Clip for fixing a cable for the edge of a covered wall of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable fixing clip comprising an anchoring part (30) and a cable attachment support (32), said anchoring part (30) being designed to straddle an edge (22) of a covered wall (15) of a motor vehicle, said covered wall (15) having two opposite borders running along said edge (22), said anchoring part (30) comprising two branches (34, 36) bent towards each other while defining a bottom (38) and having two free ends (40, 42), one (40) of said two free ends having a stop element (44) projecting in such a way as to be able to engage in said covered wall (15). The clip further comprises two retaining wings (46, 48) situated between said two branches (34, 36) and extending respectively from said two free ends (40, 42) towards said bottom (38), in order to be able to be applied against said two opposite borders of said covered wall (15).

Description

[0001] Title of the invention: Cable fixing clip for the edge of a covered wall of a motor vehicle

[0002] [The present invention relates to a cable fixing clip for the edge of a covered wall of a motor vehicle.

[0003] The fixing clip comprises an anchoring part and a cable tie holder, integral with the anchoring part.

[0004] One area of ​​application envisaged is, in particular, but not exclusively, that of fixing cables in areas of a motor vehicle where the walls are covered with a trim element, for example soundproofing.

[0005] Usually, the body walls of motor vehicles are fitted with studs, in other words welded threaded rods extending out from the walls to hold the fixing clips.

[0006] These studs are forged into place on the body using robots. The ready-to-install stud has a fusible pipe at one end and a robot arm holds the stud approximately perpendicular to the wall, with the fusible pipe resting on it. The wall is then grounded and a high-intensity electric current is passed through the stud to melt the pipe and thus weld the stud to the wall.

[0007] Thus, the stud passes through the cladding element applied against the wall and the receiving collar can easily be installed at the free end of the stud projecting from the cladding element.

[0008] However, the process of making the boxes only allows the installation of a limited number of studs on the walls.

[0009] Also, it was thought to design a hairpin metal anchor part, suitable for coming astride the edge of a wall covered with a vehicle.

[0010] The anchoring part then comprises two branches curved towards each other, defining a base, and it has two free ends converging towards each other.

[0011] The two branches then form a clamp and are elastically movable relative to each other. And the two free ends each have a stop lug, the lugs being oriented towards each other. In this way, they can engage in the clad wall while the two free ends clamp the clad wall. Reference may be made to Chinese document CN 210517632, which describes such a cable fixing clip.

[0012] However, the metal anchor part described here requires significant effort during assembly and is therefore difficult to install.

[0013] Also, a problem that arises and that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a fixing clip that is easy to install.

[0014] For this purpose, a cable fixing clip is proposed comprising an anchoring part and a cable attachment support connected to said anchoring part, said anchoring part being adapted to straddle an edge of a covered wall of a motor vehicle, said covered wall having two opposite edges running along said edge, said anchoring part comprising two branches curved towards each other while defining a bottom and having two free ends converging towards each other, said two branches being elastically movable relative to each other, one of said two free ends having a stop element extending projecting towards the other of said two free ends so as to be able to engage in said covered wall.It further comprises two elastically flexible retaining wings, located between said two branches, and extending respectively from said two free ends towards said bottom, so as to be able to be applied against said two opposite edges of said covered wall.

[0015] Thus, a characteristic of the invention lies in the implementation of the two elastically flexible retaining wings between the branches and which allow perfect guidance of the anchoring part when it is engaged astride the edge of the clad wall. In addition, the two wings come to bear flat on the two opposite edges of the clad wall. And the bearing surface is then greater compared to the bearing surface of the anchoring parts according to the prior art. Therefore, a better connection is obtained on the edge of the wall.

[0016] Furthermore, and according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said two branches curved towards each other together define a general truncated annular shape. The two free ends resulting from the truncation then constitute the two free ends of the two branches.

[0017] Thus, the two branches come to bear flat on the edge and, in addition, the two free ends come to pinch the two opposite edges of the wall according to components substantially normal to this wall. In addition, the stop element comes to engage through a slot made in the wall and opening into the two opposite edges. In this way, the anchoring part is perfectly secured to the clad wall.

[0018] It will be observed that the implementation of two curved branches forming a truncated annular structure allows a greater amplitude of spacing of the branches to be able to come astride a wider dressed wall.

[0019] Preferably, said stop element is formed of a substantially prismatic lug. It then ends with a free edge which can easily engage through the aforementioned slot. The anchoring part is then captive in the clad wall. And to detach it, the two branches must be manually forced apart from each other.

[0020] Furthermore, said retaining wings extend towards said bottom, preferably over a distance greater than three-quarters of the distance which extends between said free ends and said bottom. In this way, they offer a contact surface with the two opposite edges sufficiently large to maintain the anchoring part in a fixed position on the clad wall.

[0021] Advantageously, said retaining wings have reinforcing ribs. These reinforcing ribs extend transversely and they increase the quadratic moment of the retaining wings.

