Plate assembly
The plate assembly with a fixing shaft and clip design using inclined ribs and claw portions securely fixes to a mat, addressing separation issues and simplifying assembly while accommodating different mat thicknesses.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HAYASHI TELEMPU CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing plate assembly configurations in vehicles are prone to unintentional separation due to external forces, and manufacturing is complex, especially when integrally forming undercut-shaped legs is not possible.
A plate assembly design featuring a plate with a fixing shaft and a clip with inclined ribs and claw portions that engage with uneven portions on the shaft, ensuring secure fixation via a mat, allowing for easy assembly and resistance to unintentional release.
The design provides a stable and easy-to-assemble plate assembly that resists unintentional separation, even under external forces, and accommodates varying mat thicknesses.
Smart Images
Figure 2026081483000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a plate assembly.
Background Art
[0002] In the passenger compartment of a vehicle, a nameplate displaying the vehicle name or the like may be attached to the floor mat. In Patent Document 1, legs fixed to the back surface of a plate located on the front surface side of the floor mat are inserted into through holes of the floor mat, and a stepped surface inside a claw portion connected to a shaft portion of a lock member located on the back surface side of the floor mat engages with a stepped surface of a notch portion of the legs, so that a plate assembly in which the plate and the lock member are fixed to each other via the floor mat is described.
[0003] In Patent Document 2, a logo plate is disposed on the front surface side of the floor mat, a fastener is housed in a through hole of the floor mat, legs protruding from the back surface of the logo plate are inserted into the through holes of the floor mat, and a deformed portion provided at the tip of the legs is inserted through a through hole of the fastener and then the fastener is rotated, so that the back surface of a flange portion of the fastener abuts against the upper surface of the deformed portion of the legs, and a structure in which the logo plate and the fastener are fixed to each other via the floor mat is described.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] In any of the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the two parts can be fixed together, but if an external force is applied after fixing, there is a risk that the two parts may separate again. In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the locking member is provided with multiple claws, each having a shape of a ring divided into multiple parts, and the stepped surface is a partially annular surface. Therefore, if a pressing force parallel to the direction in which the shaft of the locking member extends is applied to the claws, causing each claw to deform so as to expand radially, the engagement between the stepped surfaces may disengage, and the locking member may be unintentionally released. Furthermore, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the plate is manufactured by forging, it is not possible to integrally form the undercut-shaped legs, and the legs must be manufactured as a separate part from the plate and then attached to the plate, making the manufacturing of the plate complicated.
[0006] In the configuration described in Patent Document 2, simply inserting the legs of the logo plate into the fastener does not secure the logo plate and the fastener; securing is achieved by rotating the fastener, making the securing process cumbersome. Furthermore, when the fastener is secured, an external force applied in a direction that rotates the fastener can easily release the connection between the logo plate and the fastener.
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a plate assembly that is easy to manufacture and assemble, and that prevents the plates and clips from being unintentionally released. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] The present invention relates to a plate assembly comprising a plate disposed on one side of a mat and a clip disposed on the other side of the mat, wherein the plate has a flat portion placed on the one side of the mat and a fixing shaft erected on the flat portion, and a part of the outer circumference of the fixing shaft is provided with an uneven portion, and the clip has a flat portion disposed on the other side of the mat, a hole provided on the flat portion into which the fixing shaft can be inserted, and a pair of inclined ribs erected on the flat portion and facing each other with the hole in between, and the pair of inclined ribs, Each of the two inclined ribs is provided with a claw portion on the opposite side of the base portion connected to the surface portion, the claw portions of the pair of inclined ribs protrude inward so that their tips face each other, the pair of inclined ribs are inclined inward so that they move closer to each other from the base portion toward the portion where the claw portion is provided, the fixing shaft of the plate penetrates the hole in the mat and extends toward the other surface side of the mat and is inserted into the hole of the clip, the claw portion engages with the uneven portion, and the plate and the clip are fixed to each other via the mat. [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] According to the present invention, a plate assembly is provided that is easy to manufacture and assemble, and that prevents the fastening between the plate and the clip from being unintentionally released. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0010] [Figure 1] (A) is a perspective view of the plate assembly of the present invention as seen from above, and (B) is a perspective view of the same as seen from below. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an exploded side view of the plate assembly shown. [Figure 3] (A) is a perspective view of the plate assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, viewed from above; (B) is a perspective view of the same plate, viewed from below; and (C) is a cross-sectional view of the same plate. [Figure 4](A) is a plan view of the clip of the plate assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, (B) is a perspective view of it seen from above, and (C) is a perspective view of it seen from below. [Figure 5] (A) is a side view of the clip of the plate assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, and (B) is a side view taken from a direction perpendicular to (A). [Figure 6] (A) is a cross-sectional view showing the fixed state of the plate assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the mat omitted, and (B) is a cross-sectional view taken from a direction perpendicular to (A). [Figure 7] (A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the fixed state of plate 2 and clip 3 and mat 4 of the plate assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, and (B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken from a direction perpendicular to (A). [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram showing the analytical model when an external force is applied to a clip. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1(A) is a perspective view of the plate assembly 1 of the present invention viewed from above, and Figure 1(B) is a perspective view viewed from below. Figure 2 is an exploded side view of the plate assembly 1. The plate assembly 1 has a plate 2 positioned on one side 4a of a mat 4 (omitted in Figure 1) placed on the floor of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, and a clip 3 positioned on the other side 4b of the mat 4.
