Two-piece holding assembly made of plastic

The invention concerns a two-piece holding assembly made of plastic for mounting of at least one tube-shaped part such as a vehicle fuel line or the like. The assembly includes an outer dish element 2 of hard plastic material which is attachable to a support via a mounting zone. An inner dish-like element 3 formed of soft plastic material and having at least one storage location 5 for acceptance of the tube-shaped part is received in outer dish element 2. In the preferred arrangement, the inner dish-like element 3 is attached on both sides of storage location 5 via an anchorage 6, 6' to the outer dish-like element 2. Between inner dish-like element 3 and outer dish-like element 2 in the area about the storage location 5, there exists an open transverse free space 7.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is directed to a two-piece holding assembly made of plastic 
for mounting of at least one tube-shaped part. The assembly comprises an 
outer dish of hard plastic material attachable to a support via a mounting 
zone and carrying an inner dish of soft plastic material which is inserted 
therein and which has at least one storage location for acceptance of the 
tube-shaped part. 
Within the state of the art, somewhat similar two-piece holding assemblies 
of plastic are already known (German Printed Specification 39 02 498). In 
this known arrangement, the outer dish consisting of hard material has an 
open area in the vicinity of the support, into which is embedded in an 
unmounted state an inner dish equipped with corresponding storage 
locations. This construction is such that there is not always the 
assurance that the vibrations originating from the tube-shaped parts will 
not be transferred to the support, for example, the body of a motor 
vehicle. It is also known in the prior art to embed tube-shaped parts via 
their circumference in soft elements which are, in turn, embedded in a 
hard outer support dish (German Printed Specification 37 08 864, U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,347,998). Moreover, it is known in the art to position tube-shaped 
parts merely between two parts connected with each other in a hinge-like 
manner (German Petty Patent 82 13 664.5). 
In contrast to these prior holding assemblies, it is the object of the 
present invention to create a two-piece holding assembly which guarantees 
that no vibrations can be transmitted via the tube-shaped parts to the 
support to which the two-piece holding element is attached. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, the noted object is achieved by having the 
inner dish-like element attached on both sides of the storage location via 
anchorage points to outer dish-like element and providing an open 
transverse free space between the inner dish and the outer dish in the 
area of the storage location. This gives the assurance that the storage 
locations of the inner dish-like elements, which hold the tube-shaped 
parts and which are made of soft material, can move without restriction 
due to the free space. Thus, beneficially, no vibration can be transmitted 
to the support via the outer dish-like element made of hard material. 
Relative to a holding assembly in which the support zone is arranged 
between two storage locations, the inner dish-like element can overlap the 
support zone. In this arrangement, four anchorage points may be provided. 
Two anchorage points can be arranged above the support zone and two 
anchorage points can be located at a spaced distance laterally of the 
support zone. Thus, each storage location of the inner dish-like element 
is supported merely via two anchorage points against the outer dish-like 
element so that thereby, likewise, transmission of undesired vibrations to 
a support is prevented. The anchorages may, for instance, be formed by 
grooves or slots having enlarged end zones for receiving corresponding 
engagement elements with thickened end zones formed on the connecting 
piece. In such an arrangement, the anchorages arranged on both sides of a 
storage location between inner and outer dish-like elements may be pointed 
in opposite directions. 
In another version of the invention, the outer dish-like element may be 
shaped like a "U" in the area of the storage location. The inner leg can 
thus form part of the support zone and the outer leg can exhibit a 
reinforced area for acceptance of the outer anchorage between the outer 
and inner dish-like elements. Moreover, the support zone may be "T"-shaped 
and the cross beam, with its two end zones, can exhibit the inner 
anchorages between outer and inner dish-like elements. As reinforcement, a 
rib may additionally extend between the outer leg and the reinforced zone. 
According to another characteristic of the invention, the inner dish-like 
element, in the area of the storage location, may be ring-shaped and the 
ring-shaped area can provide an insert aperture for the tube-shaped part 
to be stored. Portions of the inner dish-like element adjacent the 
ring-shaped area can pass over at the end into the engagement elements of 
the inner and outer anchorage. Thus, the tube-shaped part which is to be 
mounted is properly encircled over a wide area of its circumference in the 
respective storage location of the inner dish-like element. The 
ring-shaped area may advantageously exhibit on both sides of the storage 
location a thickening or lip which reduces the insert aperture. Thus, the 
tube-shaped part can be clipped into the respective storage location and 
is satisfactorily retained therein. For further damping and reduction of 
vibration transmission, a rib may be placed at the inner circumference of 
the ring-shaped part at a location opposite the insert aperture. In this 
way, for example, the tube-shaped part is positioned and supported only by 
contact points in the storage location of the inner dish-like element 
consisting of soft material. This, likewise, will beneficially assure a 
damping of vibrations. 
The support zone of the outer dish-like element may be designed in known 
fashion as an aperture for bolt acceptance, as a holding clip, or as a 
mounting bolt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein the showings are for 
the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, 
and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGS. 1 through 3 show the 
holding assembly 1 as comprising two separate components including an 
outer dish-like, first component 2 formed of a hard plastic material and 
having an inner dish-like, second component 3 formed of a softer, and more 
resilient plastic material carried therein. In the disclosed arrangement, 
the outer dish-like member 2 provides a zone 4 which allows the assembly 
to be connected to a subjacent support structure, such as a vehicle frame 
or body panel (not shown). In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the 
drawings, there are positioned storage locations 5 on each side of the 
holding zone 4. These storage locations 5 are formed by the inner 
dish-like element 3 and provide means for receiving and holding tube-like 
elements, such as vehicle fuels lines and the like. 
