SYSTEME DE FERMETURE POUR LA FIXATION D'UN ELEMENT EN MATIERE PLASTIQUE SUR UNE STRUCTURE SUPPORT

CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR SECURING A PLASTIC COMPONENT TO A SUPPORT STRUCTURE

Abrégé français

L'invention a pour objet un système de fermeture pour la fixation d'un élément en matière plastique sur une structure support. La structure support est une plaque sensiblement plane, notamment une tôle métallique (11), présentant un évidement (23) destiné à recevoir l'élément en matière plastique (10). Ce dernier présente au moins une surface d'appui (12) destinée à venir en contact avec la structure support. En outre, il est prévu des éléments de fixation (14, 15) contre les surfaces d'appui fixant l'élément en matière plastique (10) sur la structure support, une fois cet élément introduit dans l'évidement (23).

Abrégé anglais

A closure system for securing a plastic component (10) to
a support structure. The support structure is a substantially
flat plate, especially a metal plate (11), having an opening
(23) to accept the plastic component (10). The plastic
component (10) has at least one contact surface (12) to contact
the support structure. There are also securing elements (14, 15)
which are directed towards the contact surfaces and secure the
plastic component (10) to the support structure after its
introduction into the opening (23).

Revendications

6
Claims:
1. In combination, a plastic component having a fastening
arrangement for securing the component to a support structure, the
combination comprising:
said support structure comprising a substantially flat metal
sheet or plate having an opening therein for receiving the
plastic component therethrough, said opening being provided with
at least one radially outwardly extending peripheral notch;
said fastening arrangement comprising at least one contact
surface on said plastic component adapted to engage one
side of the support structure when said plastic component
is received through said opening in said support structure;
at least one securing element on said plastic component,
said at least one securing element being configured to pass
through said at least one notch when said plastic component
is received through said opening in said support structure
and then upon partial rotation of said plastic component in
said opening to engage an opposite side of said support
structure; and
at least one detent projection provided on the plastic
component for preventing loosening of the plastic
component;
each said securing element having a deflection ramp surface
to facilitate its passage over said opposite side of said
support structure.
2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said detent
projection comprises an inclined locking tab on said plastic
component, said locking tab being lockingly received in said at least

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one notch when said plastic component is partially rotated in said
opening in said support structure.
3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said plastic
component is a part of an air intake duct of an internal combustion
engine of a motor vehicle.

Description

Title: CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR SECURING A PLASTIC COMPONENT TO A
SUPPORT STRUCTURE
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a plastic component with a fastening system, as well
as to a
support structure for securing the plastic component.
Background of the Invention
A tight interlocking connection for duct parts with the wall of a filter
housing is
known from DE-B-12 49 590. The filter housing comprises a metal sheet, from
which a rectangular opening has been stamped out. The duct part is introduced
through this stamped-out opening and secured by twisting.
A disadvantage of the known system is to be seen in that the stamped-out
surface is
substantially larger than the cross-section of the individual duct. Problems
with
respect to seal tightness and security thereby result, particularly in case of
vibrations
and impacts.
Fastening systems for securing plastic components to a support structure are
known
in a large variety of forms. For example, plastic components are equipped with
snap connectors. Also with bayonet fasteners. Especially in motor vehicles a
great
number of plastic components are fastened to a supporting structure, to a car
body
for example, with snap or catch fasteners. Great value is placed on a
vibration-free
fastening, but also on low manufacturing costs and quick installation.
The invention is addressed to the problem of creating a fastening system which
has
these advantages and also is in a position to fasten more complex plastic
components
to a simple supporting structure in a reliable manner.
This problem is solved, setting out from the preamble of the principal claim,
by its
distinctive characteristics.

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Summary of the Invention
The core idea of the invention is to configure the plastic component such that
no complex
operations on the supporting structure will be necessary, and that no
additional elements
will be needed on the supporting structure. This is achieved by equipping the
plastic
component both with a contact surface and with locking means, so that only an
opening is
required on the supporting structure.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided in combination, a plastic
component
having a fastening arrangement for securing the component to a support
structure, the
combination comprising: said support structure further comprising a
substantially flat
metal sheet or plate having an opening therein for receiving the plastic
component
therethrough, said opening being provided with at least one radially outwardly
extending
peripheral notch; said fastening arrangement further comprising: at least one
contact
surface on said plastic component adapted to engage one side of the support
structure
when said plastic component is received through said opening in said support
structure; at
least one securing element on said plastic component which faces toward said
at least one
contact surface, said at least one securing element being configured to pass
through said at
least one notch when said plastic component is received through said opening
in said
support structure and then upon partial rotation of said plastic component in
said opening
to engage an opposite side of said support structure from said at least one
contact surface;
and at least one detent projection provided on the plastic component for
preventing
loosening of the plastic component; each said securing element having a
deflection ramp
surface to facilitate its passage over said opposite side of said support
structure.

