GB2317412A

GB2317412A - Device for the releasable fastening of a container

Info

Publication number: GB2317412A
Application number: GB9719830A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anton Epple
Original assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Current assignee: Daimler Benz AG
Priority date: 1996-09-18
Filing date: 1997-09-17
Publication date: 1998-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-17
Also published as: ITRM970552A1; IT1294927B1; GB9719830D0; DE19637995C1; GB2317412B; BR9704740A; FR2753423A1; FR2753423B1

Abstract

A device for the releasable fastening of a container 10 on a wall part 11 of a vehicle body has two fastening arrangements 12,13. The first comprises a T-shaped opening 20 in the wall part 11 and an attachment clip 21 with clip stem 212 and clip shield 213, the clip stem 212 of which lies in the central part of the wall opening 20 in a positively locking manner and the clip shield 213 of which, which is passed through the transverse part 202 of the wall opening 20, engages behind the wall part 11. The second comprises a bayonet-type closure 24 which includes a through opening 25 on the wall part 11 and a pivot bushing 27 on the container, with a pivot lever 28 and bayonet segments 29. The fastening is pushed into the opening 25 and the lever 28 rotated around a bearing journal 26, which engages the bayonet segments 29 behind the opening 25 in the wall 11.

Description

231.7412 Device for the releasable fastening of a container The invention

relates to a device for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, in particular in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, the device having an engagement notch defined on the wall part and having an attachment clip which is secured on the container and has a clip stem which can be inserted in a positively locking manner into the engagement notch and a clip shield which is integrally formed on that end of the clip stem which is remote from the container and is intended for engaging over the engagement notch on the side facing away from the container.

In the case of a known device of this type (DE 30 08 872 AI) a clamp is bolted on a vertical wall part within the engine compartment, the engagement notch being cut into the clamp in the shape of a V in a manner such that the notch is open upwards. The wall thickness of the clamp is a little less than the length of the clip stem. The container is introduced with the attachment clip from above in such a manner into the clamp that the clip stem, likewise designed in a V shape in crosssection, protrudes through the engagement notch and the clip shield engages over the clamp, on its rear side facing away from the container, on all sides of the engagement notch. In this manner, the container is secured in a positively locking manner in the two transverse directions (x- and y- direction) which extend perpendicularly with respect to the insertion direction and are at right angles to one another. It can, however, move in the vertical direction (z-direction) when subjected to strong vibration, this possibly leading in the long term to the container unintentionally falling off. When the clamp is arranged on a wall part extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle there occur, when setting off and braking, particularly when the container is full, considerable shear forces on the clip stem which lead in the long term to the container breaking off.

In the case of a likewise known device for the releasable connection of two parts which can be rotated with respect to one another (DE 20 54 855 A 1), one part has a recess with tabs along its edge which are in the form of annular segments and are bent towards the other part and with radial expansions of the recess lying between 2 the tabs, and the other part has tabs which are in the form of hooks, are bent towards the first part and can be pushed through the radial expansions of the recess into the first part. When the two parts are rotated with respect to one another, the tabs in the form of hooks on the second part engage behind the tabs in the forTn of annular segments on the first part, in the manner of a bayonet fastening.

The present invention seeks to provide a device for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, of the type mentioned at the beginning, which is cost-effective, is able to absorb large acceleration forces in the longitudinal, transverse and vertical direction of the vehicle (x-, y- and z-direction) and can be released easily, without an installation tool, for cleaning and maintenance work.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, the device having an engagement notch defined on the wall part and having an attachment clip which is secured on the container and has a clip stem which can be inserted in a positively locking manner into the engagement notch and a clip shield which is integrally formed on that end of the clip stem which is remote from the container and is intended for engaging over the engagement notch on the side facing away from the container, wherein in the wall part there is a T-shaped wall opening, the central part of which forms the engagement notch and the transverse part of which is dhnensioned such that it is larger than the width of the clip shield, as seen transversely with respect to the insertion direction, and at a distance from said opening there is effective, between the container and wall part, a bayonet-type closure which has a through opening which is provided in the wall part and forms one bayonet part, and a pivot bushing held rotatably on a bearing journal fixed on the container, forms the other bayonet part and on which there are integrally formed a pivot lever and two mutually diametrical, radially protruding bayonet segments for engaging behind the wall part.

