Patent Description:
Some known brackets include a reinforcement member made from glass fiber fabric bonded to a synthetic resin material that serves as the main body of the bracket, and a plurality of reinforcement ribs on the outer periphery of the bracket, extending along the outer periphery. See, for example, Patent Literature (PTL) <NUM>. According to the bracket disclosed in PTL <NUM>, the inclusion of the reinforcement ribs in addition to the reinforcement member can increases the reinforcing effect on the bracket. Document <CIT>, which is considered to be the closest prior art, discloses a bracket according to the pre-amble of claim <NUM>.

However, the above-described known bracket still has room for improvement in the reinforcing effect on the bracket.

An aim of the present disclosure is to provide a bracket that has an excellent reinforcing effect.

A bracket according to the present disclosure is a bracket that has an opening for mounting an anti-vibration member connected to one of a vibration generating side and a vibration receiving side, and that can be connected to the other of the vibration generating side and the vibration receiving side, the bracket including a bracket body and a reinforcement portion, wherein the bracket body is made of resin, the bracket body includes a pair of column portions that are spaced apart and a pair of connecting portions arranged between the pair of column portions and connecting the pair of column portions, the bracket body further includes at least one plate portion, on at least one column portion in the pair of column portions, extending in an extending direction of the column portion and protruding in an extending direction of the connecting portions more than the column portion, and a rib extending from a side of the opening to a bracket outer peripheral side and protruding in a penetration direction of the opening is provided on the plate portion, the reinforcement portion includes a bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion forms an outer peripheral face of the bracket, and the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion is arranged so as to overlap the rib when viewed in the penetration direction of the opening. The bracket according to the present disclosure has an excellent reinforcing effect.

In the bracket according to the present disclosure, the reinforcement portion preferably includes a bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion, and the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion preferably forms an inner peripheral face of the bracket. In this case, the bracket has an even better reinforcing effect.

In the bracket according to the present disclosure, the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion is preferably a band-shaped reinforcement member and is formed in an annular shape by joining two longitudinal ends of the reinforcement member, and a joint formed by joining the two longitudinal ends is preferably inclined relative to the penetration direction of the opening. In this case, at the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion, the reinforcing effect against a force along the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral face of the bracket and a force perpendicular to or inclined relative to the inner peripheral face of the bracket, that is, a force to bend the inner peripheral face of the bracket, can be improved.

In the bracket according to the present disclosure, the joint can intersect a weld line formed in the bracket body. In this case, the weld line present in the bracket body can be reinforced.

In the bracket according to the present disclosure, the joint is preferably formed at a position that does not intersect the weld line. In this case, the entire weld line can reliably be reinforced.

In the bracket according to the present disclosure, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion preferably includes a tapered portion that is tapered from one of the connecting portions towards the plate portion when viewed in the extending direction of the column portion. This further improves the durability of the bracket.

In the bracket according to the present disclosure, the at least one plate portion preferably includes two plate portions spaced apart in the penetration direction of the opening, and the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion preferably further extends from the connecting portion between the two plate portions in the extending direction of the column portion. This further improves the durability of the bracket.

According to the present disclosure, a bracket that has an excellent reinforcing effect can be provided.

Brackets according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a bracket <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The bracket <NUM> has an opening A for mounting an anti-vibration member (not illustrated) connected to one of a vibration generating side and a vibration receiving side, and can be connected to the other of the vibration generating side and the vibration receiving side. The bracket <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a bracket for an engine mount. Examples of the vibration generating side and the vibration receiving side include an engine and a vehicle body. Specifically, the vibration generating side or the vibration receiving side can be the engine. Examples of the anti-vibration member include an anti-vibration member in which an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder are connected by an elastic body (such as rubber). In the case of the anti-vibration member, the outer cylinder is mounted to the bracket <NUM> while the inner cylinder is mounted to the engine. The anti-vibration member is omitted in <FIG>. On the other hand, the other one of the vibration generating side and the vibration receiving side can be the car body. In this case, the bracket <NUM> can be fixed to the car body as described below.

