FR3084272A1 - DEVICE FOR HOLDING A ROD COMPRISING A THREADED SECTION - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for holding a rod (6) in correspondence with a through hole (3) formed in a wall (4), said rod (6) comprising a threaded section (7) with a first external diameter (D1 ), said device (1) comprising a body (8) with through-body hole (9), said body (8) extending in a first longitudinal direction (II) between a proximal end (8a) and a distal end ( 8b), said body (8) being able to be attached and fixed in the through hole (3) of the wall (4). In the body through hole (9), are arranged friction means (10) capable of receiving the threaded section (7) by allowing its sliding in force in the first longitudinal direction (II), said friction means (10) being adapted to oppose a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section (7) in the first longitudinal direction (II).

Description

The present invention relates to the field of fixing, and more particularly relates to a device for holding a rod with a threaded section in correspondence with a through hole formed in a wall.

For the assembly of a first wall element and a second element by a screw connection, a device is often used for holding a screw in correspondence with a through hole formed in the wall of the first element . The second element has a threaded hole capable of receiving the screw by screwing. The first and second elements may in particular be two parts of a casing intended to retain a liquid. The device for holding the screw allows the operator to focus his attention on the relative positioning of the first and second elements, the screw being positioned and held captive on the first element. Once the first and second elements have been positioned relative to each other, there is nothing left but to rotate the screw still held on the first element and which is then positioned correctly to engage in the second element threaded hole. This limits the risk of loss and the manipulations carried out by the operator.

There is also an advantage in that, when the operator brings the first and second elements into contact, the threaded section of the screw carried by the first element does not exceed beyond the first element: in the event that the threaded section of the screw beyond the first element, docking between the first and second elements may indeed damage the surface of the second element (a joint surface for example), in particular when the screw is not strictly coaxial with second element threaded hole.

To solve these problems, a device is known for holding a screw in correspondence with a through hole formed in a wall, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, which is a view in partial longitudinal section.

Such a device comprises a body C with a through hole of a TT body, said body C extending in a longitudinal direction DL between a proximal end C1 and a distal end C2, said body C being able to be attached and fixed in the through hole of wall (here by pressing in and / or crimping the section T of distal end C2 in a lumen formed in the first element). A screw V is retained captive in the body C and sliding in the longitudinal direction DL by means of a washer R (for example split radially) and an annular rib N. The washer R is engaged in free sliding on a smooth section TL of the screw V. The smooth section TL has an outside diameter D _TL less than the diameter D _TF of the threaded section TF of the screw V. A helical spring RH, interposed between the TV screw head and the rib N permanently stresses the threaded section TF towards the proximal end C1 for

7328FDEP, docx retain the TF threaded section confined in body C: this limits the risks of degradation of the second element when it comes into contact with the first element. When screwing the screw V, the helical spring RH is gradually compressed and received in an annular housing provided at the proximal end C1 of the body C. At the end of the screwing, the head of the TV screw comes to bear against the end proximal C1.

Such a device is expensive, in particular because of the high number of constituent elements and because the screw is a non-standard screw (ie with a specific shape), in particular because of its smooth section TL with a reduced diameter compared to the threaded section . The automation of the manufacture of this device is also made difficult by the presence of the helical spring RH.

Finally, the annular housing provided at the proximal end C1 increases the axial length of the body C and the material necessary for the manufacture of the body C.

A problem proposed by the present invention is to design a device for holding a threaded section rod in correspondence with a through hole formed in a wall, which device makes it possible to effectively limit the risks of loss of the threaded section rod and can be made in a simple and inexpensive way.

Another problem proposed by the invention is to design a device for holding a rod with a threaded section in correspondence with a through hole formed in a wall, which makes it possible to easily compensate for any slight positioning defect between the elements to be assemble by screw connection.

To achieve these and other objects, the invention provides a device for holding a rod in correspondence with a through hole formed in a wall, said rod comprising a threaded section with a first outside diameter, said device comprising a body with body through hole, said body extending in a first longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end, said body being adapted to be attached and fixed in the through hole of the wall; according to the invention, in the body through hole, are arranged friction means capable of receiving the threaded section by allowing its sliding in force in the first longitudinal direction, said friction means being adapted to oppose a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section in the first longitudinal direction.

A first application of the device according to the invention implements the rod with a threaded section of a screw.

By the predetermined force opposed to the sliding of the threaded section of the screw in the first longitudinal direction which they induce, the means of

7328FDEP.docx friction effectively limit the risk of screw loss. This predetermined effort also makes it possible to maintain the screw in a predetermined axial position.

Thus, according to a first possibility, the screw can be held in a waiting position in the body by the friction means so that the distal end of the screw rod does not protrude beyond the through hole of the wall of the first element and / or does not protrude beyond the body through hole. Docking between the first and second elements can then be done without risk of damage to the second element by the screw rod.

