CN110439900B - Buckle installation mechanism and buckle installation assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a snap-on mounting mechanism for mounting a component on a panel, the snap-on mounting mechanism comprising a snap-on member, the snap-on member being on the outer surface of the component, the snap-on member having a guide portion (31, 310) facing the insertion end of the component and a locking portion (32, 320) facing away from the insertion end, the guide portion (31, 310) being planar, wherein the locking portion is formed to have at least two step portions, each step portion having a snap-on surface located at a different height position of the locking portion. By adopting the snap-on mounting mechanism according to the present invention, the same component can be mounted on panels with different thicknesses, thereby improving the flexibility of component use.

Description

Snap-on mounting mechanism and snap-on mounting assembly

Technical Field

The invention relates to a snap-fit installation mechanism for installing a component on a panel, and to a snap-fit installation assembly provided with the corresponding snap-fit installation mechanism.

Background Art

In the installation of motor vehicles, some components are installed into the vehicle body by snap-fitting. For example, as shown in FIG1 , a multimedia module 1 including a USB port is plugged and fixed to a panel 2 by a snap-fitting installation mechanism 3, thereby realizing the matching installation between the multimedia module 1 and the panel 2, and the multimedia module and the panel are no longer connected by any other fasteners.

Compared with fastener connection, the installation of snap-on structure is very convenient, but the existing snap-on fixing structure can only adapt to the thickness of the panel. With the upgrade and update of the car and the redesign of the interior space, the thickness of the panel will change, and the original module will no longer be used. It is necessary to develop a snap-on structure with a new size to be applicable, which will increase the cost and workload of new car development.

Therefore, there is a need for a snap-on installation mechanism that enables the installed modules or components to be adapted to panels of various thicknesses.

Summary of the invention

In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides a snap-fit installation mechanism for installing a component on a panel, the snap-fit installation mechanism includes a snap-fit member, the snap-fit member is arranged on the outer surface of the component, the snap-fit member has a guide portion facing the insertion end of the component and a locking portion facing away from the insertion end, the guide portion is planar, wherein the locking portion is formed to have at least two step portions, each step portion has a snap-fit surface located at a different height position of the locking portion. According to one aspect of the present invention, the snap-fit surfaces of each step portion are parallel to each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the engaging surface of each step portion is perpendicular to the outer surface.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the engaging surface of each step portion has the same depth.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of micro steps are formed on the connection surfaces of two adjacent engaging surfaces, and the micro steps are formed based on being parallel to the step portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the engagement depth a of each engagement surface is 2-10 times the engagement depth dimension of the micro-step.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the snap-fit installation mechanism further comprises a stop flange formed on the outer surface of the component, and in the engagement direction of the snap-fit installation mechanism, different engagement surfaces have different distances from the stop flange.

In addition, the present invention also provides a snap-on installation assembly, which includes: a panel with a socket formed in the panel; a component suitable for installation in the socket, the component being provided with a snap-on installation mechanism as in any of the above-mentioned schemes.

Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the panel is different on opposite sides of the insertion hole.

According to the multimedia module of the present invention, each of the engaging parts has a plurality of steps, and each step has an engaging surface located at a different height. Therefore, by adopting such a snap-on installation mechanism, the same module can be used to be installed on panels of various thicknesses, without the need to redesign and manufacture the multimedia module, thus saving cost and time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the subject matter of the present invention and its various advantages may be obtained by referring to the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a multimedia module assembly mounted on a panel via a snap-on mounting mechanism in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a front housing of a multimedia module having a snap-on installation mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged schematic diagram of the buckle installation mechanism on the left side of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 3B is an enlarged schematic diagram of the buckle installation mechanism on the right side of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a side view of a multimedia module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention when the front housing is installed with the first type of panel.

5A is a side view of a front housing of a multimedia module according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention being installed with a second type of panel.

5B is a cross-sectional view of the front housing of the multimedia module according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention when it is installed with the second type of panel.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the connection between the multimedia module and the panel in a vehicle.

Reference numerals list

20, 200 Panel

10 Module front cover

11 External surface

12 Insertion end

13 Top

15 Stop flange

30, 300 snap-fit parts

31, 310 Guidance Department

32, 320 Locking part

33, 330 Steps

35, 350 snap-on surface

360 Micro Steps

100 multimedia modules

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is further described below in conjunction with specific embodiments and drawings. More details are elaborated in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can obviously be implemented in a variety of other ways different from the description herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations and deductions based on actual application situations without violating the connotation of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should not be limited by the content of this specific embodiment.

