Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Patent
1996-10-17
1999-06-15
Berger, Derek J.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
248 49, 248 742, 2961461, B60J 700
Patent
active
059114681
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device forming a clamp or clip for the fastening of an element to a metal sheet portion of an automotive vehicle as well as a method of making such a device.
Such devices intended in particular for holding electric cable or wiring harnesses or piping elements upon metal sheet portions of doors of an automotive vehicles are known.
These known fastening devices consist generally of clamps or clips made from plastics material and secured to the metal sheet support portion but which are arranged in such a manner that they require a not negligible laying time. Moreover the cost of these known clamps or clips is variable according to the complexity of the element to be held.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a device forming a clamp or clip removing the inconveniences referred to hereinabove of the known devices.
For that purpose according to the invention, the device forming a clamp or clip for the fastening of an element such as an electric cable or wiring harness to a metal sheet part of an automotive vehicle is characterized in that it comprises a blade or tongue directly cut in the metal sheet of the vehicle part and shaped as desired in accordance with the element to be held.
Preferably the blade or tongue comprises a flared portion for the insertion of the element to be held, a portion for accommodating the element and a concave portion between the flared and accommodating portions to hold the element in the accommodating portion.
Advantageously the side edges of the tongue are bent in a direction opposite to the metal sheet part in order to avoid damaging the element during its insertion into the corresponding accommodating portion of the tongue.
The invention also provides a method of making the device forming a clamp or clip such as previously defined and which consists in partially cutting out the metal sheet of the vehicle part and then in stamping and shaping the precut tongue in at least one operation.
If need be, the aforesaid steps for making the tongue are effected in one single operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and further objects, characterizing features, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following explanatory description made with reference to the attached diagrammatic drawings given by way of non limiting example only illustrating one presently preferred specific embodiment of the invention and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metal sheet part of a door of an automotive vehicle showing the locations of the clamp-like devices according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the portion circled at II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view in section taken upon the line III--III of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view according to the arrow IV of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a stamping punch assembly usable for making a clamp or clip of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a top view according to the arrow VI of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates the inner metal sheet part of a rear door of an automotive vehicle upon which should be fixedly held at least one element 2 such for example as an electric cable or wiring harness or a piping element.
The element 2 is secured to the metal sheet part 1 by clamps or clips which according to the invention consists each one of a tongue or strip 3 directly cut out in the metal sheet of the part 1 and shaped as desired in accordance with the type of element 2 to be held.
As shown in particular on FIG. 4, the tongue 3 comprises a flared free end portion 3a permitting the insertion of the corresponding portion of the element 2 to be fastened between the tongue 3 and the corresponding metal sheet wall; a convex portion 3b for accommodating the element 2 and a concave portion 3c located between the flared portion 3a and the accommodating portion 3b for holding the element 2 in the accommodating portion 3b.
In order to avoid da
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Automobiles Citroen
Automobiles Peugeot
Berger Derek J.
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