A temperature-sensor fixing holder detachably fixes a temperature sensor to a secondary battery. The fixing holder includes a connecting body made of a rubber and a couple of link bodies. The fixing body is substantial U-shaped in a cross section by connecting the sides of first end portions of the link bodies integrally to both ends of the connecting body respectively. A link opening is formed in the first end portion of each link body, and a notched portion is formed in a second end portion of each link body. The temperature sensor is fixed to the secondary battery according to the following process. After the connecting body is curved to surround the temperature sensor, a couple of hook portions of the temperature sensor are inserted into the link openings respectively. At the same time, lead wires of the temperature sensor are held between the connecting body and the temperature sensor. After central portions of the link bodies are bent toward the secondary battery under that condition, the notched portions are inserted into recesses formed on top ends of protrusions of the secondary battery respectively.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-49021, filed on Feb. 26, 2003, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fixing holder for a temperature sensor, which may detect a temperature of a battery, etc.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional temperature-sensor fixing holder is disclosed in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication 2001-289454. As shown inFIG. 1, a temperature sensor1measures a temperature of heated water running through a rubber tube2.

A temperature-sensor fixing holder, as shown inFIG. 2, comprises a clamp band3and a stop aid4. A tubular pedestal2aprotrudes from the side surface of the tube2. A receiving-hole portion2bis formed at the center of the tubular pedestal2a. In order to measure a temperature of heated water running through the tube2via the bottom surface of the receiving-hole portion2b, a temperature-sensitive portion1adisposed at the distal end of the temperature sensor1is inserted into the receiving-hole portion2b. Under that condition, the temperature sensor1is prevented from coming out of the tubular pedestal2aby clamping the side surface of the tubular pedestal2ausing the clamp band3.

Further, a folded portion4aof the stop aid4is hooked over a knob3aof the clamp band3, and curved portions4b,4bof the stop aid4are elastically linked to one end of a protective tube1bof the temperature sensor1. According to the above construction, the temperature sensor1is prevented from coming out of the tubular pedestal2aby external force F1acting along the axial direction of the temperature sensor.

The conventional temperature-sensor fixing holder, however, requires a plurality of independent components (the clamp band3and the stop aid4) in order to prevent the temperature sensor1from coming out of the tubular pedestal2a. Therefore, complication of fixing operations and increase in production cost are brought.

Additionally, lead wires1cis directly exposed out of the other end of the protective tube1bof the temperature sensor1in the exterior of the temperature sensor1. Therefore, the lead wires1care liable to be cut off from the other end of the protective tube1bby external force F1acting along the axial direction of the lead wires1c, and the lead wires1care also liable to be broken at the other end of the protective tube1bby external force F2acting along the radial direction of the lead wires1c.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a temperature-sensor fixing holder to realize simplification of fixing operations and reduction in production cost. The present invention also aims to provide a temperature-sensor fixing holder in which exposed electrical wires can be prevented from being broken from the temperature sensor by external force.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a temperature-sensor fixing holder for detachably fixing the temperature sensor to a fixed body comprising a resilient holder body, a first link portion formed into the holder body to be engaged with an engagement portion of the temperature sensor, and a second link portion formed into the holder body to be engaged with an engagement portion of the fixed body, wherein the holder body resiliently deforms when the first link portion is engaged with the engagement portion of the temperature sensor and the second link portion is also engaged with the engagement portion of the fixed body.

According to the present invention, when a fixing holder is mounted on a temperature sensor, a first link portion of a holder body is easily and securely engaged with an engagement portion of the temperature sensor by deforming the holder body resiliently. Under that condition, a second link portion of the holder body is easily and securely engaged with an engagement portion of a secondary battery. Consequently, the temperature-sensor fixing holder realizes simplification of fixing operations and reduction in production cost.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 7, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. A fixing holder10detachably fixes a temperature sensor20to a secondary battery30. As shown inFIG. 3, the fixing holder10comprises a connecting body11and link bodies12,12(holder bodies). The connecting body11and the link bodies12,12are the members made of a rubber in the shape of a band. The holder body10is substantially U-shaped in a cross section and formed by integrally connecting the side surfaces of end portions12a,12aof the link bodies12,12to both edge surfaces of the connecting body11. A thickness of the connecting body11is thinner than those of the link bodies12,12.

