Abstract:
A clip having a main clip body that is made of resin and has a shape in front view that is closed at one end and open at the other end. The main clip body has engaging arms and holding members positioned to the inside of the engaging arms. The engaging arms are configured so as to be elastically deformed when the main clip body passes through an installing hole of a partner panel and to engage with a rim of the hole when the engaging arms have been inserted. The holding members are configured so as to keep the main clip body fitted onto the clip seat of the mounted member. The engaging arms and the holding members are connected to assume a substantially diamond-shaped loop in front view, and are configured so that the positions thereof differ in side view, and overlap in front view, when elastically deformed.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2012/070216, filed Aug. 8, 2012, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-182530, filed Aug. 24, 2011, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a clip for fixing an attachment member to a panel. The attachment member is a center cluster, or the like, which is an interior part of an automobile. The panel is an instrument panel, or the like of an automobile. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The Japanese Patent Publication No. 2995329 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 15 4375877 disclose clips. Each clip includes a pair of engagement arms and a pair of holding members. The pair of engagement arms are connected to each other so as to substantially form a U-shape. The pair of holding members face each other between the engagement arms. Both ends of each holding member are connected to an inner edge of each engagement arm. The clip is attached to a clip seat of the attachment member using both of the holding members. In this state, the clip is inserted into a fixing hole on the corresponding panel, then both of the engagement arms are engaged with the edge of the fixing hole, and thereby the clip is fixed to the corresponding panel. 
         [0006]    Each engagement arm is connected to each holding member in a loop shape, and is configured to be in a layer structure. In the layer structure, the engagement arms and the holding members are arranged in parallel in an inner and outer direction. For this reason, when the clip is inserted into the fixing hole of the corresponding panel, the holding members restrict the approach of the pair of engagement arms, and thus, the width of the clip is restricted such that it is narrow. Thus, the opening dimension of the fixing hole of the corresponding panel becomes large. In addition, since the clip has a layer structure, repelling force of the engagement arms generated when they are inserted into the fixing hole becomes strong. Thus, an insertion load on the clip increases. 
         [0007]    In order to reduce the opening dimension of the fixing hole, reducing the thicknesses of the engagement arms or the holding members is considered contemplated. In such a case, however, elastic force of the engagement arms or the holding members is reduced. Accordingly, engagement force, or the like, of the clip exerted on the attachment member becomes unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a compact clip in which an insertion load is small when the clip is inserted into a hole and in which an engagement force of the clip exerted on the attachment member is sufficiently strong. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    According to one aspect of the present invention, a clip attaches an attachment member to a corresponding panel by being inserted into a fixing hole of the corresponding panel in a state that the clip is attached to a clip seat of the attachment member. The clip preferably has a clip main body made of a resin. The clip main body preferably has one closed end portion and an open end portion as seen from a front view. The clip main body preferably has an engagement arm and a holding member positioned on an inner side of the engagement arm. The engagement arm is preferably pressed when the clip main body penetrates through the fixing hole of the corresponding panel so as to be elastically deformed. The engagement arm is preferably configured to engage with the edge of the fixing hole when the engagement arm is inserted into the fixing hole. The holding member is preferably configured to hold a state in which the clip main body is attached to the clip seat of the attachment member. The engagement arm and the holding member are preferably connected to each other substantially in a rhombic-loop shape as seen from the front view. The engagement arm and the holding member are preferably disposed in different positions as seen from a side view, and are preferably configured to overlap each other as seen from the front view during elastic deformation thereof. 
         [0009]    Thus, when the clip main body penetrates through the fixing hole of the corresponding panel, the engagement arm and the holding member may overlap each other as seen from the front view. Accordingly, the width of the clip main body as seen from the front view typically becomes narrow. Accordingly, the opening dimension of the fixing hole can be reduced without thinning the engagement arm or the holding member. The engagement arm bends while overlapping the holding member as seen from the front view. Thereby, when the clip main body is inserted into the fixing hole, the engagement arm is elastically deformed while being hardly destructed by the holding member. Accordingly, an insertion load becomes relatively low. 
