Joints and connections – Rod end to transverse side of member – Utilizing opposite sides of member
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-20
2001-10-23
Kim, Harry C. (Department: 3679)
Joints and connections
Rod end to transverse side of member
Utilizing opposite sides of member
C403S155000, C411S522000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305870
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal clip for fixing a shaftlike member to a mount member having a through hole and a fixing structure for fixing the shaftlike member to the mount member having the through hole, by use of the metal clip.
2. Related Background Art
One of the conventional fixing structures of this type is, for example, the one described in Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Application No. 64-49784.
This conventional fixing structure, though not illustrated specifically, is such that a panel of the mount member is bored to form a through hole, through which the tip portion of the shaftlike member is inserted, and that the metal clip is fixedly fitted to the tip portion of the shaftlike member inserted in the through hole, whereby the panel and the shaftlike member are fixed to each other through elasticity of the metal clip.
For this arrangement, the shaftlike member is constructed in such structure that a head to be inserted into the through hole of the panel is formed at the tip thereof of the shaftlike member, a receiving shoulder having a larger diameter than that of the through hole of the panel is formed a fixed distance apart below the head, a step to fit the through hole of the panel is formed on the top surface of the receiving shoulder, and an annular groove having a small diameter is formed between the top surface of the step and the bottom surface of the head.
Further, the metal clip is constructed in such structure that a U-shaped slit smaller than the above head but larger than the small-diameter groove is formed in an open shape in the body of a sheet shape molded of an elastic metal sheet, center portions of two side pieces defining the U-shaped slit are curved upward, and the free ends of the two side pieces are folded back upward.
Then, the panel and the shaftlike member are fixed in the following manner in practice. When the head of the shaftlike member is inserted into the through hole of the panel, the panel is received by the large-diameter receiving shoulder thereon. At the same time as it, the step is fitted in the through hole of the panel. After that, the two side pieces are inserted into the annular small-diameter groove while the portion of the small-diameter groove of the shaftlike member is made to face the U-shaped slit of the metal clip, whereby the two side pieces of the metal clip are elastically nipped between the panel surface and the bottom surface of the head. Thus, the panel and the shaft like member are fixed through elasticity of the metal clip achieved from this nipping state.
The conventional fixing structure, however, had the following problem. Although the free ends of the two side pieces of the metal clip were folded back upward, the two side pieces were basically inserted into the small-diameter groove of the shaftlike member along the panel surface around the through hole of the panel. For example, if there was a burr around the edge of the through hole of the panel or if there was a difference between the thickness of the panel and the height of the step of the shaftlike member, the free ends of the two side pieces were often caught by the burr or the like upon insertion, so as not to be inserted smoothly into the small-diameter groove.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in order to effectively solve the problem of the conventional fixing structure including the metal clip itself, and adopts the structure of a metal clip for fixing a shaftlike member to a mount member having a through hole, wherein a U-shaped slit is formed in an open shape in the body and wherein at outer edges of two side pieces defining the U-shaped slit elastic legs are provided for pushing the two side pieces up away from a surface of the mount member around the through hole.
Another aspect of the present invention employs such structure that a plurality of elastic legs are provided front and rear in an inserting direction of the two side pieces.
Another aspect of the present invention employs such structure that tip portions of the elastic legs are folded back upward and that turn center edges of the tip portions are in contact with the surface of the mount member.
Still another aspect of the present invention employs such structure that the tip portions of the elastic legs provided front and rear are connected by connecting pieces folded back upward and that turn center edges of the connecting pieces are in contact with the surface of the mount member.
Still another aspect of the present invention employs a fixing structure for fixing a shaftlike member to a mount member having a through hole, with a metal clip, wherein the shaftlike member is constructed so that a head to be inserted into the through hole of the mount member is formed at the tip, a receiving shoulder having a larger diameter than that of the through hole is formed below the head, a step to fit the through hole is formed on a top surface of the receiving shoulder, and an annular groove having a small diameter is formed between the step and the head; and the metal clip is constructed so that a U-shaped slit smaller than the head but larger than the groove having the small diameter is formed in an open shape in the body and at outer edges of two side pieces defining the U-shaped slit elastic legs are provided for pushing the two side pieces up away from the surface of the mount member around the through hole.
Accordingly, even if there is the burr or the like at the edge of the through hole of the mount member, the free ends of the two side pieces can be inserted into the small-diameter groove of the shaftlike member while keeping the two side pieces of the metal clip a necessary rise amount above from the surface of the mount member by the action of the elastic legs; whereby the free ends of the two side pieces can be inserted smoothly into the small-diameter groove of the shaftlike member without being caught by the burr or the like. Therefore, the inserting work of the two side pieces of the metal clip can be done well.
In another aspect of the present invention, while the two side pieces of the metal clip are inserted into the small-diameter groove, they can be inserted by deflecting the elastic legs in order from those provided on the front side in the inserting direction. Also from this point, the inserting work can be done better. In another aspect of the present invention, the turn center edges of the elastic legs or the connecting pieces are in contact with the surface of the mount member, whereby movement and inward or outward deflection of the elastic legs can be guided without strain and without damaging the surface of the mount member.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the mount member can be held for sure by the arrangement in which the height of the step of the shaftlike member to fit the through hole of the mount member is greater than the thickness of the mount member. This prevents the mount member in the fixed state from undesirably shaking and also prevents the edge of the through hole of the mount member from riding over the step, thereby eliminating the risk that the fixing state becomes unstable. While the two side pieces of the metal clip are inserted into the small-diameter groove of the shaftlike member, the free ends of the two side pieces can be inserted into the small-diameter groove while keeping the two side pieces the necessary rise amount above from the surface of the mount member by the action of the elastic legs; whereby the free ends of the two side pieces can be inserted smoothly into the small-diameter groove without being caught even by the high step. Accordingly, the certainly fixed state can be assured between the mount member and the shaftlike member and the inserting work of the two side pieces of the metal clip can be done well.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2034559 (1936-03-01), Brunner
patent: 2244427 (1941-06-01), Miller
patent: 2278708 (1942-04-01), Miller
patent: 2487803 (1949-11-01), Heimann
patent: 2577748 (1951-12-01)
Mita Kazuhiro
Sasagawa Satoru
Kim Harry C.
Ladas & Parry
Piolax Inc.
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