Edge clip and motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a first edge clip (3) attachable to an edge (1) for securing a cable or wire, - with a U-shaped body (4) with a recess (11) for sliding onto and fixing on the edge (1), - with a fixing device (5) arranged on the U-shaped body (4) for fixing the cable or line. The essential feature of the invention is that the U-shaped body (4) has a retaining contour (9) which is designed in such a way that a second, in particular identical, edge clip (10) with its recess can be slid onto the retaining contour (9) of the first edge clip (3) and fixed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a first edge clip attachable to an edge for securing a cable or a line, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having an edge, in particular on a body part, a cable and a line, as well as such a first edge clip and a second edge clip.

[0002] DE 20 2006 001 743 U1 discloses a generic edge clip which can be attached to an edge and is used to secure a cable or line or a cable harness, comprising a U-shaped body with a recess for sliding onto and securing it on the edge. The recess is formed by two legs, between which a spring element is arranged, the ends of which point towards the base of the U-shaped body springily engage with the edge when pushed onto the edge and hold the edge clip thereon. In addition, the edge clip has a fixing device arranged on the U-shaped body for fixing the cable or line, which has an opening into which a strip-shaped cable tie provided with catches can be inserted. On an upper side of the stop, a curvature is arranged transversely to the inserted, strip-shaped cable tie, which curvature is dimensioned such that the cable or line enclosed by the cable tie can be clamped.The cable enclosed in this clip slides or rolls from the curve into a corner of the opening when the cable tie is tightened. This should make it possible to securely fix even thin cables to the edge clip.

[0003] Another edge clip for fixing to an edge is known from FR 2 955 711 B1.

[0004] EP 2 371 046 B1 discloses a fastening device for at least one cable, comprising an edge clip part for attaching the fastening device to an edge of a base part and a holding device for at least one cable tie that surrounds at least one cable. The holding device comprises fastening sections that form a holder for the cable tie in three mutually orthogonal cable tie orientation directions, so that the cable tie can be fastened to the base part selectively aligned in one of the three cable tie orientation directions. This is intended to create an extremely flexible fastening device for a cable.

[0005] From CN 104 701 786 B another fastening device for cables with at least one clip element is known.

[0006] From EP 4 151 864 A1 a modular edge clip for fastening a fastening element to an edge of an object with two edge clip modules to be fastened to one another is known.

[0007] From US 2022 / 0 266 765 A1, a holding device designed in the manner of an edge clip is known, with a U-shaped body with a recess for sliding and fixing on the edge and with a further clip which can be plugged onto the base body in such a way that a cable can be held over it.

[0008] From KR 10 2352204 B1 a holding device with a base body and a cable tie rotatably arranged thereon is known.

[0009] Edge clips are often used to secure cable harnesses and hose lines, or individual cables, by means of a positive connection to an edge of a vehicle, for example, a body panel. However, the disadvantage is that edges for attaching such edge clips are not available in unlimited quantities; each space on an edge can only be used by a single edge clip. Therefore, if, for example, two elements, such as two cables, are to be secured at exactly the same point on an edge, this can cause problems.

[0010] The present invention therefore addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least alternative embodiment for an edge clip of the generic type that can be attached to an edge, by means of which, in particular, a single space on an edge can be used for the flexible fastening of different numbers of cables or lines.

[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0012] The present invention is based on the general idea of ​​designing a known edge clip for securing a cable or line in such a way that another, in particular identically constructed, edge clip can be secured to it, so that not just one edge clip but, due to the connectability of these edge clips, several edge clips can be arranged at a single fastening location on an edge of a motor vehicle, and thus several cables or cable bundles can be secured. The first edge clip, which can be attached to an edge according to the invention for securing a cable, a cable bundle or a line, has a U-shaped body with a recess for sliding onto and securing on the edge. Furthermore, this first edge clip has a securing device arranged on the U-shaped body for securing the cable or line.What is essential to the invention is that the U-shaped body has a holding contour which is designed such that a second, in particular structurally identical, edge clip can be pushed with its recess onto the holding contour of the first edge clip and secured. The second edge clip is thus secured indirectly via the first edge clip to the edge of the motor vehicle, for example a body edge. This makes it possible to stack several edge clips by simply placing them on top of one another, thus significantly expanding a previously limited installation space on an edge. The individual edge clips can be mounted independently of one another, in particular in a freely selectable installation sequence and with different securing devices, which results in significantly increased flexibility.

