WO2015115972A1 - Fasting arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen - Google Patents

Fasting arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2015115972A1
WO2015115972A1 PCT/SE2015/050076 SE2015050076W WO2015115972A1 WO 2015115972 A1 WO2015115972 A1 WO 2015115972A1 SE 2015050076 W SE2015050076 W SE 2015050076W WO 2015115972 A1 WO2015115972 A1 WO 2015115972A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
protective cover
windscreen
fastening
fastening arrangement
arrangement according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2015/050076
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael Lundin
Olof BRUTEMARK
Original Assignee
Scania Cv Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Scania Cv Ab filed Critical Scania Cv Ab
Priority to DE112015000344.4T priority Critical patent/DE112015000344B4/en
Publication of WO2015115972A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015115972A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
    • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
    • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
    • B60S1/06—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive
    • B60S1/08—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven
    • B60S1/0818—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
    • B60S1/0822—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
    • B60S1/0874—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means characterized by the position of the sensor on the windshield
    • B60S1/0881—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means characterized by the position of the sensor on the windshield characterized by the attachment means on the windshield
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D11/00—Component parts of measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D11/24—Housings ; Casings for instruments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R11/04—Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
    • B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
    • B60R2011/0026—Windows, e.g. windscreen

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen according to the preamble of claim 1 .
  • the invention relates also to a vehicle.
  • a fastening element in the form of a mounting bracket is fastened on the windscreen with double-sided adhesive tape. This is done before the windscreen is placed on the vehicle and involves using a fixture. After the windscreen has been fitted on the vehicle, the humidity sensor is pushed with a snap function into the fastening element and a protective cover is finally pushed over the fastening element, likewise with snap function.
  • a soft and flexible rubber seal/bellows is sometimes used to bridge the gap between the protective cover and the vehicle's interior fitments.
  • the fitting of sensors and protective covers involves simultaneously applying pressure to the windscreen, which may be problematic on adhesively bonded windscreens where the adhesive has not yet set.
  • US2013194425 refers to various embodiments of protective covers and sensors fitted on a windscreen, and in one embodiment the protective cover can be pushed on over the sensor, reducing the pressure on the windscreen during fitting.
  • Another problem is tolerances. In an application where the protective cover has for example to meet a roof panel, the tolerances will be relatively large and cannot be compensated for by a fixture, because it will pertain to only side of the windscreen.
  • the position of the sensor bracket will be affected by tolerances on the cab frame and the roof shelf where the protective cover is intended to meet trim panels. This would result in a varying gap between the humidity sensor cover and the trim panels unless a flexible seal/bellows which can bridge the gap is used. Such seals/bellows entail extra costs.
  • US201 1233248 refers to a protective cover for a sensor fitted on a windscreen whereby tolerances can be compensated by pushing the cover step by step or steplessly.
  • One object of the present invention is to propose a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen which makes fitting with good tolerances easy and cost-effective.
  • the invention achieves the objects with a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen, which arrangement is provided with a fastening element intended to support the component element and be fastened to the windscreen, and a protective cover suited to covering both the fastening element, the component element, to being applied to the fastening element in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent and to connecting to a surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, the protective cover 40 being provided with stop devices which, during the application of the protective cover, are brought into contact with the surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, in order to define a predetermined applied position of the protective cover.
  • the stop devices will keep the protective cover always in the correct position.
  • the stop devices thus define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover resulting in good tolerance in that the fastening cover will always be in the correct position relative to the surface, irrespective of tolerances of the windscreen and the surface, e.g. a surface of a roof shelf.
  • the protective cover in the applied state thus defined is suited to substantially connecting to said surface, resulting in a transition to said surface with a minimised intermediate space which is visually pleasing.
  • the protective cover in the applied state thus defined is arranged to be at a certain distance from the windscreen, making it easy to remove the protective cover in that the distance makes it possible to so configure the fastening arrangement that the protective cover can be disengaged for removal by being pressed towards the windscreen.
  • said stop devices are so arranged as to be supported inside the protective cover, resulting in a relatively compact fastening arrangement.
  • the fastening arrangement is further provided with a locking arrangement comprising two sets of toothed elements in the form of a set pertaining to the fastening element and a set pertaining to the protective cover, said sets of toothed elements being arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover, in order to allow the protective cover to be applied towards said surface, and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction.
  • a locking arrangement comprising two sets of toothed elements in the form of a set pertaining to the fastening element and a set pertaining to the protective cover, said sets of toothed elements being arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover, in order to allow the protective cover to be applied towards said surface, and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction.
  • Any extra locking mechanism for locking the protective cover is thus obviated.
  • the locking will also be appropriate to the distance from said surface so that the protective cover is locked to the fastening element when the stop device is brought into contact with the surface, so that the protective cover will always be locked
  • the sets of toothed elements are arranged to become engaged during the application of the protective cover and to become disengaged during the removal of the protective cover. Easy and effective fitting and removal of the protective cover is thus made possible without any extra components.
  • the fastening arrangement comprises flexible means arranged to allow movement of the protective cover towards the windscreen in order to disengage the sets of toothed elements during the removal of the protective cover. Easy and effective fitting and removal of the protective cover is thus made possible without any extra components.
  • said flexible means are situated on the fastening element, resulting in an effective configuration.
  • guide surfaces are provided to ensure that the protective cover, when being applied, is brought to said distance from the windscreen. This makes it easy to apply the protective cover on the fastening element in such a way that the protective cover is brought to said distance from the windscreen so that the toothed elements become engaged.
  • said guide surfaces are situated on the protective cover, resulting in an effective configuration.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figs. 2a-b illustrate schematically perspective views of a fastening element according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3a illustrates schematically a plan view of the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b
  • Fig. 3b illustrates schematically a side view of the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b
  • Fig. 3c illustrates schematically a front view of the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b
  • Fig. 3d illustrates schematically a detail E of Fig. 3b
  • Fig. 3e illustrates schematically a detail C of Fig. 3c
  • Fig. 4a illustrates schematically a perspective view of a protective cover according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4b illustrates schematically a front view of the protective cover in Fig. 4a
  • Fig. 5a illustrates schematically a plan view of the protective cover in Fig. 4a
  • Fig. 5b illustrates schematically a cross-section A-A of the protective cover in Fig. 5a
  • Fig. 5c illustrates schematically a detail B of Fig. 5b
  • Fig. 6a illustrates schematically a plan view from below of the protective cover in Fig. 4a
  • Fig. 6b illustrates schematically a detail D of Fig. 6a
  • Fig. 7a illustrates schematically a fastening arrangement comprising the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b and the protective cover in Fig. 4a at a first stage of fitting
  • Fig. 7b illustrates schematically a cross-section F-F of the fastening arrangement at the fitting stage depicted in Fig. 7a
  • Fig. 8a illustrates schematically the fastening arrangement in Fig. 7a at a second stage of fitting
  • Fig. 8b illustrates schematically a cross-section G-G of the fastening arrangement at the fitting stage depicted in Fig. 8a
  • Fig. 8c illustrates schematically a detail H of Fig. 8a
  • Fig. 9a illustrates schematically the fastening arrangement in Fig. 7a where the fitting of the protective cover on the fastening element has been completed
  • Fig. 9b illustrates schematically a cross-section G-G of the fastening arrangement in Fig. 9a
  • Fig. 9c illustrates schematically a detail J of Fig. 9a
  • Fig. 10a illustrates schematically a plan view of the fastening arrangement fitted on a windscreen close to a surface of a roof shelf
  • Fig. 10b illustrates schematically a cross-section P-P of the fastening arrangement in Fig. 10a
  • Fig. 10c illustrates schematically a cross-section L-L of the fastening arrangement in fig 10b.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the vehicle exemplified is a heavy vehicle in the form of a truck with a cab 2 with a windscreen 2a.
