GB2513894A - Clip device and panel assembly - Google Patents

Clip device and panel assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2513894A
GB2513894A GB201308390A GB201308390A GB2513894A GB 2513894 A GB2513894 A GB 2513894A GB 201308390 A GB201308390 A GB 201308390A GB 201308390 A GB201308390 A GB 201308390A GB 2513894 A GB2513894 A GB 2513894A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
clip device
clip
panel
elastic region
handling element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB201308390A
Other versions
GB201308390D0 (en
Inventor
Raghavendra Manaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB201308390A priority Critical patent/GB2513894A/en
Publication of GB201308390D0 publication Critical patent/GB201308390D0/en
Publication of GB2513894A publication Critical patent/GB2513894A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
    • F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
    • F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
    • F16B5/0621—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship
    • F16B5/0635—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship fastened over the edges of the sheets or plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R13/00—Elements for body-finishing, identifying, or decorating; Arrangements or adaptations for advertising purposes
    • B60R13/02—Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners
    • B60R13/0206—Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B2/00—Friction-grip releasable fastenings
    • F16B2/20—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
    • F16B2/22—Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
    • F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
    • F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
    • F16B5/0614—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in angled relationship

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Abstract

A clip 18 releasably fixes a first component 20, for example an access panel of a luggage compartment, to a second component 46, for example a back panel. Clip 18 comprises a latch 24 engaging second component 46, and an elastic region 30 shortenable to disengage latching element 24 which may comprise a plurality of U-shaped bends. Clip 18 also comprises a handling element 22 at a free end of clip 18. Force exerted on handling element 22 causes it to move towards elastic region 30, which may compress elastic region 30. Handling element 22 may be connected to elastic region 30 by a plate-like region 40 perpendicular to latch 40 and extending in the operating direction 36 of handling element 22. Clip 18 may have a further free end 44 which may be fixed to first component 20. Clip 18 is preferably formed from plastic in a single piece.

