Fastening system for add-on parts on a vehicle having a profile-like connection part

{
  "publication_number": "US8807511B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fastening system for add-on parts on a vehicle having a profile-like connection part",
  "abstract": "A fastening system for add-on parts to vehicles allows the add-on parts to be easily installed and removed. The fastening system includes a connection part that lies against the vehicle and the add-on part, which includes a base. The connection part is designed as a profiled element whose outer surface corresponds to the outer surface of a prism having a cross section of a regular polygon with at least one interior angle deviating from 90°. The base has a trapezoidal groove with opposing surfaces on opposing sides of a base surface that are arranged at an angle from each other. The two opposing surfaces lie flush with wiggle-free engagement against two lateral surfaces of the connection part. A hole extends through the base symmetrically with respect to the groove. A connecting element is inserted through an opening in the base and engages in a receptacle of the connection part.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for fastening an add-on part to a vehicle, comprising: a base with a groove, wherein the groove has a first side surface, a second side surface and a base surface, wherein each of the first and second side surfaces is adjacent to the base surface; a connecting element, wherein the connecting element passes through the base; and a connection part having a receptacle, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first adjacent surface and a second adjacent surface, wherein the inner surface is opposite the outer surface, wherein each of the first and second adjacent surfaces is adjacent to the outer surface, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive the connecting element, wherein the connection part has a cross section of a regular polygon with at least one interior angle deviating from 90°, wherein the first adjacent surface is flush with the first side surface, wherein the second adjacent surface is flush with the second side surface, and wherein each of the first side surface, the second side surface, the first adjacent surface and the second adjacent surface is planar.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein a gap exists between the outer surface and the base surface.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is part of the add-on part.",
    "4. The system of claim 3, wherein the add-on part includes a mirror.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the add-on part is a device for providing an indirect view from the vehicle.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is threaded.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting element is a threaded bolt.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the connecting element makes a frictional connection with the receptacle.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface lies against the vehicle.",
    "10. The system of claim 1, wherein the inner surface lies flush against a surface of the vehicle, and wherein the connection part is welded to the vehicle.",
    "11. The system of claim 1, wherein the regular polygon is a hexagon.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection part has a hollow tubular profile.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection part has a solid profile.",
    "14. A system comprising: a base with a groove, wherein the groove has a first side surface, a second side surface and a base surface, wherein each of the first and second side surfaces is adjacent to the base surface; a connecting element, wherein the connecting element passes through the base; a connection part having a receptacle, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first adjacent surface and a second adjacent surface; and a vehicle, wherein the inner surface lies flush against a surface of the vehicle, wherein each of the first and second adjacent surfaces is adjacent to the outer surface, wherein the receptacle is adapted to receive the connecting element, wherein the connection part has a cross section of a regular polygon, wherein the first adjacent surface is flush with the first side surface, wherein the second adjacent surface is flush with the second side surface, and wherein each of the first side surface, the second side surface, the first adjacent surface and the second adjacent surface is planar.",
    "15. The system of claim 14, wherein the connection part is welded to the vehicle.",
    "16. The system of claim 15, wherein welding seams are disposed in grooves formed between the surface of the vehicle and third and fourth adjacent surfaces that are both adjacent to the inner surface.",
    "17. The system of claim 14, wherein the regular polygon has at least one interior angle deviating from 90°.",
    "18. The system of claim 14, wherein the regular polygon is a hexagon.",
    "19. A system comprising: an add-on part with a mirror and a base, wherein the base has a groove with a first side surface, a second side surface and a base surface, wherein each of the first and second side surfaces is adjacent to the base surface; and means for attaching the add-on part to an outer surface of a vehicle by creating a wiggle-free engagement between the means and the first and second side surfaces, wherein the means has a cross section of a regular polygon, and wherein the means is welded to the surface of the vehicle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a fastening system for zero-play engagement of add-on parts to a vehicle. In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle that includes a device for indirect view, such as a mirror, which is installed on the vehicle by means of such a fastening system.\n\nSolutions are known in which the base of an add-on part to a vehicle is screwed directly onto the vehicle by means of a screw joint. Solutions are furthermore known to connect the base of the add-on part directly to the vehicle by means of a welded connection or also an adhesive joint. Solutions in which the base of the component is to be directly screwed onto the vehicle have a disadvantage insofar as they require costly preparation of the vehicle. The necessary threads on the vehicle must be provided in order to hold the screws, for example. To obtain a wiggle-free, zero-backlash centering, this moreover requires precise matching of the geometry of the contact surface of the base and that of the add-on part to be fastened. Solutions, in which the base of the add-on part is to be directly attached to the vehicle by means of a welded connection have disadvantages because an add-on part that is attached in this manner can no longer be non-destructively removed from the vehicle. Such type of solution furthermore requires the weldability of the base of the add-on part to be fastened. In addition, it is necessary for the base of the add-on part to be prepared for welding, which is costly, so that favorable contact surfaces for the application of the welding seam result after the base is put against the vehicle.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60R 1/06",
    "B23K 11/0053",
    "B23K 11/10",
    "B23K 11/14",
    "B23K 2101/006",
    "B23K 2201/006",
    "B23K 31/02",
    "B23K 35/0288",
    "B23K 9/20",
    "B23K 9/201",
    "B60R 1/00",
    "F16B 17/00",
    "F16B 17/002",
    "F16B 2200/403",
    "F16B 37/061",
    "F16B 5/025",
    "Y10T 403/471",
    "Y10T 403/7067"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47F 7/14",
    "B23K 11/00",
    "B23K 11/14",
    "B23K 31/02",
    "B23K 35/02",
    "B23K 9/20",
    "B60R 1/00",
    "B60R 1/06",
    "F16B 17/00",
    "F16B 37/06",
    "F16B 5/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "MEKRA LANG GMBH & CO KG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "REBELEIN CHRISTIAN",
    "SCHMIDT ACHIM",
    "LANG WERNER",
    "POPP ALBRECHT"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-03-15",
  "publication_date": "2014-08-19",
  "grant_date": "2014-08-19",
  "priority_date": "2010-10-16",
  "application_number": "US-201313831701-A",
  "family_id": "44789471",
  "citations": [
    "DE1159791B",
    "DE7729370U",
    "DE7729370U1",
    "EP1731368A1",
    "JP2003117660A",
    "JP2009154792A",
    "JP5042433B2",
    "JPH0542433A",
    "JPH08338414A",
    "US1493250A",
    "US2127685A",
    "US3784149A",
    "US4186905A",
    "US4523735A",
    "US4623115A",
    "US5687017A",
    "US6910781B2",
    "US7261272B2",
    "WO2012049203A1"
  ]
}