FIXING DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening device (1) comprising a rod (2) with a head (3) at one end and one or more tabs (4) along its length projecting radially from the rod (2) towards the head (3) to allow the fastening device (1) to be driven into a hole (15) in a substrate (16) by an axial force (F) applied to the head (3), wherein the tab(s) (4) are configured such that a subsequent removal torque (C) applied to the head (3) of the fastening device (1) causes it to unscrew from the hole (15). Figure for the abstract: FIG. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: FIXING DEVICE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a fastening device. More specifically, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to fastening devices for use in vehicles, particularly electric vehicles. Technical background

[0002] These fasteners normally fall into one of two categories: molded fasteners and metal threaded fasteners. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to combine at least some of the advantages of each of the above-mentioned categories of fixing devices.

[0004] A fastener comprising a shank with a head at one end and one or more tabs along its length that allow the fastener to be driven into a hole in a substrate by axial force applied to the head, wherein the one or more tabs are configured such that subsequent removal torque applied to the head of the fastener causes it to unscrew from the hole.

[0005] Thus, the invention provides a fastener that can be forced into a hole in the same manner as known polymeric fasteners, while providing better retention and requiring unscrewing to remove them from the hole.

[0006] The tab(s) may project radially from the rod towards the head.

[0007] The invention also relates to a fixing device comprising a rod with a head at one end and one or more tabs along its length which project radially from the rod towards the head.

[0008] The invention also relates to a fastener comprising a shank with a head at one end and one or more tabs along its length which project radially from the shank towards the head to enable the fastener to be driven into a hole in a substrate by an axial force applied to the head, wherein the one or more tabs are configured such that a subsequent removal torque applied to the head of the fastener causes it to unscrew from the hole.

[0009] The fastening device may comprise a body. The body may comprise the rod. The body may comprise the head. The body may be formed of a polymeric material.

[0010] The fastening device may include an insert. The insert may be coupled to the body. The insert may be formed of a metallic material. The insert may be metallic. The insert may include the tab(s).

[0011] More specifically, the fastening device may comprise a body formed of a polymeric material and an insert formed of a metallic material coupled to the body, wherein the body comprises the shank and the head and the insert comprises the tab(s).

[0012] The body may be overmolded onto the insert, for example so that the insert is partially integrated into the body.

[0013] More specifically, the body may be overmolded onto the insert such that the insert is partially integrated into the body.

[0014] The insert may comprise one or more holes.

[0015] The polymeric material of the body may extend into the hole or at least one of the holes of the insert.

[0016] The body may include a hole, which may correspond to the hole or one of the holes in the insert. For example, the hole or at least one of the holes in the insert may provide a locating means, for example for locating the insert in a mold before the body is molded therein.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, the tab(s) may cooperate with a feature of a mold to locate the insert in the mold before the body is molded thereon.

[0018] The tab(s) may extend tangentially relative to the rod.

[0019] The tab(s) may be offset, for example relative to a radial plane. intersecting the longitudinal axis of the rod. For example, the tab(s) may be offset from a radial plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the rod, so that they extend tangentially to the rod.

[0020] The or at least one or each tab may have a free edge. The free edge may have a sharp corner, for example to prevent rotation of the fastening device in a first direction.

[0021] The free edge may have a rounded or smoothed corner, for example to facilitate rotation of the fixing device in a second direction. The second direction may correspond to the unscrewing direction.

[0022] More specifically, the or each tab may have a free edge with a sharp corner to prevent rotation of the fixing device in a first direction and a rounded or smoothed corner to facilitate rotation of the fixing device in a second direction, which corresponds to the unscrewing direction.

[0023] The tab(s) may comprise a plurality of tabs.

[0024] The tabs may be spaced along the length of the rod and / or may be rotationally offset relative to each other.

[0025] The head may include a coupling feature allowing a tool to apply the removal torque.

[0026] The coupling feature may include a non-round socket or a non-round projection.

[0027] The coupling feature may include a hexagonal socket.

[0028] The fastening device may comprise a skirt. The skirt may be conical. The skirt may project from the head, for example towards the tab(s) for engaging the substrate.

[0029] More specifically, the fastening device may include a conical skirt that projects from the head toward the tab(s) to engage the substrate.

[0030] The conical skirt may be segmented.

[0031] The fastening device may comprise one or more fins. The fin(s) may project, for example radially, from the head. The fin(s) may project towards the tab(s), for example to engage the substrate.

[0032] More specifically, the fastening device may include one or more fins that project radially from the head toward the tab(s) to engage the substrate.

[0033] For the avoidance of doubt, all features described herein apply equally to any aspect of the invention.

[0034] For the avoidance of doubt, the terms "may", "and / or", "for example", and any other similar terms used herein should be interpreted as non-limiting, such that any feature so described need not necessarily be present. Brief description of the figures

[0035] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0036] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] illustrates a perspective view of a fixing device according to a example ;

[0037] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates a sectioned perspective view of the fixing device of [Fig.l] showing the insert;

[0038] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates the fixing device of [Fig.l] just before it is inserted into a hole in a substrate;

[0039] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] illustrates the fixing device of [Fig.l] installed in the hole;

[0040] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] illustrates a sectional view of the fixing device of [Fig.l] installed in the hole; and

[0041] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] illustrates the fixing device of [Fig.l] when it is removed from the hole. Detailed description of the invention

[0042] Referring now to the figures, a fixing device 1 according to an example intended to be fixed in a hole 15 of a substrate 16 can be seen. The fixing device 1 comprises a body 11 formed of a polymer material and an insert 12 formed of a metallic material coupled to the body 11.

