Case holding mechanism

A case holding mechanism includes a holding member and a member to be held thereby, one being mounted to the case and another to a body to which the case is to be held. The member to be held includes a first pair of parallel guide portions and another pair of parallel guide portions perpendicular to the one paired guide portions. The holding member disposed to be movable with respect to the guide portions therealong in a state restricted in thickness direction of the guide portions and adapted to hold the member to be held. The holding member includes a pair of slide portions slidable along outer surfaces of one paired guide portions, a lock portion extending between the paired slide portions in parallel with the one paired guide portions and engaged with the other paired guide portions, and a base portion connecting the slide portions and the lock portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a case holding mechanism or structure for holding a case of such as canister to a predetermined position.

2. Prior Art

A machinery or equipment such as canister or reserve tank having a case is mounted detachably to a vehicle body by holding a hold member to be held, which is provided for one of the case and the vehicle body, to a holding member, which is provided for the other one thereof. Such mechanism is generally mounted in an engine room of a vehicle or a portion near a fuel tank, for example.

In recent years, according to an increased requirement of high performance of vehicles such as automobiles, various machineries or equipments are accommodated and arranged in an engine room, and hence, a space for mounting a case of such as canister has been reduced therein. Accordingly, it has been desired to provide an improved mechanism for holding or mounting the case without giving any adverse influence to an environmental equipments or vehicle body itself.

A prior art provides a Kokoku (examined patent publication) of Japanese Utility Model No. HEI 8-8901 (Reference 1), in which the canister case is provided, at its outer peripheral surface, with a rectangular hold member to be held. This hold member has opposing outer edge portions formed so as to be tapered. That is, the outer edge portions of the hold member to be held is tapered with respect to the perpendicularly intersecting two directions. On the other hand, the holding member has both side edge portions to which engaging portions to be engaged with the hold member to be held by the holding member are formed. These engaging portions are also formed to be tapered so as to be engageable with the outer edge of the hold member to be held.

According to such structure, in the holding mechanism disclosed in the Reference 1, the canister can be mounted with respect to the perpendicular two directions of a vehicle body.

However, in the holding mechanism of the Reference 1, the engagement is performed by utilizing the tapered structure, so that after the mounting, there is a fear for the engaged portion to be loosened in lapse of time, thus being inconvenient and disadvantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention was conceived to substantially eliminate defects or drawbacks encountered in the prior art mentioned above and an object of the present invention is to provide a case holding mechanism capable of mounting the case in at least two directions firmly for a long time.

This and other objects can be achieved according to the present invention by providing a case holding mechanism having a holding member and a member to be held by the holding member, one of which is mounted to the case and another one of which is mounted to a body to which the case is to be held, the case holding mechanism comprising:

a member to be held which is formed with a pair of guide portions extending in parallel with each other and another pair of guide portions extending in parallel with each other, the one and another paired guide portions being perpendicular to each other; and

a holding member disposed to be movable with respect to the guide portions therealong in a state restricted in thickness direction of the guide portions and adapted to hold the member to be held,

the holding member including a pair of slide portions slidable along outer surfaces of the one paired guide portions, a lock portion extending between the paired slide portions in parallel with the one paired guide portions and engaged with the another paired guide portions, and a base portion connecting the slide portions and the lock portion, the lock portion being provided with an engaging portion protruded toward the member to be held at a position corresponding to either one of the another one paired guide portions.

In a preferred embodiment of the above aspect of the present invention, it may be desired that each of the guide portions is formed with a guide surface protrude in the thickness direction thereof and a constraint portion protrude outward of the member to be held at a front end of the guide surface in the thickness direction, and the slide portion is slid along a slit formed between the constraint portion and the case.

The another paired guide portions perpendicular to the one paired guide portions guiding the holding member may be desired to serve as stopper portion stopping the sliding motion of the holding member by rendering the slide portion or base portion of the holding member to abut against the member to be held.