  • the vehicle may alternatively be a bus or a car.
  • the vehicle is provided with a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on the vehicle's windscreen according to the present invention.
  • Figs. 2a-b and 3a-c illustrate schematically various views of a fastening element 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and Figs. 3d and 3e depict details of the fastening element.
  • the fastening element is intended to form part of a fastening arrangement I according to the present invention, depicted inter alia in Figs. 9a-c and Figs. 10a-c.
  • the fastening element 10 is intended to support an undepicted component element which in one embodiment is a sensor device in the form of a humidity sensor. Such a humidity sensor is intended to be placed on the windscreen of a vehicle.
  • the humidity sensor comprises a temperature sensor and humidity sensors and is arranged for calculation of dew formation, i.e. when misting will occur on the windscreen, by measuring the temperature on the windscreen, the air temperature and the relative air humidity.
  • Fig. 10c depicts the fastening arrangement I with the fastening element 10 supporting a component element 100.
  • the fastening element 10 in this embodiment is suited to being fastened to a windscreen of a vehicle.
  • the fastening element has a panel-like bottom section 12 with an aperture 01 .
  • the bottom section has a fastening side 12a.
  • the fastening side 12a of the fastening element 10 has a fastening surface and is suited to being fastened to the windscreen 2a.
  • the fastening element 10 is suited in one variant to being fastened to the windscreen by an adhesive A in the form of a tape element A placed on said fastening side 12a.
  • the tape element takes the form in one embodiment of a double-sided adhesive tape.
  • the fastening side 12a is of substantially rectangular shape.
  • the aperture O1 is somewhat offset on the fastening side and is of substantially rectangular shape.
  • the bottom section 12 of the fastening element 10 has a side 12b which is opposite to the fastening side 12a.
  • the fastening element has a retaining device 14 in the form of a resilient clamp 14 situated on the opposite side 12b in order to retain an undepicted component which here takes the form of a humidity sensor.
  • the clamp 14 is arranged to protrude from the side 12b and run across the aperture 01 .
  • the clamp has an S-shaped profile to facilitate the insertion of the humidity sensor.
  • the clamp is consequently intended to keep the humidity sensor at the aperture 01 so that its sensor devices are directed towards the windscreen.
  • the fastening element 10 has a substantially U-shaped profile. It has mutually opposite open end regions G1 , G2 and mutually opposite wall sections 20, 30 running between the end regions G1 , G2.
  • the wall sections run from the side 12b of the bottom section 12.
  • the fastening element 10 has a first wall section 20 and, parallel therewith and at a distance therefrom, an opposite second wall section 30. These first and second wall sections connect to the bottom section 12.
  • the fastening element 10 is formed integrally.
  • the first wall section 20 is arranged to run from one side end of the bottom section 12, and the second wall section 30 is arranged to run from an opposite side end of the bottom section.
  • the fastening element 10 is provided with a set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a intended to form part of a locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
  • the wall sections 20, 30 are provided with the set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, which face outwards from the respective wall sections.
  • the wall sections have respective first and second locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 running substantially at right angles from the bottom section 12 and arranged to support said toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a.
  • the first locking portions 22, 32 are situated at a distance from the second locking portions 24, 34 and are aligned along the wall sections 20, 30 so that toothed elements 22a, 32a of the first locking portions 22, 32 and toothed elements 24a, 34a of the second locking portions 24, 34 run along the respective wall sections 20, 30 substantially parallel with the bottom section 12.
  • the toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a are situated in the upper part of the first and second locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34.
  • the fastening element 10 is provided with flexible means 26, 36 which are flexible relative to the bottom section 12. Said flexible means each comprise a resilient element 26, 36 pertaining to the respective wall section 20, 30. The respective wall sections are thus each provided with a resilient element 26, 36.
  • the fastening element 10 is made of material which allows the formation of such flexible means and tolerates movement of the flexible means without cracking. In one variant the fastening element is made of polymer material.
  • Each resilient element 26, 36 has a substantially V-shaped profile.
  • the resilient elements 26, 36 have support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c running substantially at right angles from the bottom section 12 and situated on their respective sides around and between the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34.
  • Each resilient element 26, 36 further has a resilient portion 28, 38 which protrudes obliquely outwards and downwards in an opposite direction to the support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c.
  • the respective resilient portions 28, 38 have parts 28a, 28b, 28c, 38a, 38b, 38c running from their respective sides and between the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 and integral with a portion 28d, 38d which runs parallel with the bottom section 12 along the respective wall section 20, 30.
  • the resilient portions 28, 38 are intended in one variant to form part of the locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
  • the support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c of the respective resilient elements are thus integral with the portions 28a, 28b, 28c, 38a, 38b, 38c of the resilient portions 28, 38.
  • the resilient portion 28, 38 of the resilient element 26, 36 of the respective wall section 20, 30 is consequently E- shaped.
  • the respective wall sections 20, 30 have support portions 29, 39 running substantially at right angles from the bottom section 12 and attached to one end region G1 .
  • the respective locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 and support portions 29, 39 each have protruding outwards at their upper part a portion 22b, 24b, 32b, 34b, 29b, 39b with a lower surface 22c, 24c, 32c, 34c, 29c, 39c, as may be seen inter alia in Fig. 2b and Figs. 3a, 3b and 3e.
  • These protruding portions are intended in one variant to form part of the locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
  • the support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c of the respective wall elements 20, 30 have three support element portions in the form of a first support element portion 27a, 37a situated between locking portions 22, 32 and support portions 29, 39, a second support element portion 27b, 37b situated between the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34, and a third support element portion 27c, 37c attached to the second end region G2.
  • the locking portions 22, 24 and the support portions 29, 39 have a longer extent from the bottom section 12 than the support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c.
  • Figs. 4a-b, 5a-b and 6a illustrate schematically various views of a protective cover 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention and Figs. 4b and 6b details of the protective cover.
  • the protective cover 40 is suited to covering both the fastening element 10 and the undepicted component element.
  • the protective cover is further suited to being applied to the fastening element in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent, as described in more detail with reference to Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-c.
  • the protective cover is also intended to connect to a surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, as described in more detail with reference to Figs. 10a-c.
