Fastening device with detectable installation position

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device having a base section and a cover section, the base section having an anchoring foot, the fastening device having a closed state in which a form-fitting connection is formed between the cover section and the base section, and an open state in which the cover section and the base section enclose a holding region, in the open state, the form-fit connection is not formed and the holding region is only partially surrounded by the base section and the cover section, the anchoring foot has an anchoring conductor and the base section has a base conductor and the cover section has a cover conductor. The radio frequency identification component, namely the so-called RFID chip, is arranged at least on the top cover section or at least on the base section and is permanently and directly electrically connected at least with the base conductor or at least with the top cover conductor; the top cover section has a top cover contact region and the base section has a base contact region in order to form a selective electrically conductive connection between the top cover conductor and the base conductor or another base conductor, the electrically conductive connection being established in the closed state of the retaining clip and being released in the open state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a fixing device, thus to a fixing clip, which has a machine-readable and thus verifiable installation position. BACKGROUND

[0002] DE 102 020 107 616 A1 also relates to a connection arrangement, which comprises a machine-readable RFID chip. SUMMARY

[0003] The invention is explained below by means of a fixing clip for a motor vehicle, which is not to be understood as a restriction of the invention to this application. In motor vehicles, many lines for conducting electric current or for conducting media are routed. Such lines often have to be routed position- fixedly here, sometimes such lines are held in place and position by so-called fixing clips. The fixing clips are connected on the one hand to a structural component and on the other hand to a line. During the assembly of a motor vehicle, it can be attempted by means of photography and picture recognition to identify a correct or incorrect installation of a fixing clip, such an optical recognition can be difficult or even impossible. If an incorrectly installed fixing clip is not identified as such an incorrectly installed fixing clip, the fixing clip can loosen or accidentally release the line in the operation of the motor vehicle, which can lead to a functional defect in the operation of the motor vehicle. Against this background, the invention proposes a fixing device, in which the verifiability of the installation position is improved, this task is solved by a fixing device according to claim 1, preferred extensions are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0004] In the sense of the invention, a fixing device can be understood as a device for holding or rather fixing a line in a position-fixed manner on a support, preferably on a motor vehicle. Such a fixing device has a base section, which has at least one anchoring foot, which is provided for fixing the fixing device on a support, in particular on a component of a motor vehicle. The support or component, on which the fixing device can be fixed, is not the subject matter of the invention. Preferably, the anchoring foot has an anchoring tongue for forming a form-locked or friction-locked connection, preferably a so-called click connection, with the component or support.

[0005] Preferably, the anchoring foot is provided for being pushed into a hole or recess. In addition, the fixing device has a cover section. The cover section is provided here together with the base section for enclosing a line, preferably the line is a media line, for example a hose or a pipe, and in addition preferably the line is an electric line, for example in particular a vehicle network line or a high-voltage line. Here, such a line, which is mechanically connected by the fixing device to the support or component and thus held on the support or component, is not an integral part of the invention.

[0006] The fixing device has a closed state and an open state. In the closed state, a form-locked connection is formed locally between the top cover section and the base section, preferably by means of a so-called snap-in connection. In addition, the base section and the top cover section are connected in a hinged manner locally, and preferably the top cover section and the base section are integrally connected to one another in this region, and in addition preferably a film hinge is formed between the base section and the top cover section in this region. In the closed state, the top cover section and the base section enclose a holding region in which, as described, the lines are received in the planned installed state of the fixing device, in particular the base section and the top cover section thus enclosing the holding region in which the lines are received in the planned installed state of the fixing device.

[0007] In addition, in the open state of the fixing device, the form-locked connection between the base section and the top cover section is cancelled, or in other words, the form-locked connection is not formed in the open state, and the holding region is thus only partially enclosed by the base section and the top cover section. Figuratively speaking, the open state of the fixing device is provided for the lines to be held by the fixing device to be put into the fixing device, after the lines have been put in, the form-locked connection is established between the top cover section and the base section, and thus the holding region is enclosed by them (top cover section and base section).

[0008] It is further proposed that the anchoring foot has at least one anchoring conductor, in particular such an anchoring conductor can be understood as a conductor for conducting an electric current, preferably such an anchoring conductor is formed as a conductor track or a current conductor, and in addition preferably such an anchoring conductor is received in or on the anchoring foot. It is further preferred that the anchoring foot is at least substantially made of an electrically non-conductive material, preferably plastic, and in addition preferably the anchoring foot has such an electrically non-conductive material at least as a component. It is further proposed that the base section has a base conductor, in particular such a base conductor can be understood as a conductor for conducting an electric current, preferably such a base conductor is formed as a conductor track or a current conductor, and in addition preferably such a base conductor is received in or on the base section. It is further preferred that the base section is at least substantially made of an electrically non-conductive material, preferably plastic, and in addition preferably the base section has such an electrically non-conductive material at least as a component.

