Line Holder

Abstract: The present invention relates to a line holder (1) for vibration-damped retention of lines in a motor vehicle above at least two planes E u and E o located one above the other. A sealing clip 3 of the line holder 1 which can be pivoted by a support element 2 allows clamping of the received lines by means of meshing tongues 8, 9 moulded thereon.

Description: The present invention relates to a line holder for vibration-damped retention of lines, in particular of fluid lines and/or cables in motor vehicles, according to the preamble of claim 1. Nowadays, several metres of lines and/or cables are to be laid in a modern motor vehicle. Examples of this include the fluid lines for the fuel, for the brake fluid or for the hydraulics of the power-assisted steering. In addition, several metres of electrical lines are to be accommodated in a motor vehicle for the electrics. These lines are conventionally laid by means of securing elements on parts of the car body, in particular on car body metal sheets and base parts, wherein, on the one hand, the securing element can be secured to threaded bolts or the like connected to the car body and, on the other hand, has at least one receiving region for a line. Of course, a detachment of the line during operation of the motor vehicle should always be prevented and the line should be held or secured in such a way that vibrations are fundamentally ruled out. A line holder with a plurality of receiving regions which can be attached on each side to a threaded bolt connected to the car body is known, for example, from WO 98/07996. This line holder has a plurality of receiving regions arranged parallel to one another for receiving a line of a set diameter respectively. A further line holder, in particular for retaining tubes in the motor vehicle, is also known from WO 99/28663. Two receiving regions arranged on a support plate of this tube holder so as to be offset from one another for receiving a respective tube with a set diameter are provided, which receiving regions can each be covered by a meshing sealing clip if the tube is inserted such that ultimately vibration-damped retention is achieved. In both of the embodiments known from the above-mentioned state of the art the receiving regions are dimensioned in such a way that the lines may be introduced easily from above into the receiving regions and may be pressed down into the vibration-damped retaining position, various bearing elements and positioning elements exerting an appropriate pressure force onto the introduced tubes, so vibrations issuing from the vehicle operation, on the one hand, and from the throughflow of the respective control fluids, on the other hand, are damped. A line holder according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US-A-5 947 426. In this known line holder the respective upper plane of a receiving region has a larger diameter than the respective lower plane. Accordingly, a line with a smaller diameter is received in the lower plane of the receiving region but cannot be retained exactly in a vibration-damped manner within the upper plane. Further a line holding clip is known from US-A-5 535 969 including a base member and a cover member hinged to the base member. Each member has a pair of substantially flexible arms which cooperate to resiliently capture a line element therebetween when the cover member is closed. The receiving region of this clip does not extend over two planes and cannot receive two lines located one above the other. Nowadays, a plurality of different lines for the most varied of units are to be laid in a modern motor vehicle. It is desirable in this case, from a design point of view on the one hand, and for reasons of ease of assembly on the other hand, to guide as many lines as possible within one loom of lines. Of course it can be necessary in this case to lay a plurality of different lines each with different diameters jointly along the car body metal sheets. Proceeding from this set of problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a line holder for vibration-damped retention of lines with various functions and various diameters which allows ease of assembly during mounting without losses in vibration damping having to be incurred. It is further an object of the present invention to retain lines of different diameter in a space-saving arrangement. The object is achieved by a line holder according to the features of claim 1. Therefore, the line holder according to the present invention provides the possibility of receiving lines of all kinds, in particular fluid lines and/or electrical lines, in a motor vehicle, each with different diameters, wherein this takes place in at least two planes located one above the other. According to the present invention the vibration-damped retention of the received lines is by means of appropriately designed meshing tongues which are moulded-on in appropriate alignment on the inner side, i.e. on the side of the pivotable sealing clip facing the support element. For space-saving and vibration-related reasons it is fundamentally advantageous if the line with the larger diameter respectively can be received in the lower plane, i.e. in the plane which faces the car body wall. According to the invention, the lower plane of at least one receiving region has, for this purpose, a larger receiving diameter than the upper plane of this receiving region located thereabove. As the respective upper plane of a receiving region must then be designed in such a way that a line with a larger diameter, which is to be received by the respective lower plane, can be passed through this upper plane without difficulty, this upper plane must have at least such a diameter or be elastically expandable such that it is ensured that the line can be passed through without difficulty. It should be taken into account, in this case, that a line with a smaller diameter received in the upper plane cannot be retained exactly in a vibration-damped manner within this plane. The meshing tongues fix the line received in the upper plane in that when the sealing clip is closed they