JP2005195054A - T-nut - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technique capable of restricting the unit price of a T-nut having a flange part formed in the middle of a shaft part by solving conventional problems. <P>SOLUTION: This T-nut is provided with a shaft part in a cylindrical form, and a flange part overhanging from the shaft part, that are integrally formed of metal material. The flange part is formed between both ends of the shaft part, and in a double structure at least from one end of the shaft part to the flange part. The shaft part is formed to have, or not to have, or only partially have female threads in an inner circumferential surface of the shaft part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a T-nut having a flange portion in which a female screw is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a hollow shaft portion and projects outward from the shaft portion.

Examples of conventional T nuts include those disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-341606 or Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-323315. These T nuts have a thin wall portion that is scheduled to be caulked at the shaft portion, and the T nut 111 described in the above-mentioned JP-A-4-341606 has a shape shown in FIGS. 19 (a) and 19 (b). The shaft portion 112 and the flange portion 113 projecting outward from the first end portion of the shaft portion 112 are provided.
A T-nut 131 described in JP-A-6-323315 has a shape shown in FIGS. 20 (a) and 20 (b), and is obtained integrally by forging an iron-based metal plate, for example. And a flange portion 133 projecting outward from the first end portion of the shaft portion 132. The shaft portion 132 has a female screw forming portion 135 formed with a female screw 136 on the inner periphery thereof. Two pairs of claws 137 and 138, 139 and 140 extending in the direction toward one of the end portions are arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 133 of the T-nut 131 so as to face each other in the radial direction of the flange portion 133. 133 as a whole has a substantially octagonal shape.
Moreover, although it is based on a forging process, there is a T-nut in which the flange portion is formed in the middle of the shaft portion, that is, between both ends of the shaft portion, and female threads are formed from both ends of the shaft portion.
In such a T-nut, since the female screw is formed from both ends, the bolt can be screwed from any end.

JP-A-4-341606 JP-A-6-323315

The T nut manufactured by conventional forging and having the flange portion formed in the middle of the shaft portion has a problem that the unit price is high.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of solving the above-described conventional problems and suppressing the unit price of a T-nut having a flange portion formed in the middle of a shaft portion.

The T-nut of the present invention according to claim 1, which solves the conventional problem,
In a T-nut having a cylindrical shaft portion and a flange portion projecting outward from the shaft portion, which is made of an integral metal material,
The flange portion is formed between both ends of the shaft portion,
At least one end of the shaft part to the flange part is formed in a double structure.

In claim 2,
An internal thread is formed on at least a part of the shaft portion.
In claim 3,
The double structure is formed by extrusion drawing.

In claim 4,
The flange portion is integrally formed of the same material continuous with the shaft portion.
In claim 5,
The flange portion is combined and integrated with the shaft portion manufactured separately.

In claim 6,
The shaft portion includes a planned caulking portion formed to have a predetermined length from an end portion on the side where the double structure is not formed.
In claim 7,
A concave groove provided in an annular shape is provided on the outer periphery of the shaft portion in the vicinity of the boundary between the caulking planned portion and the female screw forming portion.

In claim 8,
The flange part or the shaft part is provided with a detent structure.
In claim 9,
The said detent | locking structure provided the some nail | claw which protrudes toward the edge part side in which the said double structure is formed in the outer peripheral part of the said flange part.
In claim 10,
The anti-rotation structure is configured by providing a plurality of claws protruding toward an end portion on the side where the double structure is not formed on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion.

In claim 11,
The nail has a side surface with a dent, and is formed with at least one type of cutting edge selected from the group consisting of a cutting edge with a cut, a cutting edge with a jagged edge, and a cutting edge with a thorn.
In claim 12,
The flange portion was substantially circular.

In claim 13,
The flange portion is substantially octagonal,
A non-rotating claw is formed on the flange portion by cutting and raising the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion, and is disposed opposite to the first radial direction of the flange portion,
The flange portion has a pair of flat portions projecting on both sides of the shaft portion in a second radial direction intersecting the first radial direction of the flange portion, and each pair of the two pairs of claws is Including two claws arranged close to each other, the two claws forming a pair are connected by a straight side, and each of the pair of flat portions is By having a straight side extending in a direction intersecting with the straight side between the two claws that form a pair, the flange portion forms a square shape as a whole.

  In Claim 14, the said flange part was made into substantially square shape.