         [0010]    Since the engagement arm and the holding member are connected to each other substantially in a rhombic-loop shape, elastic force necessary for the engagement arm can be secured. Thus, force generated when the engagement arm is elastically deformed is transmitted directly to the holding member. Accordingly, the holding member can engage intensely with the clip seat. Thus, when the attachment member is detached from the corresponding panel, the clip main body can be taken out from the fixing hole of the corresponding panel in the state where the clip main body is securely attached to the clip seat. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a clip, an attachment member and a corresponding panel; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clip from obliquely above; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the clip from obliquely below; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the clip; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the clip; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the clip; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the corresponding panel and the clip before the clip is inserted into a fixing hole of the corresponding panel; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the corresponding panel and the clip when the clip is inserted into the fixing hole; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the corresponding panel and the clip when the clip is attached to the corresponding panel; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another configuration of the clip from above; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the clip in  FIG. 11  from below; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the clip in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the clip in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the clip in  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI in  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. A clip main body  10  can be attached to a clip seat  22  of an attachment member  20  shown in  FIG. 1 . In this state, the clip main body  10  is inserted into a fixing hole  26  of a corresponding panel  24 , and accordingly the clip main body  10  can fix the attachment member  20  to the corresponding panel  24 . 
         [0028]    The clip main body  10  is an integrated molded product made of a resin. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the clip main body  10  has a closed tip end portion  10 A and an open base end portion  10 B. The clip main body  10  is provided with a pair of engagement arms  12  which are positioned on the right and left outer sides, and a pair of holding members  14  which are positioned on the inner sides of the engagement arms  12 . Both of the engagement arms  12  function in holding the corresponding panel  24  through engagement of the clip main body  10  and the corresponding panel  24 . Both of the holding members  14  function in holding the clip seat  22  by attaching of the clip main body  10  to the clip seat  22 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , both of the engagement arms  12  extend from the right and left end portions of the tip end portion  10 A of the clip main body  10  toward the base end portion  10 B as seen from a front view. Both of the engagement arms  12  are inclined and separate outwardly towards projecting portions  12   a.  Both of the engagement arms  12  approach each other after the projecting portions  12   a  and form inclined engagement faces  12   b.  Both of the engagement arms  12  extend substantially straight from the inclined engagement faces  12   b  to the base end portion  10 B. Terminal portions  12   c  of both of the engagement arms  12  are curved outwardly at the base end portion  10 B and extend outwardly. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , both of the engagement arms  12  can be elastically deformed respectively to the inner side having virtual points P 1  as supporting points at the tip end portion  1  OA of the clip main body  1 . The virtual points P 1  are also supporting points when the holding members  14  are pressed so as to bend. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the holding members  14  have clamping portions  14   a  and extending portions  14   c.  The clamping portions  14   a  are coupled to the tip end portions  10 A of the clip main body  10 . The extending portions  14   c  extend from the lower ends of the clamping portions  14   a  and are coupled to the base end portion  10 B. Both end portions of each of the holding members  14  are coupled to the engagement arms  12 . The engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are connected to each other forming substantially a square-loop shape such as a rhombic-shape, or the like, as seen from a front view. The engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are coupled to each other at the virtual points P 1  and P 2 . The distance between the virtual points P 1  and P 2  of the engagement arms  12  is substantially equal to the distance between the virtual points P 1  and P 2  of the holding members  14 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the thickness of the clamping portions  14   a  are thicker than those of the extending portions  14   c.  The clamping portions  14   a  have rigidity necessary for holding the attachment member  20  in the state in which clip main body  10  is attached to the clip seat  22  of the attachment member  20 . Both of the clamping portions  14   a  have inner faces opposing each other. Both of the inner faces are inclined, and the gap between both of the inner faces becomes narrower toward the base end portion  10 B from the tip end portion  10 A. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , both of the holding members  14  have latching lugs  14   b  at the lower part of the clamping portions  14   a.  The latching lugs  14   b  have a wider width than the clamping portions  14   a,  and project from the clamping portions  14   a  toward both sides. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , slits  16  are formed in the clip main body  10 . The slits  16  divide the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14 . The holding members  14  are positioned in the center portion of the clip main body  10 , and the engagement arms  12  are positioned on both sides thereof. The engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are positioned at different locations as seen from a side view. Thus, as seen from a front view, the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  may overlap each other when they are inwardly elastically deformed having the virtual point P 1  shown in  FIG. 7  as a supporting point. 
