Abstract:
A fastener for a pipe is able to prevent an end of a stud to which the fastener is attached from puncturing a fuel tank or breaking other parts of a car body and causing the fuel tank to rupture when a collision occurs. The fastener comprises a fastener main body and a protective member. The fastener main body has a base, pipe fastening portions connected to the base, and a stud engaging portion connected to at least one of the base and the pipe fastening portions to engage a stud extending from a support. The stud engaging portion has a stud receiving hole for receiving the stud. A protective member is attached to at least one of the stud engaging portion and the base to cover the end of a stud in the stud receiving hole and has sufficient rigidity to prevent the end of the stud from protruding out of the stud receiving hole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-370668 filed Oct. 30, 2003, incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to improved fasteners for pipes such as fuel oil lines and brake fluid lines and, more specifically, to a fastener comprising a base, pipe fastening portions connected to the base, and a stud engaging portion connected to at least one of the base and the pipe fastening portions to engage a stud extending from a support, and in which pipes held by the pipe fastening portions are mounted on the support by coupling the stud engaging portion to the stud.  
         [0003]     Fasteners for pipes such as fuel oil lines and brake fluid lines are well known. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication 60-73987 (Patent Document 1: corresponding to Examined Utility Model Application Publication 64-3891) disclosing a fastener comprising a base, pipe fastening portions connected to the base, and a stud engaging portion connected to either the base or the pipe fastening portions to engage a stud extending from a support. This fastener uses a bolt as the stud, and the stud engaging portion is strongly and easily screwed onto the stud using a power screwdriver. A cover is attached to the fastener to protect the fastened pipes.  
         [0004]     Kokai 11-190324 (Patent Document 2) discloses a clamp attached to a stud bolt. This clamp can be used as a wire harness connector, and is mounted on a car body by engaging a stud bolt extending from the car body. An anti-noise cap is attached to the clamp at the end of the stud bolt to keep the clamp from generating noise.  
         [0005]     A fastener for pipes such as fuel oil lines and brake fluid lines is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,459 (Patent Document 3), in which an electrical connection plate for establishing an electrical connection between pipes and the stud is formed on the back side of a base, and any charge stored in the pipes is discharged to a car body via the stud.  
         [0006]     Pipe fasteners for mounting fuel oil lines and brake fluid lines using studs extending from car bodies are used on the floor of vehicles and in the engine compartment. In the engine compartment, for example, if the frame on which a stud extends outward is bent in a collision, the end of the stud may not only damage other parts of the car but may also rupture the adjacent fuel tank, causing a major disaster. To prevent this from happening, the end of the stud must be prevented from puncturing the fuel tank if the frame from which the stud extends is bent.  
         [0007]     In the fastener disclosed in Patent Document 1, a cover is attached to protect the pipes, but prevention of fuel tank punctures from the end of the stud is not mentioned, and no consideration is given to fuel tank ruptures. The cover to the fastener in Patent Document 1, moreover, is attached after the stud engaging portion has been mounted on the stud, and cannot be attached to the fastener first. A cap is placed on the end of the stud to reduce noise in the clamp described in Patent Document 2, but no consideration is given to punctures by the end of the stud. An electrical connection plate is placed on the back side of the base in the fastener described in Patent Document 3 to allow the charge stored in the pipes to escape, but Patent Document 3 also does not teach preventing punctures by the end of the stud.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide a fastener for a pipe that prevents the end of a stud to which the fastener is attached from puncturing a fuel tank or breaking other parts of a car body, for example.  