  • the protective cover 40 has a covering portion 42 with an upper side 42a and mutually opposite side portions 42b, 42c in the form of a first side portion 42b and an opposite side portion 42c.
  • the protective cover has an open front side 42d intended to be applied towards the fastening element, and an opposite rear side 42e with an air intake 43 which allows good change of air round the sensor device attached to the fastening element 10 in a fitted state.
  • the protective cover has a bottom edge portion 42f intended to face towards the vehicle's windscreen and constituting the lower part of both the side portions and the rear side.
  • the protective cover has a hat-like shape as seen when looking towards the upper side 42a of the covering portion 42.
  • the protective cover's front side 42d is wider than the rear side 42e.
  • the protective cover 40 has stop devices 52a, 62a suited, during the application of the protective cover, to being brought into contact with a surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen in order to define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover. This is illustrated in Figs. 9a-b and Figs. 10b-c.
  • Said stop devices 52a, 62a comprise a first stop device 52a and a second stop device 62a situated at the front side 42d of the protective cover and arranged to run in the direction of the protective cover, protruding towards the aperture in the front side 42d as depicted in Fig. 4a.
  • the protective cover 40 has a first support element 50 situated inside the protective cover and intended to run along and protrude from the first side portion 42b, and a second support element 60 situated inside the protective cover and intended to run along and protrude from the second side portion 42c.
  • the first support element 50 has a first stop support portion 52 comprising the first stop device 52a.
  • the second support element 60 has a second stop support portion 62 comprising the second stop device 62a.
  • the first support element 50 is thus provided with the first stop device 52a and the second support element 60 is provided accordingly with the second stop device 62a.
  • Each stop support portion 52, 62 has a surface 52b, 62b facing towards the upper side.
  • the first stop device 52a is arranged to run from the first stop support portion 52, and the second stop device 62a is arranged to run from the second stop support portion 62.
  • the stop support portions 52, 62 each have an end part facing towards the front side 42d.
  • Each stop device 52a, 62a takes the form of a portion protruding from the end part of the respective support portion.
  • the stop devices 52a, 62a are for example depicted in Figs. 4a and 6a-b.
  • the first support element 50 has a first support portion 54 and the second support element 60 has a second support portion 64.
  • the first stop support portion 52 and the first support portion 54 are situated at a distance from one another inside the protective cover 40 so as to protrude from, and run substantially parallel with one another along, the first side portion 42b.
  • the second stop support portion 62 and the second support portion 64 are situated at a distance from one another inside the protective cover 40 so as to protrude from, and run substantially parallel with one another along, the second side portion 42c.
  • the support portions 54, 64 are situated very close to, but at a distance from, the bottom edge portion 42f. They are thus situated nearer to the upper side than to the bottom edge portion 42f.
  • the stop support portions 52, 62 and support portions 54, 64 are arranged to run substantially parallel with the direction of the protective cover's main extent, i.e. between and substantially parallel with the protective cover's bottom edge portion 42f and upper side 42a.
  • the first support element 50 has a first guide element 56 connecting the first stop support portion 52 and the first support portion 54 at their end parts which protrude from the first side portion 42b.
  • the first stop support portion 52 and the first support portion 54 are arranged to support the first guide element 56.
  • the first guide element 56 runs in the direction of the protective cover's main extent and thus substantially at right angles to the rear side 42e.
  • the second support element 60 has a second guide element 66 connecting the second stop support portion 62 and the second support portion 64 at their end parts which protrude from the second side portion 42c.
  • the second stop support portion 62 and the second support portion 64 are arranged to support the second guide element 66.
  • the second guide element 66 runs in the direction of the protective cover's main extent and thus substantially at right angles to the rear side 42e.
  • the protective cover 40 is provided with a set of toothed elements 56a, 66a intended to form part of the locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
  • the guide elements 56, 66 each have a set of toothed elements 56a, 66a facing inwards.
  • the first guide element 56 is arranged to support a first set of toothed elements 56a and the second guide element 66 is arranged to support a second set of toothed elements 66a.
  • the sets of toothed elements 56a, 66a are arranged to run in the direction of the protective cover's main extent.
  • the set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a of the fastening element and the set of toothed elements 56a, 66a of the protective cover 40 are arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction, thereby constituting said locking arrangement. This is explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-c.
  • the protective cover 40 has guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d which are suited, during the application of the protective cover, to guiding the protective cover 40 correctly towards the fastening element 10 and to bringing the protective cover to a distance from the windscreen, as explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-c.
  • the guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d form part of said guide elements 56, 66.
  • the first and second guide elements 56, 66 are thus provided with guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d which are depicted in Figs. 4a, 5b and 6a and in detail in Figs. 5c and 6b.
  • the guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d of the respective guide elements comprise first guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56d, 66d and a second guide surface 56c, 66c.
  • the first guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56d, 66d of the respective guide elements 56, 66 are suited to guiding the protective cover 40 to become applied in the correct position relative to the fastening element 10.
  • the second guide surface 56c, 66c of the respective guide elements 56, 66 are suited to bringing the protective cover to a distance from the windscreen.
  • the respective guide elements 56, 66 have a contact surface 56e, 66e.
  • the first guide element 56 has a first contact surface 56e and the second guide element 66 has a second contact surface 66e.
  • the contact surfaces 56e, 66e are arranged to run close to the respective sets of toothed elements 56a, 66a in the direction of the protective cover's main extent.
  • Each contact surface 56e, 66e is arranged to run below the respective set of toothed elements 56a, 66a at such an angle relative to the direction of the plane of the main extent of the stop support portion 52, 62 and the support portion 54, 64 that the contact surfaces face obliquely towards the lower part of the protective cover 40, i.e. they face away from the upper side 42a of the protective cover.
  • the support elements 50, 60 of the protective cover in the embodiment depicted for example in Figs. 4a-b have stop support portions 52, 62 and support portions 54, 64 running parallel with one another and supporting guide elements 56, 66 of the support elements 50, 60.
  • each support element 50, 60 may be of any suitable configuration for supporting the stop devices 52a, 62a, the set of toothed elements 56a, 66a and guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56c, 66c, 56d, 66d.
  • each support element has a stop support portion with stop devices substantially according to Fig. 4a whereby the guide element of the support element is braced by strut elements running substantially at right angles to the direction of the plane of the stop support portion's main extent and situated between sidewall and guide element.
  • the guide surfaces in this variant take the form of undivided guide surfaces which are integral with a strut portion which faces towards the front side and runs at right angles to the direction of the stop support portion's main extent and towards the sidewall inside the protective cover.
  • Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-b illustrate schematically a fastening arrangement I comprising the fastening element 10 and the protective cover 40 at various stages of fitting, and Fig. 9c a detail of the fastening arrangement.
  • Figs. 7a-b illustrates schematically the fastening arrangement I at a first stage of fitting.
  • the fastening element 10 is fastened to a windscreen 2a.
