Receptacles – Closures – Removable closure situated by resilient distortion and...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2001-11-20
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Removable closure situated by resilient distortion and...
C220S326000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318585
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a cover member which covers power springs, sensors or the like mounted on a side of a webbing retractor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a webbing retractor, a power spring is mounted on a side of the device to take up a webbing which has been wound around a spool. The power spring is held by a cover and a cover mount, and one end of the spring is anchored to a rotation shaft which transmits a rotation force to the spool whereas the other end is anchored to the cover. Therefore, as the webbing is drawn out, the rotation shaft rotates and a predetermined elastic force builds up in the power spring, thereby applying an rewinding force to the webbing.
The cover to which one end of the power spring is anchored is attached to a predetermined position of the cover mount and fixed thereto using resin rivets (plugs) or the like. Accordingly, when an impact in the event of a collision of the vehicle acts on the webbing retractor, the cover comes off the cover mount (i.e., the elastic force of the power spring is released), so that no slackness is generated in the webbing.
Conventional cover mounting methods, however, comprise an assembling step in which a cover is attached to a predetermined position of the cover mount, and a resin rivet hammering step, so that the methods have been complicated with many working processes.
Further, there has also been the drawback that when the resin rivet is loosened due to the use of the webbing retractor, the cover continues to rattle, thereby generating a strange sound every time the webbing retractor is used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a cover mounting structure for a webbing retractor which is easily assembled and does not cause strange sounds.
In order to achieve the aforementioned object, in a first aspect of the present invention, a cover mounting structure for a webbing retractor comprises a cover mount provided with an engagement receiving portion having an engagement hole portion formed therein, a cover provided with an elastic engagement portion for insertion into the engagement hole portion, an engagement claw provided on one of the engagement portion and the engagement receiving portion, and an anchor portion which receives and anchors the claw when the engagement portion is inserted into the engagement hole to a predetermined position and which is provided on the other of the engagement portion and the engagement receiving portion. The claw elastically deforms as the engagement portion is inserted into the engagement hole portion, and after the engagement portion is inserted to the predetermined position, the claw at least partially returns to the original shape poximate the anchor portion for retaining the cover onto the cover mount.
In accordance with the first aspect, simply by elastically deforming and inserting the engagement portion provided on the cover into the engagement hole portion provided on the cover mount, the claw provided either on the engagement portion or on the engagement hole portion is anchored to the anchor portion provided on the other portion, thereby enabling the cover to be easily positioned on the cover mount and fixed thereto.
In an inserted state, the elastically deformed engagement portion is constantly urged in the direction of withdrawal from the engagement hole portion, so that the engaged state between the claw and the anchor portion is not loosened. That is, the cover is prevented from rattling against the cover mount.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3840152 (1974-10-01), Hodge
patent: 4852792 (1989-08-01), Hale
patent: 5137260 (1992-08-01), Pehr
patent: 5348549 (1994-09-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5577779 (1996-11-01), Dangel
patent: 5862935 (1999-01-01), Dubois et al.
patent: 5931514 (1999-08-01), Chung
patent: 5979691 (1999-11-01), Von Holdt
patent: 6006941 (1999-12-01), Hitchings
Asagiri Katsuki
Nagata Tomonori
Cole Thomas W.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
Moy Joseph M.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
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