GB2284011A

GB2284011A - Device for fitting a sleeve-shaped body to a vehicle part

Info

Publication number: GB2284011A
Application number: GB9419680A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Uwe Militz; Stefan Manke; Andreas Fritsch
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1993-09-29
Filing date: 1994-09-28
Publication date: 1995-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-28
Also published as: GB2284011B; FR2710704A1; GB9419680D0; FR2710704B1; DE4333066A1

Description

2284011 1 Device for fittincr a sleeve-shaiDed bodv to a vehicle 1Dart

Prior art

The invention is based on a device for fixing a sleeve-shaped body in an opening of a vehicle part according to the type in the main Claim. It is already known to fix a reversing light or a fog light to a vehicle part, the bumper for example, by bolting it to the bumper. As the bumper is usually arranged close to the vehicle, however, the fixing of a component of this kind is usually only possible if the bumper is first removed so that bolting can then be undertaken from the rear. This problem also arises in particular when a measurement sensor, such as is used for ultrasonic distance measurement, is to be retro-fitted to the bumper. Through removing the bumper, an unnecessarily large amount of time is required and fitting is therefore made more difficult. There is also the need accurately to adjust the beam direction in the case of both a light and a sensor. If the bumper is removed, the desired beam direction cannot be accurately adjusted as it cannot be determined until the bumper is fitted. on the other hand, however, re-adjustment is seldom possible after fitting as the light or the sensor is already bolted in place.

Advantages of the invention In contrast the device according to the invention for fixing a sleeve- shaped body in an opening of a vehicle part has the advantage that fitting can take place with the vehicle part installed, without further disassembly. Installation can be 2 carried out advantageously quickly. Furthermore, an adjustment is possible because of the means provided, so that the sleeve-s haped body can be aligned for a desired direction on installation. It is also particularly advantageous that installation is not, however, reversible and the body cannot be purloined by unauthorized persons without damage.

Advantageous further developments and improvements to the device quoted in the main Claim are possible through the measures stated in the subclaims. It is particularly advantageous that the angle of inclination of the sleeveshaped body with respect to the vehicle part can be adjusted by means of a simple ring. This facilitates adjustment. with the proposed latching noses which are moulded onto the sleeveshaped body or fitted by means of a spring ring, the body can be locked in any position irrespective of the thickness of the wall of the vehicle part.

A particularly advantageous fixing is produced by means of grooves arranged in the longitudinal direction and on the periphery of the body, into which latching strips can be inserted. With their thicker part the latching strips act in such a way that the sleeve-shaped body cannot be pulled out forwards when the latching noses of the spring ring are locked with the latching stages of the latching strip.

A particularly inexpensive arrangement is the use of cable ties as latching strips, which are commonly available commercially, but which are inserted into the grooves of the sleeve-shaped body in extended form. The sleeve-shaped body is fixed simply by pulling on the thin ends of the cable ties.

A particularly advantageous application is produced for the fixin' of sensors, such as are used for ultrasonic distance 9 measurements. These sensors must be aligned in a quite specific position with respect to the road surface so that they do not receive any undesirable road reflections. This 3 can be achieved very easily through the arrangement of the latching strips or a correspondingly wedge-shaped ring.

Drawing An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in greater detail in the description below. Fig. 1 shows a front view of a fitted sleeve-shaped body, Fig. 2 shows a side view, Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail of the side view of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment.

Description of the embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a detail of a vehicle part which is present, for example, in the form of bumper 1. A hole in the form of a circular opening 9 is made in the bumper 1. A sleeve-shaped body 2 is inserted in this hole. A housing of a sensor element which can be used for ultrasonic distance measurement is provided as sleeve-shaped body 2. On its front face the sleeve-shaped body 2 has a circular flange which corresponds to the size of the opening 9. Small openings 7 through each of which a latching strip can be introduced are made in the flange.

