.g., the hook or the protrusion, may quickly erode to the point of breaking.
- a snap connection somewhat loose due to the gap may have a resonance frequency significantly lower than a corresponding tight snap connection, i.e. without gap. This lower resonance frequency often is within the frequency range of external mechanical excitations on the snap connection, thus leading to high amplitude oscillatory movement of components of the snap connection, further increasing wear and noise.
- the snap connector according to the invention includes a hook on a protrusion. According to the invention the snap connector also has an elastic beam to which the protrusion is attached.
- the coupling of the protrusion with the hook to the elastic beam adds elasticity to the snap connector and thus to a snap connection when the snap connector is used together with a catch. This elasticity allows engaging between hook and catch without gap, thus avoiding both leakage and a possible source of noise and wear.
- the elastic beam is oriented perpendicular to the protrusion. This implies that the protrusion can be tilted by a torsion-type deformation of the elastic beam.
- the snap connector may generally be configured such that the elastic beam is at a distance from a surface if the snap connector is attached to the surface.
- This surface may in particular be a surface of a component of a technical system, which component is to be connected to another component by a snap connection involving the snap connector.
- the distance between the elastic beam and the surface is achieved by at least one distance element by which the snap connector can be attached to the surface.
- the at least one distance element may in particular be part of the snap connector, and even more specifically may be integral with the snap connector.
- the elastic beam is divided into two portions, and the protrusion connects the two portions of the elastic beam.
- the protrusion extending perpendicular to the elastic beam, may be arranged between the two portions of the elastic beam and be connected to each portion of the elastic beam.
- An arrangement as just described in an embodiment leads to a "UU"-shape of the snap connector.
- the two adjacent legs of the Us represent the protrusion, the remaining legs each carry a distance element for attaching the snap connector to a surface, and the bottom line of each U represents one portion of the elastic beam.
- a snap connection according to the invention includes a snap connector according to the invention as described above and a catch, configured such that the hook can engage the catch by first elastically deforming and then releasing the elastic beam.
- the elastic beam is under elastic load if the hook is engaged with the catch.
- the protrusion may be tilted and/or shifted, and upon releasing the elastic beam the protrusion will attempt to return into its initial position, the hook thereby engaging the catch and the elastic beam retaining an elastic load. There is no gap between hook and catch and the elastic load retained by the elastic beam keeps hook and catch tightly together.
- the snap connection thus is obviously suitable for situations where a sealed connection is required.
- Fig. 1 shows a prior art snap connection, with a snap connector 100 and a catch 20.
- Snap connector 100 has a protrusion 101 with a hook 102, the hook 102 engages catch 20. Between hook 102 and catch 20 there remains a gap 150. Due to the gap 150, the prior art snap connection shown cannot be used if a sealed connection is required. The gap 150, allowing some relative movement of hook 102 and catch 20, may also lead to noise from and increased wear of the snap connection.
- Fig. 2 shows a snap connector 10 according to the invention, attached to a surface 200.
- the snap connector 10 has a protrusion 11 with a hook 12.
- the protrusion 11 is attached to an elastic beam 13, which in the embodiment shown is divided into two portions 14.
- the two portions 14 are connected by the protrusion 11.
- the protrusion 11 extends perpendicular to the elastic beam 13.
- the snap connector 10 has two distance elements 15 as integral parts, by which distance elements 15 the snap connector 10 is attached to the surface 200. As a result, there is a distance 210 between the surface 200 and the elastic beam 13.
- Fig. 3 shows a further view of the snap connector 10 according to the invention, shown in Fig. 2 . All elements shown have already been discussed in relation to Fig. 2 .
- Fig. 4 shows a snap connection 30 according to the invention, with a catch 20 and a snap connector 10 according to the invention.
- the snap connector 10 is attached to a surface 200, all elements of the snap connector 10 shown have already been discussed in the context of Fig. 2 .
- the hook 12 engages the catch 20, and there is no gap between catch 20 and hook 12.
- an elastic load remains on elastic beam 13, ensuring a tight contact between hook 12 and catch 20. Due to distance elements 15, the elastic beam 13 is at a distance 210 from the surface 200.
