Abstract:
A component attachment apparatus is used for attaching a component in a panel hole of a panel and is formed of a grommet to be inserted into the panel hole to be incapable of rotation, and a pin. The grommet includes an insertion hole, an open part extending outwardly to cross the insertion hole, and a meeting part formed at least one side of the open part along the insertion hole. The pin includes a head part larger than the insertion hole, and a leg part extending from the head part and inserted into the insertion hole of the grommet to be capable of rotation. The leg part has a first catch elastically projecting outward from an outer perimeter of the leg part to couple in the panel hole, and a second catch positioned at a tip of the leg part for preventing escape of the leg part from the insertion hole. When the pin with the leg part is inserted into the insertion hole, the first catch is positioned in the open part to engage the panel. When the pin is rotated, the first catch is pushed inward by the meeting part to be located inside the grommet, so that the component attachment apparatus can be removed from the panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an attachment apparatus that is capable of fixing, for example, two panels in an overlaid state, and the two panels can be easily separated by rotating a pin. 
     As a prior art, there is known, for example, a connecting tool ( 10 ) described in a publication of Utility Model Registration No. 2518870. 
     The above-mentioned connecting tool ( 10 ), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the same publication, generally was constituted by a screw body ( 20 ) and a receiving body ( 30 ). When the above-mentioned screw body ( 20 ), as shown in FIG. 6 in the same publication, is pushed into a coupling hole ( 38 ) of the receiving body ( 30 ), the external diameter of a pair of base parts ( 32 ) is enlarged, and it no longer escapes from the attachment hole of a panel (P). 
     On the other hand, during reuse of the connecting tool ( 10 ), the screw body ( 20 ) may be rotated by a jig with a screw driver head. By this, the screw body ( 20 ) is separated from the receiving body ( 30 ), and at this time, the external diameter of the pair of base parts ( 32 ) is returned to the original posture by the elastic returning force of a hinge ( 34 ). 
     However, the above-mentioned connecting tool ( 10 ) of the past had a problem that when the screw body ( 20 ) was inserted in the receiving body ( 30 ) for a long time, the external diameter of the pair of the base parts ( 32 ) would no longer contract, and removal from the attachment hole of the panel (P) became difficult. 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problem of the prior art, and in a first aspect or object of the invention, a first catch or claw can contract surely by rotating a pin. 
     In a second aspect of the invention, in addition to the purpose of the invention described in the first aspect, the pin can be rotated easily via an operating part. In a third aspect of the invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the invention, the first catch can easily contract. In a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first to third aspects, because a leg part of the pin is held inside an insertion hole of a grommet, the leg part of the pin is not accidentally pushed from outside, and escape of the pin from the grommet can be prevented in advance. 
     In a fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the purpose of the invention described in the first to fourth aspects, a clicking feeling or jointed feeling can be given during rotation. In a sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the purposes of the invention described in the first to fifth aspects, escape of the pin can be prevented assuredly by the fact that a second catch or claw is inserted into a cut-out part of the grommet. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has been made in order to achieve each of the above-mentioned purposes, and the characteristic points of the invention are explained below. 
     In the first aspect, the attachment apparatus is used for attaching a component (for example a panel) to a panel hole of a panel. The attachment apparatus comprises a grommet and a pin. The above-mentioned grommet has an insertion hole, and it is inserted into the panel hole to be incapable of rotation. The pin is inserted in the insertion hole to be capable of rotation. 
     The pin comprises a head part, and a leg part. The head part is larger than the insertion hole. The leg part extends from the head part, and is inserted into the insertion hole. 
     The leg part comprises a first catch or claw, and a second catch or claw. The above-mentioned first catch projects elastically outward in the radial direction from the outer perimeter of the leg part, and it is coupled in the panel hole. The second catch is positioned more toward the tip of the leg part than the first catch, and it is used for preventing escape of the leg part from the insertion hole. 
     The grommet comprises an open part, and a meeting part. The open part runs or penetrate through in and out of a wall of the grommet, and allows the first catch to project outward. The meeting part is positioned forward in the rotational direction of the pin, and operates to meet the first catch and push the first catch inward in the radial direction when the pin is rotated. 
     In the second aspect, in addition to the characteristic points of the invention described in the first aspect, the head part of the pin includes an operating part. The operating part enables rotational operation of the pin. 
     In the third aspect, in addition to the characteristic points of the invention described in the first or second aspect, the meeting part of the grommet comprises an inclined surface. The inclined surface is designed to meet the first catch with an incline. 
