JP7786972B2 - 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 and through which a stud bolt fixed to a 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 in a width direction intersecting the axial direction and engaged with the bolt groove of the stud bolt inserted into the main body portion; and a pair of second locking pieces provided on the main body portion opposite each other in the width direction and located on the other side of the first locking pieces in the axial direction and engaged with the bolt groove of the stud bolt inserted into the main body portion; the main body portion is provided on the bolt inserts located opposite each other in the axial direction and through which the stud bolt is inserted, The bolt receiving space is surrounded by the pair of end walls and the pair of side walls and receives the stud bolt inserted through the bolt insertion hole. The first locking piece includes an elastically deformable wing portion that protrudes from the side walls 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 engages with the bolt groove. The second locking piece includes a deflection limiting portion that abuts against the wing portion of the first locking piece and limits the amount of deflection of the wing portion.

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. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a fixing structure according to a modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a fixing structure according to a modified example of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fixing structure according to a modified example of 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]
One embodiment of a fixing structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In Figures 2 and 4, the workpiece 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 place by inserting and engaging the engagement portion 23 into the insertion opening 24, with the first holding portion 21 and the second holding portion 22 forming a holding portion. 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 upper locking pieces 14a, 14b in the axial direction X. In the fixing structure 10 of this embodiment, the pair of upper locking pieces 14a, 14b correspond to a pair of first locking pieces, and the pair of lower locking pieces 14c, 14d correspond to a pair of second locking pieces. In this embodiment, the pair of lower locking pieces 14c, 14d are provided on the main body 11 opposite each other in the width direction Y and include a pair of deflection control portions 15a, 15b that can abut against the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, respectively. 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 and protruding from the bolt insertion hole 13.

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 an upper locking piece 14b and a lower 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 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 upper locking pieces 14a, 14b 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 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.

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 second 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 wing portion 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d has its end 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. Like the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, 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 deflection amount restricting portions 15a, 15b are provided on the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d and contact the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b to restrict the amount of deflection of the wing portions 141. The deflection amount restricting portions 15a, 15b are formed as protrusions that protrude from the wing portions 141 along the axial direction X toward the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. The deflection amount restricting portions 15a, 15b are provided as protrusions at positions where the other tip ends of the wing portions 141 in the axial direction X contact when the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b deflect toward the side wall portions 11b, 11c as the stud bolt 50 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 12 (see dotted lines in Figure 5).

The upper locking pieces 14a, 14b flex when the stud bolt 50 is inserted, thereby reducing the force (insertion force) required to insert the stud bolt 50. Reducing the thickness of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b reduces the insertion force of the stud bolt 50. However, if the stud bolt 50 is inserted away from the axial direction X, the elastic force of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b will not be able to return the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50 to the axial direction X, and the tip of the stud bolt 50 will not be able to pass through the bolt insertion hole 13. In this embodiment, the deflection restricting portions 15a, 15b are protrusions that protrude from the wing 141 toward the wing 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b along the axial direction X and abut against the wing 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, thereby restricting the amount of deflection of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. This reduces the elastic force of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, suppressing the insertion force of the stud bolt 50, even when the stud bolt 50 is inserted away from the axial direction X, while restricting the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50 so that the tip of the stud bolt 50 can pass through the bolt insertion hole 13. As a result, when attaching the mounting member 1 to a workpiece having the stud bolt 50, the fixing structure 10 prevents the stud bolt 50 from being inserted at an angle, allowing the mounting member 1 to be properly attached to the workpiece.

Like the upper locking pieces 14a and 14b, the lower locking pieces 14c and 14d flex when the stud bolt 50 is inserted, thereby reducing the insertion force of the stud bolt 50. The thickness of the lower locking pieces 14c and 14d is adjusted to adjust the insertion force of the stud bolt 50, but to prevent the stud bolt 50 from being inserted at an angle, the ends of the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c and 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 X. By fixing the ends of the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c and 14d adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13, the insertion force of the stud bolt 50 can be reduced while guiding the tip of the stud bolt 50 as it passes through the bolt insertion hole 13. From the perspective of ease of insertion of 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.

