Connecting assembly for fastening an add-on element on a carrier element

Abstract

A connecting assembly (1) for fastening an add-on element (2) on a carrier element (3) includes a foot (4) which can be inserted into an opening (39) of the carrier element (3) and has fixing means (40) for fixing the foot (4) with respect to the carrier element (3) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (41) of the foot (4). The connecting assembly (1) further includes a pin (5) which can be inserted into a passage (20) of the add-on element (2) and has retaining means (50) which counteract a displacement of the add-on element (2) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (51) of the pin (5). The pin (5) is adapted to be inserted into the foot (4) and has locking means (52) which cooperate with complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) in a radial direction with -respect to the longitudinal axes (41, 51). The foot (4) has two elastic axial restoring means (43) with respect to its longitudinal axis (41) which hold a support surface (54) of the pin (5) and a counter support surface (44) of the foot (4) in contact with each other when the locking means (52) of the pin (5) cooperate with the complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) after the insertion of the pin (5) into the foot (4).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The invention relates to a connecting assembly for fastening an add-on element on a carrier element.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Connecting assemblies comprising a foot which can be inserted into an opening of a carrier element and includes fixing means for fixing the foot with respect to the carrier element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, and comprising a pin which can be inserted into a passage of the add-on element and includes retaining means which counteract a displacement of the add-on element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin, the pin being adapted to be inserted into the foot and having locking means which cooperate with complementary locking means of the foot in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axes, are used in particular in the automotive industry for fastening inner lining parts to car body parts of a motor vehicle.[0003]Different types of devices for fastening add-on elem...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]According to the invention, a connecting assembly for fastening an add-on element on a carrier element includes a foot which can be inserted into an opening of the carrier element and has fixing means for fixing the foot with respect to the carrier element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot. The connecting assembly further includes a pin which can be inserted into a passage of the add-on element and has retaining means which counteract a displacement of the add-on element in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin. The pin is adapted to be inserted into the foot and has locking means which cooperate with complementary locking means of the foot in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axes. The foot has two elastic axial restoring means with respect to its longitudinal axis, which hold a support surface of the pin and a counter support surface of the foot in contact with each other when the locking means of the pin cooperate with the complementary locking means of the foot after the insertion of the pin into the foot. The connecting assembly according to the invention has the advantage that the pin and the foot can be manufactured from a rigid material so that they can be mounted by means of automated manufacturing means due to their robustness.

Problems solved by technology

Some connecting assemblies of the prior art are designed such that they can be fastened merely in a carrier opening having a specific shape, which restricts its general usability.

A damaging of one of the components during the removal is not unusual.

Furthermore, some connecting techniques do not permit a reuse of the connecting assembly under satisfactory circumstances, in particular if the cooperation between the first and second components occurs by plastic deformation.

In addition, it has to be noted that the connecting techniques known from the prior art often ensure merely a mediocre tightness at the connecting points.

Images