Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
  • G02B6/0005—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being of the fibre type
  • G02B6/001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being of the fibre type the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/50—Mounting arrangements
  • B60Q3/51—Mounting arrangements for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/60—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by optical aspects
  • B60Q3/62—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by optical aspects using light guides
  • B60Q3/64—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by optical aspects using light guides for a single lighting device
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q3/00—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
  • B60Q3/70—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose
  • B60Q3/78—Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors characterised by the purpose for generating luminous strips, e.g. for marking trim component edges
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
  • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
  • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
  • F21S43/235—Light guides
  • F21S43/236—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide
  • F21S43/237—Light guides characterised by the shape of the light guide rod-shaped
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V15/00—Protecting lighting devices from damage
  • F21V15/04—Resilient mountings, e.g. shock absorbers 
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
  • G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3636—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3616—Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
  • G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3636—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves
  • G02B6/364—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves inverted grooves, e.g. dovetails
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
  • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
  • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
  • G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
  • G02B6/3684—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the manufacturing process of surface profiling of the supporting carrier
  • G02B6/3696—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the manufacturing process of surface profiling of the supporting carrier by moulding, e.g. injection moulding, casting, embossing, stamping, stenciling, printing, or with metallic mould insert manufacturing using LIGA or MIGA techniques

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for fixing a linear member arranged along a predetermined passage to an engaging groove defined on an object as the arrangement passage, a linear member fixing structure and a linear member holder.
• Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 7-30533 Generally, methods for fixing a linear member arranged along a predetermined passage to an object are described in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 7-30533 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2004-229485 and 2001- 314028.
• Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 7-30533 a method is disclosed for attaching electric wires to a pillar or a wall of a residence or others by using an electric wire attachment appliance having a bottom wall and a pair of legs extending upward from the bottom wall.
• 2004- 229485 discloses a method for fixing a flat wire harness onto a plate of a body panel of an automobile, while pressing opposite widthwise regions of the flat wire harness by using a plurality of attachment ribs having an L-shaped cross-section projected from the plate.
• Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2001-314028 discloses a method for fixedly supporting an electric wire by fastening bolts while clamping the electric wire between a pair of clamping members.
• a light fiber such as, for example, an illuminant used as an additional light for an instrumental panel or a compartment lamp of an automobile, or as an illumination for a building, has to be fixed by a method different from the conventional wire attachment method. That is, if the conventional wire fixing method is applied to the light fiber, there is a possibility of causing a problem in that the light fiber is partially fixed to an object to be attached, in the fixed portion, the light fiber is concealed to generate the lighting irregularity, resulting in a poor looking, and, on the other hand, in the unfixed portion, the light fiber moves by the vehicle vibration to damage a hard outer surface thereof or break itself.
• the present invention provides a method for fixing a linear member, a structure for fixing the linear member and a linear member holder, capable of maintaining a favorable appearance of the linear member as well as preventing the linear member from being damaged or broken.
• a method for fixing a linear member arranged on a predetermined passage to an engaging groove defining the passage on an object.
• the method comprises holding a fixed portion of the linear member to be held in the engaging groove by a long linear member holder, pushing the linear member holder in which the linear member is held into the engaging groove so that an outer surface of a non-fixed portion of the linear member is exposed outside, and fixing the linear member to the engaging groove via the linear member holder by a surface pressure applied to a contact surface of an inner surface of the engaging groove with an outer surface of the linear member holder.
• the linear member holder can be elastic.
• a structure for fixing a linear member that comprises a linear member arranged on a predetermined passage, a long- sized linear member holder for holding the linear member while exposing one part of an outer surface of the linear member and covering the other part thereof, and an object having an engaging groove of a cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of the linear member holder, defining the predetermined passage for arranging the linear member.
• the linear member is fixed to the engaging groove via the linear member holder while exposing an outer surface of a non-fixed portion of the linear member outside.
• the linear member holder can be elastic.
• the linear member can be a light fiber for uniformly reflecting a light beam fed from one end to the interior thereof.