  • the fastening cover 40 has begun to apply the fastening element 10 in the direction of the plane of the main extent of the windscreen towards a surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen.
  • the fastening cover 40 is here applied initially in such a way that it is drawn along the windscreen so that the bottom edge portion 42f of the fastening cover abuts substantially against the windscreen 2a, resulting in a simple fitting method.
  • the protective cover's guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56d, 66d will have guided the protective cover 40 so that it is centered over the fastening element 10 so that the protective cover is correctly guided during its continued fitting.
  • Figs. 8a-c illustrate schematically the fastening arrangement I at a second stage of fitting.
  • the protective cover 40 has been applied to the fastening element 10 in the direction of the plane of the main extent of the windscreen 2a in such a way that the protective cover's guide surfaces 56c, 66c have guided the protective cover to a distance H from the windscreen.
  • the protective cover will thus be guided by its guide surfaces 56c, 66c when they reach the fastening element's resilient elements 26, 36.
  • the protective cover's set of toothed elements 56a, 56b has begun to cooperate with the fastening element's set of toothed elements 24a, 34a.
  • Said sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 56b are arranged for mutual cooperation, during the application of the protective cover, to allow movement of the protective cover towards said surface, and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction, as may be seen in Fig. 8c illustrating the cooperation between the toothed elements 24a and 56a.
  • the internal surfaces 22c, 24c, 32c, 34c of the protruding portions 22b, 24b, 32b, 34b of the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 are adjacent to the surfaces 52b, 62b of the respective stop support portions 52, 62.
  • the surface of the resilient portions 28, 38 is also adjacent to the contact surface 56e, 66e of the respective guide elements 56, 66.
  • Figs. 9a-c illustrate schematically the fastening arrangement I when the fitting of the protective cover 40 on the fastening element 10 has been completed.
  • the protective cover 40 has been applied to the fastening element 10 in such a way that the protective cover's stop devices 52a, 62a have been brought into contact with the surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen 2a.
  • These stop devices thus define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover, resulting in good tolerances in that the protective cover will always reach the correct position relative to the surface S1 , irrespective of tolerances of the windscreen and the surface S1 which may for example be a surface of a roof shelf.
  • the protective cover is locked in this position by the fact that the locking arrangement comprising said sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 56b arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover allows movement only towards said surface S1 and locks the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction.
  • said means 26, 36 which are flexible relative to the bottom section 12 of the fastening element 10 allow the protective cover to be moved towards the windscreen 2a so that the sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 66a become disengaged, making it possible for the protective cover to be drawn back from the surface S1 in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent.
  • Removal of the protective cover consequently involves applying a force in the direction of the arrow P1 , i.e. towards the windscreen 2a, in one variant by pressing the hand against the protective cover, so that the sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 56b become disengaged, making it possible for the protective cover to be removed.
  • the fastening arrangement I according to the present invention thus makes it easy to fit and lock the protective cover 40 on the fastening element 10 without any separate locking device and with good tolerances and without requiring any substantial pressure against the windscreen 2a, and makes it easy to remove the protective cover from the fastening element without any extra tools.
  • Figs. 10a-c illustrate schematically various views of the fastening arrangement I fitted on a windscreen 2a close to a surface S1 of a roof shelf 70.
  • the fastening element 10 of the fastening arrangement I is here arranged to support the component element 100 which comprises sensor devices.
  • the fastening element is fastened to the windscreen 2a, in one variant by means of double-sided adhesive tape.
  • Fitting the protective cover 40 of the fastening arrangement I has involved applying the fastening element 10 in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent in such a way that it connects to a surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen and is here the surface of the roof shelf 70.
  • the stop devices 52a, 62a of the protective cover 40 are brought into contact with the surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen 2a, in order to define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fastening arrangement (I) for fitting a component element (100) on the windscreen of a vehicle. The fastening arrangement (I) is provided with a fastening element (10) intended to support the component element (100) and suited to being fastened to the windscreen (2a). The fastening arrangement is also provided with a protective cover (40) suited to covering both the fastening element (10) and the component element. The protective cover is suited to being applied to the fastening element (10) in the direction of the plane of the main extent of the windscreen, and to connecting to a surface (S1 ) which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen (2a). The fastening arrangement is provided with stop devices (52a, 62a) of the protective cover (40) which are arranged to be brought into contact, during the application of the protective cover, with the surface (S1 ) which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, in order to define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover (40).

Description

Fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen
TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen according to the preamble of claim 1 . The invention relates also to a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
For certain types of functions in vehicles it is becoming increasingly common for components such as sensors and cameras to be fitted on the windscreen. A quite usual location on cars is under the bracket for the rearview mirror. Trucks do not usually have a rearview mirror fitted on the windscreen, so the components intended to be located there need their own fastening elements and protective covers. In a known variant for fitting a component in the form of a humidity sensor, a fastening element in the form of a mounting bracket is fastened on the windscreen with double-sided adhesive tape. This is done before the windscreen is placed on the vehicle and involves using a fixture. After the windscreen has been fitted on the vehicle, the humidity sensor is pushed with a snap function into the fastening element and a protective cover is finally pushed over the fastening element, likewise with snap function.
To provide a neat transition to a dashboard or roof panel, a soft and flexible rubber seal/bellows is sometimes used to bridge the gap between the protective cover and the vehicle's interior fitments. The fitting of sensors and protective covers involves simultaneously applying pressure to the windscreen, which may be problematic on adhesively bonded windscreens where the adhesive has not yet set. US2013194425 refers to various embodiments of protective covers and sensors fitted on a windscreen, and in one embodiment the protective cover can be pushed on over the sensor, reducing the pressure on the windscreen during fitting. Another problem is tolerances. In an application where the protective cover has for example to meet a roof panel, the tolerances will be relatively large and cannot be compensated for by a fixture, because it will pertain to only side of the windscreen. In addition to the tolerances of the windscreen, the position of the sensor bracket will be affected by tolerances on the cab frame and the roof shelf where the protective cover is intended to meet trim panels. This would result in a varying gap between the humidity sensor cover and the trim panels unless a flexible seal/bellows which can bridge the gap is used. Such seals/bellows entail extra costs.
US201 1233248 refers to a protective cover for a sensor fitted on a windscreen whereby tolerances can be compensated by pushing the cover step by step or steplessly.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to propose a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen which makes fitting with good tolerances easy and cost-effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects indicated by the description set out below are achieved by a fastening arrangement and a vehicle of the kinds indicated in the introduction which further present the features indicated in the characterising parts of the attached independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the fastening arrangement and the vehicle are defined in the attached dependent claims. The invention achieves the objects with a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen, which arrangement is provided with a fastening element intended to support the component element and be fastened to the windscreen, and a protective cover suited to covering both the fastening element, the component element, to being applied to the fastening element in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent and to connecting to a surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, the protective cover 40 being provided with stop devices which, during the application of the protective cover, are brought into contact with the surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, in order to define a predetermined applied position of the protective cover.