It may be also desired that the holding member has the base portion and the body portion in the sliding direction with respect to the member to be held, the body portion has a protruded portion protruded from the base portion toward the member to be held by the holding member, the slide portion is formed to the body portion, and the body portion and the lock portion are formed to be parallel with each other with a distance corresponding to a thickness of the constraint portion.

According to the present invention of the characters mentioned above, the case of a canister, for example, can be mounted at two directions perpendicular to each other and to be slidable in the directions.

The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made more clear from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following descriptions, terms of “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left” and the like terms are used with reference to the illustration on the drawings or generally usable state of a canister.

FIGS. 1 and 2shows a case2of a canister1to which a case holding mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted, and as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the case holding mechanism includes a member20to be held formed on the side surface of the case2and a holding member3holding the member20to be held (the member to be held may be described as “hold member” or “held member” hereinafter).

The holding member3will be described hereunder in detail with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4.

The holding member3is formed through punching working and bending working from a plate member so as to provide with a base portion7, a body portion4, and a front end portion14. The body portion4has a first bent portion formed at a boundary portion of the base portion7and a second bent portion13formed apart from this first bent portion on the front end portion side by a predetermined distance. A portion between these bent portions12and13protrudes leftward as viewed inFIG. 4as protruded portion6.

The body portion4of the holding member3has a central portion punched out as central space A into which the hold member20is to be fitted. The side portions of the holding member3are formed to be hence parallel at the body portion4.

The inner edge side portions of the body portion4have slide portions5which project centrally in the space A so as to oppose to each other. These slide portions5are formed at the protruded portion6near the second bent portion13.

Furthermore, as is apparent fromFIG. 3, the holding member3has a lock portion10extending in parallel with the body portion4at the central portion thereof in the lateral direction. An inner edge portion of the base portion7is formed with a recessed portion9extending in an outward direction of the base portion7, and the lock portion10extends from this recessed portion in the direction along which the body portion extends upwards as shown inFIG. 3.

The lock portion10has a vertically elongated trapezoidal shape having a tapered front end in a plan view, and the lock portion10has a front end extending to approximately the central portion of the protruded portion6, the front end being formed with an engaging portion11extending in the thickness direction of the body portion. The portion to which the engaging portion11is formed corresponds to a guide portion on the base portion (7) side at a time when the hold member20are held, which is described in detail hereinlater. The lock portion10also extends, as shown inFIG. 4, in the thickness direction with a predetermined distance to be parallel with the body portion4.

The plate member constituting the holding member3has an elasticity, and accordingly, the front end portion of the lock portion10is elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the holding member3from the base portion7(as shown inFIG. 4with double arrows).

The member20to be held (hold member or held member20) will be then described hereunder with reference toFIGS. 5 to 7.

The hold member20includes two sets of guide portions21,22,23and24. The hold member20has a rectangular seat portion25protruded with a predetermined thickness from the outer peripheral surface of the case, and the guide portions21to24are protruded, each in square shape, from the upper surface of the seat portion with a predetermined height and thickness. Constraint portions26are formed to the four apex portions of the respective guide portions21to24so as to protrude outward of the hold (held) member20from the upper ends in the height directions of the guide portions21to24, respectively. Each constrain portion26has a thickness corresponding to a distance formed between the lock portion10and the protruded portion6. A slit-27is defined between the seat portion25and the constraint portion26on the outer surface side of each of the guide portions21to24. The outer surfaces of the respective guide portions21,22,23and24serve as guide surfaces21a,22a,23aand24afor guiding the body portion4.

The guide portions constitute two pairs21,22and23,24as shown inFIG. 5, in which the guide portions constituting each pair are positioned in parallel with each other. Since the respective guide portions21,22,23and24have square shape, the one pair of guide portions21,22are perpendicular to the other one pair of guide portions23,24.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG. 7, the central portions of the respective guide portions21,22,23and24are formed with recessed portions21b,22b,23band24bby protruding the central portions slightly inward in a rectangular shape. To these recessed portions21bto24b, the slide portions5of the holding member are first fitted at the time when the hold member20is held to the holding member3.

