A clip may include a main body and a pin member. In the clip, an engagement condition of the anchor to an attaching hole formed in a plate member can be maintained by inserting an elastic shank portion of the pin member into the anchor of the main body. The elastic shank portion inserted into the anchor is received by a stopper of the anchor, so that the pin member can be locked in a temporary insertion position. An interfering portion of the elastic shank portion is exposed to an exterior portion the anchor. When the anchor is inserted into the attaching hole, the interfering portion of the elastic shank portion interferes with a periphery of the attaching hole, so that a condition in which the pin member is locked in the temporary insertion position can be released.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plug or clip that is capable of being attached to an attaching hole formed in a vehicle body plate or other such plate members. More specifically, the present invention relates to a clip that is constructed of a main body and a pin member and is capable of being attached to an attaching hole, in which the pin member is inserted into an interior of an anchor of the main body after the anchor is inserted into the attaching hole, so as to secure the anchor in the attaching hole.

A known clip of this type is taught by, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Number 2001-193718. The clip is constructed of a grommet (anchor) that is capable of being inserted into an attaching hole formed in a vehicle body panel (plate member), and a pin member having a shank portion that is capable of being inserted into a hollow portion of the anchor. Upon insertion of the shank portion of the pin member into the hollow portion of the anchor after the anchor is inserted or fitted into the attaching hole, a pair of engagement claws formed in the anchor can spread and engage a periphery of the attaching hole, so that the anchor can be secured in the attaching hole. Thus, the clip can be attached to the attaching hole.

In the known clip, if the shank portion of the pin member is inserted into the hollow portion of the anchor in a condition in which the anchor is not sufficiently inserted or fitted into the attaching hole (i.e., in a half or insufficient fitting condition of the anchor), the anchor cannot be sufficiently secured in the attaching hole. Thus, the clip cannot be reliably attached to the attaching hole. That is, the clip cannot have a desired support load.

Generally, the clip is used to close a hole formed in a vehicle roof panel. In such a case, if the clip is attached to the hole while the anchor is not sufficiently inserted into the hole, the clip can be dropped off from the hole when an impact is applied thereto caused by, for example, actuation of roof air-bag. Therefore, in order to prevent the clip from being dropped off from the hole, it is necessary to make sure whether the clip is attached to the hole while the anchor is sufficiently inserted into the hole. This may lead to increased steps for attaching the clip to the hole.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved clip.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a clip may include a main body and a pin member. The clip is constructed such that a hollow anchor of the main body can engage an attaching hole formed in a desired plate member by inserting the anchor into the attaching hole and that an engagement condition of the anchor to the attaching hole can be maintained by inserting an elastic shank portion of the pin member into an interior portion of the anchor. The elastic shank portion of the pin member inserted into the anchor of the main body is received by stoppers of the anchor, so that the pin member can be locked in a temporary insertion position. Interfering portions of the elastic shank portion is exposed to an exterior portion of the anchor. Further, when the anchor is inserted into the attaching hole of the plate member, the interfering portions of the elastic shank portion interfere with a periphery of the attaching hole and as a result, the elastic shank portion is flexed inwardly, so that the elastic shank portion can be spaced from the stoppers of the anchor, thereby releasing a condition in which the pin member is locked in the temporary insertion position.

According to the clip thus constructed, in a temporary joined condition in which the pin member is locked in the temporary insertion position, the condition in which the pin member is locked in the temporary insertion position can be released only when the anchor of the main body is suitably pressed into the attaching hole of the plate member, so that the elastic shank portion can be inserted into the anchor from the temporary insertion position toward a final position. Therefore, it is possible to know if the anchor of the main body is suitably inserted into the attaching hole based upon whether the elastic shank portion of the pin member can be completely inserted into the anchor (i.e., whether the elastic shank portion can be inserted into the final position in the anchor). As a result, it is not necessary to additionally provide a step to know if the anchor is suitably inserted into the attaching hole.

Further, when the anchor is not adequately inserted into the attaching hole, the elastic shank portion of the pin member can be prevented from being inserted into the anchor from the temporary insertion position toward the final position. Therefore, the clip thus constructed is suitable for applying the attaching hole that is formed in the plate member such as a roof panel covered by a roof cushion (i.e., attaching hole that is not clearly seen externally.)

Other objects, features and advantage of the present inventions will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A detailed representative embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1 to 6(C).

Generally, a roof panel of a vehicle body panel has a plurality of attaching holes that are formed therein in order to attach an assist grip thereto. However, some of these attaching holes will not be used in some models. A clip of the present invention is intended to close one of the attaching holes that are not used.