[0009] It is further proposed that the top section has at least one top conductor, in particular such a top conductor is to be understood as a conductor for conducting an electric current, preferably such a top conductor is embodied as a conductor track or a current conductor, and further preferably such a top conductor is received in or on the top section. It is further preferred that the top section is at least substantially made of an electrically non-conductive material, preferably a plastic, and further preferably the top section has such an electrically non-conductive material at least as a component, and preferably the material of the top section and the base section are identical.

[0010] It is further proposed that at least on the top section or at least on the base section a radio frequency identification means, so-called RFID chip, is provided. Such a means can be read in particular simply and contactlessly by a machine, such a reading is based on a non-optical method, i.e. not on image recognition, and is therefore particularly stable and less susceptible to interference. RFID chips are generally known for identifying products and thus for attributing information to products. Preferably, such an RFID chip is machine-readable when it is received in a closed circuit; and it is not machine-readable when such a circuit is not closed or open. In particular with regard to the question of whether the at least one RFID chip is provided on the base section of the fixture or on the top section, the at least one RFID chip is permanently electrically connected, in particular directly connected, to at least the base conductor (as long as the base conductor is provided on the base section) or at least the top conductor (as long as the top conductor is provided on the top section). Such an RFID chip can also be connected to a plurality of base conductors or a plurality of top conductors, further preferably the RFID chip relates to a circuit which can also be provided between two base conductors or between two top conductors.

[0011] Furthermore, the top section has a top contact area and the base section has a base contact area. The top contact area and the base contact area form a connection for forming a selective electrical conduction between each other and thus between the top conductor and the base conductor. Here, in the closed state of the fixture the top contact area contacts the base contact area and thus in the closed state of the fixture an electrically conductive connection between the base conductor and the top conductor is established, in contrast, the top contact area is spaced apart from the base contact area in the open state and thus in the open state of the fixture an electrically conductive connection between these areas is removed or does not exist. In an embodiment of the fixture without a further switching point for selectively opening the circuit, i.e. only with a switching point between the top section and the base section, the RFID chip is machine-readable in the closed state of the fixture when the fixture is closed and thus the circuit in which the RFID chip is received is closed.

[0012] Especially since the electrically conductive connection is established in the closed state of the securing device and is interrupted in the open state of the securing device, the state (open / closed) of the securing device can be read by machine by means of the RFID chip, so that the state (open / closed) of the securing device can still be acquired in a machine-readable manner without optical methods, and especially therefore a securing device can be formed which is particularly suitable for mass products on the basis of a simple check of the state of the securing device.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the application, especially with regard to the electrical circuit of the individual components, at least one so-called anchoring switch site is provided between the anchoring conductor and the base conductor for forming a selective electrically conductive connection between the base conductor and the anchoring conductor. Here, as long as the anchoring switch site is open, there is no electrically conductive connection from the anchoring conductor to the base conductor, and when the anchoring switch site is closed, such an electrically conductive connection between the anchoring conductor and the base conductor exists. Thus, with regard to the electrical circuit in which the RFID chip is received, an electrical circuit with at least two switch sites for selectively establishing an electrical connection is created, which can only be closed when both switch sites are closed.

[0014] Preferably, such an anchoring switch site has at least one movable anchoring flap, further preferably the anchoring flap is provided on the anchoring foot, and further preferably the anchoring flap is provided for forming a frictional and / or form-locked connection in a recess in the component or support. Further preferably, the anchoring flap is moved into an anchoring position by introducing the anchoring foot into the support or component, and thus the anchoring switch site is operated or said closed. Especially in one such embodiment of the application, the machine check of the securing device not only relates to whether the securing device is in the case of a closed securing device is allowed, but additionally also relates to whether the securing device is introduced into the support or component is allowed. Especially when the securing device is not completely or incorrectly introduced into the component or support, the anchoring switch site is not closed, and thus the electrical circuit in which the RFID chip is received is open, so that the RFID chip cannot be read by machine.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the fixing device, the fixing device has, in addition to the base conductor, a further base conductor, in particular the fixing device is produced in such a way that the base conductor is structurally separated from the anchoring conductor by the anchoring switch site or by a plurality of anchoring switch sites. It is furthermore proposed that the at least one further base conductor is conductively connected to the anchoring conductor by means of at least one further anchoring switch site, if the further anchoring switch site is closed; or in other words, when the further anchoring switch site is not closed, the at least one further base conductor is not connected to the anchoring conductor. In relation to the circuit, it is hereby provided that the further anchoring switch site is arranged between the further base conductor and the anchoring conductor for forming a selectively conductive connection. The further anchoring switch site is preferably constructed in a similar or preferably identical manner to the anchoring switch site in terms of structure and preferably also has anchoring flaps. In particular by providing the at least one anchoring switch site and preferably also the further anchoring switch site, it is permitted to monitor the installation situation (anchoring foot pushed in / not pushed in) with the same RFID chip in addition to the state of the fixing device (open / closed) and thus a particularly simple construction of the fixing device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The individual features and refinements of the application are explained in more detail below by means of the drawings, in which, in principle, different combinations of features described are also possible, in which the drawings are as follows:

