# US 8,997,316 B2 · Adapter, assembly unit comprising an adapter as well as a method of installing such an assembly unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,997,316 B2 - Document ID: US8997316B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/524,019 - Filed: 2012-06-15 - Published: 2013-01-17 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2011-07-11 - Assignees: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Hubert Loewe; Oliver Marx; Juergen Hofmann - Inventors: Hubert Loewe; Oliver Marx; Juergen Hofmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8997316B2 ## CPC - B60R 13/0206: {Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings (devices for fastening or securing F16B)} - F16B 5/0628: {allowing for adjustment parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the sheets or plates} - F16B 21/075: {the socket having resilient parts on its inside and outside} - F16B 5/0657: {at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate} - Y10T 24/303: having laterally extending biasing appendage - Y10T 24/309: Plastic type - Y10T 24/44026: for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured - Y10T 24/45105: for upholstery, panel, trim strip, etc. [e.g., spring biased] - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An adapter for the vehicle-side installation of a component, in particular of a lining part, has a first fastening element to which a component-side holding piece can be attached, and a second fastening element to which a vehicle-side retaining element can be attached. The first and second fastening elements are coupled to each other via at least one spring element so as to be movable to a limited extent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adapter for the vehicle-side installation of a component, in particular of a lining part, comprising a first fastening element to which a component-side holding piece can be attached, and a second fastening element to which a vehicle-side retaining element can be attached, wherein the first and second fastening elements are coupled to each other via at least one spring element so as to be movable to a limited extent, and wherein cooperating stop elements are provided on the first fastening element and the second fastening element, the first and second fastening elements being essentially cylindrical-shaped, and the stop elements limiting the displacement paths of the fastening elements relative to each other in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the cylinders. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening element encloses the second fastening element in a circumferential direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the cylinder longitudinal axes of both fastening elements are arranged to be coaxial. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the spring element, in a cross-section perpendicular to the cylinder longitudinal axis, extends spirally from the first fastening element towards the second fastening element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein several spring elements are provided so as to be uniformly distributed in a circumferential direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the cooperating stop elements include a protrusion provided on one of the fastening elements which engages a recess provided on the other fastening element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the second fastening element comprises a receptacle for a vehicle-side retaining element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adapter according to claim 7, wherein the receptacle comprises latching elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An assembly unit for the vehicle-side installation of a component, in particular of a lining part, comprising an adapter according to claim 1, a fastening pin capable of being attached to the vehicle side, and a holding piece which can be attached to the component, in particular to the lining part, the adapter allowing a limited movement between the fastening pin and the holding piece, wherein the fastening pin comprises a latching protrusion which is pushed into a vehicle-side opening and can be fixed in the latter in particular by a latching mechanism, as well as a bolt which can be pushed into a receptacle of the second fastening element of the adapter for fixing therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The assembly unit according to claim 9, wherein the fastening pin comprises a gasket for sealing the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The assembly unit according to claim 9, wherein the holding piece is integrally connected to the component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A method of installing an assembly unit according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: pushing the fastening pin into a vehicle-side opening for fixing thereto; attaching the adapter to the holding piece of the component; and connecting the adapter to the fastening pin. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, characterized by gluing the fastening pin to the vehicle such that the vehicle-side opening is sealed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A method of installing an assembly unit according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: attaching the adapter to a holding piece of the component; connecting the adapter to the fastening pin; and pushing the fastening pin into a vehicle-side opening for fixing therein.