Easy and cost-effective fitting with good tolerances is thus made possible. Good tolerances obviate seals/bellows, resulting in a cost-effective fastening arrangement. Said stop devices will keep the protective cover always in the correct position. The stop devices thus define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover resulting in good tolerance in that the fastening cover will always be in the correct position relative to the surface, irrespective of tolerances of the windscreen and the surface, e.g. a surface of a roof shelf. In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement the protective cover in the applied state thus defined is suited to substantially connecting to said surface, resulting in a transition to said surface with a minimised intermediate space which is visually pleasing.
In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement the protective cover in the applied state thus defined is arranged to be at a certain distance from the windscreen, making it easy to remove the protective cover in that the distance makes it possible to so configure the fastening arrangement that the protective cover can be disengaged for removal by being pressed towards the windscreen. In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement said stop devices are so arranged as to be supported inside the protective cover, resulting in a relatively compact fastening arrangement.
In one embodiment the fastening arrangement is further provided with a locking arrangement comprising two sets of toothed elements in the form of a set pertaining to the fastening element and a set pertaining to the protective cover, said sets of toothed elements being arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover, in order to allow the protective cover to be applied towards said surface, and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction. Any extra locking mechanism for locking the protective cover is thus obviated. The locking will also be appropriate to the distance from said surface so that the protective cover is locked to the fastening element when the stop device is brought into contact with the surface, so that the protective cover will always be locked in the desired position.
In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement the sets of toothed elements are arranged to become engaged during the application of the protective cover and to become disengaged during the removal of the protective cover. Easy and effective fitting and removal of the protective cover is thus made possible without any extra components.
In one embodiment the fastening arrangement comprises flexible means arranged to allow movement of the protective cover towards the windscreen in order to disengage the sets of toothed elements during the removal of the protective cover. Easy and effective fitting and removal of the protective cover is thus made possible without any extra components.
In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement said flexible means are situated on the fastening element, resulting in an effective configuration.
In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement guide surfaces are provided to ensure that the protective cover, when being applied, is brought to said distance from the windscreen. This makes it easy to apply the protective cover on the fastening element in such a way that the protective cover is brought to said distance from the windscreen so that the toothed elements become engaged. In one embodiment of the fastening arrangement said guide surfaces are situated on the protective cover, resulting in an effective configuration.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The present invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description set out below in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which the same reference notations are used for similar items throughout the various drawings, and
Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figs. 2a-b illustrate schematically perspective views of a fastening element according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 3a illustrates schematically a plan view of the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b,
Fig. 3b illustrates schematically a side view of the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b, Fig. 3c illustrates schematically a front view of the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b,
Fig. 3d illustrates schematically a detail E of Fig. 3b, Fig. 3e illustrates schematically a detail C of Fig. 3c,
Fig. 4a illustrates schematically a perspective view of a protective cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4b illustrates schematically a front view of the protective cover in Fig. 4a,
Fig. 5a illustrates schematically a plan view of the protective cover in Fig. 4a,
Fig. 5b illustrates schematically a cross-section A-A of the protective cover in Fig. 5a, Fig. 5c illustrates schematically a detail B of Fig. 5b,
Fig. 6a illustrates schematically a plan view from below of the protective cover in Fig. 4a,
Fig. 6b illustrates schematically a detail D of Fig. 6a,
Fig. 7a illustrates schematically a fastening arrangement comprising the fastening element in Figs. 2a-b and the protective cover in Fig. 4a at a first stage of fitting,
Fig. 7b illustrates schematically a cross-section F-F of the fastening arrangement at the fitting stage depicted in Fig. 7a,
Fig. 8a illustrates schematically the fastening arrangement in Fig. 7a at a second stage of fitting,
Fig. 8b illustrates schematically a cross-section G-G of the fastening arrangement at the fitting stage depicted in Fig. 8a,
Fig. 8c illustrates schematically a detail H of Fig. 8a,
Fig. 9a illustrates schematically the fastening arrangement in Fig. 7a where the fitting of the protective cover on the fastening element has been completed,
Fig. 9b illustrates schematically a cross-section G-G of the fastening arrangement in Fig. 9a,
Fig. 9c illustrates schematically a detail J of Fig. 9a, Fig. 10a illustrates schematically a plan view of the fastening arrangement fitted on a windscreen close to a surface of a roof shelf,
Fig. 10b illustrates schematically a cross-section P-P of the fastening arrangement in Fig. 10a, and Fig. 10c illustrates schematically a cross-section L-L of the fastening arrangement in fig 10b.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle exemplified is a heavy vehicle in the form of a truck with a cab 2 with a windscreen 2a. The vehicle may alternatively be a bus or a car. The vehicle is provided with a fastening arrangement for fitting a component element on the vehicle's windscreen according to the present invention.
Figs. 2a-b and 3a-c illustrate schematically various views of a fastening element 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention and Figs. 3d and 3e depict details of the fastening element. The fastening element is intended to form part of a fastening arrangement I according to the present invention, depicted inter alia in Figs. 9a-c and Figs. 10a-c.
The fastening element 10 is intended to support an undepicted component element which in one embodiment is a sensor device in the form of a humidity sensor. Such a humidity sensor is intended to be placed on the windscreen of a vehicle. The humidity sensor comprises a temperature sensor and humidity sensors and is arranged for calculation of dew formation, i.e. when misting will occur on the windscreen, by measuring the temperature on the windscreen, the air temperature and the relative air humidity. Fig. 10c depicts the fastening arrangement I with the fastening element 10 supporting a component element 100. The fastening element 10 in this embodiment is suited to being fastened to a windscreen of a vehicle. The fastening element has a panel-like bottom section 12 with an aperture 01 . The bottom section has a fastening side 12a. The fastening side 12a of the fastening element 10 has a fastening surface and is suited to being fastened to the windscreen 2a.
The fastening element 10 is suited in one variant to being fastened to the windscreen by an adhesive A in the form of a tape element A placed on said fastening side 12a. The tape element takes the form in one embodiment of a double-sided adhesive tape. The fastening side 12a is of substantially rectangular shape. The aperture O1 is somewhat offset on the fastening side and is of substantially rectangular shape.
The bottom section 12 of the fastening element 10 has a side 12b which is opposite to the fastening side 12a. The fastening element has a retaining device 14 in the form of a resilient clamp 14 situated on the opposite side 12b in order to retain an undepicted component which here takes the form of a humidity sensor. The clamp 14 is arranged to protrude from the side 12b and run across the aperture 01 . The clamp has an S-shaped profile to facilitate the insertion of the humidity sensor. The clamp is consequently intended to keep the humidity sensor at the aperture 01 so that its sensor devices are directed towards the windscreen.
The fastening element 10 has a substantially U-shaped profile. It has mutually opposite open end regions G1 , G2 and mutually opposite wall sections 20, 30 running between the end regions G1 , G2. The wall sections run from the side 12b of the bottom section 12.