     In the fourth aspect, in addition to the characteristic points of the invention described in any of the first to third aspects, the leg part of the pin is held inside the insertion hole of the grommet. 
     In the fifth aspect, in addition to the characteristic points of the invention described in any of the first to fourth aspects, there is provided respectively either an indented or raised part between the outer perimeter of the leg part of the pin and the inner perimeter of the insertion hole of the grommet. The indented and raised parts are used for coupling with each other in the state in which the first catch is inserted in the open part. 
     In the sixth aspect, in addition to the characteristic points of the invention described in any of the first to fifth aspects, the tip of the grommet, which is positioned forward in the direction of insertion of the leg part of the pin, has a cut-out part. The cut-out part is inserted into by the second catch in the position where the first catch is inserted into the open part. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 is another exploded vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a grommet taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pin taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus showing an assembled state of the pin and the grommet; 
     FIG. 7 is another vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus showing the assembled state of the pin and the grommet; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing the attached state of the attachment apparatus; 
     FIG. 9 is another vertical sectional view showing the attached state of the attachment apparatus; 
     FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the attachment apparatus; and 
     FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view showing the state in which the pin is rotated. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-11 respectively show one example of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the attachment apparatus. FIG. 2 is an exploded vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus. FIG. 3 is another exploded vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a grommet taken along line  4 — 4  in FIG.  2 . FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a pin taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG.  2 . FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus showing the assembled state of the pin and the grommet. FIG. 7 is another vertical sectional view of the attachment apparatus showing the assembled state of the pin and the grommet. FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view showing the attached state of the attachment apparatus. FIG. 9 is another vertical sectional view showing the attached state of the attachment apparatus. FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the attachment apparatus. FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view showing the state in which the pin is rotated. 
     In FIGS. 1-3, numeral  10  indicates the attachment apparatus. The above-mentioned attachment apparatus  10  is for fixing, for example, two panels  20 ,  30  in an overlaid state, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. 
     Either one of the two panels  20 ,  30  is taken as the component, and the other of the two panels  20 ,  30  is taken as a base, so that the one panel  20  or  30  as the component is attached to the other panel  20  or  30  as the base. The component is not limited to the panels  20 ,  30 , and the base also is not limited to the panels  20 ,  30 . Also, as for the use of the attachment apparatus  10 , it can be used widely for vehicles, such as automobiles, ships, and airplanes, and for houses, furniture, office tools, electronic products, and the like. 
     The above-mentioned two panels  20 ,  30  respectively are provided with square panel holes  21 ,  31 , each of which runs or penetrates through the upper and lower surfaces, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The size of the panel holes  21 ,  31  of the two panels  20 ,  30  may be the same or they may be different. 
     Meanwhile, the attachment apparatus  10 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, generally comprises a pin  40  and a grommet  50 . The attachment apparatus  10  is not limited to the above-mentioned parts, i.e. pin and grommet, and it also may comprise other parts. 
     The pin  40  is integrally molded, for example, from a resin having suitable rigidity and elasticity, for example, POM. Specifically, the pin  40 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, generally comprises a head part  60 , and a leg part  70 . The pin  40  is not limited to the above-mentioned parts, i.e. head part and leg part, and it also may comprise other parts. 
     The head part  60 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, forms a flat circular shape, and its outer diameter is set larger than the inner diameter of the panel hole  21  of the upper panel  20 . Also, the outer diameter of the head part  60  is set larger than the outer diameter or external shape of the grommet  50 . The shape of the head part  60  is not limited to a flat circular shape, and it also may be formed in a flat square shape. 
     The head part  60 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, includes an operating part.  61 . However, the head part  60  is not limited to have the operating part  61 , and it also may comprise another part. The operating part  61  is formed into a minus-shaped slot. Also, although it is not illustrated, the operating part  61  is made to be able to rotate the pin  40  by inserting a blade of a minus or straight-edge screw driver. The operating part  61  is not limited to a minus-shaped slot, and it also may form a plus-shaped or phillips slot, or a wrench socket, or head part  60  may be formed in a bolt shape. Also, it is not limited to a screw driver, and a common tool, such as wrench or spanner, may be used. 
     A leg part  70 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, generally comprises a first leg  80 , and a second leg  90 . The leg part  70  is not limited to the above-mentioned parts, i.e. first leg and second leg, and it also may comprise other parts. 
