Clamp and method for mounting a cover, a fixture and a vehicle part

Abstract

The invention relates to a clamp (1) for mounting a cover, which clamp is provided for insertion into a through-opening (20) provided for it in a vehicle component (21) in an installation direction (100). The clamp comprises a fixing section (4) which is provided for positioning and fixing the clamp on the through-opening when the clamp is inserted into the through-opening in the installation direction, the fixing section having a contact area (8, 9) which is provided for lying against an edge of the through-opening, a coupling section (2) which is provided for receiving an end section of a pin (40) and fixing the pin against pulling out when the pin is inserted into the clamp in the installation direction, and an elastic section (3) which comprises at least one elastic element (3a, 3b) which connects the fixing section and the coupling section to one another. The coupling section and the elastic section are dimensioned in such a way that they can be moved through the through-opening provided for the clamp in the installation direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a clip for mounting a cover. BACKGROUND

[0002] In order to mount a cover, in particular in a vehicle interior, to a vehicle component, such as a support tube of a vehicle body, a clip is usually inserted into a through-opening of the vehicle component. These clips form a receptacle for a mating pin, by means of which the cover can be mounted. The cover is thus usually fixed between the head of the pin and the vehicle component, the end part of the pin remaining in the clip. In order to hold the cover stably by means of the pin, a certain pulling force has to be exerted on the pin. This also prevents the pin from coming loose from the clip. Such clips therefore usually have a resilient section, by means of which the pulling force is exerted on the pin when the pin is fixed in the clip.

[0003] It is common nowadays for the clip to be mounted onto the vehicle component from behind. That is to say, the clip is inserted into the through-opening of the vehicle component from the side on which the cover is not arranged later. The clip must therefore, for example, first be inserted into a support tube of a vehicle body and subsequently be latched in the support tube from the inside to the outside. This is complicated, however, because the clip has to be guided into its later mounting position with the aid of a tool, such as a pair of pliers. However, in this time-consuming mounting, the clip can be damaged by the mating tool. Since such a clip must also be shaped in such a way that it is latched to the vehicle body in a simple manner in order to enable mounting from the inside of the support tube, the mating latching means are provided with a small bearing surface, which can result in the clip being pressed out of its fixing in the through-opening of the vehicle component when the pin is inserted. This can lead to unnecessarily high rework times when mounting the vehicle component. SUMMARY

[0004] It is therefore the task of the present application to provide a clip for mounting a cover to a vehicle component, which ensures secure holding of the cover and at the same time can be mounted in a simple manner.

[0005] The clip according to the application for mounting a cover comprises a fixing section, a coupling section and a resilient section. The clip is provided for being inserted into a through-opening provided for it in a vehicle component in a mounting direction. The fixing section is provided for positioning and fixing the clip on the through-opening when the clip is inserted into the through-opening in the mounting direction, said fixing section having a contact area which is provided for lying against an edge of the through-opening. The coupling section is provided for receiving an end section of a pin and fixing the pin against pulling out when the pin is inserted into the clip in said mounting direction. The resilient section comprises at least one resilient element which connects the fixing section and the coupling section to one another. Said coupling section and resilient section are dimensioned such that they can be moved through the through-opening provided for the clip in the mounting direction.

[0006] The clip is thus a counterpart for a pin which can be inserted into the clip and secured therein. The clip establishes the connection to the vehicle part here, since it can be secured to the vehicle part by means of the securing section. The connection between the vehicle part and the cover is established by means of the pin. The clip is inserted into a through-opening provided for it in the vehicle part in the installation direction. The installation direction is here the direction in which the clip is inserted into the through-opening in order to secure the clip to the vehicle part. The vehicle part is here preferably part of a support structure of a vehicle body. The cover is here preferably a trim element, in particular a footwell trim panel. The clip is preferably a one-piece structural element, which is produced, for example, by means of an injection-molding method. The securing section, the coupling section and the resilient section are thus preferably formed integrally.

