Abstract:
A clamp includes a fitting portion to be fixed to an object to be attached; a clamp portion having a substantially U-character shape connected to the fitting portion; a first receiving portion for receiving a rod-shaped member through an insertion port; and a second receiving portion for receiving a rod-shaped member through an insertion port of the clamp portion and passing through the first receiving portion. An elastic piece extends from an inner wall of the clamp portion to hold the first rod-shaped member together with the first receiving portion. A stopper extends from the inner wall of the clamp portion to hold the second rod-shaped member together with the second receiving portion and to prevent the first rod-shaped member from entering the second receiving portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a clamp for attaching a pipe and the like of an air conditioner in an automobile to an object to be attached such as a body panel.  
           [0002]    Conventionally, a pipe of an air conditioner and the like is attached to a predetermined position of a body panel in an automobile through a clamp. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, Japanese Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2000-205211 has disclosed a clamp that includes a fitting portion  100  to be fitted to a stud bolt projecting from a body panel of an automobile and a clamp portion  106  for holding pipes  102 ,  104 .  
           [0003]    Circular arc shape holders  108 ,  110  corresponding to outer diameters of the pipes  102 ,  104  are formed on the clamp portion  106 . Supporting walls  112 ,  114  are provided to the respective holders  108 ,  110 . Elastically deformable guiding pieces  116 ,  118 , which bend toward central portions of the respective holders  108 ,  110 , extend from forward end surfaces of the respective supporting walls  112 ,  114 .  
           [0004]    Guiding walls  120 ,  122  are formed to face the supporting walls  112 ,  114 . A space between the guiding wall  120  and the guiding piece  116 , or a space between the guiding wall  122  and the guiding piece  118 , has a diameter smaller than that of the pipe  102 , or  104 . Therefore, when the pipes  102 ,  104  are inserted in the space between the guiding piece  116  and the guiding wall  120  and the space between the guiding piece  118  and the guiding wall  122 , the guiding pieces  116 ,  118  are elastically deformed to thereby allow the pipes  102 ,  104  to pass therethrough.  
           [0005]    The maximum space between the guiding piece  116  and the holder  108  and the maximum space between the guiding piece  118  and the holder  110  are substantially the same as the diameters of the pipe  102 ,  104 , respectively. The guiding pieces  116 ,  118  restore when the pipes  102 ,  104  contact the holders  108 ,  110 , so that the end portions of the guiding pieces  116 ,  118  press the pipes  102 ,  104 .  
           [0006]    In other words, in the conventional clamp, the pipe  102  is held in the holder  108 , and the pipe  104  is held in the holder  110 , i.e. two pipes  102 ,  104  are situated in parallel.  
           [0007]    When four pipes are mounted to the clamp portion, in order to reduce an area for mounting the clamp portion as little as possible, it is better that two pipes are mounted on each holder. However, when the guiding wall and the guiding piece hold two pipes, a pipe at an inner side of the clamp portion is held with a folding force different from that of the pipe at an entrance side.  
           [0008]    When two pipes have slightly different diameters, a pipe with a smaller outer diameter is held with a force smaller than that of a pipe with a larger diameter. Therefore, there is a risk that the pipe is not sufficiently supported in a state that the clamp is fixed to a body panel.  
           [0009]    To solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 7, a modified clamp has two clamp portions  124  affixed back to back. Holders  108 ,  110 , guiding walls  120 ,  122  and guiding pieces  116 ,  118  are provided in two rows in a vertical direction. Pipes  102  and  104  are inserted from above and below so that each of the holders  108 ,  110  holds each of the pipes  102 ,  104 . Accordingly, four pipes  102 ,  104  are held in two rows, i.e. in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, the upper and lower holders  108 ,  110  hold the pipes  102 ,  104  with the same force, thereby securely holding the pipes  102 ,  104 .  
           [0010]    The upper and lower clamp portions  124  hold the pipes  102 ,  104  in a state that a fitting portion  100  is fitted into the stud bolt projecting from the body panel. Therefore, it is necessary to insert the pipes  102 ,  104  from the upper and lower directions, resulting in poor workability.  
           [0011]    In view of the above defects, the present invention has been made, and an object of the invention is to provide a clamp for securely holding a plurality of pipes with improved workability.  