As shown in FIG6 , the component connected to the panel 20, 200 may be a multimedia module 100, whereby the panel 20, 200 and the module 100 constitute a snap-on mounting assembly. The multimedia module 100 is provided with a variety of connectors, such as a USB port, an audio input interface, etc. The snap-on mounting assembly may be a part of a vehicle, but may also be a part of other equipment. In addition, it should be understood that the component that is a part of the snap-on mounting assembly is not limited to the multimedia module 100, but may also be other components or devices that are mounted to the panel 20, 200 by snap-on means. In the following description, the snap-on mounting assembly consisting of the front shell 10 of the multimedia module 100 and the panel is used to describe a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a front shell 10 of a multimedia module having a snap-on installation mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B respectively show partial enlarged schematic diagrams of the front shell 10 of the multimedia module with the snap-on installation mechanism. The snap-on installation mechanism mainly includes snap-on members 30, 300. As shown in FIG. 2, the snap-on members 30, 300 are arranged on two opposite outer surfaces of the module front shell 10. In a preferred embodiment, two snap-on members 30, 300 can be arranged on each outer surface. In the direction shown in FIG. 2, the lower end of the module front shell 10 is an insertion end 12, and the upper end 13 of the module front shell 10 is configured as a socket end, which is exposed on the outer surface of the panel 20, 200. The edge of the upper end 13 of the module front shell 10 forms a stop flange 15, which protrudes outward relative to the outer surface of the module front shell 10, and the extension amount thereof extending from the outer surface of the module front shell 10 should be greater than the protruding height of the entire snap-on member 30 or 300 on the outer surface of the module front shell 10.

During installation, the module front shell 10 is inserted from its insertion end 12 into the insertion hole formed on the panel 20, 200. The engaging members 30, 300 are cantilevered relative to the outer surface of the module front shell 10. During the process of the engaging members 30, 300 passing through the panel insertion hole, the inner surface of the insertion hole of the engaging members 30, 300 is pushed inward and elastically bent or deflected. After the engaging members 30, 300 pass through the panel insertion hole, the engaging members 30, 300 will return to the original position. In this way, the panel 20, 200 moves from the insertion end 12 to the vicinity of the upper end 13 relative to the module front shell 10 until it is engaged and held between the engaging members 30, 300 and the stop flange 15, thereby achieving the engagement and locking of the panel 20, 200 and the module front shell 10.

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged schematic diagram of a snap-fit member 30 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The snap-fit member 30 shown in FIG. 3A has a guide portion 31 facing the insertion end 12 and a locking portion 32 facing away from the insertion end 12. The guide portion 31 is planar and is inclined relative to the joining direction A (as shown in FIG. 4 ) between the module front shell 10 and the panel 20 or 200, so as to play a guiding role when the module front shell 10 is inserted into the panel jack. In particular, a plurality of step portions 33 are formed on the locking portion 32 of the snap-fit member 30. As shown in FIG. 3A , four-step step portions 33 are formed on the locking portion 32. Each step portion 33 has a snap-fit surface 35, so that the four-step step portions 33 form four snap-fit surfaces 35 located at different height positions of the locking portion 32, thereby, different snap-fit thicknesses are correspondingly formed between different snap-fit surfaces 35 and the stop flange 15 at the upper end of the module front shell 10, so that the snap-fit member 30 is suitable for matching with panels 20 and 200 of different thicknesses.

Preferably, the engaging surface 35 extends in the entire width direction of the engaging member 30 (i.e., a direction parallel to the outer surface of the module front shell 10 and parallel to the joining direction A), and the engaging surfaces 35 at different height positions are arranged parallel to each other. In addition, preferably, the engaging surface 35 is perpendicular to the joining direction A. The depths a of the engaging surfaces 35 at different height positions (as shown in FIG. 3A ) can be the same or different from each other, wherein the engaging depth a refers to the dimension of the step portion 33 in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the module front shell 10 .

Typically, the depth a of the engagement surface 35 is between 0.1-5 mm, preferably between 0.3-3 mm. The height h of the step portion 33 may be between 0.1-5 mm, preferably between 0.2-3 mm.

FIG3B shows an enlarged view of the snap member 330 on the right side of the module front shell 10 in FIG2 . As shown in FIG2 , the snap member 330 also has a guide portion 310 facing the insertion end 12 and a locking portion 320 facing away from the insertion end 12, wherein the guide portion 310 is planar and inclined relative to the engagement direction A. As shown in FIG3B , three step portions 330 are formed on the locking portion of the snap member 330, and the three step portions 330 also have a locking surface 350 located at different height positions of the locking portion. In particular, the locking portion also has a micro-step 360, which is connected between the first step portion 330 and the second step portion 330. The step surface of each micro-step 360 is formed parallel to the locking surface 350 of the step portion 330.

Preferably, the engagement depth a of each engagement surface is 2-10 times, more preferably 2-5 times, the engagement depth dimension of the micro-step. More specifically, the dimension of each micro-step 360 in the direction of the engagement surface depth a can be only 0.1-0.5 mm, preferably 0.1-0.3 mm. When the panel 20, 200 is matched with the engagement piece 300, especially with the engagement surface 350 of the second step portion, this section of the micro-step 360 can prevent the engagement piece 300 from slipping.

