Component connection and/or method for connecting components
First Claim
1. A component connection, comprising:
- a first vehicle connection component having a male fixing element protruding from a major surface of the first vehicle connection component, the male fixing element having a partial or complete sphere shape;
a second vehicle connection component having a female fixing element formed as a passage hole in a major surface of the second vehicle connection component, the passage hole operatively configured to receive the male fixing element, the male fixing element being insertable into and through the passage hole in one insertion direction;
wherein the male fixing element has an oversized dimension in relation to the passage hole substantially transverse to the one insertion direction such that the major surfaces of the first and second vehicle connection components abut one another and are clamped together at the fixing elements; and
wherein the second vehicle connection component comprises at least one preformed flexible clamping element projecting, before the first and second vehicle connection components are clamped together, out of the major surface at an edge of the passage hole, the flexible clamping element exerting, after the first and second vehicle connections components are clamped together, a clamping force exteriorly onto an exterior of the male fixing element, which clamping force acts substantially transverse to the one insertion direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A component connection is provided and includes, a first vehicle component, which has a male fixing element that projects from the first vehicle component and that partially or completely has the shape of a sphere or completely or partially has a sphere-like shape, and a second vehicle component, which has a female fixing element that is intended to receive the male fixing element. The male fixing element is inserted into the female fixing element in an insertion direction. The male fixing element has an excessive dimension relative to the female fixing element substantially perpendicularly to the insertion direction so that the two vehicle components are detachably clamped together at the fixing elements.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A component connection, comprising:
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a first vehicle connection component having a male fixing element protruding from a major surface of the first vehicle connection component, the male fixing element having a partial or complete sphere shape; a second vehicle connection component having a female fixing element formed as a passage hole in a major surface of the second vehicle connection component, the passage hole operatively configured to receive the male fixing element, the male fixing element being insertable into and through the passage hole in one insertion direction; wherein the male fixing element has an oversized dimension in relation to the passage hole substantially transverse to the one insertion direction such that the major surfaces of the first and second vehicle connection components abut one another and are clamped together at the fixing elements; and wherein the second vehicle connection component comprises at least one preformed flexible clamping element projecting, before the first and second vehicle connection components are clamped together, out of the major surface at an edge of the passage hole, the flexible clamping element exerting, after the first and second vehicle connections components are clamped together, a clamping force exteriorly onto an exterior of the male fixing element, which clamping force acts substantially transverse to the one insertion direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detachably preassembling at least two vehicle components, the method comprising the acts of:
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providing a first vehicle component having a male fixing element projecting from a major surface of the first vehicle component and having a partial or complete sphere shape; providing a second vehicle component having a female fixing element formed as a passage hole in a major surface of the second vehicle component, and having at least one preformed flexible clamping element that projects out of the major surface of the second vehicle component and is located at an edge of the passage hole; fitting together the first and second vehicle components via a clamping connection formed by inserting, in one insertion direction, the male fixing element into and through the female fixing element with an interference between the sphere shape and the passage hole, wherein the flexible clamping element exerts, in a securely clamped condition of the first and second vehicle components, a clamping force acting exteriorly onto the male fixing element in a substantially transverse direction relative to the one insertion direction, and the major surfaces of the first and second vehicle components about one another in the securely clamped condition.
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Specification