Abstract:
A bumper attachment clip for attaching and fixing a bumper to a vehicle body includes first and second sections, and an elastic part situated between the first and second sections to be elastically deformable between the first and second sections. At least two attachment parts are formed on the first and second sections for attaching the bumper to the vehicle body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT 
   This invention relates to a bumper attachment clip for attaching and fixing a bumper to a vehicle body. 
   Conventional bumper attachment clips such those disclosed in the publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-12102, and the publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-191807, are rendered bulky due to the bulkiness of the bumper per se and also as a result of considerations such as a reduction in the number of attachment steps. 
   When the bumper attachment clip is rendered bulky, as noted above, the dimensional error between the spacing of the attachment receiving part provided on the vehicle body and the spacing of the attachment part provided on the bumper attachment clip also tends to become larger. Accordingly, the attachment of the bumper attachment clip to the vehicle body is rendered more difficult, and there is a possibility that the bumper attachment clip can no longer be attached to the vehicle body. 
   An object of this invention is to overcome this drawback and to provide a bumper attachment clip which can compensate for dimensional variations and obviate the above mentioned shortcomings. 
   Further objects and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of the invention. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a bumper attachment clip for attaching and fixing a bumper to a vehicle body, has at least two attachment parts for attaching to the vehicle body, and an elastically deformable elastic part which is provided between these at least two attachment parts. 
   One embodiment of the invention is such that the bumper attachment clip is constructed so that the attachment parts comprise legs which are inserted into attachment holes provided on the vehicle body. 
   Another embodiment of the invention is such that bumper attachment clip is arranged so that the attachment parts are fixed by screws in attachment holes provided in the vehicle body. 
   A further embodiment of the invention is such that the bumper attachment clip has stud bolts provided on the vehicle body which are fitted into the attachment parts. 
   In the above embodiments, the elastic part comprises an elastically deformable plate-shaped body. 
   In the above embodiments, the elastic part comprises a straight plate-shaped body, and a curved plate-shaped body which is convexly curved with respect to the straight plate-shaped body. 
   In accordance with the embodiments of this invention, because an elastic part is provided between the attachment parts, the dimensional error between the spacing of the attachment receiving parts provided on the vehicle body and the attachment parts provided on the bumper attachment clip can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of this elastic part. Accordingly, the bumper can be attached to the vehicle body with the bumper attachment clip even if there is a dimensional error or errors between the attachment receiving parts provided on the vehicle body and the attachment parts provided on the bumper attachment clip. 
   Also, because the attachment parts take the form of legs which are inserted into attachment holes provided on the vehicle body, or the attachment parts are fixable by screws in attachment holes provided on the vehicle body, or because it is constituted such that stud bolts provided on the vehicle body are fitted into the attachment parts, the constitution of the attachment parts can be simplified. 
   Furthermore, in the embodiment wherein the elastic part is constituted by an elastically deformable plate-shaped body, and/or the elastic part is constituted by a straight plate-shaped body and a curved plate-shaped body which is curved so as to approach and then go away from this straight plate-shaped body (viz., is convexly curved with respect to the straight plate-shape body), the dimensional error between the spacing of the attachment receiving parts provided on the vehicle body and the attachment parts provided on the bumper attachment clip can be absorbed assuredly by an elastic part having a simple constitution. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a bumper attachment clip according to one working example of this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a back view of the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view from the bottom of the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along section line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a part of a vehicle body to which a bumper is attached with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a part of the bumper which is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
       FIG. 10  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in FIG.  1 – FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 13  is sectional view of a bumper attachment clip according to a further embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Below, exemplary embodiments of this invention are explained based on the drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a plan view of a bumper attachment clip which comprises one embodiment of this invention;  FIG. 2  is a back view of the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIG. 1 ;  FIG. 4  is a perspective view from the bottom view of the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  FIG. 5  is a sectional view along line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 1 . 
