Vehicle component fixture

Disclosed is a fixture to fix a vehicle component which comprises a metallic bolt to fix the vehicle component having a threaded portion to be threaded into a nut to fasten the vehicle component to the support member; a metallic bracket having a through-hole into which the threaded portion is inserted, the bracket holding the vehicle component between the bracket and the support member; and a metallic washer into which the threaded portion is inserted, the washer comprising a washer portion which contacts a peripheral edge of the fixture hole of the support member on the same side as the vehicle component and a locking portion which is provided integrally with the washer portion to be locked with and thus integrated with the bracket. According to the above constitution, the loosening of the nut can be prevented to stably maintain the earth performance of the vehicle body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-19420, filed on Feb. 4, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fixture to fix a vehicle component to a metallic support member to be electrically connected to a vehicle body.

BACKGROUND ART

A fixture1shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2has heretofore been used to fix a vehicle component such as a spoiler, which is a plastic molding, to a support member to be electrically connected to a vehicle.FIG. 1is a sectional view of the fixture1.FIG. 2is a sectional view showing how a vehicle component3is fixed, by the use of the fixture1, to a support member4secured to the vehicle.

This fixture1includes a bolt12, a bracket14, a washer16, and a cushion member18.

The bolt12is a metallic fastening member, and comprises a flat disk-shaped head12a, an intermediate portion12bhaving, for example, a columnar shape coupled to the head12a, and a threaded portion12ccoupled to the intermediate portion12b. An external thread is formed on the outer periphery of the threaded portion12c. The intermediate portion12bis formed to be larger in diameter than the threaded portion12c, and a step13is formed therebetween.

The bracket14is a metallic plate material to hold and secure the vehicle component3between the bracket14and the metallic support member4to be electrically connected to a vehicle body. A through-hole15is formed in the bracket14, and the intermediate portion12bof the bolt12is inserted into this through-hole. The head12aof the bolt12is engaged with the peripheral edge of the through-hole15of the bracket14. In this condition, the head12aof the bolt12is welded to the bracket14, and the bolt12is thereby secured to the bracket14.

The washer16is an annular metallic plate material. The washer16is provided to prevent the loosening of a nut5threaded and thus tightened to the threaded portion12cof the bolt12. The washer16contacts the step13of the bolt12when the bolt12is tightened, and is thereby electrically connected to the bolt12and the bracket14.

The cushion member18is a flexible plate-shaped or sheet-shaped member made of, for example, a sponge or rubber. The cushion member18is provided, for example, to prevent the washer16from coming off the threaded portion12cof the bolt12.

The fixture1configured as described above is used to fix the vehicle component3to the support member4of the vehicle in the following procedure.

First, the threaded portion12cof the bolt12secured integrally with the bracket14is inserted into a through-hole3aformed in the vehicle component3.

The washer16and the cushion member18are then sequentially inserted into the threaded portion12cof the bolt12projecting from the vehicle component3on the side opposite to the bracket14. In consequence, as shown inFIG. 1, the fixture1is mounted to the vehicle component3.

The vehicle component3to which the fixture1is mounted is then lifted to insert the threaded portion12cof the bolt12into a fixture hole4aof the support member4of the vehicle, and the threaded portion12cprojecting from the support member4on the side opposite to the fixture1is then tightened into the nut5. As a result, the vehicle component3is fastened and secured to the support member4of the vehicle by the fixture1.

When the vehicle component3is attached in this way, the flexible cushion member18is formed into a thin sheet shape compressed by being held between the support member4, the washer16, and the vehicle component3. The cushion member18thus compressed functions, together with the washer16, to prevent loosening of the nut5. That is, the resilient restoration force of the compressed cushion member18is used as tensile force for the threaded portion12cof the bolt12. The nut5is thereby pressed against the support member4, and loosening of the nut5is thus prevented.

The fixture1may be used as a ground portion to earth the vehicle body. In this case, the metallic support member4to be electrically connected to a vehicle body comes into metallic contact with and is secured with the bolt12, the bracket14, the washer16, and the nut5, whereby they are electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, the vehicle body is earth-connected via the fixture1and the metallic support member4, with the result that this earth-connection inhibits the deterioration of radio receiving sensitivity and the generation of radio noise that are caused by performance deterioration of an in-vehicle radio antenna.

No prior-art literature related to such a fixture has been discovered through investigation conducted by the applicant.