           [0012]    Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    In order to attain the above objects, according to the first aspect of the invention, a clamp includes a fitting portion to be fixed to an object to be attached; a clamp portion having a substantially U-character shape connected to the fitting portion; a first receiving portion for receiving a first rod-shaped member inserted through an insertion port disposed at a central portion of the clamp portion; a second receiving portion disposed in an inner side of the clamp portion for receiving a second rod-shaped member inserted through the insertion port of the clamp portion and passed through the first receiving portion; an elastic piece extending from an inner wall of the clamp portion toward a central portion of the first receiving portion and elastically deforming to hold the first rod-shaped member together with the first receiving portion; and a stopper extending from the inner wall of the clamp portion toward the central portion of the second receiving portion and elastically deforming to hold the second rod-shaped member together with the second receiving portion and to prevent the first rod-shaped member from entering the second receiving portion.  
           [0014]    In the first aspect of the invention, the first rod-shaped member and the second rod-shaped member are inserted through the insertion port of the clamp portion. In other words, the first rod-shaped member and the second rod-shaped member are inserted through the same insertion port. Therefore, the first rod-shaped member and the second-rod shape member are inserted into the clamp portion in the same insertion direction. The pipes are mounted to the clamp portion with excellent workability, thereby reducing assembly work. Also, since the first rod-shaped member and the second rod-shaped member are situated in two levels, an installation area of the clamp portion is reduced.  
           [0015]    In the first aspect of the invention, the first receiving portion and the elastic piece hold the first rod-shaped member, and the second receiving portion and the stopper hold the second rod-shaped member. The stopper prevents the first rod-shaped member from entering the second receiving portion. Therefore, when the second rod-shaped member has a diameter smaller than that of the first rod-shaped member and the first rod-shaped member is disposed on the upper side of the second rod-shaped member in the state that the clamp is fixed to the object to be attached, even if the first rod-shaped member tries to enter the second receiving portion through the first receiving portion, since the stopper prevents the first rod-shaped member from entering the second receiving portion, there is no risk that the first rod-shaped member falls down to the second receiving portion.  
           [0016]    According to the second aspect of the invention, the stopper is arranged on a falling track of the first rod-shaped member in a state that the fitting portion is fixed to an object to be attached so that the first rod-shaped member is prevented from entering the second receiving portion.  
           [0017]    According to the third aspect of the invention, the stopper includes a base portion and a holding piece. The base portion extends from an inner wall of the clamp portion at a right angle. The holding piece expands to both sides with a forward end of the base portion as a center, and has one end extending toward the center portion of the second receiving portion and the other end extending toward the first receiving portion. The holding piece has a thickness larger than that of the base portion.  
           [0018]    In the third aspect of the invention, the holding piece has a thickness larger than that of the base portion, so that the stopper can elastically deform easily and, at the same time, the second rod-shaped member can be easily received.  
           [0019]    According to the fourth aspect of the invention, only a single stopper projects from the inner wall of the clamp portion. Even if the stopper is formed of the single plate, it is possible to hold the second rod-shaped member together with the second receiving portion, and to prevent the first rod-shaped member from entering the second receiving portion in the state that the fitting portion is fixed to an object to be fixed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a clamp according to the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a front view showing the clamp;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a front view showing the clamp with a pipe inserted therein;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a front view showing the clamp with the pipe further inserted therein;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a front view showing the clamp with four pipes inserted therein;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a front view showing a conventional clamp; and  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a front view showing another conventional clamp. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]    Hereunder, embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 through 5 show a clamp  10  according to the present invention. The clamp  10  is formed of a fitting portion  16  to be fitted to a stud bolt  14  projecting from a body panel  12  of an automobile and a clamping portion  24  for holding pipes  18 ,  20 , and  22  of an air conditioner as rod-shaped members.  
         [0028]    The fitting portion  16  has a box shape with openings  26  on sidewalls. A hole  28  for inserting the stud bolt  14  projecting from the body panel  12  is provided on an upper portion of the fitting portion  16 . A pair of guiding pieces  30  projects inwardly toward a lower side from the hole  28  for guiding the stud bolt  14  to a pair of stopping pieces  32 .  