The link bodies12,12have perforated link portions (first link portions)13,13at the end portions12a,12athereof. Rectangular link openings13a,13aare formed in the center area of the perforated link portions13,13. In the fixing holder10, there is a straight line relationship among the link openings13a,13aand the connecting body11. The link bodies12,12have notched portions (second link portions)14,14at the end portions12b,12bthereof. Rectangular link grooves14a,14aare formed on both sides of each notched portion14.

As shown inFIG. 4, a temperature sensor20comprises a sensor body21, hook portions (engagement portions)22,22, a cut portion23and a thermostat (not shown). Additionally, inFIGS. 4 to 7, set are an X-axis in the extending direction of the hook portions22,22protruding from the sides of the temperature sensor20, a Y-axis in the opening direction of the cut portion23formed on one side of the temperature sensor20and a Z-axis in the axial direction of the temperature sensor20. Moreover, the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are perpendicular to one another.

The sensor body21has a main body21aand a temperature-sensitive portion21b. The main body21aand the temperature-sensitive portion21bare formed in the shape of a cylinder. A diameter of the main body21ais larger than that of the temperature-sensitive portion21b. Further, the diameter of the main body21ais shorter than that of a longer side of the connecting body11. The temperature-sensitive portion21bis integrally connected to the end (on the −Z side) of the main body21aso as to align the axis of the temperature-sensitive portion21bwith that of the main body21a. According to the above construction, the sensor body21results in the shape of a cylinder with a difference in diameter.

One hook portion22is opposed to the other hook portion22. Each of the hook portions22,22is integrally connected to the side of an end portion21cof the main body21a. The hook portions22,22includes top portions22c,22cand base portions22d,22d. The hook portions22,22are substantially T-shaped in the cross section in the X-Y plane. Structure of each hook portion22will be described in the following. Front surfaces22a,22aof the top portion22capproach rear surfaces22b,22bas moving away from the central portion of the top portions22cin the front surfaces22a,22a. A length of the top portion22c,22cin the longitudinal direction (the direction along the Y-axis) is slightly larger than that of longer sides (sides along the Y-axis) of the link opening13a,13aof the fixing holder10. A length in the width direction (the direction along the Y-axis) of the base portions22d,22dis equal to that of longer sides (sides along the Y-axis) of the link openings13a,13aof the fixing holder10. A thickness of the base portions22d,22dis equal to that of shorter sides (sides along the Z-axis) of the link openings13a,13aof the fixing holder10. A length of the base portions22d,22din the longitudinal direction (the direction along the X-axis) is equal to a depth of the link openings13a,13a(a thickness of the link bodies12,12) of the fixing holder10.

The cut portion23is formed in one side of the end portion21cof the main body21ain order to expose a couple of lead wires (electrical wires)24,24to be connected to the thermostat, etc. toward the exterior of the temperature sensor20. The thermostat is contained within the sensor body21in order to measure a temperature of a surface30aof the secondary battery30.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the secondary battery30has a support plate (a fixed body)31and protrusions32,32provided above the surface30a, and a hole33formed in the surface30a. The support plate31is made of a synthesized resin and disposed above (in the +Z direction) the surface30aof the secondary battery30in order to hold the temperature sensor20.

The protrusions32,32standing upward from the surface30aof the secondary battery30are disposed integrally on the support plate31along the X-axis such that one protrusion32is opposed to the other protrusion32at regular intervals. A length of the protrusions32,32in the longitudinal direction (the direction along the Y-axis) is equal to that in the width direction (the direction along the Y-axis) of the link bodies12,12of the fixing holder10. A length of the protrusions32,32in the width direction (the direction along the X-axis) is equal to that in the longitudinal direction (the direction along the X-axis) of the notched portions14,14of the fixing holder10. Recesses32a,32a(engagement portions) are formed in the central portions of the top ends of the protrusions32,32. A length of the recesses32a,32ain the width direction (the direction along the Y-axis) is equal to that in the width direction (the direction along the Y-axis) of the notched portions14,14of the fixing holder10. A depth of the recesses32a,32ais equal to the thickness of the link bodies12,12of the fixing holder10. Further, engagement claws32b,32bare disposed to be opposed to each other on the top end of each protrusion32. The engagement claws32b,32bslightly overhang from both ends of the protrusion32over the valley portion of the recess32a. End surfaces32c,32cof the engagement claws32b,32bapproach to each other as moving downward (in the −Z direction) on the end surfaces32c,32c.

The hole33is formed between the protrusions32,32in the surface30a. A diameter of the hole33is equal to that of the temperature-sensitive portion21bof the temperature sensor20.