         [0009]     In accordance with the present invention, a fastener comprises a base, pipe fastening portions connected to the base, and a stud engaging portion connected to at least one of the base and the pipe fastening portions to engage a stud extending from a support. The stud engaging portion has a stud receiving hole for receiving the stud. A protective member is attached to at least one of the stud engaging portion and the base to cover the end of a stud in the stud receiving hole. The protective member has sufficient rigidity to prevent the end of the stud from protruding out of the stud receiving hole due to a collision. The protective member is attached to the fastener before mounting the fastener on the stud, so the protective member does not have to be attached to the fastener on a vehicle assembly line, for example. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show preferred (best mode) embodiments, and wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the main body of the fastener in the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the main body in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the main body in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the stud engaging portion of the main body in  FIG. 1 , along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the protective member for the fastener in the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the protective member in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the fastener in the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the fastener in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a front view of the fastener in the first embodiment of the present invention engaged with a stud protruding from a panel;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the main body of the fastener in the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the main body in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is comprised of views of the protective member for the fastener in the second embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a front view of the protective member, (B) is a bottom view of the protective member, and (C) is a right side view of the protective member;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the fastener in the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the fastener in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the fastener in the third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view along line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 17  is a front view of the fastener in the fourth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view along line  18 - 18  in  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]     In one embodiment of the invention, the protective member comprises a U-shaped metal plate attached along an outside surface of the base. In another embodiment of the fastener, the protective member comprises a U-shaped metal plate attached along an outside surface of the stud engaging portion and along an outside surface portion of the base connected to it. In yet another embodiment, the protective member is a metal plate inserted in the stud engaging portion adjacent to the stud end. In still another embodiment, the protective member is a metal plate molded in the stud engaging portion adjacent to the stud end.  
         [0030]     The following is an explanation of the fasteners for pipes in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 9  show the fastener in a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4  show the fastener main body  1  before the protective member is attached.  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show the protective member  2 .  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show the fastener  3  of the present invention with the protective member  2  attached to the fastener main body  1 .  FIG. 9  shows pipes mounted on a support such as the panel  5  of a car body using the fastener  3 .  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , the fastener main body  1  is preferably an integrated molded product made of plastic. The base  6 , pipe fastening portions  7   a - 7   d , and stud engaging portion  9  for mounting to a support such as a panel  5  are molded so as to be integrated in the fastener main body  1 . The pipe fastening portions  7   a - 7   d  are connected to the base  6  in parallel fashion so that pipes can be fastened to it in parallel fashion. The base itself is slender and extends lengthwise perpendicular to the pipes. The stud engaging portion  9  is connected to the base adjacent to pipe fastening portion  7   a . The pipe fastening portions  7   a - 7   d  have housing portions  10  with curved bottom surfaces of different diameters so that pipes with different diameters, such as fuel oil lines and brake fluid lines, can be fastened. One sidewall of each of the housing portions  10  extends upwards to an elastic holding tab  11  having a tip bent at an angle towards the bottom of the housing portions  10  to apply pressure from above to side surfaces of fastened pipes.  
         [0032]     The stud engaging portion  9  forms one of the sidewalls of pipe fastening portion  7   a , and receives a stud or stud bolt extending from a panel for example. A stud receiving hole  13  extends axially in the stud engaging portion  9 , and a pair of pawls  15  is formed near an entrance  14  of the hole. At a center position of the hole, another pair of pawls  17  is formed facing a direction perpendicular to pawls  15  to apply a strong engaging force on a stud.  
         [0033]     The end of the stud engaging portion  9  opposite the entrance  14  in the axial direction is connected to the base  6 , and is thus integrally and securely connected to the fastener main body  1 . A pair of guides  18  is formed between the pawls  15  and the pawls  17  so as to define part of a first sidewall of the stud receiving hole. Another pair of guides  19  is formed from the base  6  towards the pawls  17  so as to define part of a second sidewall of the stud receiving hole. These guides ensure that a received stud is centered in the stud receiving hole and that the engagement force of the pawls is maintained properly and firmly.  
         [0034]     A protective member  2  is attached to an outside bottom surface of the base  6 , a side surface of the stud engaging section  9 , and a side surface of pipe fastening portion  7   d . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a groove  21  for accommodating the protective member  2  is formed along the entire bottom surface lengthwise with respect to the base  6  (in the direction perpendicular to the pipes). The depth of the groove is equal to the thickness of the protective member  2  so that it is flush with the bottom surface of the base  6  when the protective member is attached.  
