FR3110208A1 - Cooperation mechanism for assembling a male element with a female element - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooperation mechanism for assembling a male element with a female element The invention relates to a system for cooperating a male part (1) of a first part (3) with a female part (2) of a second part (4), characterized in that the peripheral edge (6a) of the female part comprises a bearing means (7) against a surface (1a) of the inserted male part, this bearing means exerting a pressure, along an axis perpendicular to the insertion of the male part, so that a second surface (1b) of the male part bears against the peripheral edge (6b) of the female part opposite the support means, this means support is formed of a lamella which, in a plane in section comprising the pressure axis, comprises at least one flexible portion suitable and intended to form a spring means for maintaining the male part in position between the support means and the peripheral edge (6b) of the orifice (6) of the female part. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Mechanism of cooperation for assembly of a male element with a female element

The present invention relates to the cooperation mechanisms for the assembly of a male element with a female element and more particularly to the cooperation mechanisms which allow an optimization of the fixing of the male element with the female element.

Joining two parts by involving a male/female type interaction is a classic solution which is found in various examples of various and varied mechanical assemblies such as screws and their nuts, champagne corks inserted in their bottles or connectors of electrical appliances. To facilitate an assembly which is based on such a mechanical principle, and in particular the insertion operation, it is necessary for a clearance to exist between the inserted male element and the associated female element. However, if such a game facilitates insertion, it also has this associated disadvantage which consists in reducing consequently the maintenance of the association of these two parts over time. Also, to rule out this problem of the behavior of the assembled parts, complements are integrated into this mechanical assembly and compensate for the mechanical play which exists between the associated elements.

Different solutions have been developed to optimize this assembly of the male/female elements together. Clipping mechanisms integrated into the inserted male element have thus been proposed to combine easy insertion into the female element, while guaranteeing anchoring of the parts between them. The publication US 4,708,895 proposes an example of a solution by which an inserted male element carries a clipping mechanism which, by a lamella resting against the edge of the internal orifice of the female element, operates an anchoring of the inserted part in the female element. However, these anchoring mechanisms, if they ensure a successful maintenance of the parts together, they also cause an irreversible assembly which, when a separation of the male/female elements is necessary, generally imposes a rupture or a breakage of one of these elements.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome this drawback by proposing a solution for assembling a male element with a female element which makes it possible to operate an improved maintenance of the joined elements, while preserving an easy insertion of one of the elements. in the other and without risking that a breakage of one of the elements is necessary so that their separation can be carried out

The invention relates to a mechanism for cooperation of a male part of a first part inserted into a female part of a second part, characterized in that at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the orifice of the female part of the second part comprises at least one means of bearing against a first surface of the male part inserted into the female part, the means of bearing of the female part being configured to exert, along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the male part into the female part, a pressure force against the first surface of the male part being inserted so that a second surface of the male part is positioned in abutment against the portion of the peripheral edge of the orifice of the female part opposite the portion of the peripheral edge which comprises the bearing means, the bearing means having, at least in part, the shape of a lamella which, in a plane in section comprising the axis of the force of pressure exerted by the e means of bearing against the male part in insertion, comprises at least one flexible portion able and intended to form a spring means to maintain the male part in position between the means of bearing and a portion of the peripheral edge of the orifice of the female part.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the description below, which relates to preferred embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which:

is a diagrammatic sectional representation of an embodiment of a male/female cooperation mechanism according to the invention,

is a cavalier schematic representation of a section of the embodiment of a male/female cooperation mechanism according to the invention,

is a cavalier schematic representation of an example of a supporting structure incorporating female parts of male/female cooperation mechanisms according to the invention.

The invention relates to a mechanism for cooperation of a male part 1 of a first part 3 inserted into a female part 2 of a second part 4, characterized in that at least a portion 6a of the peripheral edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 of the second part 4 comprises at least one support means 7 against a first surface 1a of the male part 1 inserted into the female part 2, the support means 7 of the female part 2 being configured to exert, along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the male part 1 into the female part 2, a pressure force against the first surface 1a of the male part 1 being inserted so that a second surface 1b of the male part 1 is positioned in abutment against the portion 6b of the peripheral edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 opposite to the portion 6a of the peripheral edge which comprises the support means 7, the support means 7 having, at least in part, the shape of a lamella which, in a plan in section comprising the axis of the pressure force exerted by the bearing means 7 against the male part 1 in insertion, comprises at least one flexible portion suitable and intended to form a spring means for holding the male part 1 in position between the bearing means 7 and a portion 6b of the peripheral edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2.