In this embodiment, the stud bolt 50 is secured by the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b and the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d. However, to improve the securing strength, the fixing structure 10 may be provided with additional locking pieces, for example, a pair of third locking pieces between the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b and the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d.

In addition, in 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, but this does not necessarily have to be the case. By restricting the amount of deflection of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, which are located on one side of the axial direction X, with the deflection amount restricting portions 15a, 15b, the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50 can be effectively restricted to a direction that allows it to pass through the bolt insertion hole 13, even when the stud bolt 50 is inserted at an angle.

In the above embodiment, the deflection amount restricting portions 15a, 15b are provided on the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d, but this is not limited to this. For example, the wing portions 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d may be positioned so that their ends on one side in the axial direction X can abut against the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, thereby forming a deflection amount restricting portion.

A fixing structure 10A according to a modified example of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. Note that in the fixing structure 10A according to this modified example, the same components as those in the fixing structure 10 of the embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted.

The fixing structure 10A comprises a main body 11, a pair of upper locking pieces 14a, 14b that are arranged opposite each other on the main body 11 in a width direction that intersects with the axial direction X and that are 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' that are located on the other side of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b in the axial direction X.

The lower locking pieces 14c', 14d' include an elastically deformable wing 141' and a claw 142 that protrudes from the wing 141' and engages with the bolt groove 51. The wing 141' of the lower locking pieces 14c', 14d' is positioned so that one end of the wing 141' on one side in the axial direction X can abut the wing 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. In other words, the wing 141' of the lower locking pieces 14c', 14d' is positioned to one side of the axial direction X of the side wall portions 11b, 11c relative to the wing 141 of the lower locking pieces 14c, 14d in the embodiment. In this modified example, the wing 141' of the lower locking piece 14c' constitutes the deflection amount restriction portion 15a', and the wing 141' of the lower locking piece 14d' constitutes the deflection amount restriction portion 15b'. The deflection amount restriction portions 15a', 15b' are located at positions on the side wall portions 11b, 11c where the tip ends of the wing 141 on the other side in the axial direction X abut against them when the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b deflect toward the side wall portions 11b, 11c as the stud bolt 50 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 12 (see dotted lines in Figure 8).

In this modified example, the wing portions 141' of the lower locking pieces 14c', 14d' are positioned so that their ends on one side in the axial direction X can abut against the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b. By abutting against the wing portions 141 of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b, the amount of deflection of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b can be restricted. As a result, even if the stud bolt 50 is inserted away from the axial direction X, the elastic force of the upper locking pieces 14a, 14b is reduced, suppressing the insertion force of the stud bolt 50, while restricting the insertion direction of the stud bolt 50 to a direction that allows the tip of the stud bolt 50 to pass through the bolt insertion hole 13.

Furthermore, as in the embodiment, the wing portion 141' of the lower locking piece portion 14c', 14d' has its end on the other side in the axial direction X fixed adjacent to the bolt insertion hole 13 in the end face wall portion 11d located on the other side in the axial direction X, but this does not necessarily have to be fixed.

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 (first locking piece)
14c, 14d, 14c', 14d' Lower locking piece (second locking piece)
15a, 15b Deflection amount restricting portion 16a, 16b Support 20 Holding member 21 First holding portion 22 Second holding portion 23 Engagement portion 24 Insertion opening 25 Connection portion

Claims (4)

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;
a pair of second locking pieces provided on the main body portion opposite each other along the width direction, located on the other side of the first locking piece in the axial direction, and locked to the bolt groove of the stud bolt inserted through the main body portion,
The main body portion is
a pair of end 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 second locking piece includes a deflection amount restricting portion that abuts against the wing portion of the first locking piece to restrict the amount of deflection of the wing portion,
Fixed structure. The second 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;
the deflection amount restricting portion is formed as a protruding portion protruding from the wing portion toward the first locking piece portion along the axial direction,
The fixing structure according to claim 1 . The second 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 of the second locking piece portion is positioned so that the end portion on the one side in the axial direction can come into contact with the wing portion of the first locking piece portion, thereby constituting the deflection amount restricting portion.
The fixing structure according to claim 1 . The second 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 of the second locking piece 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;
The fixing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.