WO2006002942A1

WO2006002942A1 - Connection means

Info

Publication number: WO2006002942A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/007102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc BARQUÉ VÍA
Original assignee: Fico Transpar, S.A.
Priority date: 2004-07-01
Filing date: 2005-07-01
Publication date: 2006-01-12
Also published as: DE102004032002A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a connection means (1) for connecting an extendable component (200) and a cover (100), particularly for connecting of a washing nozzle (200) with a corresponding cover (100). The connection means (1) according to the invention comprises a basic component (10) with a conical area (20) and a ball segment shaped area (30) and a mounting component (50), which is mountable at the basic component (10) such that it at least partially encloses the basic component (10) and such that it latches below the conical area (20).

Description

F 102553 WO HS/AWu/aj/las

Connection means

1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a connection means for the connection of two components, particularly for the connection of a washing nozzle and a corre¬ sponding cover for motor vehicles.

2. Background of the invention Vehicles of all kinds are nowadays produced in a modular manner. That means, components which are provided from different suppliers, are assembled at a main factory to a complete vehicle. The modular way of construction allows that vehi¬ cles can be combined with different embodiments of the single components.

Such a component, which can be used in form of different alternatives in one ve¬ hicle type or in different vehicle types is a washing system and the corresponding nozzles for the provision of the washing liquid. Such a washing system is for ex¬ ample used for the washing of the windshield in motor vehicles and for the wash¬ ing of the headlamps in motor vehicles.

Modern washing systems for example in motor vehicles provide their washing liquid by means of telescopic nozzles for example to the headlamps. These tele¬ scopic nozzles are integrated into the bumper of the motor vehicle such that they are not visibly arranged within the bumpers, if they are not in use. If the washing system of the motor vehicle is actuated the telescopic nozzle extends out of the bumper, such that the washing liquid can be provided on the corresponding head¬ lamp. To lower the nozzles, which are extendable out of the bumper, not visibly into the bumper the openings through which the nozzles are lowered are closed by means of a cover. Usually, the cover is rigidly connected with the corresponding nozzle. Since the nozzles are produced as an integral part with the cover the nozzles with the cover have to be produced unique for each vehicle type due to the plurality of nozzle types and shapes of the bumpers. This provides high production costs and limits the use of washing nozzles with cover to the corresponding vehicle type.

It is therefore the technical problem of the present invention to provide a nozzle with a cover, which can be used universally in different vehicle types and by which simultaneously the production effort and also the installation effort can be reduced compared to the existing constructions.

3. Summary of the invention The present invention relates to a connection means for connecting of an extend¬ able component and a cover. Particularly the present invention relates to a connec¬ tion means for a washing nozzle and a cover comprising a basic component with a conical area and a ball segment shaped area and a mounting component, which can be mounted on the basic component such that it at least partially encloses the basic component and latches beneath the conical area.

The connection means according to the invention enables a fast and efficient con¬ nection between a cover an extendable component for example in motor vehicles. Such extendable components are preferred according to the invention washing nozzles for headlamp cleaning systems or windshield cleaning systems as well as antennas, which can be lowered into the vehicle body. The extendable component according to the invention is provided with the above mentioned basic component, such that at this basic component and therefore at the extendable component a cover can be mounted by means of the mounting component with low effort. The connection means particular preferred is configured such that a rigid connection' between the basic component and the mounting component or an adjustable con- nection between the basic component and the mounting component is made. The provision of a rigid connection realizes a specific adaptation to the different vehi¬ cle types, whereas an adaptable connection can be used universally in different vehicle types. Further, an adjustable connection guarantees, that the cover can be provided self-adjustable if it is disadjusted during use.

A further advantage of the present invention lies in the combination of the cover with different extendable components, for example with different washing nozzles by providing the different extendable components with the basic component ac- cording to the invention respectively. In doing so, the same cover can be com¬ bined with different extendable components, whereby the production effort for extendable components with covers is reduced and the installation effort neverthe¬ less is low.

According to a preferred embodiment the conical shaped area and the ball seg¬ ment shaped area are opposed to each other.

According to further preferred embodiment, the mounting component latches on the ball segment shaped area.