• the linear member holder can have a bottom wall extending in the axial direction of the linear member and a pair of opposed walls extending upward from opposite sides of the bottom wall in the same direction to define a retaining space encircled thereby and the bottom wall.
• a linear member holder is provided that is used for holding a linear member arranged on a predetermined passage in an engaging groove forming the passage on an object.
• the linear member comprises a bottom wall extending in the axial direction of the linear member and a pair of opposed walls extending upward from opposite sides of the bottom wall in the same direction to define a retaining space encircled thereby and the bottom wall.
• the linear member is held while exposing one part of an outer surface of the linear member and covering the other part thereof, by the elastic recovery force operated about the roots of the pair of opposed walls.
• the linear member holder can have elasticity.
• the linear member holder can include a flexible inner engaging element that projects from at least one of inner surfaces in the opposed walls for preventing the linear member from coming off from the retaining space.
• the linear member holder can also include a flexible outer engaging element that projects outward from at least one of outer surfaces in the opposite walls for preventing the holder from coming off from the engaging groove. At least one of the flexible inner engaging element and the flexible outer engaging element can be provided parallel to the central axis of the linear member to be held.
• the fixed portion of the linear member can operate to fix the linear member not to come off from the engaging groove by using the linear member holder having a size in correspondence to a gap between the linear member and the engaging groove so that a surface pressure is applied to the contact surface of the linear member/linear member holder and the contact surface of the linear member holder/engaging groove.
• the linear member is protected by the linear member holder and prevented from being damaged or broken due to the looseness of the linear member or others.
• the absorption of vibration of the structure can be enhanced, and the linear member/linear member holder and the linear member holder/engaging groove brought into tight contact with each other in a wide area.
• the linear member can be well protected and prevented from being damaged or broken due to the looseness of the linear member.
• the linear member being an illuminant light fiber
• the light beam of the light fiber is not disturbed and it is possible to avoid the irregularity of light as well as prevent the fine appearance of the light fiber from damaging.
• the outer surface of the light fiber which is pure quartz or plastics, being held by the elastic linear member holder, the outer surface of the light fiber is not brought into direct contact with the inner surface of the engaging groove, whereby the damage or breakage of the light fiber can be effectively avoidable.
• the linear member holder having, as a one-piece member, the bottom wall extending in the axial direction of the linear member and the pair of opposed walls extending upward in the same direction from the opposite sides of the bottom wall, it is possible to continuously restrict the outer surface of the fixed portion of the linear member as a whole both in the axial and circumferential directions, whereby the light irregularity of the linear member used as an illuminant can be reduced, and also the linear member can be held in a stable manner in comparison with a case wherein the linear member is partially held and fixed.
• the linear member holder having, as a one-piece member, the bottom wall extending in the axial direction of the linear member and the pair of opposed walls extending upward from the opposite sides of the bottom wall in the same direction, it is possible to continuously restrict the outer surface of the fixed portion of the linear member as a whole both in the axial and circumferential directions, whereby the circumference of the fixed portion of the linear member can be held in a stable manner. Also, it is possible to uniformly expose the outer surface of the non-fixed portion of the linear member from the linear member holder, whereby the decorativeness of the linear member can be enhanced. If the light fiber is used as a linear member, the light irregularity can be eliminated and the light fiber can be uniformly luminous.
• the vibration absorption of the linear member holder can be facilitated, and the linear member/linear member holder and the linear member holder/engaging groove respectively brought into tight contact with each other with no gap in a wide area.
• the protection of the linear member can be enhanced, whereby the linear member can be prevented from being damaged or broken due to the looseness thereof.
• the linear member can be inserted from the open end into the retaining space while flexing the flexible inner engaging element, after which the open end can be closed by the elastic restoration of the flexible inner engaging element to the original position thereof to prevent the linear member from unintentionally coming off from the retaining space.
• the linear member holder can be pushed into the engaging groove while flexing the flexible outer engaging element.
• the elastic recovery force of the pair of opposed walls directing in the opening direction and the elastic recovery force of the flexible outer engaging element can be simultaneously applied to the inner surface of the engaging groove, whereby the linear member holder can be prevented from coming off from the engaging groove due to the synergistic effect of both the elastic recovery forces.