     The first leg  80 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5, extends cylindrically from the lower surface of the head part  60 . The above-mentioned first leg  80 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5, includes a first catch or claw  81 , and a raised part  82 . The first leg  80  is not limited to the above-mentioned parts, i.e. first catch and raised part, and it also may comprise other parts. 
     The first catch  81 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 5, projects elastically from the outer perimeter of the first leg  80 , and two first catches are totally provided at a 180-degree interval. The number of the first catches  81  is not limited to two, and one or three or more also may be provided. 
     The raised part  82 , as shown in FIG. 5, projects semicircularly in section from the outer perimeter of the first catch  81 , and one is provided at the position shifted at 90 degrees with respect to the first catch  81 . The number of the raised parts  82  is not limited to one, and two or more also may be provided. 
     The second leg  90 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, extends cylindrically from the tip of the first leg  80  and is thinner. The above-mentioned second leg  90 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, includes a second catch  91 . The second leg  90  is not limited to the above-mentioned part, i.e. second catch, and it also may comprise another part. 
     The above-mentioned second catch  91 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3, projects elastically from the outer perimeter of the second leg  90 , and two second legs  90  are totally provided at a 180-degree interval. Also, each second catch  91  is positioned immediately beneath each first catch  81 . The number of the second catches  91  is not limited to two, and one or three or more also may be provided. 
     The grommet  50 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is formed to have an outer diameter equal to or less than the inner diameter of panel holes  21 ,  31  of the two panels  20 ,  30 , for example, to a roughly equal square hollow shape. Also, the grommet  50 , just as the pin  40 , is integrally molded, for example from a resin having suitable rigidity and elasticity, for example POM. 
     The above-mentioned grommet  50 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, generally comprises an insertion hole  51 , an open part  52 , a meeting or abutting part  53 , a cut-out part  54 , and an indented part  55 . The grommet  50  is not limited to the above-mentioned parts, and it also may comprise other parts. 
     The insertion hole  51 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is formed circularly in section, running through the top and bottom of the grommet  50 . The inner diameter of an entrance side  51   a  of the above-mentioned insertion hole  51 , that is, the top side in FIGS. 1-3, is set to greater than or equal to the first leg  80  of the pin  40 , for example roughly equal. Also, the inner diameter of an exit side  51   b  of the insertion hole  51 , that is, the bottom side in FIGS. 1-3, is set narrower than the inner diameter of the aforementioned entrance side  51   a , and greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the second leg  90 , for example roughly equal. 
     Also, as shown in FIGS. 6-7, it is made such that the leg part  70  of the pin  40  is held inside the insertion hole  51 . Specifically, the entire length of the insertion hole  51  is set to greater than or equal to the entire length of leg part  70  of the pin  40 , for example roughly equal. By this, the leg part  70  of the pin  40  is not accidentally pushed, and escape from the grommet  50  can be prevented in advance. 
     An open part  52 , as shown in FIG. 10, allows the first catch  81  to project outward. Specifically, the open part  52 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, runs through squarely in the inner portion or wall of the grommet  50 , and two open parts  52  are provided at a 180-degree interval just as the first catches  81 . The number of the open parts  52  may be equal to or above the number of the first catches  81 . 
     The meeting part  53 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is positioned forward in the rotational direction of the pin  50 . The meeting part  53  meets the first catch  81  when the pin  40  is rotated, and as shown in FIG. 11, it pushes the first catch  81  inward in the radial direction. By this, when the pin  40  is rotated, the first catch  81  is pushed by the meeting part  53  and bends inward, and the first catch  81  assuredly can be contracted. 
     Also, although it is not illustrated, the meeting part  53  comprises an inclined surface for meeting the first catch  81  with an incline. By the action of the above-mentioned inclined surface, the first catch  81  easily can be contracted. Specifically, the meeting part  53 , as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is positioned on the left and right side edges of the open part  52 . 
     The cut-out part  54 , as shown in FIG. 6, is inserted into by the second catch  91  of the pin  40 , in the position where the first catch  81  is inserted into the open part  52 . By this, escape of the pin  40  can be surely prevented by the fact that the second catch  91  of the pin  40  is inserted into the cut-out part  54  of the grommet  50 . 
     Specifically, as shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 3, a bracket-shaped cut-out part  54  is formed at the end surface of the grommet  50 . Two cut-out parts  54  are totally provided at a 180-degree interval just as with the open part  52 . Each cut-out part  54  is positioned immediately beneath each open part  52 . The number of the cut-out parts  54  may be equal to or above the number of the second catches  91 . 
