Abstract:
A fastening device having equalization elements, which are movable in the longitudinal direction of a receiving sleeve for adjustment to different diameters of oblong fastening elements such as coarse thread bolts, which hold the fastening element substantially without play in the receiving sleeve in dependence on the diameter of the respective fastening element.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase Patent Application based on International Application No. PCT/EP2010/067568 filed Nov. 16, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed to a fastening device and an attachment part equipped with such a fastening device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    One fastening device with an attachment part is known from DE 10 2005 032 535 A1. The previous known fastening device for fastening an attachment part connected to the fastening device to a support part having at least one elongated fastening element comprises a receiving sleeve extending in a longitudinal direction and adapted to surround the fastening element. Also present is a rear engaging unit, on which are formed a number of rear engaging tongues for engaging behind a detent structure of the fastening element. The rear engaging tongues are configured as flexible, so fastening elements with different radial dimensions can be used with the prior fastening device. A problem, however, is that the engagement of relatively small-diameter fastening elements with the prior fastening device necessarily suffers from play. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a fastening device and an attachment part, by means of which elongated fastening elements of different diameters come into engagement with the fastening device substantially without play. 
         [0007]    Owing to the presence of at least one equalizing element that is displaceable in the longitudinal direction in the receiving sleeve, the useful cross section of the fastening device can be adjusted to different cross sections of elongated fastening elements by virtue of the position of the or each equalizing element. 
         [0008]    In one form thereof, the present invention provides a fastening device for fastening an attachment part connected to the fastening device to a support part comprising at least one elongated fastening element, with a receiving sleeve extending in a longitudinal direction and adapted to surround the fastening element, and with a number of rear engaging tongues configured to engage behind a detent structure of the fastening element, characterized in that at least one equalizing element is present that is mounted displaceably in a longitudinal direction in the receiving sleeve, and in that in an equalizing position of retraction into the receiving sleeve, the useful cross section of the fastening device is decreased in comparison to an extended offset position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention having two equalizing sleeves as equalizing elements, which embodiment is made entirely of plastic; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in engagement with a relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt as fastening element; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in engagement with a medium-diameter coarse thread bolt as fastening element; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in engagement with a relatively large-diameter coarse thread bolt as fastening element; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention, said embodiment being configured with two equalizing sleeves as equalizing elements, in like manner to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , and fabricated with a separate rear engaging unit made of metal as an assembly component; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 5  in engagement with a medium-diameter coarse thread bolt as fastening element; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention, made entirely of plastic and configured with three sliding blocks as equalizing elements; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 7  in engagement with a relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt as fastening element; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 7  in engagement with a relatively large-diameter coarse thread bolt as fastening element. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  that has been produced entirely from plastic in a single injection molding operation and is integrated in one piece into a line holder  2  as an attachment part that is to be attached to a support part (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The line holder  2  comprises a base part  3  and, formed on said base part  3 , a first pair of side cheeks  4 ,  5  and a second pair of side cheeks  6 ,  7 , between each pair of which is disposed a respective C-shaped support mat  8 ,  9  made of a soft elastic plastic and provided to hold a respective line arrangement. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the fastening device  1  is positioned between the pairs of side cheeks  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 . 
         [0021]    The line holder  2  is also provided with a cover part  10 , which is pivotably mounted on the base part  3  via a hinge portion  11  and can be interlocked with the base part  3  via a number of detent hooks  12 ,  13 ,  14 . The cover part  10  is configured with a flat covering region  15 , which, when resting atop the base part  3 , covers the fastening device  1 . 
         [0022]    The fastening device  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  is provided with a receiving sleeve  16  configured as hollow-cylindrical and with a rear engaging unit  17 , which in the arrangement according to  FIG. 1  is depicted in a position in which it is extended out of the base part  3 , as it would be on removal from the injection mold. The rear engaging unit  17  is configured with a number of—for example, three—rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20  and, between said rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20 , stop pedestals  21 ,  22 ,  23  disposed in a through opening  24  formed in the rear engaging unit  17 . 
