JP7498673B2 - Fastener - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fastener for attaching a mounting member to a shaft body.

Patent Document 1 discloses a stud fastener consisting of a first clip and a second clip that fastens to a stud to attach a mounting member. The first clip has a hollow inner tube, a flange provided at one end of the inner tube, and a fastening claw formed on the inside of the inner tube that engages with the threads of the stud.

JP 2015-121234 A

In the technology described in Patent Document 1, when the stud fastener receives a load from the mounting member in a direction that disengages it from the stud, the flange of the first clip receives the load from the mounting member and transmits it to the locking claw. If the load received from the mounting member is large, the arm of the locking claw may bend and the locking claw may become disengaged.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fastener that is less likely to come off the shaft.

In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention is a fastener for attaching an attachment member to a shaft body, comprising a first part and a second part into which the shaft body can be inserted. The first part has a cylindrical part into which the shaft body is inserted, a holding part that projects radially outward from the cylindrical part and holds the attachment member, and an elastic locking part formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part and locks onto the shaft body. The second part has an annular part into which the shaft body can be inserted, and a restricting part that extends axially from the annular part and restricts radially inward bending of the elastic locking part. The elastic locking part has a main body part that extends from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part and is radially flexible, and a claw part formed on the main body part and locks onto the shaft body. The restricting part is provided so as to be located between the main body part and the shaft body.

The present invention provides a fastener that is less likely to come off the shaft.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fastener according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fastener of the embodiment. FIG. 3(a) is a side view of the first part, and FIG. 3(b) is a plan view of the first part. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first part taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view of the second component as viewed from below, and FIG. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view of the second component. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener in an installed state. 13A and 13B are diagrams for explaining a second component of a modified example.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fastener 10 according to an embodiment. Figure 1(a) shows the fastener 10 as viewed from above, and Figure 1(b) shows the fastener 10 as viewed from below. The fastener 10 is used to attach mounting members such as interior and exterior parts to a vehicle body panel, for example, to attach an undercover to a shaft protruding from a vehicle body panel.

The fastener 10 comprises a first part 20 and a second part 22. The first part 20 and the second part 22 have an insertion hole 34 and an insertion hole 48, respectively, into which the shaft body is inserted.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the fastener 10 of the embodiment. The first part 20 and the second part 22 have a retaining portion 26 and a flange portion 40 that sandwich the mounting member. The elastic claw 50 of the second part 22 engages with a step portion 24a formed on the cylindrical portion 24 of the first part 20, and the first part 20 and the second part 22 are assembled with the mounting member sandwiched between them. The detailed configuration of the first part 20 and the second part 22 will be described with reference to new drawings.

Figure 3(a) is a side view of the first part 20, and Figure 3(b) is a plan view of the first part 20. Also, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first part 20 taken along line A-A in Figure 3(b). The first part 20 has a cylindrical portion 24, a holding portion 26, a rotation receiving portion 28, a first elastic locking portion 30, a second elastic locking portion 32, and an insertion hole 34.

One end 24b and the other end 24c in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 24 are open, forming an insertion hole 34. An annular recessed step 24a is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24. The retaining portion 26 protrudes radially outward from the other end 24c of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24. A plurality of protrusions 26a are formed on the upper surface of the retaining portion 26. The protrusions 26a bite into the mounting member to suppress movement of the mounting member.

The rotation receiving portion 28 is formed on the underside of the holding portion 26 and is formed in a hexagonal column shape. This allows the first component 20 to be rotated by engaging the rotation receiving portion 28 with a tool such as a wrench.

The first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 (referred to as "elastic locking portions" when not distinguished) are formed to protrude radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 24, are formed to be flexible, and engage with the shaft inserted into the cylindrical portion 24. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are formed to be offset in the circumferential direction, and are formed to taper radially inward when viewed from above. The first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are offset in the circumferential direction, allowing them to flex without interfering with each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are formed offset in the axial direction and can be locked to the shaft of the vehicle body panel to suppress axial wobble. The first elastic locking portion 30 has a main body portion 30a and a claw portion 30b that protrudes radially inward from the main body portion 30a.

The main body 30a protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 24 and is flexible. The claw portion 30b is located at the tip side of the main body 30a and hooks onto the shaft. The main body 30a is inclined in the axial and radial directions and is formed so as to hang down toward the other end 24c. The second elastic locking portion 32 has a main body 32a and a claw portion 32b that protrudes radially inward from the main body 32a, and has the same shape as the first elastic locking portion 30, so a description of the shape will be omitted.

Figure 5(a) is a perspective view of the second part 22 as viewed from below, and Figure 5(b) is a cross-sectional view of the second part 22. The second part 22 has an outer tube portion 38, a flange portion 40, an annular portion 42, a first restricting portion 44, a second restricting portion 46, an insertion hole 48, an elastic claw 50, and a rib 52.