In the fixture1described above, the effect of preventing loosening of the nut5deteriorates when the resilient restoration force of the cushion member18is reduced by aged deterioration. Accordingly, the nut may loosen and come off.

If the nut5loosens, the bolt12, the bracket14, the washer16, and the nut5cannot be kept stably in metallic contact in the fixture1, and the earth performance of the vehicle body may deteriorate. This can cause problems of radio receiving sensitivity deterioration and radio noise generation.

Moreover, when the fixture1is used to attach the vehicle component3as described above, an assembly operator has to pass the threaded portion12cof the bolt12through the vehicle component3and then insert the washer16. This causes such problems as the washer16being dropped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fixture capable of preventing loosening of a nut and thus stably maintaining the earth performance of a vehicle body, and also capable of improving efficiency in the operation of attaching a vehicle component.

The present invention is directed to a fixture to fix a vehicle component to a metallic support member to be electrically connected to a vehicle body, the vehicle component fixture comprising a metallic bolt to fasten and thus fix the vehicle component, a threaded portion of the bolt to be inserted into a fixture hole of the support member being threaded into a nut, to fasten the vehicle component to the support member; a metallic bracket having a through-hole into which the threaded portion of the bolt is inserted so that a head of the bolt is engaged with a peripheral edge of the through-hole, the bracket holding the vehicle component between the bracket and the support member; and a metallic washer into which the threaded portion of the bolt is inserted, the washer comprising a washer portion which contacts a peripheral edge of the fixture hole of the support member on the same side as the vehicle component and a locking portion which is provided integrally with the washer portion to be previously locked with and thus integrated with the bracket.

In the fixture for the vehicle component of the present invention, the locking portion of the washer may be locked with the bracket by the bending of the tip of the locking portion projecting through a through-hole formed in the bracket.

Furthermore, in the fixture for the vehicle component of the present invention, the locking portion of the washer may be formed with a step which comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the through-hole of the bracket, thereby positioning the washer portion relative to the bracket.

According to the fixture of the present invention, the bolt, the bracket, and the washer constituting the fixture are secured in metallic contact, when the nut is tightened to fasten the vehicle component to the support member. No cushion member that causes the nut to loosen by aged deterioration is used, so that the fastening force at the time of tightening can be maintained, and the loosening of the nut can be effectively inhibited. These can prevent the nut coming off, and stably maintain the electrical connection of the fixture and the metallic support member. Therefore, the earth performance is improved when the vehicle body is earth-connected via the fixture, and in-vehicle radio receiving sensitivity deterioration and radio noise generation can be inhibited. Moreover, as the washer is integrated with the bracket, the efficiency in the operation of attaching the vehicle component by the use of the fixture is improved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this description, specific shapes, materials, numerical values, and directions are illustrative only to simplify the understanding of the present invention, and can be suitably modified according to, for example, use, purposes, and specifications. When a plurality of embodiments and modifications are included below, the use of the combination of their features is assumed originally.

A fixture2according to the present embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 6. In the following description, the same components as those in the conventional fixture1described above are referred to with the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations may be omitted.

The fixture2according to the present embodiment comprises a bolt12, a bracket20, and a washer22. The bolt12is similar to that in the conventional fixture1described above, and includes a head12a, an intermediate portion12b, and a threaded portion12cand has a step13at a boundary between the intermediate portion12band the threaded portion12c.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of the washer22in the fixture2according to the present embodiment.FIG. 4is a diagram showing how locking arms26of the washer22inFIG. 3are inserted into locking holes21of the bracket20.

The bracket20is a metallic plate material to hold and secure a vehicle component3between the bracket20and a metallic support member4to be electrically connected to a vehicle body. Here, the metallic support member4may constitute a part of the vehicle body, or may be a member which is secured so as to be electrically connected to the vehicle body.

A through-hole15into which the intermediate portion12bof the bolt12is inserted is formed in the bracket20. In the bracket20, the locking holes21into which the later-described locking arms26of the washer22are inserted are formed adjacent to the through-hole15. In the present embodiment, two locking holes21are formed to correspond to two locking arms26of the washer22.

As shown inFIG. 3, the washer22comprises an annular washer portion24including a bolt hole25into which the threaded portion12cof the bolt12is inserted, and the locking arms (locking portions)26integrally provided continuously to the outer peripheral edge of the washer portion24. Two locking arms26are provided at opposite positions in the diametrical direction of the washer portion24, and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane including the washer portion24. The number of the locking arms26is not limited to two, and may be one or may be three or more.