         [0023]    The rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20  are adjustable in a direction toward the receiving sleeve  16  and are evenly spaced apart peripherally. The stop pedestals  21 ,  22 ,  23  project radially into the through opening. 
         [0024]    In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the fastening device  1  also comprises an outer equalizing sleeve  25  and an inner equalizing sleeve  26 , which are configured as hollow-cylindrical and are concentrically mounted displaceably in receiving sleeve  16 , the inner equalizing sleeve  26  being inside the outer equalizing sleeve  25 . In the representation of  FIG. 1 , receiving sleeve  16  and equalizing sleeves  25 ,  26  are depicted with their respective ends mutually adjacent, which would be the arrangement on removal from the injection mold. 
         [0025]    When cover part  10  is closed, the covering region  15  is disposed on the side of receiving sleeve  16  facing away from rear engaging unit  17  and prevents the equalizing sleeves  25 ,  26  from coming out of the receiving sleeve  16 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  according to the invention as depicted in  FIG. 1 , in engagement with a relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt  27 , as elongated fastening element, which is configured with a thread structure  28  as detent structure and is fastened to a support part  29 . It can be seen from  FIG. 2  that when a relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  is used, inner equalizing sleeve  26  and outer equalizing sleeve  25 , after being pushed together from the injection arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 , are disposed concentrically inside receiving sleeve  16  and rest on stop pedestals  21 ,  22 ,  23 , which serve as a deep stop. 
         [0027]    When a relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  is used, the rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20  are substantially completely relaxed and engage the coarse thread structure  28  from behind substantially without bias. In this arrangement, inner equalizing sleeve  26  contactingly surrounds the coarse thread structure  28  of the coarse thread bolt  27 , while the rear engaging tongues  18 ,  29 ,  20  engage the thread structure  28  of the coarse thread bolt  27  from behind. Thus, in this refracted equalizing position of the two equalizing sleeves  25 ,  26 , using a minimal useful cross section, the line holder  2  is fastened to the support part  29  substantially without play. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  according to the invention as depicted in  FIG. 1  with a medium-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  as elongated fastening element, in an arrangement wherein it is mated onto said coarse thread bolt  27 . The coarse thread bolt  27  according to  FIG. 2  is configured with a thread structure  28  as detent structure. Due to the larger diameter of the medium-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  of  FIG. 3  compared to the relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  of  FIG. 2 , the inner equalizing sleeve  26  is shifted, compared to the arrangement of  FIG. 2 , in the axial direction away from rear engaging unit  17  into an extended offset position, with the result that with this medium-sized useful cross section of the fastening device  1 , outer equalizing sleeve  25  substantially tightly surrounds the thread structure  28  of the medium-diameter coarse thread bolt  27 . 
         [0029]    Due to the larger diameter of the coarse thread bolt  27  compared to the arrangement of  FIG. 2 , the rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20  now engage the thread structure  28  with a certain bias, since they are bowed radially outward. Thus, substantially play-free rear engagement of the coarse thread bolt  27  is also ensured in the arrangement of  FIG. 3 , with inner equalizing sleeve  26  in an offset position and outer equalizing sleeve  25  in a retracted equalizing position. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in engagement with a relatively large-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  as elongated fastening element, configured with a thread structure  28  as detent structure. Due to the still greater diameter of the coarse thread bolt  27  compared to the arrangement of  FIG. 3 , using this maximal useful cross section of the fastening device  1 , outer equalizing sleeve  25  is also spaced apart from the rear engaging unit  17  in the axial direction, such that, in the arrangement of  FIG. 4 , the receiving sleeve  16  now surrounds the coarse thread bolt  27  with a relatively small space between them, whereas the equalizing sleeves  25 ,  26  rest fixingly and substantially without play on the end of coarse thread bolt  27  remote from support part  29 . 
