# Patent

## Title
Engagement fitting and manufacturing method of engagement fitting

## Abstract

An engagement fitting comprises a hook that is integrally formed from a metal rod member. The rod member is bent into a generally U-shaped configuration. Bases then can be bent at approximately right angles at base ends of a pair of legs of the generally U-shaped hook. The bases extend to opposite sides from one another across a plane that is generally defined by the U-shaped configuration. The base is formed at least partially flat and can be provided with attachments such that the engagement fitting can be mounted on other members.

## Background
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the prior benefit under 35 USC 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-75994, filed Mar. 23, 2007, Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-121605, filed May 2, 2007, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-258968, filed Oct. 2, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an engagement fitting used as a locking device striker for an opening-and-closing body (e.g., door) of, for example, a vehicle interior, an engine compartment, a trunk, or the like of an automobile; and a method of manufacturing the engagement fitting.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference initially to FIGS. 25 and 26, an “engagement fitting” generally is paired with an engagement pawl that is controlled by a device, such as a key and a lever. The engagement fitting can be made by bending into a U-shape a rod (e.g., a steel rod member), the cross-sectional shape of which is either circular or square. The engagement fitting can include an engagement pestle 2 that extends in a horizontal direction and legs 3 that extend from both ends of the engagement pestle 2. The ends of the legs 3 can be coupled to an engagement plate 5 by welding or the like (see JP-REI-H06-312670 and JP-A-2002-337743).
However, in addition to a bending process used to form the engagement pestle 2, processes are required for press-forming the engagement plate 5, which is made of a flat bar or the like, and for welding the engagement pestle 2 to the engagement plate 5. In addition to requiring a number of steps, the manufacturing method requires a number of distinctly different types of processes. Therefore, the manufacturing process is fairly complicated and fairly costly.
To remedy these problems, JP-A-H07-220345 suggested deforming the engagement plate to form the engagement pestle. However, because the engagement pestle is formed of a layer from a couple of board members, the board members have to be joined together, which somewhat complicates the manufacturing method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Because the conventional striker comprises multiple parts, the assembling man-hours increase. Moreover, it also is required to strengthen the attachment portions of the multiple parts. Therefore, one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention relates to an engagement fitting that provides sufficient strength while using fewer parts and fewer assembling man-hours. Another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing the engagement fitting.
Thus, one aspect of some embodiments of the present invention comprises an engagement fitting. The engagement fitting comprises a hook and a base that are integrally formed with a single metal rod member. The hook comprises a generally u-shaped configuration. The generally u-shaped configuration comprises a pair of spaced legs. The base comprises a pair of base portions that extend at an approximately right angle from a respective base end of the pair of legs. The generally u-shaped hook is positioned between the pair of base portions. The base is generally flat and comprises at least one mounting hole.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings of several preferred embodiments, which embodiments are intended to illustrate and not to limit the invention, and in which figures:
FIG. 1 is a perspective of an engagement fitting that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a serrated portion of an engagement plate that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an engagement fitting that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from the arrow B in FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 illustrating a shaping process used to form at least a portion of the striker.
FIG. 13 is a view of an engagement fitting that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 13(a) is a plan view, FIG. 13(b) is a bottom view, and FIG. 13(c) is a right side view of FIG. 13(b).
FIG. 14 is a view showing a portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 where the rod member is bent.
FIG. 16 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 where bulges are formed in the rod member.
FIG. 17 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 where bulged portions are formed at tips of the rod member.
FIG. 18 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 where the tips of the rod member are formed in a fork shape.
FIG. 19 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 and in particular showing a first bending state.
FIG. 20 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 and in particular showing the second bending state.
FIG. 21 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 and in particular showing the third bending state.
FIG. 22 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 and in particular showing the base being flattened.
FIG. 23 is a view showing the portion of the engagement fitting during the manufacturing process of the engagement fitting shown in FIG. 13 and in particular showing holes being drilled in the base.
FIG. 24 is a view showing the tips of another engagement fitting that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 24(a) being a plan view and FIG. 24(b) being a cross sectional view of FIG. 24(a) taken along the line c-c.
FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a conventional engagement fitting.
FIG. 26 is a front view showing the conventional engagement fitting.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference now to FIGS. 1-6, a strike plate or engagement fitting 10 is shown. The engagement fitting 10 can be used with an automobile door as an “opening-and-closing body.” The illustrated engagement fitting 10 comprises a hook 11 that is integrally shaped from a single metal rod member. The engagement fitting 10 preferably is bent generally in a gate shape (i.e., bent in a generally U-shaped configuration). The engagement fitting 10 also comprises bases 12 that are bent at an approximately right angle at base ends of a pair of legs 11a of the generally U-shaped hook 11. The bases 12 preferably extend in opposite directions from one another across a plane that is generally defined by the generally U-shaped hook 11.
