Abstract:
According to one embodiment there is provided a clip, including: a cylindrical body having insertion space into which one of different diameters of rod members is insertable; a pair of locking claws formed to face each other in a first direction and configured to lock the rod member inserted into the insertion space; and an inner wall configured to be deformable in a second direction which is substantially at right angles to the first direction, wherein the inner wall deforms in the second direction upon receiving a rod member having a largest diameter among all of the attaching target rod members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priorities from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-105194 filed on Apr. 30, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a clip attachable to different diameters of rod members such as bolts. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    For example, in an automobile, a clip capable of being fixed to a projecting bolt while fastening a wiring harness is used. Generally, different types of such clips are provided respectively for different diameters of bolts. However, in view of manufacturing cost, it is more preferable to design such clip to be attachable to the different diameters of bolts. 
         [0004]    For example, JP-2000-179523-A discloses a bolt clamp attachable to different diameters of bolts. The bolt clamp in JP-2000-179523-A has a cylindrical body. Inside the cylindrical body, two side walls are provided to face each other. And, between the side walls, two locking claws are elastically supported through flexible arms to face each other. These components are integrally molded. 
         [0005]    In JP-2000-179523-A, the size between the side walls is set correspondingly with a largest applicable diameter. Therefore, when the clip is attached to a bolt having a smallest applicable diameter, the wobbling of the cylindrical body with respect to the bolt may be caused. In particular, in an automobile which generates vibrations, the bolt clamp may wobble together with the wiring harness fastened thereto, and the wiring harness may be worn by being brought into contact with surrounding parts. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One object of the present invention is to provide a clip attachable to different diameters of rod members such as bolts while preventing wobbling in the attached state. 
         [0007]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip, including: a cylindrical body having insertion space into which one of different diameters of rod members is insertable; a pair of locking claws formed to face each other in a first direction and configured to lock the rod member inserted into the insertion space; and an inner wall configured to be deformable in a second direction which is substantially at right angles to the first direction, wherein the inner wall deforms in the second direction upon receiving a rod member having a largest diameter among all of the attaching target rod members. 
         [0008]    According to the above structure, the clip can be attached to different diameters of rod members, and in the attached state, the wobbling of the clip with respect to the rod member can be restrained. Further, the inner wall is formed to be elastically deformable, and defines a predetermined width without an external force. The inner wall not only supports the rod member having a diameter larger than the predetermined width by being deflected, but also limits a movement of the rod member having a diameter smaller than the predetermined width within the range of the predetermined width. Therefore, even if the clip is attached to the rod member having the smallest applicable diameter among all of the attaching target rod members, the wobbling of the clip can be reduced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an upper surface side of a clip according to an embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a lower surface side of the clip. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of the clip. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  cross-sectionally illustrates the clip. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  cross-sectionally illustrates the clip. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the function of the clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates an upper surface side of a clip  10  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  illustrates a lower surface side of the clip  10 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a plan view of the clip  10 . Further,  FIGS. 4 and 5  are sectional views of the clip  10 .  FIG. 4  is taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 5  is taken along the line B-B in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0016]    For example, the clip  10  has a fastening band (not shown) to fasten a wiring harness of an automobile, and the clip  10  is attached to a stud-type bolt which projects from a member such as a body panel while fastening such wiring harness. The clip  10  has a cylindrical body which is integrally resin molded so as to be attached to different diameters of bolts. 
         [0017]    The clip  10  has a base plate portion  24 . A pair of side walls  28   a,    28   b  (also referred to as “side walls  28 ”, collectively) are erected from the base plate portion  24  so as to be in parallel to face each other. Also, a pair of outer walls  18   a,    18   b  (also referred to as “outer walls  18 ”, collectively) are erected from the base plate portion  24  so as to be in parallel to face each other. The side wall  28   a  and the side wall  28   b  face each other in a first direction, and the outer wall  18   a  and the outer wall  18   b  face each other in a second direction which is substantially at right angles to the first direction. The side walls  28  and the outer walls  18  are connected to each other at end portions and are disposed so as to surround an insertion space  40  into which a bolt is inserted. An insertion aperture  38  is formed in a center of a lower surface of the base plate portion  24 . The insertion space  40 A extends upwards from the insertion aperture  38  to thereby receive a bolt. In addition, mold release holes  36  are formed in the lower surface of the base plate portion  24 . A buckle  26  is provided on an outside of the outer wall  18   b . For example, the buckle  26  functions as a fastening tool for locking a fastening band. Note that a different type of fastening tool other than the buckle  26  may be attached to the outer wall  18 . 
         [0018]    A pair of flexible arms  12   a,    12   b  (also referred to as “flexible arms  12 ”, collectively) are provided on the base plate portion  24  so as to be erected therefrom to face each other in the first direction between the pair of side walls  28 . As viewed from above, facing surfaces of the flexible arm  12   a  and the flexible arm  12   b  are each formed into an arc shape so as to match the shape of a bolt to be inserted therebetween. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a thickness of the flexible arm  12  in the first direction is made thinner at an upper end portion than at a lower end portion, whereby the flexible arm  12  is deflectable in the first direction. 