  According to the T nut of the present invention having such a structure, since at least one end of the shaft portion to the flange portion is formed in a double structure, even if a thin material is used, the double structure Sufficient strength is obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the T-nut 1 in the embodiment of the present invention has a part of the shaft portion 11 and a portion W from one end to the flange portion 12 having a double structure. Yes. The position of the flange portion 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is between both ends of the shaft portion 11.
Note that the double structure means that the gap d between the inner member 11A of the shaft portion 11 and the outer member 11B that is bent outside the inner member 11A is 0 and the two members are in close contact with each other. Including a case where a slight gap exists between the two and the gap d is not zero.
In FIG. 1, the example in which the internal thread is formed on the inner surface of the shaft portion 11 is shown, but as shown in FIG. 2A, a T-nut 2A in which the internal thread is not formed may be used. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, T-nuts 2B and 2C in which a female screw is formed in a part of the shaft portion and a female screw is not formed in a part may be used.
In any T-nut, a part of the shaft portion is a double structure portion W.

The T-nut 3A shown in FIG. 3 (a) has a caulking scheduled portion 31A formed at the end opposite to the double structure portion W. A groove 33A is formed on the outer periphery of the boundary portion between the caulking planned portion 31A and the female screw forming portion 32A.
The T-nut 3 </ b> B shown in FIG. 3B also has a caulking scheduled portion 31 </ b> B at the end opposite to the double structure portion W. In this case, no groove is formed on the outer periphery.
A T-nut 3C shown in FIG. 3 (c) is a T-nut suitable for recycling, and a groove 33C is formed on the outer periphery of the boundary portion between the caulking scheduled portion 31C and the female screw forming portion 32C, and the inner periphery is slightly A groove 34C is formed.
FIG. 4 shows various forms of the shaft portion. The T nut 4A shown in FIG. 4A has a straight shaft portion 41A, and the T nut 4B shown in FIG. 4B has a tapered shaft portion 41B, as shown in FIG. The T nut 4C shown has a stepped barrel type shaft portion 41C. In any T-nut, a part of the shaft portion is a double structure portion W.

FIG. 5 shows a T-nut having a non-rotating claw formed on the flange portion. In the T nut 5A shown in FIG. 5A, a claw 51A is formed in a direction opposite to the double structure portion W. In the T nut 5B shown in FIG. 5B, a claw 51B is formed in the same direction as the double structure portion W.
In the case of a T-nut in which an internal thread is formed on at least a part of the inner surface of the shaft portion, or in the case of a T-nut 5C in which an internal thread is not formed or a T-nut 5D formed only in part, the direction of the claw is Any orientation is possible, as indicated by the solid or dashed lines.

FIG. 6 shows various forms of the flange portion.
6A has a substantially octagonal shape, and the relationship between the horizontal width a and the vertical width b may be any of a <b, a = b, and a> b.
The flange portion 6B shown in FIG. 6B is substantially square, the flange portion 6C shown in FIG. 6C is substantially hexagonal, and the flange portion 6D shown in FIG. The flange portion 6E shown in FIG. 6E has an oval shape.
Although not shown, in any case, a double structure portion W is formed in a part of the shaft portion.

Next, FIG. 7 shows various forms of the detent structure other than the claw shown in FIG.
In the T nut 7A shown in FIG. 7A, a rib-like protrusion 73A is formed at the boundary portion between the flange portion 71A and the shaft portion 72A.
A projection 73B is formed on the surface of the flange portion 71B in the T-nut 7B shown in FIG.
Although not shown, in any case, a double structure portion is formed in a part of the shaft portion.

As described above, as shown in various forms, if the double structure part is formed in a part of the shaft part, the structure of other parts can be various forms as follows.
(1) As described with reference to FIG. 1, the position of the flange portion may be anywhere in the middle of the shaft portion.
(2) As described with reference to FIG. 2, the female screw may not be formed, and may be formed only partially.
(3) As described with reference to FIG. 3, a form in which a caulking scheduled portion is formed at the end opposite to the double structure portion is also possible. At this time, a groove may be formed at the boundary portion of the portion to be caulked.
(4) As described with reference to FIG. 4, the shape of the shaft includes a tapered barrel type and a step barrel type in addition to the straight barrel type.
(5) The direction of the nail as a detent is not particularly limited as described in FIG.
(6) The shape of the flange portion can be various shapes as described in FIG.
(7) As described with reference to FIG. 7, forms other than the nail are possible.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the T-nut 81 described above can be used by fitting a shaft portion to a rubber leg member 82 having a truncated cone shape. At this time, the bolt 83 can be screwed into the female screw formed on the shaft portion of the T-nut 81 to finely adjust the height.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the T-nut 84 can be attached to a plate material 85 such as a floor plate, and a bolt 86 can be screwed in for use. At this time, the height of the plate member 85 can be finely adjusted by screwing a bolt 86 into the female screw.

  The T-nut 9 shown in FIG. 9 is formed with a double structure portion W, and a non-rotating claw 92 is formed on the flange portion 91 by cutting and raising the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 91. The portions are arranged to face each other in the first radial direction. As shown in FIG. 9B, the shape of the flange portion 91 is substantially octagonal. The flange portion 91 has a pair of flat portions protruding on both sides of the shaft portion in a second radial direction intersecting the first radial direction of the flange portion, and each pair of the two pairs of claws. Includes two claws arranged close to each other, each of the pair of claws is connected by a straight side, and each of the pair of flat portions is By having a straight side extending in a direction intersecting with the straight side between the two claws forming each pair, the flange portion has a square shape as a whole.