Description

Clip device and panel assembly The invention relates to a clip device for releasably fixing a first component to a second component. The clip device comprises a latching element designed to engage with the second component. The clip device also comprises an elastic region, a length of which can be diminished for disengaging the latching element. The invention further relates to a panel assembly comprising such a clip device.
Document DE 694 01 188 T2 describes a spring clip fastener for releasably fixing a first component to a second component. The spring clip fastener comprises an elongate spring strip part, at the end of which are formed a spacer and a flange. On the other end of the spring strip part there is a generally V-shaped clip part comprising two legs. By compressing the clip part the two legs are moved towards each other. A shorter one of the two legs comprises a latch which provides an abutment against one of the two components when the spring clip is utilized for fastening together the two components.
To disengage the latch of the spring clip fastener described in DE 694 01188 T2, a tool must be inserted into an aperture provided in an in-turned flange of the shorter one of the two legs. This makes the utilization of the spring clip fastener rather laborious.
It is also known from vehicles according to the state of the art that a luggage compartment or trunk of the vehicle has side panels or side trims comprising a back panel and a removable access panel. The access panel can be moved into an open position in order to allow an access to components such as a battery or different electrical units.
To unlock the access panel according to prior art, a knob mechanism is used. Turning of the knob causes the rotation of a shaft connected to the knob. Due to the rotation of the shaft, an arm which is secured to the shaft in a torque proof manner rotates as well. This allows to swing open the access panel. For locking or closing the access panel the arm must be turned back into an upright position, in which a free end of the arm engages behind the back panel.
This prior art knob mechanism is costly because it consists of a plurality of components.
Furthermore, it is difficult to operate and requires quite a lot of effort to be operated.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved clip device of the initially mentioned type and a panel assembly with an improved clip device.
This object is solved by a clip device having the features of claim 1 and by a panel assembly having the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments with convenient developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
The clip device according to the invention comprises a handling element which is situated at a free end of the clip device. This handling element is movable towards the elastic region of the clip device by exerting a force on the handling element. In other words, exerting the force on the handling element causes a distance between the elastic region and the handling element to decrease by diminishing the length of the elastic region of the clip device. This causes the latching element to disengage.
This clip device is very simple and easy to operate. No tools are needed to move the handling element towards the elastic region, as the handling element can just be pushed with a fingertip for example. This renders the fixing or locking operation as well as the unlocking or opening operation of the clip device particularly easy. Also, the clip device is particularly simple in terms of manufacturing. It can be readily used for a great variety of applications that require locking and unlocking of components. The clip device thus can be utilized as a standard part. Also, particularly few components constitute the clip device.
These components, namely the latching element, the elastic region and the handling element are preferably formed in one piece.
In an advantageous embodiment, the latching element extends from a region of the clip device, which connects the handling element to the elastic region. Thus any movement of the handling element results in a corresponding movement of the latching element by the same extent. This renders the locking and unlocking operation, i.e. the engaging and the disengaging of the latching element particularly reliable and easy.
This is in particular valid, ii the latching element extends substantially perpendicular to the region of the clip device, which connects the handling element to the elastic region.
It has further proven to be advantageous, if the region of the clip device is designed as a plate which extends in a direction coinciding with a direction in which the handling element is movable by the force exerted on the handling element. Such a plate provides a particularly solid basis for the latching element extending from the plate. Thus a very robust clip device is provided.
The elastic region can be designed as a meandering part of the clip device, the meandering part comprising at least one U-turn. Such an elastic region which has the function of a spring area of the clip device is particularly easy to manufacture. Also, such a meandering part renders the elastic region particularly resilient.
It has further proven advantageous, if the clip device comprises a further free end situated opposite the handling element in a direction in which the handling element is movable by the force exerted on the handling element, wherein the further free end is designed to be fixed to the first component. This free end can in particular be designed as a stepped region of the clip device. By the further free end the clip device can be particularly easily fixed to the component to be locked or unlocked.
Finally, it has proven to be advantageous, if the clip device is made of plastic. By utilizing plastic as the material for the clip device, low manufacturing costs can be achieved, and the clip device is nevertheless particularly reliable.
The panel assembly according to the invention comprises at least one clip device according to the invention. Within the panel assembly the at least one clip device releasably fixes a first panel of the panel assembly to a second panel of the panel assembly. The clip device renders the locking and unlocking operation of the first panel particularly easy.