[0007] The securing section is provided for positioning and securing the clip on the through-opening. "Securing" here means that the securing section is in contact with the vehicle part in such a way that the clip is at least secured against being pulled out of the through-opening. By positioning the clip on the through-opening, the clip is moved into a specific, predefined position within the through-opening. The clip and in particular the securing section of the clip are shaped in such a way that, after the clip has been inserted into the through-opening, the clip can only be positioned in the through-opening in one possible way. Preferably, the clip can be inserted into the through-opening in different ways, for example, rotationally about the installation direction, and subsequently positioned and secured, for example, by virtue of the clip being configured symmetrically. However, if the clip is secured to the vehicle part in one of the possible orientations, the clip is positioned relative to the vehicle part in the same way. It is thereby ensured that in particular the positioning of the pin which is matched to the clip relative to the vehicle part is also achieved in accordance with the provisions, so that the positioning of the cover relative to the vehicle part is also achieved in accordance with the desired provisions.

[0008] Furthermore, the securing section is positioned in that it has a contact region which is provided for lying against an edge of the through-opening. The edge is here a circumferential surface in the through-opening which connects different, opposite sides of the vehicle part to one another. By bringing the contact region of the securing section into contact with the edge of the through-opening, the securing section can no longer be moved relative to the vehicle part in a direction perpendicular to the installation direction. Preferably, the contact region lies completely against the entire edge of the through-opening. However, as an alternative, the contact region can also be interrupted and only lies against the edge of the through-opening in specific sections. It is advantageous here, however, for the contact region to be shaped in such a way that the clip continues to remain positioned in the through-opening even if forces are acting on the clip which are oriented perpendicular to the installation direction.

[0009] The coupling section is provided for accommodating the end section of the pin and for securing the pin against pulling out. "Pulling out" here is a movement against the mounting direction. Thus, a connection between the pin and the clamp is established in the coupling section, which is preferably a detachable connection. The pin is preferably secured in the coupling section by a rotation of the pin.

[0010] The elastic section has at least one elastic element, which connects the securing section and the coupling section to one another. The elastic element is preferably designed such that it is placed under spring tension when the pin is secured in the coupling section. Thus, in the mounted state of the clamp, a pulling force is exerted on the pin by the elastic section, which pulls the head of the pin in the direction of the clamp and in the direction of the vehicle component. The pin is thus pulled into the clamp by the elastic section in the mounting direction. This is advantageous, because thereby a force acts on the pin, which prevents a movement of the pin relative to the clamp and thus an undesired loosening of the pin from the clamp, in particular from the coupling section of the clamp. Furthermore, in this way, a cover arranged between the head of the pin and the clamp is pulled towards the clamp and thus towards the vehicle component. Thus, the cover is also secured relative to the vehicle component. The securing of the cover relative to the vehicle component here takes place in particular in the mounting direction or against the mounting direction. This means that the cover does not lift off the vehicle component. The movement of the cover relative to the vehicle component along the surface of the vehicle component, i.e. perpendicular to the mounting direction, is preferably avoided by the fact that the pin passes through a through-opening of the cover, which has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the intermediate section of the pin.

[0011] The coupling section and the elastic section are dimensioned such that they can be moved in the mounting direction through a through-opening provided for the clamp. It can be seen from the design of the securing section how the mating through-opening of the vehicle component has to be shaped. Thus, the contact area of the securing section is an indicator of how the mating through-opening is shaped, since the contact area essentially rests on the edge of the through-opening in order to position the clamp in the through-opening. In other words, the circumference of the contact area in a plane perpendicular to the mounting direction is greater than the circumference of the coupling section and the elastic section, if they are observed in the same plane. In other words, this means that the coupling section and the elastic section have a smaller size than the securing section, if they are observed from the mounting direction, so that the coupling section and the elastic section pass through the through-opening when mounting and only the securing section comprises components that can secure the clamp in the through-opening.