According to the structures mentioned above, the member20is held by the holding member3in the manner shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

With the example shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, at the time when the hold member20to be held is mounted to the holding member3, the recessed portions21band22bformed to the guide portions21and22of the hold member20are coincident in their positions with the slide portions5formed to the holding member3, and the hold member20is then pushed into the space A. Next, in the state that the inner end edges of the slide portions5abut against the guide surfaces21aand22aof the guide portions21and22, the hold member20is slid on the base portion (7) side of the holding member3. Then, the slide portions5slide between the slits formed between the constraint portion26on the guide portion (23) side and the seat portion25. The inner end edge8of the base portion7is then inserted into the space between the constraint portion26and the seat portion25formed at the end of the guide portion24on the base (7) side.

According to such motion as described above, the guide surface24aof the guide portion24on the base (7) side of a pair of guide portions23and24perpendicularly arranged with respect to the other pair of guide portions21and22guiding the sliding motion of the slid portions abuts against the inner end edge8of the base portion7. That is, according to the described embodiment, the guide portion24itself serves as stopper member. In addition, the engaging portion11formed to the front end portion of the lock portion10rides over the guide portion24on the base portion side and engages with the inner surface of the guide portion24.

In the state that the member20is held by the holding member3, as mentioned above, the front end portion of the lock portion10is urged on the held member side with the base portion7being the base point, and the engaging portion11formed to the lock portion10and the inner end edge8of the base portion7clamps the guide portion24. Furthermore, the slide portions5and the inner end edge8of the base portion7are restricted in their movement in the height direction by the constraint portions26, respectively. According to such operations, the hold member20is firmly held by the holding member, and since the lock portion10is elastically deformed, the lock portion10serves as an urging member, thus preventing the holding state from being loosened or relaxed.

As mentioned before, the guide portions21,22,23and24each has a square shape, and accordingly, the hold member20can be held by the holding member3in four direction of P, Q, R and S (inFIG. 5) perpendicular to each other.

For example, when the holding member3is slid to the held member20in the P or Q direction, the holding member3is guided by a pair of guide portions21and22, and as explained herein, when the holding member3is slid in the P direction, the guide portion24is clamped between the inner end edge8of the base portion7and the engaging portion11of the lock portion10. Further, when the holding member3is slid in the Q direction for holding the held member20, the guide portion23is clamped between the inner end edge8of the base portion7and the engaging portion11of the lock portion10.

On the other hand, when the holding member3is slid to the held member20in the R or S direction, the holding member3is guided by a pair of guide portions23and24, and when the holding member3is slid in the R direction, the guide portion21is clamped between the inner end edge8of the base portion7and the engaging portion11of the lock portion10. Further, when the holding member3is slid in the S direction for holding the held member20, the guide portion22is clamped between the inner end edge8of the base portion7and the engaging portion11of the lock portion10.

In the above operation, when the holding member3is slid in the P or Q direction, the guide portion23or24abuts against the inner end edge8of the base portion7to thereby act as a stopper member, and on the other hand, when the holding member3is slid in the R or S direction, the guide portion21or22abuts against the inner end edge8of the base portion7to thereby act as a stopper member.

The second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereunder with reference toFIGS. 8 to 14.

As shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, the holding mechanism of the case2of this second embodiment includes a member30to be held (hold or held member30) and the holding member3holding this member30.

FIGS. 10 and 11shows the details of the holding member3having a structure substantially identical to that of the first embodiment except for the structure of a lock portion15, and the same reference numerals are hence added to the same portions of the second embodiment and the description thereof is omitted herein.

