Cable fixing clip for edge of covering wall of motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable retaining clip comprising an anchoring portion (30) designed to straddle an edge (22) of a covering wall (15) of a motor vehicle, the covering wall (15) having two opposite boundaries extending along the edge (22), and a cable attachment support (32), the anchoring portion (30) being designed to straddle the edge (22) of the covering wall (15). The anchoring portion (30) comprises two branches (34, 36) bent towards each other while defining a bottom (38) and having two free ends (40, 42), one of the two free ends (40) having a stop element (44) protruding in such a way as to be engageable in the covering wall (15). The clip further comprises two retention flanges (46, 48) located between the two branches (34, 36) and extending respectively from the two free ends (40, 42) towards the bottom (38) so as to be able to be applied against the two opposite boundaries of the cover wall (15).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable fixing clip for the edge of a covering wall for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The fixing clip includes an anchoring part and a cable attachment support integral with the anchoring part.

[0003] Potential application fields are, in particular but not exclusively, areas where cables are fixed in regions of the wall of a motor vehicle covered by covering elements (such as noise damping covering elements).

[0004] The body walls of motor vehicles are generally provided with studs (also known as welded threaded rods) that project from the walls to hold the fixing clip.

[0005] These studs are mounted on the vehicle body by means of forging using a robot. Before installation, the studs have a fusible tube at one end, and the robot arm holds the stud substantially perpendicular to the wall, with the fusible tube bearing against the wall. The wall is then connected to the ground, and a high-intensity current passes through the stud to melt the tube, thereby welding the stud to the wall.

[0006] Thus, the stud passes through the covering element applied against the wall, and a receiving collar can be easily mounted on the free end of the stud protruding from the covering element.

[0007] However, the body manufacturing process only allows a limited number of studs to be installed on the wall.

[0008] In addition, the concept of a metal hairpin-shaped anchoring part has been considered, which is designed to straddle the edge of the covering wall of the vehicle.

[0009] Thus, the anchoring part includes two branches that are bent towards each other to define a bottom and two free ends that converge towards each other.

[0010] Thus, the two branches form a clamp and are elastically movable relative to each other. Each of the two free ends has a locking lug that is oriented towards each other. This enables the locking lugs to engage in the covering wall while the two free ends clamp the covering wall. Reference may be made to Chinese document CN210517632, which describes such a cable fixing clip.

[0011] However, the metal anchoring part described herein requires significant force during assembly and is therefore difficult to install. Summary of the Invention

[0012] In addition, the problem that the present invention seeks to solve and aims to solve is to provide a fixing clip that is easy to install.

[0013] To this end, a cable fixing clip is proposed, which includes an anchoring part and a cable attachment support connected to the anchoring part. The anchoring part is designed to straddle the edge of a covering wall of a motor vehicle. The covering wall has two opposite boundaries along the edge. The anchoring part includes two branches that are bent towards each other to define a bottom and two free ends that converge towards each other. The two branches are elastically movable relative to each other. One of the two free ends has a stop element that projects towards the other of the two free ends so as to be able to engage in the covering wall. The cable fixing clip further includes two elastically flexible retaining flanges that are located between the two branches and extend respectively from the two free ends towards the bottom so as to bear against the two opposite boundaries of the covering wall.

[0014] Therefore, a feature of the present invention relates to implementing two elastically flexible retaining flanges between the branches, and these two elastically flexible retaining flanges are used to perfectly guide the anchoring part when the anchoring part engages across the edge of the covering wall. Additionally, the two flanges flatly bear against the two opposite boundaries of the covering wall. The bearing surface is thus larger than the bearing surface of the anchoring part in the prior art. Therefore, a better connection is obtained on the edge of the wall.

[0015] Furthermore, and according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the two branches that are bent towards each other together define an overall truncated annular shape. The two free ends resulting from the truncation thus form the two free ends of the two branches.

[0016] Therefore, the two branches flatly bear on the boundaries, and additionally, the two free ends clamp the two opposite boundaries of the wall along a component that is substantially perpendicular to this wall. Additionally, the stop element engages through a slot formed in the wall and leading to the two opposite boundaries. In this way, the anchoring part is perfectly integrated with the covering wall.

[0017] As shown in the figure, implementing two bent branches forming a truncated annular structure allows for a greater separation distance between the branches, thus enabling straddling of a wider covering wall.

[0018] Preferably, the stop element is formed by a substantially prismatic lug. Then, it terminates at a free edge that can be easily engaged through the aforementioned slot. The anchoring part is thus stuck in the covering wall. In order to disengage them from each other, it is necessary to manually force the two branches apart from each other.

[0019] Furthermore, the retaining flanges extend towards the bottom, preferably over a distance greater than three quarters of the distance between the free end and the bottom. In this way, these retaining flanges provide contact surfaces with two opposite boundaries, the contact surfaces being large enough to hold the anchoring part in a fixed position on the covering wall.

[0020] Advantageously, the retaining flanges have reinforcing ribs. These reinforcing ribs extend transversely and increase the second moment of area of the retaining flanges.

