Clip holder

Abstract

The invention relates to a clip holder (1) for attaching a component (2) to be stapled to a motor vehicle by receiving an omega-type clip having a central portion comprising two opposing longitudinal ribs, each extended by at least one lateral tab, each tab extended by a lip. The clip holder (1) projects from a surface (8) of the component (2) and extends to a transverse portion (9) connected to the surface (8) by two opposing lateral portions (10). The transverse portion (9) is designed to be positioned between the lateral tabs of a clip attached to the clip holder (1). The clip holder (1) has a central cutout (12) delimited by the transverse portion (9) and the lateral portions (10). The clip holder (1) is shaped, between the surface (8) and the cutout (12), to be free of any portion capable of acting as a stop for a lip during the insertion and retention of a clip. staple. (Figure 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Staple holder

[0001] The technical field relates to staple holders, assemblies comprising a staple holder and a staple, as well as vehicles comprising such assemblies.

[0002] Car manufacturers are obviously committed to the comfort of their customers and therefore to providing vehicles of the highest possible quality. They are also committed to improving the working environment for assembly line operators. For example, robots have long been used to assist operators in moving and positioning heavy and / or bulky loads on assembly lines. Further efforts are also focused on the ergonomics of the workstation, particularly regarding the repetitive movements that some operators must perform. Indeed, certain movements, when repeated many times, can cause discomfort and / or musculoskeletal pain.

[0003] In this context, certain parts, such as vertical exterior rear door opening controls, are pre-positioned and held in place, before being screwed in, using clips attached to clip holders. The clips in question are generally omega-type clips, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], clipped onto clip holders such as the one shown in [Fig. 1]. To achieve clipping, the clip is pushed onto the holder to cause elastic deformation of the clip within the holder. During the clipping operation, operators have identified a clip insertion phase that requires more force. Furthermore, when the parts to be clipped are small in size and / or thickness, the increased force required during this insertion phase is likely to cause deformation of the parts being clipped.There is a risk that the clip will detach and fall between panels, becoming a source of unwanted noise. It is also possible that clipping the clip onto a deformed piece will become impossible. Finally, removing the clip may become impossible once deformation has occurred.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a solution to facilitate the clipping of an omega type staple onto a staple holder, avoiding in particular hard points and / or risks of deformation.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a staple holder that facilitates the clipping of an omega-type staple, avoiding increased effort and the risk of deformation.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a clip holder for attaching a component to be fastened to a motor vehicle by receiving an omega-type clip having a central portion comprising two opposing longitudinal ribs, each extended by at least one lateral tab, each tab extended by a lip, the clip having an omega-shaped cut, the clip holder projecting from a surface of the component to be fastened and extending to a transverse portion connected to the surface by two opposing lateral portions, the transverse portion being designed to be positioned between the longitudinal ribs and lateral tabs of an omega-type clip clipped onto the clip holder, the clip holder comprising a central cutout delimited by the transverse portion and the lateral portions, the clip holder being characterized in that it is shaped, between the surface and the cutout,to be free of any part that could act as a stop for an edge during the insertion and retention of an omega-type staple on the staple holder.

[0007] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a staple holder according to the invention and an omega-type staple, having a central part having two opposing longitudinal ribs each extended by at least one lateral tab each extended by a rim, the staple having an omega-shaped cut, the staple being clipped onto the staple holder so that the transverse part of the staple holder is located between each longitudinal side and lateral tabs.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one assembly according to the invention.

[0009] Thus, the staple holder according to the invention allows an omega-type staple to be clipped to obtain an assembly according to the invention, avoiding the risks of deformation and the hard spots usually observed when inserting a staple. Indeed, when inserting the staple, the absence of any part capable of acting as a stop for an edge of the staple eliminates the need to elastically deform the lateral tabs to counteract this stop. Therefore, the forces required to insert the staple into the staple holder are reduced compared to the forces required for a conventional staple holder. Since the forces are reduced, the risks of deformation are consequently reduced. Advantageously, the reduction in forces observed is all the greater as the thickness of the material of the element to be stapled increases: the staple holder according to the invention thus makes it possible to use a wider range of materials and / or thicknesses.Furthermore, experience has shown that the staple holder according to the invention allows a staple to be mounted and dismounted at least five times without causing breakage of the part to be stapled, thus meeting the specifications that manufacturers impose on themselves in terms of repairability.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the staple holder, the cutout is dimensioned to extend at least to the edges of an omega-type staple clipped onto the staple holder so that each space between two opposite edges of the staple is devoid of material.

[0011] According to one possibility of the staple holder, the cut extends to the surface.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the staple holder, the transverse part has a rounded edge to facilitate the insertion of an omega-type staple.

[0013] Advantageously, each lateral part has a T-shaped cross-section.

[0014] According to one possibility of the assembly, each lateral leg of the clip has a central extension extending towards the central part in the cutout and opposite the transverse part.

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a perspective view of a staple holder according to art anterior designed to support an omega-type staple;

[0017] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the clip support of the [Fig.l] receiving an omega type clip;

[0018] [Fig. 3] [Fig. 3] represents a perspective view of a clip holder according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an assembly according to the invention;

[0020] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0021] A clip holder 1 according to the invention, illustrated in figures 3 and 4, is designed to allow the attachment of a motor vehicle staple 2 by receiving an omega-type clip 3, illustrated in figures 2 to 4.

