JP7758593B2 - fixed structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fixing structure.

As a technique for attaching mounting components such as wire harnesses, pipes, and insulation to a mounting base such as an automobile body, Patent Document 1, for example, discloses a fastener that has a base formed with a stud-receiving hole that accepts a threaded or circumferentially grooved stud, and a stud locking portion that locks onto the threads of the stud, and is provided with a protrusion that limits movement of the stud locking portion toward the base of the stud when a force is applied to separate the mounting component from the mounting base.

Patent Document 2 also discloses a retainer that holds a stud by engaging with the threads or peripheral groove of the stud. The retainer has a pair of side walls that form a stud receiving space for receiving the stud, and a stud locking piece, with the flexible piece that makes up the stud locking piece having a specific shape.

Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a fastener that engages with and secures a stud bolt, which has a locking piece that engages with the stud bolt and a spring piece that biases the locking piece so that the claw portion of the locking piece engages with the stud bolt.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-173320 JP 2009-185902 A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-32833

When attaching the above-mentioned fastener to the stud bolt, the stud bolt may be inserted at an angle, preventing proper fastening.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a fixing structure that prevents the stud bolt from being inserted at an angle when attaching a mounting member to a mounting workpiece having a stud bolt, thereby enabling the mounting member to be properly attached to the mounting workpiece.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the fixing structure of the present invention comprises a main body portion provided on a mounting member, through which a stud bolt fixed to a mounted member is inserted from one side to the other along the axial direction, and a pair of first locking pieces provided on the main body portion opposite each other along a width direction intersecting the axial direction and engaged with bolt grooves of the stud bolt inserted in the main body portion, the main body portion having a pair of end surface wall portions positioned opposite each other along the axial direction and each having a bolt insertion hole through which the stud bolt is inserted, and a pair of end surface wall portions positioned opposite each other along the width direction and each having a bolt insertion hole through which the stud bolt is inserted, the pair of end surface wall portions positioned opposite each other along the axial direction. and a bolt receiving space surrounded by the pair of end wall portions and the pair of side wall portions for receiving the stud bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole. The first locking piece includes an elastically deformable wing portion that protrudes from the side wall portion toward the bolt receiving space and extends toward the other side in the axial direction, and a claw portion that protrudes from the wing portion and is engaged with the bolt groove, and the other end of the wing portion in the axial direction is fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole in the end wall portion located on the other side in the axial direction.

The fixing structure of the present invention has the advantage that, when attaching a mounting member to a workpiece having a stud bolt, the stud bolt can be prevented from being inserted at an angle, allowing the mounting member to be properly attached to the workpiece.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a fixing structure according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the fixing structure according to the embodiment (when the stud bolt is inserted). FIG. 3 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the fixing structure according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the fixing structure according to the embodiment (when the stud bolt is inserted). FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing structure according to the embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction will be referred to as the "axial direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "width direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "depth direction Z." Here, the axial direction X, width direction Y, and depth direction Z are approximately perpendicular to one another. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the direction in which a stud bolt is inserted into the main body of the fixing structure, and corresponds to the direction in which a pair of end wall portions face each other. The width direction Y typically corresponds to the direction in which a pair of side wall portions face each other, and corresponds to the corresponding direction in which a pair of locking pieces face each other. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description are described as directions when the respective parts are assembled together.

[Embodiment]
An embodiment of a fixing structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Note that in Figures 2 and 4, the attached member is not shown, and only the stud bolt is shown.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fixing structure 10 according to this embodiment is provided on a mounting member 1 and engages a stud bolt 50 fixed to a mounting member (not shown). The stud bolt 50 has a spiral or annular bolt groove 51 formed in its shaft. The mounting member 1 is used to secure a cable or the like to a mounting member such as a vehicle body panel. The mounting member 1 is formed by integrally molding a retaining member 20 that holds the cable or the like and the fixing structure 10 from an insulating resin material. The retaining member 20 is sheathed around the cable or the like to protect it and form a protector that regulates the routing path of the cable or the like. The retaining member 20 has a semi-cylindrical first retaining portion 21 and a second retaining portion 22, which are connected by a connecting portion 25. The second retaining portion 22 is bent at the connecting portion 25 to form a cylindrical retaining portion together with the first retaining member. The holding member 20 is fixed in a state in which the first holding portion 21 and the second holding portion 22 are engaged by inserting and engaging the engagement portion 23 into the insertion opening 24. Note that the configuration of the holding member 20 is merely an example, and holding members with other configurations may also be used.

