Fastening means and method for fastening a vehicle part to a bodyshell of a vehicle and fastening system with such a fastening means

Abstract

A fastening means (100) for fastening a vehicle part, in particular a wheel house liner, to a bodyshell of a vehicle is proposed. The fastening means (100) has an upper part (10) comprising a pin (16) and a plate part (14), and a lower part (12) comprising at least two clamping wings (17). The upper part (10) is designed to protrude at least partially into the lower part (12). The at least two clamping wings (17) are designed to expand when the upper part (10) protrudes into the lower part (12) in order to generate a clamping force.

Description

[0001] The invention generally relates to the field of motor vehicles. More specifically, the invention relates to a fastening means for fastening a vehicle part to a body shell of a vehicle, a fastening system comprising such a fastening means, and a method for fastening a vehicle part to a body shell of a vehicle using such a fastening means.

[0002] Numerous vehicle parts are attached to the body of a vehicle, and the type of attachment can be vehicle-specific. Vehicle parts, such as wheel arch liners, are mass-produced and provided with the appropriate interface for attachment. To secure the vehicle part, a fastener must be used that matches the characteristics of the mass-produced interface. The choice of fastener is therefore very limited, yet there is still a need to further improve the attachment of the vehicle part.

[0003] JP 2004 406922 A2 discloses a fender fastening structure. It provides a clip with a clip body that extends from the inner surface of the wheel house toward the fender flange.

[0004] EP 2 423 080 A1 discloses a wheel house structure. A wheel house guard is provided, which comprises a guard body, a plurality of clips protruding from a vehicle-side inner surface of the guard body, and an engagement claw.

[0005] Another wheel arch structure with a plastic buckle connection is known from CN 204587049 U.

[0006] State-of-the-art fastening methods and means are generally time-consuming. For example, the use of a screw connection with an expansion clip is not time-effective. This requires long vehicle production times. Furthermore, the fastening methods and / or means must be compatible with the mass-produced vehicle parts.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to at least partially remedy the disadvantages described above when fastening a vehicle part to a vehicle body shell. In particular, the object of the present invention is to shorten the production or assembly time of a vehicle part to a vehicle body shell, in particular without modifying the attached vehicle part. In particular, it is further the object of the present invention to provide a fastening means for fastening a vehicle part to a vehicle body shell, which significantly simplifies and accelerates the assembly of the vehicle part.

[0008] The above object is achieved by a fastening means having the features of claim 1, by a fastening system having the features of claim 10, and by a method having the features of claim 12. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the fastening means according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the fastening system according to the invention and / or the method, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a fastening means for fastening a vehicle part, in particular a wheel house liner, to a bodyshell of a vehicle. The fastening means has an upper part, comprising a pin and a plate part, and a lower part, comprising at least two clamping wings. The upper part is designed to protrude at least partially into the lower part. The at least two clamping wings are designed to expand when the upper part protrudes into the lower part in order to generate a clamping force. In other words, a fastening means can be provided which can be divided into two main parts, wherein the two main parts, i.e., the upper part and the lower part, are mounted so as to be movable relative to one another. The fastening means can therefore be in a clamped state or in a non-clamping state (e.g., assembled state).In order to change from an assembled state to a clamped state, the upper part can be pushed at least partially into the lower part.

[0010] The fastening means can be inserted into a hole in the vehicle part and at least partially into a hole in the bodyshell. In particular, the fastening means can be pushed into both holes in an assembled state. The upper part can then be at least partially guided or pushed into the lower part, allowing the at least two clamping wings to be opened. By opening the at least two clamping wings, a clamping force can be generated. Such a clamping force can clamp or fasten the vehicle part to the bodyshell of the vehicle.

[0011] The body shell of the vehicle can be the body or a body part of the vehicle.

[0012] The at least two clamping wings can be legs or clamping legs. The at least two clamping wings can, particularly in the assembled state, form a sleeve into which the upper part can be at least partially inserted.

