ES2407583A2 - Device for fastening a part to sheet material - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fastening, and particularly a plastic part 1 to sheet material 2, suitable for fastening a coupling part of a damper of the oscillating unit of an electric household appliance to the sheet material of the frame or housing of the electrical household appliance. First, the sheet material 2 comprises an orifice 4 with a plurality of fins 5. Second, the part 1 comprises a plurality of portions 6 that make contact with the fins 5 from the inside I when the part is positioned for connection to the sheet material. In addition, the device comprises a plug 3 with a plurality of flanges 7, so that when the part is in position for connection to the sheet material, the plug 3 is insertable into the orifice 4 from the outside II by means of flanges 7 in a plug-insertion position. In addition, the plug is rotatable from said position to a locked-plug position, in which the plug 3 is connected to the part 1 so that the flanges 7 tighten the contact portions 6 against the fins 5.

Description

FIXING DEVICE FOR ONE-PIECE SHEET

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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The present invention relates to a device for fixing a piece of plastic to a sheet. The term "plastic part" includes the concepts of a piece of polymeric material or the like, including polymer matrix composite material. The term "sheet" includes the concepts of sheet and plate, of any material, including metal and in particular steel.

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The invention is especially conceived, but not limited to, for attaching a shock absorber of the oscillating group of an appliance, such as a washing machine or a dryer, to a sheet of the frame or housing of the appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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The coupling of the shock absorbers used in washing machines, which set the oscillating group to the washer frame in suspension, is conventionally carried out by means of a U-shaped coupling piece. This coupling piece is usually formed in the frame plate itself or housing of the washing machine, carried out by die-cutting and bending of the sheet itself. The wings of the U-shaped coupling piece are provided with through holes through which an axis is connected to which a damper leg is pivotally connected at the end thereof, said end being disposed between the wings of the coupling piece. . The connection of the shock absorber leg to the pivot axis conventionally includes a silentblock with the function of damping vibrations and noise as well as absorbing mechanical loads in the outward direction of the shock absorber pivot plane around the axis.

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Alternatively, other suspension fastening systems of the oscillating group are known which comprise a plastic coupling piece of the shock absorber leg, so that said plastic part is fixed to the frame plate. An example of these fixing systems is found in

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Patent document ES-2234353. The use of a plastic coupling piece provides advantages over conventional washing machine shock absorber fixing systems that comprise a U-shaped coupling part. Among these advantages, the following are worth mentioning. The need to include a silentblock is eliminated, since the plastic part can be designed to absorb vibrations, noise and stress on its own. The piece is easily manufactured and adaptable to different configurations and shapes, which gives greater design flexibility, regardless of the type of shock absorber used or even the type of coupling, and can be with single, double or spherical pivot.

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In view of the foregoing, the present invention seeks to provide an alternative configuration of fixing device applicable to a plastic coupling piece of a washer damper leg, which allows a quick, simple and reliable assembly, reducing the number of operations of assembly and therefore reducing the final cost of product and maintenance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the indicated technical problem and achieve improvements, the proposed invention provides the characteristics and technical effects described below.

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The invention relates to a device for fixing a sheet of a plastic part. The device is suitable for fixing to a sheet of the frame or housing of an appliance, such as a washer or dryer, of a coupling part of a shock absorber of the oscillating group of the appliance.

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On the one hand, the sheet of the device comprises a hole with a plurality of fins; The hole with the fins can be made by punching the sheet in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. On the other hand, the device part comprises a plurality of contact portions with fins from the inside in a position of connection of the piece with the sheet. This position is defined as in which the piece must remain in contact with the sheet to produce the fixing to the sheet according to the device of the invention. For fixing, the device comprises a plug with a

plurality of tabs, so that in the connecting position of the piece

With the sheet, the plug is inserted into the hole by means of the tabs

from the outside in a plug insertion position and is rotatable to a

closure position of the plug, in which the plug is connected to the piece of

5

so that the eyelashes press the contact portions against the fins. In

forward and for the purposes of this specification with the terms of

interior and exterior, reference will be made respectively to each of the two

areas in which the sheet divides the space.

Therefore, the fixation of the piece to the sheet, once the piece is

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is in the position of connection with the sheet from the inside, it is carried out

by inserting the cap from the outside and turning to the closed position from

the plug insertion position. It should also be understood that to release the

fixation must be made in the opposite direction from the closed position

to the plug insertion position and then remove the plug in

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opposite direction to the outward insertion.

In a preferred embodiment, the fins have a flange, which can

also conform in a known manner in the same die-cutting operation

of the sheet. The flange can be made by folding the entire fin or only a part

by its edge. Flange functions include, first of all

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provide a better fit of the piece in the position of connection with the sheet

and secondly improve the rigidity of the plate in the hole. Preferably the

bending of the flange is made inward, which allows to improve the fit,

providing better retention of the piece.