[0012] The securing section has a central through-opening, which is shaped such that the pin can be inserted into the clamp through the securing section and can be guided to the elastic section.

[0013] Therefore, a clamp is provided which can be installed from the front, i.e. from the side on which the cover should also be arranged, into a through-opening of a vehicle component for the installation. This is also the side into which the mating pin can be inserted into the clamp. Therefore, it is not necessary to access the side of the vehicle component on which the cover should not be arranged. It can be said that the clamp can be inserted into the vehicle component blindly.

[0014] Advantageously, the fixing section and in particular the resilient section form a gap which extends in the defined installation direction and which allows a compression of the fixing section which allows the insertion of the fixing section into the through-opening. Therefore, the fixing section in particular has components which fix the clamp in the through-opening and for this purpose grab behind the vehicle component when the clamp is inserted into the through-opening in the installation direction. In order to pass these components of the fixing section through the through-opening without deformation of the fixing section itself, advantageously the fixing section is compressible. The fixing section here preferably has two sections which are separated from one another by the gap. The compression of the fixing section means that the two sections can be moved towards one another in a plane which is perpendicular to the installation direction. During the compression, the width of the gap is reduced. After the compression, the clamp elastically returns to its initial shape. Therefore, advantageously the clamp is crimped during the installation in order to achieve the compression of the fixing section. When the clamp is in the defined position, the compression is released, whereby the fixing section is fixed in the through-opening.

[0015] Furthermore advantageously, the fixing section comprises at least one latching nose which is provided for preventing the clamp from being removed from the through-opening. Therefore, the latching nose is adapted to fix the clamp in the through-opening. If the clamp has a gap in the fixing section and / or the resilient section, advantageously the gap is designed in such a way that the clamp can be compressed to such an extent when the clamp is installed in the installation direction that the latching nose can be slid through the through-opening. Furthermore, the gap and / or the fixing section is shaped in such a way that the latching nose grabs behind the vehicle component when the compression of the fixing section is released.

[0016] It is furthermore advantageous that the fixing section is provided for abutting on different sides of the through-opening with contact areas in order to position the clamp in the through-opening along an axis which is perpendicular to the installation direction. This means that the contact areas abut on the inner circumference of the through-opening in such a way that the clamp is positioned in a defined position in the through-opening. The axes which are perpendicular to the installation direction here are preferably perpendicular to one another. This means that the different sides are preferably two sides which are not only opposite sides in order to achieve the positioning of the clamp and to avoid a sliding of the clamp.

[0017] The latching nose here preferably has a lead-in chamfer which compresses the fixing section when the clamp is inserted into the vehicle component in the installation direction. Thereby it can be achieved that no special tool is necessary to compress the clamp during the installation.

[0018] It is further preferred that the fixing section has a stop face which is dimensioned such that it cannot move through the through-opening when the clamp is mounted in the mounting direction and which is preferably provided for fixing the vehicle part between the stop face and the latching nose. The stop face is thus the face which rests on the vehicle part after mounting the clamp. The stop face is thus the face which prevents the clamp from being pressed through the through-opening when mounting the clamp. The vehicle part is thus accommodated between the stop face and the latching nose after mounting the clamp. Since the stop face does not have to move through the through-opening for mounting the clamp, the stop face can be designed particularly large-area, whereby the clamp has a high stability when being mounted.

[0019] It is furthermore advantageous that the fixing section has at least one lead-in face which is provided for guiding the contact area of the clamp fixing section onto the edge of the through-opening when the clamp is inserted into the through-opening in the mounting direction. The lead-in face is thus adapted to orient the clamp in the through-opening when being mounted. The lead-in face is thus a bevel which extends from a more outer portion of the clamp in the mounting direction towards the central vertical axis of the clamp. If the clamp hits on the surface of the vehicle part with the lead-in face when being inserted into the through-opening, the clamp is thus pressed in the direction in which the clamp is positioned in the through-opening. This means that the clamp is pressed in the direction of the through-opening by the lead-in face when being mounted. It is preferred that the clamp has two lead-in faces which are provided on opposite side faces of the fixing section. The latching nose can form an additional lead-in face. The mounting of the clamp is thereby simplified, since the clamp is automatically positioned in the through-opening when being inserted into the through-opening in the mounting direction.