Preferred according to the invention the mounting component receives at least partially the basic component and latches on the basic component. Li this manner preferably a force fitting as well as a positive connection between the basic com¬ ponent and the mounting component is made. The positive connection between the basic component and the mounting component is in different embodiments designed such that a rigid connection between the basic component and the mounting component results. According to other preferred embodiments by means of the positive connection an adjustment of the orientations of basic component and mounting component to each other is guaranteed, such that an adaptation, for example after the assembly of a washing nozzle is enabled. The adjustment of the orientation of basic component and mounting component to each other is prefera- bly constrained to different degrees of freedom, by means of projections and re¬ cesses which preferably engage each other.

Further it is preferred that the mounting component comprises a lower edge, which engages below the conical area.

As already mentioned above, the lower edge of the mounting component is rigid on the ball segment shaped area or moveable.

Preferably the conically shaped area is arranged in a cavity which is formed by the mounting component. This cavity is preferably formed ball-shaped. According to further preferred embodiments the cavity is truncoconically shaped, such that an angle between the truncoconical cavity inside and the outer side of the conically shaped area results. This angle preferably determines in which limits the conical area is pivotable within the mounting component. This angle preferably prevents a misorientation of the cover, if the washing nozzle is in its work position. Within this cavity the conical area is either provided rigid or moveable in particular de¬ grees of freedom. The movement of the conical area within the cavity of the mounting component is further preferably controlled by the cooperation of exten- sions and recesses. According to a further preferred embodiment the tip of the conical area and the inner surface of the cavity of the mounting component coop¬ erate with each other, whereby the adjustment of basic component and mounting component to each other is controlled. Such a cooperation is regulated preferably by means of friction between the tip of the conical area and the inner surface of the cavity. A further possibility lies in the provision of ribs or structures in the inner surface of the cavity by means of which the tip of the conical area forms a positive connection.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the basic component comprises at least one limiting projection to limit the ability to move of the mounting component. According to a further preferred embodiment the at least one limiting projection engages into an opening of the mounting component.

By the cooperation of limiting projection and opening at least one positive con¬ nection is provided which enables a rigid connection between basic component and mounting component in a particular orientation to each other.

It is also preferred to use the limiting projection and the corresponding opening to allow an orientation of basic component and mounting component along a given way of movement. By means of this limitation projection according to the inven¬ tion for example a disturbing orientation of the cover is prevented and simultane¬ ously an adjustment is guaranteed within a particular range of movement. With respect to the example of a washing nozzle and the corresponding cover thereby it is prevented that the cover disturbs the jet of the ejected washing liquid, wherein it simultaneously guarantees that the ejection opening of the washing nozzle is al¬ ways optimally self-adjusted to this ejection opening.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention the size of the open- ing is adapted to the size of the limitation projection, such that the movement of the limitation projection is limited or not all possible within the opening.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention the basic component is connected with a telescopic nozzle for vehicles and the mounting component is connected with a cover for telescopic nozzles. 4. Short description of the accompanying drawings

The present invention and their preferred embodiments are descried with refer¬ ence to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings it shows:

Fig. 1 : a washing nozzle with cover, which are connected by means of the connection means according to the invention;

Fig. 2: a washing nozzle with a basic component without connected cover;

Fig. 3: an enlarged illustration of a preferred connection means comprising of basic component and mounting component;

Fig. 4: different possibilities of adjustment of mounting components, which are adjustably connected on the basic component; and

Fig. 5: a further preferred possibility of adjustment of the connection means.

5. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The present invention relates to a connection means 1 for connecting of an ex¬ tendable component 200 and a cover 100. Preferred according to the invention such a connection means 1 is used at washing nozzles 200, which are used at mo¬ tor vehicles. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention such washing nozzles 200 are installed for example as telescopic nozzles within the bumper of cars. If a washing process is started the washing nozzle 200 extends through an opening in the bumper, for example to spray washing liquid to an ad¬ jacent headlamp. The opening, which exists in the bumper, prior to this in the not extended condition of the washing nozzle 200 was closed by the cover 100. The closing of the opening is realized by a connection of the cover 100 with the nozzle 200 via the connection means 1 according to the invention. Due to this connection the cover 100 moves in the same way as the nozzle 200, such that by lowering of nozzle 200 after a washing process the cover 100 closingly abuts the opening in the bumper. A preferred embodiment of the above described washing nozzle 200 with a cover 100 and connecting means 1 is shown in Fig. 1. The washing nozzle 200 shown there comprises two exiting openings through which the washing liq¬ uid is ejected for example onto the headlamp. In Fig. 2 the process of ejecting of the washing fluid is schematically shown.

