# US 10,500,795 B2 · Method of connecting at least two structural parts

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,500,795 B2
- Document ID: US10500795B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/468,483
- Filed: 2017-03-24
- Published: 2017-09-28
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-26
- Assignees: Audi AG
- Applicants: Audi AG
- Inventors: Carsten Bär; Peter Wurster
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500795B2

## CPC

- B29C 66/742: {to metals or their alloys}
- B62D 27/00: Connections between superstructure {or understructure} sub-units {(B62D33/0207, B62D33/044 take precedence; between sub-units predominently made of synthetic material B62D29/048)}
- B62D 27/026: {Connections by glue bonding (in general F16B11/00; processes C09J5/00)}
- F16B 11/00: Connecting constructional elements or machine parts by sticking or pressing them together, e.g. cold pressure welding (non-electric welding in general B23K; methods of using adhesives independently of the form of the surfaces joined C09J5/00)
- F16B 11/006: {by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48)}
- B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding}
- B29K 2705/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
- B29L 2031/3002: {Superstructures characterized by combining metal and plastics, i.e. hybrid parts}
- B62D 27/02: rigid
- F16B 5/12: Fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates, e.g. rubber strips, decorative strips for motor vehicles, by means of clips (friction- grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00; fastening rods or tubular parts to flat surfaces at an angle F16B9/00)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

In a method for connecting an attachment part to a structural part of a bodywork, a wall of the structural part is formed to at least partly encircle a region of the structural part. A form element is arranged to a main body of the attachment part. The attachment part is placed in the region of the structural part such that the form element touches the wall of the structural part, and the attachment part is pushed into the region, thereby causing the form element to move in relation to the main body of the attachment part until reaching an aperture in the wall of the structural part so that the form element moves into the aperture and is arranged therein to thereby position the attachment part in the region of the structural part.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bodywork, comprising:
a first structural part having two walls spaced from one another in a first direction and extending in a second joining direction which is transverse to said first direction to at least partly encircle a region, each of said walls having an aperture; and
a second structural part having a main body extending in the first direction and having two opposite ends spaced from one another in the first direction, and two form elements arranged on the main body and located at said opposite ends correspondingly, said form elements being configured to be movable in relation to each other and to the main body between a folded-out position and a folded-in position, each of the form elements having a V-shaped bend with an apex and with a first inclined portion extending from one of the opposite ends of the main body of the second structural part laterally outwardly and upwardly to the apex and a second inclined portion extending from the apex laterally inwardly and upwardly, said second structural part being arranged in the region of the first structural part such that when the second structural part is moving into the first structural part in the second joining direction which is transverse to the first direction the form elements are deflected inwards in relation to the main body and assume the folded-in position so as first to touch the walls of the first structural part and then to enter the apertures in the walls, thereby positioning and securing the second structural part in the region of the first structural part.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bodywork of claim 1, wherein the main body of the second structural part has a maximum outer dimension which is smaller than a minimum inner dimension of the region, when the form elements assume the folded-in position, said second structural part having a maximum outer dimension which is greater than the minimum inner dimension of the region, when the form element assumes the folded-out position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bodywork of claim 1, wherein the portions of the form elements are elastically deformable.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bodywork of claim 1, further comprising spring-elastic connection elements configured to connect the main body and the form elements of the second structural part with one another.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bodywork of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive to bond the main body of the second structural part and the walls of the first structural part to one another at least at one spot.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bodywork of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first structural part and the second structural part is made, at least in part, of metal.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bodywork of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first structural part and the second structural part is made, at least in part, of plastic.

### Claim 8

A method, comprising:
forming two walls of a first structural part which are spaced from one another in p first direction and extend in a second joining direction which is transverse to the first direction such as to at least partly encircle a region of the first structural part, with each of the walls having an aperture;
attaching form elements to a main body of a second structural part, so that the main body extends in the first direction and has two opposite ends spaced from each other in the first direction, and the form elements are located at the opposite ends correspondingly and movable in relation to each other and to the main body between a folded-out and a folded-in position;
forming each of the form elements with a V-shaped bend having an apex, a first inclined portion extending from one of the opposite ends of the main body of the second structural part laterally outwardly and upwardly to the apex, and a second inclined portion extending from the apex laterally inwardly and upwardly;
placing the second structural part in the region of the first structural part such that the form elements touch the walls of the first structural part; and
pushing the second structural part in the second joining direction into the region, thereby causing the form elements to move in relation to the main body of the second structural part to assume a folded-in position until reaching apertures in the walls of the first structural part so that upon reaching the apertures the form elements assume a folded-out position and move into the apertures and to be arranged therein to thereby position the second structural part in the region of the first structural part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first structural part is a component of a bodywork and the second structural part is an attachment part.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising applying adhesive to at least one of the first structural part and the second structural part at a spot that touches a contact zone of the other one of the first and second structural parts, when the second structural part is positioned in the region of the first structural part, thereby bonding the first and second structural parts to one another at the contact zone.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising arranging the first structural part in a first handling device, and pushing the second structural part by a second handling device into the region.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the second structural part is moved in the second joining direction, when being pushed into the region, and the form elements are moved in the first direction and thereby turned in relation to the second direction by an angle which is greater than 0° and less than 180°.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the angle is 90°.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the form elements are deformed elastically at least in part when the form elements are moved relative to the main body of the second structural part.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein each of the form elements is connected to the main body of the second structural part by a connection element which is deformed when the form elements are moved relative to the main body of the second structural part.