• the flexible inner engaging element is disposed parallel to the central axis of the linear member to be held, it is possible to uniformly illuminate the linear member in comparison with a case wherein a plurality of engaging elements are partially arranged at a certain interval, whereby the decorativeness is further enhanced.
• the flexible outer engaging element is disposed parallel to the central axis of the linear member to be held, the linear member or the linear member holder is continuously fastened by the flexible engaging elements in the axial direction, whereby it is possible to prevent the linear member or the linear member holder from coming off.
• Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of a structure for fixing a linear member according to the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the structure for fixing a linear member shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a linear member holder according to the present invention.
• Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the linear member holder shown in Fig. 3.
• Fig. 5 is a conceptual illustration of the application of a light fiber (linear member) to an automobile.
• Fig. 6 is an illustration of a first modification of the light fiber; (a) is a sectional view thereof prior to being fixed, and (b) is after being fixed.
• Fig. 7 is an illustration of a second modification of the light fiber; (a) is a sectional view thereof prior to being fixed, and (b) is after being fixed.
• Fig. 8 is an illustration of a third modification of the light fiber; (a) is a sectional view thereof prior to being fixed, and (b) is after being fixed.
• Fig. 9 is an illustration of a fourth modification of the light fiber; (a) is a sectional view thereof prior to being fixed, and (b) is after being fixed.
• Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the inventive structure for fixing a linear member.
• the structure for fixing the linear member of this embodiment includes a light fiber (linear member) 1, a light source (not shown) for supplying light to the light fiber 1 , a fiber holder (linear member holder) 3 and a panel (object) 13 to which is fixed the light fiber 1 via the fiber holder 3.
• a fiber assembly 11 is constituted by the light fiber 1 and the fiber holder 3.
• the light fiber 1 is an illuminant having a function for repeatedly and uniformly reflecting a light beam supplied from one end to the interior thereof and illuminating itself at a brightness controlled by the light source, and is molded with plastics to have a long size and a large diameter. Since the plastic light fiber 1 is excellent in flexibility, it has a high degree of handling freedom and is capable of bending in an optional direction.
• a light fiber 1 may be constituted, for example, by a core member of acrylic resin and a clad member of fluorine resin.
• a length of the light fiber 1 is optional; i.e., a long one may be molded as a one-piece or a plurality of short fibers may be connected together while using optical connectors.
• the light fiber 1 having a diameter as large as approximately 10 mm has been manufactured. At present, a thicker one can be produced.
• the light fiber having a large diameter is capable of absorbing the axial deviation when being connected to the other. Also, it is less in light loss at the mutual connection and an end thereof can be easily polished. Also, the handling is better than a thinner one.
• quartz may be used as material for the light fiber 1, it is low in flexibility in comparison with plastics and difficult to have a large diameter light fiber, whereby there is a limitation in the vehicle use.
• the light source not shown is means for supplying light beams from one end of the light fiber into the interior thereof to illuminate the light fiber 1 at optional brightness and color.
• a halogen lamp having an output of 100 W may be used as the light source.
• the fiber holder 1 is molded with elastic resinous material such as polyvinyl chloride as a one-piece member.
• the resinous material is not limited to soft one having the elasticity but may include hard material having no elasticity such as polypropylene or polyethylene.
• the fiber holder includes a bottom wall 5 extending in the axial direction of the light fiber 1 and a pair of opposed walls 6, 6 extending in the same direction from both sides of the bottom wall 5 to form a continuous trough having a U- shaped cross-section and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof (see Fig. 3).
• the bottom wall 5 and the pair of opposed walls 6, 6 are smoothly coupled to each other so that the outer surface 2 of the light fiber 1 is brought into tight contact with the inner surface of the fiber holder 3 with no gap.
• An interior space encircled with the bottom wall 5 and the pair of opposed walls 6, 6 defines a holding space 10.
• the outer surface 2 of a non-fixed portion 2b of the light fiber 1 is exposed from an open end 9 of the fiber holder 3.
• a height of the respective opposed wall 6 is defined to be equal to or lower than a diameter of the light fiber 1 so that the end of the opposed wall 6 is not higher than the light fiber 1.
