JP4184473B2 - clip - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clip used for removably attaching a center cluster or the like to an instrument panel of an automobile, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of clip has a shape shown in FIG. 6, for example. The clip main body 60 shown in this drawing is roughly divided into a head 62 on one end side, a pair of leg portions 64 located on the other end side, and a pair of clamping portions 66 located on the inner side of the clip main body 60. Are integrally formed by resin molding. The opposing inner surfaces of the both clamping portions 66 are parallel clamping surfaces 68, and engaging protrusions 72 are formed at the front end portions (lower end portions) of the individual clamping surfaces 68.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 7, when the clip main body 60 is attached to the rib 32 of the center cluster 30, both the clamping portions 66 are shaped so as to sandwich the rib 32 from both sides thereof, and the both engagements described above. The protrusion 72 is engaged with the engagement hole 34 from both sides of the rib 32. Then, the clip body 60 attached to the rib 32 in this way is inserted into the attachment hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 with the head portion 62 as a tip.
[0004]
As a result, both locking shoulders 74 formed near the bases of both leg portions 64 of the clip body 60 engage with the edges of the mounting holes 42 on the back surface 46 of the instrument panel 40, and the seating surfaces 36 of the ribs 32 are formed. It is pressed against the surface 44 of the instrument panel 40. Accordingly, the center cluster 30 is attached to the instrument panel 40 in a state where the instrument panel 40 is sandwiched from both the front and back sides by the seating surface 36 and both locking shoulders 74 of the clip body 60.
[0005]
By the way, the thickness of the ribs 32 of the center cluster 30 varies among the ribs. For one vehicle model, there is a variation of 2.3 to 2.7 mm, and the average thickness is 2.5 mm. . On the other hand, the dimension between the clamping surfaces 68 of both clamping parts 66 in the clip body 60 is set to about 2.1 mm so that the ribs 32 can be firmly clamped from both sides by these clamping parts 66.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, when the clip main body 60 is attached to the rib 32 having a plate thickness of 2.7 mm, both the clamping portions 66 are elastically deformed of the head 62 as the rib 32 is inserted between the both clamping surfaces 68. Is pushed left and right. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the clamping surfaces 68 of the both clamping portions 66 are lifted from the side surfaces of the ribs 32, and the engagement allowance between the engagement protrusions 72 with respect to the engagement holes 34 of the ribs 32 is small. Become.
[0007]
In such a state, when the clip main body 60 is inserted into the mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40, the posture of the clip main body 60 is not stable, and workability is poor. Further, even in the assembled state shown in FIG. 7, since the attachment state of the clip body 60 to the rib 32 is unstable, when the center cluster 30 is subjected to vibration or an external force in the pulling direction, the engagement hole 34 is engaged. The protrusion 72 may come off, and if that happens, it will not function as a clip.
[0008]
The object of the present invention is to always hold a pair of clip portions of the clip body in a stable mounting state on a rib of a member to be mounted such as a center cluster regardless of variations in the plate thickness, and to mount an instrument panel or the like. The clip body is easily inserted into the engagement hole of the plate, and the clip function is properly maintained in the assembled state.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is a clip for mounting the mounted member on the mounting plate by inserting the clip body previously attached to the rib of the mounted member into the mounting hole of the mounting plate, A head on the upper end side of the clip body, a pair of locking shoulders formed in a portion extending continuously downward from both sides of the head, and a pair of clamping parts formed on the inside of the clip body, It is integrally formed of a resin material, and both the latching shoulders and the both clamping parts have a two-layer structure in which both the locking shoulders are outside and both the clamping parts are inside in the expanding direction of the clip body, The locking shoulder is configured to engage with the mounting hole of the mounting plate, and the pair of clamping portions formed in the clip body are inserted into the rib by relative insertion with the rib of the mounted member. From both sides And both of the holding portions each have a holding surface that can contact the rib from both sides thereof, and an engaging protrusion that can be engaged with an engaging hole formed in the rib. And the dimension between both clamping surfaces is set so that it may increase gradually from the relative insertion start side of both clamping parts and the said rib from the insertion direction.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 2 is the clip according to claim 1, wherein the dimension between the both clamping surfaces is always such that both the engaging protrusions are ribs corresponding to variations in the plate thickness of the ribs. The engagement hole is set so as to be held in a substantially prescribed engagement state.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the clip according to the first aspect, the maximum dimension between the both clamping surfaces is substantially matched with the average dimension of the plate thickness of the rib.