As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the clip is constructed of two members, i.e., a main body10and a pin member20. Each of the main body10and the pin member20may preferably be integrally formed of resin. The main body10is composed of a (rectangular) base plate14that is formed in a proximal side thereof, and a rectangular tubular (hollow) anchor16that vertically extends from the base plate14. As best shown inFIG. 3, a hollow interior portion of the anchor16is opened outside via a rectangular opening12formed in the base side of the main body10. Further, the anchor16is closed in a distal end thereof. Outer shape and size of the anchor16is determined such that the anchor16can be inserted into a rectangular attaching hole32(FIGS. 6(A) to 6(C)) that is formed in a plate member30(e.g., a roof panel of a vehicle body panel). Further, as best shown inFIG. 3, the base plate14of the main body10has a pair of lock holes14athat are oppositely positioned across the opening12(i.e., across the anchor16) and pass through the same in a thickness direction (from a front side to a back side thereof).

As best shown inFIG. 1, the anchor16of the main body10has a pair of engagement claws18(one of which is shown) that are integrally formed in opposite side walls thereof. The engagement claws18are respectively separated from the side walls via slots (slits)19except for a portion (a proximal portion) that is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the anchor16. Therefore, each of the engagement claws18is capable of elastically deforming (flexing) in an inward and outward direction of the anchor16about the proximal portion thereof due to elasticity of the resin.

As best shown inFIG. 1, the engagement claws18are respectively projected outwardly beyond outer surfaces of the side walls of the anchor16, so as to respectively have inclined surfaces18aand engagement surfaces18b. Therefore, when the anchor16is inserted into the attaching hole32of the plate member30, the inclined surfaces18aof the engagement claws18are respectively capable of contacting inner circumferential periphery of the attaching hole32(FIG. 6(A)). When the inclined surfaces18apass through the attaching hole32while the engagement claws18are flexed inwardly, the engagement surfaces18bof the engagement claws18are respectively capable of engaging a peripheral portion of the attaching hole32on a rear (inner) surface of the plate member30(FIG.6(B)), which will be hereinafter described.

As best shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the pin member20is composed of an elastic shank portion22and a covering member24. The elastic shank portion22is capable of inserting into the interior portion of the anchor16via the opening12of the main body10. Conversely, the covering member24may preferably have a profile corresponding to the base plate14of the main body10.

As sown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the elastic shank portion22includes two (upper and lower) pairs of (i.e., four) elastic strips22a. Each of the elastic strips22ahas a thickness that allows each of the elastic strips22ato be entered into each of the slots19positioned in both sides of the engagement claws18of the anchor16. The respective pairs of elastic strips22aare arranged to form laterally spread V-shaped openings therebetween. Further, the elastic shank portion22has interfering portions23that are respectively projected laterally outwardly from outer peripheries of the elastic strips22a. Further, each pair of elastic strips22aof the elastic shank portion22has a common or integrated proximal end portion22c. The proximal end portion22chas a size and rigidity that is capable of preventing the engagement claws18of the anchor16from being flexed inwardly.

As shown inFIG. 5, when the elastic shank portion22is inserted into the interior portion of the anchor16such that the main body10and the pin member20can be placed in a temporary joined condition, distal end portions22bof the elastic strips22aof the elastic shank portion22can be received (stopped) by end surfaces19a(stoppers) of the slots19. Thus, the elastic shank portion22(the pin member20) can be held or locked in a temporary insertion position in the anchor16(i.e., the elastic shank portion22can be held in a temporary insertion condition), which position is shown inFIGS. 5 and 6(A). As shown inFIG. 5, in the temporary joined condition of the main body10and the pin member20, two of inclined surfaces23aof the interfering portions23engage two engagement blocks14b(one of which is shown) that are projected from the base plate14into the opening12. Thus, the main body10and the pin member20can be prevented from being separated from each other, so that the temporary joined condition thereof can be maintained. Further, the two engagement blocks14bare positioned so as to correspond to the two elastic strips22athat are positioned on diagonally opposite portions of the elastic shank portion22.

The covering member24has a function that facilitates a work to insert the elastic shank portion22into the interior portion of the anchor16. Additionally, the covering member24has a function that closely contacts the base plate14to cover the opening12of the main body10, thereby increase an appearance of the clip. Further, as best shown inFIG. 2, the covering member24has a pair of lock claws24athat are oppositely positioned across the elastic shank portion22. As will be recognized, the lock claws24aare positioned to correspond to the lock holes14aof the base plate14.

Next, a method of closing the attaching hole32formed in the plate member30using the clip will now be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 6(A) to 6(C).