When the flange portion has a substantially octagonal shape, in addition to the four claws, for example, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), projections plastically deformed so as to project in the same direction as the claws are provided. The provided form, or a form provided with a spatula-shaped protrusion as shown in FIG.
In any case, the double structure portion W is formed in the shaft portion.

When the flange portion has a circular shape, for example, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), the claws are not provided, and as shown in FIG. 12 (b), the four claws 51a, 51b, 51c, A configuration in which 51d is provided, a configuration in which three claws 52a, 52b, and 52c are provided as shown in FIG. 12C, and a configuration in which six claws 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, as shown in FIG. There is a form in which 53e and 53f are provided.
In any case, the double structure portion W is formed in the shaft portion.

FIG. 10 shows a T-nut having a caulking planned portion. FIG. 10 (a) shows a straight barrel type, FIG. 10 (b) shows a tapered barrel type, and FIG. A sectional view of the diameter type is shown.
11, 12, and 17 show a T-nut having a circular flange portion. A double structure portion W is formed on each shaft portion.
FIG. 13 shows a T-nut having a substantially octagonal flange portion. A double structure portion W is formed on each shaft portion.
FIG. 14 shows combinations of various octagonal flange portions with various forms and shaft portions with various forms. Also shown is the type with crimp locks formed. A double structure portion W is formed on each shaft portion.
FIG. 15 shows combinations of various types of circular flange portions and various types of shaft portions. A double structure portion W is formed on each shaft portion.
The state where the T nut shown in FIG. 16A is supplied by the feeder is shown in FIG. By forming the protrusion on the flange portion, there is almost no clearance between the feeder supply track and the guide rail, so that it is possible to prevent a trouble that the flange portions ride up during the supply with the guide rail.

It is more preferable that an irregular portion is formed on the female screw formed on the inner surface by, for example, strongly pinching a part of the female screw forming portion of the shaft portion of the T nut described above from the outside.
As shown in FIG. 21, an irregular portion is formed in the female screw by forming the concave portion 13 by strongly sandwiching a part of the female screw forming portion from the outside.
Due to the presence of the irregular portion formed in this manner, when the bolt (not shown) is screwed, the irregular portion cannot pass unless the bolt is turned relatively strongly. At this time, a part of the screw thread may be crushed. As a result, the screwed connection between the bolt and the female screw is locked, and the bolt is prevented from loosening from the T-nut.

  Next, a T-nut 4 having a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft will be described with reference to FIG. In the T-nut 4 of the present embodiment, an annular groove 43 is provided on the entire outer periphery of the shaft portion near the boundary between the tip-side hollow cylindrical portion 41 and the female screw forming portion 42. The cross-sectional shape of the groove 43 depends on the material of the T-nut, such as a U-shape, a V-shape or a U-shape, in addition to a semicircular shape, and processing characteristics associated therewith, or mechanical characteristics such as tensile strength. Are selected as appropriate.

  In the T-nut 4 having such a structure, a shaft portion is first inserted into a fixing object made of a resin material or wood, in which a through-hole is provided in advance, and in this state, a caulking machine is used to fix the portion to be caulked 41. Caulking is performed, and a caulking portion is formed on one surface side of the object to be fixed. At the same time, a claw (not shown) is bitten into the other surface of the object to be fixed, and the T-nut 4 is firmly fixed to the object to be fixed.

  In a product in which the object to be fixed is a component, in a state where the T-nut 4 is caulked and fixed, a male screw is screwed into the female screw of the female screw forming portion 42 and fastened, whereby another member is attached to the fixed object. Be joined.

Next, a method for separating the T-nut 3C from the fixed object when the product constituted by the fixed object to which the T-nut 3C is caulked and fixed has been used or has reached the end of its life and is collected for recycling. This will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), a cylindrical jig 18 having an outer shape slightly larger than the inner diameter in a state before the caulking scheduled portion 31C is caulked from the caulking portion side of the T nut 3C. Press fit the lower end. When the upper end of the jig 18 is struck with a hammer or the like while the lower end of the jig 18 is in contact with the stepped portion at the boundary between the planned caulking portion 31C and the female screw forming portion 32C, Stress concentration occurs at a portion where the wall thickness is the thinnest at the outer peripheral position of the shaft portion where the groove 33C at the boundary with the female screw forming portion 32C is provided, and a large tensile stress is generated. As a result, the groove 33C is broken, and the T-nut 3C is divided into two parts. The lower half of the jig 18 pushes down the lower half of the T-nut 3C including the female screw forming portion 32C and the flange portion. As shown in (), it is removed from the object to be fixed.
Note that the upper half of the T-nut 3C including the caulking portion is removed from the through hole of the object to be fixed while being fitted to the jig 18 when the jig 18 is pulled upward.