[0017] Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the fixing device;

[0018] Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of the fixing device in the open state and in the closed state;

[0019] Figure 3 shows a simplified circuit diagram of the fixing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In Figure 1 A sectional view of the fixing device 1 is shown in Fig. 1. The fixing device 1 has a base section 2 which has an anchoring foot 3, here provided for fixing the fixing device 1 on a component 0 and to be pushed into a fixing recess 0a for fixing, which anchoring foot 3 is latched in the fixing recess with anchoring flaps 4.

[0021] In addition, the fixing device 1 has a cover section 5. This cover section 5 is hinged with respect to the base section 2, so that the fixing device 1 is depicted in its open state, and the holding area 6 is not completely surrounded by the base section 2 and the cover section 5. In order to form a form-locked connection between the base section 2 and the cover section 5, they each have a latching area 5a, 2a, if the form-locked connection is established, the fixing device is in its closed state (not depicted), in which a form-locked connection locally exists between the cover section 5 and the base section 2. In addition, the base section 2 and the cover section 5 permanently have a locally hinged connection, which is configured as a film hinge 7. In the closed state of the fixing device 1, the cover section 5 and the base section 2 completely surround the holding area 6 in the closed state at least in the depicted cross section, so that the lines (not depicted) are thus held. The holding effect on the lines is further improved by a presser 8, which presses the lines received in the holding area 6 in the direction of the base section 2 in the closed state of the fixing device. In order to convert the fixing device 1 from the open state as depicted here into the closed state (the cover section 5 latches on the base section 2), the cover section 5 is moved in the flipping direction 9 with respect to the base section 2. In the depicted open state of the fixing device 1, no form-locked connection is formed between the latching area 5a of the cover section 5 and the latching area 2a of the base section 2, in which open state the holding area 6 is only partially surrounded by the base section 2 and the cover section.

[0022] The anchoring feet 3 have anchoring conductors, which are currently provided with a conductive coating, alternatively, the anchoring conductors can be made of a conductive material. In addition, the base section 2 has a base conductor 10 and a further base conductor 11, and in addition, the cover section 5 has a cover conductor 12. In addition to the cover conductor 12, an RFID chip 13 is provided on the cover section 5, which is permanently in conductive connection with the cover conductor 12, the cover section 5 has a cover contact area 14 and the base section 2 has a base contact area 15 for forming a selective conductive connection between the cover conductor 13 and the further base conductor 11, so that, as a result, a selective conductive connection is established in the closed state of the fixing clip 1 and is released in the open state.

[0023] In other words, an electrical circuit is produced by the anchoring conductors 16, the base conductor 10, the cover conductor 12, the RFID chip 13 and the further base conductor 11, which is open when the fixing device 1 is in the open state, and which is closed in the closed state of the fixing device 1 via the cover contact area 14 and the base contact area 15.

[0024] In addition, in relation to the electrical connection between the base conductor 10 and the anchoring conductor 16 or between the further base conductor 11 and the anchoring conductor 16, by means of the anchoring flaps 4, respectively, anchoring switch points 17 or further anchoring switch points 18 are formed, which are open (circuit is open) as soon as the anchoring foot 3 is inserted incorrectly or not at all into the fixing recess 0a. As soon as the fixing device 1 is pushed with the anchoring foot 3 correctly into the fixing recess 0a, the anchoring flaps 4 are deformed, so that the respective anchoring switch points 17, 18 are closed and allow an electrical current flow from the anchoring conductor 16 to the base conductor 10 or to the further base conductor 11.

[0025] In Figure 2 a three-dimensional view of the fixing device 1 is shown, which shows not only the illustration in the open state I (top cover section in the open position 5_I), but also the illustration in the closed position II (top cover section in the closed position 5_II). If the top cover section is moved into the closed position 5_II, the top cover section encloses with the base section 2 a holding area 6, in which, in the installed state of the fixing device 1, the line is held positionally fixed, to which further a presser 8 for fixing the line is provided. On the base section 2, the anchoring foot 3 is provided, which has an anchoring conductor 16, via which the fixing device 1 is mounted on the component in the planned installed state, as shown in Figure 1 On the base section 2, the base conductor 10 is provided, which is connected to the top cover conductor 12 over the film hinge 7 or is integrally formed with the top cover conductor and, in addition, thus establishes an electrically conductive connection with the RFID chip 13, which is machine-readable. In addition, the RFID chip 13 is electrically conductively connected via the top cover conductor 12 with the top cover contact area 14, which is provided on the latching area 5a of the top cover section.