The lock portion15of this second embodiment has a fine trapezoidal shape in a plan view tapered toward the front end thereof. The distal front end of this lock portion15extends over the bent portion13toward the front end portion14of the holding member3, and an engaging portion16is formed to the tapered front end of the lock portion15so as to protrude toward the body portion4. This lock portion15is parallel with the body4from the base portion7at the central portion in the lateral direction of the holding member3, and also parallel to the body portion4in the thickness direction with a predetermined distance as shown in FIG.11.

FIGS. 12 to 14shows the hold member30formed to the outer peripheral surface of the case2of the canister1.

The hold member30has a rectangular seat portion35protruded from the outer peripheral surface of the case2with a predetermined thickness, and a pair of guide portions31and32and another pair of guide portions33and34are disposed to be crosswise in two parallels to each other in an outer appearance as shown inFIG. 14. Four constraint portions40are formed at four apex positions of the guide portions31to34so as to extend outward of the held member30from the upper end in the height direction of the guide portions31to34.

With the held member30of this structure, as shown inFIG. 14, both ends of each of the mutually perpendicular guide portions31,32,33and34are formed so as to extends outward thereof and the extending portions serve as stopper members36,37,38and39for stopping the sliding motion of the holding member3, which will be described hereinafter. Further, although in this embodiment, the extending portions of both the ends of the guide portions serve as stopper members, the present invention is not limited to such structure and other modification may be adopted in accordance with the shape of the holding member3.

Furthermore, the outer surfaces of the guide portions31to34serves as guide surfaces31ato34aguiding the slide portions5of the holding member3, and the guide portions31to34are provided with recessed portions31bto34bat the central portions thereof, respectively, so as to be slightly recessed inward each in a rectangular shape.

According to the structures of the holding member3and the hold member30mentioned above, the canister1can be held in the four directions of P, Q, R and S.

With the example shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, at the time when the hold member30(to be held) is mounced to the holding member3, the recessed portions31band32bformed to the guide portions31and32of the hold member30are coincident in their positions with the slide portions5formed to the holding member3and the hold member30is then pushed into the space A. Next, in the state that the inner end edges of the slide portions5abut against the guide surfaces31aand32aof the guide portions31and32, the hold member30is slid on the base portion (7) side of the holding member3. Then, the slide portions5slide between the slits41formed between the constraint portion26on the guide portion (33) side and the seat portion35.

According to such motion as described above, the slide portion5abuts against the stopper36formed to the guide portion33on the front end (14) side of the guide portions33and34perpendicular to the guide portions31and32guiding the sliding motion of the slide portion5. Further, the engaging portion16formed to the front end portion of the lock portion15rides over the guide portion33on the front end (14) side and engages with the inner surface33aof the guide portion33, thus establishing the engagement between the holding member3and the hold member30.

In the state that the hold member30is held by the holding member3, as mentioned above, the front end portion of the lock portion15is urged on the held member side with the base portion7being the base point, and the engaging portion16formed to the lock portion15and the slide portion5clamp the stopper36formed at both ends of the guide portion33. Furthermore, the slide portions5are restricted in their movement in the height direction of the held member30by the constraint portions26on the guide portion (33) side. According to such operations, the hold member30is firmly held by the holding member3, and since the lock portion15in this embodiment is also elastically deformed, the lock portion15serves as an urging member, thus preventing the holding state from being loosened or relaxed.

As mentioned before, according to this second embodiment, the member30to be held can be held by the holding member3in four direction of P, Q, R and S perpendicular to each other.

It is further to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and many other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scopes of the appended claims.

For example, the lock portion15of the second embodiment having the length longer than the lock portion10of the first embodiment may be substituted with the lock portion10. That is, the first embodiment may employ the lock portion15and the second embodiment may on the other hand employ the lock portion10.

Furthermore, although in the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the case of the canister, the present invention is not limited to such case and may be applied to mechanisms or like provided with cylindrical cases such as reservoir tanks of a power steering device, reserve tanks and the like.