The present invention relates to a spring-type fixing pin which is developed to be used in glasses that are manually mounted and joined to the body with paste, and which allows determining that it fits firmly especially in areas with deep profile values and enables operator to mount them easily.

Background of the Invention

As a result of technological developments, nowadays, glued glasses have begun to replace glasses with run channel in terms of the way they are glazed in automobile glazing. In the assembly of laminated and tempered glasses which have been used as a result of the developments in glass production, mechanical systems with ready-made screw have been used, being different from the gluing system. Automobile body materials produced specially for being able to see outside from inside the vehicle are called vehicle glass. Glasses glazed to the vehicle body are divided into classes such as windshield, rear window, door window glass and quarter window. The glass used in any of these areas provides a clear view and acts as a solid shield between the inside of the vehicle and the outer environment. Furthermore, the vehicle glasses should not be separated from the body, in accordance with the safety conditions, even in the event of a collision and should not harm the occupants of the vehicle when broken.

The glasses used in vehicles serve as a transparent wall to separate the inside and outside of the vehicle. The glass must be fixed correctly and adequately to the body for protection from rain, wind, dust, noise and heat. Three methods are used to fix the glasses to the body; namely securing with adhesive, run channel and bolt/nut connection. Windshield, rear window and side quarter windows which are fixed in vehicles are attached to the body panels with adhesion or run channel, and door glasses that are movable are attached to the body panels by bolt and nut method. In the method of fixing with adhesive, which is a commonly used method today, a urethane -based adhesive is applied between the glass and the body to provide an attachment on the glass and body surfaces to be adhered. The said adhesive both increases the strength of the body by filling the gaps in the body and provides resistance against deformation and vibrations that may occur after the collision. In the method of fixing with run channel, the glass is attached to the body with an H-shaped run channel. The run channels that are used are generally made of rubber material which is air and watertight, easy to attach and does not contaminate the body. The method of fixing with bolts and nuts is a form of attachment used in moving glasses of vehicles, such as door windows. The glass is connected to the glass sheet by means of bolts and plastic dowels through the holes thereon.

Today, in glasses that are mounted manually, the profile which the glass forms with the area (body, roof or door) where it is mounted can be quite deep, and in this case, problems may be experienced by the operator performing the mounting in determining whether the pins used during mounting firmly fit into the holes in the mounting area. The glass can be detached from its place due to pins that do not fit into the hole firmly, which in turn may cause the paste not to adhere or the glass to make too much profile with the place where the glass fits. In the current technique, it is a common problem for the glasses standing upright on the vehicle that the pin is displaced from the pin hole and throws the glass out.

Turkish patent document no TR201618949, an application known in the state of the art, discloses a mounting apparatus suitable for mounting especially windshields of motor vehicles. The said aid mounting apparatus comprises a main body; a first fixing member positioned in a first housing in the main body so as to easily move relative to the main body, suitable to be fixed to the roof area of the motor vehicle; a second fixing member positioned in a second housing in the main body so as to move relative to the main body, suitable to be fixed to the glass; and an adjustment device comprising a gauge positioned in a third housing in the main body, being able to move towards the roof area and away from the roof area relative to the main body, enabling the adjustment of the gap and level difference of the glass with respect to the roof area by means of the said movement, an adjustment piece connected to the gauge, providing the movement of the gauge, allowing the gauge, whose position is adjusted by this movement, to remain in this position, a control member that is connected with the gauge and enables the movement of the gauge to be controlled.

The Problems Solved with the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a spring-type fixing pin which eliminates the problem of incorrect referencing in manually mounted glasses, especially in glasses that are required to fit into the deep profile area, by allowing the operator to easily see whether the glass is fitted into its place during mounting.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a pin which flexes during the application of excessive load so that it fits into its place during mounting, thus allowing it to fit in place without breaking.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a pin which does not come out of its place determined on the vehicle after it is fitted therein.

Detailed Description of the Invention

A spring-type fixing pin developed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is the front cross-sectional perspective view of the pin of the present invention.

Figure 2 is the top perspective view of the pin of the present invention.

Figure 3 is the cross-sectional view of the pin of the present invention as mounted on the vehicle body sheet.

