Hole plug

Abstract

To improve water cut-off performance and a holding characteristic of a supported member, by eliminating the risk of slipping-out or falling-off of a hole plug, by preventing a load applied to a holding part from the supported member from being transmitted to a body part and an engaging part.SOLUTION: A hole plug 1 is detachably engaged with an 9a of an opening provided in a vehicle body side panel 9 to close the opening. The main part is provided with a body part 2 covering an opening part 9a, a holding part 3 projectingly provided on at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the body part and supporting a member to be supported 7, and an engaging part 4 integrated with the body part 2 and engaging with the peripheral edge of the opening part 9a, and the holding part 3 is connected to the body part 2 through a connection part 5 for relieving and absorbing load applied from the member to be supported 7 to the holding part 3 so as not to be transmitted to the body part 2 or the engaging part 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hole plug that engages with an opening provided in a body panel of an automobile or the like to close the opening, and particularly to a hole plug that is suitable for a type that has a retaining portion that supports a supported member. [Background technology]

[0002] 8 shows the hole plug disclosed in Patent Document 1, with (a) being a perspective view of the hole plug in a state where a supported member (wire harness) 2 is supported by a holding portion (clamp) 5d provided on the hole plug, and (b) being a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hole plug in an attached state where it is engaged with an opening (drain hole) H in a vehicle body panel. This hole plug 5 integrally comprises a large diameter portion 5a and a small diameter portion 5b that are main bodies that cover the opening H in the vehicle body panel 1, a groove 5c that is provided between the large diameter portion 5a and the small diameter portion 5b and that engages with the periphery of the opening H, and a holding portion (clamp) 5 that protrudes from either the front or back and clamps the supported member 2 therebetween.

[0003] The above-described hole plug 5 can be used as a clamp or holder for piping or wiring, which eliminates the need to manufacture the clamp or holder as a separate member or attach it to the panel, and has other advantages, such as the ability to install it in the opening H with the supported member supported by the holder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-130844 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the above-mentioned hole plug, for example, when the hole plug is engaged with the panel-side opening and the retaining portion receives a load (or weight) in a direction that causes it to come off the supported member, there is a risk that the engagement will be inadvertently released and that it will come off and fall off the opening.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the load (or weight) applied from the supported member to the holding portion from being transmitted to the main body or the engaging portion when the supported member is supported by the holding portion, thereby eliminating the risk of the hole plug becoming dislodged or falling off, and improving the watertightness and holding properties of the supported member. Other objects will become clear in the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, when specified with reference to the drawings, is characterized in that it is a hole plug 1 that detachably engages with an opening 9a provided in a vehicle body side panel 9 to close the opening, and comprises a main body 2 that covers the opening 9a, a retaining portion 3 that protrudes from at least one of the front and back surfaces of the main body and supports a supported member, and an engaging portion 4 that is integrated with the main body and engages with the periphery of the opening, and the retaining portion 3 is connected to the main body 2 via a connecting portion 5 for absorbing stress so that the load applied to the retaining portion 3 from the supported member 7 is not transmitted to the main body 2 or the engaging portion 4.

[0008] The present invention is more preferably embodied as follows. (A) The connection portion is configured to be flexible (Claim 2). (i) The connecting portion has a bent portion that allows the holding portion to swing relative to the main body portion (claim 3).

[0009] (c) The connection portion is configured to be formed in a substantially U-shape (claim 4).

[0010] (e) The holding portion is protruded from a base portion supported by the connecting portion, and the base portion is defined by a circumferential groove having a concave cross section that forms the connecting portion (Claim 5). (O) The main body has a pipe portion that connects the front and back, and the supported member can be placed on the front and back of the main body from the holding portion through the pipe portion (Claim 6). [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In the invention of claim 1, when a supported member is supported on the holding portion and the engaging portion is engaged with the opening in the panel, if the holding portion receives a large load from the supported member, the load is absorbed by the connection portion and is not transmitted to the main body portion or the engaging portion, eliminating the risk of the engaging portion disengaging from and coming off the opening in the panel. Therefore, with the hole plug of the invention, for example, if the supported member is long or is arranged continuously on the front and back of the panel, a large load is likely to be applied to the holding portion or the engaging portion, but because the load is absorbed by the connection portion, the engaging portion is prevented from disengaging or falling off from the opening, and watertightness can be reliably maintained.

[0012] In the invention of claim 2, the holding part is connected to the main body part via a flexible connecting part, which further improves the watertightness. Also, in the invention of claim 3, the connecting part has a bent part that makes it easier for the holding part to swing and displace relative to the main body part, which further improves the watertightness.

