JPH0989164A - Clamp for flat cable - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce cost as well as to improve general-purpose properties that a flat cable is reliably fixed to a chassis or a frame regardless of the width or the thickness of the flat cable. SOLUTION: A fixed member 12 and a lock fixing part 5 are provided in the mutual facing positions of a width elastic part 2 to be deformed according to the width of a flat cable 3, and the flat cable 3 is pinched by the fixed member 12 and the lock fixing part 5 from the width direction. The flat cable 3 is pressed in the thickness direction by a spring piece 17 so provided as to project from the fixed member 12. Therefore, the flat cable 3 can be reliably held in both directions of the width direction and the thickness direction of it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat cable clamp applied when wiring a flat cable to, for example, a chassis of an automobile, and more particularly, to securely fixing the flat cable regardless of the width or thickness of the flat cable. Regarding a flat cable clamp that can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, a large number of electronic devices are mounted on an automobile for various controls, and as a matter of course, a wire harness and a flat cable are often used. On the other hand, various vibrations are constantly applied to the automobile. For example, if the flat cable bounces due to the vibration, it may interfere with the chassis or the like, resulting in a disconnection of the cable or a short circuit accident due to stripping of the coating. Therefore, the actual exploitation 58-60
Japanese Patent No. 074 discloses a clamp for a flat cable that fixes the flat cable to a chassis, a frame, or the like.

An example of a conventional flat cable clamp (hereinafter simply referred to as a clamp) will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Clamp 41 as shown in FIG.
Is formed into a substantially rectangular frame, and the upper surface 4
As shown by a solid line and a dotted line in FIG. 7, 2 is configured to be openable and closable with one end 42a as a fulcrum, and an elastic claw 43 is provided on the bottom surface portion. The clamp 41 is attached to the board 44 by press-fitting the elastic claws 43 into the mounting holes 45 provided in the board 44, opens the upper surface portion 42 and inserts the flat cable 46, and then closes the upper surface portion 42 to flatten it. The cable 46 is pressed and fixed.

[0004]

However, the width of the flat cable 46 varies depending on the number of poles of the electric wire and is not uniform, and the width of the upper surface portion 42 of the clamp 41 having the above configuration is constant. It was necessary to prepare a dedicated clamp that fits the width. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare many types of clamps corresponding to the width of the flat cable, and there is a problem that parts management becomes complicated. Further, in the clamp 41 having the above-described configuration, the flat cable 46 is not sufficiently fixed in the thickness direction, and there is a problem that the flat cable 46 rattles in the thickness direction and abnormal noise is generated. An object of the present invention is to provide a flat cable clamp that can be reliably fixed to a chassis or a frame regardless of the width and thickness of the flat cable.

[0005]

The above object according to the present invention is achieved by the flat cable connector described in 1) to 4) below. 1) One side of a flat cable that is fixed to a chassis or the like is supported, and the shape is extended from an elastic portion that is deformable according to the width dimension of the flat cable and a fixing member provided at one end of the elastic portion. A spring piece for pressing the side surface of the flat cable toward the elastic portion in a state, and extending from the fixing member so as to cross the elastic portion,
A locking member whose end is adjusted and locked according to the width dimension of the flat cable to a lock fixing portion provided at the other end of the elastic portion, and the fixing member and the lock fixing portion are connected to the chassis. A clamp for a flat cable, which is provided with an elastic claw member for locking the same. 2) In the flat cable clamp according to the item 1), a rib that supports one side surface of the flat cable together with the elastic portion is provided inside the annular frame formed by the elastic portion.

3) One side of a flat cable fixed to a chassis or the like is supported, and an elastic portion whose diameter can be adjusted according to the width of the flat cable is provided, and one end of the elastic portion is movably provided. And a spring piece that presses the side surface of the flat cable toward the elastic portion in the state of being extended from the moving member, and the other end of the elastic portion for width adjusted at the locking position corresponding to the width dimension of the flat cable. A clamp for a flat cable, comprising: a lock fixing portion that locks the lock member; and an elastic claw member that locks the moving member and the lock fixing portion to the chassis or the like. 4) In the flat cable clamp of the above item 3), a rib that supports one side surface of the flat cable together with the elastic portion is provided inside the annular frame formed by the elastic portion.

According to the flat cable clamp described in the above 1) and 2), the elastically deformable elastic portion and the fixing member integrally provided at one end of the elastic portion project in the central direction. The flat cable is inserted between the spring piece and the spring piece. One side surface of this flat cable is supported by the elastic portion and is pressed toward the elastic portion by the spring piece. When the width of the flat cable is large with respect to the distance between the lock fixing portion provided at a position facing the fixing member supporting the base of the spring piece, the elastic portion elastically deforms in the width direction of the flat cable. Hold the flat cable while pressing it from both sides in the width direction. Therefore,
The flat cable is elastically clamped by the elastic portion in the width direction and elastically by the elastic portion and the spring piece in the thickness direction.