[0021] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the two curved branches each include two heels, which are integral with the free end and extend away from the branches in opposite directions. In this way, when the anchoring part is forced to engage across the wall, the open heels provide a guiding area for the edge of the covering wall.

[0022] According to a particularly advantageous variant embodiment of the invention, the retaining flanges and the branches have substantially the same width. For example, the width of the branch is four times its thickness, advantageously five times. The width of the retaining flange is eight times its thickness.

[0023] Thus, as shown, relative movement of the two free ends causes significant deformation of the entire branch portion. This enables a significant deformation amplitude to be achieved without breakage.

[0024] The retaining flanges tend to pivot preferentially at their connection to the free end.

[0025] Furthermore, advantageously, the stop element and the branches have substantially the same width. Thus, the branches, the stop element and the retaining flanges have the same width, and this allows the anchoring part to be perfectly fixed to the edge of the covering wall. As shown, the edge of the covering wall contacts the bottom defined by the two connected branches.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous variant embodiment, the cable attachment support has two attachment passages that are substantially perpendicular to each other and extend in the same mid-plane. This enables the cable to be held in a position substantially parallel to the edge of the covering wall when the fastener is engaged in the attachment support in a direction perpendicular to the edge; or the cable can be held in a vertical position when the fastener is engaged in the attachment support in a direction parallel to the edge, as explained below.

[0027] Preferably, the attachment support and the anchoring part are molded together as a single part made of a polymeric material. They are molded, for example, from polyethylene or polypropylene at low cost.

[0028] Thus, the fixing clip according to the invention is fully recyclable. Description of the Drawings

[0029] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when reading the following description of a specific embodiment of the present invention provided by way of indication and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing two installed fixing clips according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic detailed view of an element on which the fixing clip according to the present invention is designed to be installed;

[0032] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken in plane III-III shown in Figure 1 ; and,

[0033] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing clip according to the present invention. Detailed Description

[0034] Figure 1 is a partial view of the front face 10 of the firewall 12 of a motor vehicle. In other words, the front face 10 extends opposite to the engine compartment and is covered by a covering member 14 intended to acoustically isolate the engine compartment from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Thus, the firewall 12 and the covering member 14 form a covering wall 15.

[0035] In this case, the covering wall 15 is provided with fixing clips 16 which are installed in orifices 18 formed in the wall 15 and which are used to hold the cable 20 in a fixed position along the front face 10.

[0036] The fixing clip 16 includes an anchoring portion 30 engaged in the covering wall 15 and an attachment support 32 integral with the anchoring portion 30.

[0037] As shown, in Figure 1 , the covering wall 15 is recessed around the orifice 18 and projects forward.

[0038] Figure 2 shows in detail the covering wall 15 around the orifice 18 without the fixing clip 16 so as to be able to see the details more clearly. Thus, a substantially rectangular orifice 18 is formed in the covering wall 15 and forms a horizontal edge 22 and two opposite boundaries 24, 26 along the edge 22.

[0039] In addition, a slot 28 passing through the covering wall 15 at a certain distance from the edge 22 leads to the two opposite boundaries 24, 26 and is substantially parallel to the edge 22.

[0040] ​​​​​​​Figure 4 is a perspective view of only the fixing clip 16, showing the anchoring part 30 and the attachment support 32 connected together.

[0041] The anchoring part 30 and the attachment support 32 are molded together as a single part made of a polymeric material. They are molded, for example, from polyethylene or polyester.

[0042] Thus, the anchoring part 30 includes two branches 34, 36 that curve towards each other to form an integral frusto - annular structure having a symmetry axis A. The two branches 34, 36 are also symmetric with respect to a mid - plane PM. The symmetry axis A is clearly located in the mid - plane PM.

[0043] In addition, the two branches 34, 36 extend respectively from a bottom 38 as far as two opposite free ends 40, 42. The two opposite free ends 40, 42 converge towards each other and extend opposite to each other.

[0044] In addition, the two branches and the annular structure they form have an average thickness, for example, between 2 mm and 5 mm. They also have a width, measured in the axial direction, for example, between 8 mm and 20 mm. These dimensions are clearly not restrictive.

[0045] In addition, the attachment support 32 is integral with one of the two branches 34, 36, namely branch 36, and is connected to that branch via its convex part.

[0046] The polymeric material used to mold the two branches 34, 36 means that the two branches are elastically deformable. In other words, they can be forced apart from each other and return to a rest position closer to each other when they are released.

[0047] The free end 40 of the other branch 34 of the two branches 34, 36 has a prismatic lug 44 that projects along a radial component towards the other free end 42. In addition, the prismatic lug 44 extends along an axial component substantially over the entire width of the branches 34, 36 as a flange.

[0048] In addition and according to the invention, the fixing clip 16 has two retaining flanges 46, 48 located between the two branches 34, 36. The two retaining flanges extend respectively from the two free ends 40, 44 towards the bottom 38 as far as two bulbous free edges 50, 52 that converge substantially towards each other.

[0049] As shown, one of the two retaining flanges 46 extends behind the prismatic lug 44 such that the prismatic lug remains free and faces the other free end 42.

