JPH11280719A - Clip - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly maintain the function of a clip by holding a pair of holding parts of a clip main body in a constantly stable attached state relative to the rib of a member to be attached regardless of unevenness of a plate thickness. SOLUTION: In a clip, a member (for instance, a center cluster 30) to be attached is attached to an attaching plate (for instance, an instrument panel 40). A pair of holding parts 16 formed in a clip main body 10 is located so that a rib 32 is held therebetween by inserting them relative to the rib 32 of the member to be attached (center cluster 30). Both the holding parts 16 respectively have holding surfaces 18 capable of coming into contact with the rib 32 from both sides and engaging protrusions 22 capable of engaging with an engaging hole 34 formed in the rib 32. The dimension between both the holding surfaces 18 is set so as to gradually increase from the start of insertion to the inserting direction of the holding parts 16 relative to the rib 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clip used for detachably mounting a center cluster or the like on an instrument panel of an automobile, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of clip, for example, there is a clip shown in FIG. The clip body 60 shown in this drawing is roughly divided into a head 62 on one end side, a pair of legs 64 located on the other end side, and a pair of holding portions 66 located inside the clip body 60. Are integrally formed by resin molding. Opposing inner surfaces of both holding portions 66 are holding surfaces 68 that are parallel to each other, and engaging projections 72 are formed at the tips (lower ends) of the respective holding surfaces 68.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the clip main body 60 is attached to the rib 32 of the center cluster 30, the two holding portions 66 are configured to hold the rib 32 from both sides thereof. Both engaging projections 72 are ribs 3
2 are engaged with the engagement holes 34 from both sides. And the clip body 60 thus attached to the rib 32
Is inserted into the mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 with the head 62 as a tip.

Accordingly, both leg portions 6 of the clip main body 60 are provided.
The two locking shoulders 74 formed near the base of the mounting panel 4 are provided on the rear surface 46 of the instrument panel 40 with the mounting holes 42.
And the seating surface 36 of the rib 32 is pressed against the surface 44 of the instrument panel 40.
Therefore, the center cluster 30 is in a state where the instrument panel 40 is sandwiched between the front and back sides by the seating surface 36 and the both locking shoulders 74 of the clip body 60.
It is attached to this instrument panel 40.

By the way, the thickness of the ribs 32 of the center cluster 30 varies in size for each rib. For example, for one type of vehicle, the variation is 2.3 to 2.7 mm, and the average thickness of the thickness is 2.5 mm. Met. On the other hand, the dimension between the holding surfaces 68 of the both holding portions 66 in the clip body 60 is
The ribs 32 are set to about 2.1 mm so that the ribs 32 can be firmly clamped from both sides by the clamping portions 66.

[0006]

Therefore, when the clip body 60 is attached to the rib 32 having a thickness of 2.7 mm, as the rib 32 is inserted between the two clamping surfaces 68, the both clamping portions are formed. The opening 66 is pushed right and left by the elastic deformation of the head 62. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the holding surfaces 68 of the both holding portions 66 are raised from the side surfaces of the rib 32, and the allowance of the engagement protrusions 72 with the engagement holes 34 of the rib 32 is small. Become.

In such a state, when the clip body 60 is inserted into the mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40, the posture of the clip body 60 is not stable, and the workability is poor. Also, in the assembled state shown in FIG.
The mounting state of the clip main body 60 with respect to the center cluster 30 is unstable.
2 may come off, and will not function as a clip.

An object of the present invention is to keep a pair of holding portions of a clip body in a stable mounting state at all times, regardless of the thickness of the ribs of a member to be mounted such as a center cluster. It is intended to facilitate the operation of inserting the clip main body into the engagement hole of the mounting plate, and to properly maintain the function of the clip when the assembly is completed.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A clip for attaching a member to be attached to the attachment plate by inserting a clip body previously attached to a rib of the member to be attached into an attachment hole of the attachment plate, the clip being formed on the clip body. The pair of holding portions are positioned so as to pinch the rib from both sides thereof by relative insertion with the rib of the attached member, and both holding portions can contact the rib from both sides thereof. A clamping surface, and an engagement protrusion which can be engaged with an engagement hole formed in the rib, and a dimension between the clamping surfaces is set so that the relative insertion between the clamping portion and the rib starts. It is set to gradually increase from the side toward the insertion direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the clip according to the first aspect, wherein a dimension between the two holding surfaces is always set to correspond to a variation in the thickness of the rib. The portion is set so as to be maintained in a substantially specified engagement state with the engagement hole of the rib.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the clip according to the first aspect, wherein a maximum dimension between the two holding surfaces is made substantially equal to an average dimension of a thickness of the rib.