First, the elastic shank portion22is inserted into the interior portion of the anchor16, so as to form the temporary joined condition of the main body10and the pin member20shown inFIG. 5. Thereafter, as shown inFIG. 6(A), the anchor16of the main body10is inserted into the attaching hole32of the plate member30via an insertion hole36formed in a roof cushion34. At this time, as described above, the distal end portions22bof the elastic strips22aof the elastic shank portion22can be received by the end surfaces19aof the slots19, so that the elastic shank portion22(the pin member20) can be locked in the temporary insertion position in the anchor16. Further, in this condition, the inclined surfaces18aof the engagement claws18of the anchor16contact the inner circumferential periphery of the attaching hole32.

Next, the covering member24of the pin member20is pushed toward the attaching hole32, so that the anchor16can be further pressed into the attaching hole32over a desired distance. As a result, as shown inFIG. 6(B), the inclined surfaces18aof the engagement claws18of the anchor16pass through the attaching hole32, so that the engagement surfaces18bof the engagement claws18can engage the peripheral portion of the attaching hole32on the rear surface of the plate member30. At the same time, the interfering portions23of the elastic shank portion22can interfere with the inner circumferential periphery of the attaching hole32. As a result, the elastic strips22aof the elastic shank portion22are flexed inwardly, so that the distal end portions22bof the elastic strips22acan be disengaged or spaced from the end surfaces19aof the slots19of the anchor16. Thus, a condition in which the pin member20(the elastic shank portion22) is locked in the temporary insertion position can be released. That is, a locked condition of the pin member20(the elastic shank portion22) in the temporary insertion position can be released. As a result, as shown inFIG. 6(C), the covering member24of the pin member20can be further pushed toward the attaching hole32, so that the elastic shank portion22can be further pressed into the interior portion of the anchor16until the elastic shank portion22reaches a final position in the anchor16.

When the elastic shank portion22of the pin member20is pressed into the anchor16of the main body10so as to be shifted from the temporary insertion position to the final position, the proximal end portions22cof the elastic strips22aof the elastic shank portion22(the connecting portion of the proximal end portions22c) can be positioned between the engagement claws18of the anchor16. As a result, the engagement claws18of the anchor16can be effectively prevented from being flexed inwardly. Therefore, an engagement condition of the engagement surfaces18bof the engagement claws18to the peripheral portion of the attaching hole32can be maintained, so that the main body10(the clip) can be reliably attached to the plate member30.

When the elastic shank portion22of the pin member20is inserted into the anchor16until the elastic shank portion22reaches the final position in the anchor16, the lock claws24aformed in the covering member24can engage the lock holes14aformed in the base plate14, so that the main body10and the pin member20can be locked. Further, in this condition, the covering member24of the pin member20can closely contact the base plate14of the main body10, so as to close or cover the opening12of the main body10.

Thus, when the pin member20is positioned in the temporary joined condition in which the elastic shank portion22is locked in the temporary insertion position, the elastic shank portion22cannot be inserted into the anchor16from the temporary insertion position toward the final position unless the anchor16of the main body10is suitably and sufficiently pressed into the attaching hole32of the plate member30. However, when the engagement claws18of the anchor16pass through the attaching hole32, the condition in which the pin member20(the elastic shank portion22) is locked in the temporary insertion position can be released, so that the elastic shank portion22of the pin member20can be inserted into the anchor16until the elastic shank portion22reaches the final position in the anchor16.

According to the clip of the present invention, when the anchor16of the main body10is not adequately pressed into the attaching hole32of the plate member30, the elastic shank portion22of the pin member20can be effectively prevented from being inserted into the anchor16from the temporary insertion position toward the final position. As a result, the clip can always be reliably attached to the plate member30. Therefore, the clip can be prevented from being dropped off from the attaching hole32even when an impact is applied thereto. The clip thus constructed is suitable for closing the attaching hole32that is formed in the plate member30(the roof panel) covered by the roof cushion34(i.e., that is not clearly seen externally.)

Further, in the embodiment, the end surfaces19aof the slots19that define the engagement claws18of the anchor16are utilized as the stoppers that are capable of locking the elastic shank portion22of the pin member20in the temporary insertion position in the anchor16of the main body10. Further, the interfering portions23of the elastic shank portion22are arranged and constructed to be projected or exposed to an exterior portion of the anchor16through the slots19. Therefore, with regard to at least the man body10of the clip, a conventional main body can be used without any change.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the multiple press molding machine. For example, in the embodiment, the clip constructed of the main body10and the pin member20is used to close the hole (the unnecessary hole) formed in the plate member30. However, the clip thus constructed can be used to fasten or combine two or more plate members utilizing the hole.

A representative example of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Only the claims define the scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the foregoing detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense, and are instead taught merely to particularly describe detailed representative examples of the invention. Moreover, the various features taught in this specification may be combined in ways that are not specifically enumerated in order to obtain additional useful embodiments of the present invention.