The cap may be made of plastic, preferably of the same material as the

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piece. For the coupling part of a washer damper leg

plastic materials with properties that include

some of the following: moisture absorption and thermal expansion

reduced, mechanical resistance, surface hardness and low surface friction.

For this, as an example for the piece and for the cap can be used

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POM plastics, acetates and acetic resins. Both the piece and the plug

they can be manufactured by injection molding or the like, in a known manner

For an expert in the field. The use of plastic materials for the cap

and the piece provides the advantage of its recyclability and a reduction in the

weight of the product to which the fixation is applied.

Preferably, the contact portion comprises a groove in

correspondence with one of the tabs of the plug, so that the groove is

extends between an opening to insert the tab, from the position of

insertion of the cap, and a wall to limit the rotation of the cap by retaining the

5

tab against said wall in the closed position of the cap. Plus

preferably, the device comprises means for clipping between groove and

tab in the closed position of the cap, for example by means of a groove and

a protrusion in the groove or in the flange, so that in said position of

closure of the plug occurs the fixation of the plug to the piece by one click

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preferably. More preferably, to release the plug from the position of

closure can be done so that by exerting pressure on the cap

from the outside to the inside, the elasticity of the piece allows to release

fixing and turning the cap to the position of inserting the cap.

Optionally, groove can be manufactured to have a narrowing

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in the direction of rotation of the plug from the insertion (opening) position to

the closing position (wall). In this way a tightening can be provided

more adjusted in the closed position than in the plug insertion position.

It is also contemplated that the eyelashes and the groove may have different

shapes and sizes, so that a controlled form can be provided

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tighten more or less tightly.

Preferably, the hole is circular. In this case, it is conceived that the

fins have a circular trapezoid shape, each fin being delimited by a

perimeter edge and two lateral edges. The invention contemplates that the portion

contact comprises a projection so that the projection extends between

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adjacent fins contacting a side edge of a fin in position

of connecting the piece with the sheet to thereby retain the rotation of the

piece (with respect to the sheet). In this case, the contact portion will

complements with a body that can have a circular trapezoid shape and that

extends along an arc from the projection and in contact with the inner face

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of the fin in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet.

Alternatively, the contact portion comprises two protrusions that are

extend between adjacent fins respectively contacting a first

projection with a first lateral edge of a fin and a second projection with a

second lateral edge of the fin in the position of connection of the piece with the

sheet, to retain the rotation of the plastic part and to prevent the rotation of the cap

in the wrong direction In this case, the contact portion is complemented by

a body that can have a circular trapezoid shape and that extends to the

along an arc between the respective projections and in contact with the inner face

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of the respective fin in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet. With

this alternative is achieved to prevent the rotation of the cap is made in the direction

correct, since once the plug is inserted in the insertion position, the rotation

in the opposite direction to the "towards the closing position of the cap"

would be prevented by the retention of the projection of the lateral edge of the fin

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corresponding adjacent.

Each projection can comprise a substantially vertical surface

which contacts the side edge of the respective fin to provide

this way the retention of the rotation of the piece in the position of connection to the

lock.

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In addition, the piece may be provided with at least one stud

of retention that cooperates with a respective retention hole in the sheet,

to ensure a better fit to the fixation. In particular the piece may include

a plurality of retention lugs that cooperate with respective holes of

sheet retention. More preferably the lugs may be of different

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shape or size, which allows to implement in the fixing device a

poka-yoke system.

As can be seen, one of the advantages of the fixing device for

The invention is its simplicity and rapidity of assembly, not requiring the use of

tools and reducing assembly or maintenance times. Another advantage is

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derives from the design flexibility of the device, which allows adapting the shape and

size of the contact portion of the piece and the cap to tare the torque of

tightening and fixing efforts for the correct operation of the

damped coupling, which can condition the dynamic behavior

or vibrations of the oscillating group.

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Finally, the present invention also contemplates the apparatus

appliance considered in its entirety, particularly a washing machine or

dryer, which includes at least one shock absorber attached to a sheet of the

frame or housing of the appliance, fixed to the sheet

advantageously by means of a fixing device as described above.

In short, the present invention provides a configuration of a device for fixing a piece of plastic to a sheet that allows a

5 fast, simple and reliable assembly. In addition, as shown herein, the configuration is of simple manufacture, with a reduced number of elements, and provides other additional advantages. All this therefore solving the technical problem raised.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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To complement the explanation of the invention and in order to help a better understanding of its technical characteristics, reference is made in the rest of this specification to the accompanying drawings, in which it has been represented, as a practical example non-limiting, an embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings:

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Figure 1 shows a plan view from the outside of the sheet together with the device part of the embodiment in the position of connecting the piece to the sheet without the cap.