The fastening element 10 has a first wall section 20 and, parallel therewith and at a distance therefrom, an opposite second wall section 30. These first and second wall sections connect to the bottom section 12. The fastening element 10 is formed integrally. The first wall section 20 is arranged to run from one side end of the bottom section 12, and the second wall section 30 is arranged to run from an opposite side end of the bottom section. The fastening element 10 is provided with a set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a intended to form part of a locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
The wall sections 20, 30 are provided with the set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, which face outwards from the respective wall sections. The wall sections have respective first and second locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 running substantially at right angles from the bottom section 12 and arranged to support said toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a. The first locking portions 22, 32 are situated at a distance from the second locking portions 24, 34 and are aligned along the wall sections 20, 30 so that toothed elements 22a, 32a of the first locking portions 22, 32 and toothed elements 24a, 34a of the second locking portions 24, 34 run along the respective wall sections 20, 30 substantially parallel with the bottom section 12.
The toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a are situated in the upper part of the first and second locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34. The fastening element 10 is provided with flexible means 26, 36 which are flexible relative to the bottom section 12. Said flexible means each comprise a resilient element 26, 36 pertaining to the respective wall section 20, 30. The respective wall sections are thus each provided with a resilient element 26, 36. The fastening element 10 is made of material which allows the formation of such flexible means and tolerates movement of the flexible means without cracking. In one variant the fastening element is made of polymer material. Each resilient element 26, 36 has a substantially V-shaped profile. The resilient elements 26, 36 have support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c running substantially at right angles from the bottom section 12 and situated on their respective sides around and between the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34. Each resilient element 26, 36 further has a resilient portion 28, 38 which protrudes obliquely outwards and downwards in an opposite direction to the support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c. The respective resilient portions 28, 38 have parts 28a, 28b, 28c, 38a, 38b, 38c running from their respective sides and between the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 and integral with a portion 28d, 38d which runs parallel with the bottom section 12 along the respective wall section 20, 30. The resilient portions 28, 38 are intended in one variant to form part of the locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
The support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c of the respective resilient elements are thus integral with the portions 28a, 28b, 28c, 38a, 38b, 38c of the resilient portions 28, 38. The resilient portion 28, 38 of the resilient element 26, 36 of the respective wall section 20, 30 is consequently E- shaped.
The respective wall sections 20, 30 have support portions 29, 39 running substantially at right angles from the bottom section 12 and attached to one end region G1 .
The respective locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 and support portions 29, 39 each have protruding outwards at their upper part a portion 22b, 24b, 32b, 34b, 29b, 39b with a lower surface 22c, 24c, 32c, 34c, 29c, 39c, as may be seen inter alia in Fig. 2b and Figs. 3a, 3b and 3e. These protruding portions are intended in one variant to form part of the locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
The support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c of the respective wall elements 20, 30 have three support element portions in the form of a first support element portion 27a, 37a situated between locking portions 22, 32 and support portions 29, 39, a second support element portion 27b, 37b situated between the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34, and a third support element portion 27c, 37c attached to the second end region G2. The locking portions 22, 24 and the support portions 29, 39 have a longer extent from the bottom section 12 than the support element portions 27a, 27b, 27c, 37a, 37b, 37c.
Figs. 4a-b, 5a-b and 6a illustrate schematically various views of a protective cover 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention and Figs. 4b and 6b details of the protective cover.
The protective cover 40 is suited to covering both the fastening element 10 and the undepicted component element. The protective cover is further suited to being applied to the fastening element in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent, as described in more detail with reference to Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-c. The protective cover is also intended to connect to a surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen, as described in more detail with reference to Figs. 10a-c.
The protective cover 40 has a covering portion 42 with an upper side 42a and mutually opposite side portions 42b, 42c in the form of a first side portion 42b and an opposite side portion 42c. The protective cover has an open front side 42d intended to be applied towards the fastening element, and an opposite rear side 42e with an air intake 43 which allows good change of air round the sensor device attached to the fastening element 10 in a fitted state. The protective cover has a bottom edge portion 42f intended to face towards the vehicle's windscreen and constituting the lower part of both the side portions and the rear side.
As may be seen in Fig. 5a, the protective cover has a hat-like shape as seen when looking towards the upper side 42a of the covering portion 42. The protective cover's front side 42d is wider than the rear side 42e. The protective cover 40 has stop devices 52a, 62a suited, during the application of the protective cover, to being brought into contact with a surface which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen in order to define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover. This is illustrated in Figs. 9a-b and Figs. 10b-c.
Said stop devices 52a, 62a comprise a first stop device 52a and a second stop device 62a situated at the front side 42d of the protective cover and arranged to run in the direction of the protective cover, protruding towards the aperture in the front side 42d as depicted in Fig. 4a. The protective cover 40 has a first support element 50 situated inside the protective cover and intended to run along and protrude from the first side portion 42b, and a second support element 60 situated inside the protective cover and intended to run along and protrude from the second side portion 42c. The first support element 50 has a first stop support portion 52 comprising the first stop device 52a. The second support element 60 has a second stop support portion 62 comprising the second stop device 62a. The first support element 50 is thus provided with the first stop device 52a and the second support element 60 is provided accordingly with the second stop device 62a. Each stop support portion 52, 62 has a surface 52b, 62b facing towards the upper side.
The first stop device 52a is arranged to run from the first stop support portion 52, and the second stop device 62a is arranged to run from the second stop support portion 62. The stop support portions 52, 62 each have an end part facing towards the front side 42d. Each stop device 52a, 62a takes the form of a portion protruding from the end part of the respective support portion. The stop devices 52a, 62a are for example depicted in Figs. 4a and 6a-b. The first support element 50 has a first support portion 54 and the second support element 60 has a second support portion 64.
The first stop support portion 52 and the first support portion 54 are situated at a distance from one another inside the protective cover 40 so as to protrude from, and run substantially parallel with one another along, the first side portion 42b.
The second stop support portion 62 and the second support portion 64 are situated at a distance from one another inside the protective cover 40 so as to protrude from, and run substantially parallel with one another along, the second side portion 42c.
The support portions 54, 64 are situated very close to, but at a distance from, the bottom edge portion 42f. They are thus situated nearer to the upper side than to the bottom edge portion 42f.
The stop support portions 52, 62 and support portions 54, 64 are arranged to run substantially parallel with the direction of the protective cover's main extent, i.e. between and substantially parallel with the protective cover's bottom edge portion 42f and upper side 42a.
The first support element 50 has a first guide element 56 connecting the first stop support portion 52 and the first support portion 54 at their end parts which protrude from the first side portion 42b. The first stop support portion 52 and the first support portion 54 are arranged to support the first guide element 56. The first guide element 56 runs in the direction of the protective cover's main extent and thus substantially at right angles to the rear side 42e.
The second support element 60 has a second guide element 66 connecting the second stop support portion 62 and the second support portion 64 at their end parts which protrude from the second side portion 42c. The second stop support portion 62 and the second support portion 64 are arranged to support the second guide element 66. The second guide element 66 runs in the direction of the protective cover's main extent and thus substantially at right angles to the rear side 42e.