The outer tube portion 38 is located on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 24 of the first component 20 and surrounds the cylindrical portion 24. The flange portion 40 projects radially outward from the other end 38b of the outer tube portion 38. The annular portion 42 projects radially inward from one end 38a of the outer tube portion 38 and forms an insertion hole 48 in the center. The annular portion 42 is formed in a flat ring shape. By integrally forming the outer tube portion 38 and the annular portion 42, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly work of the mounting member can be facilitated.

The first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 (when not distinguished, they are referred to as "restricting portions") extend from the inner edge of the annular portion 42 along the axial direction and restrict the radially inward bending of the elastic locking portions 30, 32. This makes it difficult for the elastic locking portions 30, 32 to come loose from their engagement with the shaft body.

The first and second restricting portions 44 and 46 are alternately positioned and offset in the circumferential direction. The first and second restricting portions 44 and 46 are connected together, and one end of the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 form a cylindrical inner circumferential surface to define the insertion hole 48.

The inner peripheral surfaces of the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 extend in the axial direction and form a guide surface 54 that curves along the outer peripheral surface of the shaft body. This allows the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 to suppress vibration of the shaft body and ensure stable engagement. The second restricting portion 46 has a shorter axial length than the first restricting portion 44 and forms alternating recesses in the cylindrical guide surface 54.

The elastic claws 50 are formed in multiple numbers on the outer tube portion 38 and can bend in the radial direction. The elastic claws 50 engage with the step portion 24a of the first part 20 to assemble the first part 20 and the second part 22. The ribs 52 are formed to protrude from the lower surface of the annular portion 42 and are formed in multiple numbers spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The ribs 52 can abut against the cylindrical portion 24 of the first part 20.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener 10. The first part 20 and the second part 22 are arranged coaxially and are connected by the engagement of the elastic claw 50 with the step portion 24a. The outer tube portion 38 surrounds the cylindrical portion 24, and the retaining portion 26 and the flange portion 40 face each other. The annular portion 42 is located on the one end 24b side of the cylindrical portion 24, and the rib 52 formed on the annular portion 42 abuts against or is close to the one end 24b of the cylindrical portion 24.

The first restricting portion 44 abuts against the first elastic locking portion 30 to restrict the radially inward bending of the first elastic locking portion 30. The second restricting portion 46 abuts against the second elastic locking portion 32 to restrict the radially inward bending of the second elastic locking portion 32. The axial lengths of the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 from the annular portion 42 are set to match the axial positions of the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32.

The first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are inclined in the axial and radial directions and curved in the circumferential direction. The first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 are inclined and curved according to the inclination of the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32. This allows the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 to maintain the restriction even if the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are twisted. The claw portion 30b of the first elastic locking portion 30 protrudes radially inward beyond the first restricting portion 44, and the claw portion 32b of the second elastic locking portion 32 protrudes radially inward beyond the second restricting portion 46.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the fastener 10 in an attached state. The fastener 10 attaches a mounting member 14 to a workpiece 12, such as a vehicle body panel. The shaft 12a of the workpiece 12 protrudes from the workpiece 12 and is, for example, a stud bolt with a spiral groove. The shaft 12a is not limited to a stud bolt, and may be a cylinder with an engagement groove formed on its outer circumferential surface.

The mounting member 14 is, for example, an undercover made of nonwoven fabric, and has a mounting hole 14a. The mounting member 14 is placed and held on the holding portion 26 while being sandwiched between the holding portion 26 and the flange portion 40. The fastener 10 can be temporarily fastened to the mounting member 14 by sandwiching the mounting member 14 between the holding portion 26 and the flange portion 40. If the mounting member 14 is made of a material other than nonwoven fabric, the protrusion 26a does not need to be provided.

The fastener 10 is attached by being pushed from one end toward the shaft body 12a while provisionally attached to the mounting member 14, and the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are locked to the shaft body 12a. The guide surface 54 on the inner circumference of the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46 extends along the insertion direction of the shaft body 12a, and guides the insertion of the shaft body 12a. When the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are locked to the shaft body 12a, they bend radially outward so as to expand, and are not restricted by the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46. In FIG. 7, the claw portion 30b and the claw portion 32b are shown in a state where they interfere with the shaft body 12a, but in reality, they enter and lock into the spiral groove of the shaft body 12a, and the main body portion 30a and the main body portion 32a bend slightly radially outward.

