A member-fastening structure permits three members to be fastened and fixed such that a first member and a second member holds a third member therebetween. The fastening of three members is accomplished with a meter visor that has a first through-hole formed therein. A speaker ring has a projecting part formed thereon which is inserted into the first through-hole. The projecting part has a second through-hole formed therein in a direction perpendicular to a projecting direction of the projecting part. A speaker grille is positioned on the meter visor, and the projecting part of the speaker ring is then caused to project downward through the first through-hole of the meter visor. A clip is inserted into the second through-hole of the projecting part projecting from an underside of the meter visor, and is engaged with the second through-hole of the projecting part and the underside of the meter visor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority under 35 USC 119 based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-166714, filed on Aug. 9, 2013. The entire subject matter of this priority document, including specification claims and drawings thereof, is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a member-fastening structure to fasten and fix an on-vehicle member or the like held between a plurality of members.

As exemplified by the disclosure of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-41678, known fastening structures for on-vehicle members fasten and fix three members together by way of a fastening member, such that the first and second members hold the third member therebetween. The first member is a mounting part (made of plastics) on the vehicle body, the second member is a speaker grille (made of plastics), and the third member is a speaker main body. To install such a fastening structure, the third member is positioned on the first member and then the second member is laid on the third member and finally the third member is fastened and fixed to the first member by means of tapping screws.

SUMMARY

The conventional member-fastening structure mentioned above, however, has some disadvantages of requiring complicated procedures and suffering from low efficiency at the time of mounting the speaker body, because it is designed such that the first member (a mounting part of the vehicle body) and the second member (a speaker grille) are arranged on top of the other, with the third member (a speaker body) placed between them, and then the second member is fastened to the first member by means of tapping screws.

Exemplary approaches disclosed herein of a new member-fastening structure overcome the foregoing disadvantages by permitting easy fastening of three members such that the first and second members hold the third member therebetween.

A first aspect of the disclosed member-fastening structure fastens and fixes together three members, each being a first member, a second member, and a third member held between the first member and the second member, by means of a fastening member. The first member has a first through-hole along a direction in which the three members are placed one over another. The second member has a projecting part to be inserted into the first through-hole of the first member, the projecting part having a second through-hole penetrating along a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the three members are placed one over another. The third member has an indexing part which engages with a passive indexing part provided at a position away from the first through-hole in the first member or at a position away from the projecting part in the second member so as to be positioned on either of the first member or the second member. The fastening member fixes the third member held between the first member and the second member by being inserted into the second through-hole of the projecting part projecting to a back side of the first member through the first through-hole and engaging with the second through-hole and the back side of the first member.

The member-fastening structure defined above is used as follows to attach the third member together with the second member to the first member. First, the indexing part of the third member is engaged with the passive indexing part, so that the third member is positioned on either of the first member and the second member. Then, the projecting part of the second member is inserted into the first through-hole of the first member. Finally, the fastening member is inserted into the second through-hole of the projecting part projecting toward the back side of the first member, so that the fastening member is engaged with the second through-hole and the back side of the first member. As the result, the third member is fixed, together with the second member, to the first member, with the third member held between the first member and the second member.

In a second aspect of the disclosed member-fastening structure, the first member is fixed to a vehicle. The second member is arranged on an outer side of a vehicle body relative to the first member and the third member, and the projecting part is arranged at a plurality of positions so as to project toward an inner side of the vehicle body. The third member is arranged inside the plurality of projecting parts of the second member so that the third member has its outer periphery held and fixed between the first member and the second member.

The member-fastening structure defined above is used as follows to attach the third member together with the second member to the first member. First, the third member is arranged inside the plurality of projecting parts of the second member which project toward the inside of the vehicle body. Then, each of the projecting parts is inserted into the corresponding first through-hole of the first member, and the fastening member is inserted into the second through-hole of each of the projecting parts. In this way, the second member is fastened to the first member at more than one place by the fastening part, and the outer periphery of the third member is held and fixed by the first member and the second member.

In a third aspect of the disclosed member-fastening structure, the second member is an annular member, and the projecting part is formed within a width of the annular shape of the second member such that a lengthwise direction of the projecting part is along a circular arc direction of the annular shape. The second through-hole penetrates through the projecting part along a radial direction of the annular shape of the second member.