The fixing structure 10 comprises a main body 11 through which a stud bolt 50 fixed to a workpiece is inserted from one side to the other along the axial direction X; a pair of upper locking pieces 14a, 14b disposed opposite each other on the main body 11 along the width direction Y intersecting the axial direction X and engaged with the bolt groove 51 of the stud bolt 50 inserted into the main body 11; and a pair of lower locking pieces 14c, 14d located on the other side of the axial direction X from the upper locking pieces 14c, 14d. In other words, the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b can be said to be locking pieces located on one side of the axial direction X (the bolt insertion hole 12 side) from the first upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. In the fixing structure 10 of this embodiment, the pair of upper locking pieces 14a, 14b correspond to a pair of second locking pieces, and the pair of lower locking pieces 14c, 14d correspond to a pair of first locking pieces. In the fixing structure 10, the stud bolt 50 is inserted from one side, i.e., through the bolt insertion hole 12, and toward the other side, i.e., through the bolt insertion hole 13, with the tip of the stud bolt 50 penetrating through the bolt insertion hole 13 and protruding.

The main body 11 has a pair of end walls 11a, 11d positioned opposite each other along the axial direction X and each having a bolt insertion hole 12, 13 through which a stud bolt 50 is inserted; a pair of side walls 11b, 11c positioned opposite each other along the width direction Y and extending between the pair of end walls 11a, 11d along the axial direction X; and a pair of support posts 16a, 16b positioned opposite each other along the depth direction Z and extending between the pair of end walls 11a, 11d along the axial direction X. The space enclosed by the pair of end walls 11a, 11d and the pair of side walls 11b, 11c constitutes a bolt-receiving space 11e that receives the stud bolt 50 inserted through the bolt insertion hole 12.

A bolt insertion hole 12 for inserting a stud bolt 50 is formed in the end wall portion 11a, and the end wall portion 11d, in which the bolt insertion hole 13 is formed, and the end wall portion 11a are arranged opposite each other along the axial direction X, i.e., the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50.

The side wall portion 11b extends between the end wall portions 11a and 11d, and the second locking piece 14b and the first locking piece 14d are arranged side by side on the wall surface of the side wall portion 11b facing the bolt receiving space portion 11e, from the end wall portion 11a to the end wall portion 11d.

The side wall portion 11c extends between the end wall portions 11a and 11d, and an upper locking piece 14a and a lower locking piece 14c are arranged side by side on the wall surface of the side wall portion 11c facing the bolt receiving space portion 11e, from the end wall portion 11a to the end wall portion 11d.

The posts 16a, 16b extend between the end wall portions 11a, 11d. The posts 16a, 16b are formed so that their width gradually increases from one side (the bolt insertion hole 12 side) in the axial direction X to the other side (the bolt insertion hole 13 side), connecting the bolt insertion holes 12 and 13. This prevents the fixing structure 10 from inserting the stud bolt 50 obliquely toward the posts 16a, 16b.

The lower locking pieces 14c, 14d protrude from the side wall portions 11b, 11c toward the bolt receiving space 11e and extend toward the other side in the axial direction X. The lower locking pieces 14c, 14d include an elastically deformable wing portion 141 and a claw portion 142 that protrudes from the wing portion 141 and engages with the bolt groove portion 51. The ends of the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d on the other side in the axial direction X are fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13 in the end wall portion 11d located on the other side in the axial direction. The width of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d in the depth direction Z is slightly larger than the diameter of the stud bolt 50, for example, approximately 5 mm.