According to a second possibility, the screw can be held in a waiting position in the body by the friction means so that the distal end of the screw rod protrudes beyond the body through hole and beyond of the through hole. The screw can then fulfill a function of relative positioning means between the first element and the second element.

Such friction means make it possible to receive and hold any screw, even without an intermediate section (between the threaded section of the screw and the screw head) having an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of the threaded section of the screw, provided that the threaded section of the screw has an outside diameter sufficient to forcefully engage the friction means.

Finally, no spring being necessary, the body can have a shorter length, and the device is less expensive.

A second application of the device according to the invention implements a threaded section rod carried by a second element and projecting from said second element, which threaded section rod being intended to be engaged in the through hole of the body of the device itself. even fixed in the through hole of a wall of a first element, and to receive an assembly nut at its free end.

By the predetermined force opposed to the sliding of the threaded section of the rod in the first longitudinal direction which they induce, the friction means allow a temporary assembly of the first and second elements. This provisional assembly is made reliable by the predetermined force which makes it possible to maintain the rod with threaded section in a predetermined axial position in the first element, so that the operator can then add a nut on the end of the threaded section of the rod with more tranquility to finalize the assembly of the first and second elements.

Advantageously, it can be provided that:

the body has a substantially annular internal groove,

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- The friction means comprise a retaining element, substantially annular and elastically deformable, engaged in the internal groove, and having a through passage having, at rest, a cross section having at least one dimension smaller than the first outside diameter of the threaded section.

The elastically deformable nature of the retaining element makes it possible to oppose a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section of the rod in the first longitudinal direction, while allowing (by its deformability) to easily compensate for a possible slight lack of coaxiality between the screw and the corresponding threaded hole intended to receive the screw by screwing or between the threaded section of the rod and the through hole formed in the wall of the first element.

Preferably, in a first variant, the substantially annular retaining element can be an elastomeric annular seal. An elastomeric ring seal is a common and inexpensive element.

Advantageously, the elastomeric annular seal may have a cross section of non-circular shape, and may preferably have a cross section of square, rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal shape.

Such cross-sectional shapes provide good retention of the annular seal in the inner groove. Indeed, when it has a circular cross section, the joint can tend to roll on itself and come out of the inner groove. This trend is more limited with non-circular cross sections.

Preferably, in a second variant, the retaining element can be a plastic washer. A plastic washer is a common and inexpensive item. And the plastic material can have a hardness suitable for satisfactory resistance to abrasion by the threaded section of the rod when the latter slides.

Advantageously, said washer may include a plurality of radial protrusions extending substantially centripetally from its interior contour.

Preferably, the body through hole may have a cross section whose dimensions are greater than those of the through passage of the retaining element. The threaded section rod can thus be oriented obliquely in the body through hole to promote the engagement of the screw in a corresponding threaded hole which would not be strictly coaxial with the body through hole, or to promote the engagement of the rod with threaded section when the through hole formed in the wall of the first element is not strictly coaxial with the rod with threaded section.

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Advantageously, said body can include a radiant development! at its proximal end, preferably an annular radial expansion. Such radial expansion can come to bear against a face of the first element at the end of penetration of the body into the through hole formed in the wall of the first element.

The body through hole may have a cross section, perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction, which is substantially circular. However, to further increase the ability of the device to compensate for a lack of coaxiality, the body through hole may advantageously have a cross section, perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction, which is oblong.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing assembly comprising:

- a device for holding a screw te! as previously described,

- A screw comprising a rod having a threaded section with a first external diameter, said rod extending in a second longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end and connecting at its proximal end to a screw head, in which the section thread of the screw is engaged in the sliding friction means in the first longitudinal direction, said friction means opposing a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section of the screw in the first longitudinal direction.

Such a fastening assembly can be manufactured using any screw, provided that the threaded section of the screw has an outside diameter sufficient to forcefully engage the friction means. This makes it possible to use "standard" screws on the market, which makes it possible to obtain a very inexpensive fixing assembly.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a device for holding a rod with a threaded section as described above, comprising the following steps:

A) providing a body with a body through hole, extending in a first longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end, and in which:

* said body through hole comprises a proximal section with a first cross section, extended by a distal section with a second cross section, the junction between the proximal section and the distal section being

7328 FDEP.docx formed by a shoulder with a substantially annular first facet oriented in the direction of the proximal end of the body, said body through hole opens onto a proximal surface of the body according to a proximal orifice,

B) engage a retaining element in the proximal section, until it comes to bear against said first facet,

C) pushing back by deformation at least part of the material situated around the proximal orifice by folding it radially in the direction of the first longitudinal axis until it comes to form one or more second facets oriented towards the first facet, so as to form a inner groove in which the retaining element is retained.

Such a method is economical because the inner groove is formed by pushing back the material constituting the proximal end of the body, and not by machining complicated shapes undercut. The formation of the internal groove by pushing back the material constituting the proximal end of the body also allows easy automation of the manufacturing process, with insertion of the retaining element in a simple axial translational movement.

