Tolerance compensation unit and fastening assembly with tolerance compensation function

Abstract

A tolerance compensation unit (10) for fastening assemblies, comprising: - a base element (12) having a central portion (120) and a through opening (120c) provided in the central portion (120), - a first bushing (14) having a spherical first surface (140) and an opposite flat second surface (142), - a second bushing (16) having a first spherical surface (160) and an opposite flat second surface (162), the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) being configured to be connected together through the opening (120c) of the base element (12) so that the central portion (120) of the base element (12) is sandwiched between the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) while allowing the central portion (120) of the base element (12) to slide between the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to vehicles, and more specifically to the fastening of elements of a door assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Door handle assemblies typically include a handle or gripping member that is fastened to a bracket fixed relative to the door panel. Typically, two fastening points are provided on the bracket for securing the handle. When the handle is long, even slight deviations in the door panel dimensions can cause misalignment of the door handle relative to the fastening points.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need to provide a fastening assembly to compensate for angular changes caused by misalignment between the brackets of the door panel and the handle assembly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a tolerance compensation unit for use in fastening assemblies to compensate for angular changes caused by misalignment of the door panel and door handle bracket.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention relates to a tolerance compensation unit for fastening assemblies, comprising:

[0006] - A base element having a central portion and a through opening disposed in the central portion, the central portion having a spherical first surface and opposing spherical second surfaces.

[0007] - A first bushing, the first bushing having a spherical first surface and a relatively flat second surface,

[0008] - A second bushing having a first spherical surface and a relatively flat second surface.

[0009] The first bushing and the second bushing are configured to be connected together through the opening of the base element, such that the central portion of the base element is sandwiched between the first bushing and the second bushing, while allowing the central portion of the base element to slide between the first bushing and the second bushing.

[0010] The tolerance compensation unit may include the following features, which may be considered individually or in any technically possible combination:

[0011] The first and second bushings are releasably connected to each other, for example, by a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0012] The first bushing includes a hollow cylindrical protrusion configured to extend through an opening in the base element, the protrusion having a connecting portion at its free end configured to releasably engage with a connecting portion disposed on the second bushing.

[0013] The maximum angular displacement of the base element relative to the first and second bushings is reached when the inner wall of the opening of the base element abuts against the protrusion of the first bushing.

[0014] The base element includes a connecting peripheral portion configured to connect to a first element to be fastened, such as a bracket for a door handle assembly.

[0015] The outer portion includes an inner wall that forms a stop such that when the inner wall of the outer portion abuts against the outer wall of the first bushing relative to the first and second bushings, the maximum angular displacement of the base element relative to the first and second bushings is achieved.

[0016] The angular range of the displacement of the base element relative to the first and second bushings is at least 8°.

[0017] The first bushing and the second bushing each include a central through hole.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a fastening assembly for securing a door handle to a door bracket, the fastening assembly comprising the tolerance compensation unit, screw, and nut as described above.

[0019] The fastening assembly may also include an axial compensation element, which is configured to be adjacent to the tolerance compensation unit.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a vehicle including a door handle assembly, the door handle assembly including a door handle and a bracket, the handle being fastened to the bracket by a fastening assembly as described above.

[0021] The base element of each tolerance compensation unit can be integrated with the bracket. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a door panel equipped with a door handle assembly according to the invention.

[0023] Figure 2 It has no handle. Figure 1 A perspective view of the door panel.

[0024] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the tolerance compensation unit according to the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the tolerance compensation unit.

[0026] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The fastening components according to the invention are shown, having offset angles of 0° and 4° respectively.

[0027] Figure 7 and Figure 8 A fastening assembly including an axial compensation device according to the present invention is shown.

[0028] Figure 9 yes Figure 1 The perspective cross-section of the door panel.

[0029] Figure 10 It is a perspective cross-sectional view of the bracket, in which the base element of the tolerance compensation unit is integrated with the bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A door panel 1 is shown equipped with a door handle assembly 2 according to the invention. The door handle assembly includes a bracket 2b (as shown in the image). Figure 2 (As shown) A fixed handle 2a. Two fastening points 2c are provided on a bracket 2b, and the handle is fastened to the bracket 2b by a fastening assembly including screws. According to the invention, a tolerance compensation unit is provided for each fastening assembly.

[0031] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 The tolerance compensation unit 10 according to the present invention is shown. The tolerance compensation unit 10 includes a base element 12, a first bushing 14, and a second bushing 16.

[0032] The base element 12 includes a central portion 120 and a connected peripheral portion 122.

[0033] exist Figures 3 to 8 In the first embodiment shown, the peripheral portion 122 is configured to be releasably connected to a first element to be fastened, such as the bracket 2b of the handle assembly. Figure 9 and Figure 10 In the second embodiment shown, the peripheral portion 122 and therefore the base element 12 can be integrated with the bracket 2b.

[0034] The central portion 120 has a spherical shape. More specifically, the central portion 120 has a spherical first surface 120a or top surface 120a, and an opposing spherical second surface 120b or bottom surface 120b. The central portion 120 of the base element 12 includes a central through-hole 120c having a cylindrical shape.

[0035] The first bushing 14 has a spherical first surface 140 or bottom surface 140 and a relatively flat second surface 142 or top surface 142. A central through hole 144 is disposed in the first bushing 14 and is cylindrical in shape.

