Motor vehicle an hydraulic cylinder, such as to actuate a clutch, having a quick fastener for mounting the hydraulic cylinder to a housing

A quick fastener for mounting a hydraulic cylinder to a casing, whereby the hydraulic cylinder has a fastening device, and the casing has mounting structures in the casing wall. The mounting structures act in concert with the fastening device so that the hydraulic cylinder can be mounted to the casing wall without using tools. The fastening device includes primarily a fastening nose and a catch spring with a catch nose, as well as, a stop collar or groove. The mounting structures include at least one opening in the casing wall that have contours into which the fastening nose as well as the catch spring with the catch nose can be inserted. The advantage of this quick fastener lies in the simple sealing of the chambers on both sides of the casing wall, with a simple assembly, by inserting, in the direction of the axle of the hydraulic cylinder, and the swinging or positioning, as desired, of the hydraulic cylinder into the mounting position. The quick fastener can also be secured, also manageable without tools, by supporting the catch spring through appropriate securing elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a quick fastener for mounting a pressure 
means cylinder to a casing, including a pressure means cylinder with a 
cylinder casing, a piston, and a tappet with a fastening device for 
fastening the pressure means cylinder to a casing or housing wall, 
essentially without tools. Whereby, the casing wall shows mounting 
structures into which the pressure means cylinder can be inserted. 
2. Background Information 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,478 discloses a mounting structure for attaching a 
pressure means cylinder to a casing, consisting of a bayonet fastener with 
a back cut, whereby over the spring force of an auxiliary spring, the 
pressure means cylinder is held in its position. For this reason, the 
pressure means cylinder shows division ribs or lugs that run on the 
circumference which can be inserted into recesses of projections that are 
placed in the casing wall and which must be designed therein a prominent 
manner. The assembly is executed by simple movements that are possible to 
perform without tools, namely by pushing the pressure means cylinder into 
the casing wall to a stop, followed by an approximately 45.degree. turn, 
and finally by inserting the auxiliary spring for fastening the pressure 
means cylinder with its circumferential wedge ribs or lugs into the 
notches in the bayonet fastener provided on the casing wall. 
Although it is relatively easy to build the pressure means cylinder with 
its partially circumferential ribs, the fastening process in the casing 
wall, however, requires more effort because a mounting plate must be 
constructed that connects to the casing wall. This mounting plate shows 
the accommodation structures of the bayonet fastener, and has to be built 
separately. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,701 discloses another way of fastening a pressure means 
cylinder to a casing wall without tools. With the mounting of the pressure 
means cylinder in the casing wall, a bayonet fastener is closed by a 
45.degree. turn of the pressure means cylinder. A ring seal keeps, through 
its tension, the bayonet fastener in a no-play state, and an auxiliary 
spring secures the connection by hooking into a notch device so that the 
pressure means cylinder will not turn back or fall out of the casing wall. 
It is not always possible to turn pressure means cylinders in the 
assembled state by 45.degree., especially in the narrowly calculated 
spaces of automobiles, and especially when attaching parts are placed on 
the pressure means cylinder perpendicular to its axle. 
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to create a quick 
fastener for mounting a pressure means cylinder to a casing, which quick 
fastener can be operated and released by hand, whereby no rotary motions 
are necessary, and whereby the chambers on the cylinder side and on the 
other side of the casing wall are sealable. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention teaches that this object can be accomplished by means 
of a fastening device that comprises a stop collar, a fastening nose, and 
a catch spring with a catch nose. Whereby, the fastening device can be 
connected, by hand, to the mounting structures, having at least one 
opening with contours. 
The pressure means cylinder can be mounted to the casing wall by hanging, 
or engaging, the fastening nose into the first contour of the opening and 
by swinging the entire pressure means cylinder in against the stop collar 
after clicking the catch nose of the catch spring behind the second 
contour of the opening in the casing wall. The chambers on both sides of 
the casing wall can be sealed, after mounting the pressure means cylinder 
to the casing wall, by a rubber cap which lies around the mounting 
structures, and against the casing wall, or by a sealing element which is 
integrated into the mounting structure. 
The catch spring can be, after the catch nose clicks, supported by the 
sealing element and can be secured against the catch nose bending away 
from the second contour of the casing wall. The stop collar can lie 
against the casing wall in the mounted position and seals, in connection 
with the sealing element, the two chambers on this side and on the other 
side of the casing wall from one another. 