         [0029]    The stopping pieces  32  are disposed at two positions on each of both inner walls  16 A of the fitting portion  16  in the vertical direction, and forward ends thereof have horizontal surfaces. A space between the two stopping pieces  32  in the vertical direction is equal to a pitch of the thread of the stud bolt  14 . Forward end portions  32 A of the stopping pieces  32  enter the screw groove of the inserted stud bolt  14  to prevent the clamp  10  from pulling out from the stud bolt  14  easily.  
         [0030]    The clamp portion  24  has a substantially U-shape, and a partition wall  38  is provided at the central portion of the clamp portion  24  along the sidewalls  34 ,  36  in the width direction. The clamp portion  24  is divided into a holding portion  40  and a holding portion  42  by the partition wall  38 .  
         [0031]    The holding portions  40 ,  42  deform elastically. The sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38  can move closer to and away from each other, and the sidewall  36  and the partition wall  38  can move in the same way. Therefore, when the holding portion  40  or the holding portion  42  is bent outward to widen a space between the sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38  or the sidewall  36  and the partition wall  38 , the pipes  18 ,  20  can enter the holding portion  40 , or the pipes  18 ,  22  can enter the holding portion  42 .  
         [0032]    Hereunder, the holding portion  40  will be explained. The holding portion  40  has a receiving portion  44  (second receiving portion) at a bottom thereof. The receiving portion  44  has a circular arc shape having a curvature substantially the same as an outer curvature of the pipe  18  to make a surface contact with the pipe  18 . A pair of elastic pieces  46  extends from an upper end of the sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38  of the holding portion  40  (along a width direction of the central wall  38 ), and bends toward the central portion of the receiving portion  44 .  
         [0033]    The elastic pieces  46  deform elastically toward the sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38 , respectively, and a space between upper surfaces  46 A of the elastic pieces  46  is narrower than the outer dimensions of the pipes  18  and  20 . A forward end surface of each elastic piece  46  is formed in a circular arc surface  46 B having a curvature radius substantially the same as the outer dimension of the pipe  20  to make a surface contact with the pipe  20 .  
         [0034]    Further, a pair of receiving portions  48  (first receiving portion) is provided at central portions of the sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38 , and extends in the width direction of the partition wall  38  at a right angle with respect to the sidewall  34  or the partition wall  38 . Forward end surfaces of the receiving portions  48  face the circular arc surfaces  46 B of the elastic pieces  46 , and have circular arc surfaces  48 A having a curvature radius substantially the same as the outer dimension of the pipe  20  to make a surface contact with the pipe  20 .  
         [0035]    An elastic piece  50  is formed just below the receiving portion  48  at the partition wall  38 , and extends toward the receiving portion  44 . The elastic piece  50  deform elastically toward the partition wall  38 , and a forward end surface of the elastic piece  50  has a circular arc surface  50 B having a curvature radius substantially the same as the outer dimension of the pipe  18  to make a surface contact with the pipe  18 .  
         [0036]    A pair of stoppers  52  is provided on the sidewall  34  at a position facing the elastic piece  50  along the width direction of the central wall  38 , and has a substantially T-shape. The stopper  52  is formed of a base portion  54  and a holding piece  56 . The base portion  54  extends from the sidewall  34  at a right angle, and has a forward end provided with the holding piece  56 .  
         [0037]    The holding piece  56  extends to both sides of the base portion  54  as a center, in which one end thereof is directed toward the receiving portion  48  and the other end thereof is directed toward the central portion of the receiving portion  44 . The holding piece  56  has a thickness larger than that of the base portion  54 . An upper surface of the holding piece  56  substantially faces the elastic piece  46  and has an arc surface  52 A with a gentle circular shape.  
         [0038]    The stopper  52  is rotatable around the base portion  54 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the pipe  18  passes through, the circular arc surface  52 A of the holding piece  56  rotates while making a surface contact with the pipe  18 , so that the circular arc surface  52 A of the holding piece  56  substantially faces the receiving portion  44 .  
         [0039]    Next, the holding portion  42  will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the holding portion  42  has substantially the same structure as that of the holding portion  40 . Therefore, explanations of the same portions are omitted.  
         [0040]    The holding portion  42  does not include the stopper  52 . In receiving portions  58  corresponding to the receiving portions  48  of the holding portion  40 , a distance between circular arc surfaces  58 A formed at forward end surfaces of the receiving portion  58  is larger than that between the forward end surfaces  48 A of the receiving portions  48 .  