[0022] It is recalled that an omega-type clip 3 has a central portion 4 comprising two opposing longitudinal ribs 5, each extended by at least one lateral leg 6, each extended by a rim 7. The clip 3 has an omega-shaped cross-section. In Figures 2 and 4, the clip 3 is shown in two distinct configurations: a resting configuration and a configuration in which the lateral legs 6 are elastically deformed.

[0023] The staple holder 1 projects from a surface 8 of the stapled element 2 and extends to a transverse portion 9 connected to the surface 8 by two opposing lateral portions 10. The transverse portion 9 is designed to be positioned between the longitudinal sides 5 and the lateral tabs 6 of the omega-type staple 3 clipped onto the staple holder 1. The transverse portion 9 has a rounded edge 11 to facilitate the insertion of an omega-type staple 3. In the example illustrated in the figures, Each lateral part 10 has a T-shaped cross-section. Each lateral part 10 is dimensioned to prevent the staple 3 from coming out of the staple holder 1.

[0024] The staple holder 1 also includes a central cutout 12 delimited by the transverse part 9 and the lateral parts 10.

[0025] In the example illustrated in the figures, each lateral leg 6 of the clip 3 has a central extension 13 extending towards the central part 4 to be positioned, when the clip 3 is held in the clip holder 1, in the cutout 12 and opposite the transverse part 9.

[0026] The staple holder 1 is particular in that it is shaped, between the surface 8 and the cut 12, to be devoid of any part capable of forming a stop for a rim 7 during the insertion and retention of the omega-type staple 3 on the staple holder 1.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the cutout 12 is sized to extend at least to the edges 7 of an omega-type clip 3 attached to the clip holder 1, such that each space 14 located between two opposite edges 7 of the clip 1 is devoid of material. In this embodiment, the cutout 12 extends to the surface 8.

[0028] Thus, the clip holder 1 allows for the formation of an assembly 15 comprising the clip holder 1 according to the invention and an omega-type clip 3. In the assembly 15, the clip 3 is clipped onto the clip holder 1, such that the transverse portion 9 of the clip holder 1 is located between each longitudinal side 5 and lateral tabs 6. Each central extension 13 abuts the transverse portion 9 to prevent the clip 3 from being removed.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the insertion of the clip 3 and its retention on the clip holder 1 are facilitated because the insertion of the clip 3 onto the clip holder 1 is free of a stop that would require elastic deformation of the lateral tabs 6 of the clip 3, unlike the insertion of the same clip 3 onto a prior art clip holder SA illustrated in [Fig. 1]. Indeed, the edges 7 of the clip 3 abut against a rib NE of the clip holder SA, as shown in [Fig. 2], requiring elastic deformation of each lateral tab 6, which results in additional force being required to insert the clip 3.

[0030] Thus, the staple holder 1 allows the staple 3 to be clipped to obtain the assembly 15 while avoiding the risk of deformation of the element 2 to be stapled. Indeed, when the staple 3 is inserted, the space 14, located between two opposite edges 7 of the staple 3, being free of material, avoids the need to elastically deform the lateral tabs 6 of the staple 3. Thus, the forces required to insert the staple 3 into the staple holder 1 are reduced compared to the forces required for a conventional staple holder.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the staple holder described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A clip holder (1) for attaching a motor vehicle fastener (2) by receiving an omega-type clip (3) having a central portion (4) comprising two opposing longitudinal ribs (5), each extended by at least one lateral tab (6), each extended by a lip (7), the clip (3) having an omega-shaped cut, the clip holder (1) being adapted to project from a surface (8) of the fastener (2) and extending to a transverse portion (9) connected to the surface (8) by two opposing lateral portions (10), the transverse portion (9) being designed to be disposed between the longitudinal ribs (5) and lateral tabs (6) of an omega-type clip (3) clipped onto the clip holder (1), the clip holder (1) having a central cutout (12) delimited by the transverse portion (9) and the lateral parts (10), the clip holder (1) being characterized in that it is shaped,between the surface (8) and the cutout (12), so as to be free of any part capable of forming a stop for an edge (7) during the insertion and retention of an omega-type staple (3) on the staple holder (1).

2. Staple holder (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutout (12) is dimensioned to extend at least opposite the edges (7) of an omega-type staple (3) clipped onto the staple holder (1) so that each space (14) located between two opposite edges (7) of the staple (3) is devoid of material.

3. Staple holder (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cutout (12) extends to the surface (8).

4. Staple holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transverse part (9) has a rounded edge (11) to facilitate the insertion of an omega-type staple (3).

5. Clip holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each lateral part (10) has a T-shaped cross section.

6. Assembly (15) comprising a staple holder (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and an omega-type staple (3) having a central portion (4) comprising two opposing longitudinal ribs (5), each extended by at least one lateral tab (6), each extended by a rim (7), the staple (3) having a cut in omega shape, the clip (3) being clipped onto the clip holder (1) so that the transverse part (9) of the clip holder (1) is located between each longitudinal side (5) and lateral tabs (6).

7. Assembly (15) according to claim 6, characterized in that each lateral leg (6) of the clip (3) has a central extension (13) extending towards the central part (4) in the cutout (12) and opposite the transverse part (9).

8. Motor vehicle having at least one assembly (15) according to claim 6 or 7.

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