FR3127534A1 - Device for fixing a part to a load-bearing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for fixing a part to a support structure. To this end, the device (1) comprises a stud (100) configured for its assembly with a first wall (31) of the support structure and having a head (101). The device (1) also comprises a clip (110) configured for its assembly with a second wall (21) of the part. The clip (110) has a first face provided with an opening (111) sized to receive the head (101) and the opening (111) is provided with means for latching the head (101). The clip (110) further has a second face provided with an actuating element configured to pass between a first rest position and a second position allowing the release of the head (101). Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Device for fixing a part to a load-bearing structure

The present invention relates to a device for fixing a part to a supporting structure, in particular a vehicle. The invention also relates to a device for fixing a case to a dashboard of a vehicle, in particular a case of a display device or a storage case.

Technology background

Many contemporary vehicles integrate a plurality of devices inside their cabin, in particular devices aimed at assisting the driving of the vehicle or storage devices.

These devices are commonly assembled inside the passenger compartment by screwing. Such a solution has a number of drawbacks, in particular a high assembly and disassembly time, a design restricted by the necessary passage of a screwdriver, the necessary supply of screws at the edge of the line and the possibility of loss of screws in the passenger compartment, for example in the dashboard.

It is also known to use clips to replace screws, making it possible to at least partially avoid the disadvantages linked to the use of screws and/or to shift their use in the production line. However, the standard clip solutions always have limited and/or time-consuming dismantling possibilities in the context of alterations or replacement of the clip.

Summary of the present invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the disadvantages of the technological background.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for fixing a part to a support structure facilitating the assembly and disassembly operations.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device for fixing a part to a supporting structure, said device comprising:

- A pin configured for its assembly with a first wall of the supporting structure and having a head; And

- a clip configured for its assembly with a second wall of the part, the clip having a first face provided with an opening sized to receive the head, the opening being provided with means for latching the head, the clip having in further a second face provided with an actuating element configured to pass between a first rest position and a second position allowing the release of the head.

According to a variant, the clip comprises a cylindrical body, which has an external shoulder defining a support face of the clip on the second wall and two distinct portions of the body, a first portion of which has the first face and a second portion of which has the second face. , the clip being assembled with the part by crossing the second wall by the first portion until the bearing face is brought into abutment on the second wall.

According to another variant, the first portion has an external thread, the clip comprising a nut complementary to the external thread and being assembled with the part by tightening the nut against the second wall.

According to an additional variant, the clip has a bore forming the opening, the latching means being arranged in the bore.

According to yet another variant, the bore has an internal thread, the snap-fastening means being arranged inside the bore by screwing onto the internal thread.

According to an additional variant, the actuating element corresponds to a button arranged on the clip so as to face the head when the head is assembled with the snap-fastening means.

According to a variant, the button is configured to exert pressure on the head in the second position.

According to another variant, the button is configured to unlock the latching means in the second position.

According to yet another variant, the stud has a rod provided with a thread, the stud being assembled with the supporting structure by screwing, the head extending from the rod.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automotive type, comprising the device as described above according to the first aspect of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the specific and non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 3, in which:

schematically illustrates a side view of a device for fixing a part to a support structure, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a side view of a part assembled on a support structure by the device of the , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; And

schematically illustrates a part assembled on a supporting structure of a passenger compartment of a vehicle by the device of the , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the examples of realization

A device for fixing a part to a support structure will now be described in the following with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which will follow. .

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a device for fixing a part to a support structure comprises a stud configured for its assembly with a first wall of the support structure and having a head. The dowel is for example assembled with the support structure in a removable manner or made integral with the support structure. In particular, the stud can be assembled with the load-bearing structure during an operation prior to the attachment of the part without requiring its presence, for example in a preliminary step on an assembly line.

The device also comprises a clip configured for its assembly with a second wall of said part, the clip having a first face provided with an opening sized to receive the head. The opening is advantageously provided with means for latching the head and the clip also has a second face provided with an actuating element configured to pass between a first rest position and a second position allowing the release of the head .

Thus, the reception and the snapping of the head of the dowel in the opening of the clip allows the assembly of the first and second walls, that is to say of the part with the supporting structure. The clip and the stud are for example dimensioned so that the part and the supporting structure are assembled with the first and second walls placed in contact with one another. The assembly of the part on the supporting structure thus requires only snapping the head of the stud into the opening of the clip, without requiring additional means at this stage of the assembly, and the actuating element also allows to facilitate the dismantling of the assembly, the latter being for example advantageously arranged on a second face of the easily accessible clip when the part is fixed on the supporting structure.

And schematically illustrate a device 1 for fixing a part to a supporting structure, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, respectively separately and when the part is fixed to the supporting structure. The device 1 is for example designed specifically for fixing a given part to a defined support structure, and is for example dimensioned and produced together with the part and the support structure. According to another example, the device 1 is a basic model compatible with a plurality of parts and supporting structures and/or allowing for example to match a variety of parts on a given supporting structure.

