System for fixing two components to each other

This system, comprising a fastener (1) which is V-shaped and which comprises an intermediate portion (2) which is in the form of a clamp having two arms (3, 4), for receiving a projecting portion (12a, 12b) of the first component (12) and from which wings (6, 7) extend and are provided with engagement means for passing an over-center position on an edge of the second component (13) and in the region of the junction zone of each wing and the corresponding arm, at least one harpoon-like cut-out (8, 9) extending in continuation of the wing in the direction of the intermediate portion, is characterized in that the engagement means of the wings (6, 7) comprise means for resilient snap-fitting thereof on the edge of the second component (13), allowing the projecting portion (12a, 12b) of the first component (12) to be engaged, to a greater or lesser depth, in the intermediate clamp-like portion (2) of the fastener (1) during assembly thereof, in order to adjust the two components relative to each other.

The present invention relates to a system for fixing two components to each other.

More specifically, the invention relates to such a fixing system comprising a resilient fastener which is generally V-shaped and which comprises an intermediate portion which is in the form of a clamp which has two arms and which is suitable for receiving at least a projecting portion of the first component and from the arms of which lateral wings extend and are provided with engagement means for passing an over-centre position on a corresponding edge of the second component in order to engage the components with each other and in the region of the junction zone of each lateral wing and the corresponding arm of the intermediate portion, at least one harpoon-like cut-out extending in continuation of the corresponding wing in the direction of the intermediate portion, in order to allow the intermediate portion of the fastener to be fixed in position on the first component.

Such resilient fasteners are used in a number of applications, in particular in the automotive industry, in order to bring about the fixing of two components of equipment of a vehicle to each other.

In the prior art, when components are assembled together, the fastener is firstly engaged with the projecting portion of the first component so as to bring about the engagement of the fastener with that projecting portion.

Subsequently, that first component and that fastener are engaged, for example, in an opening of the second component so as to bring about the engagement of the fastener and therefore of the first component with the second component.

However, it will be appreciated that such a structure has a given number of disadvantages in particular in terms of the successive assembly and disassembly operations and adjusting the components relative to each other.

Different assembly clearances may become evident in that the components are not precisely adjusted with respect to each other.

Therefore, the object of the invention is to overcome those problems.

To that end, the invention relates to a system for fixing two components to each other, comprising a resilient fastener which is generally V-shaped and which comprises an intermediate portion which is in the form of a clamp which has two arms and which is suitable for receiving at least a projecting portion of the first component and from the arms of which lateral wings extend and are provided with engagement means for passing an over-centre position on a corresponding edge of the second component in order to engage the components with each other and in the region of the junction zone of each lateral wing and the corresponding arm of the intermediate portion, at least one harpoon-like cut-out extending in continuation of the corresponding wing in the direction of the intermediate portion, in order to allow the intermediate portion of the fastener to be fixed in position on the first component, characterised in that the engagement means of the lateral wings of the fastener comprise means for assembly by resilient snap-fitting thereof on the corresponding edge of the second component, allowing the projecting portion of the first component to be engaged, to a greater or lesser depth, in the intermediate clamp-like portion of the fastener during assembly thereof, in order to adjust the assembly of the two components relative to each other.

According to specific embodiments, the system comprises one or more of the following features taken in isolation or in accordance with any technically possible combination:the harpoon-like cut-outs are constructed by cut-outs which are inclined so as to extend from the lateral wings of the fastener,it comprises symmetrical lateral wings extending from the arms of the intermediate portion,each lateral wing has, extending from the intermediate portion of the fastener, a portion which is inclined towards the outer side of the fastener, a portion which is inclined towards the inner side of the fastener, a portion for receiving the corresponding edge of the second component and an abutment portion,the ends of the lateral wings of the fastener comprise abutment surfaces which are suitable for moving into abutment against each other in an assembly position of the fastener on the second component,the first component comprises two projecting portions which are spaced apart from and parallel with each other and which are suitable for becoming engaged at one side and the other of the abutment surfaces of the ends of the lateral wings of the fastener and between the harpoon-like cut-outs of the intermediate portion of that fastener,the fastener is constructed by cutting and shaping a sheet metal blank.