[0020] It is furthermore advantageous that the coupling section comprises a receiving portion of a quarter-turn closure and / or that the elastic section comprises at least one arc-shaped elastic element. The quarter-turn closure has the advantage that by a quarter turn required for the closure, the coupling section is pulled towards the fixing section and thus the elastic section or the elastic element is compressed and under tension. The pin is thereby fixed against falling out and the cover is pulled towards the vehicle part. It is further preferred that the elastic section comprises exactly two arc-shaped elastic elements, wherein each arc is connected on one side to the coupling section and on the other side to the fixing section.

[0021] Such a fixing device is also advantageous which comprises a clamp according to the invention and a matching pin which is provided for being fixed in the coupling section with an end section of the pin.

[0022] It is advantageous here that the pin is shaped such that it has a thickness in a middle section of the pin which adjoins the end section which prevents a compression of the fixing section perpendicular to the mounting direction when the pin is inserted into the clamp.

[0023] The pin has two wings on the end section, which are embedded in the quarter-turn lock of the coupling section. Furthermore, the middle section of the pin preferably has a thickness, at which the outer diameter of the middle section of the pin corresponds to the inner diameter of the central through-opening of the fixing section, through which the pin is inserted into the clamp. Thus, a clamp is provided, which can be compressed when being installed in order to insert the clamp into the through-opening in a damage-free manner, and which can no longer be compressed when the pin has been inserted into the clamp, so that the clamp is effectively fixed against unintentional falling out.

[0024] A vehicle component comprising a clamp according to the invention or a fixing device according to the invention is also advantageous, which has the through-opening, into which the clamp is arranged, with the contact area of the fixing section lying against the edge of the through-opening. The vehicle component thus has a through-opening for installing the clamp. This through-opening is preferably a substantially square opening. The corners of this square through-opening can be rounded here.

[0025] A corresponding method for installing a cover on a vehicle component is also advantageous. This method comprises installing a clamp according to the invention by inserting the clamp into a through-opening of the vehicle component, wherein the installation is carried out by inserting the clamp in an installation direction, arranging a cover on the vehicle component, wherein an installation opening of the cover is arranged above the clamp, inserting a pin through the installation opening into the clamp in order to fix the cover between the clamp and the head of the pin, wherein the pin is inserted into the clamp in the installation direction here. Thus, the clamp and the pin are inserted into the through-opening from the same direction. Thus, the clamp and the matching vehicle trim panel can be completely installed from one side of the vehicle component only. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Further details, features and advantages of the invention result from the following description and the drawings. The drawings are as follows:

[0027] Figures la to lc Different views of a clamp according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment are shown;

[0028] Figure 2 An exemplary vehicle component with a through-opening for installing a clamp is shown; and

[0029] Figure 3 The clamp, the pin, the cover and the vehicle component in the installed state are shown in a sectional view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Figure la , Figure lb and Figure lcA clamp 1 according to an embodiment of the application is shown in different views. The clamp 1 is a one-piece construction element. The clamp 1 is provided for insertion into a through opening 20 provided for it in a vehicle component 21 in an installation direction 100, here the X direction. For this purpose the clamp 1 can be pressed by hand into the provided through opening 20 in the installation direction 100 at the time of installation, when the clamp 1 has reached the final position it is latched in the through opening 20.

[0031] The clamp 1 is divided into different regions or sections which perform different tasks. Thus, the clamp 1 comprises a fixing section 4, a coupling section 2 and a resilient section 3.

