Variable-length tie rod made of plastic material
AssigneeDenso Thermal Systems S.P.A.
InventorsRoberto Benedetto, Luca Bergamo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tie rod including a first tie rod part and a second tie rod part of plastic material, and a joint providing a length-adjustable connection between the first and second tie rod parts is provided. The joint includes a first and a second series of ribs made on the first and second tie rod parts, respectively. The first series of ribs is capable of engaging with the second series of ribs to define a relative longitudinal position of the first and second tie rod parts. The joint further includes a clip hinged to the first tie rod part and carrying the first series of ribs, the clip being foldable to snap onto the first tie rod part to lock an end of the second tie rod part within a seat of the first tie rod part.
Claims9
A tie rod, particularly for an air conditioning unit, the tie rod comprising:
- a first tie rod part and a second tie rod part, both the first tie rod part and the second tie rod part being of plastic material, the first tie rod part having an end provided with a seat, and the second tie rod part having an end designed to be inserted into the seat of the first tie rod part, and
- a joint designed to form an adjustable-length connection between the first tie rod part and the second tie rod part,
- wherein the joint comprises a first series of ribs and a second series of ribs formed on the first tie rod part and the second tie rod part, respectively, ribs of the first series of ribs and of the second series of ribs extending transversely to a longitudinal direction of the tie rod and being arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the tie rod, the first series of ribs being capable of engaging with the second series of ribs to define a relative longitudinal position of the first tie rod part and the second tie rod part with respect to each other,
- wherein the joint further comprises a clip hinged to the first tie rod part and carrying the first series of ribs, the clip being foldable to snap onto the first tie rod part to lock the end of the second tie rod part within the seat of the first tie rod part, and
- wherein the seat of the first tie rod part is designed to slidably guide the end of the second tie rod part when the clip is in an open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.