The hook 11 comprises a pair of the legs 11a and an engagement pestle 11b that extends across these legs 11a. The engagement pestle 11b preferably extends generally parallel with a surface (not shown) of a vehicle body on which the engagement fitting 10 will be mounted.
In addition, the bases 12 are flattened at the tips (or at least partially flattened) and the bases 12 are provided with a pair of attachments 12a that can be mounted onto other members (e.g., the mounting surface on the vehicle body), which other members are not shown. The attachments 12a preferably are formed into circular shapes by flattening spherical bulges at the ends of the rod member. Bolt holes 12b can be drilled at the center of the circular shape that is formed by flattening the spherical bulges.
Because the engagement fitting 10 is fabricated by bending a single material in a desired shape, manufacturing the engagement fitting does not require machining or welding. Therefore, the illustrated configuration simplifies manufacturing engagement fittings. In addition, because manufacturing the illustrated engagement fitting 10 does not produce waste materials, such as chips that might be formed in the shaping process, material yields are improved lower cost manufacturing is possible.
With reference to FIG. 6, a serrated, knurled or roughened surface, such as that formed by a myriad of square pyramid projections 12c in a mountain shape, can be are provided on the back surface of the attachment 12a. In other words, such a surface can be provided to the surface that contacts the surface on which the engagement fitting 10 will be mounted on the vehicle body side.
Therefore, when a bolt (not shown) is passed through the bolt hole 12b and tightened into position in a weld nut (not shown), for instance, which can be provided on the surface to which the engagement fitting 10 is being mounted, the tips of the square pyramid projections 12c can be crushed while the bolt is being tightened even if the back surface of the attachment 12a is not mounted flush with the mounting surface (e.g., the back surface of the attachment 12a is at a slight angle to the mounting surface). Accordingly, the entire surface comes into contact without significant modification of the inclination of the attachment 12a. Moreover, the surface pressure at the time of tightening stabilizes and the bolt is not likely to be loose.
With reference to FIGS. 7-12, another embodiment of an engagement fitting 10 is shown. The engagement fitting 10 comprises a hook 11 that is integrally formed with a continuing metal rod member and bent generally into a gate shape (e.g., a U-shaped configuration). The illustrated engagement fitting 10 also comprises bases 12 that are extend outward at an approximately right angle at both ends of this gate-shaped hook 11, thus forming base ends of the gate shape. The base ends of the gate shape preferably extend to opposite sides from one another across a plane that is generally defined by the gate shape.
The illustrated hook 11 has a pair of legs 11a and an engagement pestle 11b extending across the legs 11a. Preferably, the engagement pestle 11b extends generally parallel with a mounting surface (not shown) upon which the engagement fitting can be mounted.
The illustrated bases 12 preferably are formed in a flattened shape by compression molding. The illustrated bases 12 also can be provided with a pair of attachments 12a that can be mounted to other members (e.g., the surface of the vehicle body to which the engagement fitting will be mounted), which other members are not shown. The attachments 12a can be formed in a generally circular configuration by flattening spherical bulges 13b, such as those shown in FIG. 12. Bolt holes 12b can be drilled at the center of the flattened spherical bulges 13b. 
The base 12 can be provided with an extension 12d that extends from the attachment 12a. Preferably, an engagement part 12e that is engaged with the base end of the leg 11a of the hook 11 is formed at an end of the extension part 12d. An inclined or angled surface 12f can be formed at an end of the engagement part 12e and the inclined surface 12f preferably abuts on, and is engaged with, the lower side of the base end of the legs 11a, as shown in FIG. 9.
With reference now to FIG. 12, the illustrated hook 11 can be formed by bending a predetermined length of a metal rod member 13 into a generally U-shaped configuration (e.g., a generally gate shaped configuration). A pair of bulges 12g, which extend outward more than other portions of the rod member 13, can be formed at predetermined positions along the rod-shaped sections 13a such that, when the rod member 13 is formed into the generally U-shaped configuration, one bulge 12g is positioned on each leg of the generally U-shaped configuration.
Next, the rod-shaped sections 13a preferably are bent in the middle at approximately right angles in opposite directions from one another, as shown in a chain double-dashed lines P. In other words, one of the legs defined by one of the rod-shaped sections 13a is bent upward while the other is bent downwards from a plane defined by the two sections 13a and the bight defined between the two sections 13a. Subsequently, a folded end section 13c is further folded back on a plane in a direction of an arrow Q such that an inclined surface 13d of the end section 13c abuts on the base end (i.e., the bent section) of the leg 11a to form a loop. In some configurations, the portions remaining from the bends shown in double-dashed lines P are bent two more times such that a C-shape or U-shape is formed (e.g., a configuration that corresponds to the two sides shown in FIG. 11) with the bulges 12g being at the center of these shaped portions.
Next, the flat-shaped attachment 12a is formed by pressing (compressing) the end section 13c in a vertical direction, which results in the top and bottom surfaces, including the bulges 16g, being formed into a generally planar shape. Then, the illustrated engagement fitting 10 can be completed by drilling a bolt hole 12b in each of the attachments 12a. 
In some configurations, the inclined surface 12f of the base 12 and the leg 11a can be bonded together to reduce the likelihood of detachment. In some of these configuration, the bonding can be performed by welding, such as by electric welding, as desired. Moreover, while adding additional machining operations and steps, the flat attachment 12a may be finished with cutting or grinding, as desired.