In another preferred embodiment, there can be a fastening device for 
fastening a pressure means cylinder to a casing wall, essentially without 
tools, whereby the casing wall shows mounting structures into which the 
pressure means cylinder can be inserted. The fastening device consists of 
a fastening groove and a catch spring with a catch nose, whereby this 
fastening device can be connected, by hand, to the mounting structures. 
The mounting structures having at least one opening with contours. The 
pressure means cylinder can be mounted to the casing wall by hanging the 
fastening groove into the first contour of the opening and by swinging the 
entire pressure means cylinder in as far as a stop rib, which stop rib 
lies against the casing wall after clicking the catch nose behind the 
second contour of the opening of the casing wall. 
The catch spring can be, after the catch nose clicks, supported by at least 
one locking nose, and can be secured against the catch nose bending away 
from the second contour of the casing wall. 
A first locking nose and a second locking nose, in their locking positions, 
can be engaged and disengaged, by hand, from a position underneath the 
catch spring. The first locking nose can be placed at one of the ends of a 
first securing shackle, which first securing shackle is connected over a 
first center of motion, to the cylinder casing of the pressure means 
cylinder, and shows at the other end a first operating lever. The second 
locking nose can be placed at one of the ends of a second securing 
shackle, which second securing shackle is connected, over a second center 
of motion, to the cylinder casing of the pressure means cylinder, and 
shows at the other end a second operating lever. The locking noses, 
through spring force, are held in the locking position underneath the 
catch spring and can be swung out, against one another, from the locking 
position by actuating the operating levers. 
The pressure means cylinder can be made of plastic and built in one piece 
with the fastening device and the securing shackles. The first contour can 
have a first length and the second contour can have a second length, 
whereby the first length can be clearly different from the second length. 
The above discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described 
further hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures. When the 
word "invention" is used in this specification, the word "invention" 
includes "inventions", that is, the plural of "invention". By stating 
"invention", the Applicants do not in any way admit that the present 
application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously 
distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more 
than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicants 
hereby assert that the disclosure of this application may include more 
than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one 
invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one 
with respect to the other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 indicates a pressure means cylinder 1, or hydraulic cylinder, 
comprising a cylinder casing 3, a piston 4, and a tappet 5 that is 
connected to this piston 4. The pressure means cylinder 1 is mounted to a 
casing wall 2, whereby on one side of the casing wall 2 the hydraulic part 
in the form of the pressure means cylinder 1 with its connections is 
located, and on the other side of the casing wall 2 the mechanical part, 
not illustrated here, following the tappet 5 is located. Pursuant to FIG. 
1, it is illustrated as to how the pressure means cylinder 1 is 
connectable by hand to the casing wall 2 without using tools, namely by a 
fastening device on the pressure means cylinder 1. The fastening device 
can include a stop collar 6 with a fastening nose 7 as well as a catch 
spring 14 with a catch nose 10, whereby the fastening nose 7 and the catch 
nose 10 can be fastened, in mounting structures of the casing wall 2, to 
the casing wall 2. In this embodiment, the mounting structures have a 
first opening 8 with a first contour 15 and a second opening 9 with a 
second contour 16 (see FIG. 2). The first opening 8 is just big enough for 
the fastening nose 7 to be pushed through and hung into the first contour 
15. In this embodiment, the second opening 9 is designed bigger in order 
to pass parts of the cylinder casing 3 through the casing wall 2, and to 
connect the catch nose 10 with the second contour 16. 
To further explain, in at least one possible embodiment of the present 
invention, the pressure means cylinder 1 may comprise an hydraulic 
cylinder to actuate an automobile clutch or brake, which hydraulic 
cylinder 1 is connectable, by hand, to a casing or housing wall 2, which 
casing wall 2 may, for example, comprise the fire wall of an automobile. 
On the opposite side of this casing wall or fire wall 2 from the hydraulic 
cylinder 1 would be the mechanical parts of an automobile clutch or brake, 
including, for example, a clutch pedal or a brake pedal. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the fastening nose 7 reaches over the first contour 15 
in the first opening 8 and the catch nose 10 reaches over the second 
contour 16 in the second opening 9 in such a way that, through the spring 
force of the catch spring 14, holding forces are generated for the 
pressure means cylinder 1 in the casing wall 2. 
In most cases it is necessary to seal the two chambers on the cylinder side 
and on the other side of the casing wall 2 against one another. One way 
this sealing action can take place is by placing the stop collar 6 against 
the casing wall 2, whereby only a sealing element 11 must seal the area 
around the catch nose 10. Another version of this sealing action is 
realized, pursuant to FIG. 1, by a rubber cap 12 which is placed around 
the cylinder casing 3 and bumps, with a rim of a pot-type design, against 
the casing wall 2, whereby this rim encloses the mounting structures. The 
sealing element 11 can be designed as a rubber form component and be 
placed, after mounting the pressure means cylinder 1 in the casing wall 2, 
between the catch spring 14 and the cylinder casing 3. As a result, the 
catch spring 14 is prevented from springing-in and thus the catch nose 10 
is prevented from bending away from the second contour 16. Consequently, 
the sealing element 11 serves, in addition to its purpose of sealing the 
two chambers on both sides of the casing wall 2, also in securing the 
catch spring 14, after mounting the pressure means cylinder 1 in the 
casing wall 2. 
Disassembling the pressure means cylinder 1 essentially takes place without 
using tools by bending the catch nose 10 away from the second contour 16 
of the casing wall 2, after the sealing element 11, as a security, has 
been removed from underneath the catch spring 14. The pressure means 
cylinder 1 can now be released from the casing wall 2 by swinging the 
catch spring 14 out of its connection, whereby the pressure means cylinder 
1 must describe only a small swinging angle. If angleling-off is not 
possible, then the catch spring 14 must be able to spring in by a larger 
amount, namely that of the height of the fastening nose 7. 
To further explain, in one possible embodiment of the present invention, 
disassembling the pressure means cylinder 1 from the casing wall 2 can 
essentially also take place without the use of tools by removing the 
sealing element 11 from underneath the catch spring 14, and manually 
bending the catch nose 10 away from the second contour 16 of the casing 
wall 2. The pressure means cylinder 1 can then be released from the casing 
wall 2 by swinging the catch spring 14 out of its connection by moving the 
pressure means cylinder 1 a small swinging angle, and thereby also 
permitting the disengaging of the fastening nose 7 from the first contour 
15, and the removal of the fastening nose 7 from the first opening 8 in 
the casing wall 2. However, if due to space restrictions it is not 
possible to angle-off the pressure means cylinder 1, after the securing 
element 11 has been removed and the catch spring has been released, then 
the catch spring 14 can compensate by being configured to spring inwardly 
over a larger distance. This distance being sufficient to both release the 
catch nose 10 from the second contour 16, as well as allow the sufficient 
shifting of the pressure means cylinder 1 away from the first contour 15, 
to thereby disengage the fastening nose 7 from the first contour 15, 
essentially without the need for angling the pressure means cylinder 1. 
If disassembling is to be made easier, a mounting aid 13 in the form of a 
recess in the second contour 16 is possible. This can be visible after 
bending the catch nose 10 slightly away from the second contour 16, and it 
is possible, with the aid of a screwdriver or another appropriate tool, to 
have the catch nose 10 bend away by levering off. The mounting aid 13 can 
also be designed in such a way that with the catch nose 10 engaged in the 
second contour 16, a small part of the mounting aid 13 is still visible, 
as a result of which a tool can be inserted without bending the catch nose 
10 beforehand. 
In FIG. 3 a second variation of a pressure means cylinder 21 is 
illustrated, including a cylinder casing 23, a piston 24, and a tappet 25. 
The cylinder casing 23 has a fastening device with a fastening groove 27 
on a casing extension and a catch spring 28 with a catch nose 30. With 
this mounting device, the pressure means cylinder 21 can be mounted in a 
casing wall 22 which shows mounting structures pursuant to FIG. 5. The 
mounting structures including an opening 29 with a first contour 31, a 
second contour 32, and a mounting aid 33. The catch spring 28 has, in 
addition to the catch nose 30, in clearance to the casing wall 22, a stop 
rib 42 which, in the case of mounting the pressure means cylinder 21 to 
the casing wall 22, knocks against the casing wall, and in this way sets 
the position of the pressure means cylinder 21 in reference to the casing 
wall 22. The first contour 31 and the second contour 32 lie parallel to 
each other and enable a swinging-in of the fastening device of the 
pressure means cylinder 21, after inserting the fastening groove 27 into 
the first contour 31, until the catch nose 30 clicks into the second 
contour 32, after the stop rib 42 stops against the casing wall 22. The 
pressure means cylinder 21 has at its mounting end a fitting diameter 26 
which can be found, for tightness reasons, in the contour of the opening 
29. 