Further, when the width of the flat cable is smaller than the distance between the fixing member and the lock fixing portion, the locking member provided so as to cross the central portion of the elastic portion from the fixing member is locked to the lock fixing portion. Then, the elastic portion is deformed to the extent that both widths of the flat cable are pressed by the fixing member and the lock fixing portion. At this time, since the spring piece acts in the same manner as described above,
The flat cable can be clamped regardless of the width of the flat cable and without rattling. Further, since the fixing member and the lock fixing portion are provided with elastic claw members for locking the clamp to the chassis or the like, the flat cable and the clamp are integrally fixed to the chassis.

According to the flat cable clamp described in the above 3) and 4), the other end of the elastic portion is locked to the lock fixing portion provided at one end of the elastic portion, and the locking position is adjusted. By doing so, the diameter of the elastic portion is adjusted according to the width of the flat cable. Further, the spring piece elastically presses the flat cable toward the elastic portion as in the above.
Therefore, when the width of the flat cable is large, the diameter of the elastic part is enlarged corresponding to the width, and conversely, when the width is small, the diameter is reduced to prevent rattling in the width direction and the thickness of the spring piece Prevents play in the direction. Further, since the elastic claw member is provided on the lock fixing portion and the moving member,
The flat cable and the clamp can be integrally fixed to the chassis or the like.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a flat cable clamp to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a clamp of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sectional structure of the clamp in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a deforming action of the clamp in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the effect | action of a clamp at the time of inserting the flat cable in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the clamp 1 according to the present embodiment is integrally molded using a synthetic resin, and in a steady state, it has a circular elastic shape for width. The elastic portion 4 for thickness, which has a function of pressing the flat cable 3 in the thickness direction and fixing the clamp 1 to a chassis or the like, and a belt-shaped locking member provided on the elastic portion 4 for thickness. A lock fixing portion 5 having a function of locking 11 and fixing the clamp 1 to a chassis or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the width elastic portion 2 is formed in an annular shape as shown by the solid line in the drawing, and the thickness elastic portion 4 and the lock portion are fixedly locked at the opposite positions passing through the center of the annular ring. The part 5 is integrally provided. Further, ribs 6a and 6b are provided on the inner side surfaces of the elastic portion 4 for width, which passes through the center of the ring and intersects the elastic portion 4 for thickness and the lock fixing portion 5 at opposite positions. The ribs 6 a and 6 b have a function of preventing the elastic portion 2 for width from collapsing or deforming and supporting one side surface of the flat cable 3 in cooperation with the elastic portion 2 for width.

The elastic portion 4 for thickness is formed in a substantially L shape, and the inner side surface of the columnar fixing member 12 is formed integrally with one end of the elastic portion 2 for width, and is locked to the chassis or the like at the lower end. A wedge-shaped elastic claw member 13a is provided. Also, the fixing member 1
An overhanging member 14 is provided at an upper end of the flat elastic member 2 so as to extend toward the center of the elastic portion 2 for width. It is a holding portion 15a that holds one side end 3a.

An opening 16 is provided in the substantially central portion of the overhanging member 14, and a spring piece 17 is provided from below the tip of the overhanging member 14 toward below the opening 16. The strip-shaped locking member 11 is directed in the direction opposite to the spring piece 17.
Is provided. The upper surface of the locking member 11 is formed in a sawtooth portion 11a.

Further, the lock fixing portion 5 is formed in a columnar shape, the inner side surface of which is integrally formed with one end of the width elastic portion 2,
A wedge-shaped elastic claw member 13b that locks to a chassis or the like at the lower end
Is provided. Further, a locking hole 19 for locking the locking member 11 is formed in the upper portion of the lock fixing portion 5, and the locking hole 1
A sawtooth surface 19a for locking the sawtooth portion 11a is formed on the upper surface of 9. The upper gap of the width elastic portion 2 above the lock fixing portion 5 serves as a holding portion 15b for holding the other side end 3b of the flat cable 3.