[0013] Such a fastener allows a vehicle part to be attached to the body shell of a vehicle in a simple and efficient manner. Such a fastener advantageously reduces the production time of a vehicle. Furthermore, unlike conventional fasteners, such a fastener allows for material savings.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, the lower part has a square base body. The base body can be a neck region. The base body can be a transition region between a plate part and the at least two clamping wings. The lower part can be formed in one piece. The base body can serve as the stem for the at least two clamping wings. By providing a square base body, the fastening means can be designed to fit precisely into an existing hole in the vehicle part.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, the lower part has a plate part with an opening, wherein the pin can be guided into the opening of the plate part. The lower part can thus have a plate part which provides a stop surface which can be in contact with the vehicle part. The plate part preferably has a positive-locking opening for the pin of the upper part, such that the pin of the upper part can be pushed or pressed into the opening of the lower part. The cross-section of the opening is preferably smaller than the cross-section of a sleeve which the at least two clamping wings form in the non-clamped state. As a result, the pin of the upper part can be guided (at least predominantly) without resistance into the opening of the lower part.If the pin reaches the height of the at least two clamping wings when passing through the lower part, the pin can press the at least two clamping wings radially outwards (for example due to the smaller cross-section), so that the at least two clamping wings can open and generate a clamping force.

[0016] This makes it easier and faster to attach the vehicle part to the bodyshell of the vehicle.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, the plate part is designed to absorb an impact force and is in particular larger than the opening of the plate part. In other words, the plate part of the upper part can serve as a surface for absorbing an impact force. The pin of the upper part can protrude at least partially into the lower part through the plate part. It can be pressed onto the plate part, whereby a movement of the pin relative to the lower part can be generated. A translational movement of the pin into the opening of the lower part can be limited by the plate part being larger than the opening of the plate part. When the plate part of the upper part rests on the plate part of the lower part, the clamped state of the fastening means can be achieved. A worker can thus haptically recognize that the clamped state has been reached and can thus stop applying an impact force to the plate part.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, four clamping wings are provided, with two adjacent clamping wings arranged offset by 90° from one another. The four clamping wings can thus form a square sleeve, in which the pin of the upper part can be at least partially guided. The sleeve formed by the four clamping wings can have a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the pin. This can achieve deformation of the clamping wings when the pin projects into the lower part. Deformation of the clamping wings can cause the clamping wings to open.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, the at least two clamping wings, and in particular the four clamping wings, each have a centering bevel arranged at a front end of the corresponding clamping wing. This allows the fastening means to be easily and efficiently aligned with a hole in the vehicle part and / or the bodyshell of the vehicle in order to push the fastening means into the hole.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, the at least two, in particular four clamping wings are deformable, in particular deformable on the base body. The clamping wings can be designed such that when the pin projects into the lower part, the clamping wings expand radially outwards, whereby the clamping wings can deform for this purpose. The deformability of the at least two (or four) clamping wings can be achieved through the material composition and / or the thickness of the clamping wings. The lower part can be made of plastic, for example. The upper part can also be made of plastic.

[0021] This further simplifies the assembly of the vehicle part to the bodyshell.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, it can be provided that the at least two, in particular four, clamping wings span a rectangular cross-sectional area, which is in particular equal to or greater than 7.4 mm x 7.4 mm. Thus, the fastening means can be inserted with a precise fit into an existing hole in a vehicle part, in particular a wheel house liner.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the fastening means, the fastening means has a fastening thickness of 2.3 mm to 4.5 mm, in particular up to 4.3 mm.

[0024] The fastening thickness can be a clamping thickness or a clamping height. The fastening thickness can define a maximum range (e.g., along the length of the fastener) within which a minimum clamping force can be achieved. The smaller the fastening thickness, the greater the clamping force. However, the fastening thickness may have a lower limit, since the vehicle part and the bodyshell are to be clamped within the area defined by the fastening thickness. A fastening thickness of 2.3 mm to 4.5 mm, especially 4.3 mm, can prove to be the optimal fastening thickness for use with the fastener for a wheel house liner.