[0032] The fixing section 4 is provided for positioning and fixing the clamp 1 in the through opening 20 when the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20 in the installation direction 100, which is provided in the vehicle component 21 for the installation of the clamp 1. In this embodiment the fixing section 4 has a stop face 12, a latching nose 5, contact areas 8, 9 and a plurality of lead-in faces 6. Here, the fixing section 4 is divided into two parts by a gap 11.

[0033] The clamp 1 is provided for installation in a matingly provided through opening 20. Such a through opening 20 is shown in Figure 2 , wherein the through opening 20 is provided in an exemplary vehicle component 21. The vehicle component 21 is only shown in Figure 2 simplified and is generally a support structure of a vehicle, in particular a support tube. The clamp 1 has a plurality of side faces which surround the clamp 1 in the fixing section 4. Thus, the clamp 1 has two first side faces 8 which are opposite each other and which respectively abut on one of two opposite first side faces 22 of the through opening 20 when the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20. Furthermore, the clamp 1 has a plurality of second side faces 9 which abut on two opposite second side faces 23 of the through opening 20 when the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20. Since the through opening 20 has a substantially rectangular shape in this embodiment, the first and second side faces 8, 9 of the clamp 1 are so arranged that they substantially form a region with a square cross section in the fixing section 4, wherein the contact areas 8 are on their vertical axis oriented in the X axis and thus surround the installation direction around the clamp. Since the contact areas 8, 9 are so shaped that their outer circumference corresponds to the inner circumference of the mating through opening 20, the contact areas 8, 9 are provided for abutment on the edges of the through opening 20 when the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20.

[0034] The stop face 12 of the clamp 1 defines the contact area 8, 9 of the clamp 1 on one side, which comes into contact with the vehicle component 21 when the clamp 1 is inserted in the installation direction 100. Since the installation direction 100 is oriented from bottom to top in Fig. 1, the stop face 12 is located below the contact area 8, 9. The stop face 12 is dimensioned such that it cannot move through the through opening 20 when the clamp 1 is installed in the installation direction. This can be seen in Fig. 1 on the right-hand side. The stop face 12 has a greater outer circumference than the inner circumference of the through opening 20. Thus, when the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20, the stop face 12 rests on the surface of the vehicle component 21. If the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20, the vehicle component 21 is fixed between the stop face 12 and the latching nose 5. In the embodiment described here, the clamp 1 has two latching noses 5, which are connected directly to the first side 8 of the contact area 8, 9 in the installation direction, i.e. above the contact area 8, 9 in Fig. 1. Figure 2

[0035] It can be seen that the latching noses 5 protrude beyond the contact area 8, 9, whereby the vehicle component 21 can be accommodated between the latching noses 5 and the stop face 12. The contact area 8, 9 thus preferably has a height in the X direction, which corresponds to the thickness of the vehicle component 21, into which the clamp 1 is to be installed. Since the latching noses 5 extend beyond the periphery of the contact area 8, 9, the clamp 1 can only be pressed into the through opening 20 with increased force expenditure. In order to make this easier, a gap 1 1 is provided in the fixing section 4 and the resilient section 3. Thus, the fixing section 4 and the resilient section 3 form a gap 1 1, which extends in terms of its depth in the installation direction 100 provided (here: X direction). The gap 1 1 runs through the clamp 1 in the Y direction. This enables the fixing section 4 to be pressed together, i.e. compressed, in the Z direction. Thus, the gap 1 1 enables compression of the fixing section 4. Thereby, insertion of the fixing section 4 into the through opening 20 can be achieved or at least simplified. When the clamp 1 is compressed along its Z axis, the latching noses 5 move towards the interior of the clamp 1, i.e. towards the gap 1 1, whereby the latching noses 5 can be guided through the through opening 20. Here, either the clamp 1 can be compressed by a matching tool or it can be pressed into the through opening 20 by hand. This is simplified in this embodiment in that the latching noses 5 each have a lead-in chamfer, by which the fixing section 4 is pressed together when the latching noses 5 are pressed onto the edge of the through opening 20.