The bracket <NUM> includes a bracket body <NUM> and a reinforcement portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the reinforcement portion <NUM> is a compound material with improved strength by inclusion of a synthetic resin in a fibrous element, i.e. a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). Examples of the fiber reinforced plastic include prepreg. Examples of the fibrous elements include glass fiber fabrics, carbon fiber fabrics, metal fiber fabrics, organic fibers, fiber fabrics having a higher flexural strength than the bracket body <NUM>, fabrics thereof, and the like. A glass fiber fabric is preferably used as the fibrous element. Further examples of the fiber reinforced plastic include a Uni Direction (UD) material in which a synthetic resin is included in a fibrous element having a directional property, and a woven material in which a synthetic resin is included in a woven fibrous element. In the present embodiment, the bracket <NUM> can, for example, be integrally formed by injection molding with the reinforcement portion <NUM> as an insert.

The bracket body <NUM> is made of resin. Examples of the resin include a thermoplastic synthetic resin and a thermosetting synthetic resin. A thermoplastic synthetic resin is preferably used as the synthetic resin. Examples of such a thermoplastic synthetic resin include <NUM>-<NUM> nylon, <NUM> nylon, polypropylene, and the like.

The bracket body <NUM> has a pair of column portions <NUM> that are spaced apart and a pair of connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM> arranged between the pair of column portions <NUM> and connecting the pair of column portions <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the two column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> are formed as plate portions extending parallel to each other. In the present embodiment, the column portions <NUM>, together with the reinforcement portion <NUM>, form the side walls of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> extend in the up-down direction when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> respectively configure a bridging portion of the bracket body <NUM> (bridging portion <NUM>) and a base portion of the bracket body <NUM> (base portion <NUM>). In the present embodiment, the bridging portion <NUM> forms an upper wall of the bracket <NUM> together with the reinforcement portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the bridging portion <NUM> is located upward when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body. Also in the present embodiment, the base portion <NUM> forms a lower wall of the bracket <NUM> together with the reinforcement portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the base portion <NUM> is located downward when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body.

Here, the penetration direction of the opening (opening penetration direction) is the direction in which the opening A penetrates. In the present embodiment, the opening penetration direction is a direction extending parallel to a central axis O1 of the opening A. The column portion extending direction is the direction in which the column portions <NUM> extend. In the present embodiment, the two column portions <NUM> extend parallel to each other. Furthermore, the connecting portion extending direction is the direction in which the connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM>, that is, the bridging portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM>, extend. In the present embodiment, the bridging portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> extend parallel to each other.