In this case, the second member has the projecting part to be inserted into the first through-hole of the first member and the projecting part is formed within the width of the annular shape of the second member such that the lengthwise direction of the projecting part is along the circular arc direction of the annular shape. Consequently, the second member can be readily molded and the molded product looks good because the projecting part does not project outward in the widthwise direction of the annular shape. Moreover, the fact that the projecting part to be inserted into the first through-hole is formed along the circular arc direction of the annular shape of the second member readily prevents the second member from rotating with respect to the first member while the projecting part is inserted into the first through-hole.

According to a fourth aspect of the disclosed member-fastening structure, the projecting parts are formed at three approximately equally spaced places along the annular shape of the second member, and both the indexing part and the passive indexing part are arranged between two adjacent projecting parts of the second member.

In this case, the second member has the projecting parts to be inserted into the first through-holes of the first member and the projecting parts are arranged at three places which are approximately equally spaced along the annular shape of the second member, so that the second member can be stably fastened and fixed to the first member in the circumferential direction and the third member is securely held between and fixed to the first member and the second member. Moreover, the indexing part and the passive indexing part are arranged between the two adjacent projecting parts, so that the third member can be accurately arranged in the circumferential direction and radial direction with respect to the first member and the second member. This prevents the outer peripheral surface of the third member from coming into contact with the projecting part of the second member.

In a fifth aspect of the disclosed member-fastening structure, the first member is a covering member that covers the vehicle body and has an opening, the third member is a speaker grille attached to a periphery of the opening of the covering member, and the second member is a speaker ring that covers an outside of a periphery of the speaker grille and is attached to the covering member.

Accordingly, the speaker grille can be easily attached to the covering member of the vehicle body by the speaker ring that covers the peripheral outside of the speaker grille. Moreover, the fact that the peripheral outside of the speaker grille is held by the speaker ring contributes to the good appearance of the speaker grille and also permits the speaker ring to suppress vibration around the speaker grille.

According to the disclosed member-fastening structure, three members can be easily fastened and fixed together without using screws simply by engaging the indexing part of the third member with the passive indexing part of the first member or the second member, inserting the projecting part of the second member into the first through-hole of the first member, inserting the fastening member into the second through-hole of the projecting part that projects toward the back side of the first member, and finally causing the fastening member to engage with the second through-hole and the back side of the first member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary approach to a member-fastening structure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise stated, the following description employs a convention that the direction (such as left, right, forward, and backward) of parts corresponds to that of the vehicle. Also, the drawings referred to by the following description contain arrow symbols FR, LH, and UP, which respectively denote the forward direction, left-hand direction, and upward direction of the vehicle.

FIG. 1is a drawing showing the right side of a motorcycle1provided with a member-fastening structure.FIG. 2is a drawing showing the front top of the same motorcycle1as above.

The motorcycle1has a front wheel2which is pivotally mounted at the lower ends of a front fork3, an upper part of which is pivotally supported by a head pipe6at the fore-end of a body frame5so that the front fork3is maneuvered through a steering stem4. To a top bridge4aof the steering stem4is attached a bar handle7for front wheel steering. The motorcycle1has a rear wheel8which is pivotally supported by the rear end of a swing arm9.

The swing arm9has its fore-end pivotally mounted for its vertical swinging by a pivot frame11(paired side to side) through a pivot axis (not shown) thereof. The pivot frame11is at the middle of the longitudinal length of the body frame5. The swing arm9is divided into left and right arms, and the rear end of each arm is provided with the lower end of a rear cushion19. Arms of the rear cushion19have their upper ends attached respectively to left and right side parts of a rear seat frame18of the body frame5.

The body frame5is provided with the following members. Main tubes12(paired side to side) which extend downward and backward from an upper part of the head pipe6and sharply bend and further extend downward. The pivot frames11(paired side to side) which join respectively to the rear lower ends of the main tubes12. Down frames13(paired side to side) which extend backward and downward (making a crank-like bend) from a lower part of the head pipe6and bend backward and further extend nearly horizontally, so that the rear ends thereof join to the front side of the lower end of each of the pivot frames11. Seat rails14(paired side to side) which extend backward from a rear part of each of the main tubes12. Support frames15(paired side to side) which extend backward and upward from the upper rear side of the pivot frames11and join to the rear end of each of the seat rails14.