[0036] The second bushing 16 has a spherical first surface 160 or top surface 160, and an opposing planar second surface 162 or bottom surface 162. A central through hole 164 is disposed within the second bushing 16 and is cylindrical in shape.

[0037] The first bushing 14 and the second bushing 16 are configured to connect to each other through a hole 120c in the central portion 120 of the base element 12, for example, via a detachable snap-fit ​​connection. For this purpose, one of the first bushing 14 and the second bushing 16 (e.g., the first bushing 14) may include a hollow cylindrical protrusion 146. The cylindrical protrusion 146 includes a connecting portion 146a at its free end, which is configured to releasably engage a connecting portion 164a on the inner wall of the hole 164 of the second bushing 16. The cylindrical protrusion 146 on the first bushing 14 is configured to extend through the hole 120c in the base element when the tolerance compensation unit 10 is assembled, such as... Figure 4 As shown. When assembling the base element 12, the first bushing 14, and the second bushing 16, the base element 12 is sandwiched between the first bushing 14 and the second bushing 16. Furthermore, the connection between the first bushing 14 and the second bushing 16 allows the base element 12 to slide between the two bushings 14 and 16. Therefore, this configuration allows for angular displacement of the base element 12 relative to the two bushings 14 and 16.

[0038] In the fastening assembly according to the invention, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the base element 12 is fixed relative to the bracket 2b of the door handle assembly 2. The first bushing 14 is configured to abut the head of the fastening screw 18, while the second bushing 16 is configured to abut the inner surface of the door panel 1. The screw 18 is secured to the nut 20. Figure 5 In this configuration, no misalignment occurs between the base element 12 and the bushings 14 and 16. Therefore, the central axis X of the through-hole 120c of the base element 12 is parallel to the central axis Y of the through-holes 144 and 164 of the bushings 14 and 16. Figure 6 This caused misalignment, and the central axes X and Y were not aligned. Therefore, when the door handle 2a is fixed to the bracket 2b, the tolerance compensation unit 10 according to the invention allows for compensation of the misalignment between the bracket 2b and the door panel 1.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in the figure, the angular range of displacement of the base element 12 relative to the bushings 14 and 16 is at least equal to 8°. Figure 6 As shown, the maximum angular displacement is reached when the inner wall 120d of the hole 120c of the base element 12 abuts against the protrusion 146 of the first bushing 14. In another embodiment (not shown), the maximum angular displacement is reached when the inner wall 122a of the peripheral portion 122 of the base element 12 abuts against the outer wall 148 of the first bushing 14.

[0040] like Figures 7 to 9As shown, the tolerance compensation unit according to the invention can be used in conjunction with the axial compensation unit 22, which allows for compensation of axial deviation between the bracket 2b and the door panel 1. In this case, the tolerance compensation unit 10 and the axial compensation unit 22 are adjacent to each other, with the latter sandwiched between the door panel 1 and the tolerance compensation unit 10.

Claims

1. A tolerance compensation unit (10) for fastening components, comprising: - Base element (12), the base element (12) having a central portion (120) and a through opening (120c) disposed in the central portion (120), the central portion (120) having a spherical first surface (120a) and an opposing spherical second surface (120b). - First bushing (14), the first bushing (14) has a spherical first surface (140) and a relatively flat second surface (142). - Second bushing (16), the second bushing (16) has a first spherical surface (160) and a relatively flat second surface (162). The first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) are configured to be connected together through the opening (120c) of the base element (12), such that the central portion (120) of the base element (12) is sandwiched between the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16), while allowing the central portion (120) of the base element (12) to slide between the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16).

2. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) can be releasably connected to each other, for example by snap-fit ​​connection.

3. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The first bushing (14) includes a hollow cylindrical protrusion (146) configured to extend through the opening (120c) provided in the base element (12), the protrusion (146) having a connecting portion (146a) at its free end, the connecting portion (146a) being configured to releasably engage a connecting portion (164a) provided on the second bushing (16).

4. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to the preceding claims, wherein, When the inner wall (120d) of the opening (120c) of the base element (12) abuts against the protrusion (146) of the first bushing (14), the maximum angular displacement of the base element (12) relative to the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) is reached.

5. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The base element (12) includes a connected peripheral portion (122) configured to be connected to a first element to be fastened, such as a bracket (2b) of a door handle assembly (2).

6. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The peripheral portion (122) includes an inner wall (122a) that forms a stop such that when the inner wall (122a) of the peripheral portion (122) abuts against the outer wall (148) of the first bushing (14), the maximum angular displacement of the base element (12) relative to the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) is achieved.

7. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein, The angular range of displacement of the base element (12) relative to the first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) is at least 8°.

8. The tolerance compensation unit (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The first bushing (14) and the second bushing (16) each include a central through hole (144, 164).

9. A fastening assembly for fastening a door handle (2a) to a door bracket (2b), the fastening assembly comprising a tolerance compensation unit (10), a screw (18), and a nut (20) according to any one of claims 1-8.

10. The fastening assembly according to the preceding claim includes an axial compensation element (22) configured to be adjacent to the tolerance compensation unit (10).

11. A vehicle including a door handle assembly (2), the door handle assembly including a door handle (2a) and a bracket (2b), the handle (2a) being fastened to the bracket (2b) by a fastening assembly according to any one of claims 9 and 10.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, The base element (12) of each tolerance compensation unit (10) is integral with the bracket (2b).

Images