Next, the operation of the clamp 1 having the above structure will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the clamp 1 is in a steady state, the elastic portion 2 for width has a circular shape as shown by a solid line in the figure. It becomes elliptical as shown by the lines 2a and 2b.
As a result, the elastic portion 4 for thickness and the lock fixing portion 5 move from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the imaginary line, and the interval A between the holding portions 15a, 15b shown in FIG.
The interval of b is narrowed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when both sides of the width elastic portion 2, for example, the formation positions of the thickness elastic portion 4 and the lock fixing portion 5 are urged inward, the width elastic portion 2 will be shown. As shown by the middle imaginary lines 2c and 2d, it deforms in a flat shape in the lateral direction. As a result, the thickness elastic portion 4 and the lock fixing portion 5 approach each other,
The space A between the sandwiching portions 15a and 15b shown in FIG. 2 is narrowed, and the space between the ribs 6a and 6b is widened.

Next, the clamping action of the flat cable 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, when the flat cable 3 is clamped, the locking member 11 is pulled out from the locking hole 19 and a gap for inserting the flat cable 3 under the overhanging member 14 is formed. In this state, arrow B
As shown by, the flat cable 3 is inserted from the lower side of the locking member 11 toward the lower side of the overhanging member 14, and the side end 3a is inserted into the holding portion 15a. Then flat cable 3
The side end 3b of the locking member 1 is positioned on the holding portion 15b, and the locking member 1
1 is inserted into the locking hole 19.

In the state where the flat cable 3 is held by the clamp 1 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 1 as described above, the width elastic portion 2 and the rib 6 are provided below the flat cable 3.
It is supported by a and 6b. Then, the ribs 6a, 6
It is pressed by the spring piece 17 from above at a substantially central position between b. Therefore, the width direction of the flat cable 3 is regulated by the sandwiching portions 15a and 15b, and the longitudinal direction is regulated by sandwiching it from above and below, so slip-through and lifting can be reliably prevented.

Next, the elastic cable members 13a and 13b are pressed into locking holes (not shown) formed in the chassis or the frame, so that the flat cable 3 can be fixed at a predetermined position. Therefore, since the clamp 1 is fixed to the chassis or the like at two places by the two elastic claw members 13a and 13b, it does not rotate, so that the flat cable 3 is securely fixed.

By the way, when the clamp 1 is fixed to the chassis or the like, the side surface of the elastic portion 2 for width comes into contact with the chassis in an annular shape, so that the contact area with the chassis becomes wide and the elastic portion 2 for width is easily deformed. Without doing so, the flat cable 3 can be supported in a wide range. Therefore, accidents such as slipping of the flat cable 3 can be reliably prevented, and a stable fixed state can be maintained.

Although FIG. 1 shows the holding mode when the width dimension of the flat cable 3 and the diameter of the elastic portion 2 for width are substantially the same, the width dimension and thickness of the flat cable 3 are actually Various. For example, when the width of the flat cable 3 is larger than the diameter of the elastic portion 2 for width, the elastic portion 2 for width is placed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flat cable 3 as shown by imaginary lines 2a and 2b in FIG. The flat cable 3 is held by being deformed into an elliptical shape along the line. In this case, depending on the width of the flat cable 3, the locking member 11 may not engage with the locking hole 19. However, the width elastic portion 2
The flat cable 3 can be surely held by the lower supporting action of the ribs 6a and 6b and the pressing action of the spring piece 17.

If the width of the flat cable 3 is smaller than the diameter of the width elastic portion 2, the imaginary lines 2c and 2d shown in FIG.
As shown by, the elastic portion 2 for width is deformed into an elliptical shape along the longitudinal direction of the flat cable 3, and the locking member 11 is locked in the locking hole 19 to prevent the shape from returning to the circular shape. In this case, the flat cable 3 is supported in a wide range along the longitudinal direction, and the spring piece 1 is supported between the ribs 6a and 6b which are spaced apart from each other.
It is pressed by 7. Therefore, the flat cable 3 is securely held, and the elastic claw member 1 is inserted into the locking hole formed in advance in the chassis or the like according to the width dimension of the flat cable 3.
By press-fitting 3a and 13b, the clamp 1 holding the flat cable 3 is securely fixed to the chassis or the like.

The thickness of the flat cable 3 is not uniform but varies, but the spring piece 17 as a whole has elasticity, and the tip of the spring piece 17 is inserted into the opening 16 when pushed up. Therefore, not only the width of the flat cable 3 but also the change in the thickness can be dealt with. Thus, the clamp 1 of the present embodiment to which the present invention is applied
Can be securely fixed to a chassis or the like regardless of the width dimension and the thickness dimension of the flat cable 3, and it is not necessary to prepare various types of clamps according to the dimension, and complicated part management is not required. At the same time, work efficiency can be improved.

The clamp to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and a band-shaped clamp as shown in FIG. 5 can also be implemented. That is, the clamp 21 includes a width elastic portion 22 that can be bent in a circular shape, a thickness elastic portion 24 that can reciprocate in the arrow X and Y directions along the width elastic portion 22, and a width elastic portion 22. A lock fixing portion 25 and the like integrally provided on the base portion are provided.

