Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Bale and package ties – hose clamps – Metal bands
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-03
2004-02-10
Sakran, Victor (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Bale and package ties, hose clamps
Metal bands
C024S0200CW, C024S0200EE, C024S0200CW, C024S0230EE
Reexamination Certificate
active
06687960
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a boot band used for fixing a boot made of rubber, a resin, or the like to a target member.
2. Description of the Related Art
A boot made of rubber, a resin, or the like is used as one component in a vehicle or the like. In this specification, boots are cylindrical members such as hoses, tubes, etc., e.g. a bellow type resin boot. Conventionally, a boot band made of metal has been used to fix such a boot to a target member. As a boot band of this kind, an open-ended metal band body is rounded like a ring and mounted on a fastening target surface is known, as described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1,818,559.
For example, a conventional boot band
1
shown in
FIG. 19
has a belt-like metal band body
2
which is to be rounded like a ring. Locking nails
4
formed on an inner overlapping portion
2
b
are caught by locking holes
3
formed in an outer overlapping portion
2
a
of the band body
2
. An ear portion
5
which can be plastically deformed into a shape that decreases the circumferential length of the band body
2
is formed on part of the band body
2
in the circumferential direction. The locking nails
4
are inserted in the locking holes
3
, so this boot band
1
is placed on a target fastening surface
6
a
at a predetermined position of a boot
6
. Then, the ear portion
5
is plastically deformed. As a hard target connection member
7
made of metal or the like is present inside the boot
6
, the outer diameter of the boot
6
is suppressed from decreasing.
With the boot band
1
of this kind, if the boot band
1
cannot be applied on the target fastening surface
6
a
with its locking nails
4
being engaged with the locking holes
3
, it is positioned on the target fastening surface
6
a
with the locking nails
4
being disengaged from the locking holes
3
, and the locking nails
4
can be engaged with the locking holes
3
in this state. Hence, the shape and the like of the locking nails
4
are designed such that the locking nails
4
can be inserted in or disengaged from the locking holes
3
on the target fastening surface
6
a
. Usually, the width of each locking hole
3
is larger than that of the corresponding locking nail
4
.
To caulk the ear portion
5
of the boot band
1
, the boot band
1
is placed on the target fastening surface
6
a
, and after that the ear portion
5
is plastically deformed by a caulking jig (not shown). When performing this assembly operation, if the inner overlapping portion
2
b
moves due to some external force in a direction to decrease the circumferential length of the band body
2
, the locking holes
3
and locking nails
4
are sometimes disengaged from each other. If the locking holes
3
and locking nails
4
are disengaged, the outer overlapping portion
2
a
may be separated from the inner overlapping portion
2
b
, or the band body
2
may be displaced from the predetermined position on the target fastening surface
6
a
, and accordingly normal assembly cannot be performed.
With the locking nails
4
and locking holes
3
being engaged with each other, when the boot band
1
is to be transported or stored in stock, if some external force or vibration acts on the band body
2
, the locking nails
4
may be disengaged from the locking holes
3
.
The band described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKOKU Publication No. 8-30484 practices an arrangement in which, after a support projection formed on a belt-like member is inserted in a hole, the support projection is bent (caulked) in the widthwise direction of the belt-like member, so that the inner overlapping portion and the outer overlapping portion will not separate from each other. The band of this kind requires, however, in addition to the step of deforming the ear portion, the step of caulking the support projection. Hence, the number of processing steps is large, and the cost is high. Once the support projection is caulked, the band cannot be removed from the target fastening surface, or the removed band cannot be placed on the target fastening surface again. This causes a problem in workability.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a boot band in which the locking nail will not be accidentally disengaged from the locking hole during assembly, transportation, or stock, and the locking nail and locking hole can be engaged or disengaged when necessary.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A boot band according to the present invention, which achieves the above object, comprises a locking hole formed in an outer overlapping portion of a band body, a locking nail which is formed on an inner overlapping portion of the band body and, when being inserted in the locking hole, can move in a longitudinal direction of the locking hole between an engaging position to engage with a ridge of the locking hole and a disengaging position to disengage from the ridge, and an ear portion which is formed on part of the band body and can be plastically deformed into a shape that decreases a circumferential length of the rounded band body, wherein a narrow portion is formed at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the locking hole to restrain the locking nail from returning from the engaging position to a disengaging position.
In the boot band according to the present invention, after the locking nail is inserted in the locking hole from the disengaging position side, it is moved to the engaging position through the narrow portion. The moment the locking nail passes through the narrow portion, a feeling of click stop is produced. The fact that the locking nail has reached the engaging position can be sensed by touch of hands that handle the boot band.
When the locking nail moves to the engaging position as described above, it engages with the ridge of the locking hole. In this state, even if a force acts in a direction to decrease the circumferential direction of the band body, the narrow portion prevents the locking nail from returning to the disengaging position. This locking nail can pass through the narrow portion and move to the disengaging position only when a force equal to a predetermined limit or more is applied in the direction toward the disengaging position.
According to the present invention, the locking nail and locking hole can be prevented from being disengaged from each other. When the locking nail is to be engaged with the locking hole, a feeling of click stop is produced as the locking nail passes through the narrow portion. Thus, the fact that the locking nail has reached the engaging position can be sensed by feel, by hands that handle the boot band. The boot band according to the present invention can also avoid problems such as disengagement of the locking nail and locking hole during transportation. In addition, before caulking the ear portion, the boot band can be removed from the target fastening surface, and the boot band can be attached again to the target fastening surface when necessary.
In the present invention, the width of the narrow portion at the narrowest portion may be set smaller than the width of the locking nail by 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm. According to the present invention, the locking nail inserted in the locking hole can be moved easily from the disengaging position toward the engaging position, and can be prevented from returning from the engaging position to the disengaging position.
A perpendicular surface may be formed on an outer surface of the locking nail to be perpendicular to a surface of the band body in a direction of thickness. The perpendicular surface may be brought into contact with an inner side surface of the narrow portion. The perpendicular surface reliably supports the locking nail with the narrow portion. The perpendicular surface can also prevent the outer overlapping portion from being displaced in a direction to separate from the inner overlapping portion when the locking nail comes into contact with the narrow portion. According to the present invention, as the perpendicular surface formed on the locking nai
Hemmi Yoshihiro
Kitamura Yoshiharu
Ogino Takashi
NHK Spring Co. Ltd.
Sakran Victor
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
LandOfFree
Boot band does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Boot band, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boot band will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3346700