In order to increase the volume of material used to form said substantially annular groove, it can advantageously be provided that:

the body comprises a substantially annular bead of material projecting axially in the first longitudinal direction on the proximal surface of the body and bordering the proximal orifice,

- during step C), at least part of the material constituting the bead is pushed back by deformation by folding it radially in the direction of the first longitudinal direction.

Preferably, step C) can be carried out by axial pressing, in the first longitudinal direction, of the proximal end of the body by means of a punch. Again, such axial pressing is quick and easy to automate.

Another method of manufacturing a device for holding a threaded section rod as described above is also proposed, comprising the following steps:

A ’) provide a body with body through hole, extending in a first longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end, said body through hole comprising:

• a proximal section with first cross section, extended by a distal section with second cross section, the junction between the section

7328FDEP.doc "proximal and the distal section being formed by a shoulder with a substantially annular first facet oriented in the direction of the proximal end of the body, the body through hole opens onto a proximal surface of the body according to a proximal orifice,

B ’) engage a retaining element in the proximal section, until it comes to bear against said first facet,

C ′) forcibly engaging in the proximal section a substantially annular retaining member overlapping the retaining element, so that the retaining element is disposed, in the first longitudinal direction, between the shoulder and the retainer.

Such a process is also economical because the inner groove is formed by the shoulder and the retaining member attached and fixed in the distal section, and not by the machining of complicated shapes undercut. Such a method is also easily automated, with insertion of the retaining element and the retaining member in simple axial translational movements.

The retaining member can be in the very simple form of a central lumen piece (such as a washer for example) having at least one external dimension (a diameter for example) slightly greater than the smallest dimension ( a diameter for example) of the cross section of the proximal section, and whose central lumen has a cross section having dimensions (a diameter for example) greater than the dimensions (a diameter for example) of the cross section of the through passage of the retainer (at rest).

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a fixing assembly as described above is proposed, comprising the following steps:

a) provide a device for holding a screw as described above,

b) providing a screw comprising a rod having a threaded section with a first outer diameter, said rod extending in a second longitudinal direction between a proximal end and a distal end and connecting at its proximal end to a screw head,

c) engaging the threaded section of the screw in the friction means by a translational movement in the first longitudinal direction from the proximal end of the body.

7328FOEP, docx

Again, this is an easily automated manufacturing process. The translational movement of step c) can be carried out either by a pure translational movement in the first longitudinal direction of the screw, or by a rotary drive movement of the screw around the first longitudinal direction so as to "Screw" it in the friction means.

A fixing assembly as described above can be used for assembling a first element and a second element, in which assembly:

- we engage and fix in the waiting position, in a through hole in a wall of the first element, the body of the device holding the screw,

- positioning said first and second elements so that the wall through hole of the first element is substantially opposite a threaded hole in the second element,

- The screw is rotated to penetrate and screw it into the threaded hole of the second element.

According to a first possibility, during such use, the screw can be held in the waiting position in the body by the friction means so that the distal end of the rod with threaded section does not exceed beyond from the body through hole and / or beyond the through hole.

According to a second possibility, during such use, the screw can be held in the waiting position in the body by the friction means so that the distal end of the rod with threaded section protrudes beyond the hole through the body and beyond the through hole.

A device for holding a rod with a threaded section as described above can be used for assembling a first element and a second element, providing that:

- the body of the device is engaged and fixed in position, in a through hole in a wall of the first element,

- positioning said first and second elements so that the wall through hole of the first element is substantially opposite a threaded section of a threaded section rod carried by the second element and projecting from said second element,

- said first and second elements are brought together so that the threaded section of the rod penetrates, from one of the proximal or distal ends of the body, into the through-body hole until it protrudes beyond the other of the ends proximal or distal of the body,

7328FDEP.docx

- we screw a nut on the threaded section protruding beyond the other of the proximal or distal ends of the body.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

- Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a device for holding a screw according to the prior art;

- Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a device for holding a threaded section rod according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

- Figures 3 to 7 are cross-sectional views of friction means which can be used in the device of Figure 2;

- Figure 8a is a top view of friction means which can be used in the device of Figure 2;

- Figure 8b is a cross-sectional view of the friction means of Figure 8a;

- Figure 9 is a particular embodiment of the fixing assembly according to the invention, comprising a device for holding a rod with a threaded section of Figure 2;

- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a device for holding a threaded section rod according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the device for holding a rod with a threaded section of Figure 10, taken in longitudinal section;

- Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a step in a method of manufacturing the device for holding a rod with a threaded section of Figure 2;

- Figure 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a subsequent step in the manufacturing process of the device for holding a rod with a threaded section of Figure 2;

- Figure 14 is a bottom view of a punch used during the step of Figure 13;

- Figure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixing assembly of Figure 9 in the standby position or at the start of screwing a screw into a threaded hole;

- Figure 16 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fixing assembly of Figure 15 at the end of screwing the screw in the threaded hole;

- Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another method of manufacturing the device for holding a rod with a threaded section;

- Figure 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of a device for holding a threaded section rod obtained by the method of Figure 17;

7328FDEP, docx

- Figure 19 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating yet another method of manufacturing the device for holding a rod with a threaded section;

- Figure 20 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device for holding a threaded section rod of Figure 2 before receiving a threaded section rod; and

- Figure 21 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the device for holding a threaded section rod of Figure 20 after receipt of the threaded section rod.

