Patent Publication Number: US-10308406-B2

Title: Fastener

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-208137 filed on Oct. 24, 2016, including specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a fastener for mounting a member to be mounted on a mount member. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A bolt clamp disclosed in Patent Document 1 is formed integrally with a tying band for a wiring harness. This bolt clamp has a cylindrical main body into which a bolt is inserted, a fastening portion of the tying band which is formed on a side surface of the cylindrical main body and the tying band which extends from a side surface of the fastening portion. 
     In the bolt clamp of Patent Document 1, a wiring harness is tied with the tying band, and a bolt which projects from a vehicle body is inserted into the cylindrical main body, whereby the wiring harness is fixed to the vehicle body. A lower end face of the fastening portion is positioned above a lower end face of the cylindrical main body, and this ensures a space into which a cut end of the tying band is allowed to project when the wiring harness is mounted on the vehicle body, so that the cut end of the tying band is prevented from being brought into abutment or contact with the vehicle body. 
     Patent Document 1: JP-A-2000-179523 
     The tying band disclosed in Patent Document 1 extends from the side surface of the fastening portion and extends from a position which lies greatly apart in an axial direction from the lower end face of the cylindrical main body, and therefore, the wiring harness is tied in a position which lies farther away from the vehicle body. In case the wiring harness is held in the position which lies greatly apart from the vehicle body when the wiring harness is mounted on the vehicle body, the stability of the mounted wiring harness is reduced. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore an object of at least one of the embodiments of the present invention to provide a fastener which makes it difficult for a proximal end side of a band to be cut when cutting a distal end side of the band while holding a member to be mounted in a stable fashion. 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a fastener for mounting a member to be mounted on a mount member which includes a band for fastening a member to be mounted, a band fastening portion for locking the band which is tightened to fasten the member to be mounted, and a mounting portion for mounting the band fastening portion on a mount member. The band fastening portion has a passage hole having an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the band, a locking claw which locks on the band which is passed through the passage hole, a supporting wall portion which surrounds the member to be mounted together with the band which is passed through the passage hole and a pair of side wall portions which are positioned individually on both sides of the passage hole while connecting to both sides of the supporting wall portion. The supporting wall portion extends in a direction from the inlet opening towards the outlet opening and has end faces which lie individually on a side thereof which faces the inlet opening and a side thereof which faces the outlet opening. The band has a proximal end portion which extends from the end face of the supporting wall portion which lies on the side thereof which faces the outlet opening. The pair of side wall portions are disposed so as to define a gap in a widthwise direction between the proximal end portion of the band and themselves, and end faces of the pair of side wall portions which lie on sides thereof which face the outlet opening project further in a passing direction of the band through the passage hole than the end face of the supporting wall portion which lies on the side thereof which faces the outlet opening. 
     With the above configuration, it is possible to provide the fastener which makes it difficult for the proximal end side of the band to be cut when cutting the distal end side of the band while suppressing a rattling looseness of the member to be mounted when the fastener holds the member to be mounted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view of a fastener according to an embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the fastener, and  FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of the fastener; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the fastener of the embodiment as seen from above, and  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the fastener as seen from below; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the fastener taken along a line A-A in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fastener in section taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1A ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a state in which the fastener is mounted on a bolt of a mount member; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are views of bands according to the embodiment and modified examples. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1A  is a top view of a fastener  10  according to an embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the fastener  10 , and  FIG. 1C  is a bottom view of the fastener  10 .  FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the fastener  10  of the embodiment as seen from above, and  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the fastener  10  as seen from below. 
     The fastener  10  is used to mount a member to be mounted on a mount member. For example, the fastener  10  is used to mount a hose or a wiring harness on a vehicle body panel or an interior panel. Namely, the hose or the wiring harness constitutes the member to be mounted, and the vehicle body panel or the interior panel constitutes the mount member. The fastener  10  is mounted on a bolt which is provided on the vehicle body panel so as to be erected therefrom. 
     The fastener  10  includes a mounting portion  20 , a band fastening portion  22  and a band  24  and is formed from a resin material. The mounting portion  20  can be mounted on a bolt which is provided on the mount member. The band  24  fastens a member to be mounted. The band fastening portion  22  locks the band  24  which fastens the mount to be mounted. The bolt of the mount member is inserted into the mounting portion  20  with the band  24  fastening the member to be mounted to hold it, whereby the member to be mounted is fastened to the mount member. 
     The mounting portion  20  has a plurality of elastic claws  26 , a cylindrical portion  28 , a plurality of inner projecting portions  30 , a suspended portion  32 , a tapered portion  34 , a plurality of inner flange portions  36 , and a seating surface  38 . The plurality of elastic claws  26  are formed so as to protrude from an inner circumferential surface towards a center axis of the cylindrical portion  28  and are disposed at equal intervals in a circumferential direction. The elastic claws  26  can be deflected and is locked in a root of a thread formed on the bolt which is inserted into the cylindrical portion  28 . 
     The plurality of inner projecting portions  30  are formed so as to protrude from the inner circumferential surface towards the center axis of the cylindrical portion  28  and are disposed so as to be equally spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The plurality of elastic claws  26  and the plurality of inner projecting portions  30  are disposed alternately on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion  28 . The inner projecting portions  30  extend in an axial direction on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion  28  from an end where the seating surface  38  is formed to the suspended portion  32 . The inner projecting portions  30  are brought into abutment with the bolt inserted into the cylindrical portion  28  so as to suppress the rattling looseness of the fastener  10 . 
     The suspended portion  32  is formed into a beam on a deeper side of an inserting opening  35  of the cylindrical portion  28 . The suspended portion  32  is suspended from an inner circumferential edge on an upper end side of the cylindrical portion  28  and passes through a center of the cylindrical portion  28 . The suspended portion  32  continues to respective upper ends of the inner projecting portions  30 . The suspended portion  32  prevents the bolt inserted into the cylindrical portion  28  from protruding out of the cylindrical portion  28  and functions to enhance the strength of the cylindrical portion  28 . 
     The tapered portion  34  is formed around an edge of the inserting opening  35  of the cylindrical portion  28  so as to be inclined radially inwards therefrom and protrudes radially inwards towards a deeper or inner side of the cylindrical portion  28 . The tapered portion  34  is formed around a full circumference of the edge of the inserting opening  35  of the cylindrical portion  28  to function as a guide for the bolt when the bolt is inserted into the cylindrical portion  28 . The seating surface  38  is formed as an end face of the cylindrical portion  28  which lies at an end where the inserting opening  35  is formed and is brought into abutment with or comes close to the panel when the fastener  10  is mounted on the bolt. 
     The inner flange portions  36  are formed on an inner edge of the cylindrical portion  28  which lies at the end where the inserting opening  35  is formed so as to project radially inwards therefrom and are connected to the elastic claws  26  and the inner projecting portions  30 . The inner flange portions  36  enable the tapered portion  34  to be formed along the full circumference of the inserting opening  35  to enhance the rigidity of the cylindrical portion  28  at the end where the seating surface  38  is formed while improving its guiding performance The suspended portion  32  and the inner flange portions  36  can help not only to enhance the rigidity of the cylindrical portion  28  at both the ends thereof but also to improve the durability of the mounting portion  20 . The durability of the mounting portion  20  can be ensured even though the cylindrical portion  28  is formed thin by connecting the suspended portion  32  and the inner flange portions  36  together by the inner projecting portions  30 . 
     The band  24  is formed into a belt-like flat thin strip and is wound around the member to be mounted to hold it. The band  24  has a multiplicity of engaging claws  60  which are formed in a longitudinal direction thereof. Additionally, the band  24  has side ribs  62  and oblique ribs  64  on an opposite side to a side where the engaging claws  60  are formed, that is, a side where a fastening surface  66  is provided which is brought into contact with the member to be mounted. 
     The side ribs  62  are formed individually on longitudinal edges of the fastening surface  66  of the band  24 . The oblique ribs  64  are formed on the fastening surface  66  of the band  24  so as to lie between the side ribs  62 . The oblique ribs  64  are inclined relative to a longitudinal direction and a widthwise direction of the band  24  and intersect each other. The side ribs  62  and the oblique ribs  64  are brought into abutment with the member to be mounted to restrict the movement of the member to be mounted. The side ribs  62  restricts the member to be mounted from moving in the longitudinal direction, and the oblique ribs  64  restricts the member to be mounted from being twisted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the band fastening portion  22  is provided so as to continue to an outer circumferential surface of the mounting portion  20  and is formed in an angularly cylindrical shape having a rectangular cross section. The band fastening portion  22  supports the band  24  and locks the band  24  which is inserted thereinto. The band fastening portion  22  has a passage hole  40 , a locking claw  42 , a supporting wall portion  44 , side wall portions  46 , an inlet opening  48 , an outlet opening  50 , band guiding portions  52  and projecting portions  54 . 
     The passage hole  40  is formed parallel to a bolt insertion hole which is defined by the cylindrical portion  28  of the mounting portion  20 . The passage hole  40  is defined by the pair of side wall portions  46  and the supporting wall portion  44  which connects the side wall portions  46  together. The passage hole  40  has the inlet opening  48  shown in  FIG. 2A  from which the band  24  is let in and the outlet opening  50  shown in  FIG. 2B  from which the band  24  is let out. The supporting wall portion  44  is positioned at a front of the fastener  10  and supports the band  24 , surrounding the member to be mounted together with the band  24 . The supporting wall portion  44  extends in a direction from the inlet opening  48  towards the outlet opening  50 , that is, along an axial direction of the passage hole  40  and has an upper end face which lies at an end or on a side thereof which faces the inlet opening  48  and a lower end face which lies at an end or on a side which faces the outlet opening  50 . As shown in  FIG. 2B , the pair of side wall portions  46  are positioned on both sides of the passage hole  40  in a widthwise direction thereof and are spaced apart from the band  24  in the widthwise direction. 
     The locking claw  42  is formed so as to be deflected radially inwards of the passage hole  40  and locks on the engaging claw  60  of the band  24  to function as a means for preventing the dislocation of the band  24  from the band fastening portion  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A and 2B , the band guiding portions  52  are formed on inner surfaces of the side wall portions  46  so as to project therefrom and guide the band  24  inserted into the band fastening portion  22  while restricting the movement thereof. The projecting portions  54  of the side wall portions  46  are each formed so as to project further forwards than an outer wall surface of the supporting wall portion  44  and are brought into abutment with the supported member to be mounted so as to suppress the rattling looseness of the member to be mounted. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the fastener  10  taken long a line A-A in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fastener  10  in section taken along the line A-A in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the fastener  10  which is mounted on a bolt  14  of a mount member  12 . In  FIG. 5 , the band  24  is wound into a loop and is locked by the locking claw  42  in the band fastening portion  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a lower end face  58  of the band fastening portion  22  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50  is positioned further upwards than the seating surface  38  of the mounting portion  20  and is set back further upwards than the seating surface  38 . This configuration is adopted to prevent a cut end of the band  24  which results from cutting a portion of the band  24  which projects from the outlet opening  50  as shown in  FIG. 5  from projecting further downwards than the seating surface  38  to be brought into abutment with the vehicle body panel so as to stabilize the posture of the fastener  10  after it has been mounted on the vehicle body panel. 
     Incidentally, in mounting, for example, a wiring harness on the bolt of the vehicle body panel by the use of the fastener  10 , in case the wiring harness is supported by the band  24  in such a way as not to be greatly spaced apart from the vehicle body panel, the mounted state of the wiring harness is stabilized. Because of this, a proximal end portion  24   a  (a rood) of the band  24  is preferably positioned downwards so as to be closer to the side where the seating surface  38  is provided. Then, the band  24  is made to extend downwards from an end face  56  of the supporting wall portion  44  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50 , that is, a lower end portion of the supporting wall portion  44 , and the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is disposed therebelow. 
     On the other hand, in the event that the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is made to extend downwards from the end face  56  of the supporting wall portion  44  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50 , in cutting the portion of the band  24  which projects from the outlet opening  50  with a tool such as a pair of scissors, there is a possibility that the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  interferes with the pair of scissors. Then, in such a state that the pair of side wall portions  46  are provided so as to project along an inserting direction of the band  24  through the passage hole  40  with gaps provided between both sides of the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  in the widthwise direction and the side wall portions  46  so formed, in case blades of the pair of scissors are pushed against the lower end face  58  of the band fastening portion  22  at the side walls  46  or lower end faces  58  of the side walls  46  from below, the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is pushed by the blades of the pair of scissors so as to be protected by the deflected side wall portions  46 , whereby it becomes difficult for the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  to be cut. In the event that the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is made to extend from a position which coincides in level or height with the lower end faces  58  of the side walls  46 , the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is not protected by the side walls  46 , increasing a risk of the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  being cut by the pair of scissors. 
     The end face  56  of the supporting wall portion  44  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50  is positioned upper than the lower end faces  58  of the side walls  46 . Namely, the lower end faces  58  of the pair of side wall portions  46  which lie on the sides which faces the outlet opening  50  project further along the inserting direction of the band  24  through the passage hole  40  than the end face  56  of the supporting wall portion  44  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50 , whereby the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is held by the pair of side wall portions  46  with the gaps defined therebetween so as to be protected by the side walls  46 . When the fastener  10  is seen from the side thereof as shown in  FIG. 1B , the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  overlaps the side wall portions  46  and is covered by the side wall portions  46 . The side view of the fastener  10  results when it is seen from the side thereof, and lateral longitudinal sides of the fastener  10  extend along the widthwise direction of the band  24  and the supporting wall portion  44  and a direction in which the pair of side wall portions  46  face each other or a direction which is at right angles to surfaces of the side wall portions  46 . A vertical length of the supporting wall portion  44  can be ensured by disposing the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  in the lower position to thereby support the member to be mounted in a stable fashion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the supporting wall portion  44  has an outer wall surface  44   a  which faces the member to be mounted which is fastened by the band  24  and an inner wall surface  44   b  which lies on a side which faces the passage hole  40 . The fastening surface  66  of the band  24  continues to the outer wall surface  44   a  and is formed level with the outer wall surface  44   a.  The band  24  extends from a position which is deflected closer to the outer wall surface  44   a  than to the inner wall surface  44   b.  Namely, a difference in level or a step is provided between the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  and the inner wall surface  44   b  by the end face  56  of the supporting wall portion  44  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50 , whereby the proximal end portion  24   a  is positioned apart from the inner wall surface  44   b.  By adopting this configuration, the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  is disposed farther away from the outlet opening  50 , and in cutting a distal end of the band  24  which projects from the outlet opening  50 , it becomes difficult for the proximal end portion  24   a  to be brought into interference with the pair of scissors. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the projecting portions  54  which are provided on both the sides of the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  also function as guards for the proximal end portion  24   a  of the band  24  when the band  24  is cut. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the inner projecting portions  30  are provided on a back side of the locking claw  42 , whereby the rigidity of a proximal end portion of the locking claw  42  can be enhanced so as to suppress the rattling looseness of the locking claw  42 . This makes it difficult for the locking claw  42  which locks on the band  24  to be dislocated from the band  24 . 
       FIG. 6  shows views for describing the band of the embodiment and bands of modified examples.  FIG. 6  shows a band  124  of a first modified example and a band  224  of a second modified example in addition to the band  24  of the embodiment.  FIG. 6B  shows an enlarged view of proximal ends of the bands shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     The bands  24 ,  124 ,  224  all extend downwards from the end face  56  of the supporting wall portion  44  which lies on the side which faces the outlet opening  50 , and proximal end portions thereof are disposed so as to be held between the pair of side wall portions  46  by the pair of side wall portions  46 . By adopting this configuration, when cutting the bands  24 ,  124 ,  224 , the proximal end portions of the bands  24 ,  124 ,  224  can be protected by the side walls  46  while disposing the proximal end portions of the bands  24 ,  124 ,  224  in lower positions. 
     The proximal end portions of the band  24  and the band  124  extend so as to overlap the lower end faces  58  of the side wall portions  46  when seen from the side. This enables the bands  24 ,  124  to extend downwards so as to come closer to a surface of the mount member  12 , whereby the member to be mounted can be supported so as not to be spaced greatly apart from the mount member  12 . The band  224  does not overlap the end faces  58  of the side wall portions  46  when seen from the side. 
     When seen from the side, the proximal end portion of the band  24  extends so as to overlap corner portions  46   a  of the side wall portions  46  which lie on the side which faces the outlet opening  50 . By adopting this configuration, positioning the proximal end portion of the band  24  in a lower position and making it difficult for the proximal end portion of the band  24  to interfere with the pair of scissors when cutting the band  24  are allowed to function in a well balanced fashion. The corner portions  46   a  of the side wall portions  46  are positioned closer to the outer wall surface  44   a  of the supporting wall portion  44  at lower ends of the side wall portions  46 . 
     The invention is not limited to the embodiment and the modified examples described above, and hence, various modifications can be made to the embodiment and the modified examples. The resulting embodiments can be included in the scope of the invention. 
     In the embodiment, the form is described in which the fastener  10  is mounted on the bolt of the mount member. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and hence, the fastener  10  may be mounted in a mount hole on the vehicle body panel. As this occurs, the fastener  10  has a plurality of elastic locking portions which lock on an edge of the mount hole as the mounting portion, and the plurality of elastic locking portions are deflected radially inwards when they are inserted into the mount hole and then expand radially outwards after they have been inserted into the mount hole to lock on the edge of the mount hole.