Device for fastening an attached part, in particular in the form of a motor vehicle antenna

• US 20080131199A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathrein Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG. (Kathrein SE)
• Inventors: Hildebrand, Rudolf
• Granted Patent: US 9,966,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/408.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1214 through a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3275 mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/745 separate from the housing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/02 for antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/52 mounted in or to a panel or structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/75 having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members

Abstract

An improved device for fastening an attached part, in particular in the form of a motor vehicle antenna, to a fitting wall provided with a fitting opening, preferably in the form of a bodywork metal sheet. The tensioning and/or locking means and/or the screw member applying pressure to the tensioning and/or locking means is located in a region or in a plane parallel to the fitting opening and/or the fitting wall which surrounds the fitting opening and is arranged, in the fitting and insertion direction of the fastening means, after a plane defined by the insertion opening in the at least one plug connector of the plug connector system.

Claims

1. A device for fastening an attached part comprising:

an attached part comprising a fitting plate or a chassis via which the attached part can be attached to or fitted on a fitting wall provided with a fitting opening,

the fitting plate or the chassis being provided with a threaded means,

a screw member which can be screwed into and out of the threaded means,

the screw member and/or the threaded means penetrating a tensioning and/or locking means,

the tensioning and/or locking means comprising at least one clamping and/or support elements,

the at least one clamping and/or support elements locking behind the fitting opening once they have been introduced and/or inserted through the fitting opening from the attachment side encompassing the attached part,

pressure being applied, using the threaded member, to the tensioning and/or locking means in such a way that the clamping and/or support elements are supported, on the side of the fitting opening opposing the attached part, on the fitting wall surrounding the fitting opening and fix the attached part, and

a plug-in system disposed on the underside of the fitting plate or the chassis, the plug-in system which comprising at least one plug connector arranged offset relative to the screw member in such a way that, viewed perpendicularly to the fitting opening, the at least one plug connector is arranged wholly or partially in the region of the fitting opening, the plug-in system comprising the at least one plug connector housing held via the fitting plate or the chassis,

the tensioning and/or locking means and/or the screw member applying pressure to the tensioning and/or locking means is located in a region or in a plane parallel to the fitting opening and/or the fitting wall which surrounds the fitting opening and is arranged, in the fitting and insertion direction of the fastening means, after a plane defined by the insertion opening in the at least one plug connector of the plug connector system.

2. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning and/or locking means being provided with a through-opening penetrated by a shank of the screw member, the central portion thus formed of the tensioning and/or locking means, which is preferably in the form of a spring metal sheet or a spring clip, being located in a region or in a plane positioned, in the insertion and fitting direction, after the plane in which the insertion opening in the at least one plug-in connector is located.

3. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning and/or locking means has, adjoining a central portion, clamping and/or support elements comprising angled portions which protrude at least partially through or into one or more apertures in the fitting plate or the chassis or correspondingly formed recesses therein.

4. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning and/or locking means and, in particular, a central portion of a spring metal sheet or spring clip thus formed and/or the upper side of a screw head of the threaded member is located in a region, at a level and/or in a plane located sufficiently far below the insertion plane formed by the insertion opening in the at least one plug connector that counter-plug connectors can be attached thereto without colliding with the tensioning and/or locking means and/or colliding with the screw member.

5. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central portion of the tensioning and/or locking means, formed in the form of a spring metal sheet or spring clip, is located in a region and/or a plane located closer to the attached part than clamping edges of the tensioning and/or locking means supported on the fitting wall on the side opposing the attached part.

6. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper side of the screw member comes to lie at a distance from the fitting plate provided with the fitting opening that is less than 80%, in particular less than 60%, preferably less than 40%, in particular less than 20% or even less than 10% of the distance of the plane, formed by the insertion opening in the at least one plug connector, to the fitting wall.

7. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, externally to the central portion of the tensioning and/or locking means configured in the form of a spring metal sheet or spring clip, the clamping and/or support element are preferably configured in the manner of clamping feet which are formed in side view in an S-shaped or similar manner or at least in a U-or V-shaped manner, in such a way that they comprise at least two legs portions which are joined together via an angled portion preferably protruding toward the attached part, at least one of the two legs and preferably both legs penetrating the fitting opening, and a clamping edge reaching behind the fitting opening being configured on the outer leg.

8. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tensioning and/or locking means comprises in its central portion ribs and/or recesses for increasing rigidity.

9. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein clamping feet comprise ribs, raised portions and/or recesses and/or material cutouts via which the resilience of the clamping feet is defined.

10. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two clamping edges are configured at each radially outer end of the tensioning and/or locking means and are held in side view via U- or V-shaped clamping feet.

11. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are configured, on the tensioning and/or locking means preferably in the form of a spring metal sheet or spring clip, protruding clamping projections which, in the fitted state, reach behind the fitting opening on the side of the fitting wall opposing the attached part.

12. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is further provided a pressure part which is arranged, opposing the attached part, parallel to the central portion of the spring metal sheet or spring clip and to which pressure is applied by the screw head of the screw member, the outer portions of the pressure member merging, via an angled portion, with pressure-transmitting arms which press, when the screw member is tightened, onto the concave angled portion between the two legs portions of the clamping feet thus formed.

13. The fastening device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pressure part and the spring metal sheet and/or the spring clip are held via the shank of the screw member.

14. The fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein cable couplers can be attached to the plug-in system and secured thereon.