         [0035]     An elastic pawl  22  extends upwards from the bottom of the base  6  along a side surface of pipe fastening portion  7   d . Also, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a second elastic pawl  23  extends upwards from the bottom of the base  6  on a side surface of the stud engaging portion  9 . Pawls  22  and  23  can also be viewed in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a passage  26  is formed between pawl  22  and the sidewall  25  of pipe fastening portion  7   d  to guide the protective member  2  into engagement with pawl  22 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , a passage  27  is formed between pawl  23  and the sidewall of stud engaging portion  9  to guide the protective member  2  into engagement with pawl  23 . Because passages  26  and  27  ensure that pawls  22  and  23  engage the protective member  2  properly without any slippage to the outside, the engagement force is strong. To form passages  26  and  27 , guide wall  29  and guide wall  30  protrude laterally on the sidewall  25  of pipe fastening portion  7   d  and the sidewall of the stud engaging portion  9 .  
         [0036]     The protective member  2  will now be explained with reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . The protective member  2  is a U-shaped plate having enough rigidity to keep an end of a stud from protruding out of the stud receiving hole in the stud engaging portion  9 . Metal, such as steel, can be made rigid enough for this purpose, but other acceptable materials for use in the protective member  2  include, for example, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) and other types of plastic. In  FIG. 5 , the length of the horizontal portion  31  corresponds to the length of the base  6 , and the width shown in  FIG. 6  corresponds to the width of the groove  21  in the bottom surface of the base  6 . In  FIG. 5 , the two vertical portions  33  pass through passage  26  along the sidewall  25  of pipe fastening portion  7   d  and passage  27  along the sidewall of the stud engaging portion  9  in the fastener main body  1  to engage pawls  22  and  23 . The vertical portions  33  are taller than pawls  22  and  23 , and engaging holes  34  are formed in the vertical portions at the positions corresponding to pawls  22  and  23 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8  show the fastener  3  with the protective member  2  attached to the fastener main body  1 . The horizontal portion  31  of the protective member  2  is fixed along the groove  21  in the bottom surface of the fastener main body  1 , so as to be flush with the bottom surface of the base  6 . The two vertical portions  33  of the protective member  2  are inserted into passage  26  along the sidewall  25  of pipe fastening portion  7   d  and passage  27  along the sidewall of stud engaging portion  9 . Once so inserted, pawls  22  and  23  engage the engaging holes  34 . The protective member  2  is attached to the fastener main body  1  in this way so that it covers an end of the stud received in the stud receiving hole  13  in the stud engaging portion  9 , and keeps the end of the stud from coming out of the receiving hole even if the panel from which the stud extends is bent in a collision. The vertical portions  33  of the protective member  2  are restrained by passages  26  and  27  formed by guide walls  29  and  30  from slipping to the outside. Because the restrained vertical portions  33  engage pawls  22  and  23 , the force with which the protective member  2  engages the fastener main body  1  is strong, and can resist the force of the end of the stud coming out of the receiving hole in a collision.  
         [0038]      FIG. 9  shows fastener  3  with pipes  37   a - 37   d  fastened to the pipe fastening portions  7   a - 7   d  mounted on a panel  5  via a stud (bolt)  35  extending from the panel  5 . The stud  35  is inserted into the stud engaging portion  9 , engaging pawls  15  and  17  with grooves or threads in the stud  35 , and the pipes  37   a - 37   d  held by the fastener  3  are mounted on the panel  5 . When the panel  5  is a frame in an engine compartment, the protective member  2  can prevent the stud from coming out of the receiving hole due to a bending of the frame in a collision. As a result, major disasters can be avoided.  
