Retaining and anchoring device on a metal plate for fastening a functional support

• US 9,912,035 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2012
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu, Jennifer F
• Application Number:
  US14/000,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 343878, 343873
• 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

A retaining and anchoring device forming a retaining and anchoring section on a metal plate on a reflector includes a recess provided in the metal plate. The recess has on an upper face of the metal plate a peripheral edge or edge sections spaced apart from one another. An undercut or several undercut sections are formed below the peripheral edge or the edge sections. The recess is free of bores or passages. A locking device prevents unintentional removal of a snap-on mechanism from the recess beyond an edge section or plural edge sections which cover the undercut section(s).

Claims

1. Retaining and anchoring device comprising:

a reflector comprising a metal plate having an upper side, the metal plate defining a recess therein adjacent the metal plate upper side, the recess being configured to be free from holes or through passages,

a retaining and anchoring structure disposed on the metal plate, the retaining and anchoring structure comprising;

metal plate upper side circumferential edge portions which are spaced apart from one another, and

at least one undercut portion below the circumferential edge portions, a said edge portion or plural said edge portions covering the at least one undercut portion;

a functional support configured to be anchored in the retaining and anchoring structure, the functional support comprising a snap-on mechanism having snap-on fingers with radially outwardly projecting snap-on lugs configured to anchor in the at least one undercut portion; and

a locking device configured to prevent unintentional removal of the snap-on mechanism from the recess beyond the said edge portion or plural said edge portions covering the at least one undercut portion,

wherein the functional support defines a passage therein, and the locking device comprises a blocking pin attached to the functional support by being inserted into the functional support passage at least as far as a region of the snap-on fingers so as to be disposed between the snap-on fingers, the blocking pin being configured to press against the snap-on fingers and thereby prevent the snap-on fingers from being able to move together, the blocking pin thereby being disposed and structured to prevent accidental removal or withdrawal of the functional support from the recess by preventing the snap-on fingers from being withdrawn counter to a latching direction and also preventing the functional support from being lifted away from the recess.

2. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the recess is configured to be circular, oval, or polygonal.

3. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the metal plate has an undeformed region having an upper side, and the upper sides of the circumferential edge portions come 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 metal plate is configured to define the recess as a circumferential annular recess surrounding a central material region on which the circumferential edge portions which are offset in the circumferential direction are provided, wherein the at least one undercut portion is provided below the circumferential edge portions.

5. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mutually offset recesses formed which at least in sections have edges which, by forming an undercut, project into an 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, wherein the snap-on mechanism includes at least two mutually offset elastically deformable snap-on fingers insertable into the recess, the snap-on fingers each being provided with a snap-on lug protruding transversely and with elastic deformation via said edge portions projecting beyond the at least one undercut portion.

8. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 7, wherein the snap-on fingers comprise a central section comprising radial components, the snap-on lugs protruding outwards from the central section radial components.

9. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 7, wherein the blocking pin is configured to be axially introduced into the passage in the functional support, the blocking pin being configured to block a rearward withdrawal space for the resilient snap-on fingers so that the snap-on lugs cannot be moved out of the at least one undercut portion.

10. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the the snap-on lugs are configured to point towards each other.

11. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, wherein the functional support includes a resiliently circumferential anchoring wall, the wall having a cylindrical shape and a bead which is outwardly circumferential or mutually offset at least in portions, wherein the anchoring or retaining section is configured to be inserted in the recess such that the bead is outwardly circumferential, or offset in the circumferential direction at least in portions, the wall engaging in the at least one undercut portion in the recess and consequently holding the functional support firmly and securely.

12. Retaining and anchoring device according to claim 1, further comprising an access opening defining a plane, wherein the recess has a base, and wherein the metal plate has an undeformed region and a transition region to the retaining and anchoring structure comprising the recess, the undeformed region defining a plane, the undeformed region being formed by deforming the transition region to the retaining and anchoring structure comprising the recess in such a way that the plane defined by 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.

13. The retaining and anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the snap-on mechanism protruding snap-on lugs are further configured to flex away from the walls of the recess upon insertion into the recess and further flex toward the walls of the recess upon further insertion into the recess thereby snapping and exerting force against the walls of the recess, the exerted force associated with further flex toward the recess walls and the presence of the blocking pin between the snap-on fingers preventing the lugs from flexing away from the walls to thereby prevent removal of the lugs from the recess once the lugs snap against and engage the walls.

14. Retaining and anchoring device comprising:

a reflector comprising a metal plate having an upper side, the metal plate defining a recess therein adjacent the metal plate upper side, the portion of the metal plate defining the recess being configured to be free from holes or through passages,

a retaining and anchoring structure disposed on the metal plate, the retaining and anchoring structure comprising;

metal plate upper side circumferential edge portions which are spaced apart from one another, and

at least one undercut portion below the circumferential edge portions, a said edge portion or plural said edge portions covering the at least one undercut portion;

a functional support configured to be anchored in the retaining and anchoring structure, the functional support comprising a snap-on mechanism having elastically deformable snap-on fingers with protruding snap-on lugs projecting radially inwardly and configured to anchor in and snappingly engage the at least one undercut portion; and

a locking device configured to prevent unintentional removal of the snap-on mechanism from the recess beyond the said edge portion or plural said edge portions which covers the at least one undercut portion,

wherein the locking device comprises a blocking ring which is axially displaceably guided on the snap-on mechanism and is configured to be lowered into a locking position such that the ring is structured and positioned to engage the snap-on fingers to prevent the snap-on lugs thereof from and being guided out of the at least one undercut portion by movement of the snap-on lugs in a radially outward direction.