# US 2009/0260201 A1 · Connecting assembly for fastening an add-on element on a carrier element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260201 A1 - Document ID: US20090260201A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/386,411 - Filed: 2009-04-17 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-17 - Assignees: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Laurent Vogler; Michel Kuhm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260201A1 ## CPC - F16B 21/076: {the socket having a resilient part on its outside (F16B21/075 takes precedence)} - F16B 5/065: {the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance} - B60R 13/0206: {Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B)} - Y10T 24/45251: Resilient element [e.g., with spring] - 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) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A connecting assembly (1) for fastening an add-on element (2) on a carrier element (3) includes a foot (4) which can be inserted into an opening (39) of the carrier element (3) and has fixing means (40) for fixing the foot (4) with respect to the carrier element (3) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (41) of the foot (4). The connecting assembly (1) further includes a pin (5) which can be inserted into a passage (20) of the add-on element (2) and has retaining means (50) which counteract a displacement of the add-on element (2) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (51) of the pin (5). The pin (5) is adapted to be inserted into the foot (4) and has locking means (52) which cooperate with complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) in a radial direction with -respect to the longitudinal axes (41, 51). The foot (4) has two elastic axial restoring means (43) with respect to its longitudinal axis (41) which hold a support surface (54) of the pin (5) and a counter support surface (44) of the foot (4) in contact with each other when the locking means (52) of the pin (5) cooperate with the complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) after the insertion of the pin (5) into the foot (4). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connecting assembly (1) for fastening an add-on element (2) on a carrier element (3), comprising a foot (4) which can be inserted into an opening (39) of the carrier element (3) and includes fixing means (40) for fixing the foot (4) with respect to the carrier element (3) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (41) of the foot (4), and a pin (5) which can be inserted into a passage (20) of the add-on element (2) and includes retaining means (50) which counteract a displacement of the add-on element (2) in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (51) of the pin (5), the pin (5) being adapted to be inserted into the foot (4) and including locking means (52) which cooperate with complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axes (41, 51), the foot (4) having two elastic axial restoring means (43) with respect to its longitudinal axis (41) which hold a support surface (54) of the pin (5) and a counter support surface (44) of the foot (4) in contact with each other when the locking means (52) of the pin (5) cooperate with the complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) after the insertion of the pin (5) into the foot (4). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking means (52) are configured so as to surround the longitudinal axis (51) of the pin (5). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the complementary locking means (42) are configured so as to surround the longitudinal axis (41) of the foot (4). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking means (52) of the pin (5) cooperate with the complementary locking means (42) of the foot (4) under the action of radial elastic restoring means (6) in the radial direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the radial elastic restoring means (6) are integrated into the foot (4) and formed by at least one elastic tongue (45). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the elastic tongue (45) forms the complementary locking means (42). ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the elastic tongue (45) is movable in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (41) of the foot (4) and has a circumferential surface which forms the counter support surface (44). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly according to claim 1, wherein the complementary locking means (42) have at least one finger (47) or one undercut (48). ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the radial elastic restoring means (6) are integrated into the pin (5) and formed by at least one elastic tongue (55). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the elastic tongue (55) forms the locking means (52). ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 9, wherein the elastic tongue (55) is movable in a radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (51) and has a circumferential surface which forms the support surface (54). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking means (52) have at least one undercut (47) or one finger (58). ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the pin (5) has a shank (53) surrounding its longitudinal axis (51) and having insertion means (59) which counteract the radial restoring means (6) to permit an insertion of the insertion means (59) into a cavity (49) formed in the foot (4). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 13, wherein between the insertion means (59) and the arresting means (50), the shank (53) has an undercut (47) having the support surface (54), the support surface (54) forming at least part of the locking means (52). ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the foot (4) has a shank (490) surrounding its longitudinal axis (41) and having insertion means (491) which counteract the radial restoring means (6) to permit an insertion of the insertion means (491) into a cavity (590) formed in the pin (5). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 15, wherein the shank (490) has an undercut (48) having the counter support surface (45), the counter support surface (45) forming at least part of the complementary locking means (42). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means (40) of the foot (4) are formed from arresting means (401) und first elastic axial restoring means (402). ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 17, wherein the arresting means (401) comprise barbs (404) which ensure an elastic support at the opening (30) of the carrier element (3). ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 18, wherein the barbs (404) are arranged in several rows (405, 406) which are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (41) of the foot (4). ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pin (5) has third elastic axial restoring means (510) with respect to a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis (51). ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pin (5) has guiding means (56) surrounding its longitudinal axis (51), and in that the foot (4) has complementary guiding means (46) which surround its longitudinal axis (41) the form of which is at least partially complementary to the guiding means (56) of the pin (5) and configured such that they permit a coaxial sliding of the pin (5) relative to the foot (4) along an axis (D). ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pin (5) can be inserted into a cavity (49) formed in the foot (4) by orienting the longitudinal axes (41, 51) of the foot (4) and of the pin (5) along an axis (D) and by coaxial sliding in a direction of insertion (S) along the axis (D). ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing means (40) tightly seal the opening (30). ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The connecting assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second elastic axial restoring means (43) clamp the add-on element (2) between a support surface (431) of the second elastic axial restoring means (43) and a support surface (502) of the pin (5).