Patent ID: 7137753

Claim:
An attachment element ( 1 ; 31 ; 51 ), comprising at least one engagement member ( 7 . 1 ; 7 . 2 ; 38 . 1 ; 55 ) insertable in a mounting opening ( 3 . 1 ; 3 . 2 ; 53 ) of a hollow body ( 2 . 1 ; 2 . 2 ; 41 . 1 ; 54 ) in a first position thereof and engaging holding projections ( 4 . 1 ; 4 . 2 ; 40 . 1 ; 40 . 2 ; 60 . 1 ; 60 . 2 ) provided on the hollow body ( 2 . 1 ; 2 . 2 ; 41 . 1 ; 54 ) in a second position thereof; at least one stop ( 6 ; 52 ) for engaging outer end sides of hollow body rims which limit the mounting opening ( 3 . 1 ; 3 . 2 ; 53 ), the at least one engagement member ( 7 . 1 , 7 . 2 ; 38 . 1 ; 55 ) having at least two separate, diametrically opposing strip sections ( 9 . 1 ; 9 . 2 ; 56 . 1 ; 56 . 2 ); each of which is displaceably supported on the at least one stop ( 6 ; 52 ); and at least one a separate spring member ( 14 ) for holding the at least two strip sections ( 9 . 1 ; 9 . 2 ) of the at least one engagement member ( 7 . 1 ) in the first position of the at least one engagement member fastening element ( 8 . 1 ; 8 . 2 ; 32 . 1 ; 32 . 2 ; 57 ) which displaces, upon being actuated, the at least one engagement member ( 7 . 1 ; 7 . 2 ; 38 . 1 ; 55 ) from the first position thereof to the second position thereof and which has an expansion body ( 16 . 1 ; 33 . 1 ; 59 ) for laterally displacing the at least one engagement member ( 7 . 1 ; 7 . 2 ; 38 . 1 ; 55 ) from the first position thereof to the second position thereof, wherein the expansion body ( 16 . 1 ; 33 . 1 ; 59 ) of the fastening element ( 8 . 1 ; 8 . 2 ; 32 . 1 ; 32 . 2 ; 57 ) has a substantially rectangular cross-section, and wherein the expansion body ( 16 . 1 ; 33 . 1 ; 59 ) has, on each of at least two opposite sides thereof, a control profile ( 22 . 1 , 22 . 2 ) with an arched surface, wherein the at least two strip sections ( 9 . 1 ; 9 . 2 ; 56 . 2 ) of the at least one engagement member ( 7 . 1 ; 7 . 2 ; 38 . 1 ; 55 ) each has a spacing section ( 11 . 1 , 11 . 2 ) and an angular section ( 10 . 1 ; 10 . 2 ; 39 . 1 ; 39 . 2 ), and wherein the expansion body ( 16 . 1 ; 33 . 1 ; 59 ) has at a setting direction end thereof, a cross-sectional enlargement ( 17 . 1 ; 34 . 1 ) for laterally displacing, upon actuation by rotation of the at least one fastening element, the at least two strip sections ( 9 . 1 ; 9 . 2 ; 56 . 2 ) away from each other, whereby respective angular sections ( 10 . 1 ; 10 . 2 ; 39 . 1 ; 39 . 2 ) engage respective holding projections ( 4 . 1 ; 4 . 2 ; 40 . 1 ; 40 . 2 ; 60 . 1 ; 60 . 2 ) of the hollow body.