In this way, by changing the size between the two holding surfaces in the direction of insertion relative to the rib and from the side where the insertion starts relative to the rib, the thickness of the rib of the member to be attached is, for example, smaller than its average size. Even in the case of being large, the pair of holding portions are stably attached to the ribs, and the engagement projections of both holding portions are held in a state of being properly engaged with the engagement holes of the ribs. Therefore, the work of inserting the clip main body into the mounting hole of the mounting plate becomes easy, and the situation where the clip main body comes off from the rib and falls can be solved. Then, even when the assembly is completed, the function of the clip is properly maintained since the clip body is firmly attached to the rib.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the clip, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the clip. As shown in these drawings, the clip body 10 has a head portion 12 formed in a curved shape at one end (upper end) side, and a pair of portions formed at portions continuously extending downward from both sides of the head portion 12. And a pair of holding portions 16 formed inside the clip body 10, and these are integrally formed by injection molding of a resin material or the like.

The head 12 is attached to a clip body 10 through a mounting hole 42 of an instrument panel 40 described later.
The outer peripheral surface is rounded so that it can be easily inserted, because it serves as a leading guide portion when inserting. On the other hand, the two legs 14 are formed individually straight and parallel to each other, and a stabilizer 26 is formed at each end of the leg 14 so as to project outward at a substantially right angle to the leg 14.

The two holding portions 16 are configured to extend downward from the side of the head 12, and opposing inner surfaces are flat holding surfaces 18. The size between the two holding surfaces 18 is gradually changed so that the size b on the side of the head 12 that contacts the internal space 20 is larger than the size a on the tip side of the two holding portions 16.

The above-mentioned dimension a is set slightly smaller than the thickness of the rib 32 of the center cluster 30 described later. Although the thickness of the rib 32 varies as described above, the dimension a is set to a value (about 2.1 mm) smaller than the minimum thickness (about 2.3 mm). On the other hand, the dimension b is set to 2.3 to 2.5 mm.

The distance between the holding surfaces 18 of the holding portions 16 can be increased by the elasticity of the holding portions 16 and the elasticity of the head portion 12. Further, an engagement protrusion 22 protruding inward at a substantially right angle from each of the holding surfaces 18 is formed at a front end (lower end) of each holding surface 18 in each of the holding portions 16. The distal end surfaces of both holding portions 16 and the lower surfaces of both engaging projections 22 are inclined so that the ribs 32 can easily pass through.

On both sides of the clip body 10, locking shoulders 24 projecting outward from the head 12 at the locations following the legs 14 are formed. Both locking shoulders 24 can be deformed in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 mainly by the elasticity of the head 12 of the clip body 10. Head 12
The outer surface between both sides of the mounting panel 24 and both locking shoulders 24 is provided with the mounting holes 4 of the instrument panel 40.
2 is smoothly inclined.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are sectional views respectively showing the use state of the clip constructed as described above. In these drawings, a rib 32 is integrally formed at a plurality of predetermined positions on the back surface of a center cluster 30 which is a member to be attached by a clip. The distal end surface of the rib 32 is an inclined surface so that the relative insertion of the rib 32 into the both holding portions 16 of the clip body 10 is smooth. An engagement hole 34 is formed substantially in the middle of the rib 32, and mounting seat surfaces 36 are formed on both sides of the rib 32.

Next, the operation of the clip will be described. First, when the ribs 32 of the center cluster 30 are relatively inserted between the two holding portions 16 of the clip body 10, the ribs 32 enter between the two holding surfaces 18 while pushing and expanding the both holding portions 16 right and left. . This results in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, both holding portions 16 are positioned so as to hold the rib 32 from both sides thereof, and the engaging projections 22 of the both holding portions 16 engage with the engagement holes 34 of the rib 32 from both sides thereof. I do. Therefore, the clip body 10 is attached to the rib 32 of the center cluster 30.