In Figures 2, 9 and 15 is illustrated a first embodiment of device 1 according to the invention for holding a screw 2 (in particular Figure 15) in correspondence with a through hole 3 formed in a wall 4 of a first element 5. The screw 2 comprises a rod 6 comprising a threaded section 7 with a first outside diameter D1. The device 1 comprises a body 8 with a through hole of body 9, said body 8 extending in a first longitudinal direction I-I between a proximal end 8a and a distal end 8b.

The body 8 is able to be attached and fixed in the through hole 3 of the wall 4. In this case, the body 8 is able to be attached and fixed in the through hole 3 by a force engagement, as illustrated in the Figure 15. At the end of penetration of the body 8 into the through hole 3, the body 8 abuts on an upper surface 4a of the wall 4 by means of a radial opening 8c at its proximal end 8a, preferably a radial opening 8c annular with 8d flat bearing face.

Alternatively, one can provide, in the vicinity of the distal end 8b of the body 8, a distal end section similar to the distal end section T C2 of the device of the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1, so that the body 8 is only a small part contained in the through hole 3.

In this first embodiment, the body 8 has a symmetrical shape in rotation around the first longitudinal direction I-I and is therefore intended to be engaged and fixed in a through hole 3 of circular cross section.

In the body through hole 9 are arranged friction means 10 capable of receiving the threaded section 7 of the screw 2 by allowing its sliding in force in the first longitudinal direction II, said friction means 10 being adapted to oppose a predetermined force the sliding of the threaded section 7 of the screw 2 in the first longitudinal direction II.

The body 8 has a substantially annular internal groove 11. The friction means 10 comprise a retaining element 12, substantially annular and elastically deformable, engaged in the internal groove 11. The retaining element 12 has a through passage 13 having, at rest, a

7328FDEP.do “cross section having at least one dimension (here a diameter D2) smaller than the first external diameter D1 of the threaded section 7.

In a first variant, the retaining element 12 is an elastomeric annular seal. In Figure 2, this elastomeric annular seal has a cross section of non-circular shape, namely square or rectangular. Alternatively, a triangular (Figures 5 and 6) or trapezoidal (Figures 3 and 4) cross-section may be used. It is also possible to use a cross section such as that illustrated in FIG. 7.

In a second variant, the retaining element is a plastic washer.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8a and 8b, said plastic washer can comprise a plurality of radial protrusions 12a to 12d extending substantially centripetally from its internal contour and defining between them a through passage 13 of diameter D2.

As an alternative, it is possible to use a plastic washer having a shape of cross section identical or similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7.

As is more particularly visible in FIG. 2, the body through hole 9 has a cross section (circular here) whose dimensions (a diameter D3 here) are greater than those (diameter D2 here) of the through passage 13 of the retaining element 12. This allows an oblique orientation, relative to the first longitudinal direction II, of the screw rod 6 2 which extends in a second longitudinal direction II-II, as shown in FIG. 15.

As an alternative to a body 8 with symmetry of revolution, we can use a body of generally oblong shape te! as shown in Figures 10 and 11 which illustrate a device 1 according to a second embodiment.

In this second embodiment, the body through hole 9 has a cross section, perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction, which is substantially oblong (with a large dimension in a transverse direction III-III and a small dimension in a transverse direction IV -IV). The screw 2 which will be received in such a device 1 can thus be widely displaced in translation relative to the device 1 in the transverse direction III-III of elongation of the oblong (movement illustrated schematically by the double arrow 14). And the screw 2 which will be received in such a device 1 can also be amply pivoted around the transverse direction IV-IV. A pivoting of the screw 2 around the transverse direction III-III will also be authorized, at a lower amplitude, by compressing the elastically deformable retaining element 12.

7328FDEP, docx

In FIGS. 9 and 15 is illustrated a fixing assembly 15 comprising a device 1 as illustrated in FIG. 2 and a screw 2.

The screw 2 comprises a rod 6 having a threaded section 7 with a first external diameter D1, said rod 6 extending in a second longitudinal direction till between a proximal end 6a and a distal end 6b, and connecting at its proximal end 6a to a screw head 16.

The threaded section 7 of the screw 2 is connected to the screw head 16 by a section 17 with an outside diameter D4 at least equal to the outside diameter of the threads of the threaded section 7.