Figure 2 shows an elevation view according to section AA 'of Figure 1 of the device of the embodiment without the cap.

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Figure 3 shows the plan view from the outside of the sheet together with the device part of the embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, but additionally including the plug in the insertion position (dashed line) and the closing position (continuous line).

Figure 4 shows an elevation view according to section BB 'of Figure 2 of the embodiment device with the cap in the plug insertion position.

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Figure 5 refers to a first variant of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. This Figure 5 shows a plan view of the sheet together with the part in the position of connection of the piece to the sheet without the cap.

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Figure 6 refers to a second variant of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. This Figure 6 shows a plan view of the sheet together with the part in the position of connection of the piece to the sheet without the cap.

Figure 7 shows a bottom plan view (7A) and in a variant embodiment of the cap.

elevation (7B) of

This Figure 8 shows a bottom plan view (8A) and elevation (8B) of another embodiment of the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Below is a description of the invention based on the

Figures previously commented.

The device of the embodiment allows fixing to a metal sheet 2 of

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1 piece of plastic coupling of a cushion leg of

washing machine.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the device of the

embodiment comprises a hole 4 with two fins 5 while part 1 is

provided with two contact portions 6 from the inside (11) with the respective

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fins 5 in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet shown. The

fins 5 have a circular trapezoid shape, with a first edge 13 '

lateral, a second edge 13 "lateral and a perimeter edge 12. Each portion 6

of contact includes a first projection 14 ', a second projection 14 "and a body

fifteen; the protrusions 14 ', 14 "contacting the respective lateral edges 13', 13"

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of the corresponding fin 5, in the position of connection of the piece with the

sheet shown in Figures 1 and 2. The protrusions 14 ', 14 "when connected to the

respective lateral edges 13 ', 13 ", have the anti-rotation function, is

say retain the rotation of the piece 1 with respect to the sheet 2 in the position of

connection of the piece with the sheet. In Figure 2 it can be seen that the

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contact portion 6 comprises a groove 9, limited by an opening 10 and a

wall 11 (hidden in Figure).

Figures 3 and 4 show the device of the described embodiment but

with the cover 3. The arrows in Figure 3 indicate the direction of rotation for closing

of the cap 3 and therefore for fixing the piece 1 to the sheet 2, from the

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plug insertion position (dashed line) to the closing position of the

stopper (continuous line). The arrows in Figure 4 respectively indicate the

direction of insertion of the cap from the outside to the position of insertion of the

plug and the direction of positioning of the piece from the inside (11) to the

connection position of the part with the sheet. As can be seen in these

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Figures 3 and 4, the device of the embodiment comprises a plastic cap 3

with two tabs 7. The plug 3 is inserted into the hole 4 from the outside (1)

by means of tabs 7 (through the space between adjacent fins 5,

once part 1 is placed in the position of connecting the part with the sheet,

in a plug insertion position (dashed line) and being rotatable up to

a closure position of the cap (continuous line), in which the cap 3 is

connected to the piece 1 so that the tabs 7 tighten the portions 6

of contact against the fins 6. Additionally, the plug may be provided with

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means for rotating the cap such as a hand 20 consisting of a

relief integrated in the same piece of the cap 3.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate variants of the described embodiment. Figure 5

on the other hand it shows an embodiment variant in which the hole 4 of the

sheet 2 has two fins 5 and part 1 has two contact portions 6, but

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the contact portions 6 have a single projection 14 in contact with an edge

lateral 13 ', 13 "fin and a single body 15 partially extending to

along an edge edge 12 arc of fin. Figure 6 for its part

shows another variant embodiment in which the hole of the sheet 2 has three

fins 5 and part 1 has three contact portions 6, portions 6 of

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contact having each of them two projections 14 ', 14 "in contact with

respective side edges 13 ', 13 "fin and a body 15 extending

partially along the entire perimeter edge edge 12.

Additionally, and as shown in Figures 1 to 6, part 1 of the

embodiment device includes two 16 ', 16 "holding lugs that

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cooperate with respective holes 17 ', 17 "of retention in the sheet 2. In addition

the 16 ', 16 "studs are of different size, having a poka-yoke function.

Also additionally, as can be seen in the same Figures 1 to 6,

fins 5 are provided with a flange 8.

Finally, Figures 7 and 8 show two variants of embodiment

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different from cap 3. Figure 7 shows a cap 3 with two tabs 7.