The seat rail14and the support frame15are joined together through a plurality of connecting pipes16, and the left and right seat rails14are joined together through a cross member (not shown). The seat frame18is made up of the seat rail14, the support frame15, the connecting pipe16, the cross member, and other members.

Also, the main tubes12, the down frames13, and the pivot frames11have their respective left and right constituents suitably joined together through a cross member (not shown). A main frame17, which is the front part of the body frame5, contains the foregoing main tube12, down frame13, pivot frame11, cross member, and head pipe6.

On the main frame17is mounted an engine unit21which is a prime mover of the motorcycle1. The engine unit21contains a longitudinal water-cooled four-stroke four-cylinder V-engine, with its crankshaft arranged in the longitudinal direction. The left and right two cylinders22of the engine unit21have their respective exhaust pipes24extending from the outside thereof. Each of the exhaust pipes24extends forward and downward and then bends backward and further extends to the fore-end of a silencer24a, which is arranged outside the swing arm9, and finally joins to the silencer24a. The engine unit21also has a crank case23thereunder which holds therein a transmission (not shown). The transmission has its output joined to a propeller shaft passing through the inside of the right arm of the swing arm9, so that the propeller shaft transmits power to the rear wheel8through a final gear arranged on the right side of the rear wheel8.

On the seat frame18is supported a seat26, which integrally includes a front seat26afor the driver and a rear seat26cfor the pillion passenger. The rear seat26crises above the front seat26a, with a backrest26bbetween them connecting them together. At the front side of the seat26is arranged a top shelter28which covers the left and right entire width of the inside of a front cowl27and also extends backward (with the left and right width decreasing) to form a knee grip28a. There is arranged a fuel tank29in that part which spans from the rear inside of the top shelter28to the underside of the front seat26a. At the rear center of the top shelter28is provided a refueling lid29a(shown inFIG. 2).

InFIG. 1, there is shown a step plate31which is so mounted over the middle to rear parts of the vehicle body as to cover the pivot frame11for a good appearance and also to support a front step31a(for the driver) and a rear step31b(for the pillion passenger). This step plate31has a cap10, which, when removed, permits the pivot axis (not shown) and the swing arm9to be removed.

InFIG. 1, there are also shown a center side cover32which is mounted above the step plate31, a rear side cover33which extends backward from the center side cover32, and a side bag (or saddle bag)35which is removably mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body. InFIG. 2, there are shown mirrors27fmounted on both sides of the front cowl27.

As shown inFIG. 2, the top shelter28has a front opening28bformed at the front part thereof, which permits the bar handle7and the top bridge4ato be rotatably inserted therethrough. At the front side of the front opening28bis arranged a meter panel (not shown) containing a speed meter. On an inner wall of the front cowl27is mounted a meter visor38(made of plastics) which covers the meter panel. The meter visor38has speaker housing parts38aeach extending therefrom in which on-vehicle audio speakers40are arranged on both sides symmetrical about a central region where the meter panel is arranged.

On the rear both sides of the front opening28bare arranged lids28eof an article case28d. The lids28eopen upward to a limited extent so that they do not interfere with the maneuvering of the bar handle7. On the rear of the lids28eare arranged left and right controls28ffor the on-vehicle audio.

FIG. 3is an enlarged view showing the left speaker housing part38aof the meter visor38in which the speaker40is installed.FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view, with the left speaker40and parts thereof removed from the meter visor38. The following is a description of an attaching part of the speaker40on the meter visor38. For convenience of explanation of the meter visor38and members attached thereto, the side facing the driver is called “up” and the opposite side is called “down.”

The speaker housing part38a(at the end of the meter visor38in the widthwise direction of the vehicle body) has an opening41which is approximately circular in shape. The opening41has a peripheral part for attachment of a speaker grille42(made of plastics) which covers the upper side of a speaker proper (not shown). The speaker grille42has the grille proper42awhich is circular in shape with an approximately the same outside diameter as the opening41, and the grille proper42ahas a plurality of small holes for sound passage. The grille proper42aof the speaker grille42has in its periphery a cylindrical wall42b(which extends short downward) and an approximately toroidal flange42c(which extends radially outward from the lower end of the cylindrical wall42b).