[0022] Also, according to a preferred embodiment, said two curved branches respectively comprise two heels secured to said free ends and extending back relative to said branches opposite each other. In this way, the heels which are flared make it possible to provide a guide zone for the edge of the dressed wall when the anchoring part is forcefully engaged astride the wall.

[0023] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, said retaining wings and said branches have substantially the same width. For example, the branches have a width greater than four times their thickness, advantageously five times. And the retaining wings have a width greater than eight times their thickness.

[0024] Thus, we will observe that the relative movement of the two free ends causes the significant deformation of all the portions of branches. And in this way, we can obtain a significant amplitude of deformation without rupture. Regarding the retaining wings, they tend to pivot preferentially at the level of their connection with the free end.

[0025] Furthermore, advantageously, said stop element and said branches have substantially the same width. Thus, the branches, the stop element and the retaining wings have the same width and this allows perfect fixing of the anchoring part on the edge of the clad wall. It will be observed that the edge of the clad wall comes into contact with the bottom defined by the two joined branches.

[0026] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment variant, said cable attachment support has two attachment passageways substantially perpendicular to each other and extending along the same mean plane. In this way, the cable can be held in a position substantially parallel to the edge of the clad wall, when the attachment is engaged in the attachment support in a direction perpendicular to the edge; or in a perpendicular position when the attachment is engaged in the attachment support in a direction parallel to the edge as will be explained below.

[0027] Preferably, said attachment support and said anchoring part are molded together in a single piece from a polymer material. They are for example molded from polyethylene or polypropylene at an advantageous cost.

[0028] Therefore, the fixing clip according to the invention is perfectly recyclable.

[0029] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, given for informational purposes but not as a limitation, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0030] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective view illustrating two installed fixing clips, in accordance with the invention;

[0031] [Fig. 2] is a schematic detail view showing an element on which the fixing clip according to the invention is adapted to be installed;

[0032] [Fig. 3] is a schematic cross-sectional view along the plane III-III shown in [Fig. 1]; and,

[0033] [Fig. 4] is a schematic perspective view of the fixing clip according to the invention.

[0034] [Fig. 1] partially shows the front face 10 of an apron 12 of a motor vehicle. In other words, the front face 10 extends opposite the engine compartment and is covered with a trim 14 intended to soundproof the engine compartment from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The apron 12 and the trim 14 thus form a dressed wall 15.

[0035] The clad wall 15 is here equipped with fixing clips 16, implemented in slots 18, made in the wall 15, and making it possible to hold a cable 20 in a fixed position along the front face 10.

[0036] The fixing clip 16 comprises an anchoring part 30 engaged in the clad wall 15 and a fastening support 32 secured to the anchoring part 30.

[0037] It will be observed that the dressed wall 15 at the level of the lights 18 is pushed in and comes to extend in projection towards the front of the [Fig. 1],

[0038] [Fig. 2] shows in detail the clad wall 15 at the level of the light 18, but freed from the fixing clip 16 to better distinguish the details. Thus, the substantially rectangular light 18 is made in the clad wall 15 and it gives rise to a horizontal edge 22 and two opposite borders 24, 26 running along the edge 22.

[0039] Furthermore, at a distance from the edge 22, a slot 28 is provided through the dressed wall 15 and it opens into the two opposite edges 24, 26, substantially parallel to the edge 22.

[0040] We will now refer to [Fig. 4] illustrating in perspective the single fixing clip 16. There we find the anchoring part 30 and the attachment support 32 connected together.

[0041] The anchoring portion 30 and the attachment support 32 are molded together in one piece from a polymer material. They are, for example, molded from polyethylene or polyester.

[0042] Thus, the anchoring part 30 comprises two branches 34, 36 curved towards each other, together forming a general truncated annular structure with an axis of symmetry A. These two branches 34, 36 are also symmetrical to each other with respect to a median plane PM. The axis of symmetry A obviously belongs to the median plane PM.

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

[0044] In addition, the two branches and the annular structure they form have an average thickness of, for example, between 2 mm and 5 mm. Also, they have a width, in an axial direction, of, for example, between 8 mm and 20 mm. These dimensions are obviously in no way limiting.

[0045] Furthermore, the attachment support 32 is integral with one 36 of the two branches 34, 36 and is connected thereto by its convex part.

[0046] Due to the polymer material in which they are molded, the two branches 34, 36 are elastically deformable. In other words, they can be forcibly separated from each other, while they return to a position close to each other, of rest, when they are released.

[0047] The free end 40 of the other 34 of the two branches 34, 36, has a prismatic lug 44 extending in projection, along a radial component, towards the other free end 42. Also, the prismatic lug 44 extends along an axial component in the shape of a wing, substantially over the entire width of the branches 34, 36.

[0048] Furthermore, and according to the invention, the fixing clip 16 comprises two holding wings 46, 48 located between the two branches 34, 36. They extend respectively from the two free ends 40, 44 towards the bottom 38 to two free swollen edges 50, 52, converging substantially towards each other.