The illustrated engagement fitting 10 can have an improved strength at the base 12 by abutting the inclined surfaces 12f of the base 12 on the leg 11a to form a consecutive loop. In addition, because a relatively large opening 12g (e.g., a weight reducing hole) is formed in the center of the base 12, the weight can be reduced despite the shape, the outline of which is relatively large. Moreover, the relatively large base provides secure mounting for the illustrated engagement fitting 10. In terms of manufacturing, because the base 12 is formed by plastic forming a single rod member, it produces minimal waste materials during processing such that material yields can be improved.
With reference now to FIGS. 13 to 23, another engagement fitting 10 is shown that comprises a hook 11 that is integrally formed with a continuing metal rod member and that is bent into a generally gate shaped configuration. The illustrated engagement fitting 10 also comprises bases 12 that are bent at approximately right angles at the ends of the gate-shaped hook 11 (e.g., the base ends of the gate shaped configuration) and that extend in generally opposite directions from one another relative to a plane generally defined by the gate shaped configuration.
The illustrated hook 11 preferably comprises a pair of legs 11a and an engagement pestle 11b that extends across these legs 11a. The engagement pestle 11b preferably extends in parallel with a surface (not shown) of a vehicle body, for instance, to which the engagement fitting 10 will be mounted.
In addition, the base 12 preferably is formed substantially entirely flat and is provided with a pair of attachments 12a that are mounted onto other members (e.g., the mounting surface of the vehicle body), which other members are not shown. The attachments 12a can have a generally circular configuration and can be formed by flattening spherical bulges 13b, as described above. Bolt holes 12b can be drilled at the center of the attachments 12a. 
The base 12 preferably comprises an extension part 12d that extends from the attachment 12a. The base 12 also preferably comprises an engagement part 12e that is engaged with the base end of the leg 11a. The engagement part can be formed at a tip of the extension part 12d. In some embodiments, a recess 12h is formed in the engagement part 12e and the base end of the leg 11a fits within the recess 12h. 
As shown in FIG. 14, a metal rod member 13 can be cut into a predetermined length. Then, as shown in FIG. 15, the hook 11 can be formed by bending the rod member 13 into a generally U-shaped configuration (i.e., a generally gate shaped configuration). A pair of bulges 13b then can be formed by forging or the like in predetermined portions on the rod-shaped sections 13a of the generally U-shaped member (see FIG. 16).
Tips 13e of the rod-shaped sections 13a then can be forged to be bulged or expanded portions, as shown in FIG. 17. The tips 13e can be formed into a fork shape, as shown in FIG. 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 19(a) and FIG. 19(b), the pair of rod-shaped sections 13a can be bent at approximately right angles in opposite directions. The pair of rod-shaped sections 13a also can be bent in different directions from the first bending, as shown in FIG. 20, and further, as shown in FIG. 21, the pair of rod-shaped sections 13a can be bent once more in order for the fork-shaped recesses 13f of the tip ends 13e to receive the base ends of the hook legs 11a. As shown in FIG. 22, the base 12 then can be formed by forging and then, as shown in FIG. 23, the bolt holes 12b can be drilled, as shown in FIG. 13.
As described above, it is possible to cut down the number of parts used to make the engagement fitting 10 by using only a single rod member 13. Moreover, it is possible to strengthen the base 12 by fitting the legs 11a into the recesses 12h. Also, forming the entire base 12 into a flat shape makes it easier to establish contact with the vehicle mounting surface.
With reference now to FIG. 24, recesses 13g are formed into the base ends of the legs 11a by performing the bending processes shown in FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 after forming recesses 13g at the tips 13e. Afterwards, the entirety of the base 12 is flattened by forging or the like, similar to that shown in FIG. 22. In this manner, the strength of the base 12 can be improved.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art also are within the scope of this invention. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, variations on the bends can be made, as desired. In some configurations, the bends and forgoings can be performed in other orders. Moreover, not all of the features, aspects and advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined only by the claims that follow.

## Claims

1. An engagement fitting consisted of a hook and a base that are integrally formed with a single metal rod member, the hook having a generally u-shaped configuration comprising a first and a second leg, the base having first and second base portions, each extending at an approximately right angle from a respective base end of the legs, the generally u-shaped hook being positioned between the base portions, each base portion having an engagement end and a generally flat attachment portion positioned between the engagement end and the respective base end of the legs, each attachment portion comprising a mounting hole, each mounting hole comprising a central axis and an imaginary plane that is defined by the central axes substantially bisecting the u-shaped hook, the engagement end of the first base portion is configured to receive the base end of the second leg and the engagement end of the second base portion is configured to receive the base end of the first leg.

2. The engagement fitting of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the base comprises a roughened surface.

3. The engagement fitting of claim 1, wherein the u-shaped hook defines a second imaginary plane that separates the pair of base portions such that a first base portion of the pair of base portions is separated from a second base portion of the pair of base portions by the second imaginary plane.

4. The engagement fitting of claim 1, wherein an engagement pestle extends between the pair of spaced legs and the imaginary plane that is defined by the central axes extends at a right angle through the engagement pestle.