Abstract
Description
- The invention refers to connection of parts, more specifically to connection by snapping.
- A commonly used snap connection has a hook on a protrusion, the hook intended to engage a catch. For this to be possible, a gap between the hook and the catch is required. Such a gap may be unacceptable due to sealing requirements. As there is an, albeit limited, possibility of movement between hook and catch due to the gap, the hook-catch arrangement may be a source of noise. In addition to noise, relative movement between hook and catch, e.g. as a result of vibration of the snap connection, may lead to increased wear. Components of the snap connection, e.g., the hook or the protrusion, may quickly erode to the point of breaking. A snap connection somewhat loose due to the gap may have a resonance frequency significantly lower than a corresponding tight snap connection, i.e. without gap. This lower resonance frequency often is within the frequency range of external mechanical excitations on the snap connection, thus leading to high amplitude oscillatory movement of components of the snap connection, further increasing wear and noise.
- It is an object of the invention to provide a snap connector and a corresponding snap connection which avoid the aforementioned problems.
- This object is achieved by a snap connector according to claim 1 and by a snap connection according to claim 7, respectively. The dependent claims relate to advantageous further embodiments.
- The snap connector according to the invention includes a hook on a protrusion. According to the invention the snap connector also has an elastic beam to which the protrusion is attached.
- The coupling of the protrusion with the hook to the elastic beam adds elasticity to the snap connector and thus to a snap connection when the snap connector is used together with a catch. This elasticity allows engaging between hook and catch without gap, thus avoiding both leakage and a possible source of noise and wear.
- In an embodiment, the elastic beam is oriented perpendicular to the protrusion. This implies that the protrusion can be tilted by a torsion-type deformation of the elastic beam.
- The snap connector may generally be configured such that the elastic beam is at a distance from a surface if the snap connector is attached to the surface. This surface may in particular be a surface of a component of a technical system, which component is to be connected to another component by a snap connection involving the snap connector.
- In an embodiment the distance between the elastic beam and the surface is achieved by at least one distance element by which the snap connector can be attached to the surface. The at least one distance element may in particular be part of the snap connector, and even more specifically may be integral with the snap connector.
- In an embodiment, the elastic beam is divided into two portions, and the protrusion connects the two portions of the elastic beam. In particular, the protrusion, extending perpendicular to the elastic beam, may be arranged between the two portions of the elastic beam and be connected to each portion of the elastic beam.
- An arrangement as just described in an embodiment leads to a "UU"-shape of the snap connector. The two adjacent legs of the Us represent the protrusion, the remaining legs each carry a distance element for attaching the snap connector to a surface, and the bottom line of each U represents one portion of the elastic beam.
- A snap connection according to the invention includes a snap connector according to the invention as described above and a catch, configured such that the hook can engage the catch by first elastically deforming and then releasing the elastic beam. In an advantageous embodiment, the elastic beam is under elastic load if the hook is engaged with the catch.
- So by exerting a force on the elastic beam the protrusion may be tilted and/or shifted, and upon releasing the elastic beam the protrusion will attempt to return into its initial position, the hook thereby engaging the catch and the elastic beam retaining an elastic load. There is no gap between hook and catch and the elastic load retained by the elastic beam keeps hook and catch tightly together.
- The snap connection thus is obviously suitable for situations where a sealed connection is required.
- No undercut on the snap connector is necessary, therefore the snap connector is a part of low complexity, not requiring complex tooling, either.
- Below, the invention and its advantages will be discussed further with reference to the accompanying figures.
- Figure 1
- shows a prior art snap connection, with gap.
- Figure 2
- shows a perspective view of a snap connector according to the invention.
- Figure 3
- shows a further view of the snap connector according to the invention, shown in
Fig. 2 . - Figure 4
- shows a snap connection according to the invention.
- The figures only show specific embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention to the specific embodiments shown.