The washer22can be manufactured, for example, by press-cutting a metallic plate material to form a combination of the washer portion24and the locking arm26and then bending the locking arms26.

Steps27are formed on both sides of the locking arm26of the washer22. The steps27are engaged with the peripheral edges of the locking holes21when the locking arms26are inserted in the locking holes21of the bracket20. As a result, the steps27of the locking arm26function to position the washer portion24apart from the bracket20within a predetermined distance range.

However, the accuracy of this positioning may be low. More specifically, the accuracy may be at such a level that allows the washer22to wobble in a direction in which the washer22faces the bracket20even after the locking arm26is bent to ensure that the step13of the bolt12contacts the washer portion24of the washer22when the vehicle component3is secured to the metallic support member4by the fixture2and the nut5as shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 5is a diagram showing how the locking arms of the washer inFIG. 4are bent and integrated with the bracket. The fixture2according to the present embodiment is assembled as follows.

First, the bolt12is inserted into the through-hole15of the bracket20. The head12aof the bolt12is then welded and thereby secured to the bracket20. The bolt12may be secured to the bracket20not exclusively by welding but by some other means, for example, caulking, press fitting, or adhesive bonding.

As shown inFIG. 4, the threaded portion12cof the bolt12is then inserted into the washer portion24of the washer22, and the locking arms26of the washer22are inserted into the locking holes21of the bracket20.

As shown inFIG. 5, the tips of the locking arms26of the washer22projecting from the locking holes21of the bracket20are then bent in a direction along the bracket20. As a result, the washer22is integrally locked with the bracket20.

In the fixture2thus assembled, the bolt12, the bracket20, and the washer22are previously integrated, so that the washer does not come off when the fixture2is used to attach the vehicle component, and the efficiency in the attachment operation is therefore improved. As a result, attachment can be automated.

Now, attachment of the vehicle component using the fixture2according to the present embodiment is described with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a sectional view corresponding toFIG. 2, showing how the vehicle component3is fixed to the support member4constituting the vehicle body by the use of the fixture2inFIG. 5.

First, a assembly operator puts the fixture2over a fixture hole3aof the vehicle component3. In this case, the fixture hole3aof the vehicle component3is formed into a size that receives the locking arms26of the washer22of the fixture2.

The assembly operator then lifts the vehicle component3to insert the threaded portion12cof the bolt12projecting from the vehicle component3into a fixture hole4aof the metallic support member4constituting the vehicle body.

The assembly operator then threads and thus tightens the threaded portion12cprojecting on the opposite side through the fixture hole4aof the support member4into the nut5. As a result, the vehicle component3is fastened and secured so as to be held between the bracket20and the support member4.

As described above, the fixture2according to the present embodiment is configured to fix the vehicle component3without the use of a flexible cushion member. When the fixture2is fastened to the support member4by the nut5, this ensures that the bolt12, the bracket20, and the washer22that constitute the fixture2, the nut5, and the support member4are secured in metallic contact. This can prevent or inhibit the loosening of the nut caused by the aged deterioration of the cushion member, and prevent the nut5coming off.

As the nut does not easily loosen, the fastening force at the time of tightening can be maintained, and the electrical connection of the fixture2and the metallic support member4can be stably maintained. Therefore, the earth performance is improved when the support member4connected to the vehicle body is earth-connected via the fixture2, and in-vehicle radio receiving sensitivity deterioration and radio noise generation can be inhibited.

Moreover, as the washer22is integrated with the bracket20, the efficiency in the operation of attaching the vehicle component by the use of the fixture2is improved.

Another advantage is that the number of components and the cost of the fixture2can be reduced by the elimination of the cushion member.

The fixture according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and its modifications, and various modifications and improvements can be made within the scope of the matter set forth in the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

For example, the washer22is integrated with the bracket20by the bending of the locking arm26in the above description. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the locking arm of the washer may be secured to the bracket by caulking or welding. Alternatively, the locking arm may be locked by some other member (e.g. by winding an adhesive tape, attaching a binding band, placing a cap, or adhesively bonding with an adhesive agent).

Although the fixture2which includes the bolt12having the step13formed therein is described above, a bolt having no step formed therein may be used instead.

The head12aof the bolt12is secured to the bracket20, for example, by welding in the above description, but does not always have to be secured.

It should be understood that the vehicle component fixed by the fixture according to the present invention is not limited to a spoiler and the fixture is applicable to secure any part of the vehicle that is made of resin.