The threaded section 7 of the screw 2, with a first external diameter D1, is forcibly engaged in the through passage 13 of the retaining element 12 of the friction means 10. This is made possible by an increase in the internal diameter D2 of the passage through 13 by elastic deformation of the retaining element 12. This results in a tightening of the retaining element 12 on the threaded section 7.

The threaded section 7 of the screw 2 is thus engaged in sliding in the first longitudinal direction I-I. Due to the tightening of the retaining element 12 on the threaded section 7, the friction means 10 oppose a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section 7 of the screw 2 in the first longitudinal direction I-I. The value of said predetermined force is determined by the tightening resulting from the forceful engagement of the threaded section Ί in the through passage 13 and can be adapted by a person skilled in the art according to the requirements of use. Said predetermined force is in particular a function of the difference between the diameters D1 and D2, the elasticity of the materials and the surface conditions used for the threaded section 7 and the retaining element 12.

In Figures 12 and 13 is illustrated an advantageous example of a method of manufacturing a device 1 as described above. This method comprises a step A) during which a body 8 is provided with a through hole of body 9, extending in a first longitudinal direction I-I between a proximal end 8a and a distal end 8b, and in which (FIG. 12):

• said body through hole 9 comprises a proximal section T1 with a first cross section (circular here, but which can be oblong in the case of the device in FIGS. 10 and 11), extended by a distal section T2 with second cross section (also circular here , but can be oblong in the case of the device of FIGS. 10 and 11), the junction between the proximal section T1 and the distal section T2 being formed by a shoulder

7328FDEP.docx with first facet 19 substantially annular oriented in the direction of the proximal end 8a of the body 8, • said body through hole 9 opens onto a proximal surface 8e of the body 8 according to a proximal orifice 9a, and a bead 20 substantially annular material, projecting axially in the first longitudinal direction II on the proximal surface 8d, borders said proximal orifice 9a.

Then, during a step B), a retaining element 12 is engaged in the proximal section T1, until it comes to bear against said first facet 19 (FIG. 13).

During a subsequent step C) (also in FIG. 13), at least part of the material constituting the bead 20 is pushed back by deformation (arrows 21) by folding it radially in the direction of the first longitudinal axis II until it forms a or several second facets 22 (FIG. 2) oriented towards the first facet 19, so as to form an internal groove 11 in which the retaining element 12 is retained.

In practice, step C) can be carried out by axial pressing (movement illustrated by the arrow 24), in the first longitudinal direction II, of the proximal end 8a of the body 8 by means of a punch 23 as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

The punch 23 has a lower working face 23a provided with several (here three) protuberances 25a to 25c. The three protrusions 25a to 25c are distributed uniformly at 120 degrees in a circle 26 having substantially the average diameter of the bead 20. When the punch is lowered (arrow 24), the protrusions 25a to 25c come to bear axially on the bead 20 and cause part of its constituent material to flow radially in the direction of the first longitudinal axis II. At least three second facets 22 are thus formed, making it possible to retain the captive retaining element 12 in the substantially annular internal groove 11 thus formed.

Such a process can be easily automated, in particular because the substantially annular internal groove 11 is not made by removing material to produce an undercut shape.

Note that the bead 20 surrounding the proximal orifice 9a of the body through hole 9 is only optional, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18.

In FIG. 17, the body through hole 9 opens onto the proximal surface 8e of the body 8 according to a proximal orifice 9a. There is no bead 20 protruding from the proximal surface 8e.

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The punch 23 of FIG. 17 is similar to that of FIGS. 13 and 14. It differs therefrom, however, by the presence of four protuberances 25a to 25d distributed at 90 ° from one another (instead of three protrusions 25a to 25c distributed at 120 °).

During step C), at least part of the material of the proximal end 8a situated around the proximal orifice 9a is pushed back by deformation by folding it radially in the direction of the first longitudinal direction II until it forms four second facets 22 oriented towards the first facet 19, so as to form an internal groove 11 in which the retaining element 12 is retained.

In FIG. 19 is illustrated yet another method of manufacturing a device 1 as described above. The groove is here formed between the shoulder 18 and a retaining member 29.

In more detail, the retaining member 29 can comprise a washer 30 with an outside diameter D5 and an inside diameter D6. The diameter D5 is slightly greater than the diameter D7 of the proximal section T1 so as to allow the engagement in force of the washer 30 in the proximal section T1. The diameter D6 is greater than the diameter D2 of the through passage 13 of the retaining element 12 (at rest), and is also greater than the diameter D1 of the threaded section 7.

The manufacturing process includes the following steps:

A ’) provide a body 8 with a through hole of body 9, extending in a first longitudinal direction I-I between a proximal end 8a and a distal end 8b, said body through hole 9 comprising:

• a proximal section T1 with first cross section, extended by a distal section T2 with second cross section, the junction between the proximal section T1 and the distal section T2 being formed by a shoulder 18 with first facet 19 substantially annular oriented in the direction of the the proximal end 8a of the body 9, the body through hole 9 opens onto a proximal surface 8d of the body 8 according to a proximal orifice 9a,

B ’) engage a retaining element 12 in the proximal section T1, until it comes to bear against said first facet 19 (FIG. 19),

C ') forcibly engaging in the proximal section T1 a substantially annular retaining member 29 overlapping the retaining element 12, so that the retaining element 12 is disposed, in the first longitudinal direction II, between l 'shoulder 18 and the retaining member 29.