On the washing nozzle 200 the connection means 1, which is preferred according to the invention, arranged, which consists of a basic component 10 and a mount¬ ing component 50. To realize a simple and efficient connection between cover 100 and washing nozzle 200 the basic component 10 is mounted at the washing nozzle 200 and the mounting component 50 is mounted at the cover 100. An enlarged illustration of the connection means 1, which is preferred according to the inven- tion, and its component is shown in Fig. 3.

With respect to Fig. 2 in the following the preferred construction of the basic component 10 of the connection means 1 according to the invention is described. The basic component 10 preferably consists of a conical area 20 and a ball seg- ment shaped area 30. The ball segment shaped area 30 is arranged below the coni¬ cal shaped area 20. Due to this arrangement, which is preferred according to the invention, of both areas 20 and 30 a preferred edge 25 results, which serves for a latching of the mounting components 50 on the basic component 10.

The basic component 10 further comprises preferably at least one limitation pro¬ jection 40. The limitation projection 40 acts together with a corresponding open¬ ing 60 within the mounting component 50 to totally prevent a movement of the mounting component 50 on the basic component 10 or to only allow a movement within a certain range of movement. The further limitation projections 42 and 44 serve also for this purpose, as explained further below in detail. As it is shown in a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in Fig. 3 the mounting component 50 is put on the basic component 10 such that the mounting component 50 at least partially encloses the basic component 10. If preferably no limitation projections are provided at the basic component 10 the mounting component 50 is a hood-like cover, which is put on the basic component 10.

Preferably according to the invention the mounting component 50 further com¬ prises a mounting edge 70 which latches at the edge 25 of the basic component 10. After the mounting component 50 is put on the basic component 10 the mounting edge 70 snaps below the edge 25 of the basic component 10 and latches. After this latching process respectively mounting process the mounting edge 70 engages the ball segment shaped area 30 of the basic component 10. Therefore, it is located below the conical area 20. hi the case of a movement of the mounting component 50 on the basic component 10 the mounting edge 70 preferably dis¬ places on the ball segment shaped area 30. According to the above described con¬ nection the conical shaped area 20 clamps within a cavity (not shown) formed by the mounting component 50, respectively it is removably received therein. Ac¬ cording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tip of the conical area 20 cooperates with the inner surface of the not shown cavity of the mounting component 50. Such a cooperation prevents preferably according to the invention a disadjustment of the orientation between mounting component 50 and basic component 10. Such a cooperation is preferably realized by friction between the tip of the conical shaped area 20 and the inner surface of the mounting component 50. A further possibility lies in providing a structure at the inner surface of the mounting component 50 into which the tip of the conical area 20 of the basic component 10 engages. To this end a positive connection between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 is realized, which prevents a disad¬ justment of the orientation between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10. Further it is preferred to provide the basic component 10 with limitation projec¬ tions 40, 42, 44, which cooperate with corresponding openings 60 in the mounting component 50. By means of the arrangement of different mounting projections 40, 42, 44 preferably the possibility of movement of the mounting component 50 with respect to the basic component 10 is constrained, hi this way either a rigid con¬ nection between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 is real¬ ized or a connection which comprises a particular degree of freedom of movement between the basic component 10 and the mounting component 50.

According a preferred embodiment the limitation projections 40 are shaped such that they comprise a tip which points to the top, wherein near to this tip the widest portion of the limitation projection 40 is arranged. Starting from this widest por¬ tion of the limitation projection 40 the limitation projection 40 tapers in direction to the washing nozzle 200 (see Fig. 2). As it is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 the limi- tation projection 40 engages within a corresponding opening 60 in the mounting component 50. The tip of the limitation projection 40, pointing to the top facili¬ tates the connection of the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 in that it aligns the openings 60 with respect to the limitation projection 40 and ex¬ pands the opening 60. After the mounting component 50 is totally put on the basic component 10, i.e. the mounting edge 70 is latched below the conical area 20, the orientation shown in Fig. 4a of mounting component 50 and basic component 10 results. As already explained above, the limitation projection 40 tapers in direc¬ tion to its end pointing down. Depending on the amount of tapering of the limita¬ tion projection 40 and the width of the widest area of the limitation projection 40 the mounting component 50 can be pivoted perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the limitation projection 40. The maximum possible pivoting angles in the one or the other direction are shown in Figs. 4b and 4c. This pivoting preferably al¬ lows an optimal adjustment of the cover 100 to the corresponding opening, which should be closed by the cover 100, i.e. for example the opening in the bumper, through which the washing nozzle 200 exits. During the installation of the con¬ nection means it is secured preferably according to the invention that the cover 100 optimally fits to the corresponding opening and closes it. The adjusted orien¬ tation between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 respec¬ tively is secured by the above described cooperation of the conical shaped area 20 with the inner surface of the cavity of the mounting component 50.