[0013] In an advantageous development of the edge clip according to the invention, the fixing device is designed as a cable tie. Cable ties are cost-effective and universally applicable fixing elements with a tongue provided with locking elements that can be inserted into a lock equipped with counter-locking elements and thereby locked. Such cable ties are usually made of plastic, in particular as a one-piece injection-molded plastic part, and can therefore be manufactured cost-effectively in almost any shape. The fixing device can be formed integrally with the U-shaped body.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the edge clip according to the invention, the fixing device is designed as a C-shaped clip. Such a C-shaped clip has a C-shaped receptacle into which a wire or cable is inserted, for example by bending up the two bent legs. The cable is fixed in place by the resilient action of the two bent legs. This not only enables comparatively simple and quick installation, but also non-destructive disassembly, which offers a significant advantage, particularly compared to a fixing device designed as a cable tie, which can usually only be removed by destruction. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the fixing device to be designed as a simple tab, through which a cable or wire is pushed and thereby fixed to the U-shaped body.Such a tab can also be manufactured in one piece with the U-shaped body, making it both simple and cost-effective to manufacture. It is, of course, clear that a fixing device can also comprise at least one of the following embodiments: cable tie, C-shaped clip, and / or tab, i.e., for example, a fixing device comprising a cable tie and a C-shaped clip.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the edge clip according to the invention, locking contours are arranged in the recess of a second edge clip, which engage with counter-locking contours arranged on the retaining contour of the first edge clip, provided that the second edge clip is pushed with its recess onto the retaining contour of the first edge clip. This allows for a comparatively simple fixation of the second edge clip to the first edge clip or each subsequent edge clip to the preceding edge clip. Furthermore, the locking mechanism creates a connection that cannot be broken even under vibration.

[0016] Advantageously, spring elements are arranged in the recess of a second edge clip, which clamp the retaining contour of the first edge clip when the second edge clip is pushed onto the retaining contour of the first edge clip. Such spring elements can, for example, be spring lugs that are formed integrally with the U-shaped body of the second edge clip. A one-piece design of the spring elements with the second edge clip enables not only cost-effective but also simple production, particularly as a plastic injection-molded part. Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable for the spring elements to be formed separately and inserted into the recess of the second edge clip or each edge clip. This makes it possible to form the edge clip from several materials, for example plastic for the fixing device and the U-shaped body and metal for the spring elements.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment of the edge clip according to the invention, the first edge clip, the second edge clip, and each subsequent edge clip are identically constructed. This significantly simplifies assembly, as confusion between different edge clip models can be reliably ruled out. Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable to provide different edge clips with the same U-shaped body and identical holding contours, but with different fixing devices. This allows the individual edge clips to be easily fixed to one another via their respective recesses and the respective holding contours. By using edge clips with different fixing devices, different types and shapes of lines or cables can also be fixed.

[0018] The present invention is further based on the general idea of ​​specifying a motor vehicle with an edge, in particular on a body part, at least two cables, lines or cable bundles as well as a first edge clip and a second edge clip, wherein the first edge clip is pushed with its recess onto the edge of the motor vehicle and the second edge clip is pushed with its recess onto the holding contour of the first edge clip. As a result, two lines or two cables can be fixed via a respective associated edge clip at just one position on the edge of the motor vehicle, since the second edge clip is fixed at exactly the same position on the edge of the motor vehicle as the first edge clip, however, not directly, but indirectly via the first edge clip. As a result, several such edge clips can be fixed at one and the same point on the edge in a space-optimized manner.

[0019] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0020] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Components mentioned above and those to be mentioned below of a higher-level unit, such as a device, a device, or an arrangement, which are designated separately, may form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is shown differently in the drawing.

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0022] Showing schematically: Fig. 1 a view of a motor vehicle according to the invention with a first edge clip according to the invention fixed to an edge, Fig. 2 a representation as in Fig. 1, but with a second edge clip coupled to the first edge clip.

[0023] According to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a first edge clip 3 according to the invention, which can be attached to an edge 1 of a motor vehicle 2 for securing a cable or line (not shown in detail), has a U-shaped body 4 with a recess 11 for sliding onto and securing it on the edge 1. A securing device 5 for securing the cable or line or a cable bundle or a cable bundle is arranged on the U-shaped body 4, wherein the securing device 5 is configured in accordance with the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is designed as a cable tie. Such cable ties are well known and have a tongue 6 with teeth, which can be inserted into a lock 7 and locked there. The fixing device 5 can be arranged fixedly on the body 4 of the first edge clip 3, or as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, in a tab 8 or on another fastening element. The fixing device can also be designed only as a tab 8. According to the invention, the U-shaped body 4 has a holding contour 9 which is designed such that a second, in particular identical, edge clip 10 (cf. Fig. 2) with its recess 11 can be pushed onto the retaining contour 9 of the first edge clip 3 and fixed. Fig. In the embodiment of the two edge clips 3, 10 shown in Figure 2, these are designed identically, although it is of course also theoretically conceivable that the fixing devices 5 or tabs 8 arranged on the U-shaped body 4 are designed differently and can therefore be used to fix different lines or cables.

[0024] With the edge clip 3, 10 according to the invention, it is possible not only to mount a single edge clip 3 at a single point on the edge 1 of the motor vehicle 2, but also to stack the edge clips 3, 10 there by attaching a second edge clip 10 and almost any number of further edge clips onto the first edge clip 3. In this case, almost any assembly sequence can be realized. The greatest advantage of the edge clips 3, 10 according to the invention, however, is that a space that is only limited at the edge 1 can now be used by several edge clips 3, 10. Furthermore, by means of different fixing devices 5 or a different orientation of the fixing devices 5 and 5 on the U-shaped body 4, differently oriented lines or cables can be easily fixed.