[0025] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a fastening system comprising a fastening means as described above and below, and a vehicle part. The vehicle part has a square hole configured to receive the fastening means. The square hole can have a cross-sectional area of ​​7.4 mm x 7.4 mm.

[0026] All advantages which have been explained with regard to the fastening means according to the first aspect of the present invention apply equally to the fastening system according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the fastening system, the vehicle part is a wheel house liner.

[0028] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fastening a vehicle part to a body shell of a vehicle using a fastening means, as described above and below. The method comprises the following steps: a. Inserting the lower part of the fastener into a square hole in the vehicle part and / or the bodyshell, b. Inserting the pin of the upper part of the fastening device into the lower part of the fastening device so that at least two clamping wings are opened, c. Generating a clamping force by opening the at least two clamping wings in order to fasten the vehicle part to the bodyshell.

[0029] All disclosures and advantages described above and below with respect to one aspect of the present disclosure apply equally to all other aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] In the following, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 shows schematically a fastening means according to an embodiment, and Fig. 2 schematically shows a fastening means according to an embodiment.

[0031] Similar, similarly acting, identical, or equivalent elements are provided with similar or identical reference numerals in the figures. The figures are merely schematic and not to scale.

[0032] Fig. 1 schematically shows a fastening means 100 according to an embodiment. In Fig. 1 shows the exemplary fastening means 100 in an assembled state or in a non-clamped state. The fastening means 100 has an upper part 10 and a lower part 12. The upper part 10 consists of a plate part 14 and a pin 16 fastened to the plate part 14. The lower part 12 comprises a plate part 15 with an opening 13 and at least two clamping wings 17. The fastening means 100 of the Fig. 1 has four clamping wings 17, only three of which are visible from this perspective. The four clamping wings 17 are attached, in particular deformably attached, to a base body or neck region of the lower part 12. The upper part 10 is designed to protrude at least partially into the lower part 12. The lower part 12 is preferably formed as a single piece, for example as an injection-molded part. The four clamping wings 17 are designed to expand when the upper part 10 protrudes into the lower part 12 in order to generate a clamping force.

[0033] The four clamping wings 17 can form a sleeve, preferably a square sleeve, in the assembled state. The pin 16 of the upper part 10 can be cylindrical, for example. The pin 16 of the upper part 10 can have the same radius or width over its entire length. Alternatively, the pin 16 can have two different radii, so that a part of the pin 16, which has the larger radius, cannot be passed through the opening 13 in the plate part of the lower part 12. The area or part of the pin 16 with the second "larger" radius is preferably arranged below the plate part of the lower part 12 in the assembled state (i.e., on the clamping wing side of the lower part 12). The second "larger" radius of the pin 16 can be selected such that when the pin 16 projects into the lower part 12, the clamping wings 17 are clamped open.In other words, the pin 16 can be wider, at least in a predefined (lower) area, than a cross-section of a sleeve which the four clamping wings 17 form in the assembled state.

[0034] The fastener 100 of the Fig. 1 can be designed to be inserted into a hole in a vehicle part, in particular a wheel house liner, and into an aligned hole in a bodyshell. This is preferably a hole (or holes) with a square cross-section, or an opening 13, of 7.4 mm by 7.4 mm. The fastening means 100 can further be designed to generate a clamping force in order to fasten a vehicle part to a bodyshell, wherein both parts (i.e., vehicle part and bodyshell) can have a common thickness of 2.3 mm to 4.5 mm, in particular 4.3 mm. In other words, two parts can have a predetermined thickness so that a sufficient clamping force can be ensured by the fastening means 100. The fastening means 100 therefore preferably has a fastening thickness D of 2.3 to 4.3 mm. The fastening thickness D can also be referred to as the clamping range.The smaller the fastening thickness D, the greater the clamping force generated by the clamping wings 17 can be.