Step C ’), as illustrated in FIG. 19, is carried out by means of the movement (arrow 24) of the punch 23 whose plane lower face 23a comes to force

7328FDEP.docx the penetration of the washer 30 through the proximal orifice 9a in the proximal section T1. At the end of insertion, the lower face 23a can come to bear against the proximal surface 8e of the body 8.

Once the device 1 obtained (by one of the manufacturing methods described above or by another), we can manufacture a fixing assembly 15 te! as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 15. Such a manufacturing process comprises the following steps:

a) provide a device 1 for holding a screw 2 as described above,

b) providing a screw 2 comprising a rod 6 having a threaded section 7 with a first outer diameter D1, said rod 6 extending in a second longitudinal direction II-II between a proximal end 6a and a distal end 6b and connecting to its proximal end 6a to a screw head 16,

c) engaging the threaded section 7 of the screw 2 in the friction means 10 by a translational movement in the first longitudinal direction I-I from the proximal end 8a of the body 8.

After engagement of its threaded section 7 in the through passage 13 of the retaining element 12, the screw 2 is held oriented with the second longitudinal direction II-II substantially coinciding with the first longitudinal direction I-I. The friction means 10 hold the screw 2 immobile axially in the first longitudinal direction II relative to the device 1 (at least as long as it is not applied to the screw 2 a force greater than said predetermined force opposing the sliding of the threaded section 7 of the screw 2 in the first longitudinal direction II), preferably without the distal end 6b of the rod 6 projecting beyond the body 8.

A use of the fixing assembly 15 is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 15 and 16, for the assembly of a first element 5 (comprising a wall 4 in which a through hole 3 is formed) and a second element 27 in which is provided a threaded hole 28 (through or blind) intended to receive by screwing the screw 2.

During this use, the body 8 of the device 1 holding the screw 2 is engaged and fixed in position, in the through hole 3 of the wall 4 of the first element 5.

The friction means 10 make it possible to hold the screw 2 in the waiting position so that the distal end 6b of the rod 6 does not protrude outside the body through hole 9 and / or out of the through hole 3 (which may have a length much greater than the body, so that the distal end 8b of the body 8

7328FDEP.docx may not protrude outside the through hole 3). This limits the risk that the screw rod 6 2 will damage the upper surface 4a of the wall 4.

The said first 5 and second 27 elements are then positioned so that the through hole 3 of the wall 4 of the first element 5 is substantially opposite the threaded hole 28 formed in the second element 27.

Here, by way of illustration, the through hole 3 (therefore the screw 2 in the end) is slightly non-coaxial with the threaded hole 28: the through hole 3 lengthens in the first longitudinal direction II while the threaded hole 28 lengthens in a third longitudinal direction VV, the first II and third VV longitudinal directions being offset from one another by an offset d. This offset d impedes the good reception of the screw 2 in the threaded hole 28. Usually, such a shift d leads to a degradation of the threaded hole 28 and / or of the threaded section, or even prevents the screw 2 from being received in the threaded hole 28.

Here, the retaining element 12 being elastically deformable, it can be deformed under the action of the user to allow an oblique orientation of the screw rod 2 (FIG. 15) relative to the first longitudinal direction II (angle A ). The screw 2 is then driven in rotation (around the second longitudinal direction II-II), which causes the screw 2 to translate relative to the first longitudinal direction II and the engagement of the distal end 6b of the rod 6 of screw 2 in the threaded hole 28 despite the offset d. The screwing of the threaded section 7 is then continued in the threaded hole 28 until the screw head 16 comes to bear against the proximal surface 8e of the proximal end 8a of the body 8.

During the screwing, the screw 2 gradually takes the orientation of the threaded hole 28 in the third longitudinal direction VV: at the end of the screwing, the second longitudinal direction II-II in which the rod 6 extends coincides with the third longitudinal direction VV thanks to the radial clearance that allows the radial compressibility of the retaining element 12. There is therefore the offset d between the first II and second II-II longitudinal directions.

Note that a defect in coaxiality between the through hole 3 and the threaded hole 28 has been compensated here. Thanks to the elastically deformable retaining element 12, it is possible, as an alternative or in addition, to compensate for a possible defect in parallelism. between the through hole 3 and the threaded hole 28.

The device 1 can be used to assemble the first element 4 to the second element 27 by means of one or more screws 2. In the case of an assembly by several screws 2 (each held in a device 1), one can cleverly arrange part of the screws 2 in the friction means 10

7328FDEP, corresponding docx so that the distal end 6b of the rod 6 of said screws 2 protrudes out of the body through hole 9 and out of the through hole 3, in order to use said screws 2 as relative positioning means between the first element 4 and the second element 27.