In this embodiment, the device 1 comprises a pin 100 having a head 101 and configured for its assembly with a first wall 31 of the supporting structure. When the stud 100 is assembled with the support structure, the head 101 thus forms a protuberance of the first wall 31 dedicated to positioning and fixing the part.

According to a particular design, the stud 100 has a rod 102 provided with a thread, the stud 100 being assembled with the support structure by screwing and the head extending from the rod 102. Other assembly methods are also designed of the stud 100 with the support structure, for example an overmolding of the stud 100 on the support structure or even a molded support structure having the stud 100. It is understood here that the method of assembly of the stud 100 with the support structure depends on the methods of realization of the supporting structure, the possibility of producing an overmolding or a bore, or even a removable or non-removable design of the stud 100.

The device 1 further comprises, in a complementary manner to the stud 100, a clip 110 configured for its assembly with a second wall 21 of the part. As illustrated in the , the clip 110 has on the one hand an opening 111 formed along a first face and dimensioned to receive the head 101 of the pin 100, the opening 111 being additionally provided with means for latching the head 101, on the other hand a actuating element disposed along a second face and configured to pass between a first rest position and a second position allowing release of the head 101.

As illustrated in the , the first wall 31 and the second wall 21 are thus rendered integral when the head 101 of the pin 100 is engaged in the opening 111 and held in position by the latching means arranged inside the opening 111. actuation of the actuating element then makes it possible to separate the head 101 from the latching means, and therefore to dissociate the part from the supporting structure. In this example, the first wall 31 and the second wall 21 are brought into contact when the stud 100 and the clip 110 are assembled. Of course, other respective arrangements of the first wall 31 and of the second wall 21 are also designed during the assembly of the pin 100 and the clip 110 according to their respective geometries.

In this same example, the clip 110 comprises a cylindrical body having an external shoulder 113 defining a bearing face of the clip 110 on the second wall 21. The cylindrical body of the clip 110 has for example an axis of revolution X, which coincides with an axis of revolution of the rod 102 of the pin 100 when the clip 110 and the pin 100 are assembled. Provision is also made, according to other design variants, for a clip 110 having a non-cylindrical body, for example having a polygonal cross section making it easier to orient.

The external shoulder 113 also defines two distinct portions of the body of the clip 110, a first portion of which presents the first face, that is to say provided with the opening 111, and a second portion presents the second face, that is ie provided with the actuating element. The clip 110 is then assembled with the part by crossing the second wall 21 by the first portion until the bearing face defined by the external shoulder 113 is brought into abutment on the second wall 21. It is therefore understood here that the second wall 21 has an opening allowing it to pass through the first portion, and that the first and second faces are arranged on either side of the second wall 21, for example facing each other with respect to a defined plane by the second wall 21. In particular, the actuating element disposed along the second portion of the clip 110 is thus accessible even when the part is fixed on the support, as illustrated by the and described below with regard to the .

According to yet another example, the first portion has an external thread and the clip 110 comprises a nut 114 complementary to the external thread. The clip 110 is thus assembled with the part in a removable manner by tightening the nut 114 against the second wall 21. This design also makes it possible to adapt the clip 110 to a variety of thicknesses of the second wall 21, and therefore to dimensions of the part to be fixed, by adapting the tightening of the nut 14.

According to a variant, the clip 110 has a bore forming the opening 111, for example a bore formed along the axis X of revolution of a cylindrical clip 110, the latching means being arranged in the bore, for example by abutment on an internal shoulder of the body of the clip 110. The latching means comprise for example at least one pair of jaws associated with a return element, for example a spring, and having a bevelled shape allowing the insertion of the head 101 in the opening 111, the action of the return element causing it to be held in position once engaged. Optionally, means are also provided for guiding the at least one pair of jaws, for example a guide block assembled in the bore, the at least one pair of jaws being constrained in translation by the internal shoulder and the guide block and able to move radially along the X axis to alternately tighten or release the stud 100.

The bore has for example an internal thread, the snap-fastening means being arranged by screwing on the internal thread. The at least one pair of jaws and the guide block form, for example, a one-piece element screwed inside the internal thread. According to another design, the at least one pair of jaws and the guide block form two distinct elements, the at least one pair of jaws being for example arranged and/or oriented in the internal bore, then clamped by the block guide screwed on the internal thread.

schematically illustrates a part 2 assembled on a support structure of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example a motor vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. According to other examples, the vehicle corresponds for example to a car, a bus, a truck or a utility vehicle, that is to say a vehicle of the motorized land type.

Part 2 corresponds for example to a housing of a display device installed on a dashboard of the vehicle, in particular a device comprising a display screen configured to display graphic content intended for the passengers of the vehicle and mechanical components and electronic, for example a support for the screen, means for controlling the display of images, one or more connectors, a power supply.

According to another example, part 2 corresponds to a storage device installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, for example a glove box installed on the dashboard or any other storage installed in the passenger compartment according to the design of the vehicle.