   In these drawings, C indicates a bumper attachment clip which is made of a synthetic resin. This clip generally denoted by the letter C, comprises two base plate parts  11 , a screw grommet  21  and an anchor clip  24  as attachment parts or leg parts which are provided on one base plate part  11 . 
   The clip further includes a screw grommet  27  and an anchor clip  30  as attachment parts or leg parts are provided on the other base plate part  11 , locking parts  41  which are provided respectively on the two base plate parts  11 , and an elastic or flexible part  51  for connecting the two base plate parts  11 . 
   The above-mentioned base plate part  11  is constituted by flat plate parts  12 , and reinforcing ribs  15  which are provided on the underside (bottom) of the flat plate parts  12 . 
   The flat plate parts  12  are constituted by a first flat plate part  13  which extends in the horizontal direction, and a second flat plate part  14  which extends from the first flat plate part  13  in a position behind this first flat plate part  13 . The top side of the second flat plate part is higher than the top side of the first plate part  13  by a prescribed amount. 
   The side facing the first flat plate part  13  (front side) of the second flat plate part  14  becomes the bumping surface of the bumper B shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   Also, the reinforcing ribs  15  comprise vertical ribs  16  and horizontal ribs  17  which surround the perimeter of the flat plate parts  12  and extend in the longitudinal or lateral directions, and cross ribs  18  which go across to opposite corners of the part demarcated by these vertical ribs  16  and horizontal ribs  17 . 
   The above-mentioned screw grommet  21  is constituted by a hollow round pipe  22  which is placed to project upward on a part of the first flat plate part  13  where the second flat plate part  14  is cut away, and a spread-locking piece  23  which is placed opposite the upper end of this hollow round pipe  22 . In the space between the lower-side part of an inclined surface (surface which is inclined toward the direction of the center from the outside), which is contracted downward from a bulging part provided on the outer perimeter of the lower end part, and the top side of the second flat plate part  14 , the body panel P shown in  FIG. 6  to be described later is placed. 
   The anchor clip  24  is constituted by a hollow conical pipe  25  having the upper end as a cone which is placed projecting upward on the second flat plate part  14 , and an elastic locking claw  26  which is placed opposite this hollow conical pipe  25 . In the space between the lower end, which can be moved while the upper end is connected as a base end, and the top side of the second flat plate part  14 , the body panel P is placed. 
   The screw grommet  27  is constituted by a hollow square pipe  28  which is placed projecting upward on a part of the first flat plate part  13  where the second flat plate part  14  is cut away, and a spread-locking piece  29  which is placed opposite the upper end of this hollow square pipe  28 . In the space between the lower-side part of an inclined surface, which is contracted downward from a bulging part provided on the outer perimeter of the lower end part, and the top side of the second flat plate part  14 , the body panel P is placed. 
   Furthermore, the anchor clip  30  is, as best seen in  FIG. 2 , constituted by a hollow square pyramidal pipe  31  having the upper end in the form of a square pyramid which is arranged projecting upward on the second flat plate part  14 , and an elastic locking claw  32  which is provided on a surface opposite this hollow square pyramidal pipe  31 . In the space between the lower end, which can be moved while the upper end is connected as a base end, and the top side of the second flat plate part  14 , the body panel P is placed in the manner depicted in  FIG. 12 . 
   The above-mentioned locking part  41  is constituted by an elastic piece  42  having the front side of the first flat plate part  13  as a base end and the rear side of the first flat plate part  13  (the side of the second flat plate part  14 ) as a rotating end, and a locking claw  43  on the top side on the rotating end side of this elastic piece  42  with an inclined surface rising from the front side to the rear side and the rear end as a surface (flat surface, vertical surface) opposing the second flat plate part  14 , and it is provided on the first flat plate part  13 . 
   The above-mentioned elastic part  51  is constituted by an elastically deformable straight plate-shaped body  52 , and elastically deformable curved plate-shaped bodies  53 ,  54  which are curved so as to approach and then go away from this straight plate-shaped body  52 , being positioned between the screw grommet  21  and the screw grommet  27 , and between the anchor clip  24  and the anchor clip  30 , that is, being positioned between the base plate parts  11 , so as to connect the base plate parts  11  together. 
