Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for setting a fastener element ( 55 ) having an inner pin ( 56 ) slidable relative to an outer body ( 57 ) and comprising a locking arrangement ( 32, 33; 38 39 ) comprising a bolt ( 19 ) provided for acting on the inner pin ( 56 ) and secured in a retracted position against axial displacement into an advanced position after relatively spacing a handle body ( 52 ) and an actuating organ ( 8, 46 ). When The actuating organ ( 8, 46 ) is actuated by a displacement opposite the retraction direction, an unlatching organ ( 40, 41 ) acts on the locking arrangement ( 32, 33; 38, 39 ) and releases the bolt ( 19 ) for displacing into the advanced position, Very simple handling of the manually actuated device is thus ensured.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. National Phase Patent Application based on International Application Serial No. PCT/EP2010/058412 filed Jun. 15, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is directed to a device for setting a fastener element. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    One known device for setting a fastener element having an inner pin slidable relative to an outer body is known from DE 40 08 829 A1. This prior device comprises a grip body extending in a longitudinal direction and a bolt accommodated in the grip body slidably in the axial direction and acting in an advanced position on an inner pin of a fastener element. Also present is a locking arrangement by which the bolt, in a retracted position, is secured against sliding axially into the advanced position. The locking arrangement includes an actuating element rotatable in a circumferential direction and serving, in a releasing position, to release the bolt so that it can be slid manually from the retracted position to the advanced position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a device for setting a fastener element of the initially cited kind, by means of which the bolt can be moved back and forth between the advanced position and the retracted position in a relatively easy to perform manipulation. 
         [0007]    By virtue of the fact that in the device according to the invention, an actuating mechanism is present by means of which the bolt can be moved from the advanced position to the retracted position and back again by movement in or counter to an axially oriented pull-up direction, the device can, in a very easy to perform manual operation, be placed in a ready-for-use arrangement, in which the bolt is in the retracted position, and in an actuated arrangement, in which the bolt has moved from the retracted position to the advanced position. 
         [0008]    In one form thereof, the present invention provides a device for setting a fastener element having an inner pin slidable relative to an external body, which device comprises a grip body extending in a longitudinal direction; a bolt which is accommodated in the grip body slidably in an axial direction and which in an advanced position acts on an inner pin of a fastener element; and a locking arrangement, by means of which the bolt, in a retracted position, is secured against sliding axially into the advanced position, characterized in that an actuating mechanism connected to the grip body is present and is in engagement with the bolt and serves, on movement in an axially oriented pull-up direction, to move the bolt from the advanced position to the retracted position; and in that an unlocking mechanism is formed that interacts with the actuating mechanism and acts on the locking arrangement, and by means of which the securement of the bolt can be released by moving the actuating mechanism counter to the pull-up direction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for setting a fastener element; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective sectional view of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in an assembled arrangement; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  with a bolt in a retracted, secured position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in which the section plane is rotated 90 degrees compared to the representation of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  taken in the same section plane as in the representation of  FIG. 3 , with the bolt in a retracted, released position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  taken in the same section plane as in the representations of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , with the bolt in an advanced position; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  taken in the same section plane as in the representation of  FIG. 4 , with the bolt in the advanced position illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for setting a fastener element (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  comprises a bolt foot barrel shaft  1  extending in the longitudinal direction, in which, at a receiving end  2 , the fastener element can be fixed, preferably by a clamping means  3 , for example in the form of a leaf spring. The bolt foot barrel shaft  1  stands connected to a foot plate  4 , on which is mounted a cylindrical inner sleeve  5  that extends from the foot plate  4  in a direction heading away from the bolt foot barrel shaft  1 . 
         [0019]    Also present is a grip sleeve  6 , which has a larger diameter than inner sleeve  5  and is dimensioned such that, by a foot end, it surrounds foot plate  4  and is detachably connectable to foot plate  4 , for example by means of foot fastening screws  7 . Grip sleeve  6  is configured at its end remote from bolt foot barrel shaft  1  with a radially protruding, circumferentially continuous, torus-like thickening, to make it easier to get a firm encircling grip on grip sleeve  6 . 