[0035] Fig. 2 schematically shows a fastening means 100 according to an embodiment. Unless otherwise described, the fastening means 100 of the Fig. 2 the same elements and / or components as the fastening means 100 of the Fig. 1. The fastening means 100 of the Fig. 2 is located in contrast to the fastening means 100 of the Fig. 1 in a clamped state. The upper part 10, in particular the pin 16 of the upper part 10, has already been guided into the opening 13 of the lower part 12, so that the four clamping wings 17 have deformed. By deforming the four clamping wings 17, a clamping force can be generated. As shown in Fig.2, the four clamping wings 17 no longer form a (closed) sleeve. The four clamping wings 17 are bent radially outwards. Preferably, the clamping wings 17 bend predominantly in the area of ​​the base body of the lower part. For this purpose, a bevel 20 can be provided at the transition of the corresponding clamping wing 17 to the base body of the lower part 18. In other words, the clamping wings 17 can have a bevel 20 at the plate-part-side end. Such a bevel 20 can also further simplify the projection of the pin 16 into the lower part 12.

[0036] The four clamping wings 17 each also have a centering bevel 19, which is arranged at a front end of the corresponding clamping wing 17. Furthermore, the four clamping wings 17 can be tapered at the front end. This can simplify insertion into the hole.

[0037] Additionally, it should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having" do not exclude other elements, and the indefinite articles "a" or "an" do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features and steps described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features and steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered limitations. List of reference symbols 100 fasteners 10 Top 12 Lower part 13 Opening 14 plate part 15 plate part 16 pin 17 clamping wings 18 Base body of the lower part 19 Centering bevel 20 slopes D Fastening thickness 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] JP 2004 406922 A2

[0003] EP 2 423 080 A1

[0004] CN 204587049 U

[0005]

Claims

[1] Fastening means (100) for fastening a vehicle part, in particular a wheel house liner, to a body shell of a vehicle, comprising an upper part (10) comprising a pin (16) and a plate part (14), and a lower part (12) comprising at least two clamping wings (17), wherein the upper part (10) is designed to protrude at least partially into the lower part (12), and wherein the at least two clamping wings (17) are designed to expand when the upper part (10) projects into the lower part (12) in order to generate a clamping force. [2] Fastening means (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the lower part (12) has a base body (18) which is square. [3] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the lower part (12) has a plate part (15) with an opening (13), wherein the pin (16) can be guided into the opening (13) of the plate part (15). [4] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the plate part (14) is designed to absorb an impact force and is in particular larger than the opening (13) of the plate part (15). [5] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that four clamping wings (17) are provided, wherein two adjacent clamping wings (17) are arranged offset by 90° to one another. [6] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least two clamping wings (17) and in particular the four clamping wings (17) each have a centering bevel (19) which is arranged at a front end of the corresponding clamping wing (17). [7] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least two clamping wings (17), in particular four clamping wings (17), are deformable, in particular deformable on the base body (18). [8] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least two clamping wings (17), in particular four clamping wings (17), span a rectangular cross-sectional area which is in particular equal to or greater than 7.4 mm x 7.4 mm. [9] Fastening means (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening means (100) has a fastening thickness (D) of 2.3 mm to 4.5 mm, in particular up to 4.3 mm. [10] Fastening system comprising a fastening means (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a vehicle part, wherein the vehicle part has a square hole which is designed to receive the fastening means (100). [11] Fastening system according to claim 10, characterized by that the vehicle part is a wheel house liner. [12] Method for fastening a vehicle part to a body shell of a vehicle by means of a fastening means (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps: a. Inserting the lower part (12) of the fastening means (100) into a square hole in the vehicle part and / or the bodyshell, b. Inserting the pin (16) of the upper part (10) of the fastening means (100) into the lower part (12) of the fastening means (100) so that the at least two clamping wings (17) are opened, c. Generating a clamping force by clamping the at least two clamping wings (17) in order to fasten the vehicle part to the bodyshell.

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