The speaker grille42is placed from above on the periphery of the opening41of the meter visor38, and the flange42cand the periphery of the opening41of the meter visor38are covered from above with a toroidal speaker ring43(made of plastics). The speaker ring43is fastened and fixed to the meter visor38with a clip44(or fastening member made of plastics), so that the speaker grille42is held between the speaker ring43and the meter visor38and fixed to the meter visor38. (This will be described in more detail later.)

In this exemplary approach, the meter visor38constitutes the first member, the speaker ring43constitutes the second member, and the speaker grille42constitutes the third member.

FIG. 5depicts the speaker housing part38aof the meter visor38.FIGS. 6 and 7depict respectively the speaker ring43and the speaker grille42.FIGS. 8 and 9are sectional views respectively taken along lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX inFIG. 5which depicts the meter visor38to which are attached the speaker grille42and the speaker ring43.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the speaker housing part38aof the meter visor38has three projecting parts45(trapezoid in shape) projecting inward from the periphery of the opening41. The three projecting parts45are arranged (at equal intervals of 120°) along the periphery of the opening41. Each of the projecting parts45has a flat top, on which are placed the cylindrical wall42bof the speaker grille42and the bottom of the flange42c, as shown inFIG. 8. There is a first through-hole46drilled in the place where the projecting part45is formed; this through-hole46penetrates the wall of the periphery of the opening41in such a direction that the meter visor38, the speaker grille42, and the speaker ring43are placed one over another. Each of the first through-hole46spreads partly over the projecting part45. In addition, each of the first through-hole46includes a rectangular hole proper (shown without symbol) approximately parallel to the tangential direction of the opening41and extended parts (shown without symbol), narrower than the hole proper, each extending from both ends of the hole proper in the lengthwise direction.

Moreover, the opening41of the meter visor38has three circular walls47projecting downward from the periphery thereof. Each of the circular walls47is positioned between adjacent projecting parts49of the speaker ring43when the speaker ring43is attached to the meter visor38. The circular wall47has a passive indexing part48(rectangular notch) at the center of the circular arc on its bottom.

As shown inFIGS. 6, 8, and 9, the speaker ring43has a toroidal ring proper43aand the three projecting parts49separately arranged on the underside thereof. The three projecting parts49are arranged at equal intervals (120°) along the circumference of the ring proper43a. Each of the projecting parts49is so formed as to be inserted into the first through-hole46. Moreover, the projecting part49is formed such that its lengthwise direction is approximately parallel to the circular arc of the ring proper43awithin the width of the ring proper43a. The projecting part49includes a rectangular projecting part proper49aapproximately parallel to the tangential direction of the ring proper43aand a reinforcement projecting part49b(narrower than the projecting part proper49a) connected in the lengthwise direction to both ends of the projecting part proper49a.

The projecting part49has a rectangular second through-hole50that penetrates the projecting part49in the radial direction of the ring proper43a. The second through-hole50exposes itself to outside from the projecting area of the projecting part49projecting from the underside of the meter visor38when the projecting part49is inserted downward into the corresponding first through-hole46of the meter visor38. The second through-hole50of the projecting part49is formed such that the clip44(as a fastening member) engages with the second through-hole50on the underside of the meter visor38.

The ring proper43aof the speaker ring43is constructed as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9; its inner periphery has a flat lower surface43bwhich comes into contact with the upper surface of the flange42cof the speaker grilles42placed thereon, and its outer periphery has a lip43cwhich extends obliquely downward and outward in the radial direction such that the fore-end thereof comes into contact with the periphery of the opening41of the meter visor38.

The flange42cof the speaker grilles42is constructed such that its outer peripheral surface has three notches51which correspond to the three projecting parts49of the speaker ring43. The notches51are formed in order that the outer periphery of the speaker ring43does not interfere with the projecting parts49of the speaker ring43when the projecting parts49fit into the corresponding first through-holes46of the meter visor38. The three notches51are arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the flange42c.