[0036] If the clamp 1 has been inserted into the through opening 20, the fixing section 4 is no longer continuously compressed and the latching noses 5 rest behind the vehicle component 21 in the installation direction. Since the latching noses 5 do not have a lead-in face on the side facing the vehicle component 21 in the installed position, the clamp 1 is fixed against being pulled out. The clamp 1 is thus prevented from being removed from the through opening 20.

[0037] ​The fixing section 4 also has lead-in faces 6, in the shown embodiment four lead-in faces 6, which are provided for guiding the contact areas 8, 9 of the fixing section of the clamp 1 onto the edges of the through opening when the clamp 1 is inserted into the through opening 20 in the mounting direction 100. This means that the clamp 1 is aligned with the through opening 20 by the lead-in faces 6. In addition, this effect is supported by the latching noses 5 at least in the first phase of the insertion of the clamp 1 into the through opening 20. The lead-in faces 6 position the clamp 1 in the Y direction and the latching noses 5 position the clamp 1 in the Z direction. Since the clamp 1 fits precisely into the through opening 20 with the contact areas 8, 9, the installation of the clamp 1 is simplified. The lead-in faces 6 are therefore faces which taper the contact areas 8, 9 in their circumferential direction in the mounting direction 100 on the second side 9. The lead-in faces 6 are therefore parallel to the Z axis and have an angle in the XY plane. Correspondingly, the latching noses 5 are parallel to the Y axis and have an angle in the XZ plane.

[0038] The fixing section 4 is provided for abutting with the contact areas 8, 9 on a plurality of different side faces of the through opening 20 in order to position the clamp 1 in the through opening along axes perpendicular to the mounting direction 100. In the illustration shown in Figure 1, the axes perpendicular to the mounting direction 100 are the Y axis and the Z axis. Since the clamp 1 abuts on a first side face 22 of the vehicle component 21 in the Z axis when it is installed in the vehicle component 21, the clamp is positioned and fixed in the Z direction. Since the clamp 1 abuts with the contact areas 8, 9 on a second side face 23 of the through opening 20 in the Y axis, the clamp 1 is positioned and fixed in the Y direction in the through opening 20. By precisely fitting the vehicle component 21 between the latching noses 5 and the stop face 12, the clamp is also positioned and fixed in the X direction in the through opening 20.

[0039] The coupling section 2 is connected to the fixing section 4 by means of the elastic section 3. The elastic section 3 has a first elastic element 3a and a second elastic element 3b here. The first elastic element 3a and the second elastic element 3b are each an arc-shaped elastic element. The start of the arc here begins on the fixing section 4 and the end of the arc ends on the coupling section 2, respectively. The elastic section 3 is shaped here such that it can realize an elastic action in the mounting direction, here in the X direction.

[0040] The clamp 1 is provided for receiving a pin 40. In particular, the coupling section 2 is provided for receiving an end section of the pin 40 and for fixing the pin 40 against pulling out by means of the end section. The fixing section 4 has for this purpose a central opening 7 through which the pin 40 can be inserted into the clamp 1 and through which an end section of the pin 40 can be inserted through the resilient section 3, here between the first resilient element 3a and the second resilient element 3b, in order to insert the end section of the pin 40 into the coupling section 2. The coupling section 2 has for fixing the end section 41 of the pin 40 a receiving portion 13 of a quarter-turn lock. Correspondingly, the pin which is matched to the clamp 1 has two wings 44 in the end section 41 of the pin 40 which are inserted into the quarter-turn lock. Such a pin 40 with two wings 44 in the end section 41 is also referred to as a dart pin. If the pin 40 is rotated by 90°, the pin can no longer be pulled out of the coupling section 2 against the installation direction 100. At the same time, by means of the rotation of the pin 40 and the associated rotation of the wings of the pin 40, the coupling section 2 is pulled towards the fixing section 4, whereby the resilient section 3 is placed in a tensioned state.

