Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-17
2001-03-27
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C248S635000, C248S909000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206330
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pipe clamps for holding various types of pipes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of pipes are used in automobiles and resin holders called pipe clamps are conventionally used to fix the pipes to the automobile body side. The pipe clamps are usually formed integrally of a resin such as polypropylene. Pulsation of a fluid flowing through the pipe sometimes vibrates the pipe clamp. The vibration needs to be prevented from being transferred via the pipe clamp to the automobile body side. In use of the pipe clamp formed integrally of the resin as described above, however, the transfer of vibration is difficult to be prevent.
The prior art has developed a pipe clamp in which a soft resin portion with the ability to absorb vibration is stacked on a pipe holding portion thereof so that the pipe overlaps the soft resin portion. However, since the pipe is held by the soft resin, a holding force against the pipe is inevitably reduced although the soft resin is effective for the absorption of vibration. Consequently, the pipe deviates from its normal state to be held in an inclined state when the pipe clamp is subjected to an external force after having been attached to the pipe.
As a countermeasure, it is proposed to individually form a portion holding the pipe and a portion fixing the pipe to the body side, and to connect these portions by a soft resin portion. As a result, the vibration transferred to the body side could be absorbed by the soft resin portion and a sufficient strength could be ensured in the portion holding the pipe or fixed to the body side.
However, when the pipe clamp comprises two separate members, that is, the pipe holding portion and the pipe fixing portion as described above, connecting the two portions by the soft resin portion is important. An insert molding could be one of most effective measures. The pipe holding portion and the pipe fixing portion need to be integrated previously when these portions are set in a die. The integrating work is troublesome. Moreover, both portions need to be integrated through a space provided for forming the soft resin portion. In this case, setting the two portions in the die with the portions being positioned causes troubles, resulting in an increase in the working time. Thus, the above-described problem is very important in achievement of automated forming of the pipe clamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing, and an object thereof is to provide a pipe clamp which can readily be manufactured.
As the means for achieving the above-described object, the present invention provides a pipe clamp comprising a holding member formed of a hard resin for holding a pipe or the like, a mounting member formed of the same hard resin as; of the holding member for mounting the pipe or the like on a fixed surface, and a coupling member formed of a soft resin with an ability to absorb vibration in a space defined between the holding member and the mounting member, thereby coupling both members together, wherein the holding member and the mounting member are previously connected by a connecting portion separable in the forming of the coupling member.
In the present invention, the holding member and the mounting member are integrated by the connecting portion before the forming of the coupling member. The holding member and the mounting member are set in a forming die in the integrated state, so that the coupling member is formed. Since the connecting portion is separated in the forming, the holding member and the mounting member are separated from each other to be in a non-contact states with each other after the forming. Consequently, the vibration from the holding member is absorbed by the coupling member and prevented from transfer to the mounting member.
In a preferred form, the connecting portion is formed so as to be collapsible by a die-closing operation in the forming of the coupling member.
The separation of the connecting portion is effected by the holding member or the mounting member pushed with the die closing operation in the forming of the coupling member. As a result, since no special work for the separation is required, the working efficiency can be improved.
In another preferred form, the holding member includes a portion formed with a pipe holding groove for holding the pipe and the other portion, both portions being separably connected together and being coupled together by the coupling member formed in the space therebetween. Since the holding member is separated, the vibration absorption can further be improved.
In a further preferred form, either the holding member or the mounting member is formed with a void through which a material for the coupling member is caused to flow. Since the material for the coupling member is caused to flow through the void, the coupling strength can be increased by the sticking of the coupling member material.
In still another preferred form, the holding member includes a frame-shaped receiving portion, and the mounting member is formed to be loosely insertable into the receiving portion of the holding member and connected to the holding member by the collapsible connecting portion so as to protrude in a die-closing direction before the forming of the coupling member, the mounting member being pushed by a forming die with the die closing to thereby be moved into the receiving portion, breaking the connecting portion.
Since the mounting member protrudes through the connecting portion in the die-closing direction relative to the receiving portion, a pushing force is readily applied to the mounting member during the die closing. Consequently, the connecting portion can easily be collapsed.
In yet another preferred form, the holding member includes a frame-shaped receiving portion, and the mounting member is accommodated in the receiving portion so as to be connected to the holding member by the collapsible (or breakable) connecting portion, the connecting portion being collapsed directly by a forming die during the die closing such that the mounting member is held at a predetermined position in the receiving portion.
The connecting member is collapsed (or broken) by the forming die during the die closing. At that time, the mounting member is held at the predetermined position in the receiving portion. Consequently, the coupling member can desirably be formed with the mounting member and the holding member being maintained in an initial positional relation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3387343 (1968-06-01), Fitz-Gerald
patent: 4262869 (1981-04-01), Menshen
patent: 4899964 (1990-02-01), Sick
patent: 5002243 (1991-03-01), Kraus et al.
patent: 5170984 (1992-12-01), Ruckwardt
patent: 5271587 (1993-12-01), Schaty et al.
patent: 5271588 (1993-12-01), Doyle
patent: 5301907 (1994-04-01), Julian
patent: 5316245 (1994-05-01), Ruckwardt
patent: 5460342 (1995-10-01), Dore et al.
patent: 5-14771 (1993-02-01), None
patent: 5-96673 (1993-12-01), None
Matsunaga Ryosuke
Oi Shigeo
King Anita M.
Togo Seisakusyo Corporation
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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