A plug 3 with three tabs 7 is shown in Figure 8. The plug 3 comprises

a head 18 with a substantially contact surface with the sheet

flat, and a body 19 in which the eyelashes are arranged.

It is not considered necessary to make this description more extensive so that

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Any person skilled in the art understands the scope of the invention and the

advantages that derive from it. Particularly, for the manufacture of

Different components, the necessary manufacturing processes and materials are

known in the technical field and fully accessible. In general, the

Materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements will be subject to

variation as long as this does not involve an alteration outside the scope of the present invention, defined by the appended claims.

List of reference symbols

1: plastic piece

2: sheet

3: plug

4: sheet hole

5: hole fin

6: piece contact portion

7: plug tab

8: fin flange

9: contact portion groove

10: groove opening

11: groove wall

12: perimeter edge of fin 13 ': first lateral edge of fin 13 "second lateral edge of fin

14: contact portion projection 14 ': first contact portion projection 14 ": second contact portion projection

15: contact portion body 16 ': first retention stud 16 ": second retention stud 17': first retention hole 17": second retention hole

18: plug head

19: plug body

20: stopper turn handle

1: Outside

11: Interior

Claims (15)

1. FIXING DEVICE FOR A SHEET OF ONE PIECE, especially a sheet (2) of a piece (1) of plastic, suitable for fixing to a sheet of the frame or housing of an appliance, such as a washing machine or a dryer, of a coupling part of a shock absorber of the oscillating group of the home appliance; characterized in that: the sheet (2) comprises a hole (4) with a plurality of fins (5); the part (1) comprises a plurality of portions (6) of contact with the fins (5) from the inside

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in a position of connection of the piece with the sheet; and the device comprises a plug (3) with a plurality of tabs (7); in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet, the plug (3) being inserted in the hole (4) from the outside (1) by means of the tabs

(7)

in a plug insertion position and being rotatable to a plug closure position, in which the plug (3) is connected to the part (1) so that the tabs (7) squeeze the contact portions (6) against the fins (5).

2. FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF ONE PIECE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fins (5) have a flange (8) tilted inwards (11).

3.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF ONE PIECE, according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cap (3) is made of plastic.

Four.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF A PIECE, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact portion (6) comprises a groove (9) in correspondence with one of the tabs (7) of the plug, the groove (9) extending between an opening (10) to introduce the flange (7) and a wall (11) to limit

the rotation of the cap (3) by retention of the tab (7) in the closed position of the cap.

5.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF ONE PIECE, according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises means for clipping between groove (9) and flange (7) in the closed position of the plug.

6.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF A PIECE, according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the groove (9) comprises a narrowing.

7.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF A PIECE, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the hole

(4) is circular.

8.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A SHEET OF A PIECE, according to claim 7, characterized in that the fin (5) has a circular trapezoid shape, delimited by a perimeter edge (12) and two lateral edges (13 ', 13 ").

9.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A SHEET OF A PIECE, according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact portion (6) comprises a projection (14) extending between adjacent fins (5) contacting an edge (13 ', 13 ") side of a fin (5) in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet to retain the rotation of the piece (1).

10.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF A PIECE, according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact portion (6) comprises a body (15) in the form of a circular trapezoid extending along an arc from the projection (14) and in contact with the face

inside (11) of the fin (5) in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet.

eleven.

FIXING DEVICE TO A SHEET OF A PIECE, according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact portion (6) comprises two projections (14 ', 14 ") extending between adjacent fins (5) by contacting a first projection (14 respectively) ') with a first lateral edge (13') of a fin (5) and a second projection (14 ") with a second lateral edge (13") of the fin (5) in the position of connecting the piece with the sheet, to retain the rotation of the piece (1) And to prevent the rotation of the cap (3) in the wrong direction.

12.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF A PIECE, according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact portion (6) comprises a body (15) in the form of a circular trapezoid that extends along an arc between the respective projections (14 ', 14 ") And in contact with the inner face (11) of the respective fin (5) in the position of connection of the piece with the sheet.

13.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF ONE PIECE, according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that each projection (14,14 ', 14 ") comprises a substantially vertical surface that contacts the respective edge (13', 13") side of the respective fin.

14.

FIXING DEVICE FOR A PLATE OF A PIECE, according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the part

(1) comprises a plurality of retention lugs (16 ', 16 ") that cooperate with respective retention holes (17', 17") in the sheet (2), the lugs (16 ', 16 ") being different shape or size

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APPLIANCE APPLIANCE, especially a washer or dryer, comprising at least one shock absorber coupled to a

sheet of the frame or housing of the home appliance by means of a coupling piece; characterized in that the coupling piece is fixed to the sheet by means of a fixing device defined in any one of claims 1 to 14.