Furthermore, the bracket body <NUM> includes a plate portion <NUM>, on at least one column portion <NUM> in the pair of column portions <NUM>, extending in the extending direction of the column portion <NUM> and protruding in the extending direction of the connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM> more than the column portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the plate portion <NUM> forms a part of the bracket body <NUM> by protruding from the column portion <NUM>. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the plate portion <NUM> protrudes from a bracket outer peripheral side face 11f1 of the column portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the plate portion <NUM> extends over the entire extending direction of the column portion <NUM>. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the bracket body <NUM> includes plate portions <NUM> on each of the two column portions <NUM>. In the present embodiment, when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body, the extending direction of the column portions <NUM> is the vehicle up-down direction. That is, in the present embodiment, when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body, the plate portions <NUM> are configured to extend over the entire vehicle up-down direction of the column portion <NUM>. In addition, in the present embodiment, when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body, the extending direction of the bridging portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> (connecting portion extending direction) is the horizontal direction. Specifically, the connecting portion extending direction can be the vehicle front-rear direction and/or the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction). In the present embodiment, the connecting portion extending direction is the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, in the present embodiment, when the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the vehicle body, the two plate portions <NUM> of one of the two column portions <NUM> are configured to protrude in the vehicle front direction more than the column portion <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the two plate portions <NUM> of the other one of the column portions <NUM> are configured to protrude in the vehicle rear direction more than the column portions <NUM>.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the base portion <NUM> is further provided with a flange <NUM> that protrudes more than the column portion <NUM> along an extension of the connecting portion extending direction. The plate portion <NUM> is connected to the flange <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the flange <NUM> has a fixing portion <NUM> for fixing the bracket <NUM> to the car body. The fixing portion <NUM> is a seat having an opening through which a fastening element, such as a bolt, can penetrate. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the two plate portions <NUM> of one column portion <NUM> extend in the connecting portion extending direction, when viewed in the column portion extending direction, so as to cover the fixing portion <NUM> in the opening penetration direction. In other words, in the present embodiment, the plate portions <NUM> extend in the connecting portion extending direction to a position beyond the fixing portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction, as illustrated in <FIG>. In particular, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, a bracket outer peripheral side ridge L15 of the plate portion <NUM> extends to a position coinciding with a bracket outer peripheral side edge 14e of the flange <NUM>. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the bracket outer peripheral side ridge L15 is formed, as illustrated in <FIG>, by a first contour line L151 and a second contour line L152 connected to the first contour line L151 when viewed in the opening penetration direction. In the present embodiment, the first contour line L151 is a curve connected to the bridging portion <NUM> with a radius of curvature R15. The second contour line L152 is a straight line extending in the column portion extending direction. In the present embodiment, the plate portion <NUM> is connected to the flange <NUM> together with the column portion <NUM>, thereby forming a portion of the bracket body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the flange <NUM> is provided on both sides in the extending direction of the base portion <NUM>. That is, in the present embodiment, the bracket body <NUM> has two flanges <NUM>.

The plate portion <NUM> is provided with ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> that extend from the side of the opening A to the outer peripheral side of the bracket and protrude in the opening penetration direction. In the present embodiment, the ribs <NUM> to <NUM> extend in the connecting portion extending direction, i.e., in the extending direction of the bridging portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, the ribs <NUM> are provided in a region of the plate portion <NUM> adjacent to the bridging portion <NUM> (bridging portion side adjacent region). In the present embodiment, a plurality of ribs <NUM> is disposed in the bridging portion side adjacent region at intervals in the column portion extending direction. The ribs <NUM> are provided in a region of the plate portion <NUM> that is adjacent to the bridging portion side adjacent region in the column portion extending direction and adjacent to the opening A (opening side adjacent region). In the present embodiment, a plurality of ribs <NUM> is disposed in the opening side adjacent region at intervals in the column portion extending direction. Furthermore, the ribs <NUM> are also provided in a region of the plate portion <NUM> that is adjacent to the opening side adjacent region in the column portion extending direction and adjacent to the base portion <NUM> (base portion side adjacent region). In the present embodiment, a plurality of ribs <NUM> is disposed in the base portion side adjacent region at intervals in the column portion extending direction. In the present embodiment, the ribs <NUM> are long ribs having the longest length among the three ribs <NUM> to <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the ribs <NUM> are intermediate ribs having a shorter length than the ribs <NUM>. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the rib <NUM> is a short rib having a shorter length than the rib <NUM> and the shortest length among the three ribs <NUM> to <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the ribs <NUM> are further configured as a plurality of ribs that have decreasing length with increased distance from the opening side adjacent region. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> protrude from both the column portion <NUM> and the plate portion <NUM>. Specifically, the ribs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> protrude in the column portion extending direction from the bracket outer peripheral side face 11f1 of the column portion <NUM> and protrude in the opening penetration direction from an outer face 15f1 of the plate portion <NUM>.