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In accordance with one embodiment of the invention it is proposed to provide
detent projections on the plastic component or on the supporting structure
which prevent the plastic component from falling out.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention lies in the arrangement of
inclined tabs on the securing elernents. These pravide for simple and quick
assembly.
1n a preferred manner, the supporting structure comprises a metal sheet. This
sheet metal is, for example, part of the body of a motor vehicle .~rrd has a
thickness in the range from 0.3 to 3 mm. The opening in the sheet metal is
advantageously punched out- One advantageous application of the fastening
system is seen in the case of the air intake tube for an internal combustion
engine in a motor vehicle. This air intake tube usually leads through a part
of
thr~ body in an arr:a of the' vehicle in which air carrying as little dirt or
rnoisturc
as possible or air not heated by the motor can be drawn in. It was known to
provide such intake tubes with ears or the like and to fasten them with sheet
metal screws to a portion of the body. This kind of fastening is very
reliable,
and yet cost-intensive and requires much work to in the assembly process. If
the air intake tube is equipped with the features of the plastic component lof
the
inventionl, then a simple but at 'the same time reliable fastening resistant
to
vibration is possible.
These and other features of preferred embodiments of the invention ~rre la be
fnund not only in the claims but also in the description and the drawings, and
the individual features can be realized singly or plurally in the farm at
subcombtnations in the embodiment of the invention and in other fields, and
may constitute advantageous as well as independently patentable embodiments

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for which protection is hereby claimed. Embodiments of the invention
are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail
below.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a plastic component, in particular an air
intake tube, which is disposed on a flat pl ate,
Figure 2 shows a side view of the plastic component,
Figure 3 shows a top plan view of the plastic component.
Figure 4 the supporting structure with opening,
Figure 5a-d the assembly steps taken in fastening the plastic
component to a metal sheet.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figure 1 shows a plastic component 10, in particular a part of an air
intake tube for an internal combustion engine. This plastic
component is secured to a fl at plate, for example to a metal
plate 11.
The plastic component 10 has, as shown in the side view in Figure
2, contact surfaces 12 and 13. These make contact with the metal
plate 11. Furthermore, on the plastic component, securing elements
14 and 15 having counter-surfaces are provided, which prevent
loosening after assembly of the plastic component on the metal plate.
A continuing duct, not shown here, is connected to the plastic
component or intake tube at a fastening area 16.
Figure 3 shows a top view of the air intake tube with the contact
surfaces 12 and 13 of the tunnel-shaped opening 17, as well as the
securing elements 14 and 15. In the area of the securing elements the

CA 02222807 2005-O1-17
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contact surfaces 12 and 13 are cut out. The symmetrical configuration
of the plastic component makes it possible to arrange additional
contact surfaces 18 and 19 as well as additional securing elements 20
and 21. In this figure an inclined locking tab 22 is also to be seen.
It is disposed on the contact surface 13.
Figure 4 shows a section of a metal plate 11 with the punched-out
opening 23 for receiving the plastic component. While the securing
elements 14 and 15 as well as 20 and 21 pass through the notches 24,
25, 26 and 27, the contact surfaces 12, 13 and 18, 19 of the plastic
component lie on the segments which extend between the notches.
Figure 5 a to d shows the assembly steps in detail. The detail
illustrations are sectional illustrations taken along the section A-A
in Figure 3.
The contact surfaces 12 and 18 of the plastic component are shown in
Figures 5 a to d, as well as the securing element 14. On the contact
surface 12 or 13, as seen in Figure 3, an inclined locking tab 28 is
provided. In the position shown in Figure 5a, the metal plate 11 with
the notch 27 is not yet in contact with the plastic component.
Figure 5b shows the position wherein the plastic component 10 is already
in the axial end position.
Then, according to Figure 5c, the plastic component 10 is rotated in the
direction of the arrow 29. The securing element 14 with the deflection
ramp 31 flexes downward as indicated by arrow 30. The metal plate 11
slides on the

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IeFt side over the inclined locking 'tabs 2$.
Fgure 5d shows the end position of the plastic component 10 in the locked
position. The notch 27 punched in the metal plate is now above the inclined
locking tab 28. Due to its elasticity, the securing element 14 applies an
upward
pressure to the metal plate 11. In conjunction with the inclined locking tab
28,
the plastic component or air intake tube is secured in the intende=d position
shown here.
The individual steps show that a simple, manually performed assembly of the
plastic component is possible, whereby after the assembly, the plastic
component is se:~urely fastened to the supporting strucriire. By providing a
tab
on the back (opposite the inclined locking tab Z8) the detent mechanism can be
easily unlocked and the plastic component removed.

Dessin représentatif