The protective cover 40 is provided with a set of toothed elements 56a, 66a intended to form part of the locking arrangement of the fastening arrangement I.
The guide elements 56, 66 each have a set of toothed elements 56a, 66a facing inwards. The first guide element 56 is arranged to support a first set of toothed elements 56a and the second guide element 66 is arranged to support a second set of toothed elements 66a. The sets of toothed elements 56a, 66a are arranged to run in the direction of the protective cover's main extent.
The set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a of the fastening element and the set of toothed elements 56a, 66a of the protective cover 40 are arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction, thereby constituting said locking arrangement. This is explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-c.
The protective cover 40 has guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d which are suited, during the application of the protective cover, to guiding the protective cover 40 correctly towards the fastening element 10 and to bringing the protective cover to a distance from the windscreen, as explained in more detail with reference to Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-c.
The guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d form part of said guide elements 56, 66. The first and second guide elements 56, 66 are thus provided with guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d which are depicted in Figs. 4a, 5b and 6a and in detail in Figs. 5c and 6b.
The guide surfaces 56b, 56c, 66b, 66c, 56d, 66d of the respective guide elements comprise first guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56d, 66d and a second guide surface 56c, 66c. The first guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56d, 66d of the respective guide elements 56, 66 are suited to guiding the protective cover 40 to become applied in the correct position relative to the fastening element 10. The second guide surface 56c, 66c of the respective guide elements 56, 66 are suited to bringing the protective cover to a distance from the windscreen.
The respective guide elements 56, 66 have a contact surface 56e, 66e. The first guide element 56 has a first contact surface 56e and the second guide element 66 has a second contact surface 66e. The contact surfaces 56e, 66e are arranged to run close to the respective sets of toothed elements 56a, 66a in the direction of the protective cover's main extent. Each contact surface 56e, 66e is arranged to run below the respective set of toothed elements 56a, 66a at such an angle relative to the direction of the plane of the main extent of the stop support portion 52, 62 and the support portion 54, 64 that the contact surfaces face obliquely towards the lower part of the protective cover 40, i.e. they face away from the upper side 42a of the protective cover.
The support elements 50, 60 of the protective cover in the embodiment depicted for example in Figs. 4a-b have stop support portions 52, 62 and support portions 54, 64 running parallel with one another and supporting guide elements 56, 66 of the support elements 50, 60.
In addition, the guide surfaces 56b, 66b and 56d, 66d are divided at the respective stop support portions 52, 62 and support portions 54, 64. Each support element 50, 60 may be of any suitable configuration for supporting the stop devices 52a, 62a, the set of toothed elements 56a, 66a and guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56c, 66c, 56d, 66d.
In an undepicted variant each support element has a stop support portion with stop devices substantially according to Fig. 4a whereby the guide element of the support element is braced by strut elements running substantially at right angles to the direction of the plane of the stop support portion's main extent and situated between sidewall and guide element. The guide surfaces in this variant take the form of undivided guide surfaces which are integral with a strut portion which faces towards the front side and runs at right angles to the direction of the stop support portion's main extent and towards the sidewall inside the protective cover.
Figs. 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a-b illustrate schematically a fastening arrangement I comprising the fastening element 10 and the protective cover 40 at various stages of fitting, and Fig. 9c a detail of the fastening arrangement. Figs. 7a-b illustrates schematically the fastening arrangement I at a first stage of fitting. Here the fastening element 10 is fastened to a windscreen 2a. At this stage the fastening cover 40 has begun to apply the fastening element 10 in the direction of the plane of the main extent of the windscreen towards a surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen. The fastening cover 40 is here applied initially in such a way that it is drawn along the windscreen so that the bottom edge portion 42f of the fastening cover abuts substantially against the windscreen 2a, resulting in a simple fitting method. At the same time, the protective cover's guide surfaces 56b, 66b, 56d, 66d will have guided the protective cover 40 so that it is centered over the fastening element 10 so that the protective cover is correctly guided during its continued fitting.
Figs. 8a-c illustrate schematically the fastening arrangement I at a second stage of fitting. At this stage the protective cover 40 has been applied to the fastening element 10 in the direction of the plane of the main extent of the windscreen 2a in such a way that the protective cover's guide surfaces 56c, 66c have guided the protective cover to a distance H from the windscreen. The protective cover will thus be guided by its guide surfaces 56c, 66c when they reach the fastening element's resilient elements 26, 36. The fact that the protective cover is brought by its guide surfaces 56c, 66c to the distance H from the windscreen 2a and consequently to the distance H from the fastening element's bottom section 12 brings the protective cover's set of toothed elements 56a, 66a to the same level as the fastening element's set of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a so that they can be caused to cooperate during the continued application of the protective cover.
At the stage of fitting the fastening arrangement I depicted in Fig. 8a-c, the protective cover's set of toothed elements 56a, 56b has begun to cooperate with the fastening element's set of toothed elements 24a, 34a. Said sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 56b are arranged for mutual cooperation, during the application of the protective cover, to allow movement of the protective cover towards said surface, and for locking of the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction, as may be seen in Fig. 8c illustrating the cooperation between the toothed elements 24a and 56a.
The protruding portions 22b, 24b, 32b, 34b of the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34, and the resilient portions 28, 38 of the resilient elements of the fastening element 10, guide the protective cover 40 so that the sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a and 56a, 66a are kept engaged. At this stage the internal surfaces 22c, 24c, 32c, 34c of the protruding portions 22b, 24b, 32b, 34b of the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34 are adjacent to the surfaces 52b, 62b of the respective stop support portions 52, 62. The surface of the resilient portions 28, 38 is also adjacent to the contact surface 56e, 66e of the respective guide elements 56, 66. Figs. 9a-c illustrate schematically the fastening arrangement I when the fitting of the protective cover 40 on the fastening element 10 has been completed.
At the finally fitted stage, the protective cover 40 has been applied to the fastening element 10 in such a way that the protective cover's stop devices 52a, 62a have been brought into contact with the surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen 2a. These stop devices thus define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover, resulting in good tolerances in that the protective cover will always reach the correct position relative to the surface S1 , irrespective of tolerances of the windscreen and the surface S1 which may for example be a surface of a roof shelf.
At this stage the protective cover is locked in this position by the fact that the locking arrangement comprising said sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 56b arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover allows movement only towards said surface S1 and locks the protective cover against movement in an opposite direction.
In this locked position the internal surfaces 22c, 24c, 32c, 34c of the protruding portions 22b, 24b, 32b, 34b of the locking portions 22, 24, 32, 34, and the internal surfaces 29c, 39c of the protruding portions 29b, 39b of the support portions, are arranged to abut against the surfaces 52b, 62b of the respective stop support portions 52, 62. In this locked position the surface of the resilient portions 28, 38, and more specifically the surfaces of the portions 28a, 28b, 28c of the resilient portions, are also arranged to abut against the contact surface 56e, 66e of the respective guide elements 56, 66. This is also illustrated in Figs. 10b and 10c.