The reinforcement portion <NUM> includes a bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> forms the outer peripheral face f1 of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, together with the bridging portion <NUM> and the two column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM>, forms the outer peripheral face f1 of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is configured by a band-shaped reinforcement member. <FIG> illustrates a band-shaped reinforcement member <NUM> as an example of a reinforcement member forming the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> has a bridging side portion <NUM> corresponding to the bridging portion <NUM> and two column side portions <NUM> corresponding to the column portions <NUM>. The reinforcement member <NUM> can be bent so that the two longitudinal ends 210e of the reinforcement member <NUM> are oriented in the same direction. <FIG> illustrates the state in which the reinforcement member <NUM> is bent. As illustrated in <FIG>, the reinforcement member <NUM> can be bent into a U-shape with the bridging side portion <NUM> as a base and the two column side portions <NUM> extending in the same direction. Consequently, if the bracket body <NUM> is injection-molded with the reinforcement member <NUM> as an insert, then as illustrated in <FIG>, the reinforcement member <NUM> forms the outer peripheral faces f1 of the bracket <NUM> together with the bridging portion <NUM> and the two column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a step <NUM> provided in the flange <NUM> is arranged between the two plate portions <NUM> of one column portion <NUM>. The step <NUM> is raised from the flange <NUM> in the column portion extending direction and is integrally formed with the column portion <NUM> and the two plate portions <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> has a symmetrical shape in the connecting portion extending direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the left and right side views of the bracket <NUM> are the same as the left side view of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the longitudinal end 210e of the reinforcement member <NUM> does not extend to the step <NUM>, but the longitudinal end 210e of the reinforcement member <NUM> can extend to the step <NUM>. Accordingly, the longitudinal end 210e of the reinforcement member <NUM>, i.e., the column portion extending direction end 21e2 of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, can be extended up to the step <NUM>.

Furthermore, as illustrated in <FIG>, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is arranged to overlap the ribs <NUM> to <NUM> when viewed in the opening penetration direction. In detail, as illustrated in <FIG>, the opening penetration direction ends 21e1 of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> are arranged so that the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> overlaps the ribs <NUM> to <NUM> when viewed in the opening penetration direction. Referring to <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the opening penetration direction ends 21e1 of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> are the widthwise ends 211e of the column side portions <NUM> of the reinforcement member <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the opening penetration direction ends 21e1 of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> extend to the plate portions <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction.

Referring to <FIG>, according to the bracket <NUM> of the present disclosure, the bracket body <NUM> includes a plate portion <NUM> on at least one of the two column portions <NUM>, and furthermore, the plate portion <NUM> includes ribs <NUM> to <NUM> extending from the side of the opening A of the bracket <NUM> towards the outer periphery of the bracket. As a result, the bracket <NUM> according to the present disclosure has a higher reinforcing effect on the bracket body <NUM> than a known bracket. Also, according to the bracket <NUM> of the present disclosure, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is provided on the two column portions <NUM> and the bridging portion <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM>, and furthermore, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is arranged so that the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> overlaps the ribs <NUM> to <NUM> when viewed in the opening penetration direction. This further enhances the reinforcing effect on the bracket body <NUM>. Therefore, the bracket <NUM> according to the present disclosure has an excellent reinforcing effect.

To explain this effect in detail, when the bracket <NUM> is mounted on a vehicle, the bridging portion <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> is subjected to a large load in the vehicle up-down direction from the anti-vibration member. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the bridging side portion <NUM> of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> reinforces the bridging portion <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM>. As a result, an excellent reinforcing effect is achieved in the present embodiment against a load applied in the vehicle up-down direction, in particular, against a load applied in the vehicle upward direction. In addition, when the bracket <NUM> is mounted on a vehicle, the column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> are subjected to a large load in the vehicle front or vehicle rear direction from the anti-vibration member. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the column side portions <NUM> of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> reinforce the column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM>. As a result, an excellent reinforcing effect is achieved in the present embodiment against a load applied in the vehicle front direction or the vehicle rear direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, the plate portions <NUM> are provided on each of the two column portions <NUM>. As a result, an excellent reinforcing effect is achieved in the present embodiment against a load applied in the vehicle front-rear direction. Also, in the present embodiment, the plate portions <NUM> are connected to the flanges <NUM> together with the column portions <NUM>. As a result, the reinforcing effect on the bracket body <NUM> is further enhanced in the present embodiment. In addition, in the present embodiment, the plate portion <NUM> includes ribs <NUM> to <NUM> integrally formed with the column portion <NUM>. As a result, an excellent reinforcing effect is achieved against loads applied in the vehicle up-down direction, the vehicle front-rear direction, and also the vehicle left-right direction (opening penetration direction). Furthermore, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is arranged to overlap the ribs <NUM> to <NUM> when viewed in the opening penetration direction. In the present embodiment, the column side portions <NUM> of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> reinforce the column portions <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> together with the plate portions <NUM>. This further enhances the reinforcing effect against loads applied in the vehicle up-down direction, the vehicle front-rear direction, and the vehicle left-right direction. Therefore, the bracket <NUM> according to the present embodiment achieves an excellent reinforcing effect.