[0013] In the invention of claim 4, the connecting portion is substantially U-shaped, which makes it easy to impart flexibility as in claim 2 or to add a bent portion as in claim 3, and makes the entire product easier to mold.

[0014] In the invention of claim 5, if the holding portion protrudes above the base portion supported by the connection portion, or if the base portion is defined by a circumferential groove with a concave cross section that forms the connection portion, it becomes particularly easy to make the connection portion flexible or add a bending portion without impairing the support characteristics of the holding portion.

[0015] In the invention of claim 6, when the main body has a tubular portion that connects the front and back, and the supported member is arranged from the holding portion through the tubular portion to the front and back of the main body, it becomes easy for the supported member to apply load to the holding portion, but each of the above inventions can eliminate the risk of the engaging portion disengaging from the opening or coming off the opening. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a hole plug according to an embodiment of the present invention with a supported member supported by a holding portion, in which FIG. 1A is a schematic view of the appearance as seen from above, and FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the appearance when the hole plug is turned upside down. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B show details of the hole plug, where (a) is a view from above in the state of (b), (b) is a front view, (c) is a right side view, and (d) is a view from below in the state of (b). [Figure 3] 2. (a) is a rear view of the hole plug, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] (a) and (b) are an enlarged cross-sectional view of line BB in FIG. 2 and a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing the panel mounting state, and (c) is an enlarged view of part E in (b). [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the operation when a load is applied in the X direction from a supported member. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are schematic cross-sectional views showing modified examples of the connection portion of the hole plug. [Figure 8] (a) and (b) show FIGS. 4 and 5 disclosed in Patent Document 1. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] The following describes embodiments and modifications of the present invention with reference to the drawings. In this description, the structure of the hole plug of the embodiment, its main operation, and modifications will be explained in that order.

[0018] (Structure) In Figures 1 to 6, the hole plug 1 is an injection-molded product made of a resin material. It includes a main body 2 shaped to fit the opening 9a in the panel 9, a peripheral wall 21 surrounding the main body 2, a retaining portion 3 attached to a desired location on the main body 2 via a connecting portion 5 to support a supported member 7, an engaging portion 4 integrated with the peripheral wall 21 and engaging with the edge of the panel opening 9a, and a tubular portion 6 connecting the front and back of the main body 2 or panel 9. While the supported member 7 is assumed to be a pipe or the like, other materials may also be used. The resin material is a thermoplastic elastomer, which is inexpensive, chemically resistant, and lightweight, with TPO (olefin-based) and TPS (styrene-based) being preferred. Reference numeral 29 in Figure 1 denotes the trace of a resin injection nozzle or gate from the injection molding machine.

[0019] Here, the main body 2 is formed in a roughly rectangular or pentagonal shape, but is defined by a flat main portion 20 the size of the opening in the panel and its surrounding portion 21. The holding portion 3 and the dome portion 25 of the tube portion 6 protrude from the front surface (upper surface) 2a of the main body 2. The engaging portion 4 and connecting portion 5 are exposed from the back surface (lower surface) 2b, and a number of reinforcing ribs 28 protrude from it.

[0020] An engaging portion 4 is connected to the peripheral portion 21. As shown in Fig. 4, this engaging portion 4 is composed of a lower lip portion 22 folded diagonally upward from the lower end of the peripheral portion 21, an engaging tubular portion 23 protruding upward from the lower lip portion 22, and an upper lip portion 24 folded diagonally downward from the upper end of the engaging tubular portion 23. In this engaging portion 4, the lower lip portion 22 is pressed inward while elastically deforming into the panel-side opening 9a, and when the lip tip passes through the opening 9a and abuts against the underside of the panel 9 so as to be prevented from slipping out, the engaging tubular portion 23 engages with the edge of the opening 9a, and at the same time, the upper lip portion 24 is elastically deformed and strongly pressed against the panel 9, clamping the edge of the opening 9a between itself and the lower lip portion 22.

[0021] In the above-described hole plug 1, once the engaging cylindrical portion 23 engages with the edge of the opening 9a, the lower lip portion 22 must be pulled out of the opening 9a in a deformed state, making it difficult to disengage the engaging cylindrical portion 23 from the edge of the opening 9a, and at the same time, the upper and lower lip portions 22, 23 are pressed against the front and back surfaces of the panel 9, thereby reliably maintaining watertightness.

[0022] Furthermore, the holding portion 3 is connected to the main body 2 via a connection portion 5 for absorbing loads applied to the holding portion 3 from the supported member 7, preventing the load from being transmitted to the main body 2 or the engaging portion 4. More specifically, the holding portion 3 has a pair of clamping pieces 31, 32 protruding from the base 30, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Each clamping piece 31, 32 is provided with a predetermined strength by reinforcing ribs 33, 34 that are integrated with the back surface of the clamping piece and the base 30. Protrusions 31a, 32a protrude inward from the tip of each clamping piece 31, 32 to prevent it from coming off. Furthermore, the clamping piece 31 is slightly longer than the clamping piece 32, and the protrusion 31a protrudes downward.

[0023] This configuration makes it easy to push the supported member 7 from between the protrusions 31a, 32a into between the clamping pieces 31, 32, and also prevents it from accidentally slipping out once it is pushed between the clamping pieces 31, 32. Reference numerals 30a, 30b denote recesses provided on the underside of the base portion 30 corresponding to the clamping pieces 31, 32.

[0024] The connecting portion 5 connects the main body portion 2 and the base portion 30 and absorbs the load applied to the holding portion 3 from the supported member 7 held by the holding portion 3, preventing it from being transmitted to the main body portion 2 or the engaging portion 4. In this configuration, the connecting portion 5 is formed to be more flexible or elastically deformable than the main body portion 2 and the base portion 30. The connecting portion 5 is approximately U-shaped and consists of an inner piece 5a integrated with the main body portion 2, an outer piece 5c integrated with the base portion 30, and an intermediate piece 5b connecting the pieces 5a and 5c. In this example, the connecting portion between the piece 5c and the intermediate piece 5b is the bent portion 5d, which is formed with the thinnest wall. Reference numeral 5e denotes a circumferential groove that is the inner space of the U-shape.

[0025] 1 and 5, the main part 20 of the body part is provided with a tube part 6 that allows the supported member 7 to be positioned across the front and back of the panel 9. This tube part 6 has a dome part 25 that protrudes from the main part 20, a substantially U-shaped restricting part 26 that protrudes from the inner surface of the dome part 25 and restricts the outer periphery of the supported member 7, and a pair of restricting parts 27 that are provided on the outer side of the dome part 25 and restrict movement of the supported member 7 to both sides. Of these, the dome part 25 has a flange part 25a that is one step lower at its tip.

[0026] In the above configuration, in an attached state in which hole plug 1 has engaging portion 4 engaged with opening 9a of the panel, for example, supported member 7 arranged on the lower side of panel 9 can be led through the inside of dome portion 25 to the front surface 2a of main body portion 2 and restrained by retaining portion 3, or conversely, supported member 7 arranged on the upper side of panel 9 can be led through the inside of dome portion 25 to the back surface of main body portion 2. In this case, supported member 7 is appropriately restrained inside dome portion 25 by restricting portion 26 protruding from the inner surface of dome portion 25, a pair of restricting portions 27 protruding to the back surface 2b side, and further by flange portion 25a protruding in a stepped manner from the tip of dome portion 25.

[0027] (Operation) Next, the main operation or advantages of the hole plug 1 will be described. (1) In the hole plug 1 of the embodiment, when the engaging portion 4 engages with the panel-side opening 9a and the retaining portion 3 supports the supported member 7 as shown in Figures 4 and 6, if the retaining portion 3 receives a large load from the supported member 7, the load is absorbed by the connecting portion 5 so as to minimize transmission to the main body 2 or the engaging portion 4. This eliminates the risk of the engaging portion 4 disengaging from the panel-side opening 9a and becoming detached. In other words, when the hole plug 1 is configured such that the supported member 7 is long or is continuously disposed on both sides of the panel 9, a large load is likely to be applied to the retaining portion 3 or the engaging portion 4. However, by absorbing this load at the connecting portion 5, the engaging portion 4 is prevented from becoming detached or falling off from the opening 9a, thereby reliably maintaining watertightness. Additionally, the retaining portion 3 may also restrain and support a large number of pipes, tubes, harnesses, etc. as the supported member. In such an embodiment, loads from various directions due to vibrations and shocks caused by traveling are likely to be applied to the clamping pieces 31, 32, and therefore, in order to prevent the hole plug 1 from becoming dislodged or falling off from the opening 9a, it is effective to use the connecting portion 5 to absorb and relieve the load so that it is not transmitted to the main body portion 2 or the engaging portion 4.

[0028] (2) Furthermore, in this hole plug 1, the retaining portion 3 is connected to the main body portion 2 via the flexible connecting portion 5, so that loads applied to the retaining portion 3 in various directions can be absorbed by the swinging displacement of the connecting portion 5, thereby more reliably maintaining the above-mentioned watertightness. Furthermore, in the hole plug 1, if the connecting portion 5 has a bent portion 5d that makes it easier for the retaining portion 4 to swing relative to the main body portion 2, the retaining portion 4 can absorb the load by swinging displacement with the bent portion 5d as a fulcrum, and more reliably maintain the above-mentioned watertightness.

[0029] (3) In addition, in this hole plug 1, the connecting portion 5 is generally U-shaped, which makes it easy to, for example, impart flexibility to the connecting portion 5 or to add a bent portion 5d to a portion of the connecting portion 5, thereby facilitating molding as a whole, including simplifying the shape. Furthermore, in this configuration, if the U-shaped connecting portion 5 has a stepped portion 5f in part as shown in Figure 7, the stepped portion 5f can make the connecting portion 5 more easily deformable, thereby further improving the stress-absorbing effect of the connecting portion 5.

[0030] (4) Furthermore, in this hole plug 1, if the retaining portion 3 protrudes above the base portion 30 supported by the connecting portion 5, or if the base portion 30 is defined by a circumferential groove 5e having a concave cross section that forms the connecting portion 5, the above-described configuration and advantages can be easily achieved without impairing the support characteristics of the retaining portion 3.

[0031] (5) Furthermore, in this hole plug 1, if the main body 2 has a tubular portion 6 that connects the front surface 2a and the back surface 2b, and the supported member 7 is arranged from the retaining portion 3 through the tubular portion 6 to the front surface 2a or the back surface 2b of the main body 2, a load is likely to be applied from the supported member 7 to the retaining portion 3. However, even if such a configuration is adopted, the action of the connecting portion 5 described above to absorb the load can be mitigated, thereby eliminating the risk of the hole plug 1 becoming dislodged or falling off the opening 9a.

[0032] (Modification) Figure 7 shows a modification of the hole plug described above. In this explanation, to avoid redundant description as much as possible, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts or parts that function the same as in the above embodiment, and only the changes will be made clear.

[0033] In this connecting portion 5, of the pieces constituting the U-shape, the piece corresponding to the piece 5a in the above-described form that connects the intermediate piece 5b and the main body 20 is formed into a stepped portion 5f to facilitate swing displacement. With this configuration, when a large load is applied to the holding portion 3 in the left or right direction via the supported member 7, the step-like portion 5f as well as the bent portion 5d makes it easier for the holding portion 3 to tilt relative to the main body 2, which in turn makes it possible to absorb the load and prevent it from being transmitted to the main body 2 or the engaging portion 4.

[0034] As described above, the present invention may have the configuration specified in the claims, and the details may be further modified or developed by referring to the above embodiments and variations. For example, the engaging portion may be replaced with a configuration such as that shown in Patent Document 1 or other known configurations. In the above embodiment, the retaining portion protrudes from the front side of the main body, but it may also protrude from the rear side of the main body, as shown in FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1, or may be provided on both the front and rear sides. Applications are not limited to automobiles, and the vehicle body may also include agricultural machinery, civil engineering tractors, drones, and other vehicles. While the panel 9 is an inner door panel in this example, other vehicle body panels may also be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Hole plug 2. Main body part (2a is the front surface, 2b is the back surface, 20 is the main part, 21 is the peripheral part) 3. Holding portion (30 is a base portion, 31 and 32 are clamping pieces) 4. Engagement portion (22 is a lower lip portion, 23 is an engagement cylinder portion, 24 is an upper lip portion) 5. Connection part (5d is a bent part, 5e is a circumferential groove, and 5f is a stepped part) 6... Pipe section (25 is a dome section, 26 and 27 are restricting sections) 7... Supported member 9. Body side panel (9a is the opening)

Claims

1. A hole plug that is detachably engaged with an opening provided in a vehicle body side panel to close the opening, a main body portion that covers the opening, a holding portion that protrudes from at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the main body portion and supports a supported member, and an engaging portion that is integrated with the main body portion and engages with the periphery of the opening, a hole plug characterized in that the retaining portion is connected to the main body portion via a connecting portion for absorbing stress so that the load applied to the retaining portion from the supported member is not transmitted to the main body portion or the engaging portion.

2. 2. The hole plug according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed to be flexible.

3. 2. The hole plug according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a bent portion that allows the holding portion to swing relative to the main body portion.

4. 2. The hole plug according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is provided in a substantially U-shape.

5. 2. The hole plug according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion protrudes from a pedestal portion supported by the connection portion, and the pedestal portion is defined by a circumferential groove having a concave cross section that forms the connection portion.

6. 6. The hole plug according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a tubular portion that communicates the front and back surfaces of the main body portion, and the supported member can be placed on the front and back surfaces of the main body portion from the holding portion through the tubular portion.

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