In an alternative embodiment thereof, the micro-step 360 may also be provided between every two adjacent step portions 330 .

In the module front shell 10 shown in FIG2 , the structures of the locking parts 32, 320 of the engaging members 30, 300 disposed on opposite sides of the module front shell 10 are different, which is particularly suitable for engaging the panel 200 with different thicknesses on both sides as shown in FIG5A and FIG5B . It should be understood that in other alternative embodiments, the engaging members on both sides of the module front shell 10 may be completely the same.

As shown in Figure 4, the multimedia module front shell 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed to the first panel 20, which has a uniform thickness H1. The module front shell 10 shown in Figure 2 is inserted into the insertion hole of the first panel 20, and the engagement surface 35 of the lowest step portion of the locking portion 32 of the left-side engaging member 30 abuts against the lower edge of the insertion hole of the panel 20. At the same time, the engagement surface 350 of the second step portion of the locking portion of the right-side engaging member 300 abuts against the lower edge of the panel insertion hole, and the upper surface of the panel 20 abuts against the lower surface of the stop flange 15, thereby realizing the engagement and fixation of the panel 20 and the module front shell 10.

As shown in Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B, the multimedia module front shell 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed on the second type of panel 200, and the panel 200 has a thickness H2 on one side and a thickness H3 on the other side. The module front shell 10 shown in Fig. 2 is inserted into the insertion hole of the panel 200, and the engagement surface of the uppermost step portion of the locking portion of the left engaging member 30 abuts against the lower edge of the left side of the insertion hole of the panel 200, and the engagement surface of the lowermost step portion of the locking portion of the right engaging member 300 abuts against the lower edge of the right side of the panel insertion hole, thereby achieving the engagement and fixing of the panel 200 and the module front shell 10.

In other embodiments, the number of the step portions 33 , 330 on the locking portions 32 , 320 of the engaging members 30 , 300 is not limited to the number described in the above preferred embodiments, and may be two, three, four or more than four.

According to the multimedia module front shell 10 of the present invention, each of the locking parts 30, 300 thereon has a plurality of step portions 33, 330, and each step portion 33, 330 has a locking surface 35, 350 located at a different height position. Therefore, by adopting such a snap-on installation mechanism, the same multimedia module 100 can be installed on panels 20, 200 of various thicknesses and sizes, without the need to redesign and manufacture the multimedia module 10, thereby saving cost and time.

In the snap-on locking mechanism according to the present invention, the locking portions 32, 320 have multiple step portions 33, 330, and the extension of the stop flange 15 from the outer surface of the module front shell 10 should be greater than the protruding height of the entire snap-fitting part on the outer surface of the module front shell 10, so that the snap-fitting surfaces 35, 350 of each step portion 33, 330 on the locking portion can reliably serve as stop surfaces.

Although the present invention is disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, any modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A snap-fit mounting mechanism for mounting a component to a panel, the snap-fit mounting mechanism comprising first and second snap-fit members (30, 300), the first and second snap-fit members (30, 300) being provided on an outer surface of the component, the first snap-fit member the second snap-fit member (30, 300) having a guide portion (31, 310) facing an insertion end of the component and a locking portion (32, 320) facing away from the insertion end, the guide portion (31, 310) being planar,

The locking portion (32) of the first engaging member (30) is formed to have at least two stepped portions (33), each stepped portion (33) having an engaging surface (35) located at a different height position of the locking portion (32);

the locking portion (320) of the second snap includes adjacent first and second stepped portions and a plurality of micro steps disposed between the first and second stepped portions,

Wherein each of the micro steps has a dimension of 0.1 to 0.5mm in the direction of the surface depth a, and the micro steps function to prevent the second engaging piece from slipping off when the engaging surfaces of the second step portions are engaged.

2. The snap-fit mounting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the snap-fit surfaces (35, 350) of the respective steps (33, 330) are mutually parallel.

3. The snap-fit mounting mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the snap-fit surface (35, 350) of each step (33, 330) is perpendicular to the outer surface.

4. The snap-fit mounting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the engagement surface (35, 350) of each step (33, 330) has the same engagement depth.

5. The snap-fit mounting mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising stop flanges (15) formed on the outer surface of the component, the different snap-fit surfaces being at different distances from the stop flanges (15) in the engagement direction (a) of the snap-fit mounting mechanism.

6. A snap-fit assembly, the snap-fit assembly comprising:

A panel (20, 200), the panel (20, 200) having a receptacle formed therein;

A component adapted to be mounted into the receptacle, the component being provided with a snap-fit mounting mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The snap-fit assembly of claim 6 wherein the thickness of the panels (20, 200) is different on opposite sides of the receptacle.