FR2817927A1 - Assembly device for holding two superposed flat elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for holding two superposed flat elements (1,2) comprises a gudgeon (3) and two locking pads (5,6) separated from each other by an eccentric (31) carried by the gudgeon. Before use the device is in a single piece with the pads connected to the gudgeon by breakable bars (41) which are broken on first use.

Description

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 The present invention relates generally to the field of assembly.

 More specifically, the invention, according to a first of its aspects, relates to an assembly device, in particular usable for maintaining in superposition of the first and second flat elements in which are made respective first and second slots facing one of the 'other, this device comprising a stud and locking members, the stud being elongated along an axis, movable in rotation about this axis, relative to the locking members, between a rest position and a locking position, selectively engaged in the first and second lumens, and carrying at least one eccentric disposed between first and second ends of this stud, and the locking members surrounding the stud and being selectively spaced radially from the axis by the eccentric under the effect of 'a rotation of the stud from its rest position to its locking position.

 Devices of this type have been known for a long time, and are capable of assuming very numerous particular embodiments.

 In fact, the constraints which these devices must satisfy depend closely on the application they are aimed at, so that the design of these devices must adapt to the final conditions of their use.

 In this context, the invention essentially aims to propose an assembly device capable of being produced at a very low cost, and at a high rate.

 To this end, the assembly device of the invention, furthermore in accordance with the generic definition given in the preamble above, is essentially characterized in that it is, before use, made up of a single piece , the stud then being in the rest position and the locking members being connected to the stud by frangible links, which are

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 broken at the first use of this device, and in that the locking members take the form of first and second pads, diametrically opposite to each other relative to the stud and passing through the first lumen in use.

 In the case where the assembly device of the invention must hold the assembled flat elements at a distance from each other, each shoe has for example a heel which, in use, comes to bear on a first face of the second flat element around the second light, which this shoe does not pass through.

 To allow the assembled elements to be held under stress, it is advantageous to provide that the first end of the stud, which is distant from the second flat element in use, carries an operating button, and that the second end of the stud, which is distant from the first flat element in use, carries a latch which comes to bear on a second face of the second flat element, around the second lumen, the second flat element thus being clamped between the heel of each shoe and the latch of the stud.

 Each skate may have, opposite the eccentric, a section with an external concavity, which may include the heel if it is provided, having a concavity oriented in a centrifugal direction relative to the axis, and by which this skate, in use, rests on either side of the first light, thus overlapping the first flat element.

 In the case where the assembly device of the invention must remain in place without risking to dismantle in an untimely manner, it is possible to provide that the stud has a transverse locking key relative to the axis, that each pad has, opposite the locking key, a section with internal concavity, radially elastically deformable and having a concavity oriented in a centripetal direction relative to the axis, and

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 that the locking key and the internal concavity section of at least one shoe have respective reliefs cooperating to form a pawl, allowing the rotation of the stud in a first direction of rotation which moves the stud from its rest position to its locking position, and preventing rotation of the stud in a direction opposite to this first direction.

 To increase the stress exerted on the assembled elements, the assembly device of the invention may include a ramp arranged on the stud or on at least one of the pads and imprinting on the stud, when it rotates from its rest position towards its locking position, an axial translation relative to the pads, whereby the latch is applied to the second face of the second flat element.

 To offer greater security of maintenance, the device of the invention may include stop elements selectively blocking the rotation of the stud in the first direction of rotation, once the respective reliefs of the locking key and of the section to internal concavity are mutually snapped.

 Thanks to its structure, the assembly device of the invention can easily be made of a thermoplastic material, preferably by injection.

 The assembly device of the invention is applicable to the maintenance in superposition of a first and a second flat elements in which are respectively formed first and second respective openings facing each other, these openings constituting respective first and second notches opening onto respective edges of the first and second flat elements.

 Each notch preferably has an elongated shape.

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The device of the invention is in particular applicable for holding together two flat elements belonging to two longitudinal segments of a steering column.

La figure 2 est une vue en perspective du dispositif illustré à la figure 1, représenté dans la configuration qu'il adopte à sa première utilisation, après rotation du goujon, les éléments assemblés ayant été omis sur cette figure pour une plus grande clarté ;
La figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dispositif illustré à la figure 1, représenté après sa mise en place dans des éléments à assembler, mais avant toute utilisation et toute rotation du goujon ; - La figure 4 est une vue semblable à la figure 3, permettant de voir les barrettes fusibles 41 et 42 ;
La figure 5 est une vue en perspective du dispositif illustré à la figure 3, représenté à une échelle inférieure à celle de cette figure 3, et observé du côté de la seconde face du second élément à assembler ;
La figure 6 est une vue en perspective du dispositif illustré à la figure 3, représenté à une échelle inférieure à celle de cette figure 3, et observé du côté de la première face du premier élément à assembler ;
La figure 7 est une vue en perspective du dispositif illustré à la figure 2 représenté après sa mise en place dans des éléments à assembler, et après rotation du goujon ; Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the description given below, by way of indication and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention, shown after its manufacture and before any use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 1, shown in the configuration it adopts at its first use, after rotation of the stud, the assembled elements having been omitted in this figure for greater clarity;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 1, shown after its installation in elements to be assembled, but before any use and any rotation of the stud; - Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, to see the fuse bars 41 and 42;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 3, shown on a scale smaller than that of this Figure 3, and observed from the side of the second face of the second element to be assembled;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 3, shown on a scale smaller than that of this Figure 3, and observed from the side of the first face of the first element to be assembled;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 2 shown after its installation in elements to be assembled, and after rotation of the stud;

