Snap cap in multi-component injection molding technology
OwnerRoland Kittmanninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover includes a bistable flap mechanism made of a plastic with at least two material components. The cover can be produced in one piece in a multi-component injection molding technique. At a transitional area between a front wall and an edge portion, the plastic is sufficiently stiff (preferably due to greater material thickness) to ensure that an angle μ enclosed in the transitional area from the side wall to the edge portion remains constant in both bistable states. Expansion portions provided in the edge portion ensure that the outer circumference of the edge portion can increase/decrease from one bistable state to the other bistable state. A closing system including the cover is also provided.
Claims19
A cover configured for clamping attachment to a wall region defining an opening, the cover comprising:
- a front wall deformable between a first stable, downwardly cambered state and a second stable, upwardly cambered state;
- an annular edge portion having a larger outer circumference when said front wall is in said first stable state than when said front wall is in said second stable state, said annular edge portion effecting a clamping attachment of the cover to the wall region by pressing said annular edge portion against the wall region from inside the opening in said first stable state, or from outside the opening in said second stable state;
- said annular edge portion having at least one expansion portion made of a second plastic material component and a remaining edge portion made of a first plastic material component, said second plastic material component being softer and/or more elastic than said first plastic material component, enabling an increase of an outer periphery of said annular edge portion in said first stable state relative to said second stable state;
- and
- said front wall transitioning into said annular edge portion at a constant angle that remains constant in both of said first stable state and said second stable state.
A cover configured for clamping attachment to a wall region defining an opening, the cover comprising:
- a front wall deformable between a first stable, downwardly cambered state and a second stable, upwardly cambered state;
- an annular edge portion having a larger outer circumference when said front wall is in said first stable state than when said front wall is in said second stable state, said annular edge effecting a clamping attachment of the cover to the wall region by pressing said annular edge portion against the wall region from inside the opening in said first stable state, or from outside the opening in said second stable state;
- said annular edge portion having at least one expansion portion made of a second plastic material component and a remaining edge portion made of a first plastic material component, said second plastic material component being softer and/or more elastic than said first plastic material component, enabling an increase of an outer periphery of said annular edge portion in said first stable state relative to said second stable state;
- and
- a transition portion from said front wall into said annular edge portion and a remaining area, said transition portion having a material thickness at least in partial areas being greater than a material thickness in said remaining area.
A cover configured for clamping attachment to a wall region defining an opening, the cover comprising:
- a front wall deformable between a first stable, downwardly cambered state and a second stable, upwardly cambered state;
- an annular edge portion having a larger outer circumference when said front wall is in said first stable state than when said front wall is in said second stable state, said annular edge effecting a clamping attachment of the cover to the wall region by pressing said annular edge portion against the wall region from inside the opening in said first stable state, or from outside the opening in said second stable state;
- said annular edge portion having at least one expansion portion made of a second plastic material component and a remaining edge portion made of a first plastic material component, said second plastic material component being softer and/or more elastic than said first plastic material component, enabling an increase of an outer periphery of said annular edge portion in said first stable state relative to said second stable state;
- said front wall being at least predominantly formed of said first plastic material component;
- and
- a transition portion from said front wall into said edge portion being formed at least in partial areas, of a third plastic material component being harder than said first plastic material component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.