By virtue of doing away with retaining clamps, welding nuts, threaded bolts etc., which were previously required, the device according to the invention has the advantage of being substantially cheaper to produce and of requiring only a minimal installation time. The fastening elements on the vehicle body, i.e. the T-shaped wall opening and the approximately rectangular through opening in the two fastening points of the device, are punched out at the same time as the body wall part, 3 as the latter is being manufactured, and the fastening elements on the container, such as attachment clip and bearing journal, are integrally formed with the container as it is being produced. The pivot sleeve with pivot lever and bayonet segments is manufactured as a separate plastic part and simply clipped onto the bearing bolt. For removal, the pivot lever has merely to be pivoted through 90', thus releasing the bayonet- type closure in the second fastening point. The pivot sleeve can then be pulled out of the through opening and the container can subsequently be raised upwards out of the T-shaped wall opening of the first fastening point by a vertical sliding movement. Reattachment of the container after it has been cleaned or maintained takes place in the reverse sequence, the final action being for the pivot lever to be pivoted back through 90' again into its locking position. The acceleration forces occurring in the x-, y- and z-direction are absorbed in two fastening points which are at a relatively large distance from one another, with the result that only negligible bending moments can occur.

Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention with expedient developments and refinements of the invention are given in the other claims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, on the outside of the clip shield of the attachment clip, which outside faces away from the container, there is formed at least one toothed strip which extends in the insertion direction (z-direction) and the latching teeth of which are adapted to engage behind the edge, which runs transversely with respect to the insertion direction (z-direction), of the transverse part of the Tshaped wall opening. These latching teeth reliably prevent the container from moving upwards in the z-direction even at the first fastening point.

The bayonet-type closure in the second fastening point is realized in a simple manner by virtue of the fact that the vertical height of the through opening is a little greater than the external diameter of the pivot bushing and smaller than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments, and the width of the through opening, the width extending transversely to the vertical height, is dimensioned such that it is substantially greater than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments. As a result, the production of the bayonet part of the closure on the wall part is reduced to punching out a simple, rectangular through opening. Distance tolerances between the fastening points of the device are of no importance, and after the attachment clip has 4 been attached in the T-shaped wall opening, the container can be passed through the through opening together with the pivot bushing without any problem.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the pivot lever is fastened on the pivot bushing via an annular collar which is integral therewith and the axial spacing of which from the bayonet segments is a little greater than the wall thickness of the wall part bearing the through opening. As a result, when the collar and bayonet segments are locked together the wall part is jammed in and any axial play in the y- direction is eliminated.

The invention is described in more detail in the following with reference to an exemplary embodiment represented in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows, in a schematic, perspective representation, a container fastened on a wall part of a vehicle body by means of a device having two fastening points, Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional representation according to the line II-II in Fig. 3 of the constructional design of one fastening point of the fastening device in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows a section along the line WW in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 shows an extract of a view in the direction of arrow V in Fig. 6 of the constructional design of the second fastening point of the device in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 shows a section along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows an identical representation to that in Fig. 5, in the locking position of the device, Fig. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7. The container 10 represented schematically in Fig. 1 is, for example, a water reservoir for the window washer system of a vehicle, which is fastened on a wall part 11 of the body in the engine compartment. A device which is designed for rapid installation and rapid removal without using any tools, for fastening the container 10 on the wall part 11, comprises two fastening points 12, 13 with fastening elements which are secured in each case on the wall part and on the container and correspond with one another. The container 10 can additionally be secured further by a journal 14 which is integrally formed on the underside of the container and can be inserted in an essentially positively locking manner into a hole 15 of a further wall part 16 running perpendicularly with respect to the wall part 11. To fill the container 10 a nozzle 17 is provided on its upper side, this being closed by a closure cover 18. The fitting position of the container 10 in the motor vehicle is marked by the coordinate system shown underneath it, the x coordinate pointing in the longitudinal direction, the y coordinate in the transverse direction and the z coordinate in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

The fastening elements for securing the container 10 on the wall part 11 in the fastening point 12 consist of a T-shaped wall opening 20 made in the wall part 11, with a central part 201 extending in the z-direction and a transverse part 202 extending in the x-direction, and of an attachment clip 21 which is secured on the container, has a clip base 211 welded to the container 10, a clip stem 212 fitted integrally on said base and a clip shield 213, integrally formed on the end of the clip stem 212. The dimensions of the clip stem 212 which are reduced in comparison with the dimensions of the clip shield 213 are matched to the width of the central part 201 of the wall opening 20 in such a manner that the clip stem 212 can be held in a positively locking manner in the x- direction in the central part 201. In contrast, the width, pointing in the x-direction, of the transverse part 202 of the wall opening 20 is selected such that it is substantially greater than the width, running in the x-direction, of the clip shield 213 so that the clip shield 213 can be pushed through the central part 201. The axial length of the clip stem 212 is selected such that it is slightly greater than the wall thickness of the wall part 16, with the result that after the clip stem 212 has been inserted into the central part 201 of the T-shaped wall opening 20, the attachment clip 21 is held with virtually no play in the y-direction in the wall opening 20 in the wall part 11. The clip base 211, clip stem 212 and clip shield 213 are integrally produced from plastic and welded to the outer wall of the container 10, which is likewise manufactured from plastic. The attachment clip 21 may, however, also be moulded on during injectionmoulding of the plastic container 10.