Next, a method of engaging the fixing holder10with the temperature sensor20will be described.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, after the connecting body11of the fixing holder10is curved to surround the sensor body21of the temperature sensor20, the hook portions22,22are inserted into the link openings13a,13aof the fixing holder10, respectively. Thereby, the base portions22d,22dof the hook portions22,22are received into the link openings13a,13arespectively.

Since the top portions22c,22cof the hook portions22,22are longer than the link openings13a,13ain the direction along the Y-axis, the temperature sensor20is hard to come out of the fixing holder10.

At the same time, the lead wires24,24exposed out of the cut portion23toward the exterior of the temperature sensor20are held between the connecting body11of the fixing holder10and the main body21aof the temperature sensor20.

Next, a method of engaging the fixing holder10, which has been engaged with the temperature sensor20, with the secondary battery30will be described.

After abutting an end portion21dof the temperature sensitive portion21bof the temperature sensor20on the bottom surface of the hole33of the secondary battery30, the central portions of the link bodies12,12of the fixing holder10are bent toward the secondary battery30side. Then, as shown inFIG. 6, the notched portions14,14of the fixing holder10are respectively inserted into the recesses32a,32aof the protrusions32,32of the secondary battery30. Thereby, the notched portions14,14are received into the recesses32a,32a.

Since the engagement claws32b,32bof each protrusion32slightly overhang over the valley portion of the recess32ain the direction along the Y-axis, the fixing holder10is hard to come out of the secondary battery30.

The temperature-sensor fixing holder according to the present embodiment is characterized by the following.

After the connecting body11of the fixing holder10is curved to surround the sensor body21, the temperature sensor20is engaged with the fixing holder10by inserting the hook portions22,22of the temperature sensor20into the link openings13a,13aof the fixing holder10. Moreover, the top portions22c,22cof the hook portions22,22are longer than the link openings13a,13a. Consequently, the temperature sensor20is easily fixed to the fixing holder10and the temperature sensor20is also hard to come out of the fixing holder10.

When the fixing holder10is fixed to the temperature sensor20, the lead wires24,24are held between the connecting body11of the fixing holder10and the sensor body21of the temperature sensor20. Therefore, the lead wires24,24are hard to be broken from the temperature sensor20by external force.

After the central portions of the link bodies12,12of the fixing holder10are bent toward the secondary battery30side, the fixing holder10is engaged with the secondary battery30by inserting the notched portions14,14of the fixing holder10into the recesses32a,32aof the protrusions32,32of the secondary battery30. Moreover, the engagement claws32b,32bof each protrusion32slightly overhang over the valley portion of the recess32a. Consequently, the fixing holder10is easily fixed to the secondary battery30and the fixing holder10is also hard to come out of the secondary battery30.

Since the fixing holder10is engaged with the secondary battery30in a state where the central portions of the link bodies12,12of the fixing holder10are bent toward the secondary battery30side, restoring force occurring at the central portions of the link bodies12,12work toward the end portion21cof the temperature sensor20. Therefore, the temperature sensor20is easily and accurately positioned without shaking at the location, to which the sensor should be fixed, provided on the support plate31of the secondary battery30by the restoring forces of the fixing holder10. As a result, the end portion21dof the temperature sensitive portion21bof the temperature sensor20can be securely abutted on the bottom surface of the hole33formed on the surface30aof the secondary battery30and a temperature of the surface30aof the secondary battery30can be measured in a stable state.

The fixing holder10detachably fixes the temperature sensor20to the secondary battery30and also protects the lead wires24,24of the temperature sensor20. Therefore, the fixing holder10realizes simplification of fixing operations and reduction in production cost.

Since both the link bodies12,12of the fixing holder10have the same shape, the fixing holder10realizes reduction in production cost.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, the link openings13a,13aare formed in the fixing holder10and the hook portions22,22are also formed in the temperature sensor20in order to fix the fixing holder10to the temperature sensor20. However, without being limited by the construction, it can be adopted that hook portions may be formed in the fixing body10and link openings may also be formed in the temperature sensor20.

Further, in the present embodiment, the notched portions14,14are formed in the fixing holder10and the recesses32a,32aare also formed in the temperature sensor20in order to fix the fixing holder10to the secondary battery30. However, without being limited by the construction, it can be adopted that recesses may be formed in the fixing holder10and projections may be formed in the protrusions32,32.