Abstract:
A plate member mounting structure is used to mount a plate to a panel with an opening without forming a hole to the plate. The mounting structure is formed of a plate member to be attached to the panel and formed on the plate, and a clip to be disposed in the opening of the panel. The plate member has an insertion portion, and an engagement portion to project outwardly from an outer peripheral portion of the insertion portion. The clip includes an accommodating portion for receiving the insertion portion of the plate member, an engagement piece provided at the accommodating portion and engaging the engagement portion of the plate member, an anchor piece formed at one side of the clip to engage the panel, and a positioning piece formed at a head portion of the clip for engaging the panel together with the anchor piece.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT 
     The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a plate member which is mounted to an opening formed in a panel of a vehicle. 
     As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an instrument panel  102  is mounted to a body panel  100  of a vehicle. Insertion portions  102 A,  102 B are formed at the distal end portion of the instrument panel  102 . A mounting hole  104  is formed in the insertion portion  102 A. 
     A rectangular hole  106  is formed in the body panel  100 . The insertion portions  102 A,  102 B of the instrument panel  102  can be inserted through the rectangular hole  106 , and an abutment  15  surface  102 C abuts against the body panel  100 . A metal clip  108  can be mounted to the instrument panel  102 . The clip  108  is folded over in two, and opposing anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B thereof are elastically deformable. Central portions of the anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B project outwardly, and the space between the anchor piece  110 A and the anchor piece  110 B narrows toward the distal end side. 
     A U-shaped cut-out  112  is formed without cutting one transverse side in the central portion of the anchor piece  110 B, and a projection piece  114  is made to project inwardly. The projection piece  114  is elastically deformable. When the insertion portion  102 A of the instrument panel  102  passes through the space between the anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B, the projection piece  114  is pushed outwardly, and returns to its original state at the mounting hole  104  of the instrument panel  102 , and is anchored on the edge portion of the mounting hole  104 . 
     In this way, the clip  108  is mounted to the instrument panel  102 . The distance between peak portions  116 A,  116 B of the anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B is wider than the width of the rectangular hole  106  formed in the body panel  100 . 
     Because the anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B are elastically deformable, when the anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B are inserted through the rectangular hole  106 , they are pressed and contracted. Upon passing through the rectangular hole  106 , the anchor pieces  110 A,  110 B return to their original states, and are anchored at the edges of the rectangular hole  106 . 
     In this way, the clip  108  to be mounted to the instrument panel  102  can be connected to the body panel  100 , and the instrument panel  102  can be mounted to the body panel  100  via the clip  108 . 
     However, in order to mount the clip  108  to the instrument panel  102 , the mounting hole  104  must be formed in the insertion portion  102 A of the instrument panel  102 . Generally, when a molded product in which a hole is formed is molded, because the material moves or flows around the hole, a weld W is formed at the portion where the material is joined at the periphery of the hole. 
     Because the joining of the material is insufficient at this weld portion, the strength of this portion is less than that at the other portions. Further, there is a strong possibility that cracking may occur at the weld portion due to changes over time. In this case, the instrument panel  102  may separate from the clip  108 . Also, because the clip  108  is made of metal, when the clip  108  is mounted to the body panel  100 , an abnormal sound arises. Further, rusting of the clip  108  is also problematic. 
     In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a plate member mounting structure which enables mounting to a body panel without forming a hole in a plate member. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In the first aspect of the invention, an opening is formed in a panel of a vehicle, and a clip is mounted to the opening. A plate member is engaged with the clip and is mounted to the panel via the clip. An insertion portion, at whose outer peripheral portion an engagement portion is formed convexly, is formed at the plate member, and is inserted into an accommodating portion of the clip. 
     An engagement piece, with which the engagement portion engages, is formed at the accommodating portion. An anchor piece, which is pushed so as to contract at a time of passing through the opening and which returns to its original state after having passed through the opening, is formed at the clip. After the anchor piece passes through the opening, a positioning piece formed at a head portion of the clip abuts against the panel such that the panel is nipped between the positioning piece and the anchor piece. 
