Abstract:
A holding clip ( 16 ) for a sensor ( 10 ) includes a plate ( 22 ), the plate ( 22 ) being able to cover the sensor, at least one holding arm ( 26 ) and at least one detent arm ( 28 ), the holding arm ( 26 ) and the detent arm ( 28 ) being constructed such that they can engage on a holding frame ( 12 ) for the sensor ( 10 ), the holding clip ( 16 ) being formed integrally.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a holding clip by which a sensor, particularly a rain sensor, can be mounted on a holding frame. The invention also relates to an assembly consisting of a holding frame which can be mounted on a pane of a motor vehicle, a sensor, particularly a rain sensor, and a holding clip by means of which the sensor can be mounted on the holding frame. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A rain sensor is known from EP 1 202 885, which can be mounted on a holding frame by means of two spring clips. This type of mounting of the sensor requires a housing of comparatively complex design for the sensor, so that the spring clips can be applied, and requires spring clips of comparatively complex manufacture which are provided with curved sections which are therefore not easy to produce. In addition, the final installation is comparatively difficult, because the two spring clips must be engaged whilst the sensor has to be held in the holding frame. 
         [0003]    The object of the invention consists in providing a holding clip and an assembly with a sensor and a holding clip, which is distinguished by low production costs and a reliable mounting. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This is achieved by a holding clip for a sensor including a plate, the plate being able to cover the sensor, at least one holding arm and at least one detent arm, the holding arm and the detent arm being constructed such that they can engage on a holding frame for the sensor, the holding clip being formed integrally. The invention is based on the fundamental idea of using only a single component for fastening the sensor, namely the holding clip. The latter embraces the sensor over a large surface on the side facing away from the holding frame and may be engaged on the holding frame with a fluid movement, particularly a movement in a single direction. 
         [0005]    Advantageous developments of the invention will be apparent from the sub-claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the sensor mounted on the holding frame by means of a holding clip according to a first embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a second perspective view of the sensor mounted by means of the holding clip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a top view onto a punched piece which can be bent to form the holding clip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the bent holding clip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a further perspective view of the bent holding clip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the holding clip, pre-mounted on the sensor, according to the first embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a detail of  FIG. 6  on an enlarged scale; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a first step in the mounting of the sensor on the holding frame by means of a holding clip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows on an enlarged scale a detail, partially in section, of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a second step in the mounting of the sensor by means of the holding clip according to the first embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows on an enlarged scale a detail of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  shows a third step in mounting, in a view corresponding to that of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  shows on an enlarged scale a detent tongue of the holding clip according to the first embodiment in the state of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  shows an intermediate state in a view corresponding to that of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  shows on an enlarged scale the detent arm in the state of  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of the sensor mounted on the holding frame by means of a holding clip according to a second embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  shows a second perspective view of the sensor mounted by means of a holding clip according to a second embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  shows a perspective view of the holding clip, pre-mounted on the sensor, according to the second embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  shows the sensor and the holding clip of  FIG. 18  before a first step in the mounting of the sensor on the holding frame; 
           [0025]      FIG. 20  shows the sensor and the holding clip of  FIG. 18  after a first step in the mounting of the sensor on the holding frame; 
           [0026]      FIG. 21  shows in an enlarged view, partially in section, a detail of the assembly of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 22  shows the assembly of  FIG. 20  before a second step in the mounting of the sensor on the holding frame; 
           [0028]      FIG. 23  shows the detent arms in an intermediate position during the second step in mounting on the holding frame; 
           [0029]      FIG. 24  shows the detent arms after the second mounting step; 
           [0030]      FIG. 25  shows in a view partially in section one of the detent arms before the second step in mounting on the holding frame; 
           [0031]      FIG. 26  shows the detent arm of  FIG. 25  in an intermediate position during the second mounting step; 
           [0032]      FIG. 27  shows the detent arm of  FIG. 26  after the second mounting step; 
           [0033]      FIG. 28  shows in a view partially in section one of the holding arms before the second step in mounting on the holding frame; 
           [0034]      FIG. 29  shows the holding arm of  FIG. 28  in an intermediate position during the second mounting step; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 30  shows the holding arm of  FIG. 29  after the second mounting step. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2  a sensor  10  is shown, which in particular may be a rain sensor which is mounted on a windscreen of a motor vehicle. The sensor  10  is inserted into a holding frame  12  which can be glued to the windscreen. The holding frame  12  has four abutments  14  in total which serve to engage a holding clip  16  according to a first embodiment securely with the holding frame  12 . Each abutment  14  consists of a bracket  18  and a fixing cross-piece  20 . 