  As described above, according to the T-nut 3C of the present embodiment, the product can be easily removed from the object to be fixed, and the product with the T-nut 3C caulked and fixed can be used after the product has been used. Separation and recovery of the constituting fixed symmetry object can be easily performed, and recycling of the fixation object can be promoted.

  The double structure of the shaft part was formed by extrusion drawing. In addition, the flange portion and the shaft portion are formed by processing an integral metal material to form a predetermined shape, but a flange portion manufactured separately from the shaft portion is combined with the shaft portion to be integrated. Also good.

It is side surface sectional drawing of embodiment of the T nut concerning this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the T nut of another embodiment. It is side surface sectional drawing of the T nut provided with the caulking plan part. It is a side view which shows the various forms of an axial part. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the various forms of direction of a nail | claw. It is explanatory drawing of the various form of a flange part. It is explanatory drawing of the various form of a rotation stopper. It is side surface sectional drawing of the usage form of the T nut of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing and bottom view of embodiment of the T nut concerning this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the various form of the T nut of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing and bottom view of embodiment of the T nut concerning this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing and bottom view of various forms of the T nut of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing and bottom view of various forms of the T nut of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing and bottom view of various forms of the T nut of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing and bottom view of various forms of the T nut of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the feeder supply of the T nut of this invention. It is the bottom view and side view of various forms of the T nut of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the usage form of the T nut of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the T nut of a prior art example. It is explanatory drawing of the T nut of another prior art example. It is side surface sectional drawing of the example which formed the irregular part in the internal thread of the T nut of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 T nut
11 Shaft
12 Flange
31A Caulking planned section
32A Female thread forming part
33A Groove
51A Non-rotating claw W Double structure

Claims (15)

In a T-nut having a cylindrical shaft portion and a flange portion projecting outward from the shaft portion, which is made of an integral metal material,
The flange portion is formed between both ends of the shaft portion,
A T-nut having a double structure from at least one end of the shaft portion to the flange portion. 2. The T-nut according to claim 1, wherein an internal thread is formed on all or at least a part of the inner peripheral surface of the shaft portion. The T-nut according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the double structure is formed by extrusion drawing. The T-nut according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3, wherein the flange portion is integrally formed of the same material continuous with the shaft portion. 4. The T-nut according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is combined and integrated with the shaft portion manufactured separately. The T-nut according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shaft portion includes a caulking scheduled portion that is formed to have a predetermined length from an end portion on a side where the double structure is not formed. The T-nut according to claim 6, further comprising a concave groove provided in an annular shape on an outer periphery of the shaft portion in the vicinity of a boundary between the caulking scheduled portion and the female screw forming portion. Axial direction acting in a use state in a state of caulking and fixing to a member to be fixed, in a substantially annular region that forms a periphery of the shaft portion on the flange portion side of a region that is bent by caulking of the planned caulking portion In order to maintain the strength that does not break against the force and to break by applying a tensile force of a predetermined size or more in the axial direction, the shaft portion can be separated into two parts. At least one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface in the substantially annular region of the shaft portion has a groove provided to extend in the circumferential direction so that the thickness of the shaft portion is partially reduced. The T-nut according to claim 6. The T nut according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a rotation prevention structure is provided in the flange portion or the shaft portion. The T-nut according to claim 9, wherein the rotation preventing structure is configured by providing a plurality of claws protruding toward an end portion where the double structure is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the flange portion. 10. The T-nut according to claim 9, wherein the rotation prevention structure is configured by providing a plurality of claws protruding toward an end portion on a side where the double structure is not formed on an outer peripheral portion of the flange portion. . The nail has a dent side surface, and is formed with at least one type of cutting edge selected from the group of a cutting edge with a cut, a cutting edge with a jagged edge, and a cutting edge with a thorn. The T nut according to any one of claims 10 and 11. The T-nut according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flange portion is substantially circular. The flange portion is substantially octagonal,
A non-rotating claw is formed on the flange portion by cutting and raising the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion, and is disposed opposite to the first radial direction of the flange portion,
The flange portion has a pair of flat portions projecting on both sides of the shaft portion in a second radial direction intersecting the first radial direction of the flange portion, and each pair of the two pairs of claws is Including two claws arranged close to each other, the two claws forming a pair are connected by a straight side, and each of the pair of flat portions is 2. The flange portion as a whole is formed in a square shape by having a straight side extending in a direction intersecting with the straight side between two pairs of claws. The T-nut according to any one of 1 to 12. The T-nut according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the flange portion has a substantially rectangular shape.