Mounting the pressure means cylinder 1 to the casing wall 2 (FIGS. 1 & 2) 
can only be possible in one single position, that is why the accommodation 
contours, consisting of the first opening 8 and the second opening 9, are 
designed in such a way that the fastening nose 7 can only be joined with 
the first opening 8 and the catch spring 14 can only be joined with the 
second opening 9. For this reason, the first contour has a first length 17 
and the second contour 16 has a second length 18 (see FIG. 2A), whereby 
the first length 17 corresponds with the width of the fastening nose 7 and 
the second length 18 corresponds with the width of the catch spring 14. 
Analogous to this, incorrect mounting of the pressure means cylinder 21 
(see FIG. 5A) into the mounting structures of the casing wall 22 can be 
ruled out in that the first contour 31 has a first length 43 and the 
second contour 32 has a second length 44, whereby the first length 43 can 
be clearly different from the second length 44. The first length 43 
corresponds to the width of the fastening groove 27 and the second length 
44 corresponds to the width of the catch spring 28. 
In FIG. 4 a securing device is illustrated which becomes active after the 
pressure means cylinder 21 is anchored in the casing wall 22. The securing 
device includes a first securing shackle 34 and a second securing shackle 
35 which is placed vis-a-vis in mirror image to the center plane of the 
pressure means cylinder 21, whereby the first securing shackle 34 has a 
first locking nose 36, a first operating lever 38, and a first center of 
motion 40, while the second securing shackle 35 has a second locking nose 
37, a second operating lever 39, and a second center of motion 41. The 
securing shackles 34 and 35 are connected to the cylinder casing 23 over 
the centers of motion 40 and 41 and can be moved through a reversed 
actuation of the operating levers 38 and 39 in such a way that the locking 
noses 36, 37, which are pushed, through spring force, between the catch 
spring 28 and the cylinder casing 23, can be released from their locking 
position, as a result of which the catch spring 28 and thus the catch nose 
30 can be bent away from the second contour 32. The locking noses 36 and 
37 can be formed slightly conical so that, in the mounting position 
pursuant to FIG. 4, additional tension force arises for the catch spring 
28 against the second contour 32. As a result of which, a counteracting 
force is generated in the connection of the placement of the fastening 
groove 27 against the first contour 31. The advantage of such a security 
feature is to have the opportunity to release, by simple means without 
using tools, pressure means cylinders 21 from their anchorage, even after 
a longer period of time. 
To further explain, in at least one possible embodiment of the present 
invention, a securing device can be active after the pressure means 
cylinder 21 is anchored in the casing wall 22. This device can comprise 
two securing shackles 34, 35 which are placed facing one another, in 
mirror image, on opposite sides of the center plane of the pressure means 
cylinder 21. The first securing shackle 34 has a first locking nose 36 at 
one end, a first operating lever 38 at the opposite end, and a center of 
motion or pivot point 40 located between its locking nose 36 and operating 
lever 38. Likewise, the second securing shackle 35 has a second locking 
nose 37, a second operating lever 39 opposite its locking nose 37, and a 
second center of motion or pivot point 41 located between its operating 
lever 39 and its locking nose 37. These securing shackles 34, 35 can be 
spring biased into a locking position in which the locking noses 36, 37, 
which can be slightly conical in shape, are biased between the catch 
spring 28 and the cylinder casing 23, to thereby aid in the securing of 
the mounting. These locking noses 36, 37 thereby providing additional 
tension force for the catch spring 28 against the second contour 32, as a 
result of which a counteracting force is also generated in the connection 
of the fastening groove 27 against the first contour 31, which can help 
secure this connection as well. The spring biasing of the locking noses 
36, 37 can be an inherent biasing due to the nature of the material used 
and the initial positioning of the securing shackles 34, 35. 