     In this way, by forming the engagement portion convexly at the outer peripheral portion of the plate member and by forming the engagement piece, which is engageable with the engagement portion, at the clip, the plate member and the clip can engage even if no mounting hole is formed in the plate member. Thus, problems such as welds or cracks arising due to formation of a mounting hole in the plate member, do not arise. 
     Further, in a state in which the clip is mounted to the panel, the panel is nipped between the positioning piece and the anchor piece formed at the clip. Thus, the clip does not rattle. 
     In the second aspect of the invention, a cut-out, which makes a distal end of the insertion portion into a hook portion, is provided. In this way, since the engagement piece can be engaged merely by providing the cut-out, the cost of the plate member does not increase. 
     In the third aspect of the invention, the cut-out is formed by a horizontal surface and an inclined surface. The horizontal surface is formed parallel to a direction orthogonal to a direction of insertion of the insertion portion. The inclined portion is positioned at a base portion side of the insertion portion, and is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal surface. 
     In this way, by forming the inclined surface, the opening of the cut-out is made wide. Also, the engagement piece can easily engage, and workability is thus good. Further, by forming the horizontal surface, even if the insertion portion is likely to come out from the accommodating portion, the engagement piece is not pushed so as to spread, as would be the case with an inclined surface whose distal end was wide. Thus, the insertion portion does not come out from the accommodating portion. 
     In the fourth aspect of the invention, the engagement piece has elasticity, and has a tapered surface which can planarly contact the inclined surface. In this way, due to the inclined surface planarly contacting the taper surface of the engagement piece, rattling at the time the plate member is mounted to the clip can be prevented. 
     In the fifth aspect of the invention, the distal end of the hook portion is tapered. In this way, the clip can be easily inserted into the accommodating portion. As a result, workability is good. 
     In the sixth aspect of the invention, a stopper is formed at a lower portion of the accommodating portion of the clip. The stopper limits the movement of the insertion portion at a time of insertion of the insertion portion. Thus, the insertion portion is positioned not only by the positioning due to engagement of the anchor piece and the cut-out of the insertion portion, but also by the stopper. Further, by providing the stopper, the clip can be reinforced. 
     In the seventh aspect of the invention, the clip is molded from a synthetic resin. In this way, when the clip is mounted to the panel, there is no fear that an abnormal sound will arise. Further, the problem of rusting of the clip does not arise. Moreover, the cost of the clip can be reduced. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a plate member mounting structure relating to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a clip used in the plate member mounting structure relating to the embodiment; 
     FIGS. 3A through 3C are cross-sectional views taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3A shows a state before the clip is mounted to an instrument panel, FIG. 3B shows a state in which the clip is being mounted to the instrument panel, and FIG. 3C shows a state in which the clip is mounted to the instrument panel; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4A shows a state in which the instrument panel is being mounted to a body panel via the clip, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the instrument panel is mounted to the body panel; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional plate member mounting structure; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an instrument panel is mounted to a body panel via a clip used in the conventional plate member mounting structure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel  12  is mounted to a body panel  10  of a vehicle. Insertion portions  12 A,  12 B are formed at a distal end portion of the instrument panel  12 . A rectangular hole  14  is formed in the body panel  10 , and the insertion portions  12 A,  12 B can be inserted therethrough. The insertion portions  12 A,  12 B are inserted through the rectangular hole  14 , and an abutment surface  12 C abuts against the body panel  10 . 
     A pair of cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B serving as engagement portions is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the insertion portion  12 A. Hook portions  15 A,  15 B are formed at the distal end of the insertion portion  12 A. 
     As shown in FIG. 3A, each of the cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B is formed by a horizontal surface  17  and an inclined surface  19 . The horizontal surfaces  17  are formed parallel to a direction orthogonal to the direction of insertion (direction of the arrow) of the insertion portion  12 A. The inclined surfaces  19  are positioned at a base portion side of the insertion portion  12 A, and are formed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal surfaces  17 . 
     By forming the inclined surfaces  19 , the openings of the cut-outs  16 A,  16 B are widened, and it is easy for elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B, which serve as engagement pieces and are provided at an accommodating portion  20  of a clip  18  which will be described later, to engage the cut-outs  16 A,  16 B. Thus, workability is good. 