[0043] The body 11 comprises a rod 2 with a head 3 at one of its ends. The head 3 comprises a coupling feature 30 allowing a tool to apply the removal torque C. The coupling feature 30 comprises a non-round socket 31, more precisely a hexagonal socket 31.

[0044] The insert 12 is in the form of a plate P having a pair of holes 13 each towards one of its longitudinal ends. Two parts of the insert 12 are deformed out of the plane of the plate P in opposite directions to provide a pair of tabs 4 projecting from the plate P.

[0045] The tabs 4 are described along respective opposite sides of the plate P, with a first of the tabs 4 in an upper portion of the plate and a second of the tabs 4 in a lower portion of the plate.

[0046] The body 11 is overmolded onto the insert 12 so that the insert 12 is partially integrated into the body 11. The polymer material of the body 11 extends through holes 13 in the insert 12. This makes it possible to embed the body 11 in the insert 12 and to improve the rigidity of the connection between them.

[0047] The tabs 4 are spaced along the length of the rod 2, and offset in rotation relative to each other. The tabs 4 project radially from the rod 2 towards the head 3 and extend tangentially relative to the rod 2. Each tab 4 has a free edge 40 with a sharp corner 41 and a rounded or smoothed corner 42.

[0048] The fixing device 1 also comprises a conical skirt 32 projecting from the head 3 towards the tab(s) 4 to engage the substrate 16. The conical skirt 32 is segmented into two fins 33 which project radially from the head 3 towards the tab(s) 4 to engage the substrate 16.

[0049] In use and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the fastener 1 is driven into a hole 15 in a substrate 16 by an axial force F applied to the head 3. The tabs 4 then engage the material defining the hole 15, and the angle of the tabs 4 is such as to prevent retraction of the fastener 1 by an axial force in the direction opposite to the axial driving force F.

[0050] However, the tabs 4 are configured such that a withdrawal torque C subsequently applied to the head 3 of the fixing element 1 by a tool (not shown) via the hexagonal socket 31 causes it to be unscrewed from the hole 15. More precisely, in this example the rounded or smoothed corner 42 of the free edge 40 facilitates the rotation of the fixing element 1 in the direction of unscrewing.

[0051] The shape of the rounded or smoothed corner 42, together with the axial and rotational offset of the tabs 4, creates a segmented helical characteristic which translates the withdrawal torque C into an unscrewing of the fixing element 1. The sharp corner 41 of the free edge 40 prevents rotation of the fixing element 1 in the opposite direction.

[0052] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above may vary in many ways, provided that they are consistent with the scope of the claims. List of reference signs

[0053] 1 fixing device

[0054] 2 rod

[0055] 3 head

[0056] 30 coupling characteristic

[0057] 31 hexagonal socket

[0058] 32 conical skirt

[0059] 33 fin

[0060] 4 tab

[0061] 40 free edge

[0062] 41 sharp corner

[0063] 42 rounded or smoothed corner

[0064] 11 bodies

[0065] 12 insert

[0066] 13 insert hole

[0067] 15 hole in substrate

[0068] 16 substrate

[0069] C removal torque

[0070] F axial force

Claims

Claims

1. A fastener (1) comprising a shank (2) with a head (3) at one end and one or more tabs (4) along its length which project radially from the shank (2) towards the head (3) to enable the fastener (1) to be driven into a hole (15) in a substrate (16) by an axial force (F) applied to the head (3), wherein the one or more tabs (4) are configured such that a subsequent removal torque (C) applied to the head (3) of the fastener (1) causes it to unscrew from the hole (15).

2. A fastening device (1) according to claim 1 comprising a body (11) formed of a polymeric material and an insert (12) formed of a metallic material coupled to the body (11), wherein the body (11) comprises the rod (2) and the head (3) and the insert (12) comprises the tab(s) (4).

3. A fixing device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the body (11) is overmolded onto the insert (12) so that the insert (12) is partially integrated into the body (11).

4. A fixing device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the insert (12) comprises one or more holes (13).

5. A fastening device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the polymeric material of the body (11) extends into the hole (13) or at least one of the holes (13) of the insert (12).

6. A fixing device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tab(s) (4) extend tangentially to the rod (2).

7. A fixing device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the or each tab (4) has a free edge (40) with a sharp corner (41) to prevent rotation of the fixing device (1) in a first direction and a rounded or smoothed corner (42) to facilitate rotation of the fixing device (1) in a second direction, which corresponds to the unscrewing direction.

8. A fastening device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tab(s) (4) comprise a plurality of tabs (4).

9. A fastening device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the tabs (4) are spaced along the length of the rod (2) and / or are rotationally offset relative to each other.

10. A fastening device (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the head (3) comprises a coupling feature (30) enabling a tool to apply the removal torque (C).

11. A fastening device (1) according to claim 10, wherein the coupling feature (30) comprises a non-round socket (31) or a non-round projection.

12. A fastening device (1) according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the coupling feature (30) comprises a hexagonal socket (31).

13. A fixing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims comprising a conical skirt (32) projecting from the head (3) towards the tab(s) (4) for engaging the substrate (16).

14. A fastening device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the conical skirt (32) is segmented.

15. A fastening device (1) according to any preceding claim, comprising one or more fins (33) which project radially from the head (3) towards the tab(s) (4) for engaging the substrate (16).

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