MULTI-PART EQUIPMENT PIECE FOR A VEHICLE AND CONNECTING METHOD

• US 20090200832A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yanfeng Czechia Automotive Interior Systems s.r.o.
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kalus, Holger, Kascherus, Gunter
• Granted Patent: US 8,567,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/153
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/78 post or panel mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0243 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 17/00 Connecting constructional elements or machine parts by a part of or on one member entering a hole in the other and involving plastic deformationriveting F16B19/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 17/008 of sheets or plates mutually joining sheets by riveting without the use of separate rivets F16B5/045
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49837 of first part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4949 Deforming component is inserted section

Abstract

An equipment piece includes first and second components, such as a vehicle door armrest and a vehicle door. The first component is insertable in a recess, such as a slot, in the second component. The second component may be secured in the first by deformation of a projecting portion configured as a tab having a wall thickness smaller than its longitudinal extension. The tab is anchorable non-positively in the second component after inserting into the recess and pending about a longitudinal axis of the tab.

Claims

1. An equipment piece comprising:

a first and a second component for the interior of a vehicle, in which at least one protrusion of the first component is inserted into a recess of the second component, and securable there by deformation of the projecting portion, configured as a tab having a wall thickness (D) which is smaller than its longitudinal extension (B), the tab being anchorable non-positively in the second component after inserting into the recess by bending about a longitudinal axis (L) of the tab.

2. The equipment piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tab may be brought to bear at least partially against the surface of the second component.

3. The equipment piece as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of tabs arranged in a linear manner and displaceable into a corresponding plurality of slots arranged in a linear manner.

4. The equipment piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tab has a wall thickness corresponding substantially to the wall thickness (d) of adjacent regions of the first component.

5. The equipment piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tab is connected to the second component by a material connection.

6. The equipment piece as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first component is an armrest and the second component is a support of a vehicle door.

7. A method for producing an equipment part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tab of the first component is inserted into the recess of the second component and subsequently is bent about a longitudinal axis (L) of the tab.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tab and/or recess is made by punching out and/or laser cutting the first and/or second component.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least the tab is heated before bending.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tab is connected by a material connection to the second component when bent.

11. The equipment piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is configured as a slot.