During removal of the protective cover 40, said means 26, 36 which are flexible relative to the bottom section 12 of the fastening element 10 allow the protective cover to be moved towards the windscreen 2a so that the sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 66a become disengaged, making it possible for the protective cover to be drawn back from the surface S1 in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent. Removal of the protective cover consequently involves applying a force in the direction of the arrow P1 , i.e. towards the windscreen 2a, in one variant by pressing the hand against the protective cover, so that the sets of toothed elements 22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 56b become disengaged, making it possible for the protective cover to be removed.
The fastening arrangement I according to the present invention thus makes it easy to fit and lock the protective cover 40 on the fastening element 10 without any separate locking device and with good tolerances and without requiring any substantial pressure against the windscreen 2a, and makes it easy to remove the protective cover from the fastening element without any extra tools.
Figs. 10a-c illustrate schematically various views of the fastening arrangement I fitted on a windscreen 2a close to a surface S1 of a roof shelf 70.
The fastening element 10 of the fastening arrangement I is here arranged to support the component element 100 which comprises sensor devices. The fastening element is fastened to the windscreen 2a, in one variant by means of double-sided adhesive tape. Fitting the protective cover 40 of the fastening arrangement I has involved applying the fastening element 10 in the direction of the plane of the windscreen's main extent in such a way that it connects to a surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen and is here the surface of the roof shelf 70. The stop devices 52a, 62a of the protective cover 40 are brought into contact with the surface S1 which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen 2a, in order to define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover.
The above description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive, nor to limit the invention to the variants described. Many modifications and variations will obviously suggest themselves to one skilled in the art. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order best to explain the principles of the invention and their practical applications, and thereby enable one skilled in the art to understand the invention for different embodiments and with the various modifications appropriate to the intended purpose.

Claims

1 . A fastening arrangement (I) for fitting a component element (100) on the windscreen (2a) of a vehicle (1 ), which fastening arrangement (I) is provided with a fastening element (10) intended to support the component element (100) and suited to being fastened to the windscreen (2a), and with a protective cover (40) suited to covering both the fastening element (10) and the component element, to being applied to the fastening element (10) in the direction of the plane of the main extent of the windscreen (2a) and to connecting to a surface (S1 ) which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen (2a), characterised by stop devices (52a, 62a) of the protective cover (40) which are arranged to be brought into contact, during the application of the protective cover, with the surface (S1 ) which is adjacent to, and angled relative to, the windscreen (2a), in order to define a predetermined applied state of the protective cover (40).
2. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the protective cover (40) is adapted, in the applied state thus defined, to substantially connecting to said surface (S1 ).
3. A fastening arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, in which the protective cover (40) is adapted, in the applied state thus defined, to being at a certain distance (H) from the windscreen (2a).
4. A fastening arrangement according to any one of claims 1 -3, in which said stop devices (52a, 62a) are arranged to be supported inside the protective cover (40).
5. A fastening arrangement according to any one of claims 1 -4, further provided with a locking arrangement (22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 66a, 28, 38,
22b, 24b, 32b, 34b, 29b, 39b) comprising two sets of toothed elements (22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 66a) in the form of a set of toothed elements (22a, 24a, 32a, 34a) of the fastening element (10) and a set of toothed elements (56a, 66a) of the protective cover (40), said sets of toothed elements being arranged for mutual cooperation during the application of the protective cover (40) to allow it to be applied towards said surface (S1 ), and to lock the protective cover (40) against movement in an opposite direction.
6. A fastening arrangement according to claim 5, in which the sets of toothed elements (22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 66a) are arranged to become engaged during application of the protective cover (40) and to become disengaged during removal of the protective cover (40).
7. A fastening arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, further provided with flexible means (26, 36) suited to allowing movement of the protective cover (40) towards the windscreen (2a) in order, during removal of the protective cover, to disengage the sets of toothed elements (22a, 24a, 32a, 34a, 56a, 66a).
8. A fastening arrangement according to claim 7, in which said flexible means (26, 36) are situated on the fastening element (10).
9. A fastening arrangement according to any one of claims 3-8, in which guide surfaces (56c, 66c) are provided to bring the protective cover (40), when being applied, to said distance (H) from the windscreen.
10. A fastening arrangement according to claim 9, in which said guide surfaces (56c, 66c) are situated on the protective cover (40).
1 1 . A vehicle (1 ) provided with a fastening arrangement (I) according to any one of claims 1 -10.
12. A vehicle according to claim 1 1 , in which the component element comprises sensor devices.
PCT/SE2015/050076 2014-01-28 2015-01-27 Fasting arrangement for fitting a component element on a vehicle windscreen WO2015115972A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE112015000344.4T DE112015000344B4 (en) 2014-01-28 2015-01-27 Fastening arrangement for mounting a component element on a vehicle windshield

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1450077-1 2014-01-28
SE1450077A SE537665C2 (en) 2014-01-28 2014-01-28 Mounting arrangement for mounting a component element on the vehicle windshield

Publications (1)

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WO2015115972A1 true WO2015115972A1 (en) 2015-08-06

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SE (1) SE537665C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2015115972A1 (en)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4254931A (en) * 1979-06-25 1981-03-10 Standard Mirror Company, Inc. Rear view mirror mount for interior of automobile
US5058851A (en) * 1989-04-14 1991-10-22 Donnelly Mirrors Limited Mounting assembly for rearview mirror
EP1491404A1 (en) * 2003-06-25 2004-12-29 Audi Ag Fixing element on windscreen
JP2005186728A (en) * 2003-12-25 2005-07-14 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Cover structure
US20110233248A1 (en) * 2008-10-04 2011-09-29 Daimler Ag Carrier Device For Attaching To A Pane Of A Motor Vehicle
US20130194425A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2013-08-01 Donnelly Corporation Vehicle accessory system
CA2857411A1 (en) * 2013-07-23 2015-01-23 Akenori Pte Ltd Digital video recorder

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4254931A (en) * 1979-06-25 1981-03-10 Standard Mirror Company, Inc. Rear view mirror mount for interior of automobile
US5058851A (en) * 1989-04-14 1991-10-22 Donnelly Mirrors Limited Mounting assembly for rearview mirror
US20130194425A1 (en) * 2002-01-31 2013-08-01 Donnelly Corporation Vehicle accessory system
EP1491404A1 (en) * 2003-06-25 2004-12-29 Audi Ag Fixing element on windscreen
JP2005186728A (en) * 2003-12-25 2005-07-14 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Cover structure
US20110233248A1 (en) * 2008-10-04 2011-09-29 Daimler Ag Carrier Device For Attaching To A Pane Of A Motor Vehicle
CA2857411A1 (en) * 2013-07-23 2015-01-23 Akenori Pte Ltd Digital video recorder

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE537665C2 (en) 2015-09-29
SE1450077A1 (en) 2015-07-29
DE112015000344T5 (en) 2016-09-22
DE112015000344B4 (en) 2021-01-07

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