Abstract:
A bracket for attaching a hose comprising a strip adapted to surround a hose, an end portion connected to the strip and a locking portion to close the strip about the hose, in which the locking portion is configured to cooperate with a threaded fastening device to fasten the bracket to a support is provided. The bracket further comprises at least one anti-rotation device adapted to cooperate with one of the threaded fastening device and the support.

Description:
The present invention relates to a bracket for attaching a hose of a fluidic system of a motor vehicle to a support, for example a flange plate or a portion of a chassis of the motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A bracket for attaching a hose fastens a hose to an on-board fluidic system of a motor vehicle, such as for example an air-conditioning system, to avoid damages caused by dynamic stresses when the vehicle is moving and/or in contact with the abrasive and/or overheated surfaces which damage the wall of the hose and cause fluid to leak. 
     An essential requirement for a bracket for attaching a hose is a low production cost. In addition, it is preferable that the configuration of the bracket for attaching a hose facilitates the assembly by an operator during the assembly of the vehicle and at the same time ensures a firm and reliable fastening. 
     These requirements can be met if:
         the above said bracket is locked on the hose and cannot accidentally detach;   the bracket has an appropriate interference with the hose so that it can be moved manually although not being free to move only by effect of its inertia;   the bracket can oppose its rotation with respect to the fastening screw or rivet during the assembly and during operation.       

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to obtain a bracket for attaching a hose that can meet at least partially the above mentioned requirements. 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by a bracket according to the attached claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limitative embodiments thereof, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bracket for fastening a hose according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view that shows a portion adapted to come into contact with a flange plate of a chassis of a motor vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bracket of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration; and 
         FIG. 4  is a section of  FIG. 3  along plane P shown by arrows IV-IV in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 ,  1  indicates a bracket for attaching a hose wound about a hose  2  of a fluidic system and fastened to a flange plate  3  projecting from a crossbar of the chassis of a vehicle or a heavy-goods vehicle. 
     Bracket  1  for attaching a hose is fastened to flange plate  3  by means of a threaded connection, for instance a nut  4  that engages a screw  5  fastened to flange plate  3 . 
     Bracket  1  comprises a main body  6  preferably made in a single body from a metal strip, and an insert  7  made of a polymer material and fastened to main body  6 . Insert  7  is preferably made of an elastomeric material and in use circumferentially surrounds at least partially a portion of hose  2 . 
     Main body  6  comprises a strip  9  that supports insert  7  and surrounds hose  2 , an end portion  10  transversal with respect to strip  9  when the latter is flat and undeformed and a locking portion  11  arranged opposite to the end portion  10  with respect to strip  9 . 
     End portion  10  defines a through-hole  12  and a tooth  13  projecting in a radial direction with respect to an axis of through-hole  12  and substantially symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal symmetry plane P of main body  6 . 
     On the opposite longitudinal part, locking portion  11  comprises a wall  14  defining a step  14   a  with strip  9  and a fin  15  foldable on wall  14 . Wall  14  and fin  15  are connected by means of a plastic hinge having an axis A and substantially defined by two edges of metal which are deformed plastically when fin  15  is rotated to be overlapped to wall  14 . The two edges of metal are spaced to define a through-window W 1  adapted to cooperate with tooth  13  to position end portion  10  sideways and longitudinally with respect to wall  14 . 
     Wall  14  defines a through-hole  16  having an axis perpendicular and skew with respect to axis A and an annular series of teeth  17  concentrical to through-hole  16 . Accordingly, fin  15  defines a through-hole  18  substantially concentrical to through-hole  16  when fin  15  is overlapped to wall  14 , and an annular series of teeth  19  concentrical to through-hole  18 . 
