RETAINING AND ANCHORING DEVICE ON A METAL PLATE FOR FASTENING A FUNCTIONAL SUPPORT, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A RETAINING AND ANCHORING DEVICE

• US 20130328744A1
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG. (Kathrein SE)
• Inventors: Frhler, Christian, Gnther, Mario, Obermaier, Johann Baptist
• Granted Patent: US 9,912,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/878
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/03 of sheet metal otherwise than by folding
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/031 Joining superposed plates by locally deforming without slitting or piercing
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/088 the stud, pin or spigot being integrally formed with the component to be fastened, e.g. forming part of the sheet, plate or strip
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0096 by using permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0664 at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/07 involving plastic or elastic deformation when assembling involving plastic deformation with a part of or on one member entering a hole in the other F16B17/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 9/09 rods and flat surfaces interengaging by projections and mating sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/12 Supports; Mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/49 Member deformed in situ
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/60 Biased catch or latch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/70 Interfitted members

Abstract

The invention relates to a retaining and anchoring device forming a retaining and anchoring section on a metal plate (1), in particular on a reflector, having the following features: a recess (19) provided in the metal plate (1), wherein the recess (19) has on the upper face (1a) of the metal plate (1) a peripheral edge or edge sections (23′) spaced apart from one another, an undercut (25) or several undercut sections (25) are formed below the peripheral edge or the edge sections (23′), and the recess (19) is free of bores or passages.

Claims

1. Retaining and anchoring device forming a retaining and anchoring section on a reflector comprising a metal plate, the device comprising:

the metal plate having a recess worked into the metal plate, towards the upper side of the metal plate, the recess has a circumferential edge or edge sections which are spaced apart from each other,

below the circumferential edge or the edge sections, there is formed an undercut or a plurality of undercut sections,

the recess being configured so as to be free from holes or passages.

2. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein in plan view the recess is designed so as to be circular, oval, polygonal or the like.

3. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the edge comes to rest at least approximately at the level of the upper side of the undeformed region of the metal plate.

4. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the recess is configured as a circumferential annular recess, and leaving behind a central material region, at which a circumferential edge or edge sections which are offset in the circumferential direction is/are provided, wherein an undercut or undercut sections is/are provided below the circumferential edge or edge sections which are offset in the circumferential direction.

5. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of mutually offset recesses are formed which at least in sections have edges which, by forming an undercut, project into the access opening delimited thereby.

6. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate comprises a reflector sheet which forms the outer skin of a mobile radio antenna.

7. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a functional support anchored in the retaining and anchoring section, the functional supporting comprising a snap-on mechanism with protruding snap-on lugs for anchoring in the at least one undercut.

8. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 7, wherein the snap-on mechanism includes at least two mutually offset resiliently deformable snap-on fingers which are provided with snap-on lugs protruding transversely thereto in each case and with resilient deformation can be inserted into the associated recess in the metal plate over the edge projecting above the respective undercut.

9. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 8, wherein the snap-on fingers comprise snap-on lugs protruding outwards from a central section comprising radial components.

10. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 8, wherein the snap-on mechanism comprises snap-on fingers which with at least one radial component encompass snap-on lugs which point towards each other.

11. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 7, that further comprising a locking device which prevents unintentional removal of the snap-on mechanism from the recess beyond the edge which covers the undercut.

12. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 11, wherein the locking device comprises a pin configured to be axially introduced into a central hole in the functional support, whereby a rearward withdrawal space for the resilient snap-on fingers is blocked so that the snap-on lugs cannot be moved out of the at least one undercut.

13. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 11, wherein the locking device comprises a blocking ring which is axially displaceably guided on a base section of the snap-on mechanism and can be lowered to the extent that the resiliently deformable snap-on fingers are secured in such a way that the snap-on lugs thereof cannot be led out of the at least one undercut.

14. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a functional support including a resiliently circumferential anchoring wall, in a cylindrical shape with an outwardly circumferential or, at least in sections, mutually offset bead, wherein the anchoring or retaining section formed in this way configured to be inserted in the recess such that the outwardly circumferential bead, or the bead which is offset at least in sections in the circumferential direction, engages in the undercut in the recess (19) and consequently holds the functional support firmly and securely.

15. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a functional support anchored in the retaining and anchoring section and including a leading retaining section which after insertion in the recess is deformed by means of hot caulking such that material regions are pressed into the undercut of the recess and consequently captively holds the functional support in the recess.

16. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising an undeformed region of the metal plate, the undeformed region being arranged by deforming a transition region to the retaining and anchoring section comprising the recess in such a way that the plane of the undeformed region of the metal plate comes to rest

a) above the plane of the access opening, or

b) at the level of the plane of the access opening, or

c) below the plane of the access opening, or

d) below the level of the base of the recess.

17. Method for producing a retaining and anchoring section on a reflector comprising a metal plate, comprising:

impressing at least one cup-shaped or annular or cup-like or annular-channel-like recess into the metal plate using a pressing tool,

forming a bead or edge protruding in the opposite direction to the recess at the circumferential edge of the recess using the at least one pressing tool, and

deforming the upwardly protruding bead or edge at the same time as the preceding method step or in a subsequent method step using a third punch such that an edge, below which an undercut is constructed, protruding in the direction of the recess is formed from the upwardly protruding bead or edge directed away from the recess.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein deformation of the upwardly protruding bead or edge into an edge which tapers with respect to the access opening occurs using an punch which projects into the recess, the diameter of which punch is used as a calibration diameter forming the access opening with the corresponding passage size.

19. Method according to claim 17, wherein the impressing includes forming a cup-shaped recess that in plan view, is configured so as to be circular, oval, polygonal or the like.

20. Method according to claim 17, further comprising forming an annular-channel-shaped or at least annular-channel-like circumferential recess in the metal plate comprising a middle or central section from which outwardly a protruding edge or corresponding edge sections is or are formed in the recess with a respectively associated undercut located therebelow.

21. Method according to claim 20, further comprising reshaping at least one upwardly protruding bead or edge into an edge protruding in the direction of the annular-channel-shaped or annular-channel-like recess or into corresponding edge sections occurs using a hollow punch which projects into the recess, the internal diameter of which is used as a calibration diameter forming the circumferential access opening with a corresponding internal passage size.

22. Method according to claim 20, further comprising forming an annular or circumferential recess in the metal plate comprising a middle or central section from which, projecting outwards, the edge or edge sections is or are formed with a respective associated undercut located therebelow.

23. Method according to claim 17, further comprising impressing a plurality of mutally spaced apart recesses into the metal plate.

24. Method according to claim 17, further comprising deforming a transition region of the retaining and anchoring section with the recess to an undeformed material section on the metal plate in such a way that the plane of the undeformed metal plate lies

a) above the access opening, or

b) at the level of the access opening, or

c) below the access opening, or

d) below the base of the recess.

25. Method according to claim 17, wherein forming of the recess in a metal plate is carried out in three successive method steps, in two successive method steps or in one method step.