[0050] In addition, the widths of the two retaining flanges 46, 48 extending along the axial component are substantially equal to the widths of the branches 34, 36. In addition, the two retaining flanges respectively include two reinforcing ribs 54, 56 near the two bulbous free edges 50, 52 and substantially parallel to the two bulbous free edges.

[0051] In addition, the two retaining flanges 46, 48 define two axial mid-planes that converge towards each other and intersect on a straight line on the bottom 38.

[0052] The two retaining flanges 46, 48 extend over approximately three-quarters of the length separating the free ends 40, 42 from the bottom 38. In addition, the thickness of the two retaining flanges is close to half of the thickness of the two branches 34, 36. Since the two retaining flanges are made of a polymeric material, this makes them flexible.

[0053] In addition, the two curved branches respectively include two heels 58, 60 that are integral with the free ends 40, 42 and extend axially away from the branches 34, 36 in opposite directions and diverge from each other. The two heels 58, 60 extend axially over a length equal to the width of the two branches 34, 36. In addition, the thickness of the two heels 58, 60 is substantially equal to the thickness of the branches 34, 36. Given their dimensions, the two heels 58, 60 are relatively rigid.

[0054] The attachment support 32 defines a substantially straight block having an axial passage 62 with a rectangular cross-section and a tangential passage 64 extending perpendicular to the axial passage 62. The passages 62, 64 meet at the center of the straight block defining the attachment support 32.

[0055] Thus, a cable tie with a self-locking head can be inserted through the attachment support 32, either through the axial passage 62 (in which case the cable is clamped in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction A), or through the tangential passage 64 (in which case the cable is clamped in a direction parallel to the axial direction A).

[0056] The Figure 4 shown fixing clip 16 is pre-positioned on the edge 22 as shown in Figure 2 such that the two heels 58, 60 initially extend on both sides of the edge 22 covering the wall 15, thus forming a ramp.

[0057] Then the fixing clip 16 is pressed against the edge 22. Then the two free ends 40, 42 (especially the prismatic lugs 44) bear against the two opposite boundaries 26, 24. Then the two branches 34, 36 move apart from each other by a distance related to the thickness of the covering wall 15.

[0058] By continuing to press the fixing clip 16 across the edge 22, the two retaining flanges 46, 48 in turn bear against the two opposite boundaries 26, 24 respectively, thereby pressing against the covering wall 15. They also substantially bend, move away from each other and guide the translational movement of the fixing clip 16.

[0059] At the end of the travel, the prismatic lug 44 reaches the slot 28, and the two branches 34, 36 that are elastically separated from each other move towards each other while the prismatic lug 44 engages in the slot 28.

[0060] As Figure 3 shown, the fixing clip 16 is then captured in the covering wall 15.

[0061] Figure 3 shows this situation, where the prismatic lug 44 engages in the slot 28, and the two free ends 40, 42 clamp the covering wall 15, while the bottom 38 bears against the edge 22, and the two flanges 46, 48 also press against the two boundaries 26, 24.

[0062] The cross-section also shows the attachment support 32 for holding the cable 20 by means of a fastener (not shown).​

Claims

1. A cable fixing clip, the cable fixing clip comprising an anchoring portion (30) and a cable attachment support (32) connected to the anchoring portion, the anchoring portion (30) being designed to straddle an edge (22) of a covering wall (15) of a motor vehicle, the covering wall (15) having two opposite boundaries (24, 26) along the edge (22), the anchoring portion (30) including two branches (34, 36) that are bent towards each other to define a bottom (38) and two free ends (40, 42) that converge towards each other, the two branches (34, 36) being able to move elastically relative to each other, one of the two free ends (40) having a stop element (44) that projects towards the other of the two free ends (42) so as to be able to engage in the covering wall (15); It is characterized in that The cable fixing clip further includes two elastically flexible retaining flanges (46, 48) that are located between the two branches (34, 36) and extend respectively from the two free ends (40, 42) towards the bottom (38) so as to bear against the two opposite boundaries (26, 24) of the covering wall (15).

2. The fixed clip according to claim 1, characterized in that, The two branches (34, 36) that are bent towards each other together define an overall frustoconical annular shape.

3. The fixing clip according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The stop element (44) is formed by a substantially prismatic lug.

4. The fixed clip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The retaining flanges (46, 48) extend towards the bottom (38) by a distance greater than three-quarters of the distance between the free ends (40, 42) and the bottom (38).

5. The fixing clip according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The retaining flanges (46, 48) have reinforcing ribs (54, 56).

6. The fixed clip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The two bent branches (34, 36) respectively include two heels (58, 60) that are integral with the free ends (40, 42) and extend away from the branches (34, 36) in opposite directions from each other.

7. The fixing clip according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The retaining flanges (46, 48) and the branches (34, 36) have substantially the same width.

8. The fixing clip according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The stop element (44) and the branches (34, 36) have substantially the same width.

9. The fixing clip according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The cable attachment support (32) has two attachment passages (62, 64) that are substantially perpendicular to each other and extend in the same mid-plane.

10. The fixing clip according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The attachment support (32) and the anchoring portion (30) are molded together as a single part made of a polymeric material.

Images