[0026] In Figure 3 a simplified circuit of the fixing device is shown. If the top cover contact area 14 contacts the base contact area 15, a switch point between the base conductor 11 and the top cover conductor 12 is established (fixing device in the closed state). In addition, it can be seen that in the case that the anchoring flaps 4 are pivoted into the closed position and into the position in which the correct installation is produced, which is described in simplified form in Figure 1 the anchoring conductor 16 is closed with the further base conductor 11 and the base conductor 10 (these switch points are described in simplified form in Figure 3If all switch positions are closed, the circuit through the RFID chip is closed and this can be read as: the fixture is closed and correctly installed; if at least one of the switch positions is open, the circuit is open and this can be identified by the machine, especially without optical means, as the installation of the fixture 1 is incorrect or the fixture 1 is not correctly closed.

[0027] In other words, it is known up to now that for fixing clamps for fixing lines on body parts in a motor vehicle, a line-of-sight-based or camera-based inspection is carried out. Such an inspection can be defective, because the inquiry by means of a camera in a meandering region, especially in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, is difficult, also because the contrast is poor there. In addition, the fixing clamps to be inspected are often made of black plastic and it is therefore difficult to determine small deviations in their closed / installed state, with the consequence that unnecessary rework can occur because the fixing clamps have been correctly installed; or with the consequence that overlooked rework can occur because the fixing clamps judged to be correctly installed are incorrectly installed.

[0028] The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a fixture, especially a fixing clamp for lines, in which the installed condition (installation on a carrier / part) and the closed condition are inspected by means of a non-optical signal, but a signal based on radio frequency technology, especially by means of a so-called RFID chip.

[0029] An embodiment of the present invention can therefore be to provide a fixture in the form of a fixing clamp, which has an RFID chip applied to it, especially bonded to it. The RFID chip is open in the region of its antenna, especially with respect to the electrical circuit to which the RFID chip is connected, especially the fixing clamp is in an uninstalled (not installed as intended) and unclosed state. In this embodiment, a current can flow through the RFID chip when all contacts / switch positions in the electrical circuit of which the RFID chip is a component are closed. As soon as a contact / switch position is open, no current can flow through the RFID chip and the RFID chip cannot be read. The contacts or switch positions mentioned in the electrical circuit of which the RFID chip is a component are chosen such that they are closed when the fixing clamp is correctly installed and closed. Therefore, due to the correct installation of the fixing clamp, all switch positions are closed and the RFID chip can be machine-readable because the electrical circuit of which the RFID chip is a component is closed. The correct installation of the fixing clamp is thus verified. On the proposed fixing clamp, each line (base conductor, anchor conductor, further base conductor, top cover conductor) is put in as an electrical conductor or is preferably injection-molded together from electrically conductive plastic.

Claims

1. A fixing device (1) having a base section (2) having an anchor foot (3) for fixing the fixing device (1) to a component; Furthermore, the fixing device has a top cover section (5); The fixing device (1) has a closed state (II), in which a form-locking connection is partially formed between the top cover section (5) and the base section (2); and The base section (2) and the top cover section (5) are partially connected by hinges; The top cover section (5) and the base section (2) surround the retaining area (6) in the closed state (II); Furthermore, the fixing device has an open state (I), in which the form-locking connection is not formed and the retaining area (6) is only partially surrounded by the base section (2) and the top cover section (5); The anchor foot (3) has an anchor conductor (16), the base section (2) has a base conductor (10), and the top cover section (5) has a top cover conductor (12); and A radio frequency identification (RFID) component, i.e., a so-called RFID chip, is provided at least on the top cover section (5) or at least on the base section (2), and the RFID component is permanently and electrically connected directly to at least the base conductor (10) or at least to at least the top cover conductor (12); and The top cover section (5) has a top cover contact area (14), and the base section (2) has a base contact area (15) for forming a selective conductive connection between the top cover conductor (12) and the base conductor (10); The conductive connection is established in the closed state (II) of the fixing device and released in the open state.

2. The fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one anchoring switch portion (17) is provided between the anchoring conductor (16) and the base conductor (10) to form a selectively conductive connection.

3. The fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing device has at least one additional base conductor (11) and an additional anchoring switch portion (18) is provided between the anchoring conductor (16) and the at least one additional base conductor (11) for forming a selectively conductive connection.

Images