US-20260126070-A1 - CONNECTING ELEMENT AND CONNECTING ARRANGEMENT

US20260126070A1US 20260126070 A1US20260126070 A1US 20260126070A1US-20260126070-A1

Abstract

A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components has a closure head for abutment against a first component and having a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the latter against the first component in a rotated final-mounting position. A stem portion extends between the closure head and the closure foot, which is spaced apart axially from the closure head in the longitudinal direction of the stem. The closure head has a sealing surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the stem portion and sealingly abuts against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess in the first component. There is also described a connecting arrangement with a first component and at least one second component and a corresponding connecting element. The latter may be made from a single material component.

Inventors

Hans Herzog
Norman HUEMMER
Michael Jahn
Uwe Rausch
Daniel Spindler
Manuel Stoebe
Jan Stoetzer

Assignees

BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE SE & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT, BAMBERG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230
Priority Date: 20200519

Claims (9)

1 . A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, the connecting element comprising: a closure head for abutment against a first component, a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the second component against the first component in a rotated final installation position of the connecting element; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot, wherein said closure foot is axially spaced apart from said closure head in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head being frustoconical with a sealing surface tapering toward said closure foot and extending in the longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess of the first component; wherein: said closure head with said sealing surface, and said closure foot, and said stem portion is a single-component plastics component; and said closure head is formed with an annular space and radial inner struts in said annular space.
2 . The connecting element according to claim 1 , wherein said closure head has a perimeter wall and is configured with said perimeter wall to be radially elastic.
3 . The connecting element according to claim 1 , wherein said stem portion is a hollow body.
4 . The connecting element according to claim 1 , wherein said closure foot is formed with a joining element for releasably latching to a corresponding latching element of the first component.
5 . A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, the connecting element comprising: a closure head for abutment against a first component, a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing said second component against the first component in a rotated final installation position of the connecting element; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot, wherein said closure foot is axially spaced apart from said closure head in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head being frustoconical with a sealing surface tapering toward said closure foot and extending in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess formed in the first component; and wherein a cone angle is greater than 1° and less than 20°.
6 . The connecting element according to claim 5 , wherein said cone angle α lies between (8−5)° and (8+5)°.
7 . A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, the connecting element comprising: a closure head for abutment against a first component; a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the second component against the first component in a rotated final installation position; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot, wherein said closure foot is axially spaced apart from said closure head in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head being frustoconical with a sealing surface tapering toward said closure foot and extending in the longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess formed in the first component; wherein: an axial height of said closure head corresponds to between 30% and 40% of an axial height or length of said connecting element and between 50% and 60% of an axial height or length of the stem; and/or an axial height of said closure foot corresponds to between 40% and 50% of the axial height or length of said connecting element and between 65% and 75% of the axial height or length of the stem.
8 . A connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, the connecting element comprising: a closure head for abutment against a first component; a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the second component against the first component in a rotated final installation position of the connecting element; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot, wherein said closure foot is axially spaced apart from said closure head in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head being frustoconical with a sealing surface tapering towards said closure foot and extending in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess formed in the first component.
9 . A connecting arrangement, comprising: a first component and a second component, said first and second components respectively being formed with a passage opening; and a connecting element, having: a closure head for abutment against said first component; a closure foot for abutment against said second component and for bracing said second component against said first component in a rotated final installation position; a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot and axially spacing apart said closure foot and said closure head in the longitudinal direction of said stem portion; said closure head having a sealing surface extending in the longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess formed in said first component; wherein the connecting element is held in a preassembly position on said first component and said closure foot is located in said passage opening; wherein, in a final installation position, said connecting element reaches through the axially aligned passage openings of said first component and said second component and is rotated from an angular insertion position into an angular end position in order to produce the connection; and wherein, between said sealing surface of said closure head and said sealing surface of said recess for said closure head in said first component, a pair of sealing surfaces is formed between said connecting element and said first component; and wherein said sealing surface of said closure head and/or said sealing surface of said recess is cone-shaped or conical.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a divisional of patent application Ser. No. 17/861,443, filed Jul. 11, 2022, which was a continuation, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of International Patent Application PCT/EP2020/087596, filed Dec. 22, 2020, which designated the United States; the application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Applications DE 10 2020 200 253.3, filed Jan. 10, 2020; DE 10 2020 203 872.4, filed Mar. 25, 2020; and DE 10 2020 113 588.2, filed May 19, 2020; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a connecting element for the mechanical connection of at least two components, in particular two components of a motor vehicle door. The invention furthermore relates to a connecting arrangement or module with such a connecting element. A connecting element of this type is used in particular for mechanically connecting two sheet-like components, for example an inside door panel or body part of a motor vehicle to a function carrier or unit carrier. In this connection, at least two plate-like components are connected to one another by means of a quick-acting closure such that, for example, the assemblies of motor vehicle doors can be mounted in a manner saving time. For this purpose, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,262,333 B2 and its counterpart, published international application WO 2008/101531 A1, disclose a connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, in particular two components of a motor vehicle door, and a connecting arrangement with at least one first and one second component and with such a connecting element. The connecting element has an abutment collar for abutment against a first component and a transverse lock and also a stem portion carrying the latter and intended for rotatably passing through corresponding apertures in the components. The transverse lock has abutment flanks for abutment against a second component and for bracing the latter against the first component in a rotated final installation position. In the connecting arrangement, the connecting element in a final installation position reaches through the axially aligned apertures of the first component and of the second component and is rotated from an angular insertion position into an angular end position in order to produce the connection. If the connecting element is held in a preassembly position on the first component, the transverse lock is located in the passage opening. U.S. Pat. No. 7,955,038 B2 and its counterpart, published international application WO 2007/128375 A1, disclose a rotary closure which connects two components to one another. The rotary closure has a sealing lip which presses in an axially sealing manner against a flat cover plate. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a connecting element which overcomes the above-mentioned and other disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which provides for a particularly suitable connecting element for the mechanical connection of at least two components, in particular two components of a motor vehicle door or the like. In particular, the intention is for the connecting element to be able to be produced simply. The intention here is for a suitable seal to be provided between the connecting element and a first of the components. Furthermore, the intention is for a suitable module arrangement or connecting arrangement with such a connecting element and at least one first component to be specified. In particular, the intention is to specify an extensively sealing, simply producible and re-releasable connection between two components, namely a carrier (function or unit carrier) and a body part or inside door panel. With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a connecting element for mechanically connecting at least two components, the connecting element comprising: a closure head for abutment against a first component;a closure foot for abutment against a second component and for bracing the second component against the first component in a rotated final installation position of the connecting element;a stem portion extending between said closure head and said closure foot, wherein said closure foot is axially spaced apart from said closure head in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion;said closure head being frustoconical with a sealing surface tapering towards said closure foot and extending in a longitudinal direction of said stem portion, for sealing abutment against a corresponding sealing surface of a recess formed in the first component. In other words, the connecting element is provided and designed for the mechanical connection of at least two components, in particular two components of a motor vehicle door, preferably a carrier and a