Patent ID: 8572818

Claim:
A connecting assembly for fastening an add-on element on a carrier ( 10 ), comprising a holding clip ( 16 ) which can be inserted into a mounting opening ( 20 ) of the carrier ( 10 ) and includes holding means ( 54 ) for axially locating the holding clip ( 16 ) on the carrier ( 10 ), and a pin ( 12 ) which can be reversibly fitted to a coupling part ( 14 ) fastened to the add-on element and can be inserted into the holding clip ( 16 ), the removal force of the pin ( 12 ) being larger in an intermediate position of the connecting assembly, in which the pin ( 12 ) has a first orientation relative to the holding clip ( 16 ) and is not completely inserted in the holding clip ( 16 ), than in a mounting position of the connecting assembly, in which the pin ( 12 ) likewise has the first orientation and is completely inserted in the holding clip ( 16 ), the pin ( 12 ) including first retaining means ( 30 ) formed as undercuts having holding surfaces ( 36 ) that are oriented substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis (A) of the pin ( 12 ), the first retaining means ( 30 ) in the intermediate position cooperating with complementary retaining means ( 64 ) of the holding clip ( 16 ), wherein in the intermediate position the pin ( 12 ) is transferred to a second orientation having a different angle of rotation relative to the longitudinal axis (A) of the pin ( 12 ) than the first orientation such that the first retaining means ( 30 ) ceases cooperation with the complementary retaining means ( 64 ) when transferred from the first orientation to the second orientation, rotation of the pin ( 12 ) relative to the holding clip ( 16 ) when the pin is in the intermediate position causing the first retaining means ( 30 ) of the pin ( 12 ) to move out of engagement with the retaining means ( 64 ) of the holding clip ( 16 ) to allow for removal of the pin ( 12 ) from the holding clip ( 16 ), the pin ( 12 ) including second retaining means ( 32 ) having upper and lower ramps ( 38 ) that converge towards one another in a direction extending towards the longitudinal axis (A) of the pin ( 12 ) to form notches, the notches of the second retaining means ( 32 ) in the mounting position cooperating with the complementary retaining means ( 64 ) of the holding clip ( 16 ).