         [0019]    A pair of locking claw  14   a,    14   b  (also referred to as “locking claws  14 ”, collectively) are erected from the pair of flexible arms  12   a,    12   b,  respectively, and the locking claws  14  are disposed so as to face each other in the first direction as with the flexible arms  12 . Facing surfaces of the locking claw  14   a  and the locking claw  14   b  are each formed into an arc shape so as to match the shape of a bolt, and are formed thin so as to fit in a thread portion in the bolt, thereby locking the bolt inserted into the insertion space  40 . Specifically, when the bolt is inserted in the insertion space  40 , the pair of flexible arms  12  are moved away from each other in the first direction while biasing the pair of corresponding locking claws  14  towards the bolt, whereby the pair of locking claws  14  fit in the thread portion of the bolt and the bolt is held therebetween. Thus, when the clip  10  is attached to a bolt, the wobbling of the clip in the first direction with respect to the bolt is restrained by the flexible arms  12  and the locking claws  14 . 
         [0020]    An inner wall  16   a  and an inner wall  16   b  (also, referred to as “inner walls  16 ”, collectively) are disposed inside the outer walls  18  in parallel. The inner walls  16  face the outer walls  18 , respectively. The inner walls  16  are formed thin so as to be elastically deformable in the second direction. Inter-wall cavities  22  are formed between the inner walls  16  and the outer walls  18 . 
         [0021]    A distance between the inner wall  16   a  and the inner wall  16   b  is determined in accordance with diameters of bolts as the attaching target to which the clip is designed to be attached. For example, a distance between the inner wall  16   a  and the inner wall  16   b  is determined to be narrower than a largest applicable diameter of the attaching target bolts, and to be equal to or larger than a smallest applicable diameter of the attaching target bolts, when no force is applied to the inner walls  16   a ,  16   b.  According to this configuration, when the bolt having the largest applicable diameter is inserted, the inner walls  16  are elastically deformed to expand the distance therebetween in the second direction. The distance between the inner wall  16   a  and the inner wall  16   b  may be set to be narrower than the smallest applicable diameter. 
         [0022]    By setting the distance between the inner wall  16   a  and the inner wall  16   b  to be the same as the smallest applicable diameter of the attaching target bolts, when the bolt having the smallest applicable diameter is attached, the inner walls  16  are brought into contact with the bolt. Namely, the inner walls  16  support the inserted bolt to restrain the wobbling in the second direction. Further, since the inner walls  16  support the bolt through line contact rather than point contact, the bolt is stably supported. Further, the bolt is supported in the first direction by the flexible arms  12  (the locking claws  14 ) and in the second direction by the inner walls  16 , that is, the bolt is supported from the four directions. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , inclined portions  42  are formed on the base plate portion  24  below the flexible arms  12  to thereby facilitate the insertion of a bolt. As shown in FIG.  5 , the inner walls  16  are not formed in positions corresponding to the lower surface of the base plate portion  24  so as not to interrupt the insertion of the bolt. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a guide portion  34   a,  a guide portion  34   b,  a guide portion  34   c  and a guide portion  34   d  (also referred to as “guide portions  34 ”, collectively) are formed to extend upwards from the lower surface of the base plate portion  24 , thereby upwardly guiding the bolt into the insertion space  40 . In this embodiment, the guide portions  34  connect the base plate portion  24  with the inner walls  16 . According to the above configuration, since lower ends of the inner walls  16  is supported by the guide portions  34 , the inner walls  16  are reinforced and the holding force of the inner walls  16  can be increased, whereby the wobbling of the inserted bolt in the second direction can be restrained. In addition, when inserting a bolt, the bolt is prevented from being brought into contact with the lower ends of the inner walls  16 . Thus, the guide portions  34  contribute smooth insertion of the bolt into the insertion space  40 . 
         [0024]    A first protruding portion  20   a  is provided on an inner side of the outer wall  18   a,  and a first protruding portion  20   b  is provided on an inner side of the outer wall  18   b.  As viewed from above, the first protruding portion  20   a  and the first protruding portion  20   b  (also referred to as “first protruding portions  20 ”, collectively) protrude in the second direction towards an axis of the insertion space  40 . Here, the axis of the insertion space  40  substantially coincides with an axis of the bolt . Thus, in the following description, they may be simply referred to as the “axis”. The first protruding portions  20  may be convex-shaped ribs which are formed in parallel to the axis. The first protruding portions  20  function to stop the excessive outward deformation of the inner walls  16  in the second direction. Thus, an excessive wobbling of the clip  10  in the second direction with respect to the bolt can be restrained, thereby preventing the fitting engagement between the locking claws  14  and the thread portion of the bolt from being released. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a second protruding portion  32   a  and a second protruding portion  32   b  (also referred to as “second protruding portions  32 ”, collectively) are provided on the inner sides of the outer walls  18 . The second protruding portions  32  are provided at a side of the insertion aperture  38 , and are continuous with the respective first protruding portions  20 . Upper ends of the second protruding portions  32  are situated further downwards than the lower ends of the inner walls  16 . The second protruding portions  32  may be convex-shaped ribs which are formed in parallel to the axis. 