[0041] Furthermore, the pin 40 has a head 43 which is connected to the end section 41 of the pin 40 by means of an intermediate section 42 of the pin 40.

[0042] Figure 3 A fixing device is shown which shows the previously described clamp 1 and the matched pin 40. It can be seen that the end section 41 of the pin 40 is fixed in the coupling section 2. Consequently, the two wings 44 of the end section 41 of the pin 40 have been rotated in the coupling section 2 in such a way that the pin 40 cannot be pulled out of the coupling section 2. In Figure 3 It is further shown in the drawing that the pin 40 has a head 43 which is not inserted into the clamp 1, but a cover 50 is fixed between the clamp 1 and the head 43 of the pin 40. The cover 50 has here a mounting opening 51 whose inner diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the shank of the pin, here the intermediate section 42 of the pin 40. The mounting opening 51 of the cover 50 can here also have at least one corresponding recess, so that the wings 44 of the pin 40 can be guided through the cover 50.

[0043] The middle section 42 of the pin 40 adjoins the end section 41 and has a thickness which prevents the securing section 4 from being compressed perpendicular to the mounting direction 100 when the pin 40 is inserted into the clamp 1. Thus, the clamp 1 cannot be compressed further in the Z direction when the pin 40 is inserted into the clamp 1. To this end, the through-opening provided in the securing section 4 for the pin 40 has a width in the Z direction which corresponds to the thickness of the middle section 42 of the pin 40. In the Y direction, the through-opening has a greater width so that the wing 44 can move through the securing section 4. Since the clamp 1 and in particular the securing section 4 cannot be compressed, the latching nose 5 cannot be moved out of the vehicle part 21. The clamp 1 is thus secured in the vehicle part 21. As is shown exemplarily in Figure 2 The vehicle part 21 thus has a through-opening 20 into which the clamp 1 is arranged and against which the contact areas 8, 9 of the securing section 4 lie.

[0044] The method for mounting the cover 50 on the vehicle part 21 preferably comprises mounting the aforementioned clamp 1 by inserting the clamp 1 into the through-opening 20 of the vehicle part 21, wherein the clamp 1 is mounted by inserting it in the mounting direction 100. The clamp 1 is compressed in this case in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction, in this case the Z direction, and is inserted into the through-opening 20 in the mounting direction 100. The compression is preferably carried out by crimping the clamp 1 by means of the two lead-in faces of the two latching noses 5. In a next step, the cover 50 is arranged on the vehicle part 21, the mounting opening 51 of the cover 50 being arranged above the clamp 1. In order to secure the cover 50 on the vehicle part 21, the pin 40 is also inserted through the mounting opening 51 of the cover 50 into the clamp 1 and is secured in the clamp 1 in order to secure the cover 50 between the clamp 1 and the head 43 of the pin 40. The pin 40 is inserted into the clamp 1 in the mounting direction. Furthermore, the pin is secured in the clamp 1 in particular by a quarter turn.

[0045] Thus, the cover 50 can be mounted on the vehicle part 21 even if the vehicle part 21 can only be accessed from one side.

[0046] In addition to the disclosure described above, explicit reference is made to the disclosure of Figures 1 to 3.