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the device according to Fig. 1. It shows the sleeve-shaped body 2 as well as longitudinal grooves on its periphery. In front of the vehicle part or bumper 1 a wedge-shaped ring 5 is rotatably arranged on the sleeve-shaped body 2 which according to position determines the inclination of the sleeve-shaped body 2 with respect to the vehicle part 1. Fig. 3 shows a detail of the device according to Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale. The way in which the sleeve-shaped body 2 is fixed to the vehicle part 1 can be seen with the aid of the enlargement. First of all a latching strip 10 is placed into the grooves 3 from the rear so that the narrow side of the latching strip projects with the thin end over the front surface of the sleeve-shaped body 2. This 4 is preferably carried out at every groove 3. To do this, the latching strip is appropriately led with the thin end through the openings of the flange so that the latching strips 10 have a corresponding hold. The sleeve-shaped body 2 together with the latching strips 10 is now inserted into the opening 9 from the front and pushed in as far as the stop. The stop on the vehicle part is determined by the wedge-shaped ring 5. The angle of inclination with respect to the vehicle part 1 is changed according to the position of this ring. The latching strips 10 projecting over the front surface of the sleeveshaped body are now tightened until they rest on the inner side of the vehicle part 1 with their thick end 8. By tightening, the latching strips 10 latch in latching nopes which are either moulded on at particular points on the periphery of the sleeve- shaped body or are fitted by means of a spring ring 4 according to Fig. 3. The sleeve-shaped body 2 is undetachably locked by the latching because the spring ring 4 and/or the latching noses are firmly connected to the housing of the sleeve-shaped body 2. After tightening, the projecting ends of the latching strips 10 can be cut back far enough not to interfere. Common commercial cable ties which are used to tighten cable harnesses can be used as latching strips 10. Nonetheless, the cable tie is used solely in extended form here.

A further embodiment of the invention proposes that the wedgeshaped ring 5 be replaced by a further latching strip. According to Fig. 4 the thick end of one or more latching strips is now arranged on the front side of the vehicle part 1 in such a way that the flange of the sleeve-shaped body 1 butts against it. The angular position of the sleeve-shaped housing 1 can also therefore be determined by appropriate rotation or variation.

After latching the sleeve-shaped body 2 is firmly and undetachably connected to the vehicle part 1, for example the bumper. It can only be released by destroying the latching strips or the sleeve-shaped housing 1.

6 1

Claims

1. Device for fixing a sleeve-shaped body in an opening of a vehicle part, with means for securing the sleeve-shaped body in the opening, characterized in that the means (4, 8) are arranged on the sleeve-shaped body (2) and are designed in such a way that the sleeve-shaped body (2) can only be fixed from the outside in the opening (9) of the vehicle part (1) by insertion and is not detachable without damage.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized by a ring (5) for setting an angle of inclination of the sleeve-shaped body (2)- with respect to the vehicle part (1).

3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sleeveshaped body (2) has latching noses at least partially on its outer periphery.

4. Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the latching noses are in the form of a spring ring (5)..

5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the spring ring can be inserted onto the sleeve-shaped body (2) so that it cannot be displaced.

6. Device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the sleeveshaped body (2) has grooves (3) on its periphery in axial direction.

7 7. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that one or more latching strips (10) can be provided, which can be inserted into the grooves (3), their latching stages being lockable with the latching noses of the body (2) or of the spring ring (5).

8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the latching strips (7) are cable ties.

9. Device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the device can preferably be used for fixing a sensor to the bumper of a vehicle.

10. Method for fixing a sleeveshaped body (2) preferably in an opening (9) of a vehicle part (1), characterized in that the body (2) has several grooves (3) arranged on the periphery and in the axial direction that r a pre-assembly takes place by placing latching strips (10) in the grooves (3) or in the opening (9), the thicker end of the latching strip (10) being inserted at the rear, that the body (2) is inserted in the opening (9) from the front and is fixed by tightening the latching strips (10).

11. Either of the devices substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

12. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.