surround the lines on either side while creating a clamping effect. For this purpose, in an advantageous development of the invention these meshing tongues which, in the closed state of the line holder, fix the received lines, are spaced in such a way that, with an appropriate smaller dimension, they approximately correspond to the diameter of these lines, so when the sealing clip is closed a corresponding clamping effect is achieved in the upper plane. According to the invention both the lower and the upper plane of each receiving region have clamping limbs above the received line which are located opposite one another in pairs within the receiving region and are aligned toward the received line with such a length, on the one hand, and with respect to the respective side walls of the receiving region, on the other hand, that they come to rest on the periphery of this received line in such a way that the latter is secured against detachment. In order to be able to push through the respective lines these clamping limbs, which are preferably integrally connected to the side walls of the receiving region of the support element, are elastically expandable. In order to receive the lines in the lower plane of the support element the latter has a substantially concave receiving bowl, which is preferably provided with elastically expandable clamping hooks, so an additional clamping effect is achieved. According to the present invention, the upper plane is provided with retaining limbs which are located opposite one another in pairs within a receiving region and are preferably integrally connected to the side walls of the receiving region. These retaining limbs serve to receive lines with preferably smaller diameters and for this purpose have a shape and alignment complementary to the line to be received. In order to be able to push through the lines for the respective lower planes these retaining limbs, like the clamping limbs, are elastically expandable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping limbs and the retaining limbs of the respective upper plane have apertures into which, in the closed state of the line holder, the meshing tongues of the sealing clip engage and thereby create the desired clamping effect for the lines received in the upper plane. In a further development of the line holder according to the invention, at least one plane of the receiving region, which is remote from the joint of the sealing clip on the support element, is, in contrast to the other receiving regions, accessible from above, substantially accessible from the side and has at least one clamping limb. This laterally arranged receiving region preferably serves to receive lines with substantially smaller diameters, such as electric lines. In a further development of the invention, in the closed state of the line holder, the support element and the sealing clip are connected to one another by a catch mechanism which is preferably releasably designed, so accessibility to the laid lines is always ensured. For reasons of vibration damping on the one hand, and for production cost reasons on the other hand, the line holder is preferably produced from an energy-elastic plastics material, wherein the property of elastic expandability can be provided in the simplest manner by an appropriate reduction in the thickness and appropriately moulded-on alignment of the clamping limbs and retaining limbs. The line holder according to the present invention always allows complete vibration-damped receiving of lines in a motor vehicle, receiving of lines with different diameters being possible owing to the line holder's appropriate constructive design and vibration damping always being retained in the process. Furthermore, the line holder is characterised in that it allows simple assembly of these lines and, owing to the guidance of a plurality of lines in one line holder, an effective and space-saving arrangement is ensured within the motor vehicle. Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the embodiment illustrated below with the aid of the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view along A-A from Fig. 3 of the line holder according to the invention in the open state; Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view along C-C from Fig. 3 of this line holder; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the line holder in the open state; and Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view similar to A-A from Fig. 3 of the line holder in the closed state with received lines illustrated by way of example. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view along A-A from Fig. 3. This shows a line holder 1, which consists of two components, namely a support element 2 and a sealing clip 3. The sealing clip 3 is pivotally mounted on the support element 2 by means of a joint 4, preferably a simple pivot joint, so it can be pivoted by the support element 2. The support element 2 has, preferably in its central plane, a receiving hole 5 which receives a corresponding threaded bolt or the like moulded on a car body wall, so the support element 2 can be placed on the car body wall in the simplest manner. The support element 2 has substantially U-shaped receiving regions 6, 7, 8 located parallel to one another. These receiving regions 6, 7, 8 extend over two planes, a lower plane E u and an upper plane E o for receiving various lines with various diameters. At least one receiving region 7 has a larger receiving diameter in its lower plane E u than in its upper plane E o . The receiving regions 6, 7, 8 have clamping limbs 9 in their lower plane E u and clamping limbs 10 in their upper plane E o . These clamping limbs 9, 10 are located opposite one another and in pairs respectively within the U-shaped receiving regions 6, 7, 8 and are aligned in such a way that they are directed toward the received line and come to rest thereon, as is shown by way of example in Fig. 4 for the upper plane E o . Owing to the appropriate alignment obliquely downward and an appropriate material selection for the support element 2, these clamping limbs 9, 10 