According to the present disclosure, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> can overlap and cover the entire rib <NUM>, which is a long rib, as viewed in the opening penetration direction. However, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the column side portion <NUM> of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is not actively arranged up to the region overlapping with the rib <NUM> within the region of the plate portion <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM>. In this case, the reinforcing effect for the bracket body <NUM> can be improved while suppressing an increase in the weight of the bracket <NUM> that may be caused by the provision of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>.

According to the present disclosure, the reinforcement portion <NUM> includes a bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. The bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> forms an inner peripheral face f2 of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body <NUM> is formed by the pair of column portions <NUM> and the pair of connecting portions <NUM> and <NUM>. In this case, the bracket <NUM> includes the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> together with the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. As a result, the bracket <NUM> according to the present disclosure has a higher reinforcing effect on the bracket body <NUM> than a known bracket provided with only one reinforcement portion. In this case, the bracket <NUM> has an even better reinforcing effect.

Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is a band-shaped reinforcement member and is formed in an annular shape by joining the two longitudinal ends of the reinforcement member. A joint L22 formed by joining the two longitudinal ends 220e is preferably inclined relative to the opening penetration direction. In the present embodiment, the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is a band-shaped reinforcement member. <FIG> illustrates a band-shaped reinforcement member <NUM> as an example of a reinforcement member forming the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the reinforcement member <NUM> is a parallelogram in plan view. The two longitudinal ends 220e of the reinforcement member <NUM> are inclined ends that are inclined in parallel in the same direction in plan view, as illustrated in <FIG>. The reinforcement member <NUM> can be bent so that the two longitudinal ends 220e of the reinforcement member <NUM> are oriented in the same direction. <FIG> illustrates the state in which the reinforcement member <NUM> is bent. As illustrated in <FIG>, the reinforcement member <NUM> can be bent into an annular shape by joining the two longitudinal ends 220e of the reinforcement member <NUM>. Furthermore, as illustrated in <FIG>, the joint L22 formed by joining the two longitudinal ends 220e is inclined relative to the opening penetration direction (the central axis O1 of the opening A).

An anti-vibration device is generally provided with a bracket for mounting the anti-vibration member. The amount of movement of a connecting portion of the anti-vibration member (for example, an inner cylinder part connected to the bracket via rubber) attached to the opening of the bracket is limited by contact with the bracket when a large load is applied to the connecting portion. Topologically, the load may be applied to the bracket from the inside of a hole (opening) formed in the bracket to the outside, and this is often the case. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the reinforcement portion <NUM> is provided on both the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side of the bracket body <NUM>.

On the other hand, depending on the conditions under which the load is applied, a reinforcement portion may be provided over the entire inner peripheral surface of the bracket body. In this case, if a band-shaped reinforcement member is used as the reinforcement portion and the two longitudinal ends of the band-shaped reinforcement member are joined by a butt-joint, the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion can be formed in an annular (tubular) shape along the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body. However, in this case, if the joint of the reinforcement member extends in parallel to the opening penetration direction, for example, no reinforcing effect is achieved for the joint against a force along the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body.