   The two curved plate-shaped bodies  53 ,  54  are disposed so as to sandwich the straight plate-shaped body  52 . 
     FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a part of a vehicle body to which a bumper is attached with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
   In  FIG. 6 , the letter P indicates a body panel as the vehicle body, and for example, it has a horizontal step part  71  to which the bumper attachment clip C shown in FIG.  1 – FIG. 5  and the bumper B shown in  FIG. 7  to be described later, are attached. 
   Also, on the horizontal step part  71 , there are provided an attachment hole  72  having a shape corresponding to the screw grommet  21  in a position corresponding to the screw grommet  21 , an attachment hole  73  having a shape corresponding to the anchor clip  24  in a position corresponding to the anchor clip  24 , an attachment hole  74  having a shape corresponding to the screw grommet  27  in a position corresponding to the screw grommet  27 , and an attachment hole  75  having a shape corresponding to the anchor clip  30  in a position corresponding to the anchor clip  30 , of the bumper attachment clip C. 
     FIG. 7  is a plan view showing a part of the bumper which is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
   In  FIG. 7 , the letter B indicates the bumper which is provided with an attachment flange part  81  which is held between the bumper attachment clip C shown in  FIGS. 1–5  and the body panel P shown in  FIG. 6 , and a face part  83  which extends downward with respect to the front side of this attachment flange part  81 . 
   Also, on the attachment flange part  81 , attachment holes  82  are provided in positions corresponding to each locking claw  43  constituting the locking part  41  of the bumper attachment clip C. 
     FIG. 8  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in FIG.  7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 ;  FIG. 9  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 ;  FIG. 10  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  10 — 10  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 ;  FIG. 11  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 ; and  FIG. 12  is an enlarged sectional view taken along section line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 1 , showing the state in which the bumper shown in  FIG. 7  is attached to the body panel shown in  FIG. 6  with the bumper attachment clip shown in  FIGS. 1–5 . 
   In  FIGS. 8–12 , numeral  77  denotes a suspended part, which is a continuation of the horizontal step part  71  on the side facing the vehicle body. 
   In  FIGS. 9 and 11 , the numeral  33  denotes a fitting screw. By screwing this screw into the hollow round pipe  22  inserted through the attachment hole  72  of the horizontal step part  71  or the hollow square pipe  28  inserted through the attachment hole  74  of the horizontal step part  71 , the portion of the screw which extends through the hollow round pipe  22  or the hollow square pipe  28 , spreads to open the spread-locking piece  23 ,  29 , whereby fastening the bumper attachment clip C to the horizontal step part  71 . 
   Next, an example of attaching the bumper B to the body panel P is explained. 
   First, the bumper attachment clip C is positioned beneath the horizontal step part  71  of the body panel P with the screw grommets  21 ,  27  and the anchor clips  24 ,  30  turned upward in a manner so as to correspond to the attachment holes  72 – 75  of this horizontal step part  71 . 
   Also, by pushing the bumper attachment clip C up toward the side of the horizontal step part  71 , the screw grommet  21  is pressed into engagement with the attachment hole  72 , the anchor clip  24  is pressed into the attachment hole  73 , the screw grommet  27  is pressed into engagement with the attachment hole  74 , and the anchor clip  30  is pressed into the attachment hole  75 . 
   When the screw grommets  21 ,  27  are pressed into engagement with the attachment holes  72 ,  74  in this manner, the spread-locking pieces  23 ,  29  are contracted by the bulging parts being pressed by the edges of the attachment holes  72 ,  74 , whereby the spread-locking pieces  23 ,  29  can pass through the attachment holes  72 ,  74 . 
   When the most bulging parts of the bulging parts of the spread-locking pieces  23 ,  29  pass through the attachment holes  72 ,  74 , the spread-locking pieces  23 ,  29  spread out to their original state due to their inherent elasticity, whereby the lower-side parts of the bulging parts of the spread-locking pieces  23 ,  29  couple with the edges of the attachment holes  72 ,  74 . 