[0012]
Thus, even when the plate thickness of the rib of the mounted member is larger than the average dimension, for example, by changing the dimension between the both clamping surfaces from the relative insertion start side to the rib in the insertion direction. The pair of sandwiching portions are in a stable attachment state with respect to the ribs, and the engagement protrusions of both sandwiching portions are held in a properly engaged state with the engagement holes of the ribs. Therefore, the work when the clip body is inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting plate can be easily performed, and the situation where the clip body comes off from the rib can be solved. And since the clip main body is firmly attached to the rib even when the assembly is completed, the function as the clip is properly maintained.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the clip, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the clip. As shown in these drawings, the clip body 10 has a head 12 formed in a curved shape on one end (upper end) side, and a pair formed in a portion extending downward continuously from both sides of the head 12. The leg part 14 and a pair of clamping parts 16 formed inside the clip body 10 are roughly divided and formed integrally by injection molding of a resin material.
[0014]
Since the head 12 serves as a leading guide when the clip body 10 is inserted into a mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 to be described later, the outer peripheral surface is rounded so as to be easily inserted. On the other hand, both the leg portions 14 are formed to be straight and parallel to each other, and a stabilizer 26 is formed at each end portion so as to protrude outward at a substantially right angle to the leg portion 14.
[0015]
Both the clamping portions 16 are configured to extend downward from the head 12 side, and the inner surfaces facing each other are flat clamping surfaces 18. And the dimension between these both clamping surfaces 18 is changed gradually so that the dimension b of the side which contact | connects the internal space 20 of the head 12 may become larger than the dimension a of the front end side of both the clamping parts 16. FIG.
[0016]
The dimension a is set slightly smaller than the plate thickness of the rib 32 of the center cluster 30 described later. As already described, although the plate thickness of the rib 32 varies in size, the dimension a is set to a value (about 2.1 mm) smaller than the minimum plate thickness (about 2.3 mm). On the other hand, the dimension b is set to 2.3 to 2.5 mm.
[0017]
The both clamping parts 16 can push the gap between the clamping surfaces 18 by their own elasticity and the elasticity of the head 12. Engaging protrusions 22 projecting inward from the respective clamping surfaces 18 at substantially right angles are formed at the front end portions (lower end portions) of the individual clamping surfaces 18 in the both clamping portions 16. In addition, the front end surface of both the clamping parts 16 and the lower surface of both the engagement protrusions 22 are inclined so that the rib 32 can pass easily.
[0018]
Locking shoulders 24 are formed on both sides of the clip main body 10 so as to protrude outward from the head 12 to the legs 14. Both locking shoulders 24 can be deformed in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 mainly by the elasticity of the head 12 of the clip body 10. Further, the outer surface between the both sides of the head 12 and both the locking shoulders 24 is an inclined surface so that these locking shoulders 24 can smoothly pass through the mounting holes 42 of the instrument panel 40.
[0019]
3 to 5 are cross-sectional views each showing a use state of the clip configured as described above. In these drawings, ribs 32 are integrally formed at a plurality of predetermined locations on the back surface of a center cluster 30 which is a member to be attached by a clip. The front end surface of the rib 32 is an inclined surface so that the relative insertion of the rib 32 with respect to the both sandwiching portions 16 of the clip body 10 is smooth. In addition, an engagement hole 34 is formed in a substantially intermediate portion of the rib 32, and mounting seat surfaces 36 are formed on both sides of the rib 32.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the clip will be described.
First, when the ribs 32 of the center cluster 30 are relatively inserted between the holding portions 16 of the clip body 10, the ribs 32 enter between the holding surfaces 18 while expanding both the holding portions 16 left and right. . As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, both the clamping portions 16 are positioned so as to clamp the ribs 32 from both sides thereof, and the engagement protrusions 22 of the both clamping portions 16 are opposed to the engagement holes 34 of the ribs 32. Engage from both sides of the lever. Therefore, the clip body 10 is attached to the rib 32 of the center cluster 30.
[0021]
Next, the clip main body 10 attached to the rib 32 is inserted into the attachment hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 (attachment plate) from the head 12 side. As a result, both the locking shoulders 24 of the clip body 10 pass through the attachment hole 42 while being bent inward mainly by elastic deformation of the head 12, and engage with the edge of the attachment hole 42 on the back surface 46 of the instrument panel 40. In this state, the seat surface 36 of the center cluster 30 is pressed against the surface 44 of the instrument panel 40. As a result, the instrument panel 40 is sandwiched from both the front and back sides by the both locking shoulders 24 of the clip body 10 and the center cluster 30 seating surface 36, and the center cluster 30 is attached to the instrument panel 40 by the clip body 10. It is done.
[0022]
As described above, the thickness of the rib 32 has a dimensional variation for each rib. 3 shows a case where the plate thickness of the rib 32 has an average dimension of 2.5 mm, FIG. 4 shows a case where the plate thickness of the rib 32 is a size of 2.3 mm smaller than the average, and FIG. 5 shows a case where the plate thickness of the rib 32 is larger than the average. The case of dimension 2.7mm is shown. In addition, about the dimension of the attachment hole 42 of the instrument panel 40, the case of 8.0 mm x 14.0 mm is shown, respectively in FIGS.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the plate thickness of the ribs 32 is an average dimension, relative insertion of both the sandwiching portions 16 of the clip body 10 and the ribs 32 causes the leading end sides of these sandwiching portions 16 (relative to the ribs 32). Although the dimension a on the typical insertion start side) is pushed right and left by the rib 32, the dimension b on the side in contact with the internal space 20 hardly changes. In this state, the clamping surfaces 18 of both clamping parts 16 are in partial contact with both side surfaces of the ribs 32, and the engaging protrusions 22 of both clamping parts 16 are in contact with the engaging holes 34 of the ribs 32. It will be in the state engaged appropriately.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the thickness of the rib 32 is smaller than the average, only the dimension “a” on the front end side of the both sandwiching portions 16 is slightly pushed right and left by the insertion of the rib 32. In this state, the contact area of the both clamping surfaces 18 with both side surfaces of the rib 32 is small, but the gap between the both clamping surfaces 18 and both side surfaces of the rib 32 is small, and both the engagement protrusions 22 are the engagement holes. 34 is properly engaged as in FIG.
[0025]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the plate thickness of the rib 32 is larger than the average, the sizes a and b between the sandwiching portions 16 are both expanded corresponding to the plate thickness. As a result, both sandwiching surfaces 18 are almost entirely in contact with both side surfaces of the rib 32, and both engaging protrusions 22 are properly engaged with the engaging holes 34 as in the case of FIGS. To do.
[0026]
As described above, even if the plate thickness of the rib 32 is smaller or larger than the average dimension, both the sandwiching portions 16 of the clip body 10 are always stably attached to the rib 32 and the engagement between the both sandwiching portions 16 is maintained. The mating protrusion 22 is properly engaged with the engagement hole 34 of the rib 32. Therefore, workability when inserting the clip body 10 into the mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 is good, and the clip body 10 is firmly attached to the rib 32 even when assembly is completed. The assembly holding function is properly maintained.
[0027]
When it is necessary to remove the center cluster 30 from the instrument panel 40 for maintenance or the like, the center cluster 30 is pulled strongly, so that both the engagement with respect to the edge of the mounting hole 42 by elastic deformation of the both leg portions 14 is performed. The shoulder 24 is disengaged. This is because the clip body 10 is stably attached to the ribs 32 of the center cluster 30, whereby the center cluster 30 is removed from the instrument panel 40 while the clip body 10 is attached to the ribs 32. Can do. Therefore, when the center cluster 30 is mounted again on the instrument panel 40, the clip body 10 can be used as it is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a clip.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a clip.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a clip in use.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a usage state of a clip.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a use state of a clip.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a conventional clip.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a use state of a conventional clip.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Clip main body 16 Clamping part 18 Clamping surface 22 Engagement protrusion 30 Center cluster 32 Rib 34 Engagement hole 40 Instrument panel 42 Attachment hole

Claims (3)

A clip for attaching a member to be attached to the mounting plate by inserting a clip body previously attached to the rib of the member to be attached into a mounting hole of the mounting plate,
A head on the upper end side of the clip body, a pair of locking shoulders formed in a portion extending continuously downward from both sides of the head, and a pair of clamping parts formed on the inside of the clip body, It is integrally formed of a resin material, and both the latching shoulders and the both clamping parts have a two-layer structure in which both the locking shoulders are outside and both the clamping parts are inside in the expanding direction of the clip body, The locking shoulder is configured to engage with the mounting hole of the mounting plate,
The pair of sandwiching portions formed on the clip body are positioned so as to sandwich the ribs from both sides by relative insertion with the ribs of the mounted member, and both the sandwiching portions are attached to the ribs. A gripping surface that can be contacted from both sides thereof, and an engagement protrusion that can be engaged with an engagement hole formed in the rib, respectively, and the dimensions between both the gripping surfaces are the A clip that is set to gradually increase from the insertion start side relative to the rib in the insertion direction.   The clip according to claim 1, wherein the dimension between the both clamping surfaces is such that the both engaging protrusions are always substantially in relation to the rib engaging holes in response to variations in the plate thickness of the ribs. A clip that is set to be held in a specified engagement state.   The clip according to claim 1, wherein the maximum dimension between the both clamping surfaces is substantially matched with the average dimension of the rib thickness.

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