In Figs. 2 - 4 the interaction, which has been described, between the attachment clip 21 and wall opening 20 is illustrated in various representations. Fig. 2 shows a section according to the line II-II in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a section according to the line III-III in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 shows a section according to the line IV-IV in 6 Fig. 2. To secure the container 10 against being displaced in the z- direction, on the outside of the clip shield 213, which outside faces away from the container 10, two toothed strips 22 having latching teeth 23 are fashioned along those borders of the clip shield which are parallel with respect to the insertion direction of the attachment clip 21. if the attachment clip 21 is inserted into the T-shaped wall opening 20, a respective latching tooth 23 in each toothed strip 22 engages behind the (in the insertion direction) front or upper transverse edge 202a of the transverse part 202 of the wall opening 20, thus eliminating any unintentional displacement of the container 10 in the z-direction, for example due to persistent vibration.

The second fastening point 13, provided at a distance from the fastening point 12, of the device is designed as a bayonet-type closure which is effective between the container 10 and the wall part 11. In Figs. 5 and 6 the closure 24 is represented in the unlocked position, and in Figs. 7 and 8 in the locked position. That bayonet part of the closure 24 which is on the wall part is formed by a rectangular through opening 25 in the wall part 11 and that bayonet part which is on the container is formed by a pivot bushing 27, which is seated rotatably on a bearing journal 26 fixed on the container, and on which there are integrally formed a pivot lever 28 and two diametrical, radially protruding bayonet segments 29. The hollow bearing journal 26, which is made of plastic, is pushed through a hole 30 in the container 10 and is welded to an integral flange 34 on the inner wall of the container 10, which is likewise manufactured from plastic. Alternatively, the bearing journal 26 may also be integral with the container 10 and moulded on during the production process of the latter. A radially protruding clip collar 31 is integrally formed on the bearing journal 26, at that free front end which faces away from the container 10. The pivot bushing 27 with pivot lever 28 and the two bayonet segments 29 is manufactured as a separate plastic injection moulding and is clipped onto the bearing journal 26, the pivot bushing being held between the container 10 and the clip collar 31 with virtually no play axially. The pivot lever 28 protrudes radially from an annular collar 32 which is fashioned integrally on the pivot bushing 27 and maintains an axial spacing from the bayonet segments 29 which is a little greater than the wall thickness of the wall part 11. The diameter of the annual collar 32 is greater than the vertical height of the through opening 25 running in the z-direction, with the result that the annular collar 7 32 does not fit through the through opening 25. In conformity to the pivot bushing 27 with the bayonet segments 29, the dimensions of the through opening 25 in the wall part 11 are determined in a manner such that the vertical height of the through opening is greater than the external diameter of the pivot bushing 27 and smaller than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments 29, and the width of the through opening, the width extending in the x-direction transversely with respect to the vertical height, is substantially greater than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments 29.

In the unlocked position of the closure 24 (Figs. 5 and 6) the bayonet segments 29 lie within the through opening 25, with the result that the pivot bushing 27 can be pushed through the through opening 25 as far as the annular collar 32. If the pivot lever 28 is then pivoted in the direction of arrow 33 in Fig. 7, the pivot bushing 27 is rotated through 90' and the two bayonet segments 29 engage behind the wall part 11 on its rear side facing away from the container 10. Since the distance of the annular collar 32 from the bayonet segments 29 is slightly greater than the wall thickness of the wall part 11, the container is secured on the wall part 16 nonpositively with no play in the y-direction.

To fasten the container 10 on the wall part 11 the pivot lever 28 is put into its unlocked position which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The container 10 is then attached into the wall opening 20 by means of the attachment clip 21 in the fastening point 12. After latching in the latching teeth 23 in the two toothed strips 22 on the upper transverse edge 202a of the transverse part 202 of the wall opening 20, the attachment clip 21 is secured in a positively locking manner in all directions in the fastening point 12. The container 10 is then, at the second fastening point 13, pushed through the through opening 25 in the wall part 11 in the ydirection together with the pivot bushing 27 until the annular collar 32 abuts against the front side of the wall part 11, which front sides faces the container 10. The pivot lever 28 is then pivoted in the direction of arrow 33 in Fig. 7 and in this manner the container 10 is locked in the ydirection to the wall part 11 with no play. The container 10 is removed in the reverse sequence, the pivot lever 28 first being transferred into its unlocked position which is shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Claims