         [0026]    As viewed from above, the second protruding portions  32  protrude in the second direction towards the axis of the inserted bolt (the axis of the insertion space  40 ) further inwards than the respective first protruding portions  20 . According to this configuration, the wobbling of the clip  10  in the second direction at a root of the inserted bolt can be restrained. When the clip  10  is attached to the bolt and the bolt is locked by the locking claws  14 , the clip  10  wobbles with respect to the bolt about the locking portion as a fulcrum. Thus, it is effective to restrain the clip  10  from wobbling at the root of the bolt. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a contact portion  30   a  and a contact portion  30   b  are provided on an inner side of the inner wall  16   a  in parallel to the axis, and a contact portion  30   c  and a contact portion  30   d  are provided on an inner side of the inner wall  16   b  in parallel to the axis. The contact portion  30   a,  the contact portion  30   b,  the contact portion  30   c  and the contact portion  30   d  are also referred to as “contact portions  30 ”, collectively. The contact portions  30  may be convex-shaped ribs which extend in parallel to the axis. The four contact portions  30  are disposed so as to surround the inserted bolt. The contact portion  30   a  and the contact portion  30   b  are disposed in a line symmetric fashion with respect to a straight line which passes through the axis in the second direction. A distance between the contact portion  30   a  and the contact portion  30   b  is determined so as to be shorter than the smallest applicable diameter of the attaching target bolt. The contact portions  30   c,    30   d  are disposed in the same way as the contact portions  30   a,    30   b.  The contact portions  30  are brought into contact with the bolt inserted in the insertion space  40 . By providing the contact portions  30  so as to extend in parallel to the axis, the inserted bolt can be supported through line contact, whereby the wobbling of the clip  10  in the first direction with respect to the bolt can be restrained. In addition, since the contact portions  30  are provided on the elastically-deformable inner walls  16 , the contact portions  30  can support different diameters of bolts in the same way. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the guide portions  34  are continuous with the contact portions  30 . Thus, when the bolt is inserted into the insertion space  40 , the bolt can smoothly be inserted to an upper portion in the insertion space  40  so that the axis of the bolt substantially coincides with the axis of the insertion space  40 . The second protruding portions  32  are provided between the guide portions  34 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the function of the inner walls  16  of the clip  10  according to the embodiment.  FIG. 6A  shows a plan view when a bolt  44  having a smallest applicable diameter among bolts to which the clip  10  is designed to be attached is inserted therein, and  FIG. 6B  shows a plan view when a bolt  46  having a largest applicable diameter among the bolts to which the clip  10  is designed to be attached is inserted into the clip  10 . The locking claws  14  for locking the bolt are omitted from illustration. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 6A , the distance between the inner wall  16   a  and the inner wall  16   b  is set to be the same as the smallest applicable diameter, whereby the inner walls  16  are in contact with the bolt  44 . Consequently, even with the bolt having the smallest applicable diameter, the inner walls  16  can support the bolt  44  from the second direction. In addition, the contact portions  30  are in contact with the bolt  44 , whereby the wobbling of the clip  10  in the first direction with respect to the bolt  44  can be restrained. 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 6B , while the inner walls  16  are largely elastically deformed in the second direction by the bolt  46  having the largest applicable diameter, the bolt  46  can also be supported in the first direction by the elastically-deflectable flexible arms  12  and the locking claws  14 , whereby the bolt  46  can be supported in the first direction and the second direction within the clip  10 . Therefore, the clip  10  can be properly attached to different diameters of bolts. In order to allow the first protruding portions  20  to function as stoppers against an excessive wobbling with respect to the inserted bolt, it is designed such that gaps are provided between the inner walls  16  and the first protruding portions  20  even when the bolt having the largest applicable diameter is inserted. 
         [0032]    While the bolts are exemplified as the attaching target objects of the clip, the embodiment is applicable to any rod members having a circumferential groove or a thread portion therein so as to be locked by the locking claws  14 . 
         [0033]    The invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various modifications such as design changes can be made to the embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the scope of the invention includes such modified embodiments. 
         [0034]    While it is exemplified that the first protruding portions  20  are provided on the outer walls  18  so as to protrude inwards, the first protruding portions  20  may be provided on the inner walls  16  so as to protrude outwards. While it is exemplified that the first protruding portions  20  and the contact portions  30  are continuous in the axial direction, the first protruding portions  20  and the contact portions  30  may be provided partially or intermittently along the axial direction. While the convex-shaped first protruding portions  20  are exemplified in  FIG. 1 , the outer walls  18  themselves maybe formed to swell inwards. In this case, portions swelled inwards from the outer walls may be referred to as first protruding portions  20 . 
         [0035]    While it is exemplified that the inner walls  16  are provided so as to face each other, only one inner wall may be provided such that one of the inter-wall cavities  22  is filled so as to form a concrete wall. In this case, manufacturing of the clip is facilitated.