# US 9,873,186 B2 · Connecting element

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- Number: US 9,873,186 B2
- Document ID: US9873186B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/169,852
- Filed: 2014-01-31
- Published: 2014-05-29
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2011-08-03
- Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Thomas Herzinger; Sonja Wolf; Johann van Niekerk; Matthias Berger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873186B2

## CPC

- B25B 5/00: Clamps (for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04)
- B23K 31/02: relating to soldering or welding
- C09J 5/00: Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
- 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}
- F16B 5/0664: {at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features}
- F16B 5/08: by means of welds or the like (welding B23K)
- F16B 21/082: {the stud, pin or spigot having two resilient parts on its opposite ends in order to connect two elements}
- C09J 2400/163: in the substrate
- Y10T 24/44: Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
- Y10T 29/49876: by snap fit
- Y10T 403/70: Interfitted members
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H)
- 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

A connection element is provided for connecting at least two components. The connection element has at least two spherical, sphere-shaped or sphere-type or sphere-like sections, wherein a first section of the at least two sections is provided for the connection with a first component, and the second section of the at least two sections is provided for the connection with a second component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A component connection, comprising:
a first component and a second component mutually connected by way of a connection element, the first component having a longitudinal shape that extends along a first direction and the second component having a longitudinal shape that extends along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction,
wherein the connection element comprises:
a plurality of solid spheres directly welded to one another at respective spherical surfaces thereof, free surfaces of the plurality of solid spheres being completely spherical, wherein
the plurality of solid spheres define a connection node having a t-shape formed by a first sphere, a second sphere, a third sphere, a fourth sphere, and a fifth sphere,
the t-shape of the connection node being formed by the first sphere, the second sphere, and the third sphere arranged linearly one behind another along the second direction, and the fourth sphere and the fifth sphere being laterally welded to opposite sides of the third sphere, wherein
the first sphere is welded to the first component, and
the fourth sphere is connected to the second component via a clipping element clipped on an exterior surface of the fourth sphere.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the connection element is made of steel or a synthetic material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the clipping element is connectable in a form-locking and/or a frictionally engaging manner with the second component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the connection element is made of metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are vehicle body components.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The component connection according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the two vehicle body components is a composite fiber vehicle body component.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are non-spherical.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The component connection according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of solid spheres has the same size.