The mechanism of the invention is integrated into the cooperation interface of the male 1 and female 2 parts of the invention so as to optimize the interaction between the male 1 and female 2 parts, in particular by reducing the mechanical play liable to exist in these two elements when the male part 1 is inserted into the female part 2. Indeed, the support means 7 incorporated into the female part 2 of the mechanism of the invention makes it possible to impose contact between the part male 1 with the female part 2 in which the male part 1 is inserted and to avoid movement between these two parts of the mechanism. By this contacting, the mechanism of the invention, on the one hand, operates an increase in the friction between the male parts 1 and female 2 and, on the other hand, achieves a pinching of the male part 1 by means support 7 incorporated in the female part 2. In the mechanism of the invention, the support means 7 carried by the female part exerts pressure against the first surface 1a of the male part 1 so that the male part 1 is pinched between, on the one hand, the support means 7 and, on the other hand, a surface of the female part 2 which is more particularly at the level of an inner surface of the female part 2. Although the axis of the pressure force exerted by the bearing means 7 is preferably perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the male part 1 in the female part 2, it is likely to consider alternative arrangements. Thus, according to some of these alternative arrangements, the axis of the pressure force and the axis of insertion of the male part 1 into the female part 2 form between them an angle which presents a slight deviation from 90°, for example between 70° and 110°.

According to a construction particularity, the support means 7 has the shape of a lamella configured to press against the first surface of the inserted male part. It should be understood that the term "lamella" as used in this document to best qualify the support means 7 relates to any arrangement having a construction of reduced thickness in a section plane which comprises at minus the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means 7. This reduced thickness at the level of at least a portion of the lamella, element of the support means 7, thus contributes to the production of a means spring. By way of example, this lamella which participates in the production of the support means 7 has a thickness of the order of 2 millimeters.

According to a particular embodiment, the spring means of the support means 7 comprises an elastic flexibility at least in a plane integrating at least the axis of the pressure force of the support means 7 against the first surface 1a of the part male 1 in insertion. According to this example, the portion of the lamella which participates in the production of the spring means provides flexibility in the plane which includes at least the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means 7 and also allows a controlled deformation of this support means 7. The spring properties which are thus conferred on the support means 7 thus make it possible to exert effective pressure against the inserted male part 1, so that the male part is pinched between, on the one hand, the support means 7 and, on the other hand, the portion 6b of the peripheral edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2.

It should be noted that, according to a view corresponding substantially to the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means 7, the shape of the support means 7 integrating the slat does not matter. This shape is likely to adopt different types of geometries such as straight, curved, spiral, etc.

According to another particular embodiment, in a plane in section comprising the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means 7, the slat of the support means 7 comprises at least one portion arranged in a direction integrating least one component along an axis parallel to the axis of insertion of the male part 1 of the first part 3 into the female part 2 of the second part 4. Also, according to this particular example, whatever the particular shape of the strip, the support means 7 is structurally adapted to support at least one deformation in a plane in section comprising, on the one hand, the axis of the pressure force and, on the other hand, the axis of insertion of the male part 1 in the female part 2. According to a specific variant of this example, the blade of the support means 7 incorporates at least one substantially rectilinear portion arranged in a plane in section comprising the axis of the pressure force exerted by means of support 7. In a preferred way ed which is not restrictive of the mechanism of the invention, the substantially rectilinear portion of the lamella is also arranged in a plane in section which integrates at least the axis of insertion of the male part 1 into the female part 2.

