JPH04277311A - Nut made of plastic - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a nut such that when a second element is mounted to a first element by a screw and nut, an oblong hole into which the mountable nut is fitted can be completely sealed even if holes in the elements are slightly offset from each other. CONSTITUTION: A plastic nut has an elongate hollow nut body 2 provided on its longitudinal inner surface with axially oriented projections 16 forming a series of spaced seats 17 therebetween. The nut includes a sealing member 1 mounted by snap-engagement in an oblong hole in a first element 21 to which a second element should be fixed by a fixing screw, and each seat 17 is designed to be able to receive the screw end and to fix the screw according to the degree of penetration of the screw.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the fixation of two elements by means of screws and nuts. As is well known,
If a screw is inserted into one of the elements through a hole which corresponds in diameter but whose longitudinal position can be shifted within a certain range, then a slotted hole with a width corresponding to the said range is provided in another element and the length is inserted by the nut. Engage the screw with the element having the hole.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A nut is already described in French Patent No. 2,386,721, which makes it possible to prevent longitudinal gaps associated with loosening of screws between two elements.

[0003] The nut is made of plastic and is in the form of an elongated hollow member, which is completely immovable relative to the first element by snap-fitting into an elongated hole in the first element;
The longitudinal inner surface of the nut is provided with projections forming between them a series of axially oriented and spaced apart seats, each seat receiving the tip of a fixing screw of the second element and The structure is such that screws can be fixed depending on the degree of penetration.

[0004] To enable snap engagement of the nut into the elongated hole,
The upper part of the nut is provided with a rigid head that can be placed on the top surface of the first element, and the two longitudinal outer surfaces automatically fix the nut in the hole of the first element by elastic deformation when passing through the hole. A number of parallel generally triangular ribs are provided, and the tops of the two lateral walls of the nut are provided with axially oriented slits for elastic deformation for passage of the nut through the elongated hole. Set up

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve the nut so that the elongated hole of the installed first element can be hermetically closed by snap-fitting the nut.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, in accordance with the present invention, an elongated hollow nut body is provided which is provided with projections on the longitudinal body inner surface forming a series of axially spaced seats between each other. a plastic nut comprising a plastic nut configured to snap into an elongated hole of the first element to which the second element is to be secured by means of a fixing screw, the nut receiving the tip of the screw and adjusting the penetration depth of the screw; In the case of a type in which each seat is configured so that the screw can be fixed by
In addition to the nut body, the nut further comprises a deformable hollow sealing member configured to be snap-fitted into the elongated hole and then snap-fitted to the nut body.

[0007] Unlike known nuts, the nut according to the invention is not limited to a nut body. This is because it is clear that it is easier and more economical to add complementary hollow members to achieve the desired sealing properties.

[0008] In fact, the original nut is relatively rigid, due to the protrusions that form a series of seats for the screws between them. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to prevent the slits in the upper part of the side walls from interfering with the sealing closure of the slot and to provide the nut with deformability for snap-fitting.

[0009] The solution according to the invention allows the nut body to be attached by snap-fitting without the need for deformations, in which case the deformation for snap-fitting and sealing is performed by the sealing member associated with the nut body. It will be held in That is, the sealing member is, on the one hand, deformed in such a way that it can be snapped into the elongated hole for the snap engagement of the nut body, and on the other hand, it is tightly fitted between the first element and the nut body to ensure the required sealing properties. It transforms like that.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the sealing member comprises a leg made of plastic and having an external shape corresponding to the contour of the elongated hole of the first element, and a deformable collar connected to the first end of the leg. and are provided on each outer surface of the leg in the vertical direction,
a ridge that narrows in the direction of the collar.

[0011] Due to the narrowing of the ridge in the direction of the collar and the elasticity of the plastic, the collar is pressed against the upper surface of the first element and thus a seal can be achieved between the first element and the sealing member; A gap can be compensated to help secure the sealing member to the element.

[0012] The nut body preferably includes a leg having a first portion having a contour corresponding to the internal contour of the sealing leg, while the second end of the leg closes at the bottom. That is, the nut body and the sealing member are configured such that in the locked position, the first portion of the nut leg snaps into engagement with the sealing leg.