         [0020]    The exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention that is depicted in  FIG. 1  further comprises, as an element of an actuating mechanism, an actuating sleeve  8  whose outer diameter is at most equal to the inner diameter of grip sleeve  6  and whose inner diameter is at most equal to the outer diameter of inner sleeve  5 , such that actuating sleeve  8  can be inserted between inner sleeve  5  and grip sleeve  6 . 
         [0021]    The device according to the invention is further equipped with a counterplate  9 , whose outer diameter is at most equal to the inner diameter of the actuating sleeve  8 . Mounted on the counterplate  9 , on the side facing toward receiving end  2 , are two stopper plugs  10 ,  11 , each surrounded by an occluding helical compression spring  12 ,  13 . Each occluding helical compression spring  12 ,  13  is held in place by an annular bead  14  formed on the respective stopper plug  10 ,  11 . The stopper plugs  10 ,  11  lie on a diagonal of the counterplate  9 , two receiving slots  15 ,  16  being provided in the counterplate  9 , oriented in a direction perpendicular to these diagonals and extending from an edge face toward the center of the counterplate  9 . Provided for attaching the counterplate  9  is an arrangement of plug-in pins  17  and plug-in openings  18  formed on the counterplate  9 . 
         [0022]    In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the device according to the invention is also equipped with a bolt  19  extending in an axial longitudinal direction, which engages by a foot end  20  through an opening fashioned centrally in counterplate  9  and enters bolt foot barrel shaft  1 . A head end  21  opposite the foot end  20  is surrounded by, as spring means, a bolt pressure spring  22 , which bears by its end proximate the foot end  20  of the bolt  19  against a radially outwardly protruding, continuously circumferential bolt ring flange  23  formed between foot end  20  and head end  21 . 
         [0023]    The exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention depicted in  FIG. 1  also comprises a bushing  24 , which in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  is composed of two mutually oppositely disposed half-shells  25 ,  26  and an abutment ring  27  that fixes the half-shells  25 ,  26  in spaced-apart relation. A respective clearance  28 ,  29  extending in the longitudinal direction is thereby formed on each side between the half-shells  25 ,  26 . In addition, each half-shell  25 ,  26  has, in its region facing the abutment ring  27 , two bearing pin receptacles  30 ,  31 , which are slanted toward the clearances  28 ,  29 , are oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction and are aligned pairwise with each other. 
         [0024]    In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the device according to the invention is provided, as elements of a locking arrangement, with two bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33 , which, by means of bearing pins  34 ,  35  inserted in bearing pin receptacles  30 ,  31 , are held pivotably in a radial direction in the clearances  28 ,  29  formed between half-shells  25 ,  26  of bushing  24 . The bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  are biased to pivot radially inward by clip pressure springs  36 ,  37 , which bear against the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33 , on the one hand, and against the abutment ring  27 , on the other. 
         [0025]    In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  cooperate with retaining lugs  38 ,  39  of a projecting structure, which, as further elements of the locking arrangement, are embodied as protruding radially outward and as disposed diametrically opposite each other on the bolt ring flange  23 . 
         [0026]    As elements of an unlocking mechanism, the device according to the invention is provided, in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , with two unlocking pins  40 ,  41 , which are disposed facing the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  in the longitudinal direction and which, upon engaging in the receiving slits  15 ,  16  provided in the counterplate  9 , are connected to inner sleeve  5  by means of mounting screws  42  engaging through mounting receptacles  43  provided in inner sleeve  5 . 
         [0027]    On the side of abutment ring  27  facing away from the foot end  20  of the bolt  19 , an abutment plate  44  is disposed on bushing  24  and is screwed to abutment ring  27  with fastening screws  45 , and is, in turn, topped by an intermediate plate  46 . Intermediate plate  46 , as a further element of the actuating mechanism, is screwed to actuating sleeve  8  with fastening screws  47  and is itself topped by a head plate  48 , which is screwed to intermediate plate  46  with fastening screws  49 . 