The thickness elastic portion 24 has a columnar moving member 32 and an overhanging member 34, an elastic claw member 33a provided at the lower end of the moving member 32, and a concave shape at the bending position between the fixing member 32 and the overhanging member 34. And a spring piece 37 provided from the tip of the overhanging member 34 toward the opening 36, and the like. The moving member 32 is provided with an insertion opening 32a, and the elastic member for width 22 formed in a band shape is inserted into the insertion hole 32a, so that the elastic member for thickness 24 as a whole moves in the X and Y directions. Is configured to be able to.

A width elastic portion 22 is provided at one end of the lock fixing portion 25.
Is integrally formed, the elastic claw member 33b is integrally formed at the lower end of the lock fixing portion 25, and the stepped holding portion 35b is formed on the inner surface side of the upper portion. Further, a rib 26 is provided inward from the holding portion 35b, and a part of the rib 26 overlaps the spring piece 37.
Further, the fixing portion 25 is provided with a locking hole 38 for locking the serrated portion 22a formed at the tip of the width elastic portion 22.

In the clamp 21 having the above structure,
A flat cable is inserted between the rib 26 and the spring piece 37 from above the lock fixing portion 25. At this time, if the side end of the flat cable does not fit into the holding portion 35b, the elastic portion 22 for width is extended from the lock fixing portion 25 and the diameter of the elastic portion 22 for width is expanded to hold the flat cable. It is held between the portions 35a and 35b. On the contrary, when the side end of the flat cable is not hooked on the holding portion 35b, the end portion of the width elastic portion 22 is pulled into the lock fixing portion 25 to reduce the diameter of the width elastic portion 22, thereby reducing the flatness. The cable is held between the holding portions 35a and 35b.

In the flat cable clamp of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the flat cable 3 can be securely held regardless of the width of the flat cable 3. Further, it is possible to hold a plurality of flat cables by superposing them on one clamp, and it is possible to improve versatility, work efficiency, and cost reduction.

[0030]

As described above, in the flat cable clamp according to the present invention, the fixing member and the lock fixing portion are provided at the positions facing each other of the width elastic portions that deform in accordance with the width of the flat cable. While holding the flat cable from the width direction by the fixing member and the lock fixing portion,
The flat cable is pressed in the thickness direction by a spring piece provided so as to project from the fixing member. Therefore,
Regardless of the width or thickness of the flat cable, it can be securely fixed to the chassis or the like with a kind of clamp, and the versatility of the clamp is improved, and work efficiency and cost can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp for a flat cable showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the structure of the clamp in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a clamp showing a deformation of a width elastic portion in FIG.

4 is a perspective view showing a clamp action of the flat cable in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a flat cable clamp showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional clamp.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 21 Flat cable clamp 2, 22 Width elastic part (elastic part) 3 Flat cable 4, 24 Thickness elastic part 5, 25 Lock fixing part 6a, 6b, 26 Rib 11 Locking member 12 Fixing member 13a, 13b, 33a, 33b Elastic claw member 15a, 15b, 35a, 35b Clamping part 17,37 Spring piece

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An elastic portion that supports one side surface of a flat cable that is fixed to a chassis or the like and that is deformable according to the width dimension of the flat cable, and a fixing member that is provided at one end of the elastic portion. A spring piece that presses the side surface of the flat cable toward the elastic portion in the state of being bulged from the elastic member, and extends from the fixing member so as to cross the elastic portion, and the end portion is provided at the other end of the elastic portion. A locking member that is adjusted and locked to the lock fixing portion in accordance with the width dimension of the flat cable, and an elastic claw member for locking the fixing member and the lock fixing portion to the chassis or the like. A flat cable clamp characterized by having it. 2. The flat cable clamp according to claim 1, wherein a rib that supports one side surface of the flat cable together with the elastic portion is provided inside an annular frame formed by the elastic portion. 3. An elastic portion that supports one side surface of a flat cable that is fixed to a chassis or the like and whose diameter can be adjusted according to the width dimension of the flat cable, and is movably provided at one end of the elastic portion. And a spring piece that presses the side surface of the flat cable toward the elastic portion in the state of being extended from the moving member, and the other end of the elastic portion for width adjusted at the locking position corresponding to the width dimension of the flat cable. A clamp for a flat cable, comprising: a lock fixing portion that locks the lock member; and an elastic claw member that locks the moving member and the lock fixing portion to the chassis or the like. 4. The flat cable clamp according to claim 3, wherein a rib that supports one side surface of the flat cable together with the elastic portion is provided inside an annular frame formed by the elastic portion.