8 Claims

1. A device for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, the device having an engagement notch defined on the wall part and having an attachment clip which is secured on the container and has a clip stem which can be inserted in a positively locking manner into the engagement notch and a clip shield which is integrally formed on that end of the clip stem which is remote from the container and is intended for engaging over the engagement notch on the side facing away from the container, wherein in the wall part there is a T-shaped wall opening, the central part of which forms the engagement notch and the transverse part of which is dimensioned such that it is larger than the width of the clip shield, as seen transversely with respect to the insertion direction, and at a distance from said opening there is effective, between the container and wall part, a bayonet-type closure which has a through opening which is provided in the wall part and forms one bayonet part, and a pivot bushing held rotatably on a bearing journal fixed on the container, forms the other bayonet part and on which there are integrally formed a pivot lever and two mutually diametrical, radially protruding bayonet segments for engaging behind the wall part.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein, on the outside of the clip shield of the attachment clip, which outside faces away from the container, there is formed at least one toothed strip which extends in the insertion direction and has latching teeth, said latching teeth engaging behind an edge, which runs transversely with respect to the insertion direction, of the transverse part of the T-shaped wall opening.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein two toothed strips having latching teeth are fashioned on those borders of the clip shield which are parallel with respect to the insertion direction of the attachment clip.

4. A device according to one of Claims 1 - 3, wherein the attachment clip has a clip base which is integrally formed at that end of the clip stem which is remote from the clip shield, and is welded to the container, or is integrally connected thereto.

9

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 - 4, wherein the vertical height of the through opening in the wall part is greater than the external diameter of the pivot bushing and smaller than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments, and the width of the through opening, the width extending transversely to the vertical height, is substantially greater than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 1 - 5, wherein the pivot lever is fastened on the pivot bushing via an annular collar integral therewith and the axial spacing of which from the bayonet segments is slightly greater than the wall thickness of the wall part bearing the through opening, and the external diameter of which is greater than the vertical height of the through opening.

7. A device according to Claim 6, wherein the pivot bushing together with the annular collar, pivot lever and bayonet segments is manufactured integrally as a plastic injection moulding, and the hollow bearing journal, which is secured on the container, bears on its free end which faces away from the container a clip collar which, together with the container, holds the pivot bushing nondisplaceably on the bearing journal with virtually no play in the axial direction.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, adapted to fasten a container on a wall part of an engine compartment of a motor vehicle.

9. An arrangement for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

9. A device for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been fNed as fokm An arrangement for the releasable fastening of a container on a wall part of a vehicle body, the arrangement having an engagement notch defined on the wall part and having an attachment clip which is secured on the container and has a clip stem which can be inserted in a positively locking manner into the engagement notch and a clip shield which is integrally formed on that end of the clip stem which is remote from the container and is intended for engaging over the engagement notch on the side facing away from the container, wherein in the wall part there is a T-shaped wall opening, the central part of which forms the engagement notch and the transverse part of which is dimensioned such that it is larger than the width of the clip shield, as seen transversely with respect to the insertion direction, and at a distance from said opening there is effective, between the container and wall part, a bayonet-type closure which has a through opening which is provided in the wall part and forms one bayonet part, and a pivot bushing held rotatably on a bearing journal fixed on the container, forms the other bayonet part and on which there are integrally formed a pivot lever and two mutually diametrical, radially protruding bayonet segments for engaging behind the wall part.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein, on the outside of the clip shield of the attachment clip, which outside faces away from the container, there is formed at least one toothed strip which extends in the insertion direction and has latching teeth, said latching teeth engaging behind an edge, which runs transversely with respect to the insertion direction, of the transverse part of the T-shaped wall opening.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein two toothed strips having latching teeth are fashioned on those borders of the clip shield which are parallel with respect to the insertion direction of the attachment clip.

4. An arrangement according to one of Claims 1 - 3, wherein the attachment clip has a clip base which is integrally formed at that end of the clip stem which is 11 remote from the clip shield, and is welded to the container, or is integrally connected thereto.

5. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 - 4, wherein the vertical height of the through opening in the wall part is greater than the external diameter of the pivot bushing and smaller than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments, and the width of the through opening, the width extending transversely to the vertical height, is substantially greater than the external diameter of the two bayonet segments.

6. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 - 5, wherein the pivot lever is fastened on the pivot bushing via an annular collar integral therewith and the axial spacing of which from the bayonet segments is slightly greater than the wall thickness of the wall part bearing the through opening, and the external diameter of which is greater than the vertical height of the through opening.

7. An arrangement according to Claim 6, wherein the pivot bushing together with the annular collar, pivot lever and bayonet segments is manufactured integrally as a plastic injection moulding, and the hollow bearing journal, which is secured on the container, bears on its free end which faces away from the container a clip collar which, together with the container, holds the pivot bushing nondisplaceably on the bearing journal with virtually no play in the axial direction.

8. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, adapted to fasten a container on a wall part of an engine compartment of a motor vehicle.