Note that such use is also possible in the context of assembling a first element 4 to a second element 27 by means of a single screw 2.

It will also be noted that, in the event of separation of the first 5 and second 27 elements (for maintenance for example), the friction means 10 allow the screw 2 to be unscrewed and will operate again to retain the screw 2 as in FIG. 9 , that is to say with:

the second longitudinal direction II-II substantially coinciding with the first longitudinal direction I-I,

- the screw 2 axially immobile in the first longitudinal direction I-I relative to the device 1, preferably without the distal end 6b of the rod 6 protruding beyond the body 8.

FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate another use of the device 1 for assembling a first element 5 and a second element 27, the second element 27 carrying a rod 6 with a threaded section 7 projecting from said second element 27. The rod 6 is secured at its proximal end 6a to the second element 27 and extends in the second longitudinal direction II-II to its distal end 6b (which is free).

Even if the rod 6 is shown here in one piece (in one piece) with the second element 27, it could be a rod 6 attached and fixed to the second element 27, for example by welding, crimping or bolting.

During assembly, the body 8 of the device 1 is engaged and fixed in position, in a through hole 3 in a wall 4 of the first element 5. The through hole 3 extends in the third longitudinal direction VV which , after engagement of the device 1 in the through hole 3, coincides with the first longitudinal direction II.

Then positioning said first 5 and second 27 elements so that the through hole 3 of wall 4 of the first element 5 is substantially opposite the rod 6 and its threaded section 7, which is illustrated in Figure 20 by coincidence between the first II and second II-II longitudinal directions.

In a subsequent step, said first 5 and second 27 elements are then brought together (here by a simple relative translational movement illustrated by arrow 31) so that the threaded section 7 of the rod 6 penetrates, from a

7328FDEP.docx of the proximal 8a or distal 8b ends of the body 8 (here from the distal end 8b), in the body through hole 9 until it protrudes beyond the other of the proximal 8a or distal 8b ends of the body 8 (here the proximal end 8a). We are then in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 21.

The engagement of the rod 6 in the friction means 10 ensures precarious holding of the first element 5 relative to the second element

27.

Finally, a nut 32 is screwed onto the part of the threaded section 7 which protrudes beyond the other of the proximal 8a or distal 8b ends of the body 8. The first element 5 is then reliably immobilized relative to the second element 27.

As during the assembly illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, a possible lack of coaxiality between the rod 6 (longitudinal direction II-II) and the through hole 3 (longitudinal directions II and VV) can be compensated for by the compressibility radial friction means 10. It is the same for a possible lack of parallelism between the through hole 3 and the rod 6.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations thereof contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (19)