are elastically expandable when a line is pushed through them from above in the direction of insertion. In the lower plane E u the support element 2 has concave receiving bowls 11 which approximately correspond to the diameters of the lines to be received. In the receiving regions 6 and 8 these receiving bowls 11 additionally have moulded-on clamping hooks 12 which are also elastically expandable, so the lines can be pushed into these receiving bowls 11 while creating an additional clamping effect. Retaining limbs 13 are moulded on the side walls in the upper plane E o of the receiving regions 6 and 8. These retaining limbs 13 have a shape and alignment complementary to the line which can be received in the upper plane E o , so this line comes to rest on the retaining limbs 13. As can be seen, these retaining limbs are arranged opposite one another in pairs within the receiving regions 6 and 8 and are also elastically expandable, so the line for the lower plane E u can be pushed through them. The sealing clip 3 has meshing tongues 14, 15 moulded-on integrally and in pairs. As can be seen from Fig. 4, in the closed state of the line holder, these meshing tongues 14, 15 engage in the upper plane E o of the receiving regions 6 and 8. The meshing tongues 14 and 15 are designed in such a way that during this engagement they clamp and fix in a vibration-damping manner the lines received in the upper plane E o by the clamping limbs 10 and the retaining limbs 13. As can be seen in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 these meshing tongues 14, 15 engage through apertures 16 correspondingly formed in the clamping limbs 10 and retaining limbs 13. On the side remote from the joint 4 of the sealing clip 3 the support element 2 has a further receiving region 17 which is divided in two, the lower plane E u of this receiving region 17 being substantially accessible laterally, i.e. slightly obliquely. The lower plane E u of this receiving region 17 has a clamping limb 18 for fixing a line with a substantially smaller diameter. On the side of the receiving region 17 a catch mechanism 19 is moulded-on which preferably allows releasable latching of the sealing clip 3 with the support element 2.

Claims: Line holder for vibration-damped retention of lines, in particular of fluid lines and/or cables in a motor vehicle, comprising a support element (2) which can be secured to a car body part with at least one substantially U-shaped receiving region (6, 8) which extends over at least two planes (E u , E o ) to receive at least two lines located one above the other, the at least one receiving region (6, 8) has in each plane (E u , E o ) and above the received line, clamping limbs (9, 10) located opposite one another in pairs and directed toward the received line, characterised in that the lower plane (E u ) respectively of the at least one receiving region (6, 8) has a larger receiving diameter than the respective upper plane (E o ) of this receiving region (6, 8) located thereabove, and a sealing clip (3) is rotatably coupled to the support element (2) and can be pivoted thereby to engage the support element (2), the sealing clip (3) having meshing tongues (14, 15) moulded-on in pairs which in the closed state of the line holder (1) engage in the upper plane (E o ) of the receiving region to fix the received lines and therefore locks the receiving region (6, 8). Line holder according to claim 1, characterised in that in order to create a clamping effect, the spacing of the meshing tongues (14, 15) corresponds, with a smaller dimension respectively, approximately to the diameter of the received line. Line holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the clamping limbs (9, 10) each have such a length and are aligned toward the received line in such a way that they come to rest on the latter's periphery and secure it against detachment. Line holder according to claim 3, characterised in that the clamping limbs (9, 10) are elastically expandable, so the line for the lower plane (E u ) can be pushed through the clamping limbs (9, 10) in the direction of insertion. Line holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (2) in the lower plane (E u ) of at least one receiving region (6, 7, 8) has at least one concave receiving bowl (11). Line holder according to claim 5, characterised in that at least one receiving bowl (11) has elastically expandable clamping hooks (12). Line holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (2) in the upper plane (E o ) of at least one receiving region (6, 7, 8) has retaining limbs (13) located opposite one another in pairs. Line holder according to claim 7, characterised in that the retaining limbs (13) have a shape and alignment complementary to the periphery of the line received in the upper plane (E o ). Line holder according to claim 8, characterised in that the retaining limbs (13) are elastically expandable, so the line for the lower plane (E u ) can be pushed through these retaining limbs (13) in the direction of insertion. Line holder according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the clamping limbs (10) and the retaining limbs (13) of the upper plane (E o ) each have apertures (16) into which the meshing tongues (14, 15) of the sealing clip (3) engage in the closed state of the line holder (1) while creating a clamping effect. Line holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one plane (E u , E o ) of a receiving region (17), which is located opposite the coupled sealing clip (3), is substantially accessible from the side and has at least one clamping limb (18). Line holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support element (2) and the sealing clip (3) are connected to one another in the closed state of the line holder (1) by a releasable catch mechanism (19). Line holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the line holder (1) consists of an energy-elastic plastics material.

Inventors: HAHN ERNST LUDWIG, HAHN, ERNST LUDWIG
Applicants: NEWFREY LLC
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60R16
IPC codes: F16L3, F16B2, B60R16, F16B5