   When the anchor clips  24 ,  30  are pressed into the attachment holes  73 ,  75 , the elastic locking claws  26 ,  32  are contracted by being pressed by the edges of the attachment holes  73 ,  75 , whereby the elastic locking claws  26 ,  32  can pass through the attachment holes  73 ,  75 . 
   When the lower ends of the elastic locking claws  26 ,  32  pass through the attachment holes  73 ,  75 , the elastic locking claws  26 ,  32  spread out to the original state by their inherent elasticity, whereby the lower ends of the elastic locking claws  26 ,  32  couple with the edges of the attachment holes  73 ,  75 . 
   Accordingly, the bumper attachment clip C can be securely attached to the horizontal step part  71  of the body panel P, as shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 12 . 
   When the bumper attachment clip C is attached to the horizontal step part  71  of the body panel P in this manner, even if there are dimensional errors between the attachment hole  72  and the attachment hole  74 , and between the attachment hole  73  and the attachment hole  75 , the dimensional errors between the attachment hole  72  and the attachment hole  74 , and between the attachment hole  73  and the attachment hole  75 , these errors can be absorbed by three-dimensional deformation of the elastic part  51  provided between the base plate parts  11 . 
   Accordingly, the bumper attachment clip C can be attached to the horizontal step part  71  even if there are dimensional errors between the attachment hole  72  and the attachment hole  74 , and between the attachment hole  73  and the attachment hole  75 , of the horizontal step part  71 . 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , by screwing the fitting screws  33  into the hollow round pipe  22  and the hollow square pipe  28 , the screw parts run through the hollow round pipe  22  and the hollow square pipe  28  to open the spread-locking pieces  23 ,  29 , whereby the bumper attachment clip C can be fastened to the horizontal step part  71 . 
   Thus, when the bumper attachment clip C is attached to the horizontal step part  71 , a gap (space) in which the attachment flange  81  of the bumper B can be inserted is assured between the horizontal step part  71  and the first flat plate part  13  by the second flat plate part  14 . 
   In this state, when the respective attachment holes  82  of the attachment flange  81  are made to correspond with the attachment parts  41  of the bumper attachment clip C and the attachment flange  81  is pushed in between the horizontal step part  71  and the first flat plate part  13 , the elastic pieces  42  bend by the attachment flange  81  pushing the respective locking claws  43 , whereby the attachment flange  81  can be pushed in up to where it engages with the second flat plate part  14 . 
   Also, when the attachment flange  81  is pushed to a portion where it engages the second flat plate part  14 , by entry of the respective locking claws  43  into the attachment holes  82 , the elastic pieces  42  return to the original state due to their inherent elasticity, whereby the respective locking claws  43  couple with the edges of the attachment holes  82  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   Accordingly, the bumper B can be attached to the body panel P using the bumper attachment clip C as shown in  FIGS. 8–12 . 
   In accordance with the embodiment of this invention as described above, because elastic parts  51  are provided between the screw grommets  21 ,  27  and the anchor clips  24 ,  30 , dimensional errors between the attachment hole  72  and the attachment hole  74 , and between the attachment hole  73  and the attachment hole  75 , can be compensated for through this elastic part  51  being elastically deformed. 
   Accordingly, the bumper B can be attached to the horizontal step part  71  with the bumper attachment clip C even if there are dimensional errors between the attachment hole  72  and the attachment hole  74 , and between the attachment hole  73  and the attachment hole  75 , of the horizontal step part  71 . 
   Further, because the attachment parts take the form of screw grommets  21 ,  27  and anchor clips  24 ,  30 , the constitution of the attachment parts can be rendered simple. 