[0047] List of reference signs

[0048] 1 clamp

[0049] 2 coupling section

[0050] 3 resilient section

[0051] 3a first resilient element

[0052] 3b second elastic element

[0053] 4 fixing section

[0054] 5 latching nose

[0055] 6 lead-in face

[0056] 7 central opening

[0057] 8 first side of the contact area

[0058] 9 second side of the contact area

[0059] 11 gap

[0060] 12 stop face

[0061] 13 receptacle

[0062] 20 through opening

[0063] 21 vehicle component

[0064] 22 first side of the through opening

[0065] 23 second side of the through opening

[0066] 40 dowel

[0067] 41 end section of the dowel

[0068] 42 middle section of the dowel

[0069] 43 head of the dowel

[0070] 44 wing of the dowel

[0071] 50 cover

[0072] 51 mounting opening

[0073] 100 mounting direction

Claims

1. A clamp (1) for mounting a cover, wherein The clamp (1) is provided for insertion into a through-opening (20) of a vehicle component (21) to which it is assigned in an installation direction (100), the clamp comprising: a fixing section (4) which is provided for positioning and fixing the clamp (1) on the through-opening (20) when inserting the clamp (1) into the through-opening (20) in the installation direction (100), the fixing section (4) having contact areas (8, 9) which are provided for lying against edges of the through-opening (20); a coupling section (2) which is provided for receiving an end section of a pin (40) and fixing the pin (40) against pulling out when inserting the pin (40) into the clamp (1) in the installation direction (100); a resilient section (3) which comprises at least one resilient element (3a, 3b) which connects the fixing section (4) and the coupling section (2) to one another; characterized in that the coupling section (2) and the resilient section (3) are dimensioned in such a way that they can be moved through the through-opening (20) assigned to the clamp (1) in the installation direction (100).

2. The clamp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing section (4) forms a gap (11) which extends in the specified installation direction (100) and which allows compression of the fixing section (4), said compression allowing insertion of the fixing section (4) into the through-opening (20).

3. The clamp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fixing section (4) and the resilient section (3) form a gap (11) which extends in the specified installation direction (100) and which allows compression of the fixing section (4), said compression allowing insertion of the fixing section (4) into the through-opening (20).

4. The clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing section (4) comprises at least one latching nose (5) which is provided for preventing the clamp from being removed from the through-opening (20).

5. The clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing section (4) is provided for lying against different sides of the through-opening (20) with the contact areas (8, 9) in order to position the clamp (1) in the through-opening (20) in an axis (Y, Z) perpendicular to the installation direction.

6. The clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing section (4) has a stop face (12) which is dimensioned in such a way that it cannot be moved through the through-opening (20) when installing the clamp (1) in the installation direction.

7. The clamp (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing section (4) has a stop face (12) which is dimensioned in such a way that it cannot be moved through the through-opening (20) when installing the clamp (1) in the installation direction and which is provided for fixing the vehicle component between the stop face (12) and the latching nose (5).

8. The clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fixing section (4) has at least one lead-in face (6) which is provided for guiding the contact areas (8, 9) of the fixing section (4) of the clamp (1) onto the edges of the through-opening (20) when inserting the clamp (1) into the through-opening (20) in the installation direction (100).

9. The clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling section (2) comprises a quarter-turn lock receiver (13) and / or the resilient section (3) comprises at least one arc-shaped resilient element (3a, 3b).

10. A fixture, comprising: a clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and a mating pin (40) which is provided for being fixed in the coupling section (2) with an end section (41) of the pin (40).

11. The fixture of claim 10, wherein, The pin (40) is shaped such that it has a thickness (d) in a middle section (42) of the pin (40) adjoining the end section (41) which prevents a compression of the fixing section (4) perpendicular to the mounting direction (100) when the pin (40) is inserted into the clamp.

12. A vehicle component comprising a clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or a fixture according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that, The vehicle component (21) has the through opening (20) in which the clamp (1) is arranged, the contact areas (8, 9) of the fixing section (4) abutting against the edges of the through opening (20).

13. A method for mounting a cover (50) on a vehicle component, the method comprising: mounting a clamp (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 by inserting the clamp (1) into a through opening (20) of a vehicle component (21), wherein the mounting is performed by inserting the clamp (1) in a mounting direction (100); arranging a cover (50) on the vehicle component (21), wherein a mounting opening (51) of the cover (50) is arranged above the clamp (1); inserting a pin (40) through the mounting opening into the clamp (1) in order to fix the cover (50) between the clamp (1) and a head (43) of the clamp (1), wherein the pin (40) is inserted into the clamp (1) in the mounting direction (100).

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