The lower locking pieces 14c, 14d flex when inserting the stud bolt 50, thereby reducing the force (insertion force) required to insert the stud bolt 50. Reducing the thickness of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d reduces the insertion force of the stud bolt 50, but if the stud bolt 50 is inserted off-axially, the elastic force of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d will not allow the stud bolt 50 to return to its axial direction, preventing the tip of the stud bolt 50 from passing through the bolt insertion hole 13. In this embodiment, to restrict the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50, the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d have their ends on the other side in the axial direction X fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13 in the end wall portion 11d located on the other side in the axial direction X. By fixing the ends of the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13, it is possible to guide the insertion of the tip of the stud bolt 50 into the bolt insertion hole 13. Furthermore, the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d can be made thinner than the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, which will be described later. By making the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d thinner, it is possible to reduce the insertion force of the stud bolt 50, but this can cause problems such as damage to the stud bolt 50 when inserted or the stud bolt 50 inserting at an angle. In the fixing structure 10 of this embodiment, the ends of the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d are fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13. This prevents damage caused by the insertion of the stud bolt 50 and prevents the stud bolt 50 from entering at an angle, even when the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d are thin-walled. As a result, when attaching the mounting member 1 to a workpiece having a stud bolt 50, the fixing structure 10 prevents the stud bolt 50 from entering at an angle, allowing the mounting member 1 to be properly attached to the workpiece. From the perspective of ease of inserting the stud bolt 50 into the bolt insertion hole 13, it is preferable that the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d be fixed flush with the bolt insertion hole 13 without any steps.

The upper locking pieces 14a, 14b protrude from the side wall portions 11b, 11c toward the bolt receiving space 11e and extend toward the other side in the axial direction X. The second locking pieces 14a, 14b include an elastically deformable wing portion 141 and a claw portion 142 that protrudes from the wing portion 141 and is locked into the bolt groove portion 51. Like the upper locking pieces 14c, 14d, the width of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b in the depth direction Z is slightly larger than the diameter of the stud bolt 50, for example, approximately 5 mm.

Like the lower locking pieces 14c and 14d, the upper locking pieces 14a and 14b flex when the stud bolt 50 is inserted, thereby reducing the insertion force of the stud bolt 50. The thickness of the upper locking pieces 14a and 14b is adjusted to adjust the insertion force of the stud bolt 50, but in order to regulate the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50, the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a and 14b are made thicker than the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c and 14d. If the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d are made thin so that the ends of the wing portions 141 are fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13, and even if they bend due to the insertion of the stud bolt 50, they can still regulate the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50. However, if the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b are made thin like the first locking pieces 14c, 14d, they cannot regulate the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50, and there is a risk that the stud bolt 50 will enter at an angle. Therefore, it is preferable to make the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b thicker than the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d.

In this embodiment, the stud bolt 50 is secured by the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d and the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. However, in applications that do not require high fixing strength of the mounting member to the mounted member, the fixing structure 10 does not need to include the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. The fixing structure 10 may also be provided with additional locking pieces, such as a pair of third locking pieces between the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d and the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Mounting member 10 Fixing structure 11 Main body 11a, 11d End wall 11b, 11c Side wall 11e Bolt receiving space 12, 13 Bolt insertion hole 14a, 14b Upper locking piece (second locking piece)
14c, 14d Lower locking piece (first locking piece)
16a, 16b Support 20 Holding member 21 First holding portion 22 Second holding portion 23 Engagement portion 24 Insertion opening 25 Connection portion

Claims (2)

a main body portion provided on the mounting member, through which a stud bolt fixed to the mounted member is inserted from one side to the other along the axial direction;
a pair of first locking pieces provided on the main body portion opposite each other along a width direction intersecting with the axial direction, the first locking pieces being locked into bolt grooves of the stud bolt inserted into the main body portion;
The main body portion is
a pair of end surface wall portions positioned opposite each other along the axial direction and each having a bolt insertion hole through which the stud bolt is inserted;
a pair of side wall portions positioned opposite each other along the width direction and extending between the pair of end wall portions along the axial direction;
a bolt receiving space portion that is surrounded by the pair of end surface wall portions and the pair of side surface wall portions and that receives the stud bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole,
The first locking piece is
a wing portion that protrudes from the side wall portion toward the bolt-receiving space portion and extends toward the other side in the axial direction, and is elastically deformable;
a claw portion formed to protrude from the wing portion and engaged with the bolt groove portion,
the wing portion has an end portion on the other side in the axial direction that is fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole of the end surface wall portion located on the other side in the axial direction,
Fixed structure. a pair of second locking pieces provided on the main body portion opposite each other along the width direction, located on the one side of the first locking piece in the axial direction, and locked to the bolt groove of the stud bolt inserted into the main body portion;
The first locking piece is thinner than the second locking piece.
The fixing structure according to claim 1 .