The restricting portions 44, 46 are provided so as to be located between the main body portions 30a, 32a and the shaft body 12a. Therefore, when the fastener 10 receives a load in a direction in which it comes off the shaft body 12a, the elastic locking portions 30, 32 are pulled by the shaft body 12a and tend to bend radially inward, but the bending is restricted by the restricting portions 44, 46. This improves the fastener 10's ability to prevent dislodging, i.e., its load-bearing capacity. In addition, when the restricting portions 44, 46 receive a radially inward force from the elastic locking portions 30, 32, they come into contact with the shaft body 12a and are prevented from deforming radially inward, thereby improving the load-bearing capacity.

The second elastic locking portion 32 is located closer to one end in the axial direction than the first elastic locking portion 30, and is shifted in the circumferential direction from the first elastic locking portion 30. In this way, by providing the elastic locking portions 30, 32 in two stages, it is possible to suppress vibration of the shaft body 12a. In addition, the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32, which are provided in two stages, are restricted from bending radially inward by the first restricting portion 44 and the second restricting portion 46, respectively, so that each locking portion is less likely to come loose.

Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining the second part of the modified example, showing a cross section of the cap 60 and the restricting part 62. The cap 60 and restricting part 62 of the modified example differ from the second part 22 shown in Figure 5 (b) in that they are composed of two members.

The cap 60 functions to hold the restricting part 62 and prevents the restricting part 62 from coming off the first part 20. The cap 60 has an outer tube portion 138, a flange portion 40, a retaining portion 64, and a resilient claw (not shown). The resilient claw engages with the step portion 24a of the first part 20 to connect the cap 60 to the first part 20.

The retaining portion 64 protrudes radially inward from one end of the outer tube portion 138. The retaining portion 64 may be formed around the entire circumference, or multiple retaining portions 64 may be provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The retaining portion 64 stops the movement of the restricting part 62 away from the first part 20.

The restricting part 62 has an annular portion 142, a first restricting portion 144, and a second restricting portion 146. The annular portion 142 is formed in a flat plate in an annular shape and abuts against the retaining portion 64. The first restricting portion 144 restricts the radially inward bending of the first elastic locking portion 30, and the second restricting portion 146 restricts the radially inward bending of the second elastic locking portion 32.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes and other modifications may be made to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such modified embodiments may also be included within the scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment, the first elastic locking portion 30 and the second elastic locking portion 32 are provided offset in the axial direction, but this is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the elastic locking portions may be provided in a plurality of positions spaced apart in the circumferential direction, but not in two stages. In this case, the restricting portion that restricts the radially inward bending of the elastic locking portions may also be provided in an annular shape, not in two stages.

In addition, although an embodiment has been shown in which three first elastic locking portions 30 and three second elastic locking portions 32 are provided, this number is not limited. For example, two first elastic locking portions 30 and two second elastic locking portions 32 may be provided, or four each may be provided.

10 fastener, 12 attached member, 12a shaft, 14 attachment member, 14a attachment hole, 20 first part, 22 second part, 24 cylindrical portion, 24a step portion, 26 retaining portion, 26a protrusion, 28 rotation receiving portion, 30 first elastic locking portion, 30a main body portion, 30b claw portion, 32 second elastic locking portion, 32a main body portion, 32b claw portion, 34 insertion hole, 38 outer cylinder portion, 40 flange portion, 42 annular portion, 44 first restriction portion, 46 second restriction portion, 48 insertion hole, 50 elastic claw, 52 rib, 54 guide surface.

Claims (4)

A fastener for attaching a mounting member to a shaft body,
The shaft body is inserted into a first part and a second part,
The first part is
a cylindrical portion into which a shaft body is inserted;
a holding portion that protrudes radially outward from the cylindrical portion and holds a mounting member;
an elastic locking portion formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and configured to lock onto the shaft body;
The second part is
a ring portion located on one end side of the cylindrical portion and into which a shaft body can be inserted;
a restricting portion extending from the annular portion along an axial direction and restricting radial inward deflection of the elastic locking portion;
The elastic locking portion is
a main body portion extending from an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion and capable of bending in a radial direction;
a claw portion formed on the main body portion and adapted to engage with the shaft body,
A fastener, characterized in that the restriction portion is provided so as to be positioned between the main body portion and the shaft body. The fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that the regulating portion has a guide surface that extends in the axial direction along the outer circumferential surface of the shaft body. The elastic locking portion is
A first elastic locking portion;
a second elastic engaging portion located on one end side of the first elastic engaging portion in the axial direction and shifted from the first elastic engaging portion in the circumferential direction,
The regulating portion is
a first restricting portion that restricts the deflection of the first elastic engaging portion;
The fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a second regulating portion that is shorter in axial length than the first regulating portion, is positioned circumferentially offset from the first regulating portion, and regulates the deflection of the second elastic engaging portion. the second component has an outer tubular portion surrounding the cylindrical portion and connected to the cylindrical portion,
The fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the annular portion is provided at one end of the outer tubular portion.

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