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Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 7, shown on a scale smaller than that of this Figure 7, and observed from the side of the second face of the second element to be assembled; and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the device illustrated in Figure 3, shown on a scale smaller than that of this Figure 7, and observed from the side of the first face of the first element to be assembled.

 As previously announced, the invention relates to an assembly device making it possible to maintain two flat elements, 1 and 2, in a position for which they are superimposed, this device essentially comprising a stud 3 and locking members 5 and 6.

 This device is designed to cooperate, in a way which will be detailed later, with lights 10 and 20, arranged opposite one another and respectively made in elements 1 and 2.

 These slots preferably take the form of elongated notches with parallel edges which open onto the respective edges 100 and 200 of the flat elements 1 and 2, the slot 10 being for example wider than the slot 20.

 The stud 3, which has a generally elongated shape along an axis X, can be engaged in the slots 10 and 20 to be driven therein in rotation about this axis X, relative to the locking members 5 and 6, between a position of rest which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6, and a locking position which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 7 to 9.

 Between its first end 301 and its second end 302, the stud 3 carries an eccentric 31, arranged transversely relative to the axis X.

 The locking members 5 and 6 surround the stud 3 in order to be able, when using the device and under

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 the effect of a rotation of the stud 3 from its rest position to its locking position, being radially distant from the axis X by this eccentric 31.

 According to a first aspect of the invention, the assembly device, before its use, consists of a single piece.

 To this end, the locking members 5 and 6, at the time of manufacture of the device, are connected to the stud 3 by frangible links which are broken when the device is first used, and which take, for example, the shape of bars 41 and 42 illustrated in FIG. 4, the stud 3 then being in its rest position relative to the locking members 5 and 6.

 As shown in the figures, the locking members take the form of two pads 5 and 6, which are diametrically opposite one another with respect to the stud 3, and which, in use, pass through the lumen 10 of the first element dish 1.

 Each shoe 5 and 6 has a heel, such as 50 and 60, which, in use, comes to bear on the first face 21 of the second flat element 2, around the second lumen 20, without however passing through this lumen.

 Between its first end 301, which is closest to the first element 1, and its second end 302, which is closest to the second element 2, the stud 3 in fact carries an operating button 32, a locking key 34, the eccentric 31 already mentioned, and a latch 33, all these elements being arranged transversely with respect to the axis X.

 In use, the latch 33 comes to bear on the second face 22 of the second flat element 2, around the second lumen 20 (FIG. 8), the second flat element 2 thus being sandwiched between the heels 50 and 60 of the pads 5 and 6 , and the latch 33 of the stud 3.

 Furthermore, each of the pads 5 and 6 has, opposite the eccentric 31, a concavity section

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 external, such as 51 and 61, which includes the heel, respectively 50 and 60, of each shoe, and which has a concavity oriented in the direction D1, centrifugal with respect to the axis X.

 Thanks to this section with external concavity 51 or 61, each shoe 5 and 6 is supported, in use, on either side of the lumen 10 of the first flat element 1, and therefore overlaps this element 1.

 Similarly, each of the pads 5 and 6 has, opposite the locking key 34 of the stud 3, a section with internal concavity, such as 52 and 62, which has a concavity oriented in the direction D2, centripetal with respect to the X axis.

62, se raccorde avec la section à concavité externe correspondante, 51 et 61, avec laquelle elle partage un brin commun, tel que 512 et 612, transversal par rapport à l'axe X, chacune de ces sections à concavité interne 52 et 62 étant radialement déformable de façon élastique. Each section with internal concavity, such as 52 and

62, is connected with the corresponding external concavity section, 51 and 61, with which it shares a common strand, such as 512 and 612, transverse with respect to the X axis, each of these sections with internal concavity 52 and 62 being radially elastically deformable.

 The locking key 34 and the internal concavity section 52 and 62 of each shoe have respective reliefs such as 340,520, and 620 (Figure 3), which cooperate to form a pawl.

 These reliefs thus allow the rotation of the stud 3 in the direction of rotation SI which displaces this stud 3 from its rest position until in its locked position, and prevent the rotation of the stud 3 in the opposite direction S2.