According to another particular embodiment, the lamella of the support means 7 is in association, on the one hand, by a first of its ends, with a junction interface 8 at the peripheral edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 and, on the other hand, by a second of its ends, with a contact surface 9 capable of pressing against the first surface 1a of the male part 1 being inserted into the female part 2. According to a first construction variant, the positioning of the support means 7 on the peripheral edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 allows the support means 7 to be arranged in an extension of the edge of the female part 2 so that this extension has an orientation comprising at least one component arranged along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of insertion of the male part 1 into the female part 2. According to a second construction variant, the support means 7 is integrated into the female part 2 and realizes at least part of the bor d peripheral of the orifice 6 of the female part 2. According to this second construction variant, the support means 7 form a spring means integrated in a part of the peripheral edge of the female part 2 so as to produce an orifice 6 of the female part 2 which is able to exert a wedging of the male part 1 by pinching against a part of the inner surface of the female part 2.

According to another particular example of construction of the female part 2 of the mechanism, the support means 7 forms a single structure with the female part 2. The single means 7 is thus made of the same material as the female part 2. This construction is capable of being carried out by joint molding of the support means 7 with the whole of the female part 2. In addition to ease of construction, this characteristic also allows a reduction in production costs.

According to another particular embodiment, in a plane in section comprising at least the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means 7, the contact surface 9 of the support means 7 is positioned at the level of a relief carried by the lamella and protruding from the surface of the lamella which faces the male part 1 in insertion. According to this example, the relief makes it possible to operate a localized thickening of the support means 7 so as to increase the capacity of the support means 7 to exert pressure against the male part 1. Furthermore, the relief carried by the surface of contact 9 also makes it possible to increase the pressure exerted against the surface of the male part 1 without intervention at the level of the spring properties and in particular of the flexibility of the blade of the support means 7. Moreover, according to this example, the relief positioned, for example at the end of the contact surface 9, makes it possible to circumscribe the surface of the male part 1 at the level of which the support means 7 exerts pressure. Also, the pressurizing force exerted by the support means 7 is concentrated at the level of a restricted surface of the male part 1 of the first part 3 making it possible to define effectively and therefore to control the axis of the force exerted by the support means 7 for holding the male part 1 in insertion in the female part 2. According to a specificity of this particular embodiment, the relief carried by the contact surface 9 is made in the form of a convex arrangement, for example rounded from the inner face of the female part 2 towards the edge of the support means 7 which faces the part 3 which carries the male part 1 in insertion. Such a rounded arrangement then has the advantage of facilitating the positioning of the end of the male part 1 with respect to the orifice of the female part 2 in particular with respect to the end of the support means 7 at the time of inserting the male part 1.

According to another particular embodiment, the distance which separates, on the one hand, the contact surface 9 of the support means 7 and, on the other hand, the portion 6b of the edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 positioned opposite and intended for the pinching of the male part 1 in insertion is less than the distance which separates, on the one hand, said portion 6b from the edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 positioned in screw -to-vis and intended for the pinching of the male part 1 in insertion and, on the other hand, the edge 6a of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 at the level of which the support means 7 is positioned. According to this example particular, the support means 7 is arranged so that at least part of its structure, in particular the contact surface 9, is arranged in the interior volume of the female part 2. With a positioning of its contact surface 9 close to the portion 6b of the female part 2 positioned vis-à-vis and intended to pinch the male part 1 in insertion , the support means 7 operates a reduction of the interior volume of the female part 2 in which the male part 1 is capable of being positioned and which limits, or even eliminates, the mechanical play likely to exist between the respective parts of the first part 3 of the second part 4 which carry out this male/female interaction. By way of example, a clearance of the order of 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters is likely to exist between the edges 6a, 6b of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 and the corresponding surfaces of the male part 1. Moreover, at rest, the distance which separates, on the one hand, the contact surface 9 of the support means 7 and, on the other hand, the portion 6b of the edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 positioned vis-à-vis and intended for the pinching of the male part 1 in insertion is less than the thickness of the male part 1 in insertion. The properties of elastic flexibility of the support means 7 then allow a spacing of the contact surface 9 of the support means 7 with respect to the portion 6b of the edge of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 positioned opposite -screw during insertion of the male part 1, while applying pressure against the first surface 1a of the male part 1. In addition, according to an example corresponding to a specific construction variant, the end of the male part 1 comprises a sloping or even bevel arrangement 12, so as to facilitate the separation of the contact surface 9 from the support means 7 during its introduction and its insertion at the level of the orifice 6 of the female part 2 .