To address this, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> is inclined relative to the opening penetration direction (the central axis O1 of the opening A). In this case, in the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, a point where there is no reinforcing effect against a force along the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral face f2 of the bracket <NUM> can be eliminated. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the two longitudinal ends 220e of the band-shaped reinforcement member <NUM> are cut diagonally, and the two longitudinal ends 220e are joined, as illustrated in <FIG>. In this case, at the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, the reinforcing effect against a force along the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral face f2 of the bracket <NUM> and a force perpendicular to or inclined relative to the inner peripheral face f2 of the bracket <NUM>, that is, a force to bend the inner peripheral face f2 of the bracket <NUM>, can be improved.

In the bracket <NUM> of the present disclosure, the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> can also be configured to intersect a weld line Lw formed in the bracket body <NUM>.

For example, when the bracket body <NUM> is formed by injection molding or the like, a weld line Lw extending along the central axis O1 of the opening A may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body <NUM>, as illustrated by the dashed line in <FIG>. For example, when the weld line Lw extends parallel to the opening penetration direction, the weld line Lw may become an area with room for improvement in the strength against a force along the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body <NUM>. Therefore, as illustrated in <FIG>, if the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is configured so that the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> overlaps the weld line Lw to intersect the weld line Lw, then in the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral surface of the bracket body <NUM>, a force occurring at the weld line Lw in a direction orthogonal to the weld line Lw can be received by the joint L22 (the two longitudinal ends 220e) of the reinforcement member <NUM>. In this case, the weld line Lw present in the bracket body <NUM> can be reinforced.

On the contrary, in the bracket <NUM> of the present disclosure, the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> is preferably formed at a position that does not intersect the weld line Lw.

As described above, no reinforcing effect is achieved at the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> against a force generated in a direction orthogonal to the joint L22. Hence, even when the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is formed by the band-shaped reinforcement member <NUM>, the reinforcing effect for the weld line Lw is thought to decrease at the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> is therefore shifted from the weld line Lw, which has low strength, to be arranged at a position not intersecting the weld line Lw. In this case, since the joint L22 of the reinforcement member <NUM> does not overlap with the weld line Lw, the entire weld line Lw can be reliably reinforced by the bracket inner peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, according to the present disclosure, the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> preferably has a tapered portion 21a that is tapered from the bridging portion <NUM> towards the plate portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction. This further improves the durability of the bracket.

In detail, as illustrated in <FIG>, two opening penetration direction ends 21ea of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, which form the tapered portion 21a of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, are respectively formed by opening penetration direction side contour lines L3 and L4 when viewed in the column portion extending direction. The two opening penetration direction side contour lines L3 and L4 are respectively inclined by an angle α with respect to the bracket widthwise center line LO when viewed in the column portion extending direction, as illustrated in <FIG>. The angle α is, as illustrated in <FIG>, an acute angle inclined towards the bracket widthwise center line LO from the column portion <NUM> towards to the bridging portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction. The angle α is preferably <NUM>° or less, more preferably <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less, and even more preferably <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less. The angle α can be set appropriately according to the shape, material, and application of the bracket <NUM>.

The bracket <NUM> can be injection molded using a reinforcement member made of a fiber reinforced plastic, such as prepreg, as an insert, as described above.