1 - Device (1) for holding a rod (6) in correspondence with a through hole (3) formed in a wall (4), said rod (6) comprising a threaded section (7) with a first external diameter (D1), said device (1) comprising a body (8) with a body through hole (9), said body (8) extending in a first longitudinal direction (II) between a proximal end (8a) and an end distal (8b), said body (8) being able to be attached and fixed in the through hole (3) of the wall (4), characterized in that, in the through body hole (9), are arranged means friction (10) adapted to receive the threaded section (7) allowing its sliding in force in the first longitudinal direction (II), said friction means (10) being adapted to oppose a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section (7 ) in the first longitudinal direction (II). 2 - Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: the body (8) has a substantially annular internal groove (11), - The friction means (10) comprise a retaining element (12), substantially annular and elastically deformable, engaged in the internal groove (11), and having a through passage (13) having, at rest, a cross section having at at least one dimension (D2) smaller than the first external diameter (D1) of the threaded section (7). 3 - Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining element (12) is an elastomeric annular seal. 4 - Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastomeric annular seal has a cross section of non-circular shape, and preferably has a cross section of square, rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal shape. 5 - Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining element (12) is a plastic washer. 6 - Device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the washer comprises a plurality of radial protrusions (12a-12c) extending substantially centripetally from its inner contour. 7 - Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the body through hole (9) has a cross section whose dimensions are greater than those of the through passage (13) of the element retainer (12). 7328FDEP.docx 8 - Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said body (8) has a radial opening (8c) at its proximal end (8a), preferably a radial opening (8c) annular . 9 - Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the body through hole (9) has a cross section, perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction (II), which is substantially circular or oblong . 10 - Fastening assembly (15) comprising: - a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, - a screw (2) comprising a rod (6) having a threaded section (7) with a first external diameter (D1), said rod (6) extending in a second longitudinal direction (Π-ΙΙ) between a proximal end ( 6a) and a distal end (6b) and connecting at its proximal end (6a) to a screw head (16), in which the threaded section (7) of the screw (2) is engaged in the friction means ( 10) sliding in the first longitudinal direction (II), said friction means (10) opposing a predetermined force to the sliding of the threaded section (7) of the screw (2) in the first longitudinal direction (II). 11 - Method of manufacturing a device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, comprising the following steps: A) providing a body (8) with a through-body hole (9), extending in a first longitudinal direction (I-I) between a proximal end (8a) and a distal end (8b), in which: • said body through hole (9) comprises a proximal section (T1) with a first cross section, extended by a distal section (T2) with a second cross section, the junction between the proximal section (T1) and the distal section (T2) being formed by a shoulder (18) with a first facet (19) substantially annular oriented in the direction of the proximal end (8a) of the body (9), • said body through hole (9) opens onto a proximal surface (8e) the body (8) along a proximal orifice (9a), B) engage a retaining element (12) in the proximal section (T1), until it comes to bear against said first facet (19), C) pushing back by deformation at least part of the material situated around the proximal orifice (9a) by folding it radially in the direction of the first longitudinal axis (II) until it comes to form one or more second facets (22) oriented towards the first facet (19), so as to form an inner groove (11) in which the retaining element (12) is retained. 7328FDEP.docx 12 - Manufacturing process according to claim 11, characterized in that: the body (8) comprises a substantially annular bead (20) of material projecting axially in the first longitudinal direction (I-I) on the proximal surface (8e) of the body (8) and bordering the proximal orifice (9a), - during step C), at least part of the material constituting the bead (20) is pushed back by deformation by folding it radially in the direction of the first longitudinal direction (I-I). 13 - Manufacturing method according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that step C) is carried out by axial pressing, in the first longitudinal direction (II), of the proximal end (8a) of the body ( 8) by means of a punch (23). 14 - Process for manufacturing a device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, comprising the following steps: A ’) provide a body (8) with body through hole (9), extending in a first longitudinal direction (I-I) between a proximal end (8a) and a distal end (8b), in which: * said through-body hole (9) comprises a proximal section (T1) with a first cross section, extended by a distal section (T2) with a second cross section, the junction between the proximal section (T1) and the distal section (T2) being formed by a shoulder (18) with a first facet (19) substantially annular oriented towards the proximal end (8a) of the body (9), • the body through hole (9) opens onto a proximal surface (8d) the body (8) along a proximal orifice (9a), B ’) engaging a retaining element (12) in the proximal section (T1), until it comes to bear against said first facet (19), C ') forcibly engaging in the proximal section (T1) a substantially annular retaining member overlapping the retaining element (12), so that the retaining element (12) is arranged, in the first direction longitudinal (II), between the shoulder (18) and the retaining member. 15 - Process for manufacturing a fixing assembly (15) according to claim 10, comprising the following steps: a) provide a device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, b) providing a screw (2) comprising a rod (6) having a threaded section (7) with a first external diameter (D1), said rod (6) extending in a second direction 7328FDEP.docx longitudinal (II-II) between a proximal end (6a) and a distal end (6b) and connecting at its proximal end (6a) to a screw head (16), c) engaging the threaded section (7) of the screw (2) in the friction means (10) by a translational movement in the first longitudinal direction (I-I) from the proximal end (8a) of the body (8). 16 - Use of a fixing assembly (15) according to claim 10 for the assembly of a first element (5) and a second element (27), in which: - We engage and fix in the waiting position, in a through hole (3) of a wall (4) of the first element (5), the body (8) of the device (1) holding the screw (2), - Positioning said first (5) and second (27) elements so that the through hole (3) of wall (4) of the first element (5) is substantially opposite a threaded hole (28) formed in the second element (27), - The screw (2) is rotated to penetrate and screw it into the threaded hole (28) of the second element (27). 17 - Use according to claim 16, wherein the screw (2) is held in the waiting position in the body (8) by the friction means (10) so that the distal end (6b) of the rod (6) does not protrude beyond the body through hole (9) and / or beyond the through hole (3). 18 - Use according to claim 16, wherein the screw (2) is held in the waiting position in the body (8) by the friction means (10) so that the distal end (6b) of the rod (6) protrudes beyond the body through hole (9) and beyond the through hole (3). 19 - Use of a device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for the assembly of a first element (5) and a second element (27), in which: - the body (8) of the device (1) is engaged and fixed in position in a through hole (3) of a wall (4) of the first element (5), - Positioning said first (5) and second (27) elements so that the through hole (3) of wall (4) of the first element (5) is substantially opposite a rod (6) with threaded section (7 ) carried by the second element (27) and projecting from said second element (27), - said first (5) and second (27) elements are brought together so that the threaded section (7) of the rod (6) penetrates, from one of the proximal (8a) or distal (8b) ends of the body (8 ), in the body through hole (9) until it protrudes beyond the other of the proximal (8a) or distal (8b) ends of the body (8), 7328FDEP, docx - we screw a nut on the threaded section (7) projecting beyond the other of the proximal (8a) or distal (8b) ends of the body (8).