-
Fig. 1 shows a prior art snap connection, with asnap connector 100 and acatch 20.Snap connector 100 has aprotrusion 101 with ahook 102, thehook 102 engages catch 20. Betweenhook 102 and catch 20 there remains agap 150. Due to thegap 150, the prior art snap connection shown cannot be used if a sealed connection is required. Thegap 150, allowing some relative movement ofhook 102 andcatch 20, may also lead to noise from and increased wear of the snap connection. -
Fig. 2 shows asnap connector 10 according to the invention, attached to asurface 200. Thesnap connector 10 has aprotrusion 11 with ahook 12. Theprotrusion 11 is attached to anelastic beam 13, which in the embodiment shown is divided into twoportions 14. The twoportions 14 are connected by theprotrusion 11. Theprotrusion 11 extends perpendicular to theelastic beam 13. In the embodiment shown, thesnap connector 10 has twodistance elements 15 as integral parts, by whichdistance elements 15 thesnap connector 10 is attached to thesurface 200. As a result, there is adistance 210 between thesurface 200 and theelastic beam 13. -
Fig. 3 shows a further view of thesnap connector 10 according to the invention, shown inFig. 2 . All elements shown have already been discussed in relation toFig. 2 . -
Fig. 4 shows asnap connection 30 according to the invention, with acatch 20 and asnap connector 10 according to the invention. Thesnap connector 10 is attached to asurface 200, all elements of thesnap connector 10 shown have already been discussed in the context ofFig. 2 . Here thehook 12 engages thecatch 20, and there is no gap betweencatch 20 and hook 12. In this state of engagement betweenhook 12 andcatch 20, an elastic load remains onelastic beam 13, ensuring a tight contact betweenhook 12 and catch 20. Due todistance elements 15, theelastic beam 13 is at adistance 210 from thesurface 200. -
- 10
- snap connector
- 11
- protrusion
- 12
- hook
- 13
- elastic beam
- 14
- portion (of elastic beam)
- 15
- distance element
- 20
- catch
- 30
- snap connection
- 100
- snap connector
- 101
- protrusion
- 102
- hook
- 150
- gap
- 200
- surface
- 210
- distance
Claims (8)
- Snap connector (10) including a hook (12) on a protrusion (11),
characterised by
an elastic beam (13) to which the protrusion (11) is attached. - Snap connector (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic beam (13) is oriented perpendicular to the protrusion (11).
- Snap connector (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap connector (10) is configured such that the elastic beam (13) is at a distance (210) from a surface (200) if the snap connector (10) is attached to the surface (200).
- Snap connector (10) according to claim 3, wherein the snap connector (10) has at least one distance element (15) by which the snap connector (10) can be attached to the surface (200).
- Snap connector (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the elastic beam (13) is divided into two portions (14), the two portions (14) connected by the protrusion (11).
- Snap connector (10) according to claim 5, wherein the snap connector (10) has a "UU"-shape.
- Snap connection (30) including a snap connector (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 6 and a catch (20), the snap connection (30) configured such that the hook (12) can engage the catch (20) by first elastically deforming and then releasing the elastic beam (13).
- Snap connection (30) according to claim 7, wherein the elastic beam (13) is under elastic load if the hook (12) is engaged with the catch (20).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP20157051.2A EP3866275A1 (en) | 2020-02-13 | 2020-02-13 | Snap connector and snap connection |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP20157051.2A EP3866275A1 (en) | 2020-02-13 | 2020-02-13 | Snap connector and snap connection |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3866275A1 true EP3866275A1 (en) | 2021-08-18 |
Family
ID=69581981
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20157051.2A Withdrawn EP3866275A1 (en) | 2020-02-13 | 2020-02-13 | Snap connector and snap connection |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3866275A1 (en) |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102017204600A1 (en) * | 2017-03-20 | 2018-09-20 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | A connector for connecting two housing parts and housings comprising two housing parts and at least one connector |
-
2020
- 2020-02-13 EP EP20157051.2A patent/EP3866275A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102017204600A1 (en) * | 2017-03-20 | 2018-09-20 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | A connector for connecting two housing parts and housings comprising two housing parts and at least one connector |
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