Abstract:
A stamped screen according to the invention has at least one fastening element integral with the screen and is fastened to the associated component without further accessories at the same time as it is inserted into place.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a 35 USC 371 application of PCT/DE 01/04434 filed on Nov. 24, 2001. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention is directed to a stamped screen for an electrical circuit, having improved fastening means integral with the screen. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   DE 198 58 231 A1 has disclosed a stamped screen, which is inserted into a housing cover and is fastened to the housing cover by means of ultrasonic welding or warm caulking of positioning pins provided for this purpose. This means that in addition to inserting the stamped screen into the housing cover, another manufacturing step is required, namely the ultrasonic welding or the warm caulking and the devices required for them. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The stamped screen with the fastening element according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that the stamped screen is simply fastened to a component in the same manufacturing step as being inserted into place. 
   An advantageous embodiment of the fastening of the fastening element in the component is achieved if the fastening element produces a frictional engagement with the component. 
   In order to advantageously achieve a frictional engagement between the fastening element and the component, the fastening element has a spring action, for example due to the fact that at least part of the stamped screen has a U-shaped cross section. 
   If the fastening element is of one piece with the stamped screen, then the stamped screen and fastening element can be advantageously produced in one step. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described herein below, in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
       FIGS. 1   a  &amp;  b  show a stamped screen according to the invention when installed, and 
       FIG. 1   c  shows the stamped screen according to the invention when not installed. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1   a  shows a top view of a part of a stamped screen  1  according to the invention. 
   The stamped screen  1  is fastened to a component  3 . The fastening is produced by virtue of the fact that the stamped screen  1  has at least one fastening element  5 , which is, for example, of one piece with the stamped screen  1 . 
   The fastening element  5  can, for example, be embodied in the form of a pin and/or hook so that upon installation of the stamped screen  1  into the component  3 , the hook bites into the component  3  and thus fastens the stamped screen  1  to the component  3 . 
   However, the fastening element  5  can also, as in this exemplary embodiment, produce a frictional engagement with the component  3 . 
   In this connection, the fastening element  5  has a spring action. The spring action can act in numerous ways. 
   For example, the stamped screen  1  is at least partially embodied as straight in a longitudinal direction  11  and, as a fastening element  5 , has at least one strip  6 , which extends crosswise, e.g. perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction  11  of the stamped screen  1 , in a lateral direction  13 , beyond both longitudinal sides of the stamped screen  1 . A tip end  5   a  of the fastening element extends past the sides of the stamped screen to form the crosswise strip  6 . 
     FIG. 1   b  depicts the spring action of the strip  6  in a section along the line A-A. Part of the stamped screen  1  in the region of the strip  6  has a cross section in a U-shape  9 , which produces a frictional engagement with the walls  15  of a recess  7  in the component  3 . 
   When the fastening element  5  is not installed, which is depicted in  FIG. 1   c , the cross section  13  of the U-shape  9  is larger than the width of the recess  7 . The U-shape  9  must therefore be compressed when the stamped screen  1  with the fastening element  5  is inserted into the recess  7 . When the stamped screen  1  is then disposed in the recess  7 , a spring action of the stamped screen  1  causes the fastening elements  5  to press against side walls  15  of the recess  7  and thus to produce a frictional engagement or biting action between the fastening element  5  and the recess  7 . 
   The recess  7  can also have projections or detents in the lateral direction on the side walls  15  so that the U-shape snaps into the recess  7 . 
   In this exemplary embodiment, the stamped screen  1  has a U-shape  9  in two places. However, it is also conceivable for the U-shape  9  to extend over a longer segment, i.e. for a U-shape  9  to be embodied, for example, between the upper fastening elements and the lower fastening elements in  FIG. 1   a , i.e. for a U-shaped channel to be embodied on the stamped screen  1 . 
   For example, the stamped screen  1  is part of an electrical circuit of an electric machine. Then for example, the component  3  is a part of a housing of an electric machine or an electric drive unit. 
   The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.