         [0035]    The attachment member  20  is made of a resin, and is an interior part of an automobile such as a center cluster, or the like. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the attachment member  20  has the clip seat  22  integrally formed on a back side of a designed surface. The clip seat  22  has a thickness whereby it can be inserted into a space between the opposing inner faces of the clamping portions  14   a  of the holding members  14 . A coupling hole  22   a  penetrates the clip seat  22  in the thickness direction. Reinforcing ribs  22   b  are provided on both sides of the clip seat  22 . 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the corresponding panel  24  is a plate member such as an instrument panel, or the like. The fixing hole  26  penetrates the corresponding panel  24  in the thickness direction thereof. 
         [0037]    Hereinafter, one example of a procedure in which the attachment member  20  may be fixed to the corresponding panel  24  using the clip main body  10  will be described. First, the clip seat  22  of the attachment member  20  is relatively inserted into the space between both of the holding members  14  from the side of the open base end portion  10 B of the clip main body  10 . The clip seat  22  advances to the space between the opposing inner faces of the clamping portions  14   a  of both of the holding members  14 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the latching lugs  14   b  of both of the holding members  14  are engaged with the coupling hole  22   a  of the clip seat  22  on both sides. Accordingly, the clip main body  10  is attached to the clip seat  22  of the attachment member  20 . 
         [0038]    The opposing inner faces of the clamping portions  14   a  have a tapered shape. Thus, even though the thicknesses of the clip seats  22  are not the same, the clip main body  10  can prevent shakiness thereof in the clip seat  22 . The latching lugs  14   b  of the holding members  14  project on both sides of the clamping portions  14   a.  Thus, even when the width of the holding members  14  is relatively narrow as seen from a side view, the latching lugs  14   b  can be caught in the coupling hole  22   a  of the clip seat  22  in a sufficiently large area. 
         [0039]    The clip main body  10  attached to the clip seat  22  is moved from the position shown in  FIG. 8  to the position shown in  FIG. 9  so as to be inserted into the fixing hole  26  of the corresponding panel  24 . Both of the engagement arms  12  of the clip main body  10  are pressed by the edge of the fixing hole  26  so as to bend inwardly. Both of the engagement arms  12  are elastically deformed having the virtual point P 1  shown in  FIG. 7  as a supporting point. As shown in  FIG. 9 , both of the engagement arms  12  bend to the maximum extent when the projecting portions  12   a  penetrate through the fixing hole  26 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , when both of the engagement arms  12  are elastically deformed, the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  overlap each other as seen from a side view. The width of the clip main body  10  is reduced in the right-left direction when the clip main body  10  penetrates through the fixing hole  26 . Thus, the opening dimension of the fixing hole  26  in the right-left direction can be reduced. 
         [0041]    The engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are divided by the slits  16 . Thus, both of the engagement arms  12  can bend without considerable force being applied thereon so as to penetrate through the fixing hole  26 . Accordingly, an insertion load on the clip main body  10  can be lowered. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , after the projecting portions  12   a  of both of the engagement arms  12  penetrate through the fixing hole  26 , the insertion of the clip main body  10  is completed. Accordingly, the inclined engagement faces  12   b  of both of the engagement arms  12  are engaged with the end of the fixing hole  26 . In this manner, the attachment member  20  is fixed to the corresponding panel  24  using the clip man body. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , each engagement arm  12  is substantially connected to each holding member  14  in a square-loop shape such as a rhombic shape. Thus, the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  easily generate the required elastic force. Accordingly, the clip main body  10  may be held securely to the corresponding panel  24  in the state as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0044]    When the attachment member  20  is taken out from the corresponding panel  24 , a load is exerted on the direction in which the clip main body  10  is pulled. As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , both of the engagement arms  12  receive force from the edge of the fixing hole  26  so as to bend inwardly. The force is directly transmitted to the clamping portions  14   a  through the virtual point P 2  and the extending portions  14   c  of the holding members  14  shown in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, the clamping portions  14   a  bend inwardly having the virtual point P  1  as a supporting point, and engagement force of the clamping portions  14   a  with the clip seat  22  increases. As a result, the clip main body  10  can be pulled out from the fixing hole  26  in the state in which the clip main body is attached securely to the clip seat  22 . 
         [0045]    As described above, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the clip main body  10  is made of resin and has a shape having one closed end portion  10 A and an open end portion  10 B as viewed from the front. The clip main body  10  has engagement arms  12  and holding members  14  positioned on the inner side of the engagement arms  12 . The engagement arms  12  are configured to be pressed so as to be elastically deformed when the clip main body  10  penetrates through the fixing hole  26  of the corresponding panel  24 . The engagement arms  12  are configured to engage with the edge of the fixing hole  26  when the engagement arms  12  are inserted into the fixing hole  26 . The holding members  14  are configured to hold the state in which the clip main body  10  is attached to the clip seat  22  of the attachment member  20 . The engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are configured to be connected to each other substantially in a rhombic-loop shape as seen from a front view, to be positioned differently from a side view, and to overlap each other as seen from a front view during elastic deformation. 