     The indented part  55 , as shown in FIG. 10, is inserted into by a raised part  82  of the pin  40 . By this, a clicking feeling or jointed feeling can be given during rotation of the pin  40 . specifically, the indented part  55 , as shown in FIG. 4, sinks semi-circularly in section from the inner perimeter of the insertion hole  51 , and two indented parts are totally provided with the position shifted at 90 degrees with the open part  52 . The number of the indented parts  55  may be equal to or above the number of the raised parts  82 , and one or three or more may be provided. Also, the raised part  82  was provided on the pin  40  and the indented part  55  was provided on grommet  50 , but also conversely an indented part may be provided on the pin  40  and a raised part on the grommet  50 . 
     The method of use of the attachment apparatus  10  having the above-noted constitution is explained below. 
     First, the leg part  70  of the pin  40 , as shown in FIGS. 6-7, is inserted to fit inside the insertion hole  51  of the grommet  50 . The pin  40  also may be inserted into the grommet  50  after inserting the grommet  50  into the panel holes  21 ,  31  of the two panels  20 ,  30 . 
     When the leg part  70  of the pin  40  is inserted, its two second catches  91  are pushed by the inner perimeter of the insertion hole  51  and once bend inward. After that, the two second catches  91 , as shown in FIG. 6, respectively, are inserted into the two cut-out parts  54  and return to the original position. By this, the leg part  70  no longer escapes from the insertion hole  51 , and the pin  40  is fixed to the grommet  50 . 
     Also, the two first catches  81  of the pin  40  are pushed by the inner perimeter of the insertion hole  51  and once bend inward. After that, the two first catches  81 , as shown in FIG. 10, respectively, are inserted into the two open parts  52 , and return to the original positions. At this time, the first catches  81  project horizontally from the open parts  52 . Also, one raised part  82  of the pin  40 , as shown in FIG. 10, is inserted into one of the two indented parts  55  of the grommet  50 . 
     Meanwhile, the two panels  20 ,  30 , as shown in FIGS. 6-7, are overlaid top and bottom, and the panel holes  21 ,  31  are aligned. 
     Next, the grommet  50  with the pin  40  inserted, as shown in FIGS. 8-9, is inserted to fit in the panel holes  21 ,  31 . When the grommet  50  is inserted, the two first catches  81  which respectively project from the two open parts  52  are pushed by the inside edges of the panel holes  21 ,  31  and once bend inward. After that, the first catches  81 , as shown in FIG. 8, return to the original positions on the back side of the panel  30 . Because of this, the two panels  20 ,  30 , as shown in FIGS. 8-9, are held in an overlaid state from the front and back sides between the lower surface of the head part  60  of the pin  40  and the two first catches  81 . 
     On the other hand, to remove the attachment apparatus  10  from the panel holes  21 ,  31 , the head part  60  of the pin  40  may be rotated. That is, although it is not illustrated, when the blade of a minus or straight-edge screw driver is inserted into the operating part  61  of the head part  60  and rotated, the two first catches  81  respectively meet the respective meeting parts  53  which are positioned forward in the rotational direction. Here, when the head part  60  is further rotated, each first catch  81  is pushed by each meeting part  53  which is positioned forward in the rotational direction, and as shown in FIG. 11, each first catch  81  bends inward. 
     Because of this, the two first catches  81  respectively retract from the two open parts  52 , whereby the coupled state of panel holes  21 ,  31  is released. In this state, although it is not illustrated, the grommet  50  can be pulled out from the two panel holes  21 ,  31 . When the grommet  50  is pulled out, although it is not illustrated, it becomes possible to separate the two panels  20 ,  30 . 
     Because the present invention is constituted in the above manner, it performs the effects as described below. 
     In the first aspect of the invention, the first catch can be contracted assuredly by rotating the pin. In the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effect of the invention described in the first aspect, the pin can be rotated easily via the operating part. In the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effect of the invention described in the first or second aspect, the first catch can easily contract. 
     In the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effect described in any of the first to third aspects, because the leg part of the pin is held inside the insertion hole of the grommet, the leg part of the pin is not accidentally pushed from outside, and escape of the pin from the grommet can be prevented in advance. In the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effect described in any of the first to fourth aspects, a clicking feeling or jointed feeling can be given during the rotation of the pin. In the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effect described in any of the first to fifth aspects, escape of the pin can be prevented assuredly by the fact that the second catch of the pin is inserted into the open part of the grommet. 
     While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.