Abstract:
A fastening device ( 10 ) for a lead has a fastening portion ( 14 ) for mounting the fastening device ( 10 ) on a support, and a support portion ( 12 ) for the lead. The fastening device ( 10 ) further has at least one additional holding portion ( 16 ) extending from the support portion ( 12 ) for pre-fixing the fastening device ( 10 ) on the lead.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a fastening device for a lead.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various fastening devices are known for fastening a lead such as, for instance, a hydraulic lead or an electric lead in the form of a cable or cable line on a support, particularly on the body of a vehicle. A lead may be mounted for example on a track, the track being clipped to an edge of the vehicle body by an adjoining clip section. Cable fastenings in two parts are also known, which consist of a track and a base part. The base parts engage into holes which are provided in the vehicle body, in order to fasten the tracks with the cable on the vehicle body. However, the two-part fastening devices generally have the disadvantage that they first have to be assembled.  
         [0003]     It is an object of the invention to provide a fastening device for a lead which is easy to handle, favourably priced and facilitates mounting on a support.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to the invention, a fastening device has a fastening portion for mounting the fastening device on a support, and a support portion for the lead. The fastening device further has at least one additional holding portion extending from the support portion for pre-fixing the fastening device on the lead. The invention is based on the finding that the fastening of a lead on a support by a mechanic is able to be carried out substantially more quickly and simply when the fastening device can be prefixed on the lead. The holding portion which is additionally provided according to the invention makes it possible to mount the fastening device in a simple manner provisionally on the lead before fastening on the support. The position of the fastening device on the lead can be corrected if necessary before the fastening device is finally mounted with its fastening portion on the support. If necessary, in addition to fixing by the holding portion, the lead may be additionally connected with the fastening device in another way.  
         [0005]     According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, two holding portions extending in opposite directions are provided. This makes a more stable fixing possible on the lead.  
         [0006]     A holding portion which is constructed so that the lead can be clamped between the support portion and the holding portion makes a particularly simple prefixing possible without further auxiliary means. The pre-fixing can also be easily detached.  
         [0007]     The holding portion preferably has a holding bracket which extends transversely over the lead. The holding bracket can be connected with the support portion via an arm extending along the lead. The arm can be used as a fastening track and guide for the lead when a secure mounting of the lead on the fastening device is provided with an adhesive tape or suchlike.  
         [0008]     An elastically deformable holding portion provides for a simple handling and stabilizing of the fastening device on the lead.  
         [0009]     In order to prevent an undesired slipping of the fastening device on the lead, the support portion can have several ribs acting as a security against displacement. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show two different perspective views of a fastening device according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]     The fastening device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is made of plastic and has a support portion  12 , which is to be fastened to a support for a lead. The device  10  further has a fastening portion  14  and two holding portions  16 . The fastening portion  14  extends from the side of the support portion  12  facing away from the lead and serves to fasten the fastening device  10  to the support. The fastening portion  14  can be constructed differently, depending on the type of fastening which his provided (in a bore, on a threaded bolt, on the edge of a metal sheet, etc.).  
         [0012]     The support portion  12  is curved relative to a transverse direction x and has a concave support surface for the lead on the side facing away from the fastening portion  14 . In the illustrated example embodiment the support surface is formed by several ribs  18  arranged in parallel, which extend in the transverse direction x.  
         [0013]     The two holding portions  16  extend in opposite directions from diametral ends of the support portion  12 . The holding portions  16  are composed of an elastically deformable (flexible) elongated arm  20  and a bracket  22  which is curved relative to the transverse direction x, the curvature of the bracket  22  being opposed to the curvature of the support portion  12 . As can be seen in particular in  FIG. 2 , the arms  20  are inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction y perpendicular to the transverse direction x towards the fastening portion  14  (i.e. downwards in accordance with the illustration of  FIG. 2 ). The difference in height between the lowermost point of the support portion  12  and the lower ends of the brackets  22  is designated by reference sign d in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0014]     For fastening the lead on the support the fastening device  10  is initially pre-fixed on the lead. To do this, the lead is placed in the longitudinal direction y onto the support surface  18  and the two holding brackets  22  are placed onto the lead according to their curvature. Owing to the inclination of the elongated arms  20 , a clamping force acts between the brackets  22  and the support portion  12  onto the lead, so that the fastening device  10  is fixed on the lead. The clamping force is determined largely by the height difference d. The ribs  18  of the support portion  12  counteract a slipping of the fastening device  10  on the lead in the longitudinal direction y. Nevertheless, the position of the fastening device  10  can still be altered as desired after the pre-fixing, because this prefixing can be detached without difficulty. For the final fastening of the lead on the support, the fastening device  10  is then mounted on the support using the fastening portion  14 . If the clamping force of the holding portions  16  is not sufficient or an additional securing is intended, the lead can be connected by a cable connector, a cable clip, an adhesive tape or in another way using the arm  20  which in this case serves as a track.  
         [0015]     The fastening device  10  according to the invention can be advantageously produced as a single piece part by injection molding. The fastening device  10  is not only to be used in the motor vehicle field, but particularly also in electrical equipment such as, for example, refrigerators, ovens, washing machines, dishwashers, driers etc. (so-called white goods).