Reinforcement members made of fiber reinforced plastic are, however, generally more rigid than the base resin forming the bracket body <NUM>. For this reason, when a large load is input to the bracket <NUM> after insert molding, stress is concentrated on the base material resin in the vicinity of the edges of the reinforcement portion <NUM> (the boundary lines between the base material resin forming the bracket body <NUM> and the fiber member forming the reinforcement portion <NUM>), and an efficient reinforcing effect might not be obtained.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the tapered portion 21a that is tapered from the bridging portion <NUM> towards the plate portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction is formed in the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>, so that mainly the two opening penetration direction ends 21ea of the tapered portion 21a of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> (opening penetration direction side contour lines L3 and L4) are inclined relative to the tensile stress generation direction (in the present embodiment, the extending direction of the bridging portion <NUM>). In this case, the length in the extending direction of the opening penetration direction end of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> is stretched (inclined) in the extending direction of the bridging portion <NUM> at the opening penetration direction ends 21ea of the tapered portion 21a to disperse the locations at which stress is generated by the difference in rigidity between the base resin (bracket body <NUM>) and the reinforcement portion <NUM>. This prevents stress from concentrating on the bracket body <NUM> at the boundary line between the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> and the bracket body <NUM>, thereby achieving an efficient reinforcing effect. In the case in which a plurality of plate portions <NUM> spaced apart in the opening penetration direction are arranged as the plate portion <NUM>, as in the present embodiment, the opening penetration direction end 21ea of the tapered portion 21a is preferably provided at both opening penetration direction ends of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. However, in accordance with the present disclosure, the opening penetration direction end 21ea of the tapered portion 21a can also be just one of the two opening penetration direction side contour lines L3 and L4.

In the bracket <NUM> according to the present disclosure, the plate portion <NUM> preferably includes two plate portions <NUM> spaced apart in the opening penetration direction, and the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> preferably further extends from the bridging portion <NUM> between the two plate portions <NUM> in the column portion extending direction. This further improves the durability of the bracket.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in <FIG>, the column side portion <NUM> of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM> extends from the tapered portion 21a between the two plate portions <NUM> in the column portion extending direction. In the present embodiment, the column side portion <NUM> is an extension connecting to the tapered portion 21a of the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion <NUM>. This further improves the durability of the bracket.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the width W1 in the opening penetration direction of the bridging portion <NUM> is greatest at an extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction. In the present embodiment, the extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> coincides with the bracket inner peripheral side face 11f2 of the column portion <NUM> in the connecting portion extending direction.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the width W1 in the opening penetration direction of the bridging portion <NUM> narrows from the extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> towards the extending direction center C of the bridging portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction, as illustrated in <FIG>. In this case, an increase in weight can be suppressed by narrowing the center C in the extending direction of the bridging portion <NUM> while securing the strength of the connecting portion of the column portion <NUM> and the bridging portion <NUM> in the bracket body <NUM>, at which stress tends to concentrate when a load is input to the bracket <NUM>.

In detail, in the present embodiment, a first one of the opening penetration direction side contour lines L1 and L2 forming the opening penetration direction side contour of the bridging portion <NUM> is preferably a concave curve that approaches a second one of the opening penetration direction side contour lines L1 and L2 from the extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> toward the extending direction center C of the bridging portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction, as illustrated in <FIG>. In the present embodiment, the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1 is a concave curve that approaches the second opening penetration direction side contour line L2 from the extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> toward the extending direction center C of the bridging portion <NUM>. In this case, the width W1 in the opening penetration direction of the bridging portion <NUM> decreases smoothly along the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1, thereby suppressing an increase in weight while suppressing a concentration of stress that may occur on the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1.

In detail, in the present embodiment, the second one of the opening penetration direction side contour lines L1 and L2 forming the opening penetration direction side contour of the bridging portion <NUM> is preferably also a concave curve that approaches the first one of the opening penetration direction side contour lines L1 and L2 from the extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> toward the extending direction center C of the bridging portion <NUM> when viewed in the column portion extending direction, as illustrated in <FIG>. In the present embodiment, the second opening penetration direction side contour line L2 is a concave curve that approaches the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1 from the extending direction end 12e of the bridging portion <NUM> toward the extending direction center C of the bridging portion <NUM>. In this case, the width W1 in the opening penetration direction of the bridging portion <NUM> decreases smoothly along the second opening penetration direction side contour line L2, thereby suppressing an increase in weight while suppressing a concentration of stress that may occur on the second opening penetration direction side contour line L2.

In the present embodiment, a depth D1 in the opening penetration direction of the concavity of the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1 of the bridging portion <NUM> is preferably different from a depth D2 in the opening penetration direction of the concavity of the second opening penetration direction side contour line L2 when viewed in the column portion extending direction.