Alternatively, this biasing can result by the use of one or more separate 
spring elements to bias the locking noses 36,37 inwardly. For example, a 
spring could be disposed so as to bias the operating levers 37, 38 
outwardly, away from one another, and thus bias the locking noses 36, 37 
toward one another. 
In one embodiment, these securing shackles 34, 35 can be connected or 
united with the cylinder casing 23, over or at the centers of motions 40, 
41, and can be moved through a reversed actuation of the operating levers 
38, 39 in such a way that the locking noses 36, 37 of both shackles 34, 35 
can be moved outward, and become disengaged from between the catch spring 
28 and the cylinder casing 23 (such as, for example, by squeezing the ends 
of two operating levers toward one another). In one embodiment, a cross 
member can exist essentially connecting one securing shackle to another. 
This cross member can be part of, or connected to, the cylinder casing 23. 
After disengagement of the locking noses 36, 37 from between the catch 
spring 28 and the cylinder casing 23, the catch spring 28 and thus the 
catch nose 30 can be bent away from the second contour 32. The advantage 
of this type of security arrangement is to have the opportunity to 
release, by simple means, without the need for tools, pressure means 
cylinders 21 from their anchorages, even after long periods of attachment. 
One feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means cylinder 
1 with a cylinder casing 3, a piston 4, and a tappet 5 with a fastening 
device for fastening the pressure means cylinder 1 to a casing wall 2, 
essentially without tools, whereby the casing wall 2 shows mounting 
structures into which the pressure means cylinder 1 can be inserted, 
distinguished in that the fastening device consists of a stop collar 6, a 
fastening nose 7, and a catch spring 14 with a catch nose 10, whereby the 
fastening device can be connected, by hand, to the mounting structures, 
consisting of at least one opening 8, 9 with contours 15, 16. 
Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the pressure means cylinder 1 can be 
mounted to the casing wall 2 by hanging the fastening nose 7 into the 
first contour 15 of the opening 8 and by swinging the entire pressure 
means cylinder 1 in against the stop collar 6 after clicking the catch 
nose 10 behind the second contour 16 of the opening 9 into the casing wall 
2. 
Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the chambers on this side and on the other 
side of the casing wall 2 be sealed, after mounting the pressure means 
cylinder 1 to the casing wall 2, by a rubber cap 12 which lies, around the 
mounting structures, against the casing wall 2 or by a sealing element 11 
which is integrated into the mounting structure. 
Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure 
means cylinder distinguished in that the catch spring 14 is, after the 
catch nose 10 clicks, supported by the sealing element 11 and is secured 
against the catch nose 10 bending away from the second contour 16 of the 
casing wall 2. 
A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the stop collar 6 lies against the casing 
wall 2 in the mounted position and seals, in connection with the sealing 
element 11, the two chambers on this side and on the other side of the 
casing wall 2 from one another. 
Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder 21 with a cylinder casing 23, a piston 24, and a tappet 55 with a 
fastening device for fastening the pressure means cylinder 21 to a casing 
wall 22, essentially without tools, whereby the casing wall 22 shows 
mounting structures into which the pressure means cylinder 21 can be 
inserted, distinguished in that the fastening device consists of a 
fastening groove 27 and a catch spring 28 with a catch nose 30, whereby 
this fastening device can be connected, by hand, to the mounting 
structures, consisting of at least one opening 29 with contours 31, 32. 
Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the pressure means cylinder 21 can be 
mounted to the casing wall 22 by hanging the fastening groove 27 into the 
first contour 30 of the opening 29 and by swinging the entire pressure 
means cylinder 21 in as far as a stop rib 42 lies against the casing wall 
22, after clicking the catch nose 30 behind the second contour 32 of the 
opening 29 of the casing wall 22. 
Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure 
means cylinder distinguished in that the catch spring 28 is, after the 
catch nose 30 clicks, supported by at least one locking nose 36, 37 and is 
secured against the catch nose 30 bending away from the second contour 32 
of the casing wall 22. 
A further feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the first locking nose 36 and the second 
locking nose 37, in their locking positions, can be engaged and 
disengaged, by hand, from underneath the catch spring 28. 
Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the first locking nose 36 is placed at one 
of the ends of a first securing shackle 34 which is connected, over a 
first center of motion 40, to the cylinder casing 23 of the pressure means 
cylinder 21 and shows at the other end a first operating lever 38, and 
that the second locking nose 37 is placed at one of the ends of a second 
securing shackle 35 which is connected, over a second center of motion 41, 
to the cylinder casing 23 of the pressure means cylinder 21 and shows at 
the other end a second operating lever 39, whereby the locking noses 36, 
37, through spring force, are held in the locking position underneath the 
catch spring 28 and can be swung out, against one another, from the 
locking position by actuating the operating levers 38 and 39. 
Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure means 
cylinder distinguished in that the pressure means cylinder 21 is made of 
plastic and built in one piece with the fastening device and the securing 
shackles 34 and 35. 
Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the pressure 
means cylinder distinguished in that the first contour 15, 31 shows a 
first length 17, 43 and the second contour 16, 32 shows a second length 
18, 44, whereby the first length 17, 43 is clearly different from the 
second length 18, 44. 
The components disclosed in the various publications, disclosed or 
incorporated by reference herein, may be used in the embodiments of the 
present invention, as well as, equivalents thereof. 
The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, 
proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are 
accurate and to scale and are hereby included by reference into this 
specification. 
All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various 
embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the 
embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein. 
Examples of hydraulic piston assemblies, clutch and/or brake assemblies 
and/or components thereof, which could possibly be used with at least one 
embodiment of the present invention may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 
5,704,462, issued on Jan. 6, 1998 to W. Grosspietsch and A. Eusemann; 
5,638,934, issued on Jun. 17, 1997 to A. Link and R. Weidinger; 5,655,634, 
issued on Aug. 12, 1997 to M. Grundei, et al.; 5,538,115, issued on Jul. 
23, 1996 to K. Koch; and 5,454,455, issued on Oct. 3, 1995 to K. 
Kundmuller and W. Christel; and in U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 
08/895,770, having inventor T. Riess, filed on Jul. 17, 1997. 
Examples of hydraulic clutch actuators and/or components thereof, which 
could possibly be used with the present invention may be found in U.S. 
Pat. Nos.: 5,377,800, issued on Jan. 3, 1995 to D. Sperduti, et al.; 
5,390,497, issued on Feb. 21, 1995 to M. Cottam; 5,398,796, issued on Mar. 
21, 1995 to O. Doremus; 5,400,889 issued on Mar. 28, 1995 to D. Bell and 
M. Walker; 5,407,042, issued on Apr. 18, 1995 to T. Fukui, et al.; 
5,425,238, issued on Jun. 20, 1995 to I. Takagi; and 5,445,257, issued on 
Aug. 29, 1995 to T. Grabis. 
Examples of hydraulic brake actuators and/or components thereof, which 
could possibly be used with the present invention may be found in U.S. 
Pat. Nos.: 5,388,669, issued on Feb. 14, 1997 to E. Holl, et al.; 
5,411,120, issued on May 2, 1995 to R. Null; 5,413,197, issued on May 9, 
1995 to L. Baer and W. Pyndus; 5,447,364, issued on Sep. 5, 1995 to D. 
Appelgren; 5,452,779, issued on Sep. 26, 1995 to T. Gee; 5,461,565, issued 
on Oct. 24, 1995 to S. Sakane, et al.; and 5,464,078, issued on Nov. 7, 
1995 to J. Pittman. 
Examples of spring fasteners or attachments can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 
5,392,196, issued on Feb. 21, 1995 to J. Kinner; 5,419,019, issued on May 
30, 1995 to K. Ida; 5,451,019, issued on Sep. 19, 1995 to R. Pittman; 
5,383,716, issued on Jan. 24, 1995 to J. Stewart and C. Phillips; and 
5,379,716 issued on Jan. 10, 1995 to E. Helland. 
All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, 
are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety 
herein. 
The corresponding foreign patent publication applications, namely, Federal 
Republic of Germany Patent Application No. 197 10 631.5, filed on Mar. 14, 
1997, having inventors Ulrich Teichert and Manfred Mischler, and DE-OS 197 
10 631.5 and DE-PS 197 10 631.5, are hereby incorporated by reference as 
if set forth in their entirety herein. 
Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been 
described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily 
appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary 
embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and 
advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are 
intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in 
the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clause are 
intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the 
recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent 
structures. 
The invention as described hereinabove in the context of the preferred 
embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the provided details 
thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.