• a wall thickness of the bottom wall 5 and the pair of opposed walls 6 is selected while taking the elasticity and the absorption of vibration of the fiber holder 3 as well as a gap between the light fiber 1 and the engaging grove 14 of the panel 13 into account.
• Inner hooks (flexible inner stoppers) 7 extending parallel to a central axis of the light fiber 1 are provided at positions opposed to each other, for preventing the light fiber 1 from unintentionally removing from the fiber holding space 10.
• the inner hook 7 is formed to have a thicker root and a thinner tip end so that it is flexible about the root thereof.
• a projected length of the inner hook 7 is optional provided the fine appearance of the light fiber 1 is not deteriorated and the fixation of the light fiber 1 is ensured.
• a rear surface of the inner hook 7 operates as a stopper surface 7a for the light fiber 1 and a front surface thereof operates as a slanted guide surface 7b.
• the light fiber 1 When a fixed portion 2a of the light fiber 1 is attached to the fiber holder 3, the light fiber 1 is inserted from the open end 9 of the fiber holder 3 into the holding space 19 while sliding along width direction of the guide surface 7b and flexes the inner hook 7 outward about the root thereof, whereby the pair of opposed walls 6, 6 are pushed away from each other until the light fiber 1 is brought into contact with the bottom wall 5.
• Fig. 2 a fixed stated of the light fiber 1 is illustrated.
• the inner hooks 7 restore the original positions thereof and the stopper surfaces 7a become generally horizontal.
• An outer hook (flexible outer stopper) 8 is provided parallel to the central axis of the light fiber 1 on the outer surface 6b on a root side of the respective opposed wall 6 for preventing the fiber holder 3 from coming off from the engaging groove 14 of the panel 13. Since the outer hook 8 is continuously formed in the longitudinal direction of the fiber holder 3 over a whole length thereof, the outer hook 8 is brought into linear contact with an inner surface 14a of the engaging groove 14 in the panel 13 to enhance the fixing force.
• the outer hook 8 is formed to incline slightly upward (reverse to the inserting direction) from the root to the tip end thereof. Also, a partially thin portion is provided on the root side of the outer hook 8 to facilitate the outward bending (in the opening direction).
• the tip end of the outer hook 8 is rounded to increase a contact area thereof with the inner surface 14a of the engaging groove 14.
• the panel 13 to which is fixed the light fiber 1 is mainly an instrument panel 15 or a door panel 16 as shown in Fig. 5 if it is applied to an automobile, or a panel board attached to an inner wall or an outer wall if it is applied to a building.
• the panel 13 on which the light fiber 1 is fixed is not limited to a flat one but may include a three-dimensionally curved one.
• the panel 13 may be molded with resinous material such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).
• PP polypropylene
• PE polyethylene
• the engaging groove 14 is recessed to form a predetermined arrangement passage for the light fiber 1.
• the cross-sectional shape of the engaging groove 14 is determined in accordance with the relationship thereof with the fiber holder 3, and in this embodiment, a U-shape is selected (see Fig. 2).
• a depth of the groove in this embodiment is determined so that the light fiber 1 is never exposed therefrom.
• a width of the groove is determined in accordance with the relationship of a diameter of the light fiber 1 and a thickness of the fiber holder. That is, the dimension is determined so that when the fiber assembly 11 is fixed to the engaging groove 14, the fiber assembly 11 is brought into contact with the engaging groove 14 and the light fiber 1 is clamped by the fiber holder 3.
• the elastic force caused by the elastic restoration of the pair of opposed walls 6, 6 flexed inward upon the attachment operates on the contact surface between the inner surface 14a of the engaging groove 14 and the outer surface 6b of the fiber holder 3, whereby the fiber holder 3 or the fiber assembly 11 is fixed to the engaging groove 14.
• the light fiber 1 is attached to the instrument panel 15, a door panel 15 and a console box 17 in a car compartment.
• the light fiber 1 may be used as a courtesy lamp, a map lamp, room lamp or an exterior part.
