Locking connection assembly and mounting method

A component comprising:

• a component contour,
• a groove strip having a groove and a first attachment region which extends along the groove and by which the groove strip is disposed along a first contour portion of the component contour so that the groove extends along the first contour portion in a first longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the groove strip,
• a tongue strip having a tongue and a second attachment region which extends along the tongue and by which the tongue strip is disposed along a second contour portion of the component contour so that the tongue extends along the second contour portion of the component in a second longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the tongue strip, and
• a rib strip having a rib,
• wherein cross-sectional contours of the tongue and the groove correspond to each other through use of latching elements so that a snap-fit connection can be established between the tongue and the groove as the tongue is inserted in a joining direction into the groove, the snap-fit connection allowing for relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip along at least one of the longitudinal directions and preventing relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip transversely to at least one of the longitudinal directions,
• wherein the first and second attachment regions lie in a common plane or in two different planes that intersect each other,
• wherein the tongue includes a latching recess that extends along and within the tongue, the latching recess comprising an undercut and being configured for latching engagement with the rib strip of the rib, and
• wherein cross-sectional contours of the rib and the latching recess of the tongue correspond to each other through use of further latching elements so that a further snap-fit connection can be established between the rib and the latching recess of the tongue by the rib elastically deforming the latching recess as the rib is inserted into the latching recess until the rib latchingly engages with the undercut of the latching recess.

A snap-fit connection arrangement comprising:

• a groove strip having a groove and a first attachment region extending along the groove for placement of the groove along a first component, the groove strip extending in a first longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the groove strip, and
• a tongue strip having a tongue and a second attachment region extending along the tongue for placement of the tongue along a second component, the tongue strip extending in a second longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the tongue strip,
• wherein cross-sectional contours of the tongue and the groove correspond to each other through use of latching elements so that a snap-fit connection can be established between the tongue and the groove as the tongue is inserted in a joining direction into the groove, the snap-fit connection allowing for relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip along at least one of the longitudinal directions and preventing relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip transversely to at least one of the longitudinal directions, the latching elements including opposing projections of the groove facing in opposing directions that are automatically received within opposing notches of the tongue upon the tongue reaching a predetermined insertion depth into the groove to form the snap-fit connection,
• wherein the first and second attachment regions lie in a common plane or in two different planes that intersect each other, and
• wherein the tongue includes a latching recess defined between two opposite tongue legs, the latching recess extending along and within the tongue and being configured for latching engagement with.

A snap-fit connection arrangement comprising:

• a groove strip having a groove and a first attachment region extending along the groove for placement of the groove along a first component, the groove strip extending in a first longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the groove strip, and
• a tongue strip having a tongue and a second attachment region extending along the tongue for placement of the tongue along a second component, the tongue strip extending in a second longitudinal direction transversely to a cross section of the tongue strip,
• wherein cross-sectional contours of the tongue and the groove correspond to each other through use of latching elements so that a snap-fit connection can be established between the tongue and the groove as the tongue is inserted in a joining direction into the groove, the snap-fit connection allowing for relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip along at least one of the longitudinal directions and preventing relative movement between the tongue strip and the groove strip transversely to at least one of the longitudinal directions,
• wherein the first and second attachment regions lie in a common plane or in two different planes that intersect each other, and
• wherein the tongue includes a latching recess that extends along and within the tongue, the latching recess comprising an undercut and being configured for latching engagement with a rib of a rib strip, and
• wherein the snap-fit connection arrangement is configured such that a force required to release the latching engagement between the tongue and the groove is multiple times higher than a force required to establish the latching engagement between the tongue and the groove.