[0025] An edge clip arrangement is also conceivable, with a first edge clip 3 and a second edge clip 10 or further edge clips, which are coupled to one another via associated holding contours 9 and recesses 11.

[0026] As an alternative to designing the fixing device 5 as a cable tie, the fixing device 5 can also be designed as a C-shaped clip, into which the cable or line to be fixed is clipped by bending the two bent legs. Compared to a fixing device 5 designed as a cable tie, this offers the significant advantage that non-destructive disassembly is also possible without any problems.

[0027] Purely theoretically, it is even conceivable that the fixing device 5 is designed as a tab 8, so that according to the Fig. 1, a cable to be secured is guided directly through the tab 8 and not through the securing device 5, e.g., the cable tie. The securing device 5 can also comprise a cable tie, a C-shaped clip, and a tab 8.

[0028] In the recess 11 of the second edge clip 10, locking contours 12 can be arranged, which engage with counter-locking contours 13 arranged on the holding contour 9 of the first edge clip 3 (compare Fig. 1) lock into place when the second edge clip 10 is pushed with its recess 11 onto the retaining contour 9 of the first edge clip 3. Such locking contours 12 and counter-locking contours 13 allow for reliable and manually simple fixation.

[0029] Furthermore, spring elements can be arranged in the recess 11 of the second edge clip 10. When the second edge clip 10 is pushed onto the retaining contour 9 of the first edge clip 3, these spring elements clamp the retaining contour 9 of the first edge clip 3, thereby securing the two edge clips 3, 10 to one another. The spring elements can be formed integrally with the second edge clip 10, similar to the locking elements 12, although a design as a separate spring element that is inserted into the recess 11 of the second edge clip 10 is also conceivable. Such spring elements can of course also be arranged in the recess 11 of the first edge clip 3 or in all recesses 11 of all edge clips.

[0030] In an advantageous development of the edge clip 3, 10 according to the invention, the first and / or second edge clip 3, 10 is / are formed as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part. This makes it possible to offer such edge clips 3, 10 not only with high quality but also at a low cost.

[0031] A motor vehicle 2 having an edge 1, for example on a body part, on which at least two such edge clips 3, 10 are arranged in a nested manner is also to be protected.

[0032] With the edge clip 3, 10 according to the invention and the motor vehicle 2 according to the invention, it is possible for the first time to make significantly better use of the installation space that is only available to a limited extent on an edge 1 of a motor vehicle 2, since not only one edge clip 3, but two or more such edge clips 3, 10 can be fixed in a plugged-together manner in one and the same installation space. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2006 001 743 U1

[0002] FR 2 955 711 B1

[0003] EP 2 371 046 B1

[0004] CN 104 701 786 B

[0005] EP 4 151 864 A1

[0006] US 2022 / 0 266 765 A1

[0007] KR 10 2352204 B1

[0008]

Claims

[1] First edge clip (3) attachable to an edge (1) for securing a cable or line, - with a U-shaped body (4) with a recess (11) for sliding and fixing on the edge (1), - with a fixing device (5) arranged on the U-shaped body (4) for fixing the cable or line, characterized by that the U-shaped body (4) has a holding contour (9) which is designed in such a way that a second, in particular structurally identical, edge clip (10) can be pushed with its recess onto the holding contour (9) of the first edge clip (3) and fixed. [2] Edge clip (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the fixing device (5) is designed as a cable tie. [3] Edge clip (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the fixing device (5) is designed as a C-shaped clip. [4] Edge clip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the fixing device (5) is designed as a tab (8). [5] Edge clip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first edge clip (3) and / or the second edge clip (10) are / is designed as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part. [6] Edge clip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that spring elements are arranged in the recess (11) of the second edge clip (10), which clamp the holding contour (9) of the first edge clip (3) when the second edge clip (10) is pushed onto the holding contour (9) of the first edge clip (3). [7] Edge clip (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the spring elements are formed integrally with the second edge clip (10) or as a separate spring element which is inserted into the recess (11) of the second edge clip (10). [8] Edge clip (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat locking contours (12) are arranged in the recess (11) of the second edge clip (10), which lock with counter-locking contours (13) arranged on the holding contour (9) of the first edge clip (3), provided that the second edge clip (10) is pushed with its recess (11) onto the holding contour (9) of the first edge clip (3). [9] Edge clip (1) according to claim 8, characterized by , that - the locking contours (12) are formed integrally with the U-shaped body (4), and / or - the counter-locking contours (13) are formed integrally with the holding contour (9). [10] Motor vehicle (2) with an edge (1), in particular on a body part, a cable and a line, and with a first edge clip (3) according to one of the preceding claims and a second edge clip (10), wherein the first edge clip (3) is pushed with its recess (11) onto the edge (1) and the second edge clip (10) is pushed with its recess (11) onto the holder contour (9) of the first edge clip (3).

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