         [0041]    The circular arc surface  58 A of the receiving portion  58  has a curvature radius larger than that of the circular arc surface  48 A of the receiving portion  48 , so that a pipe  22  having a diameter larger than that of the pipe  18  can be received therein.  
         [0042]    A pair of elastic pieces  60  is provided on inner walls of the sidewall  36  and the partition wall  38 , and extends from the forward end surfaces of the sidewall  36  and the partition wall  38 , respectively. A distance between a circular arc surface  60 A provided at a forward end surface of the elastic piece  60  and a circular arc surface  58 A of the receiving portion  58  is larger than that between the circular arc surface  46 B of the elastic piece  46  and the circular arc surface  48 A of the receiving portion  48 . Therefore, the pipe  22  can be held between the circular arc surface  60 A of the elastic piece  60  and the circular arc surface  58 A of the receiving portion  58 .  
         [0043]    Next, a method of mounting the pipes to the clamp according to the present embodiment will be explained. First, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the fitting portion  16  of the clamp  10  is fitted to the stud bolt  14  provided to the body panel  12 , and the clamp  10  is fixed to the body panel  12 . Then, the pipes  18 ,  20 ,  22  are mounted to the clamp portion  24 .  
         [0044]    When the pipe  18  is inserted into the holding portion  40  through an insertion opening thereof, the pipe  18  abuts against the upper surfaces  46 A of the elastic pieces  46 . In this state, when the pipe  18  is pushed into the holding portion  40 , the elastic pieces  46  elastically deform toward the partition wall  38 , and the holding portion  40  elastically deforms through the elastic piece  46 , so that the space between the sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38  is widened.  
         [0045]    The pipe  18  is moved into the holding portion  40  along the upper surfaces  46 A of the elastic pieces  46 . Then, when the pipe  18  passes through the forward end angular portions of the elastic pieces  46 , the elastic pieces  46  and the holding portion  40  are restored, and the pipe  18  is once received by the circular arc surfaces  46 B of the elastic pieces  46  and the circular arc surfaces  48 A of the receiving portions  48 .  
         [0046]    From this state, when the pipe  18  is further pushed into the holding portion  40 , the holding portion  40  elastically deforms through the receiving portions  48 , and the space between the sidewall  34  and the partition wall  38  is widened according to the movement of the pipe. Thus, the space between the receiving portions  48  is widened to thereby allow the pipe  18  to pass therethrough.  
         [0047]    Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the pipe  18  abuts against the upper surface  50 A of the elastic piece  50  and the circular arc surface  52 A of the stopper  52 . From this state, when the pipe  18  is further pushed into the holding portion  40 , the elastic piece  50  elastically deforms toward the partition wall  38 . At the same time, the stopper  52  rotates around the base portion  54  according to the movement of the pipe  18 , so that the circular arc surface  52 A of the stopper  52  substantially facing the elastic piece  46  substantially faces the receiving portion  44 .  
         [0048]    When the pipe  18  is further moved inward to pass through the upper surface  50 A of the elastic piece  50  and the forward end angular portion thereof, as shown in FIG. 5, the elastic piece  50  and the holding portion  40  restore. Therefore, the pipe  18  makes a surface contact with the circular arc surface  44 A of the receiving portion  44  and the circular arc surface  50 B of the elastic piece  50 . Accordingly, the pipe  18  is held by the circular arc surface  44 A of the receiving portion  44 , the upper surface  50 A of the elastic piece  50 , and the circular arc surface  52 A of the stopper  52 .  
         [0049]    After the pipe  18  is mounted on the inner side of the holding portion  40 , the pipe  20  is mounted on the entrance side of the holding portion  40 . The pipe  20  is pushed to the inner part of the holding portion  40  in a state that the pipe  20  abuts against the upper surfaces  46 A of the elastic pieces  46  of the holding portion  40 .  
         [0050]    The elastic pieces  46  elastically deform, and the holding portion  40  elastically deforms through the elastic pieces  46  to thereby move the pipe  20  in the holding portion  40 . When the pipe  20  is moved along the upper surfaces  46 A of the elastic pieces  46  to pass through the forward end angular portions of the elastic pieces  46 , the elastic pieces  46  and the holding portion  40  restore. Accordingly, the pipe  20  is held by the circular arc surfaces  46 B of the elastic pieces  46  and the circular arc surfaces  48 A of the receiving portions  48 .  