Next, the clip body 10 attached to the rib 32 is inserted into the attachment hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 (attachment plate) from the head 12 side. As a result, both locking shoulders 24 of the clip body 10 pass through the mounting holes 42 while being bent inward mainly due to the elastic deformation of the head 12, and the back surface 46 of the instrument panel 40
At the edge of the mounting hole 42. In this state, the seat surface 36 of the center cluster 30 is pressed against the surface 44 of the instrument panel 40.
As a result, the instrument panel 40 is sandwiched between the front and back sides by the both locking shoulders 24 of the clip body 10 and the center cluster 30 seating surface 36, and the center cluster 30 is attached to the instrument panel 40 by the clip body 10. Can be

As described above, the thickness of the ribs 32 varies from one rib to another. 3 shows a case where the thickness of the rib 32 is 2.5 mm in average size, FIG. 4 shows a case where the thickness of the rib 32 is 2.3 mm smaller than the average, and FIG. 5 shows a case where the thickness of the rib 32 is larger than the average. 2.7m
Shows the case of m. Note that the dimensions of the mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 are 8.0 mm × 14.0 m in FIGS.
The case of m is shown.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the plate thickness of the rib 32 is the average size, both the holding portions 16 of the clip body 10 and the rib 32
The dimension a on the tip side (the insertion start side relative to the rib 32) of the sandwiching portion 16 can be expanded right and left by the rib 32, but the dimension a on the side in contact with the internal space 20 is increased. The dimension b hardly changes. In this state, the holding surfaces 18 of both holding portions 16 are
2 are in partial contact with both side surfaces, and the engaging projections 22 of both holding portions 16 are properly engaged with the engaging holes 34 of the rib 32.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the thickness of the rib 32 is smaller than the average, only the dimension a on the tip side of the sandwiching portions 16 is slightly pushed right and left by the insertion of the rib 32. In this state, the contact area of the both holding surfaces 18 with both side surfaces of the rib 32 is small.
The gap between the ribs and both side surfaces of the rib 32 is small, and the two engaging projections 22 are properly engaged with the engaging holes 34 as in the case of FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the plate thickness of the rib 32 is larger than the average, the dimensions a and b between the sandwiching portions 16 are both expanded according to the plate thickness.
As a result, the two holding surfaces 18 almost completely contact both side surfaces of the rib 32, and the two engaging projections 22
3 and 4, as in the case of FIGS.

As described above, even if the plate thickness of the rib 32 is smaller or larger than its average size, the two holding portions 16 of the clip body 10 are always stably attached to the rib 32, 16 engaging projections 22
Is properly engaged with the engagement hole 34 of the rib 32. Therefore, the workability when inserting the clip main body 10 into the mounting hole 42 of the instrument panel 40 is good, and the clip main body 10 is firmly attached to the rib 32 even at the time of completion of assembly, so that the member as a clip is provided. The assembly holding function is properly maintained.

When it is necessary to remove the center cluster 30 from the instrument panel 40 for maintenance or the like, the center cluster 30 is strongly pulled to elastically deform the legs 14 so that the center cluster 30 can be removed from the edge of the mounting hole 42. Both locking shoulders 24 are disengaged. This is because the clip body 10 is stably attached to the rib 32 of the center cluster 30, whereby the clip body 10 is attached to the rib 32.
The center cluster 30 can be detached from the instrument panel 40 with the attached. Therefore, when the center cluster 30 is mounted on the instrument panel 40 again, the clip body 10 can be used as it is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a clip.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a clip.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a use state of the clip.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a use state of the clip.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a use state of the clip.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a conventional clip.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a use state of a conventional clip.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Clip main body 16 Nipping part 18 Nipping surface 22 Engagement protrusion 30 Center cluster 32 Rib 34 Engagement hole 40 Instrument panel 42 Mounting hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A clip for mounting a member to be mounted on a mounting plate by inserting a clip body previously mounted on a rib of the member to be mounted into a mounting hole of a mounting plate, wherein the clip body is provided. A pair of holding portions are formed so as to pinch the rib from both sides thereof by relative insertion with the rib of the attached member, and both of the holding portions are positioned with respect to the rib. It is provided with a clamping surface that can be contacted from both sides and an engaging projection that can be engaged with an engaging hole formed in the rib, and the dimension between the clamping surfaces is the distance between the clamping portion and the rib. A clip that is set to gradually increase from the relative insertion start side to the insertion direction. 2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the two clamping surfaces is such that the two engaging projections are always engaged with the ribs in accordance with a variation in the thickness of the rib. A clip set to be held in substantially defined engagement with the hole. 3. The clip according to claim 1, wherein a maximum dimension between the two clamping surfaces substantially matches an average dimension of a thickness of the rib.