The advantages and preferred embodiments described with respect to the clip device correspondingly apply to the panel assembly and vice versa.
The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments as well as based on the drawings.
Therein show: Fig. 1 a knob mechanism according to prior art, which is utilized for locking and unlocking an access panel of a side trim in a luggage compartment of a vehicle; Fig. 2 the mechanism of fig. 1 seen from a reverse side of the knob; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the access panel with an arm of the knob mechanism being moved in an open position; Fig. 4 a side view of an improved clip device which may be utilized to unlock and lock an access panel in a vehicle; Fig. 5 the clip device according to fig. 4 in a perspective view; Fig. 6 the access panel releasably fixed to a back panel of the vehicle by means of the clip device according to fig. 4; and Fig. 7 a section view along a line VIl-VIl in fig. 6.
Fig. 1 shows a panel 10 with a knob 12 according to prior art that can be turned to lock and unlock the panel 10. Such a panel 10 can serve as a removable access panel in a luggage compartment of a vehicle.
As can be seen from fig. 2, a shaft 14 which is fixed to the knob 12 carries an arm 16 which moves when the knob 12 is turned. Fig. 2 is a backside view of the panel 10 shown in fig. 1. Thus, by turning the knob 12, the arm 16 can be brought into a position in which the panel 10 can be swung open or otherwise released from a back panel.
Fig. 3 shows the arm 16 moved into a position in which the panel 10 can be opened. Such a knob mechanism according to prior art is quite difficult to handle.
Accordingly, fig. 4 shows an improved clip device 18, which facilitates the locking and unlocking of an access panel 20 of a panel assembly 48 shown in fig. 6 and fig. 7.
First and with respect to fig. 1 the components or elements of the clip device 18 will be described. The clip device 18 is preferably made of plastic and comprises a handling element in the form of a handle 22. The handle 22 can be pushed down, for example with a fingertip, in order to actuate an unlocking and locking mechanism of the clip device 18.
The clip device 18 also comprises a latching element in the form of a snap 24. The snap 24 comprises a flange 26 with a nose 28 that can engage behind a component to be secured to another component by means of the clip device 18. For example the nose 28 can engage behind a back panel 46 of the panel assembly 48 (see fig. 7) The clip device 18 also comprises an elastic region 30 or spring area of the clip device 18. As can be seen from fig. 4 the elastic region 30 is preferably designed as a meandering part of the clip device 18. This meandering part comprises a plurality of turns including -in the example shown in fig. 4 -three U-turns 32. Owing to the U-turns 32 in the meandering part of the clip device 18, a length of the elastic region 30 and with this a length 34 of the clip device 18 itself can be diminished, if a force is exerted on the handle 22.
The reason for this is that the force or pressure applied to the handle 22 compresses the elastic region 30. This causes the nose 28 of the snap 24 to disengage. A direction in which the handle 22 moves when the force is applied to it and the elastic region 30 is compressed is indicated by an arrow 36 in fig. 4.
The handle 22 is provided at a first free end 38 of the clip device 18. As can be further seen from fig. 4, the flange 26 of the snap 24 extends from a region of the clip device 18 which is designed as a plate 40, which connects the handle 22 to the elastic region 30. In other words, this plate 40 is located between the handle 22 and the elastic region 30. The handle 22 and the elastic region 30 are also designed as plate-like regions of the clip device 18, i.e. their extension in a direction perpendicular to the arrow 36 is about the same as the extension of the plate 40 of the clip device 18.
Also, next to the handle 22 a stop 42 is provided by a flange. This stop 42 limits the movement of the handle 22 in the direction opposite to the one indicated by the arrow 36, i.e. when the compressed elastic region 30 springs back into its original form shown in fig. 4. The clip device 18 also comprises a further free end 44, which is fixed to the access panel 20 (see fig. 7). This further free end 44 has the same width as the elastic region 30, the plate 40 and the snap 24.
The handle 22 can have a width, i.e. an extension in a direction perpendicular to the arrow 36 slightly bigger than the plate 40 (see fig. 5). From the perspective view in fig. 5, the elongate form of the handle 22 and the snap 24 can be particularly well recognized.
Fig. 6 shows a front view of the access panel 20, to which the clip device 18 is secured.
The access panel 20 closes an aperture in the back panel 46. The access panel 20 and the back panel 46 can for example be parts of a side trim of a luggage compartment in a vehicle. The access panel 20 and the back panel 46 shown in fig. 6 can also be components of other panel assemblies 48, in particular of panel assemblies 48 in a vehicle. Of the clip device 18 only the handle 22 is visible in fig. 6.
From fig. 7 it can be readily perceived how the nose 28 of the snap 24 engages behind the back panel 46. The further free end 44 of the clip device 18 is fixed to the access panel 20 by means of a stepped region of the clip device 18. By pushing the handle 22 downwards, i.e. in the direction indicated by the arrow 36 in fig. 7, the elastic region 30 of the clip device 18 is compressed. This reduction in length of the elastic region 30 causes the nose 28 of the snap 24 to disengage the back panel 46. With the snap 24 released, the access panel 20 can be opened, for example be pivoted in an open position or be otherwise removed from the back panel 46.
In order to close the access panel 20, the handle 22 is again pressed downwards against the force of the elastic region 30 acting as a spring. This allows the nose 28 to move behind the back panel 46 as long as the handle 22 is pressed down. Upon releasing the force exerted on the handle 22, the nose 28 engages behind the back panel 46. Also the stop 42 abuts against an inclined wall of the access panel 20. Thus, by operating the handle 22, the access panel 20 can be easily unlocked and locked.