Those Figures illustrate a system for fixing two components to each other which comprises a resilient fastener which is generally designated1inFIG. 1and which is generally V-shaped, comprising an intermediate portion in the form of a clamp having two arms, that intermediate portion being generally designated2in that Figure.

The two arms are themselves generally designated3and4.

That intermediate portion is suitable, as will be described in greater detail below, for receiving and/or co-operating with at least a projecting portion of a first component. Furthermore, those arms3,4of the intermediate portion2of the fastener are extended by symmetrical lateral wings6and7.

Those lateral wings6and7are provided with engagement means for passing an over-centre position on a corresponding edge of a second component in order to engage the components with each other. Those means will be described in greater detail below.

This fastener also comprises, in the region of the junction zone of each lateral wing6,7and each corresponding arm3,4of the intermediate portion2, at least one harpoon-like cut-out which extends in continuation of the corresponding wing in the direction of the intermediate portion of the fastener in order, as will be described in greater detail below, to fix in position the projecting portion of the first component in that intermediate portion of the fastener in the form of a two-armed clamp.

In the embodiment illustrated, those harpoon-like cut-outs are constructed by cut-outs of the lateral wings of the fastener.

In the example illustrated, four harpoon-like cut-outs are provided and are generally designated8,9,10and11. Those cut-outs are constructed at each side of the intermediate portion so as to extend from each lateral wing.

As illustrated, each lateral wing6or7further has, extending from the intermediate portion of the fastener, a portion which is inclined towards the outer side of the fastener and which is generally designated6a,7a, a portion6b,7bwhich is inclined towards the inner side of the fastener, a portion6c,7cfor receiving the corresponding edge of the second component and, finally, an abutment portion6d,7d. Those abutment portions are formed, for example, by two tongues which are bent through 90° towards the outer side of the fastener.

Those different portions define the resilient snap-fit assembly means of the securing member with respect to the corresponding edge of the second component, thereby allowing the securing member to be fixed in position on the corresponding edge of the second component and, to a greater or lesser depth, the projecting portion of the first component to be engaged in the intermediate portion of the securing member during the assembly thereof in order to adjust the assembly of the two components relative to each other.

As is also visible inFIG. 1, the ends of the lateral wings6,7of the fastener also comprise symmetrical abutment surfaces6e,7e, which are suitable for moving into abutment against each other in the assembly position of the fastener on the second component. Those abutment surfaces are also formed, for example, by tongues which are bent towards the inner side of the fastener.

FIGS. 2 to 4illustrate the assembly and disassembly of a fixing system according to the invention.

These Figures illustrate the fastener which is described above and generally designated1, a first component which is generally designated12and which comprises two projecting portions12a,12band a second component which is generally designated13and which comprises, for example, an opening which is generally designated14and in which the resilient fastener1is engaged, that resilient fastener being engaged by means of resilient snap-fitting of the lateral wings thereof on corresponding facing edges of that opening.

The first assembly phase of such a system involves engaging the fastener in position and fixing it in position on the edges of the opening.

This is brought about by way of means for passing an over-centre position of the lateral wings of the fastener, the corresponding edges of the opening being received in the corresponding receiving portions6c,7cof those wings in order to bring about the fixing of the fastener in position.

As is also illustrated in those Figures, the two projecting portions12a,12bof the first component12are spaced apart from and parallel with each other. They are suitable for becoming engaged at one side and the other of the abutment surfaces6e,7eof the ends of the lateral wings6,7of the fastener and for being inserted, as is illustrated particularly inFIG. 3, between the harpoon-like cut-outs of the intermediate portion of the fastener in the form of a two-armed clamp, in order to fix in position those projecting portions and therefore the second component relative to the first component.

Such a structure allows good adjustment to be brought about between the two components with respect to each other in that the projecting portions12a,12bof the first component12can be engaged, to a greater or lesser depth, in the intermediate clamp-like portion of the fastener during assembly thereof, which allows any assembly clearances to be taken up.

Furthermore, in the event of any disassembly of the two components with respect to each other, the fastener1remains fixed in position on the projecting portions12a,12bof the first component12and then becomes disengaged from the opening14of the second component. During the re-assembly of the two components with respect to each other, they will again take up their initial adjustment position.

Naturally, different embodiments of this fastener may be envisaged. It will also be appreciated that it can be constructed by cutting and shaping a sheet metal blank.