It should be noted that the orifice 6 of the female part 2 is likely to have different configurations. Thus, this orifice 6 is capable of having a peripheral edge arranged in a single plane, this plane being perpendicular or inclined with respect to the axis of insertion of the male part 1 into the female part 2. Alternatively, the orifice 6 is likely to have a peripheral edge with a three-dimensional contour as illustrated in the various appended figures and which is not able to fit into a plane.

It should also be noted that the sections of the male 1 and female 2 parts of the mechanism according to the invention are of substantially complementary shapes and capable of adopting various geometric configurations such as circular, rectangular, triangular, square, etc.

According to another particular embodiment, at least one surface which participates in the contact between the male part 1 and the female part 2 and/or the support means 7 is configured to increase its friction with the contact surface against which it is under pressure. The increase in friction between the two surfaces of the male 1 and female 2 parts resting against each other makes it possible to restrict, or even eliminate, the problems of sliding of these surfaces between them. The risks of detachment of the first part 3 with respect to the second part 4 at the level of the male/female interaction are then reduced accordingly. According to different specificities of production, the increase in friction between the surfaces of the male 1 and female 2 parts resting against each other is effected by the use of material or coating whose roughness is greater or again by the use of a binder whose adhesive properties are reduced or restricted. By way of example, the increase in friction is obtained by producing a surface grain directly during the molding operation of the parts 3, 4 or the male 1 and female 2 parts of the parts of the cooperation mechanism. According to a variant of this particular embodiment, the surface arranged to provide improved friction is carried by the female part 2 and more particularly by the contact surface 9 of the support means 7.

The invention also relates to an assembly produced by, on the one hand, a support structure 10 and, on the other hand, an added part 11 intended to be mounted on the support structure 10, such as an accessory or a wall of a vehicle interior trim element, characterized in that the assembly of at least a part of the added piece 11 with the supporting structure 10 comprises at least one cooperation mechanism according to the invention so that , on the one hand, the male part 1 is carried by a first of the parts among the insert 11 and the supporting structure 10 and that, on the other hand, the female part 2 is positioned on the second of these two parts.

According to a particular embodiment of the assembly of the invention, the assembly axis of the insert 11 with the supporting structure 10 comprises at least one horizontal component substantially parallel to the axis of insertion of the male part 1 of the first part 3 in the female part 2 of the second part 4. Indeed, according to this particular example, the axis of insertion of the male part 1 with the female part 2 is arranged horizontally so that the force of gravity exerted on the male part 1 in insertion contributes to the positioning of the male part 1 against a surface of the inside of the female part 2 located under the inserted male part 1. This force of gravity supplements the bearing force exerted by the bearing means 7 against the male part 1 to participate in keeping it in the inserted position, or even pinching it. Also, according to a specific variant of this particular embodiment, the support means 7 of the mechanism of the invention is positioned above the male part 1 inserted into the female part 2 so that the vertical component of the axis of the bearing force exerted by the spring means of the bearing means 7 is parallel, or even aligned, with the axis of the gravity force and in the same direction.

According to another particular embodiment of the assembly of the invention which can be combined with the previous example, according to a vertical component, at the level of the orifice 6 of the female portion 2 of the second part 4, the part 3 which carries the male part 1 is positioned above part 4 which includes the female part 2 of the cooperation mechanism. According to this particular example, the difference in height between the two parts 3, 4 which respectively carry the male 1 and female 2 parts at the level of the male/female interaction makes it possible to take advantage of the force of gravity exerted on the first part 3 which carries the male part 1 and positioned above to maintain the male part 1 in insertion in the female part 2 of the second part 4 positioned below. According to this arrangement, the axis of insertion of the male part 1 in the female part 2 has an inclination with respect to the horizontal so that the component of the direction of the force of gravity oriented downwards which is carried out on the axis of insertion of the male part 1 into the female part 2 corresponds to a direction of force oriented in the direction of insertion of the male part 1 and not in the direction of withdrawal.

According to another particular example of embodiment of the assembly of the invention capable of being combined with the various previous examples, the assembly of an added part 11 with the support structure 10 comprises at least two cooperation mechanisms according to the invention. Preferably, these cooperation mechanisms are arranged in the upper part of the insert 11 so as to optimize the assembly of the insert 11 on the supporting structure 10.