         [0051]    As described above, the pipes  18 ,  20  are mounted in the holding portion  40 . Next, the pipes  18  and  22  are mounted in the holding portion  42 . Since the pipes  18  and  22  are mounted in the same way as that for the pipes  18 ,  20  mounted in the holding portion  40 , the explanation thereof is omitted.  
         [0052]    Next, an operation of the clamp according to the invention will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, according to the present invention, it is possible to mount the pipes  18 ,  20  (or  18 ,  22 ) to the holding portion  40  (or  42 ) through the same insertion opening.  
         [0053]    That is, the pipes  18 ,  20  are inserted into the holding portion  40  in the same direction, resulting in good workability and reducing assembly work. Also, the pipes  18 ,  20  (or  18 ,  22 ) can be situated in two levels inside the holding portions  40  (or  42 ), thereby reducing a space for installing the clamp portion  24 .  
         [0054]    The base portion  54  has a thickness less than that of the holding piece  56 , so that the stopper  52  easily rotates to receive the pipe  18 .  
         [0055]    As shown in FIG. 5, one end of the holding piece  56  of the stopper  52  is positioned under the pipe  20 . The pipe  20  with a smaller diameter is situated above the pipe  18  in the state that the clamp  10  is fixed to the body panel  12 . One end portion of the holding piece  56  of the stopper  52  is disposed under the pipe  20 . Thus, the pipe  20  is restrained by the holding piece  56  of the stopper  52 , before the pipe  20  falls down through the space between the receiving portions  48  due to vibration of the car or the like. The pipe  20  is prevented from moving down to the receiving portion  44 , so that the pipe  20  does not fall down to the holding portion  40 .  
         [0056]    On the other hand, in the holding portion  42 , the pipe  22  having a larger diameter than that of the pipe  18  is mounted above the holding portion  42 . Accordingly, if the pipe  22  passes through the space between the receiving portions  58 , the space between the sidewall  36  and the central wall  38  must be widened larger than that of the case where the pipe  18  is inserted. Therefore, there is no risk that the pipe  20  with a smaller diameter mounted at the upper side falls down on the receiving portion  44  as in the case of the holding portion  40 .  
         [0057]    In the holding portion  42 , while the stopper  52  is not required, depending on the outer dimension and an arrangement of the pipe  22 , the stopper  52  may be added to the holding portion  42 .  
         [0058]    In the present embodiment, the stopper  52  is provided only on the sidewall  34  of the holding portion  40 . Alternatively, another stopper may be provided instead of the elastic piece  50 . Also, the elastic piece  50  is not always required, and the receiving portion  44  and the stoppers  52  may hold the pipe  18 .  
         [0059]    Further, in the present embodiment, each holding portion holds two pipes, but it is not limited thereto. Each holding portion may hold three pipes. In this case, the stoppers are provided at positions constituting a middle step and a lower step of the holding portion in the state that the clamp is fixed to the body panel.  
         [0060]    In the present embodiment, the elastic pieces  46 ,  60 , the receiving portions  48 ,  58  and the stoppers  52  are provided in a pair along the width direction of the central wall  38 , respectively. The elastic pieces  46 ,  60 , the receiving portions  48 ,  58  and the stoppers  52  are formed in a non-continuous shape to easily deform elastically. So long as the pipes  18 ,  20  and  22  can be inserted, it is not necessary to form in the non-continuous shape along the width direction of the central wall  38 .  
         [0061]    According to the present invention, with the structure as described above, the first rod-shaped member and the second rod-shaped member are inserted into the clamp portion in the same direction, so that the workability is excellent and the assembly work is reduced. Also, the first rod-shaped member and the second rod-shaped member are situated in two levels. Therefore, the installation area of the clamp portion can be reduced. Further, the second rod-shaped member is held by the stopper, and the first rod-shaped member is prevented from entering into the second receiving portion. Therefore, the first rod-shaped member does not fall down to the second receiving portion in the state that the clamp is fixed to an object to be attached.  
         [0062]    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.