 Each of the transverse strands 512 and 612 can, on its edge, take the form of a ramp 7 which cooperates with the front face 341 of the locking key 34 to imprint on the stud 3, during the rotation of this stud from its position rest towards its locking position, an axial translation relative to the pads 5 and 6.

 Thanks to this axial translation, the latch 33 is applied, by its front face 331, on the

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 second face 22 of the second flat element 2, thus exerting a clamping stress on the elements 1 and 2.

 To guarantee the maintenance of the device and to avoid any risk of inadvertent disassembly, this device further comprises stop elements, such as 83, 85 and 86, which block the rotation of the stud 3 in the first direction of rotation SI, once the respective reliefs 340, 520 and 620 of the locking key 34 and of each section with internal concavity, 52 and 62, are mutually snapped.

 As shown in particular in FIG. 7, two stop elements 83 can be provided on the stud 3, the stop element 85 being provided on the shoe 5, and the stop element 86 being provided on the shoe 6.

 Thanks to the structure given to it, the assembly device of the invention can be made of a thermoplastic material, and formed by injection.

 Although other applications of the device described above can be envisaged, this device is particularly well suited to maintaining the two flat elements 1 and 2 in the case where these two elements belong to two longitudinal segments of a steering column for a motor vehicle .

Claims (12)

 1. An assembly device, in particular usable for keeping the first and second flat elements (1,2) superimposed in which first and second respective openings (10,20) are formed facing each other, this device comprising a stud (3) and blocking members (5,6), the stud (3) being elongated along an axis (X), movable in rotation around this axis (X), relative to the blocking members ( 5,6), between a rest position and a locking position, selectively engaged in the first and second lights (10,20), and carrying at least one eccentric (31) disposed between first and second ends (301,302) of this stud, and the locking members (5,6) surrounding the stud (3) and being selectively spaced radially from the axis (X) by the eccentric (31) under the effect of a rotation of the stud (3 ) from its rest position to its locking position, characterized in that it is, before use, made up of a single piece, the stud (3) then being in the rest position and the locking members (5,6) being connected to the stud (3) by frangible links (41,42), which are broken at the first use of this device, and in that the locking members (5,6) take the form of first and second pads, diametrically opposed to each other with respect to the stud (3) and passing through the first lumen (10) in use .  2. An assembly device according to claim 1, characterized in that each shoe (5,6) has a heel (50,60) which, in use, comes to bear on a first face (21) of the second flat element ( 2) around the second light (20), which this shoe (5,6) does not cross. <Desc / Clms Page number 10>  3. An assembly device according to claim 2, characterized in that the first end (301) of the stud (3), which is distant from the second flat element (2) in use, carries an operating button (32), and in that the second end (302) of the stud (3), which is distant from the first flat element (1) in use, carries a latch (33) which comes to bear on a second face (22) of the second flat element ( 2), around the second lumen (20), the second flat element (2) thus being clamped between the heel (50,60) of each shoe (5, 6) and the latch (33) of the stud (3).  4. An assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each shoe (5,6) has, facing the eccentric (31), a section with external concavity (51,61) having a concavity oriented in a direction (Dl) centrifugal with respect to the axis (X), and by which this shoe (5,6), in use, is supported on either side of the first lumen (10), thus overlapping the first flat element (1).  5. An assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stud (3) has a locking key (34) transverse to the axis (X), in that each shoe (5 , 6) has, opposite the locking key (34), a section with internal concavity (52, 62), radially elastically deformable and having a concavity oriented in a direction (D2) centripetal relative to the axis (X), and in that the locking key (34) and the internal concavity section (52,62) of at least one shoe have respective reliefs (340,520, 620) cooperating to form a pawl, allowing rotation of the stud (3) in a first direction of rotation (SI) which moves the stud (3) from its rest position to its locking position, and preventing rotation of the stud (3) in a direction (S2) opposite to this first meaning (SI). <Desc / Clms Page number 11>  6. An assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a ramp (7) disposed on the stud (3) or on at least one of the pads (5 , 6) and printing on the stud (3), when it rotates from its rest position to its locking position, an axial translation relative to the pads (5,6), thanks to which the latch (33) comes s 'apply to the second face (22) of the second flat element (2).  7. An assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims combined with claim 5, characterized in that it comprises abutment elements (83, 85, 86) selectively blocking the rotation of the stud (3) in the first direction of rotation (SI), once the respective reliefs (340,520, 620) of the locking key (34) and of the internal concavity section (52,62) are mutually engaged.  8. An assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of a thermoplastic material.  9. An assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is produced by injection.  10. Application of the assembly device according to any one of the preceding claims to maintaining the superposition of a first and a second flat element (1,2) in which respective first and second slots (10, respectively) are formed. 20) facing each other, these openings constituting first and second respective notches opening onto respective edges (100,200) of the first and second flat elements (1,2).  11. Application according to claim 10, characterized in that the first notch at least has an elongated shape. <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  12. Application according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first and second flat elements (1,2) belong to two longitudinal segments of a steering column.