         [0037]    The holding clip  16  (see in particular  FIGS. 3 to 5 ) is an integral, punched bent sheet metal part which has a plate  22 , a bent edge  24  on each side of the plate, two holding arms  26  and two detent arms  28 . 
         [0038]    The two holding arms  26 , like the two detent arms  28 , have a bent foot  30  at their free end facing away from the plate  22 . The holding arms  26  are formed with a straight outer contour, whilst the detent arms  28  each have a recess  32  on their inner side. A wing  34  is provided on the outer side in each case. The wing  34  serves firstly to stabilize the detent arm  28  such that the necessary strength is guaranteed in spite of the recess  32 . Secondly, during the pre-assembly which is described later, it makes it possible to draw the corresponding detent arm behind a detent nose. 
         [0039]    Two parallel, slit-like notches  36  are punched into the plate  22  so that a spring tongue  38  is defined between them. The spring tongue  38  is bent out downwards from the plane of the plate (see in particular  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), i.e. onto the side on which the holding arms  26  and the detent arms  28  are also situated. The spring tongue  38  is provided centrally with an opening  40 . 
         [0040]    In a first mounting step, the holding clip  16  is pre-mounted on the sensor  10 . Here, the plate  22  is placed onto the rear side of the sensor so that the holding arms and the detent arms extend laterally approximately in the vicinity of the corners of the housing of the sensor  10  along the housing. The bent edges  24  serve for fixing here. The positioning is further improved by a recess on an edge  24  into which a plug connector  43  of the sensor  10  is inserted. In addition, the housing of the sensor  10  is provided with a fixing projection  42  which engages into the opening  40  in the spring tongue  38 . 
         [0041]    Two detent noses  44 , which can cooperate with the two detent arms  28 , are provided on the housing of the sensor  10 . In the pre-mounted state shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the detent noses  44  hold the detent arms  28  in an elastically deflected state. More precisely, the detent arms  28  are held in a state in which their feet  30  are bent towards the holding arms  26 , so that the distance between the feet of a detent arm  28  and of a holding arm  26  is reduced on one side of the housing of the sensor. It can be seen in  FIG. 7  that the detent nose  44  engages here just below the recess  32  on the detent arm  28 . 
         [0042]    In this pre-mounted state, the sensor  10  and the holding clip  16  are inserted into the frame  12  such that the feet  30  of the holding arms  26  engage into the brackets  18  on one side of the holding frame  12  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The fixing cross-pieces  20  serve here for prefixing and prevent the holding arms  26  from slipping laterally. As the detent noses  44  hold the detent arms  28  in an elastically deflected state, the feet  30  of the detent arms  28  can be moved past the bracket which is associated with them, so that the sensor  10  with the holding clip  16  can be swivelled completely downward from the position shown in  FIG. 8  into the position shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0043]    If pressure is then applied in the direction of arrow P onto the side of the plate  22  of the holding clip  16  on which the detent arms  28  are situated, the plate  22  is pressed closer against the sensor  10  contrary to the elastic pressure force of the spring tongue  38 . In so doing, the detent arms  28  move relative to the detent noses  44  so that the recesses  32  arrive into the region of the detent noses  44 . Through this, the detent arms  28  are freed, so that they snap into their initial position (see  FIG. 12 ) in which their feet  30  lie inside the brackets  18  on the holding frame  12 . The sensor  10  is now correctly mounted on the holding frame  12 , being acted upon elastically into its correct position. This can be readily seen by comparing the spring tongue in  FIGS. 11 and 12 ; in  FIG. 12 , the spring tongue is deflected elastically from its initial position shown in  FIG. 11 , so that it presses the sensor into the holding frame  12 . 
         [0044]    The relative movement between the detent arms  28  and the detent noses  44  on the housing of the sensor  10  is shown again, for clarification, in  FIGS. 13 to 15 . The pre-mounted state is shown in  FIG. 13 , in which the detent nose  44  holds the detent arm  28  deflected. In  FIG. 14 , the detent arm  28  is shown in the state in which it is moved just so far downwards relative to the detent nose  44  that the detent nose can dip into the recess  32 . In  FIG. 15 , the state is then shown in which the detent arm  28  is snapped back into its initial position. 