[0013] Due to the snap engagement of the bottom of the nut leg and the sealing leg, the sealing member serves to seal the internal zone. Additionally, the snap engagement separates the ridges of the sealing legs, thus increasing the force pressing the deformable collar against the top surface of the first element.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The illustrated nut is molded from thermoplastic material and has a generally elongated or elliptical shape, ie, has parallel longitudinal walls integrated at each end by semicircular walls. The nut has two hollow members that can be fitted into it, namely:
It comprises a sealing member 1 and a nut body 2, which are integrated with a breakable film 3.

The sealing member 1 includes a leg 4 and a deformable collar 5 following the first end of the leg. On each longitudinal outer surface of the leg,
Protuberances 6A and 6B are provided which have an approximately isosceles triangular cross section with an apex at the center in the height direction, and therefore, the protuberances are
From said apex it narrows in the direction of the collar 5 and in the direction of the second end of the leg provided with the outer bevel 7. The second end is provided on each longitudinally inner surface with a ridge 8A, 8B, which also has a substantially right triangular cross-section with its apex at the level of the underside of the leg (see FIG. 6).

The nut body 2 has a rigid head 9 and a leg 1 which follows the head 9 at a first end and closes at a second end with a bottom 11.
Including 0. The leg 10 includes, below the head 9, a first portion 12 having an external contour corresponding to the internal contour of the sealing leg 4;
Next, a second portion 13 is included below the portion 12, and a third portion 13 is included below the portion 12.
In this section, the lateral outer dimension of the leg 10 decreases until it reaches the integral third section 14, which is closed at the bottom 11 (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, holding protrusions 15A and 15B are provided on the upper part of each longitudinal outer surface of the portion 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal outer dimension of the leg 10 likewise decreases downwards along the section 13 (see FIG. 4).

The longitudinal inner surface of the nut body 2 is provided with projections 16 forming between them a series of axially spaced seats 17. Each seat is configured to receive a screw tip and fix the screw to the nut body depending on the degree of penetration of the screw (French Patent No. 2386721).
(see issue).

The illustrated nut is fitted by snap-fitting into an elongated hole, for example hole 20 of the first element 21 shown in plate form in FIG. In this case, the outer shape of the sealing leg 4 is
It corresponds to the contour of the hole 20.

First, the second end is introduced into the hole 20 and the sealing member 1 is snapped into engagement. In this case, the ridges 6A, 6B serve to center the sealing member within the bore. Next, the protuberances 6A, 6B
contacts the longitudinal edge of the hole 20, thus deforming the leg 4, so that the thickest part of said ridge (the apex of the isosceles triangle in cross-section) is introduced into the hole, and then the leg 4 Depending on the degree of insertion of the sealing member into the hole, it gradually assumes its original shape. In this case, the elasticity of the plastic and the narrowing of the ridges 6A, 6B in the direction of the collar 5 facilitate said insertion and contact of the collar 5 with the upper surface of the element 21. Thus, the situation shown in FIG. 6 is achieved.

Now, in order to snap-fit the nut body 2, its head 9 is pushed, the film 3 is broken, and the nut body 2 is inserted into the sealing member 1. Thus, the retaining projections 15A, 15B each have a ridge 8 with a complementary contact surface.
A, 8B, the sealing leg 4 is deformed as a result of the advancement of the sealing member, thus causing the ridges 8A, 8B to be spaced apart and passing through the retaining projections 15A, 15B, and then contracting above said retaining projections. , thus the ridges 8A, 8B are placed at the level of the part 13 of the leg 10 and the head 9 abuts the collar 5 of the sealing member. The situation of FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the nut is firmly seated in the hole 20, is thus achieved.

The portion 12 of the nut body is snapped into engagement with the sealing member such that the upper part of the leg 4 deforms outwardly and abuts the edge of the hole 20, and the slope of the ridges 6A, 6B causes the sealing member to further Upon insertion, the collar 5 is deformed, so that it fits tightly onto the upper surface of the element 21, compensating the gap and creating a seal between the element 1 and the element 21. Sealing of the interior of the member 1 is effected by the bottom 11 and by the snap-fitting of the part 12 into the member 1, optionally by
This is supplemented by the contact of the head 9 against the collar 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the nut is similar to the previous embodiment, but with three additional holes on the outer surface of the portion 12 of the nut body to help seal the hole 20 for the nut.
including one bead 22. In some cases one or two beads are sufficient, in other cases it is preferred to provide three or more beads.