     Further, by forming the horizontal surfaces  17 , even if an attempt is made to separate the insertion portion  12 A from the accommodating portion  20 , the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B are not pushed and spread apart, which would otherwise occur with inclined surfaces having a wide distance between distal ends thereof. Thus, the insertion portion  12 A does not come out from the accommodating portion  20 . 
     Next, the clip used in the panel mounting structure relating to the present embodiment will be described. 
     As shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3A, there is a gap between a wall surface or portion  24 A and a wall surface or portion  24 B of the clip  18 . Centers of side end portions of the wall surface  24 A and the wall surface  24 B are spanned by connecting pieces  26 A,  26 B, such that the wall surface  24 A and the wall surface  24 B are formed integrally. The accommodating portion  20 , into which the insertion portions  12 A,  12 B of the instrument panel  12  can be inserted, is thereby formed. 
     An elastic piece  22 A extends from the connecting piece  26 A, and an elastic piece  22 B extends from the connecting piece  26 B. The elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B are directed toward the accommodating portion  20 , and are elastically deformable. Further, the distance between the connecting piece  26 A and the connecting piece  26 B is slightly larger than the width of the insertion portion  12 A of the instrument panel  12 . 
     The distance between an inner side surface  23 A of the distal end portion of the elastic piece  22 A and an inner side surface  23 B of the distal end portion of the elastic piece  22 B is slightly smaller than the width of the hook portions  15 A,  15 B of the insertion portion  12 A. 
     Thus, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the hook portions  15 A,  15 B of the insertion portion  12 A are inserted in, the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B are pushed to spread apart. When the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B reach the cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B formed in the insertion portion  12 A, as shown in FIG. 3C, the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B return to their original states, and are accommodated within the cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B. 
     Tapered surfaces  28 A,  28 B are provided at the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B, and have angles of inclination which enable the tapered surfaces  28 A,  28 B to planarly contact the inclined surfaces  19  formed at the cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B. 
     As described above, the distance between the inner side surface  23 A of the elastic piece  22 A and the inner side surface  23 B of the elastic piece  22 B is slightly smaller than the width of the hook portions  15 A,  15 B. Thus, the tapered surfaces  28 A,  28 B of the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B abut against the inclined surfaces  19  of the cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B so as to tightly hold thereto. Therefore, there is no rattling between the instrument panel  12  and the clip  18 , and the instrument panel  12  is held such that it does not come out from the clip  18 . 
     Positioning pieces  30 A,  30 B project outwardly from upper portions of the wall surfaces  24 A,  24 B. When the clip  18  is inserted through the rectangular hole  14  of the body panel  10 , as will be described later, the positioning pieces  30 A,  30 B abut against the body panel  10  and position the clip  18 . 
     The lower portions of the wall surfaces  24 A,  24 B are formed so as to become thinner, such that the distal end sides thereof are tapered. The clip  18  is therefore easily inserted into the rectangular hole  14 . Beneath the accommodating portion  20 , a stopper  32  spans between the wall surfaces  24 A,  24 B. The stopper  32  limits the movement of the insertion portion  12 A at the time that the insertion portion  12 A is inserted. 
     In this way, the insertion portion  12 A is positioned not only by the engagement of the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B and the cut-outs  16 A,  16 B of the insertion portion  12 A, but also by the stopper  32 . Also, by providing the stopper  32 , the clip  18  is reinforced. Because the width at the lower portions of the wall surfaces  24 A,  24 B is narrow, the clip  18  is easily inserted into the rectangular hole  14 . As a result, workability is good. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A, anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B are provided at central portions of the wall surfaces  24 A,  24 B of the clip  18 . Cut-outs  35  are formed at the peripheries of the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B, without cutting one transverse direction side of each of the wall surfaces  24 A,  24 B. As a result, the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B are cantilevered, and are elastically deformable. 
     The anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B jut-out in mountain-like shapes outwardly along the longitudinal directions thereof. A distance between a peak portion  37 A and a peak portion  37 B is slightly larger than the width of the rectangular hole  14  of the body panel  10 . 
