Holder

Abstract

A holder for a securing element that has an elongated shaft and a head that has a receiving part with a holding portion for receiving the shaft. The holding portion is positioned such that the shaft is inserted into the holding portion transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. A retaining part and a supporting part receive the head therebetween. The retaining part secures the securing element transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the supporting part supports the securing element in an axial direction of the shaft. Resilient guide portions merge into the holding portion. The resilient guide portions converge such that spacing between the guide portions is smaller than a diameter of the shaft. The guide portions being formed such that the guide portions resile to allow the shaft to pass through the guide portions and into the receiving part.

I/We claim:  
     
         1 . A holder for a securing element having an elongated shaft and a head, the holder comprising: 
 a receiving part having a holding portion for receiving the shaft; and    a retaining part and a supporting part for receiving the head therebetween, the retaining part secures the securing element transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the supporting part supports the securing element in an axial direction of the shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holding portion is positioned such that the shaft is inserted into the holding portion transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is made from a resilient plastic material.  
     
     
         4 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising partition walls positioned on sides of the receiving part to prevent short circuiting between adjacent receiving parts.  
     
     
         5 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving part is formed from a top wall of the holder.  
     
     
         6 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear wall that extends between the receiving part and the supporting part that forms a pocket for receiving the head.  
     
     
         7 . The holder of  claim 6 , wherein the rear wall has abutment surfaces formed to correspond to the head of the securing element to prevent the head from twisting.  
     
     
         8 . The holder of  claim 7 , wherein the head is polygonal in shape.  
     
     
         9 . The holder of  claim 8 , wherein the head is hexagonal in shape.  
     
     
         10 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the holding portion supports a holding ring on the securing element.  
     
     
         11 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising adhesive that secures the head to the retaining portion.  
     
     
         12 . The holder of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive extends in the longitudinal direction with respect to the shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting part and the receiving part are parallel to each other.  
     
     
         14 . The holder of  claim 1 , further comprising resilient guide portions that converge such that spacing between the guide portions is smaller than a diameter of the shaft, the guide portions being formed such that the guide portions resile to allow the shaft to pass through the guide portions and into the receiving part.  
     
     
         15 . The holder of  claim 14 , wherein the guide portions merge into the holding portion.  
     
     
         16 . The holder of  claim 1 , wherein the securing element is a screw and the shaft has an external thread.