         [0039]      FIG. 10  through  FIG. 14  show the fastener  41  in the second embodiment. This fastener  41  comprises the fastener main body  42  shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , and the protective member  43  shown in  FIG. 12 . The protective member  43  is attached to the fastener main body  42  as shown in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 . This fastener  41  differs from the fastener  3  in the first embodiment in that the protective member  43  is attached crosswise with respect to the length of the base  46  along outside surfaces of the stud engaging portion  45  of the fastener main body  42  and a section of the outside surface of the base connected to it. In other respects, the fastener  41  is identical to fastener  1 , so further explanation of these aspects has been omitted.  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIG. 10 , a groove  47  is formed in both the front and back side surfaces of the stud engaging portion  45  to receive the protective member  43 . A groove  49  for receiving the protective member  43  is formed in the bottom surface of the stud receiving portion  45  and the portion of the base  46  connected to it. Also, engaging portions  50  for engagement with engaging holes in the protective member  43  are formed in the two guides  18 A (the front guide  18 A can be viewed in  FIG. 11 ) midway up the stud engaging portion  45  where the stud receiving hole is formed.  
         [0041]     As shown in  FIG. 12 (A) through (C), the protective member  43  is a U-shaped plate (e.g., of metal) having enough rigidity to keep the end of the stud from protruding out of the stud receiving hole. In  FIG. 12 , the length of the horizontal portion  51  corresponds to the width of the stud engaging portion  45 , and the width of the portion  51  corresponds to the width of grooves  47  and  49 . The two vertical portions  53  engage the engaging portions  50  of the guide grooves  18 A in the stud engaging portion  45 . The vertical portions  53  have nearly the same height as the stud engaging portion  45 , and engaging holes  54  are formed in (the two) positions corresponding to the engaging portions  50 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  show the fastener  41  with the protective member  43  attached to the fastener main body  42 . The protective member  43  is inserted into the grooves  47  and  49  along outside surfaces of the stud engaging portion  45  and part of the outside surface of the base  46  connected to it, so that the portion  51  is flush with the bottom surface of the base  46 . The engaging holes  54  in the two vertical portions  53  of the protective member  2  engage the engaging portions  50  of the stud engaging portion  45 , and the protective member  43  covers the end of the stud received by the stud receiving hole of the stud engaging portion  45 . In this way, the protective member  43  is attached so that the engaging holes  54  in the vertical portions  53  engage the engaging portions  50  of the stud engaging portion  45 . Guides for keeping the vertical portions  53  from slipping to the outside can be formed on the outside of the stud engaging portion as in the first embodiment. When the fastener  41  is attached to a stud extending from a frame in an engine compartment, for example, the protective member  43  can prevent the stud from coming out of the receiving hole due to bending of the frame in a collision. As a result, major disasters can be avoided.  
         [0043]      FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16  show the fastener  57  in the third embodiment. In this fastener  57 , the protective member  61  is a plate (e.g., metal) pressed into a slot in a stud end side portion  59  of the stud engaging portion  58 . In other respects, the fastener  57  is identical to fastener  1  so an explanation of these aspects has been omitted.  
         [0044]     As shown in  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 16 , a slot for receiving the protective member  61  is formed in the stud end side portion  59  of the stud engaging portion  58 , and the protective member  61  is attached by insertion in the slot, using pressure thereon from a hammer or some other tool. The protective member  61  keeps the stud from protruding outward and damaging car parts such as an adjacent fuel tank due to bending of the frame in a collision.  
         [0045]      FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18  show the fastener  63  in the fourth embodiment. In this fastener  63 , the protective member  65  is a plate (e.g., metal) attached using insert molding to the stud end side portion  59  of the stud engaging portion  58 . In other respects, the fastener  63  is identical to fastener  57  so an explanation of these aspects has been omitted. As shown in  FIG. 17  and  FIG. 18 , the protective member  65  is on the stud end side portion  59  of the stud engaging portion  58 . The protective member  65  keeps the stud from protruding outward and damaging car parts such as an adjacent fuel tank due to bending of the frame in a collision.  
         [0046]     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that changes can be made without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims.