Clamp

Abstract

To provide a clamp holding a fuel pipe which can suppress or prevent, when applying excessive external force to a locking portion between a latch and a catch, the locking portion from being damaged without damaging locking operation and dispatching operation of the latch regarding the catch.SOLUTION: A clamp 1 comprises: a U-shaped body 2 into which a fuel pipe 10 is entered; and a cover 3 which is mounted through a hinge 4 on the body 2 to be capable of opening an upper opening. The body 2 and the cover 3 are formed of resin and a latch 5 and a catch 6 to which the latch 5 is detachably locked are in such a manner as to be distributed to the body 2 and the cover 3. The latch 5 or the catch 6 is arranged protruding to an outer face of the body 2 in an outward-looking manner. A rib 7 is arranged in the vicinity of the latch 5 or the catch 6 at the outer face of the body 2 in which an amount of protrusion of the rib is the same as the latch 5 or the catch 6 or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamp for holding, for example, a fuel line. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a clamp for fixing a harness. This clamp comprises a U-shaped main body into which the harness is inserted, and a lid attached to an opening of the main body via a hinge, with a first locking part provided at the opening of the main body and a second locking part provided at an end of the lid to be engaged with the first locking part.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a protector for protecting a fuel tube. This protector includes a clamp and a cover, the clamp is provided with a claw portion, and the cover is provided with a locking hole into which the claw portion is locked. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-062998 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2001-193895 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the above Patent Documents 1 and 2, when excessive external force is applied to the engaging portion between the first locking portion and the second locking portion, or between the claw portion and the engaging port, for example, when some part collides with the engaging portion, the engaging portion may be damaged.

[0006] If the main body and the lid are formed from resin but their thickness or other factors are set to give them high rigidity, there is a concern that operability may deteriorate because the first and second locking portions respectively provided on the main body and the lid will be less likely to bend when engaging or disengaging.

[0007] In view of these circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a clamp that can suppress or prevent damage to the engagement portion between the latch and the catch when excessive external force is applied to the engagement portion, without impairing the engagement and disengagement operation of the latch with the catch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention is a clamp for holding a fuel pipe, comprising a U-shaped body into which the fuel pipe fits, and a cover attached via a hinge so as to open and close the upper opening of the body, the body and the cover being formed from resin, the body and the cover being provided with a latch and a catch to which the latch is releasably engaged, the latch or the catch being positioned so as to protrude outward from the outer surface of the body, and a rib being provided on the outer surface of the body near the latch or the catch, the rib having an amount of protrusion equal to or greater than the amount of protrusion of the latch or the catch.

[0009] According to this configuration, when an excessive external force is applied to the engaging portion between the latch and the catch in the clamp, for example, due to a collision of some part, the external force is applied not only to the engaging portion but also to the ribs around it. This suppresses or prevents the engaging portion from being damaged. This eliminates the need to increase the rigidity of the latch by increasing its thickness, and therefore does not impair the operability of engaging and disengaging the latch from the catch. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, a clamp can be provided that can suppress or prevent damage to the engagement portion between the latch and the catch when excessive external force is applied to the engagement portion, without impairing the engagement and disengagement operation of the latch with the catch. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a clamp according to the present invention with a cover open; [Figure 2A] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the side on which the latch and catch are located with the clamp cover closed. [Figure 2B] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the side on which the hinge is located with the clamp cover closed. [Diagram 3] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] One embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 3. The clamp 1 shown in the figures holds a fuel pipe 10 that is installed, for example, in the engine compartment of a vehicle, and includes a body 2 and a cover 3. The body 2 and cover 3 are formed of a resin such as PBT resin (polybutylene terephthalate).

[0014] 1, the body 2 is formed in a U-shape to accommodate the fuel pipe 10. An arm 2c is provided on one longitudinal end side of first and second side walls 2a, 2b opposed to each other in the body 2 so as to protrude outward.

[0015] The arm 2c is a protruding piece for supporting the body 2 on an attachment target (not shown) (for example, the inner wall of the engine room).

[0016] The cover 3 is attached to the body 2 via a hinge 4. The cover 3 is capable of swinging about the hinge 4 so as to open or close the upper opening of the body 2.

[0017] A latch 5 is provided integrally with the cover 3, and a catch 6 is provided integrally with the body 2. The latch 5 is engaged with or disengaged from the catch 6.

[0018] 1, the latch 5 is formed in a thin plate shape that protrudes downward from the outer surface of the longer side of the cover 3 that does not have the hinge 4. A bulging portion 5a that bulges outward is provided on the outer surface of the latch 5. The bulging portion 5a is formed horizontally so as to extend along the longer side of the cover 3.

[0019] Of the opposing first and second side walls 2a, 2b of the body 2, the catch 6 is provided on the outer surface of the first side wall 2a, which does not have the hinge 4. As shown in Fig. 1, this catch 6 is formed in a thin plate shape that protrudes from bottom to top at the middle in the longitudinal direction on the outer surface of the first side wall 2a, and its inner surface is separated from the outer surface of the first side wall 2a. The inner surface of this catch 6 is provided with a groove 6a in which the bulging portion 5a of the latch 5 is engaged. This groove 6a is formed horizontally long so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the first side wall 2a.

[0020] When the latch 5 is engaged with or disengaged from the catch 6, the thickness of each of the base portions of the latch 5 and the catch 6 is appropriately set so that the base portions are elastically deformed.

[0021] In operation, cover 3 is operated to close the top opening of body 2 and latch 5 is engaged with catch 6, whereby cover 3 is locked in the closed state. In this state, when cover 3 is opened while pulling catch 6 outward, bulge 5a of latch 5 comes out of groove 6a of catch 6, and the top opening of body 2 is opened.

[0022] The catch 6 is disposed on the outer surface of the first side wall 2a of the body 2 so as to protrude outward.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of ribs 7 are provided near the catch 6 on the outer surface of the first side wall 2a so as to protrude outward.

[0024] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2B, a plurality of ribs 7 are also provided on the second side wall 2b of the body 2 so as to protrude outward.

[0025] The ribs 7 are arranged to intersect vertically and horizontally to form a lattice pattern. The amount of projection of the ribs 7 is set to be the same as the amount of projection of the catch 6, as shown in FIG.

[0026] If such a configuration is adopted, in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, if any part in the engine compartment of the vehicle in which the fuel pipe 10 is arranged collides with the engaging portion of the latch 5 and the catch 6 in the clamp 1, the part will also collide with the rib 7 around the catch 6, and the impact load will be applied not only to the engaging portion but also to the rib 7 around it, thereby dispersing the impact load.

[0027] As described above, according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, even if an excessive external force is applied to the engaging portion between the latch 5 and the catch 6 in the clamp 1, it is possible to suppress or prevent the engaging portion from being damaged. As a result, it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the latch 5 by increasing its thickness or the like, and therefore operability for engaging and releasing the latch 5 with respect to the catch 6 is not impaired.

[0028] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and a range equivalent to the claims.

[0029] (1) In the above embodiment, the ribs 7 are provided in a lattice pattern, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0030] For example, although not shown, the ribs 7 can be formed as protrusions extending along the longitudinal direction of the first and second side walls 2a, 2b, with multiple ribs arranged in the height direction, or as protrusions extending along the longitudinal direction of the first and second side walls 2a, 2b, with multiple ribs arranged in the longitudinal direction, or as dot-matrix-like ribs, etc. In the case of such an embodiment, the same actions and effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0031] (2) In the above embodiment, an example is given in which the amount of projection of the rib 7 is set to be the same as the amount of projection of the engaging portion between the latch 5 and the catch 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0032] For example, although not shown, the amount of projection of the rib 7 can be set to be equal to or greater than the amount of projection of the locking portion. In the case of such an embodiment, the same actions and effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained. [Industrial Applicability]

[0033] The present invention can be suitably used in a clamp for holding a fuel pipe. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Clamp 2. Body 2a 1st side wall 2b 2nd side wall 2c Arm 3 Cover 4 Hinge 5 Latch 5a Bulge 6. Catch 6a groove 7. Ribs 10 Fuel piping

Claims

[Claim 1] A clamp for holding a fuel pipe, comprising: The fuel supply system includes a U-shaped body into which the fuel pipe is inserted, and a cover attached via a hinge so as to open and close an upper opening of the body. The body and the cover are made of resin, The body and the cover are provided with latches and catches for releasably engaging the latches, The latch or the catch is disposed so as to protrude outward from an outer surface of the body, A clamp characterized in that a rib is provided on the outer surface of the body near the latch or the catch, the rib being equal to or greater than the projection of the latch or the catch.

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