     As a result, when the clip  18  is inserted into the rectangular hole  14 , the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B abut against edges of the rectangular hole  14 . When the clip  18  is pushed further into the rectangular hole  14 , the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B elastically deform and are pushed so as to gradually contract inwardly, and pass through the rectangular hole  14 . When the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B pass through the rectangular hole  14 , as shown in FIG.  4 (B), the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B return to their original shapes, and curved portions  39 A,  39 B of the anchor pieces  34 A,  34 B abut against the edges of the rectangular hole  14 . 
     The distance between the curved portion  39 A of the anchor piece  34 A and the positioning piece  30 A (as well as the distance between the curved portion  39 B of the anchor piece  34 B and the positioning piece  30 B) is substantially the same as the plate thickness of the body panel  10 . The body panel  10  is nipped between the curved portion  39 A of the anchor piece  34 A and the positioning piece  30 A. In this way, there is no rattling between the body panel  10  and the clip  18 . 
     Due to the above-described structure, in a state in which the clip  18  is engaged with the instrument panel  12 , the clip  18  is mounted to the body panel  10 , and the instrument panel  12  can therefore be mounted to the body panel  10  via the clip  18 . 
     With the present structure, the clip  18  can be mounted to the instrument panel  12  even if no opening is formed in the instrument panel  12 . Thus, the problems, such as cracks in the distal end portion of the instrument panel  12  which arise due to formation of an opening in the instrument panel  12 , are eliminated. 
     Further, the elastic pieces  22 A,  22 B can be engaged merely by forming the cut-outs  16 A,  16 B convexly in the outer peripheral portion of the instrument panel  12 . Thus, the instrument panel  12  does not become expensive. 
     By molding the clip  18  from a synthetic resin, there is no fear that abnormal sounds will arise when the clip  18  is mounted to the body panel  10 . Further, the problem of rusting of the clip  18  does not arise. Moreover, the cost of the clip  18  can be reduced. 
     On the other hand, in a metal mold structure for the clip  18  of the present embodiment, parting is carried out such that undercut portions are not formed. As a result, there is no need to use a slide core in the metal mold, so that the metal mold is less expensive. Further, the metal mold can be prepared such that the surface area, per clip  18 , is reduced by an amount corresponding to the surface area of the slide core. Thus, the number of clips  18  which can be manufactured can be increased. 
     Here, the pair of cut-out portions  16 A,  16 B is formed in the outer peripheral portions of the insertion portion  12 A, and the distal end of the insertion portion  12 A is formed as the hook portions  15 A,  15 B. However, it suffices for the clip  18  to be able to engage, and thus, it is not absolutely necessary to form the pair of cut-outs. A cut-out may be provided in only one side of the insertion portion  12 A, and only one side made into a hook portion. 
     Because the present invention is structured as described above, in the first aspect of the invention, the plate member and the clip can be engaged without forming a mounting hole in the plate member. Thus, problems, such as welds or cracks, due to formation of a mounting hole in the plate member do not arise. Further, in the state in which the clip is mounted to the panel, the panel is nipped between the positioning piece and the anchor piece formed at the clip. Thus, the clip does not rattle. 
     In the second aspect of the invention, because the engagement piece is engaged merely by providing the cut-out, the cost of the plate member does not increase. In the third aspect of the invention, by forming the inclined surface, the opening of the cut-out is made wide, and it is easy for the engagement piece to engage. Thus, the workability is good. Further, by forming the horizontal surface, even if the insertion portion is likely to separate from the accommodating portion, the engagement piece is not pushed and spread, as would be the case with an inclined surface having a wide distal end. Thus, the insertion portion does not come out from the accommodating portion. 
     In the fourth aspect of the invention, rattling when the plate member is mounted to the clip can be prevented. In the fifth aspect of the invention, because the clip is easily inserted into the accommodating portion, workability is good. 
     In the sixth aspect of the invention, the insertion portion is positioned not only by the engagement of the engagement piece and the cut-out of the insertion portion, but also by the stopper. Further, the clip can be reinforced by providing the stopper. In the seventh aspect of the invention, when the clip is mounted to the panel, an abnormal sound does not arise. Further, the problem of the clip rusting does not arise. Moreover, the cost of the clip can be reduced. 
     While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended