Patent Publication Number: US-2010112281-A1

Title: Protector

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a protector to protect the surroundings and inside of a part fitting hole such as the lamp housing fitting hole of an automobile member such as a bumper, and to prevent damage thereto, in the case of fitting a part. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     For instance, in a case where lamp housing(s) is (are) attached to the bumper of a car, lamp housing fitting hole(s) is (are) formed at area(s) of the bumper to which the lamp housing(s) is (are) attached, and said lamp housing(s) is (are) fit into said lamp housing fitting hole(s). 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     When said lamp housing(s) is (are) fit in to said lamp housing fitting hole(s) by worker(s), the worker(s) should perform, such operations carefully while attaching said lamp housing(s) to said lamp housing fitting hole(s), or the surroundings and inside(s) of said lamp housing fitting hole(s) may be damaged by the hitting of said lamp housing(s) against the surroundings and inside(s) of said lamp housing fitting hole(s). Such careful operations, however, cause a remarkable deterioration in work efficiency, and remarkable delay in time to complete work. 
     MEANS TO SOLVE SAID PROBLEM 
     As a means to solve said problem, the present invention provides a protector  8  to protect the surroundings and inside of a part fitting hole  2  of a member  1 , in the case of fitting a part  12  thereinto, said protector  8  consisting of a hole inner side protective section  9  which is inserted into the inside of said part fitting hole  2  to protect the inside of said part fitting hole  2 , and a surrounding protective section  10  which covers the outside surroundings of said part fitting hole  2  to protect said surroundings of said part fitting hole  2 , said surrounding protective section  10  integrating with said hole inner side protective section  9 . 
     It is preferable that said protector  8  be made of a synthetic resin having a Rockwell hardness of R50 to 150 according to ASTM D785, and further it is preferable that sheet(s)  11  be attached and extended to/from said hole inner side protective section  9  to protect the inside of said part fitting  2  hole from the harness  18  connecting to said part  12  from the inside of said part fitting hole  2 . 
     EFFECT OF THE INVENTION 
     Action   
     Said hole inner side protective section  9  of said protector  8  is inserted into said part fitting hole  2  and the surrounding protective section  10  of said protector  8  is closely partially or wholly covered on the outside surroundings of said part fitting hole  2 . 
     After said protector  8  is attached to said part fitting hole  2 , a part  12  is then fit into said part fitting hole  2 . After said part  12  is fit into said part fitting hole  2 , the surrounding protective section  10  of said protector  8  is pulled to remove said protector  8  from said part fitting hole  2 , leaving said part  12  in said part fitting hole  2 . 
     In a case where said protector  8  is made of a synthetic resin having a Rockwell hardness of R 50 to 150 according to ASTM D785, the molded shape of said protector  8  is adequately held, and when said protector  8  is taken out of said part fitting hole  2 , said protector  8  may be easily deformed, resulting in said protector  8  being easily taken out of said part fitting hole  2 . 
     In a case where a harness is connected to said part  12  from the inside of said part fitting hole  2 , it is preferable that a sheet  11  be attached and extended to/from said hole inner side protective section  9  to protect the inside of said part fitting hole  2  from said harness  18 , said harness  18  being prevented from making direct contact with the inside of said part fitting hole  2  by said sheet  11 . 
     Effect   
     In the present invention, in a case where a part is fit into said part fitting hole  2  of a member, the surroundings and inside of said part fitting hole  2  is prevented from being damaged by said part. 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT TO PRACTICE THE INVENTION 
     EXAMPLE 1 
       FIGS. 1 to 11  show EXAMPLE  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a pair of lamp housing fitting holes  2 ,  2  are formed at both sides of the bumper  1  of a car, with a number plate attaching section  3  being settled in the middle of said bumper  1 , and each of said lamp housing fitting holes  2  has bottom panel  4  and ribs  5  and so on, as shown in  FIG. 2 , and a harness conducting hole  7  is formed in said bottom panel&#39;s  4  step section, being on the bumper center side. 
     The protector  8  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Said protector  8  consists of a hole inner side protective section  9  which is inserted into the inside of each lamp housing fitting hole  2  of said bumper  1 , and a flange shaped surrounding protective section  10  formed at the outside of said hole inner side protective section  9 , integrating with said hole inner side protective section  9 . Further, a pair of sheets  11 ,  11  are attached to the inside of said hole inner side protective section  9  of said protector  8  to protect the inside of said lamp housing fitting hole  2  from the harness connected to said lamp housing. 
     Said protector  8  is preferably made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin having a Rockwell hardness of R50 to 150 according to ASTM D785. In a case where a thermoplastic synthetic resin having a Rockwell hardness of below R50 is used, the molded shape of the resulting protector  8  is not adequately held, while in a case where a thermoplastic synthetic resin having a Rockwell hardness of over R150 is used, the resulting protector  8  is difficult to deform, making it troublesome to take said protector  8  out of said lamp housing fitting hole  2 , leaving said lamp housing  12  in said lamp housing fitting hole  2 , as below described. 
     Said thermoplastic synthetic resin includes such as a high density polyethylene (R=50), polypropylene (homopolymer) (R=80˜102), polypropylene(copolymer) (R=65˜96), ABS (R=85˜106), polyamide6 (R=119), polyamide 66  (R=120), polyamide 46  (R=122), polyamidePA9T (R=118), polyethylene terephthalate (R=111), styrene modified-PPE (R=115˜116), AES (R=102˜109), AAS (R=96˜108), ACS (R=100˜107) and the like, and a polymer alloy of PPE-polyamide6-styrenic elastomer is a preferable thermoplastic resin in view of heat resistance, moldability, strength deformability, and the like. 
     An inorganic filler such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, barium sulphate, calcium sulphate, calcium sulfite, calcium phosphate, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, zinc oxide, alumina, silica, diaton earth, dolomite, gypsum, talc, clay, asbestos, mica, glass fiber, carbon fiber, calcium silicate, bentonite, white carbon, carbon black, iron powder, aluminum powder, stone powder, blast furnace slag, fly ash, cement, zirconia powder and the like, a natural fiber such as cotton, hemp, bamboo fiber, coconut fiber, wool silk and the like an organic synthetic fiber such as polyamide fiber, polyester fiber, acrylic fiber, viscose fiber, acetate fiber, vinyl chloride fiber, vinylidene chloride fiber, vinylon fiber, acetate fiber and the likes, an inorganic fiber such as asbestos fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, metallic fiber, whisker and the like, and an organic filler such as linter, linen, sisal, wood flour, coconut flour, walnut flour, starch, wheat flour and the like may be added to said thermoplastic synthetic resin. Further, a pigment, dye, antioxidant, antistatic agent, crystallization agent, flame retardant, antiflaming agent, insecticide, antiseptic, various waxes, a lubricant, age resister, ultraviolet absorber and the like may be added to said thermoplastic synthetic resin. 
     Said ingredient can be used singly or two or more kinds of said ingredient can be used together. 
     Said protector  8  is manufactured by such as vacuum forming, pressure forming, vacuum and pressure forming, press molding, stamping molding injection molding, or the like. 
     Said sheets  11 ,  11  are made of a soft type synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane or the like, or a nonwoven fabric, knit, textile, or the like. 
       FIG. 5  shows a lamp housing  12  as a part. In said lamp housing  12 , lamps  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  are settled, with a harness  18  being connected to each lamp  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  and  17  to supply electricity thereto. 
     To fit said lamp housing  12  into said lamp housing fitting hole  2  of said bumper  1 , said protector  8  is first attached to said lamp housing fitting hole  2  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in a case where said protector  8  is attached to said lamp housing fitting hole  2 , said hole inner side protective section  9  of said protector  8  is inserted into said lamp housing fitting hole  2  to cover and protect the inside of said hole  2 , and said surrounding protective section  10  of said protector  8  closely covers the outside of said surroundings of said hole  2  so as to protect the surroundings of said hole  2 . Further, said sheets  11 ,  11  of said protector  8  each cover the inside of the part of said hole  2  through which said harness  18  passes. 
     As described above, said protector  8  is fit into said hole  2  of said bumper  1 , after which said lamp housing  12  is inserted into said hole  2  over said protector  8  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In this case, said protector  8  prevents the inside or surroundings of said hole  2  from being damaged by said lamp housing  12 , harness  18 , the hands of workers, tools, and the like. 
     After said lamp housing  12  is fit into said hole  2  over said protector  8 , said protector  8  is taken out of said hole  2  as shown in  FIG. 11 . When said protector  8  is taken out of said hole  2 , said protector  8  easily deforms since said protector  8  is made of a thermoplastic synthetic resin having a hardness of R50 to 150, making it easy to remove said protector  8  from said hole  2 . 
     EXAMPLE 2 
       FIGS. 12 to 19  show EXAMPLE 2. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the bumper  21  of a car has an air-inlet  22 , with a grille  23 , shown in  13 , being fit into said air-inlet  22 , as a separate part. 
     Two flanges  24 A,  24 B are each extended along the middle part of the upper edge, and from the right and left side edges to the lower edge of said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21 , each flange  24 A,  24 B having a plural number of clip holes  25 A,  25 B. 
     When said grille  23  is fit into said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21 , a protector  27  as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  is used to protect the surroundings and inside of said air-inlet  22 . 