         [0045]    A particular advantage of the holding clip according to the invention and of the assembly according to the invention consists in that the sensor, together with the pre-mounted holding clip, can be delivered to the vehicle in which the holding frame is already installed. The sensor, together with the holding frame, which is in a precisely defined state, can then be inserted by means of a simple manual movement into the holding frame, and can be pressed in against it, whereby the holding clip automatically engages. The snapping back of the detent arms also provides an acoustic indication that the engagement has taken place properly. 
         [0046]    In  FIGS. 16 to 30 , a sensor  10  is shown with a holding clip  16  according to a second embodiment, and the mounting of the sensor  10  by means of this holding clip  16  is shown. The same reference numbers are used for the components known from the first embodiment, and reference is to be made to the above descriptions in this respect. 
         [0047]    One difference between the first and second embodiments consists in that in the second embodiment the two detent arms  28  do not originate directly from the plate  22 , but rather originate from a connecting cross-piece  29  which, in turn, is connected with the plate  22 . 
         [0048]    A further difference between the first and second embodiments consists in that in the second embodiment the two detent arms  28  and the two holding arms  26  do not have a bent foot  30 , but rather in each case have a generally hook-shaped free end. A slightly widened tip  31 , behind which (towards the holding arm  26  or detent arm  28 ) a depression is arranged, is provided at the free end of each holding arm  26  or detent arm  28 . The distance from the plate  22  is less in the region of the widened tip  31  than in the region of the depression. 
         [0049]    A further difference again between the first and the second embodiments consists in that in the second embodiment the tips  31  of the holding arms  26  and detent arms  28  are oriented in the same direction and not, like the feet  30  of the first embodiment, in opposite directions. Accordingly, in the second embodiment the abutments  14  on the holding frame  12  are open in the same direction, instead of in opposite directions, as in the first embodiment. 
         [0050]    A further notable difference between the first and second embodiments consists in that in the second embodiment the holding clip  16  is provided with an installation aid, which is constructed in the form of three lateral tongues  50 . These are arranged on the longitudinal sides of the plate  22 . Two tongues  50  lie opposite each other and the third lies opposite the point at which the plug connector  43  of the sensor  10  is arranged. Each tongue has a guide link  52 , into which a guide projection  54  of the sensor  10  engages. The guide link  52  is generally extended parallel to the plate  22  and has a depression to receive the guide pin at its front end, which points towards the widened tips of the holding arms  26  or detent arms  28 . In general terms, the guide link  52  has the form of a horizontal “L”, the short leg of the L pointing downwards, away from the plate  22 . 
         [0051]    In the initial state ( FIG. 18 ), the holding clip  16  is pre-mounted on the sensor  10 . The guide projections  54  of the sensor  10  engage into the guide links  52  of the holding clip  16  and lie in the depressions. The spring tongue  38  is not, or is only slightly, pre-stressed. 
         [0052]    The sensor  10  is mounted on the holding frame  14  by being placed onto the holding frame  12  in a first step in the direction of arrow P of  FIG. 20  so that the tips of the holding arms  26  or detent arms  28  lie in front of the abutments  14  (see  FIGS. 20 ,  21 ,  25  and  28 ). The sensor  10  is then already in its final position. 
         [0053]    The holding clip  16  is then pressed in a second step in the direction of arrow P of  FIG. 22  obliquely to the holding frame  12 , i.e. downwards to the holding frame  12  and to the side. The guide links  52  and the guide projections  54  are of assistance here, because they prescribe the direction of movement. When the holding clip  16  is moved relative to the sensor  10  and to the holding frame  12 , the widened tips of the holding arms  26  or detent arms  28  arrive into an intermediate position in which they lie under the brackets  18  of the abutments  14  (see  FIGS. 26 and 29 ). In this intermediate position, the spring tongue  38  is pre-stressed to a maximum. 
         [0054]    By further movement of the holding clip  16  relative to the sensor  10  and the holding frame  12 , the widened tips  31  slip through beneath the brackets  18 , so that they engage and come to lie in the depression behind the tip  31  of the holding arms  26  or detent arms  28 . The holding clip  16  is now fastened securely on the holding frame  12 , whereby the sensor  10  is also securely mounted. The pre-stressing is approximately 1 millimeter with a holding force of about 80 N.