It is further preferred that the cooperation between the conical shaped area 20 and the inner surface of the mounting component 50 is only realized to such an amount, that a steady self-adjustment of the cover 10 is realized since a moveable connection of the mounting component 50 on the basic component 10 is possible. This process includes that the cover 100 is allowed to adjust during the extension of nozzle 200 without interfering the ejected jet of washing liquid. If the washing nozzle 200 is again lowered the cover 100 again automatically adjusts by means of the moveable connection between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 to optimally cover and close the corresponding opening for exam- pie within the bumper. In that way a sealing up for example of the bumper after the lowering of the washing nozzle 200 is guaranteed.

To guarantee that the cover 100 does not block or interfere with the ejecting jet of washing liquid a further projection 44 is provided (see Fig. 2) which is in coopera- tion with a corresponding opening in the mounting component 50 to secure an orientation between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10. In that way it is preferably guaranteed that the mounting component 50 pivots only parallel to the face of the projection 44. The projection 42 cooperates with a corre¬ sponding opening 62 at the mounting component 50 to also totally prevent a movement between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 or to allow a movement only in a particular constrained range.

According to a further preferred embodiment the freedom of movement between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 is provided by the inner surface of the cavity of the mounting component 50. Preferably this embodiment is used alone or in addition to the above described cooperation of limitation pro- jection 40 and opening 60. As an illustration of this embodiment, Fig. 5 shows in the same way as Fig. 4 a section for a schematically shown basic component 10 and a mounting component 50 mounted thereon. The mounting component 50 comprises inner surfaces 52 which are aligned at a particular angle to the conical shaped area of the basic component 10. In comparison thereto in the embodiment of Fig. 4 the inner surface of the mounting component 50 is arbitrarily shaped. These arbitrary shapes allow a preferred cooperation between the tip of the coni¬ cal area 20 and the surface or they work without this cooperation.

Depending on the angle between the conical area 20 and the inner surface 52 (see Fig. 5) the mounting component 50 can only be pivoted to such an extent, until the face of the conical area 20 abuts the inner face 52. Corresponding to this de¬ sign of the inner face 52 and its angular orientation in respect to the conical area 20 it preferably can prevent a total pivoting of the mounting component 50 on the basic component 10 or it can constrain it to a particular range of angles.

In that way preferably a rigid connection between the mounting component 50 and the basic component 10 is realized also if no limitation projections 40, 42, 44 and corresponding openings 60 are provided.

Claims

1. A connection means (1) for the connection of an extendable nozzle (200) and a cover (100), particularly for motor vehicles, comprising:

a. a basic component (10) with a conical area (20) and a ball segment shaped area (30); and

b. a mounting component (50), which is connectable at the basic com- ponent (10); such that

c. it encloses at least partially the basic component (10) and it latches below the conical area (20).

2. The connecting means according to claim 1, wherein the conical area (20) and the ball segment shaped area (30) are opposed to each other.

3. The connecting means according to one of the previous claims, wherein the mounting component (50) latches on the ball segment shaped area (30).

4. The connecting means according to one of the previous claims, wherein the mounting component (50) comprises a lower edge (70), which engages below the conical area (20).

5. The connecting means according to claim 4, wherein the lower edge (70) of the mounting component (50) is rigid or moveable on the ball segment shaped area (30).

6. The connecting means according to claim 5, wherein the basic component (10) comprises at least one limitation projection (40, 42, 44), to constrain the moveability of the mounting component (50).

7. The connecting means according to claim 6, wherein at least one limitation projection (40, 42, 44) engages within an opening (60) of the mounting component (50).

8. The connecting means according to claim 7, wherein the size of the open- ing (60) is adapted to the size of the limitation projection (40, 42, 44) such that the limitation projection (40, 42, 44) is constrained moveable or is not moveable within the opening (60).

9. The connecting means according to one of the previous claims, wherein the basic component (10) is connected with a telescopic nozzle (200) for vehicles and the mounting component (50) is connected with a cover (100) for telescopic nozzles (200).