   Furthermore, because the elastic part  51  was constituted by an elastically deformable straight plate-shaped part  52  and elastically deformable convexly curved plate-shaped parts  53 ,  54  which are curved so as to approach and then go away from this straight plate-shaped part  52 , the dimensional errors between the attachment hole  72  and the attachment hole  74 , and between the attachment hole  73  and the attachment hole  75 , of the horizontal step part  71  can be absorbed assuredly by an elastic part  51  having a simple constitution. 
     FIG. 13  is an explanatory drawing of a bumper attachment clip according to another embodiment of this invention. In this figure the same symbols are assigned to the same or similar parts as in  FIGS. 1–12 , and an explanation thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity. 
   The points in which this embodiment differs from the previous embodiments are the parts of the attachment parts and the parts of the attachment receiving parts of the body panel corresponding to these attachment parts. 
   In  FIG. 13 , numeral  34  denotes an attachment part which is provided projecting downward from the second flat plate part  14 , and it is constituted by a hollow round pipe  35  which is arranged to extend through the second flat plate part  14 , and an elastic locking claw  36  which contracts downward from above, and which is provided on the part projecting downward from the second flat plate part  14  of this hollow round tube  35 . 
   The numeral  76  denotes a stud bolt which is provided in a prescribed position on the underside of the horizontal step part  71 . Plural attachment parts  35  and stud bolts  76  are provided correspondingly. 
   Next, attachment of the bumper B to the body panel P is explained. 
   First, the bumper attachment clip C is positioned beneath the horizontal step part  71  of the body panel P with the second flat plate part  14  turned upward making the attachment parts  34  correspond with the stud bolts  76 . 
   Also, by pushing the bumper attachment clip C up toward the side of the horizontal step part  71 , the stud bolts  76  are pressed into the hollow round pipes  35 . 
   When the stud bolts  76  are pressed into the hollow round pipes  35  in this manner, the stud bolts  76  cause the corresponding elastic locking claws  36  to spread, whereby the bumper attachment clip C can be pushed up toward the side of the horizontal step part  71  up to where the second flat plate part  14  contacts with the underside of the body panel P. 
   Also, when the second flat plate part  14  contacts with the underside of the body panel P, because the front ends (lower ends) of the opposing elastic locking claws  36  contract by their inherent elasticity and couple with the screw threads of the stud bolts  76 , the bumper attachment clip C can be securely attached to the horizontal step part  71  of the body panel P so as not to fall off. 
   Thus, when the bumper attachment clip C is attached to the horizontal step part  71 , a gap (space) in which the attachment flange  81  of the bumper B can be inserted is assured between the horizontal step part  71  and the first flat plate part  13  by the second flat plate part  14 . Accordingly, the bumper B can be attached as previously described. 
   Even if the attachment parts  34  are constituted so as to be fitted with stud bolts  76  provided on the body panel P as in this embodiment, the constitution of the attachment parts  34  can be made simple. 
   In the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, examples were shown in which the elastic part  51  was provided between the base plate parts  11 , but elastic parts also may be provided so as to be positioned between the attachment parts. 
   When elastic parts are provided so as to be positioned between the attachment parts in this manner, the dimensional errors can be further absorbed. 
   Also, examples were shown in which the elastic part  51  was constituted by a straight plate-shaped body  52  and two curved plate-shaped bodies  53 ,  54 , but the elastic part also may be constituted with only a straight plate-shaped body, also, it may be constituted by one curved plate-shaped body positioned on a straight plate-shaped body  52 , or constituted by two curved plate-shaped bodies, or constituted by a straight plate-shaped body and one of the curved plate-shaped bodies. 
   Furthermore, examples were shown in which the bumper B is attached to the horizontal step part  71  of the body panel P with the bumper attachment clip C, but it is also possible to attach the bumper to the suspended part  77  of the body panel P with the bumper attachment clip. 
   As will be appreciated, even though the present invention has been described with reference to only a limited number of embodiments, the various modifications and variations which can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is limited only the appended claims, will be self-evident to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains or most closely pertains, given the preceding disclosure. 
   The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-250212 filed on Aug. 30, 2004 is incorporated in the application.