Component connection and/or method for connecting components

{
  "publication_number": "US9050690B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Component connection and/or method for connecting components",
  "abstract": "A component connection is provided and includes, a first vehicle component, which has a male fixing element that projects from the first vehicle component and that partially or completely has the shape of a sphere or completely or partially has a sphere-like shape, and a second vehicle component, which has a female fixing element that is intended to receive the male fixing element. The male fixing element is inserted into the female fixing element in an insertion direction. The male fixing element has an excessive dimension relative to the female fixing element substantially perpendicularly to the insertion direction so that the two vehicle components are detachably clamped together at the fixing elements.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A component connection, comprising: a first vehicle connection component having a male fixing element protruding from a major surface of the first vehicle connection component, the male fixing element having a partial or complete sphere shape; a second vehicle connection component having a female fixing element formed as a passage hole in a major surface of the second vehicle connection component, the passage hole operatively configured to receive the male fixing element, the male fixing element being insertable into and through the passage hole in one insertion direction; wherein the male fixing element has an oversized dimension in relation to the passage hole substantially transverse to the one insertion direction such that the major surfaces of the first and second vehicle connection components abut one another and are clamped together at the fixing elements; and wherein the second vehicle connection component comprises at least one preformed flexible clamping element projecting, before the first and second vehicle connection components are clamped together, out of the major surface at an edge of the passage hole, the flexible clamping element exerting, after the first and second vehicle connections components are clamped together, a clamping force exteriorly onto an exterior of the male fixing element, which clamping force acts substantially transverse to the one insertion direction.",
    "2. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the passage hole has a non-circular shape.",
    "3. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the passage hole comprises one of a square and a triangular shape.",
    "4. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the first and second vehicle components are fixed in an area of the male and female fixing elements such that the first and second vehicle components are not displaceable relative to one another in directions transverse to the insertion direction.",
    "5. The component connection according to claim 1, further comprising: an additional male fixing element having a partial or complete sphere shape provided on the first vehicle connection component; and a complementary additional female fixing element provided on the second vehicle connection component, the additional male fixing element being insertable into the complementary additional female fixing element in the one insertion direction.",
    "6. The component connection according to claim 5, wherein the complementary additional female fixing element comprises one of a slot and an oblong passage hole, in which the additional male fixing element is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the slot or the oblong passage hole.",
    "7. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element reaches behind the male fixing element.",
    "8. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element is a clamping collar extending along substantially an entire edge of the passage hole.",
    "9. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises a plurality of clamping collars uniformly spaced apart from each other along a peripheral direction about an edge of the passage hole, the plurality of clamping collars exteriorly contacting the exterior of the male fixing element about a periphery thereof.",
    "10. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises one or more clamping collars, said one or more clamping collars projecting from the major surface of the second vehicle component in or opposite the insertion direction.",
    "11. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second vehicle components is a sheet metal component.",
    "12. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second vehicle components is a vehicle body component.",
    "13. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the passage hole is a punched passage hole in the second vehicle component.",
    "14. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element comprises one or more clamping collars, said clamping collars being a bent section of the second vehicle component.",
    "15. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the male fixing element comprises only metal.",
    "16. The component connection according to claim 1, further comprising a weld connecting the male fixing element to the first vehicle component.",
    "17. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein a pre-fixed connection is formed by the first and second vehicle components being securely clamped together; and further comprising an additional, laser weld joint connection securely connecting the first and second vehicle components directly to one another.",
    "18. A method for detachably preassembling at least two vehicle components, the method comprising the acts of: providing a first vehicle component having a male fixing element projecting from a major surface of the first vehicle component and having a partial or complete sphere shape; providing a second vehicle component having a female fixing element formed as a passage hole in a major surface of the second vehicle component, and having at least one preformed flexible clamping element that projects out of the major surface of the second vehicle component and is located at an edge of the passage hole; fitting together the first and second vehicle components via a clamping connection formed by inserting, in one insertion direction, the male fixing element into and through the female fixing element with an interference between the sphere shape and the passage hole, wherein the flexible clamping element exerts, in a securely clamped condition of the first and second vehicle components, a clamping force acting exteriorly onto the male fixing element in a substantially transverse direction relative to the one insertion direction, and the major surfaces of the first and second vehicle components about one another in the securely clamped condition."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a component connection a first vehicle component having a male fixing element protruding from the first vehicle component which has partially or completely the shape of a sphere or has partially or completely a shape similar to a sphere, and a second vehicle component having a female fixing element provided for receiving the male fixing element, the male fixing element being inserted into the female fixing element in one direction of insertion. The present invention also relates to a method for detachably preassembling at least two vehicle components.\n\nA component connection of the above-mentioned type is known from German patent application DE 10 2009 049 602.5 which, however, is not a prior publication.\n\nWhen vehicle bodies are mass produced, a plurality of individual body parts and add-on parts, such as mounting brackets, etc., are assembled in a largely fully automated manner. During a joining operation, two or more vehicle body parts are first positioned relative to each other by means of a time-consuming and costly chucking and receiving technique, and then subsequently connected to each other, for example, by welding, clinching or other joining methods.\n\nIn the aforementioned DE 10 2009 049 602.5, the aim is to loosely prefix two components that are to be securely connected to each other. The one component consists of a protruding positive locking element in the form of a sphere; and this first positive locking element engages with a recess of the second component. The recess is designed, for example, in the manner of a key hole.",
  "cpc": [
    "B23K 37/04",
    "B23K 2101/006",
    "B23K 2201/006",
    "B23K 26/244",
    "B23K 26/246",
    "B23K 26/421",
    "B23K 26/60",
    "F16B 21/073",
    "F16B 5/0642",
    "F16B 5/08",
    "Y10T 29/49826",
    "Y10T 403/471",
    "Y10T 403/7062",
    "Y10T 403/7064"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23K 26/24",
    "B23K 26/30",
    "B23K 37/04",
    "F16B 21/07",
    "F16B 5/06",
    "F16B 5/08",
    "G05G 1/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Bayerische Motoren Werke AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Maik Hammer",
    "Johann van NIEKERK",
    "Thomas Herzinger"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-10-19",
  "publication_date": "2015-06-09",
  "grant_date": "2015-06-09",
  "priority_date": "2010-04-28",
  "application_number": "US-201213656139-A",
  "family_id": "44021959",
  "cited_by_count": 41,
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}