As is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3, the inner dish-like element 3 is 
attached on both sides of the respective storage locations 5 via anchorage 
arrangements 6 or 6' at the outer dish-like element 2. It should be noted 
that, in addition, there is in existence between the inner dish-like 
element 3 and the outer dish-like element 2, free space or openings 7 
which extend transversely of the assembly and surround the respective 
storage spaces 5 and the portions of the inner dish-like member 3 which 
defines these storage locations 5. 
In the subject embodiment, the anchorages 6 or 6' are formed by 
transversely extending grooves or slots 9 which are formed in the outer 
ends of the outer dish-like element 2. The end zones 10 of each of the 
grooves 9 are of enlarged or under cut form and receive corresponding 
contact elements 8 which have thickened end zones 6. These contact 
elements and end zones 6 are formed on the lateral free ends of the inner 
dish-like element 3. As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 3, the anchorages 6 
and 6' are located on opposite sides of their respective storage locations 
5. The anchorages between outer dish-like element 2 and inner dish-like 
element 3 are pointed in opposite directions. Or stated another way, each 
of the two dish-like elements 6' are directed toward one another and the 
two anchorages 6 are directed in opposite directions away from one 
another. 
It is also evident from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the outer dish-like element 2 
forms somewhat of a U-shaped zone in the area of the respective storage 
locations 5. The U-shaped zone 11 has an inner leg 12 which forms Dart of 
the support region 4 and an associated outer leg 13. The outer leg 13 
joins and supports a reinforced zone 14 which accepts and forms the outer 
anchorage 6 between outer dish-like member 2 and inner dish-like member 3. 
Specifically, as shown, this outer reinforced region 14 carries the 
previously-mentioned grooves 9 and the under cut or enlarged end zones 10 
of the anchorage 6. 
The middle support zone 4 of the outer dish 2 is designed to have a 
generally T-shaped configuration. The cross beam portion of this T-shaped 
structure has in its two end regions the inner anchorages 6' which 
likewise have the form of inwardly extending grooves or slots 9 with under 
cut or enlarged end zones 10 which correspond to those previously 
discussed with respect to anchorages 6. 
Extending between the outer leg 13 of the U-shaped zone 11 and the 
reinforced area 14 is a rib 15 which serves as a reinforcement between 
parts 13 and 
It is evident from FIGS. 1 and 3 that the inner dish-like element 3 is 
designed to have a ring-shape in the area of storage location 5. 
Specifically, the dish-like element 3 has this ring-shaped portion sized 
and shaped for the receipt of tube-like members to extend axially 
therethrough. Each of the storage locations 5, as defined by the 
ring-shaped areas 16, include an insert aperture 17 for receiving the 
tube-shaped parts to be supported and stored. At the ends of the 
ring-shaped area 16 of storage location 15 of inner dish-like element 3, 
separate connecting portions integral therewith extend over to the inner 
and outer anchorages 6, 6', i.e., into the two engagement elements 
furnished with thickened end regions. Furthermore, it can be seen that the 
ring-shaped region 16 has on both sides of storage location 5 a thickening 
or tab-like portion which extends somewhat into the open central portion 
of the ring-shaped region and which reduces the aperture 17. Additionally, 
at the inner circumference of the ring-shaped area 16, there may be 
located a rib 19 which extends longitudinally of the central opening and 
in a position substantially opposite insert aperture 17. In addition, this 
tab or rib 19 is located somewhat opposite the two earlier mentioned tabs 
adjacent the insert aperture 17. As can be seen, a tube-shaped part can 
thus be forced into the insert aperture 17 over the thickened portions or 
tabs 18 into the inner space of the ring-shaped region 16 of storage 
location 5. Thus, the tube-shaped part merely abuts the two thickenings or 
tab portions 18 and the rib 19 and is thus supported from these three 
separate elements in somewhat point or line-type contact. Since the 
embedded tube-shaped part of outer dish-like element 2 in storage location 
5 of inner dish-like element 3 is comprised of soft, resilient plastic 
material and is spaced from the outer dish-like element 2 because of the 
free area 7, there is little possibility of transmitting undesirable 
vibrations from the tube-like element to the associated support. Thus, 
when the element is used, for example, for supporting a fuel line in the 
body of a motor vehicle, there is little possibility that vibrations will 
be transmitted from the pipe or fuel line to the motor vehicle frame. On 
this basis, excellent damping of undesirable vibrations and the 
transmission thereof is assured. 
In addition, the holding zone 4 of the outer dish-like element 2 as shown 
in FIG. 3 generally comprises an aperture 20 with longitudinally extending 
ribs. This arrangement allows the entire assembly to be driven onto a saw 
tooth bolt previously connected to the vehicle frame or body panels. It 
should be appreciated, however, that the holding zone could comprise other 
well known types of connecting means instead of the aperture 20 shown. For 
example, the holding zone could comprise various clips, profiled bolts, 
bolts or the like. 
The connection between the hard outer dish-like element 2 and the soft 
inner dish-like element 3 can be made by mechanically inserting the inner 
dish-like element 2 into the outer dish-like element 3 and manually 
placing the free ends of the inner dish-like element into the slots or 
grooves 9. Alternatively, it is possible for simultaneously making the 
connection and forming the components by the use of the well known 
two-component extrusion molding process. In this way, during the 
manufacturing, a connection between the soft inner dish-like element 3 and 
the hard outer dish-like element 2 can be achieved automatically. 
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred 
embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others 
upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to 
include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within 
the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.