• the linear member fixing structure in this embodiment since the light fiber 1 is fixed to the panel 13 via the fiber holder 3, the outer surface 2 which is the non-fixed portion of the light fiber 1 is uniformly exposed from an open end of the engaging groove 14, it is possible to prevent the illumination light from being irregular and the fine appearance of the light fiber 1 from being disturbed. Since the light fiber 1 is not bulged out from the panel 13, it is possible to avoid the interference of the light fiber 1 and other parts.
• the fiber 1 can be fixed without looseness, whereby the damage or breakage of the light fiber 1 is avoidable.
• the fiber holder 3 in this embodiment has a trough-like cross-section and extends in the longitudinal direction, the outer surface 2 of the fixed portion 2a in the light fiber 1 is continuously bound as a whole both in the axial and circumferential directions, and the outer surface 1 of the non-fixed portion 2b in the light fiber 1 is uniformly exposed from the fiber holder 3. Since the inner hooks 7 and the outer hooks 8 are provided, respectively, on the inner surface 6a and the outer surface 6b of the pair of opposed walls 6, 6, it is possible to assuredly avoid the coming-off of the light fiber from the fiber holder 3, and to avoid the coming-off of the fiber holder 3 from the engaging groove 14 of the panel 13.
• the damage or breakage of the light fiber 1 during the attachment is avoidable to facilitate the attachment or the maintenance.
• Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate various modifications, respectively, of this embodiment included in the concept of the present invention.
• a modification wherein the light fiber 1 is held by using a fiber holder 3 A having no inner hooks 7.
• Each of the pair of opposed walls 6, 6 is formed so that a tip end thereof is thicker than a root thereof, and a distance between both the opposed walls is narrower in the tip end area than in the root area.
• the light panel 1 is fixed to the panel 13, the light panel 1 is applied with the elastic force from the pair of opposed walls 6, 6, not to come-off from the panel.
• Other structures are the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4.
• Fig. 7 another modification is illustrated, wherein the light fiber 1 is held by using a fiber holder 3B having no outer hooks 8.
• Each of the pair of opposed walls 6, 6 is formed so that the root thereof is thicker than the tip end thereof to form a bulge 18.
• the bulge 18 of the fiber holder 1 is tightly engaged with the corner groove 19 to prevent the fiber holder 3B from coming off from the engaging groove 14.
• Other structures are the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4.
• a further modification is illustrated, wherein the light fiber 1 is held by using a fiber holder 3 C having none of inner hooks 7 and outer hooks 8.
• This modification is a combination of the modifications shown in Figs. 6 and 7.
• Other structures are the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4.
• a furthermore modification is illustrated, wherein the light fiber 1 is held by using a fiber holder 3D having, instead of the outer hooks 8, a male type engaging rib 20 extending on the bottom surface 5 in the axial direction.
• a tip end of the engaging rib 20 is partially thicker than the root thereof.
• a female groove 21 engageable with the engaging rib 20 is provided in the engaging groove 14 of the panel 13. When the light fiber 1 is fixed to the panel 13, the engaging rib 20 is engaged with the groove 21 to prevent the fiber holder 3D from coming off from the engaging groove 14.
• Other structures are the same as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4.
• the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and modifications, but can be executed in other forms.
• the light fiber 1 is used as a linear member in this embodiment, the present invention is applicable to a colored electric wire (an optical communications cable, a coaxial cable, a power cable) covered with an insulation coating around a core.
• the light fiber 1 fixed to the panel 13 is not limited to one but a plurality of light fibers may be used.
• the inner hook 7 for preventing the light fiber 1 from coming off from the fiber holder 3 and the outer hook 8 for preventing the fiber holder 3 from coming off from the engaging groove 14 of the panel 13 are provided in the pair of opposed walls 6, 6, they may be selectively provided in either of the pair of opposed walls 6.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Country Status (2)

Cited By (18)

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Citations (4)

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• 2005
  • 2005-10-19 JP JP2005304330A patent/JP2007113639A/ja active Pending
• 2006
  • 2006-10-10 WO PCT/US2006/039716 patent/WO2007047304A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (4)

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