     To mold said protector  27  easily, said protector  27  is divided into two parts, a left half part  28  and a right half part  29 , said left half part  28  and said right half part  29  each consisting of hole inner side protective sections  30 ,  31 , and surrounding protective sections  32 ,  33 , and reinforcing ribs  34 ,  35  respectively project from said hole inner side protective sections  30 ,  31  of said left half part  28  and said right half part  29 . From the left and right sides to the lower parts of said surrounding protective sections  32 ,  33  of said left half part  28  and said right half part  29 , reinforcing ribs  36 ,  37  project from the surrounding protective sections  32 ,  33  of said left half parts  28  and said right half part  29 , with knobs  38 ,  39 ,  40  and  41  which project from predetermined parts of said reinforcing ribs  36 ,  37 . 
     To protect the left and right side edges and lower edge of said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21  using said protector  27 , said left half part  28  is fit to said air inlet  22  from the left side edge to the left half of the lower edge, and said right half part  29  is fit to said air inlet  22  from the right side edge to the right half of the lower edge, as shown in  FIG. 17 , and in this case the right end of said left half part  28  is lapped under the left end of said right half part  29 , and in said lapping part, the reinforcing rib  36  of said left half part  28  is fit under the reinforcing rib  37  of said right half part  29 , setting their positions. Further, said left half part  28  and said right half part  29  may be connected together in advance with an adhesive tape. 
     As described above, said left half part  28  and said right half part  29  of said protector  27  are each fit to said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21  from the left and right side edges to the lower edge, and if necessary, said hole inner side protective sections  30 ,  31  of said left half part  28  and said right half part  29  are each fixed to the circumference edge of said air-inlet  22  with an adhesive tape  42 . 
     As described above, said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21  is protected by said protector  27 , and then said grille  23  is fit to said air-inlet  22  from the outside by engaging the plural number of clips  26 A,  26 B to the clip holes  25 A,  25 B of said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21  as shown in  FIG. 14 , where said clips  26 A,  26 B project from predetermined parts of the left and right side edges and the lower edge of said grille  23  (said predetermined parts corresponding to parts in which said clip holes  25 A and  25 B of said flanges  24 A and  24 B of said air-inlet  22  of said bumper  21  are formed). 
     After said grille  23  was fit to said air-inlet  22 , said right half part  29  and said left half part  28  of said protector  27  are each taken out of said air-inlet  22  as shown in  FIG. 19 . Said protector  27  is made of the same material as used in the protector  8  of EXAMPLE 1, and accordingly said protector  27  is deformable and easy to remove. 
     Besides the above described EXAMPLES, the present invention can be applied, for example, in a case where a lamp is fit to a car body, or a door handle is fit to a door. 
     POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL USE 
     In the present invention, a part fitting hole of a member is protected from damage in a case where a part is fit to said part fitting hole, so that work efficiency is improved. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1 to 11  show EXAMPLE 1 of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1 : Front view of one side of a bumper. 
       FIG. 2 : Cross sectional view cutting along A-A in  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 3 : Front view of a protector. 
       FIG. 4 : Cross sectional view cutting along B-B in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5 : Front view of a lamp housing 
       FIG. 6 : Side view of a lamp housing. 
       FIG. 7 : Front view of one side of the bumper wherein the protector is fit to a lamp housing fitting hole. 
       FIG. 8 : Cross sectional view cutting along C-C in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9 : Front view of one side of the bumper wherein the lamp housing is fit to the lamp housing fitting hole. 
       FIG. 10 : Cross sectional view cutting along D-D in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11 : Cross sectional view to illustrate removing the protector from the lamp housing fitting hole (cross sectional view to illustrate that the lamp housing has been fit to the lamp housing fitting hole. 
       FIGS. 12 to 19  show EXAMPLE 2. 
       FIG. 12 : Plan view of a bumper. 
       FIG. 13 : Plan view of a grille 
       FIG. 14 : Cross sectional view of the grille. 
       FIG. 15 : Plan view of a protector. 
       FIG. 16 : Cross sectional view of the protector 
       FIG. 17 : Cross sectional view of the bumper wherein the protector is fit to the bumper. 
       FIG. 18 : Cross sectional view of the bumper wherein the grille is fit to the bumper. 
       FIG. 19 : Cross sectional view of the bumper where the protector is removed from the bumper. 
     DESCRIPTION OF NUMBERS 
     
         
           1 . Bumper (member) 
           2 . Part fitting hole 
           3 . Protector 
           8 . Hole inner side protective section 
           10 . Surrounding protective section 
           11 . Sheet 
           12 . Lamp housing (part) 
           18 . Harness