When the bracket body <NUM> is injection molded with the reinforcement members <NUM> and <NUM> as inserts, the weld line Lw can occur in the bracket body <NUM>, as described above. The weld line Lw can be a starting point for peeling of the bracket body <NUM> when an excessive load is applied to the bracket <NUM>. For this reason, the weld line Lw is preferably formed by envisioning the use conditions of the bracket <NUM> and avoiding the position where a large load will be applied. However, if there are restrictions on the injection gate position in terms of design or structure, the position of the weld line Lw may be unambiguously determined. It is difficult to control the weld line Lw to avoid the concentration of stress in this case due to the limitations on changing the injection gate position.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, if the weld line Lw extends along the connecting portion extending direction when viewed in the column portion extending direction, and the depth D1 in the opening penetration direction of the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1 and the depth D2 in the opening penetration direction of the second opening penetration direction side contour line L2 are different as illustrated in <FIG>, then the weld line Lw can be formed to be closer to whichever of the opening penetration direction side contour lines L1 and L2 has the shallower one of the depths D1 and D2 in the opening penetration direction. In other words, the position of the weld line WL can be controlled by adjusting the two depths D1 and D2 in the opening penetration direction. Therefore, by adjusting the depths D1 and D2 in the opening penetration direction as appropriate, the weld line Lw can be shifted away from the position where a large load is applied to the bracket <NUM>.

On the other hand, referring to <FIG>, in a bracket such as that of the present embodiment, the external force applied to the bridging portion <NUM> of the bracket body <NUM> generally acts along the bracket widthwise center line LO when the opening penetration direction depths D1 and D2 are the same. Here, the bracket widthwise center line LO is a straight line parallel to the connecting portion extending direction and passing through the center of the opening penetration direction width of the bridging portion <NUM>.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the maximum value D1max of the depth D1 in the opening penetration direction is shallower than the maximum value D2max of the depth D2 in the opening penetration direction. In this case, as illustrated in <FIG>, the weld line Lw tends to be formed by the shallower depth D1 in the opening penetration direction. That is, according to the present embodiment, the weld line Lw is formed closer to the first opening penetration direction side contour line L1 with the shallow depth D1 in the opening penetration direction depth, as illustrated in <FIG>. In this case, for example, even if a load that is input to the bracket <NUM> causes a concentration of stress along the bracket widthwise center line LO, the concentration of stress that may occur along the weld line Lw is suppressed by virtue of the weld line Lw being shifted from the bracket widthwise center line LO in the opening penetration direction. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the bracket has even better durability.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the base portion <NUM> is further provided with a flange <NUM> protruding from the column portion <NUM> along an extension of the connecting portion extending direction. As described above, in the present embodiment, the flange <NUM> and the plate portion <NUM> are connected. This further improves the durability of the bracket <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the bracket body <NUM> includes two flanges <NUM> to correspond to the two plate portions <NUM>. This further improves the durability of the bracket.

Claim 1:
A bracket (<NUM>) that has an opening (A) for mounting an anti-vibration member connected to one of a vibration generating side and a vibration receiving side, and that can be connected to the other of the vibration generating side and the vibration receiving side, the bracket comprising:
a bracket body (<NUM>) and a reinforcement portion (<NUM>), wherein
the bracket body is made of resin,
the bracket body includes a pair of column portions (<NUM>) that are spaced apart and a pair of connecting portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged between the pair of column portions and connecting the pair of column portions,
the bracket body further includes at least one plate portion (<NUM>), on at least one column portion in the pair of column portions, extending in an extending direction of the column portion and protruding in an extending direction of the connecting portions more than the column portion, characterised in that a rib (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending from a side of the opening to a bracket outer peripheral side and protruding in a penetration direction of the opening is provided on the plate portion,
the reinforcement portion includes a bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion (<NUM>),
the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion forms an outer peripheral face (f1) of the bracket, and
the bracket outer peripheral side reinforcement portion is arranged so as to overlap the rib when viewed in the penetration direction of the opening.