Snap-lock connection for two parts which can rotate in relation to each other

A snap-lock connection for two parts (1, 2) which canrotate in relation to each other has radially resilient locking hooks (3) arranged in a ring, supported on the ring-shaped edge of a matching body and secured against unlocking in the radial direction by a fixing ring (6). The fixing ring (6) and/or the body that form the ring-shaped edge (5) are designed as a ring which is secured to one of the parts (1, 2) exclusively by individual webs (7) spaced apart around its circumference.

Two parts which can be latched to one another The invention relates to two 
parts which can be latched to one another and, in the latched state, can 
be rotated with respect to one another. 
EP, which was not published before the priority date of this application, 0 
723 796 A1 describes a device in which 
radially resilient latching hooks are arranged in the form of a ring on one 
of the two parts, 
an annular flank is provided in each case on the other of the two parts for 
supporting the latching hooks in the axial direction, 
the latched-in latching hooks are secured by a fixing ring, which is 
aligned concentrically with respect to the arrangement of the latching 
hooks, against being inadvertently released from their latched-in 
position, 
the fixing ring and/or the body which forms the annular flank is or are 
elastically deformable in the radial direction and 
the width of the annular gap between the fixing ring and the radial 
latching hook abutment surface of the annular flank is smaller than the 
radial width of the latching hooks. 
This problem is solved by a design comprising two parts which can be 
latched to one another and, in the latched state, can be rotated with 
respect to one another, having all the features of Patent claim 3. 
The invention is based on the idea of designing as, in theory, a 
free-floating ring those material regions which are to open out upon 
closure of the latching connection, the smallest possible number of thin 
webs attaching each ring axially to one of the two parts which are to be 
connected. 
A particularly advantageous embodiment forms the subject matter of claim 4.

The exemplary embodiment illustrated relates to a latching connection 
between a screw-action cover 1 of a liquid filter and a tubular frame 2 
onto which an annular filter element can be pushed in a releasable manner, 
it being possible for said two parts of the latching connection to be 
rotated with respect to one another. 
Axially projecting, radially resilient latching hooks 3 are provided, in an 
annular arrangement, in the closed base of the screw-action cover. These 
latching hooks 3 can be snapped into a receiving device provided on the 
tubular frame 2. 
The receiving device on the tubular frame 1 (sic) comprises a continuous, 
radially inner annular collar 4 with an annular flank 5 as axial stop 
surface for the latching hooks 3. 
A fixing ring 6 is provided, coaxially with the annular collar 4, on the 
tubular frame 2 and is connected to the latter via individual axial webs 7 
which are distributed over the circumference. 
The width of the annular gap 8 between the fixing ring 6 and the annular 
collar 4 is smaller than the radial width of the latching hooks 3 at the 
latching end of the latter. When the latching connection is brought into 
engagement, the latching hooks 3 thus open out the annular gap locally in 
each case until the latching hooks 3 can engage in their latched-in 
position. The annular gap 7 (sic) is caused to open out locally around the 
circumference primarily by the fixing ring 6 opening out elastically in 
the radial direction in the circumferential regions upon which the 
latching hooks 3 act in each case. Since the fixing ring is connected to 
the basic body of the tubular frame 2 simply via a small number of 
individual, relatively thin axial webs 7, the necessary opening-out action 
takes place relatively easily, even if the fixing ring 3 (sic) is made of 
a relatively rigid material, by virtue of elastic deformation of the 
fixing ring 6. For the opening-out action, the fixing ring 6 can deform in 
a non-circular manner by those regions which the latching hooks 3 act upon 
directly yielding radially outwards to a further extent than the regions 
between these locations, which regions can contract radially inwards. 
The inventive design of the receiving device provided for receiving the 
latching hooks 3 on the tubular frame 2 is suitable, in a particularly 
advantageous manner, for production as a plastic molding.