The flange42chas on the lower surface thereof three extended walls52arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and each of the extended walls52has on the lower end thereof an engaging hook53which projects outward in the radial direction of the flange42c. Each of the engaging hooks53is formed at a position corresponding to the passive indexing part48at the lower end of the circular wall47of the meter visor38. The engaging hook53fits into the corresponding passive indexing part48when the speaker grille42is installed on the meter visor38so that the speaker grille42is positioned in the circumferential and radial directions with respect to the meter visor38. According to this exemplary approach, the engaging hook53constitutes an indexing part of the speaker grille42(the third member).

FIGS. 10 and 11are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the clip44as the fastening member.

As shown inFIG. 10, the clip44is formed in approximately cylindrical shape, with its plan view being approximately square; it has paired long side walls55(which are approximately parallel to each other) and paired short side walls56(which are approximately parallel to each other). The long side walls55extend slightly longer than the short side walls56, and each of the long side walls55has at one end thereof an insertion guide wall57which extends obliquely upward. The two insertion guide walls57extend parallel to and opposite to each other. In addition, each of the short side walls56has one end thereof connected at approximately right angle to one of the long side walls55near the place where it joins to the insertion guide wall57, and each of the short side walls56has the other end thereof connected in a curved shape to the other of the long side walls55. The clip44is rotationally symmetric to a central axis line A.

As shown inFIG. 11, the clip44is shaped such that the long side wall55is depressed in the vicinity of its center and a depressed part55ahas slopes55band55cextending sideward. The slope55bof these slopes continues to the slope of the upper surface of the insertion guide wall57.

Each of the long side walls55has a projecting piece58which projects toward the central axis line A from an approximately central position of the extending direction, and each of the projecting pieces58has at its end a regulating projection59which projects downward from the lower surface of the long side wall55and the short side wall56. The two regulating projections59are formed such that the distance between their opposite side surfaces is approximately equal to the width of the first through-hole46of the meter visor38(or the width in the radial direction of the opening41).

The following is the actual procedure to mount the speaker grille42, together with the speaker ring43, onto the speaker housing part38aof the meter visor38. The first step is to insert the engaging hook53of the speaker grille42, with the extended wall52thereof being deflected and deformed, into the opening41of the meter visor38. This step is carried out by adjusting the circumferential position of the speaker grilles42so that the engaging hook53of the speaker grille42coincides with the position of the passive indexing part48in the opening41, and the engaging hook53is fitted into the corresponding passive indexing part48. The result of the foregoing step is that the speaker grille42is positioned on the periphery of the opening41in its circumferential and radial directions (as shown inFIG. 9), and that the cylindrical wall42bof the speaker grille42and the lower surface of the flange42care placed on the upper surface of the projecting part45of the periphery of the opening41(as shown inFIG. 8).

In the second step, the projecting part49of the speaker ring43is fitted into the first corresponding through-hole46of the meter visor38, so that the fore-end of the projecting part49projects from the underside of the meter visor38.

Subsequently, the clip44is engaged with the second through-hole50of the projecting part49and the underside of the meter visor38. This step is carried out by inserting the paired long side walls55of the clip44into the second through-hole50and inserting the paired regulating projections59(projecting from the underside of the clip44) into the first through-hole46of the meter visor38. In this state, the lower long side wall55of the clip44is merely inserted into the second through-hole50and hence there is no fastening force between the projecting part49(speaker ring43) and the underside of the meter visor38.

The final step is to turn the clip44around the central axis line A. Thus, the clip44changes its direction by 90°, with its surrounding wall (the long side wall55and the short side wall56) elastically deformed, until it stops rotation when the paired insertion guide walls57come into contact with the lateral side of the projecting part49. At this time, the tall paired short side walls56are pushed into the second through-hole50so that a fastening force occurs between the projecting part49(speaker ring43) and the underside of the meter visor38. In addition, the paired regulating projections59(projecting from the underside of the clip44) come into contact with the inner wall of the first through-hole46of the meter visor38(or move to the neighboring position). This restricts backlash between the projecting part49and the second through-hole50of the clip44.