         [0046]    Thus, when the clip main body  10  penetrates through the fixing hole  26  of the corresponding panel  24 , the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  overlap each other as seen from the front view. Accordingly, the width of the clip main body  10  as seen from the front view is reduced. Thus, the opening dimension of the fixing hole  26  can be further reduced without thinning the engagement arms  12  or the holding members  14 . The engagement arms  12  bend while overlapping with the holding members  14  as seen from the front view. Thus, the engagement arms  12  are elastically deformed while being hardly affected by the holding members  14  when the clip main body  10  is inserted into the fixing hole  26 . Accordingly, the insertion load is relatively lowered. 
         [0047]    Due to the fact that the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  may be connected to each other substantially in a rhombic-loop shape, elastic force necessary for the engagement arms  12  can be secured. Thus, the force generated when the engagement arms  12  are elastically deformed is directly transmitted to the holding members  14 . In this way, the holding members  14  can strongly engage with the clip seat  22 . Accordingly, when the attachment member  20  is taken out from the corresponding panel  24 , the clip main body  10  can be pulled out from the fixing hole  26  of the corresponding panel  24  in the state in which the clip main body is securely attached to the clip seat  22 . 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are connected to each other in locations near the one closed end portion  10 A and locations near the open end portion  10 B of the clip main body  10 . Thus, the distance between both supporting points (P 1  and P 2 ) of the engagement arms  12  increases during deformation of the engagement arms  12 . Accordingly, even when the clip main body  10  is short, a load generated when the clip main body  10  is inserted into the fixing hole  26  can be lowered. 
         [0049]    While the embodiments of invention have been described with reference to specific configurations, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to the representative configurations, but may be modified, for example, as described below. 
         [0050]    The clip main body  10  may have the structure shown in  FIGS. 11 to 16  instead of the structure shown in  FIGS. 2  and the like. The clip main body  10  shown in  FIGS. 11 to 16  has the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  connected to each other substantially in a square-loop shape such as a rhombic-shape, or the like. The engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  can be positioned differently from a side view, and overlap each other as seen from a front view. 
         [0051]    The engagement arms  12  shown in  FIGS. 11 to 16  have substantially straight terminal portions  12   c.  As shown in  FIG. 16 , the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are coupled to each other at the virtual points P 1  and P 2 . The distance between the virtual points P 1  and P 2  of the engagement arms  12  is longer than the distance between the virtual points P 1  and P 2  of the holding members  14 . 
         [0052]    Instead of the structure shown in  FIG. 16 , the distance between the virtual points P 1  and P 2  of the engagement arms  12  may be shorter than the distance between the virtual points P 1  and P 2  of the holding members  14 . 
         [0053]    The clip main body may also have a supporting member, one engagement arm  12 , and one holding member  14 , instead of the structure of  FIG. 4 . The supporting member is positioned at the center thereof in the right-left direction in a front view having a plate shape. The engagement arm  12  and the holding member  14  can be formed only on one side of the supporting member. Even in this structure, the same function as that of the clip main body described above can be exhibited. 
         [0054]    Rather than having the structure of  FIG. 5 , the clip main body  10 , may also have a structure in which the positions of the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  are formed opposite each other. That is, the engagement arms  12  may be positioned at the center and the holding members  14  may be positioned on body sides thereof. 
         [0055]    Instead of the structure shown in  FIG. 5 , the clip main body  10  may have each one engagement arm  12  and holding member  14 , and only one slit  16  may be formed on each side face of the clip main body  10 . 
         [0056]    Instead of the structure of  FIG. 5 , each side face of the clip main body  10  may have two engagement arms  12  and two holding members  14 , and three slits  16  may be formed on each side face of the clip main body  10 . In this structure, the arrangement of the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  may be arbitrary. For example, the two engagement arms  12  may be positioned on the inner side or the outer side, the two holding members  14  may be positioned on the inner side or the outer side, and the engagement arms  12  and the holding members  14  may be alternately positioned. 
         [0057]    The various clip main bodies  10  described above can be appropriately selected according to the location of use, and the like.