         [0028]    Mounted on the head plate  48  is a grip body comprising a bolt head barrel shaft  50  that extends in the longitudinal direction and comprises, on its side facing away from head plate  48 , a double end stud  51 , onto which, as a grip body, is screwed a spherical head knob  52  as a further component of the grip body. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is perspective view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in an assembled arrangement. From  FIG. 2  it can be seen that by means of bolt foot barrel shaft  1 , into which foot end  20  sinks in the arrangement depicted in  FIG. 2 , and by means of bolt head barrel shaft  50 , bolt  19  can be slid in the axial direction, with control in the longitudinal direction, against the pressure of bolt pressure spring  22 , which bears against bolt ring flange  23  and abutment plate  44 . Such sliding movement toward the receiving end  2  of bolt foot barrel shaft  1  is limited by a stop screw  53 , as an element of an abutment means, which is screwed into the head end  21  of bolt  19  and whose head is embedded in, as a further element of the abutment means, a liner ring  54  resting in turn on the side of intermediate plate  46  facing toward head knob  52 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section of the exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention described above with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , with the bolt  19  in an advanced position. The retracted position of the bolt  19  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is achieved manually, by firmly encircling the grip sleeve  6  with one hand and the head knob  52  with the other hand and then pulling them relatively apart. As this occurs, intermediate plate  46  entrains bolt  19 , against the pressure of bolt pressure spring  22 , in a pull-up direction to the end of the tensioning movement, after the sliding of retaining lugs  38 ,  39 , which are tapered toward the head knob  52 , have gone past the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33 , which are tapered toward the foot plate  4 , and the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  engage behind the retaining lugs  38 ,  39 , causing the bolt  19  to be held in this retracted position and biased by the force exerted by the bolt pressure spring  22 . 
         [0031]    In this retracted position of bolt  19 , a fastener element, which in the representation of  FIG. 3  is embodied as a so-called expanding rivet  55 , can now be inserted by an inner pin  56  into the receiving end  2  of bolt foot barrel shaft  1 , whereupon the clamping means  3  fix inner pin  56  in bolt foot barrel shaft  1 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows the previously described exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a sectional view in which the section plane is rotated  90  degrees compared to the depiction of  FIG. 3 , and in an arrangement wherein grip sleeve  6  and head knob  52  have been moved, counter to the pull-up direction, closer together than they are in  FIG. 3 . In this intermediate position according to  FIG. 4 , intermediate plate  46  rests directly on abutment plate  44 , but without moving the firmly interconnected abutment assembly of abutment plate  44 , abutment ring  27 , out of the bushing  24  comprised of half-shells  25 ,  26 , together with the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  attached thereto, in the direction of foot plate  4 , counter to the pull-up direction. In this intermediate position, the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  and the retaining lugs  38 ,  39  are still in the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in which the bolt  19  is secured by rear engagement. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows the exemplary embodiment previously described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4  with the expanding rivet  55  in an arrangement wherein it is inserted by an external body  57  in a support part  58  and in an add-on part  59  that is to be connected to said support part  58 . In the released position shown in  FIG. 5 , in which the grip sleeve  6  and the head knob  52  have been moved still closer together, counter to the pull-up direction, compared to the intermediate position depicted in  FIG. 4 , the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  have slid by their bevels up onto and along the bevels of unlocking pins  40 ,  41  that face bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33 , and have been moved radially outward by the resultant spreading action, thus eliminating the rear engagement of retaining lugs  38 ,  39 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows the exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5  in a longitudinal section corresponding to the representation of  FIGS. 3 and 5  after relaxation of the bolt pressure spring  22 , which, starting in the released position illustrated in  FIG. 5 , has automatically pressed the bolt  19  into the advanced position until bolt ring flange  23  rests against counterplate  9 . In assuming this advanced position, bolt  19 , by the end face of foot end  20 , pushes inner pin  56  into an external body  57  to connect the support part  58  to the add-on part  59 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows the above-described exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a sectional view, taking the same section plane as in  FIG. 4  and with the bolt  19  in the advanced position illustrated in  FIG. 6 . It will be appreciated from  FIG. 7  that with the bolt  19  in the advanced position, the stopper plugs  10 ,  11  have come out of the foot plate  4 . The excursion of the stopper plugs  10 ,  11  here corresponds to the travel of the bolt  19  between the arrangement of  FIG. 4  and the arrangement of  FIG. 5 , i.e., precisely the relative distance between the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  and the unlocking pins  40 ,  41  that must be traveled in order to release the bolt retaining clips  32 ,  33  from rear engagement with the retaining lugs  38 ,  39 . 
         [0036]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.