[0049] It will be observed that one 46 of the two retaining wings extends behind the prismatic lug 44 so that the latter remains free opposite the other free end 42.

[0050] Also, the two holding wings 46, 48 extend along an axial component, over a width substantially equal to the width of the branches 34, 36. In addition, they respectively comprise two reinforcing ribs 54, 56 in the vicinity of the two swollen free edges 50, 52 and substantially parallel to them.

[0051] Furthermore, the two holding wings 46, 48 define two axial mean planes converging towards each other and intersecting in a straight line on the bottom 38.

[0052] The two holding wings 46, 48 extend over a length close to three-quarters of the length which separates the free ends 40, 42 from the bottom 38. Furthermore, their thickness is close to half the thickness of that of the two branches 34, 36. In this way, taking into account the polymer material in which they are formed, they are flexible.

[0053] In addition, the two curved branches respectively comprise two heels 58, 60 secured to the free ends 40, 42 and extending back relative to the branches 34, 36 opposite one another, while diverging from one another. The two heels 58, 60 extend axially over a length identical to that of the width of the two branches 34, 36. Furthermore, 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] As for the attachment support 32, it defines a block substantially in the form of a straight block and having an axial passage path 62 of rectangular section and a tangential passage path 64 extending perpendicular to the axial passage path 62. The passage paths 62, 64 meet at the center of the straight block defining the attachment support 32.

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

[0056] First, the fixing clip 16 illustrated in [Fig. 4] is applied to the edge 22 as shown in [Fig. 2], so that, initially, the two heels 58, 60 extend on either side of the edge 22 of the dressed wall 15, forming a ramp.

[0057] Then, the fixing clip 16 is forcibly pressed against the edge 22. Then, the two free ends 40, 42, and in particular the prismatic lug 44, come to bear against the two opposite edges 26, 24. The two branches 34, 36 then move away from each other by an amplitude linked to the thickness of the dressed wall 15.

[0058] By continuing to push in the fixing clip 16 astride the edge 22, the two holding wings 46, 48 in turn come to bear respectively against the two opposite edges 26, 24 and thereby press the dressed wall 15. Also, they flex substantially by moving away from each other and guiding the fixing clip 16 in translation.

[0059] At the end of the stroke, the prismatic lug 44 comes opposite the slot 28 and the two branches 34, 36 elastically spaced from each other, move closer to each other, while the prismatic lug 44 engages in the slot 28.

[0060] It is then understood, as illustrated in [Fig. 3] that the fixing clip 16 is captive in the dressed wall 15. We thus find in [Fig. 3] such a situation, where the prismatic lug 44 is engaged in the slot 28 and where the two free ends 40, 42 grip the dressed wall 15, while the bottom 38 is supported on the edge 22 and the two wings 46, 48 also press the two edges 26, 24. We also find in section, the attachment support 32 making it possible to hold the cable 20 by means of an attachment not shown.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. [Cable fastening clip comprising an anchoring portion (30) and a cable tie support (32) connected to said anchoring portion, said anchoring portion (30) being adapted to straddle an edge (22) of a covered wall (15) of a motor vehicle, said covered wall (15) having two opposite edges (24, 26) running along said edge (22), said anchoring portion (30) comprising two branches (34, 36) curved towards each other while defining a bottom (38) and having two free ends (40, 42) converging towards each other, said two branches (34, 36) being elastically movable relative to each other, one (40) of said two free ends having a stop element (44) extending projecting towards the other (42) of said two free ends so as to be able to engage in said dressed wall (15);characterized in that it further comprises two elastically flexible retaining wings (46, 48), located between said two branches (34, 36), and extending respectively from said two free ends (40, 42) towards said bottom (38), to be able to come to bear against said two opposite edges (26, 24) of said dressed wall (15).;

2. Fixing clip according to claim 1, characterized in that said two branches (34, 36) curved towards each other together define a general truncated annular shape.

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

4. A fastening clip according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 3, characterized in that said retaining wings (46, 48) extend towards said bottom (38) over a distance greater than three-quarters of the distance which extends between said free ends (40, 42) and said bottom (38).

5. A fastening clip according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 4, characterized in that said retaining wings (46, 48) have reinforcing ribs (54, 56).

6. A fastening clip according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 5, characterized in that said two curved branches (34, 36) comprise respectively two heels (58, 60) integral with said free ends (40, 42) and extending back relative to said branches (34, 36) opposite one another.

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

8. A fastening clip according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7, characterized in that said stop element (44) and said branches (34, 36) have substantially the same width.

9. Fixing clip according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said cable attachment support (32) has two attachment passage paths (62, 64) substantially perpendicular to each other and extending along the same mean plane.

10. A fastening clip according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said fastening support (32) and said anchoring portion (30) are molded together in one piece from a polymeric material.

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