According to the exemplary approach mentioned above, there is provided a fastening structure to fasten the speaker grille42and the speaker ring43to the meter visor38. The fastening structure works in the following way. First, the engaging hook53of the speaker grille42is fitted into the passive indexing part48on the meter visor38so that the speaker grille42is positioned on the meter visor38. Then, the projecting part49of the speaker ring43is inserted into the first through-hole46of the meter visor38. The clip44is inserted into the second through-hole50of the projecting part49(projecting from the underside of the meter visor38). Finally, the clip44is turned through 90° so that it engages with the second through-hole50and the underside of the meter visor38. The foregoing simple procedure permits the speaker grille42, the speaker ring43, and the meter visor38to be fastened and fixed together easily and accurately without requiring screws.

The fastening structure according to this exemplary approach is characterized in that the speaker ring43has the plurality of projecting parts49projecting toward the inside of the vehicle body (or the inside of the meter visor38). Thus, the speaker grille42is held and fixed between the speaker ring43and the meter visor38, with the outer periphery (the flange42c) of the speaker grille42arranged inside the plurality of projecting parts49. In this way, the outer periphery of the speaker grille42can be stably fastened to the meter visor38. According to this exemplary approach, the speaker grille42is held between the speaker ring43and the meter visor38and its outer periphery is held at more than one position. This fastening structure, therefore, does not need accurate drilling to fasten the speaker grille42, and this leads to cost reduction.

The fastening structure according to this exemplary approach is characterized in that the toroidal speaker ring43has the projecting part49which is narrower than the width of the ring proper43aand which extends in the lengthwise direction along the tangential line (or circular arc direction) of the ring proper43a, and the projecting part49has the second through-hole50which is formed along the radial direction of the ring proper43a. The speaker ring43of this construction can be readily molded with a good appearance. Moreover, the fact that the projecting part49is formed along the tangential line of the ring proper43aoffers an advantage of readily restricting the speaker ring43from being turned relative to the meter visor38.

The fastening structure according to this exemplary approach also offers the following advantage. The speaker ring43has the projecting parts49which are formed at equally spaced three places along its annular shape. Moreover, the engaging hook53(of the speaker grille42) to position the speaker grille42on the meter visor38and the passive indexing part48of the meter visor38are arranged between the two adjacent projecting parts49of the speaker ring43. This constitution permits the speaker grille42to be stably fastened in the circumferential direction and also permits the speaker grille42to be accurately positioned in the circumferential and radial directions of the meter visor38. This prevents the speaker grille42from coming into contact with the projecting part49to damage it.

The fastening structure in this exemplary approach offers another advantage as follows. The speaker ring43covering the outer periphery of the speaker grille42has the projecting parts49which, after penetration through the meter visor38, is pressed against and fastened to the underside of the meter visor38by the clip44, with the speaker grille42held between the speaker ring43and the meter visor38. The speaker grille42covered with the speaker ring43in this manner contributes to a good appearance. The speaker ring43thus mounted suppresses vibrations around the speaker grille42.

It should be apparent that the disclosure provided herein is not restricted to the exemplary approach mentioned above; it may be variously changed and modified within the scope thereof. For example, the foregoing exemplary approach, which is designed such that the speaker grille42is positioned on the meter visor38and then the three members are fastened and fixed together, may be modified such that the speaker grille42is positioned on the speaker ring43and then the three members are fastened and fixed together in the same way as in other exemplary approaches.

According to another exemplary approach, as shown inFIG. 12, the cylindrical wall42bon the outer periphery of the speaker grille42may have a displacement restricting wall60extending from the lower end thereof which faces the inner peripheral surface of the opening41of the meter visor38.FIG. 12employs identical symbols for identical components inFIGS. 1 to 11.

This exemplary approach causes the displacement restricting wall60at the lower end of the cylindrical wall42bto come into contact with the inner periphery of the opening41, and this prevents the speaker grille42from deviating in its radial direction and hence surely prevents the outer periphery of the speaker grille42from coming into contact with the projecting part49.

Although the present disclosure has been described herein with respect to a number of specific illustrative examples, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate, rather than to limit the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the illustrative examples could be made which would be operable. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.