     Preferably, the annular series of teeth  17 ,  19  are made by plastic deformation of the metal plate, for example by pressing, and have a circumferential inclination direction, i.e. each tooth is twisted along an axis arranged radially with respect to the axis of through-hole  16 ,  18 . Assuming that the screwing direction of nut  4  is clockwise, the teeth of series  17  are twisted to oppose loosening, i.e. are inclined so that the upper face of each tooth is inclined towards the following tooth in a anti-clockwise direction when the user looks at the surface of fin  15  that comes into contact with nut  4 . The teeth of series  19  are inclined to oppose the rotation of bracket  1  while nut  4  is screwed during the fastening of hose  2  to flange plate  3 . For this purpose, the teeth of series  19  are inclined clockwise, in an opposite direction i.e. with respect to what is specified above for teeth  17 , when a user looks at a surface of wall  14  adapted to come into contact directly with flange plate  3 . 
     Furthermore, fin  15  defines a tooth  20  radially projecting with respect to the axis of through-hole  18  and adapted to engage a window W 2  defined along a joint  21  that joins strip  9  to end portion  10 . Preferably, windows W 1  and W 2  are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal symmetry plane P and the axes of through-holes  16 ,  18  are contained in this plane. Furthermore, joint  21  is parallel to axis A and both are perpendicular to the longitudinal symmetry plane P. 
     The assembly process of bracket  1  is as follows. 
     Hose  2  is surrounded by insert  8  and tooth  20  is housed in window W 1  so that through-holes  12 ,  16  are substantially coaxial. Furthermore, step  14   a  is such that the thickness of end portion  10  is recovered and the middle plane thereof is substantially aligned to the middle plane of a flat portion of strip  9  adjacent to step  15 . 
     Subsequently, fin  15  is folded towards hose  2  and through-hole  18  also results concentrical to through-holes  12 ,  16  to allow the assembly on a stem  22  of screw  5 . In particular, tooth  20  engages window W 2  and end portion  10  is interposed between wall  14  and fin  15 . The bracket prepared thereby is fixed on hose  2  and can no longer detach for example when hose  2  is made by a sub-contractor and is sent to the plant where the assembly of the vehicle is carried out. 
     Finally, nut  4  is fastened by a clockwise rotation: teeth  19  bite on the flange plate  3  and teeth  17  do not oppose the tightening of nut  4  but bite to oppose loosening thereof, for example due to vibrations when the vehicle is moving. 
     On the basis of the above, the advantages that can be obtained by the bracket  1  for attaching a hose disclosed and shown herein are apparent. 
     The assembly is simplified because bracket  1  comprises an integral anti-loosening device, i.e. teeth  19 . Furthermore, even during the fastening of bracket  1  to flange plate  3 , teeth  29  avoid rotation so that hose  2  is not twisted. 
     Tooth  13  and window W 1  temporarily fasten end portion  10  to wall  14  while the operator folds fin  15 . Tooth  20  cooperates with window W 2  to conveniently keep the bracket closed before inserting through-holes  12 ,  16 ,  18  on stem  22  and clamping nut  4 . 
     It is finally apparent that bracket  1  for attaching a hose disclosed and shown herein may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of protection as specified in the appended claims. 
     For example, according to an embodiment, insert  8  is coupled to strip  9  by shape coupling, i.e. for example insert  8  has a working surface  23  adapted to oppose the hose and a pair of fins  24  arranged on the opposite side of working surface  23  with respect to strip  9  and facing the longitudinal symmetry plane P to define a seat. Strip  9  is housed in seat and kept in a radial direction by means of fins  24  which partially overlap strip  9 . 
     Alternatively, insert  8  may be fixed with an adhesive to strip  9 . 
     Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, hose  2  has an annular projection  25  that interferes with insert  7  so as to axially lock hose  2  with respect to bracket  1 . In order to improve the locking of hose  2  along the direction of the axis of the hose, insert  5  defines a plurality of annular ribs and cavities  26 , the latter defining respective seats for projection  25 . Thereby, hose  2  is fastened by shape coupling to insert  7 . Alternatively, hose  2  may be fixed to insert  7  by a simple friction action, i.e. hose  2  has a smooth surface. 
     Bracket  1  may comprise either only teeth  17  or only teeth  19 , which singularly define an anti-rotation device respectively for nut  4  and for the bracket.