In the embodiment shown, the parts 1, 2 are molded together in the same mold and are pre-integrated in such a position that the bottom surfaces of the retaining projections 15A, 15B are at the level of the collar 5. In this case, the retaining projection and the collar are connected by a film 3. Depending on the situation, other breakable bonding means (for example a bonding point rather than a film) can be provided, the parts 1, 2 can be pre-integrated in different positions, and
Parts 1 and 2 can be molded separately.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the nut according to the present invention is used to fix the second element 30, which is also plate-shaped, to the first element 21 at many locations. The element 30 is drilled with a number of holes 31, which have a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the screw 32, but whose longitudinal position can be varied within a range, ie the distance between the axes can be varied.

Furthermore, although the nuts and screws shown in the right half of FIG. 8 are coaxial, the axes of the nuts and screws shown in the left half are shifted by a distance X; hole 31
is opposite the nut, so that the screw can be fixed in one of the seats 17 of the nut, similar to the screw on the right half.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes are possible.

[0028]

The plastic nut according to the invention makes it possible to completely seal the elongated hole of the element to which the nut is to be attached.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a nut according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III in FIG. 1;

4 is a longitudinal sectional view along line IV-IV in FIG. 2; FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the first element with an elongated or oval hole drilled therein for fixing the nut;

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2, showing a state in which the nut and the sealing member are locked and attached to the elongated hole of the first element.

7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the nut body snap-engaged with the sealing member; FIG.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing that assembly can be performed even if the holes of the first and second elements to be assembled are not aligned;

FIG. 9 is a drawing similar to FIG. 6 showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Deformable hollow sealing member 2 Nut member 16 Protrusion 17 seat 20 Long hole 21 First element 30 Second element 32 screw

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plastic nut comprising an elongated hollow nut body with projections (16) on the longitudinal body interior surface forming between them a series of axially oriented and spaced apart seats (17). , the nut is configured to be attached by a snap fit into the elongated hole (20) of the first element (21) to which the second element (30) is to be fixed by means of a fixing screw (32), each seat (17) In a type configured to receive the tip of a screw (32) and fix the screw depending on the degree of penetration of the screw, the nut is inserted into the elongated hole (20) in addition to the nut body (2). A plastic nut, characterized in that it comprises a deformable hollow sealing member (1) adapted to be snap-fitted and then capable of locking a nut body (2). 2. The sealing member (1) is connected to a first end of the leg (4) made of plastic and having an outer shape corresponding to the contour of the slot (20) of the first element. a deformable collar (5) and a ridge (6A, 6B) provided on each longitudinal outer surface of the leg and narrowing towards the collar (5);
2. The plastic nut of claim 1, further comprising: ). 3. The nut body (2) has a sealing leg (
4) having an external shape corresponding to the internal contour of the first part (12
), while the second end of the leg is closed at the bottom (11), and said nut body and sealing member are arranged in the locking position in said first part of the nut leg (10). 3. Plastic nut according to claim 2, characterized in that the part (12) is configured to lock onto the sealing leg (4). 4. Nut according to claim 3, characterized in that the first part of the nut body comprises on its outer surface at least one ridge (22). 5. Said sealing member (1) further comprises at a second end a ridge (8A, 8B) on each longitudinal inner surface of a leg (4), said nut body (2) Part (12
) includes a head (9) in the form of a collar connecting to a first end of the leg (10) at the apex of the leg (10) and a second portion (13) at the opposite end.
) are connected, in said second part the lateral outer dimension of the nut leg (10) decreases until it reaches a third part (14) of constant cross-section closed at said bottom (11), and a retaining projection ( 15A, 15B) are provided at the top of each longitudinal outer surface of the third portion (14), and the nut body (2) and the sealing member (1) are arranged at the second end of the nut body inserted into the first end of the sealing member. The retaining projections (15A, 15B) of the nut body abut internal ridges (8A, 8B) on the second end of the sealing member, and the second end deformation as a result of which the internal ridges are spaced apart and the retaining projections (15A
, 15B) and then tightened above said retaining projection, thus placing the internal ridge at the level of the second part (13) of the nut body and the head (9) of the nut body.
5. Plastic nut according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the collar (5) rests against the collar (5) of the sealing member. 6. The nut body (2) and the sealing member (1) are previously connected at a predetermined position by an easily breakable connecting means (3).
The plastic nut described in any one of ~5. 7. At the predetermined position, the bottom surface of the holding protrusion (15A, 15B) of the nut body is aligned with the collar (15A, 15B) of the sealing member.
A plastic nut according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it is placed at the level of item 5). 8. Plastic nut according to claim 1, characterized in that the nut is obtained in one piece by molding the plastic in a single mold.