Part 2 is thus for example arranged in the middle of the dashboard of the vehicle, opposite a front passenger or front driver's seat, or in any position of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

According to the example of , the part 2 is assembled on the supporting structure via a plurality of fixing devices 1. Obviously, the number and the arrangement of the fixing devices 1 are determined according to the respective physical characteristics of the part 2 and the devices 1, of so as to ensure the maintenance of the part 2 on the supporting structure. As illustrated in this figure, the second face of the clip of the fastening devices, comprising the actuating element, is exposed when the part 2 is assembled to the support structure, facilitating its access for the assembly and/or disassembly of the part. 2.

In this same example, the actuating element corresponds to a button 112 arranged on the clip, that is to say on the second portion defined opposite FIGS. 1 and 2, so as to face the head of the stud when the head is assembled with the snap-fastening means. The button 112 is for example also centered on the X axis defined opposite the clip. The passage of the actuating element from the first position to the second position thus corresponds to a pressure on the button 112, which can be carried out manually or with the aid of a sized tool and allowing access to the button 112 according to the design of the part 2. Provision is made, for example, for the button 112 to return from the second position to the first position by mounting the button 112 on a return element, making it possible to return to the rest position in the absence of pressure on button 112.

According to a variant, the button 112 is configured to exert pressure on the head of the stud in the second position, that is to say that the pressure on the button 112 is directly transmitted to the head of the stud so as to allow its release, the button 112 communicating for example directly with the opening. The at least one pair of jaws described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is for example beveled on either side of the X axis, direct pressure from the head of the stud in one direction or the other of the X axis allowing the release of the jaws while maintaining the part 2 in position on the support structure in a normal situation, for example when the vehicle is moving. The insertion of the stud head additionally allows for example the return of the button 112 from the second position to the first position without requiring the use of return elements. This design makes it possible in particular to facilitate the disengagement of a part 2 as illustrated in the , fixed to a support structure via a plurality of devices 1, each of the devices 1 being able to be unlocked individually by pressing the button 112 without return to the first position.

According to yet another design, the button 112 is configured to unlock the latching means in the second position. The button 112 has, for example, at least one pair of beveled pins which engage in respective notches of the at least one pair of jaws, the depression of the button 112 then transforming the translational movement of the beveled pins along the X axis in a radial movement of the at least one pair of jaws, thus making it possible to loosen them and free the passage of the pin in the opening.

Thus, the fastening device allows the assembly of a part to a supporting structure without requiring, during their assembly operation, to use parts subject to handling errors, in particular parts of the screw or equivalent type, and making it possible to simplify both assembly by engagement of the stud in the opening and their disassembly by pressure on the actuating element, facilitating both the operation itself and the design of the parts to be assembled by reducing the space necessary for the passage of assembly or disassembly tools, disassembly can be carried out manually or using tools less bulky than a screwdriver.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a system comprising the fixing device, the part and the supporting structure in a joint design facilitating their assembly or even to a system comprising the attachment device and an associated support structure, the attachment device being freely assemblable to a variety of parts for attachment to the support structure.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example automobile or more generally an autonomous land motor vehicle, comprising the device 1 of the or the system above.

Claims (10)

Device (1) for fixing a part (2) to a supporting structure, said device (1) comprising:
- a pin (100) configured for its assembly with a first wall (31) of said support structure and having a head (101); And
- a clip (110) configured for its assembly with a second wall (21) of said part (2), said clip (110) having a first face provided with an opening (111) sized to receive said head (101), said opening (111) being provided with means for latching said head (101), said clip (110) further having a second face provided with an actuating element configured to pass between a first rest position and a second position allowing release of said head (101). Device (1) according to Claim 1, in which the said clip (110) comprises a cylindrical body, which has an external shoulder (113) defining a bearing face of the said clip (110) on the said second wall (21) and two portions distinct from said body, including a first portion presenting said first face and a second portion presenting said second face, said clip (110) being assembled with said part (2) by crossing said second wall (21) by said first portion until in abutment of said bearing face on said second wall (21). Device (1) according to claim 2, in which said first portion has an external thread, said clip (110) comprising a nut (114) complementary to said external thread and being assembled with said part (2) by tightening said nut (114) against said second wall (21). Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the said clip (110) has a bore forming the said opening (111), the said snap-fastening means being arranged in the said bore. Device (1) according to Claim 4, in which the said bore has an internal thread, the said snap-fastening means being arranged inside the said bore by screwing onto the said internal thread. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the said actuating element corresponds to a button (112) arranged on the said clip (110) so as to face the said head (101) when the said head ( 101) is assembled with said latching means. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said button (112) is configured to apply pressure to said head (101) in said second position. Device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said button (112) is configured to unlock said latching means in said second position. Device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the said pin (100) has a rod (102) provided with a thread, the said pin (100) being assembled with the said support structure by screwing, the said head ( 101) extending from said rod (102). Vehicle comprising the device (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9.