         [0031]    The rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20  are again bowed farther radially outward compared to the position of  FIG. 3 , causing them to engage the thread structure  28  of the relatively large-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  from behind with a still greater bias compared to the arrangement of  FIG. 3 , and hold it in the fastening device  1 , along with the equalizing sleeves  25 ,  26  and the receiving sleeve  16 , substantially without play. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  according to the invention, it being noted that like elements in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  and the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 5  are provided with the same reference numerals and will not all be described more closely below. The exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 5  comprises a rear engaging ring  30  made of metal, whereas the fastening device  1  and the line holder  2  are otherwise made of plastic. The rear engaging ring  30  is inserted into the through opening  24  formed in the rear engaging unit  17  and comprises, as equalizing elements, bent rear engaging tongues  31 ,  32 ,  33  oriented similarly to rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows the exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  according to the invention as depicted in  FIG. 5  in engagement with a medium-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  as an elongated fastening element configured with a thread structure  28  as detent structure, similar to the arrangement of  FIG. 3 . In similar fashion to the rear engagement of rear engaging tongues  18 ,  19 ,  20  in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5  the rear engaging tongues  31 ,  32 ,  33  engage behind the thread structure  28  of the coarse thread bolt  27  with a certain bias so as to, in concert with outer equalizing sleeve  25  in contact with the thread structure  28  of coarse thread bolt  27  in a retracted equalizing position, and inner equalizing sleeve  26  in an extended offset position, connect coarse thread bolt  27  to fastening device  1  substantially without play. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  according to the invention, it being noted that like elements in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 5  and the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 7  are provided with the same reference numerals and will not all be described more closely below. In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 7 , present as equalizing elements are a number of—for example, three—sliding blocks  34 ,  35 ,  36 , which are so mounted, in sliding-block guide rails  37 ,  38 ,  39  formed by lateral guide cheeks, as to be displaceable inside the receiving sleeve  16  in the longitudinal direction of said receiving sleeve  16 . In the arrangement according to  FIG. 7 , the sliding blocks  34 ,  35 ,  36  are depicted raised above the end of the receiving sleeve  16  facing the cover part  10 , as they would be on removal from the injection mold. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of a fastening device  1  cording to the invention as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in engagement with a relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  as elongated fastening element having a thread structure  28  as detent structure. It can be seen from  FIG. 8  that rear engaging tongues  40 ,  41  formed on the inner face of receiving sleeve  16  are in engagement, as in the previously described exemplary embodiments, with the thread structure  28  formed on the coarse thread bolt  27 , whereas, due to the relatively small diameter of the coarse thread bolt  27 , with this small useful cross section of the fastening device  1  the sliding blocks  34 ,  35 ,  36  are sunk into the region of the rear engaging tongues  40 ,  41  and in this retracted equalizing position are in contact with the thread structure  28  of the coarse thread bolt  27 . As a result, the relatively small-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  is disposed in the fastening device  1  substantially without play. 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 7  with a relatively large-diameter coarse thread bolt  27  as elongated fastening element, which is so dimensioned that once the coarse thread bolt  27  has been inserted into the receiving sleeve  16 , the sliding blocks  34 ,  35 ,  36  have been moved in the longitudinal direction away from the rear engaging tongues  40 ,  41  into an extended offset position to give the fastening device  1  a large useful cross section, and are, by a bevel, in stabilizing contact with the end region of the coarse thread bolt  27  remote from the support part  29 . Together with the relatively high bias of the rear engaging tongues  40 ,  41  brought about by the relatively large diameter of the coarse thread bolt  27 , the coarse thread bolt  27  is fixed substantially without play, despite some radial clearance with respect to receiving sleeve  16 , by the contact with the sliding-shoe guide rails  37 ,  38 ,  39  even in the extended offset position of the sliding shoes  34 ,  35 ,  36  depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0037]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.