The components given in the figures are individually numbered where the numbers refer to the following:

I. Pin

II. Threaded area

12. Conical cap 121. Recess

13. Tab

14. Fitting surface

15. Engagement body

16. Conical body

A. Vehicle body sheet

B. Bracket

C. Glass

A pin (1), which is used by being inserted into a bracket (B) positioned between a glass (C) and the vehicle body (A) in vehicles and into a mounting hole formed on the vehicle body (A), and characterized by at least one engagement body (15), at least one conical cap (12) which is used for being positioned between a bracket (B) and the vehicle body (A) and is in the form of a protrusion from the engagement body, a tab (13) which is in form of a protrusion from the engagement body and which is connected to the lower part of a conical cap (12) and engages a vehicle body (A), a fitting surface (14) which is connected to the lower part of a tab (13) and passes through a vehicle body (A) and contacts the lower part of the vehicle body (A) sheet. A pin (1); which is inserted into a bracket (B), and a mounting hole formed on a vehicle body (A) and which is positioned between the vehicle body (A) and a glass (C) mounted on a frame on the said vehicle body (A); comprises a conical cap (12) positioned between a bracket (B) and the vehicle body (A) and contacting upper surface of a vehicle body (A) which faces a glass (C); a tab (13) connected to the lower part of a conical cap (12) and engaging a vehicle body (A); a fitting surface (14) connected to the lower part of a tab (13) and contacting the lower part of the vehicle body (A) upon passing through a vehicle body (A).

A spring -type fixing pin (1) of the present invention, which is developed to be used in glasses (C) mounted manually and attached to a vehicle body (A) with paste, ensures that it fits firmly in areas with deep profile values and allows the operator to mount it easily. A glass (C) is mounted into a frame in the form of a cavity formed on a vehicle body (A). A pin (1) is inserted into a bracket (B) and then inserted into the mounting hole formed on a vehicle body (A) made of sheet metal, and it is positioned between the said vehicle body (A) sheet and a glass (C) connected to this sheet.

The pin (1), which fits into a vehicle body (A) and supports a glass (C) from its lower part, has a threaded area (11), which allows mounting with a bracket (B), on its upper part connected with the lower part of a glass (C). There is a conical cap (12) between a bracket (B) and the vehicle body (A), just below a threaded area (11). A conical cap (12) contacts the upper surface of a vehicle body (A) facing a glass (C) and provides springback by limiting the downward movement of a pin (1) towards the interior of the vehicle body (A) by means of its wide diameter. The recesses (121) formed on a conical cap (12) ensure that a pin (1) springs back with the force applied during mounting and therefore does not break. A tab (13) connected to the lower part of a conical cap (12) engages to a vehicle body (A) and holds onto the vehicle body (A) sheet. A fitting surface (14) connected to the lower part of a tab (13) passes through a vehicle body (A) and contacts the lower part of the vehicle body (A) sheet. A fitting surface (14) makes a sound when it fits by crossing/passing a vehicle body (A) sheet, allowing the operator to determine that a pin (1) is fitted into its place. An engagement body (15) with a smaller diameter, connected to the lower part of a fitting surface (14), enables a pin (1) to move into the vehicle body (A) sheet. A conical body (16), which is connected to the lower part of an engagement body (15) and whose diameter is larger than the engagement body (15), provides the first referencing during the mounting of a pin (1), and centers a pin (1) on the mounting hole on the vehicle body (A) sheet taking the excess tolerance and diameter.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a pin (1) provides referencing on manually mounted glasses (C) during mounting. A pin (1) is inserted into the mounting hole previously formed in a vehicle body (A) with the pressure applied by the operator, which pressure is more especially in areas with deeper profile size, so that a glass (C) is fitted into its place during mounting. While a pin (1) is inserted in the mounting hole, even if the operator applies excessive pressure, it does not break thanks to its springback feature. The operator can determine that a pin (1) is fitted in its place while mounting, thanks to the noise made by the fitting surface (14) provided on a pin (1) and forming the leveled structure when it passes under a vehicle body (A) sheet. A vehicle body (A) sheet remains between two levels of a pin (1) consisting of a tab (13) and a conical cap (12), and the glass is fixed in the position where it should be.

In an embodiment of the invention, a pin (1) and a bracket (B) are in the form of two separate pieces, allowing more glasses (C) to be placed in a case during the transportation of a glass (C). In an embodiment of the present invention, a pin (1) is mounted on a glass (C) and a pin (1) is rotated around the hinge axis and fitted into place during the mounting of a glass (C) in the production line. By means of a locking system consisting of a tab (13) and a conical cap (12), a pin (1) does not allow any displacement or flexing movement. After a glass (C) is mounted on a vehicle body (A) via a pin (1) with proper referencing, a glass (C) is prevented from sliding down.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a tab (13) extending angularly over the engagement body (15).

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a tab (13) made of flexible plastic material.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is a conical cap (12) made of flexible plastic material.