According to another particular embodiment of the assembly of the invention capable of being combined with the various preceding examples, in addition to a cooperation mechanism according to the invention, the assembly, the assembly of at least part of the insert 11 with the support structure 10 involves at least one additional fixing mechanism such as screws, welding, gluing.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the appended drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (11)

Mechanism for cooperating a male part (1) of a first part (3) inserted into a female part (2) of a second part (4), characterized in that at least a portion (6a) of the edge peripheral of the orifice (6) of the female part (2) of the second part (4) comprises at least one support means (7) against a first surface (1a) of the male part (1) inserted into the female part (2), the support means (7) of the female part (2) being configured to exert, along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the male part (1) into the female part ( 2), a pressure force against the first surface (1a) of the male part (1) in insertion so that a second surface (1b) of the male part (1) is positioned in abutment against the portion (6b) of the peripheral edge of the orifice (6) of the female part (2) opposite to the portion (6a) of the peripheral edge which comprises the support means (7), the support means (7) having, at least in part, the shape of a lamel the which, in a plane in section comprising the axis of the pressure force exerted by the bearing means (7) against the male part (1) in insertion, comprises at least one flexible portion able and intended to form a means spring to hold the male part (1) in position between the support means (7) and a portion (6b) of the peripheral edge of the orifice (6) of the female part (2). Cooperation mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the strip of the support means (7) is in association, on the one hand, by one of its ends, with a junction interface (8) at the peripheral edge of the orifice (6) of the female part (2) and, on the other hand, by a second of its ends, with a contact surface (9) capable of pressing against the first surface (1a) of the male part ( 1) inserted into the female part (2). Cooperation mechanism according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring means of the support means (7) comprises an elastic flexibility at least in a plane integrating at least the axis of the pressure force of the support means ( 7) against the first surface 1a of the male part (1) in insertion. Cooperation mechanism according to Claim 3, characterized in that, in a plane in section comprising at least the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means (7), the blade of the support means (7) comprises at least one portion arranged along a direction integrating at least one component along an axis parallel to the axis of insertion of the male part (1) of the first part (3) into the female part (2) of the second part (4). Cooperation mechanism according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, in a plane in section comprising at least the axis of the pressure force exerted by the support means (7), the contact surface (9) of the support means (7) is positioned at the level of a relief carried by the lamella and projecting with respect to the surface of the lamella which faces the male part (1) in insertion. Cooperation mechanism according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the distance which separates, on the one hand, the contact surface (9) of the support means (7) and, on the other hand, the portion 6b of the edge of the orifice (6) of the female part (2) positioned opposite and intended for pinching the male part (1) during insertion is less than the distance which separates, on the one hand, said portion (6b) of the edge of the orifice (6) of the female part (2) positioned opposite and intended for pinching the male part 1 during insertion and, on the other hand, the edge (6a) of the orifice (6) of the female part (2) at which the support means (7) is positioned. Mechanism of cooperation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one surface which, on the one hand, participates in the contact between the male part (1) and the female part (2) and/or the support means ( 7) and, on the other hand, is maintained under pressure, is configured to increase its friction with the contact surface against which it is under pressure. Assembly produced by, on the one hand, a support structure (10) and, on the other hand, an added part (11) intended to be mounted on the support structure (10), such as an accessory or a wall of a vehicle interior trim element, characterized in that the assembly of at least a part of the added piece (11) with the supporting structure (10) comprises at least one cooperation mechanism according to one of Claims 1 to 7 so that, on the one hand, the male part (1) is carried by a first of the parts among the added part (11) and the support structure (10) and that, on the other hand, the female part ( 2) is positioned on the second of these parts. Assembly according to Claim 8, characterized in that the assembly axis of the added part (11) with the supporting structure (10) comprises at least one horizontal component substantially parallel to the axis of insertion of the male part ( 1) of the first part (3) in the female part (2) of the second part (4). Assembly according to one of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that, according to a vertical component, at the level of the orifice (6) of the female portion (2) of the second part (4), the part (3) which carries the male part (1) is positioned above the part (4) which includes the female part (2) of the cooperation mechanism. Assembly according to one of Claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the assembly of an added piece (11) with the support structure (10) comprises at least two cooperation mechanisms.