Claims (8)

  1. Claims Clip device for releasably fixing a first component (20) to a second component (46), the clip device (18) comprising a latching element (24) designed to engage with the second component (46), and comprising an elastic region (30) a length of which can be diminished for disengaging the latching element (24), characterized in that the clip device (18) further comprises a handling element (22) situated at a free end (38) of the clip device (18), which is movable towards the elastic region (30) of the clip device (18) by exerting a force on the handling element (22).
  2. 2. Clip device according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching element (24) extends from a region (40) of the clip device (18), which connects the handling element (22) to the elastic region (30).
  3. 3. Clip device according to claim 2, characterized in that the latching element (24) extends substantially perpendicular to the region (40) of the clip device (18).
  4. 4. Clip device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the region (40) of the clip device (18) is designed as a plate extending in a direction coinciding with a direction (36) in which the handling element (22) is movable by the force exerted on the handling element (22).
  5. 5. Clip device according to any one of claims ito 4, characterized in that & the elastic region (30) is designed as a meandering part of the clip device (18), comprising at least one, preferably at least two, most preferably at least three, U-turns (32).
  6. 6. Clip device according to any one of claims ito 5, characterized in that the clip device (18) comprises a further free end (44) situated opposite the handling element (22) in a direction (36) in which the handling element (22) is movable by the force exerted on the handling element (22), the further free end (44) being designed to be fixed to the first component (20).
  7. 7. Clip device according to any one of claims ito 6, characterized in that the clip device (18) is made of plastic.
  8. 8. Panel assembly, in particular for a vehicle, comprising at least one clip device (18) according to any one of claims i to 7, wherein the at least one clip device (i8) releasably fixes a first panel (20) of the panel assembly (48) to a second panel (46) of the panel assembly (48).
GB201308390A 2013-05-10 2013-05-10 Clip device and panel assembly Withdrawn GB2513894A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201308390A GB2513894A (en) 2013-05-10 2013-05-10 Clip device and panel assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB201308390A GB2513894A (en) 2013-05-10 2013-05-10 Clip device and panel assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201308390D0 GB201308390D0 (en) 2013-06-19
GB2513894A true GB2513894A (en) 2014-11-12

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB201308390A Withdrawn GB2513894A (en) 2013-05-10 2013-05-10 Clip device and panel assembly

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GB (1) GB2513894A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE1900153A1 (en) * 2019-09-26 2021-03-27 Alvar Lundgren Fittings for fixing the back of the cabinet

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1091630A (en) * 1965-04-07 1967-11-22 Hauser & Co A Multi-point writing instruments
EP0351293A1 (en) * 1988-07-11 1990-01-17 Souriau Et Cie Blocking fastener for a stack of modules on a receiving rail
WO1993014324A1 (en) * 1992-01-17 1993-07-22 Dzus Fastener Europe Limited Quick release stud fastener
EP0641942A2 (en) * 1993-08-07 1995-03-08 CAMLOC GmbH Push fastener for the releasable joining of two elements
US5951194A (en) * 1994-11-08 1999-09-14 Moto Meter Gmbh Attachment element for a body in a wall
US20120148339A1 (en) * 2010-12-09 2012-06-14 Dtech Precision Industries Co., Ltd. Quick assembly apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1091630A (en) * 1965-04-07 1967-11-22 Hauser & Co A Multi-point writing instruments
EP0351293A1 (en) * 1988-07-11 1990-01-17 Souriau Et Cie Blocking fastener for a stack of modules on a receiving rail
WO1993014324A1 (en) * 1992-01-17 1993-07-22 Dzus Fastener Europe Limited Quick release stud fastener
EP0641942A2 (en) * 1993-08-07 1995-03-08 CAMLOC GmbH Push fastener for the releasable joining of two elements
US5951194A (en) * 1994-11-08 1999-09-14 Moto Meter Gmbh Attachment element for a body in a wall
US20120148339A1 (en) * 2010-12-09 2012-06-14 Dtech Precision Industries Co., Ltd. Quick assembly apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE1900153A1 (en) * 2019-09-26 2021-03-27 Alvar Lundgren Fittings for fixing the back of the cabinet
SE545364C2 (en) * 2019-09-26 2023-07-18 Alvar Lundgren Fittings for fixing the cabinet back

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201308390D0 (en) 2013-06-19

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