[0012] Figure 3(A) is a perspective view of plate 2 of plate assembly 1 viewed from above, Figure 3(B) is a perspective view viewed from below, and Figure 3(C) is a cross-sectional view thereof. Plate 2 has a flat plate portion 5 with a substantially rectangular planar shape placed on one surface 4a of mat 4, and a rectangular prism-shaped fixing shaft 6 erected perpendicular to the flat plate portion 5. On the outer circumference of the fixing shaft 6, there are multiple protrusions and recesses 7 formed at various positions along the longitudinal direction of the fixing shaft 6. The protrusions and recesses 7 are not provided all around the circumference, but rather two protrusions and recesses 7 and two flat surfaces without protrusions are alternately located along the outer circumference of the fixing shaft 6.
[0013] Figure 4(A) is a plan view of the clip 3 of the plate assembly 1, Figure 4(B) is a perspective view of it from above, and Figure 4(C) is a perspective view of it from below. Figure 5(A) is a side view of the clip 3, and Figure 5(B) is a side view of it from a direction perpendicular to Figure 5(A). The clip 3 has a substantially disc-shaped planar portion 8 that is positioned on the other surface 4b of the mat 4 (see Figure 2), and a hole portion 9 provided in the planar portion 8 into which the fixing shaft 6 can be inserted, the hole portion 9 having a planar shape that is substantially square or substantially rectangular. That is, the planar shape (cross-sectional shape) of the fixing shaft 6 is substantially rectangular, and the planar shape of the hole portion 9 is substantially square or substantially rectangular, larger than the planar shape of the fixing shaft 6 and capable of enclosing the planar shape of the fixing shaft 6.
[0014] Clip 3 further includes a pair of inclined ribs 10 erected on the flat portion 8 and facing each other across the hole 9, and a pair of positioning ribs 11 similarly facing each other across the hole 9. As shown in Figure 4(A), a straight line L1 passing through the pair of inclined ribs 10 and the center of the hole 9 and a straight line L2 passing through the pair of positioning ribs 11 and the center of the hole 9 intersect each other, preferably orthogonal.
[0015] One end of the inclined rib 10 is a root portion 13 connected to the flat portion 8, and a claw portion 12 is provided at the opposite end of the root portion 13. The pair of inclined ribs 10 are inclined inward so that they move closer to each other as they move from the root portion 13 toward the portion where the claw portion 12 is provided. The claw portions 12 of the pair of inclined ribs 10 protrude inward so that their tips face each other. The root portion 13 of the inclined rib 10 extends in a direction that intersects, preferably perpendicular to, the direction in which the claw portions 12 face each other. Both ends 14 of the inclined rib 10 in the direction in which the root portion 13 extends are curved concavely between the portion where the claw portion 12 is provided and the root portion 13.
[0016] The positioning rib 11 is L-shaped, having a base portion 15 extending parallel to the opening surface of the hole portion 9 and a clamping portion 16 standing upright from the base portion 15, and has no claw portion. Both the positioning rib 11 and the inclined rib 10 are elastically deformable.
[0017] As shown in Fig. 4(A), on the substantially disc-shaped flat surface portion 8 of the clip 3, at a position on the outer peripheral side of the inclined rib 10 along a straight line L1 passing through the pair of inclined ribs 10 and the center of the hole portion 9, there is a weakened portion where the strength is partially reduced. As an example, a notch portion 17 cut from the outer peripheral side of the flat surface portion 8 toward the hole portion 9 side is provided. Also, a plurality of conical protrusions 18 are provided on the other surface 4b of the mat 4, which bite into the mat 4 and make it difficult to separate when the mat 4 is disposed on the other surface 4b.
[0018] The plate 2 and the clip 3 having the above-described configuration are respectively disposed on both surfaces 4a and 4b of the mat 4 (for example, a vehicle floor mat) and fixed to each other. Fig. 6(A) is a cross-sectional view showing the fixed state of the plate 2 and the clip 3 with the mat 4 omitted, and Fig. 6(B) is a cross-sectional view seen from a direction orthogonal to Fig. 6(A). Fig. 7(A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the fixed state of the plate 2, the clip 3, and the mat 4, and Fig. 7(B) is an enlarged cross-sectional view seen from a direction orthogonal to Fig. 7(A). Specifically, the fixing shaft 6 of the plate 2 penetrates through the hole portion 4c of the mat 4 and extends to the other surface 4b side of the mat 4, and is inserted into the hole portion 9 of the clip 3. The claw portions 12 of the inclined ribs 10 of the clip 3 engage with the concavo-convex portions 7 of the fixing shaft 6 inside the hole portion 9 when viewed in a plane, whereby the plate 2 and the clip 3 are fixed to each other via the mat 4.
[0019] On the outer periphery of the fixing shaft 6, concavo-convex portions 7 are provided at positions where they can face the claw portions 12 in a state where the fixing shaft 6 is inserted into the hole portion 9, and the position facing the positioning rib 11 is a flat surface. Therefore, as shown in Figs. 6(A) and 7(A), in a state where the fixing shaft 6 penetrates through the hole portion 4c of the mat 4 and is inserted into the hole portion 9 of the clip 3 and the claw portions 12 are engaged with the concavo-convex portions 7, as shown in Figs. 6(B) and 7(B), the fixing shaft 6 is sandwiched by the pair of positioning ribs 11.
[0020] In the plate assembly 1, which includes the plate 2 and clip 3 as described above, the plate 2 and clip 3 are fixed to each other by the claw portion 12 of the inclined rib 10 engaging with the protrusions 7 of the fixing shaft 6. This fixation is designed to prevent it from being easily released unintentionally. In particular, even if an external force is applied on one side (upper surface) 4a of the mat 4 that would pull the plate 2 away from the mat 4, the plate 2 will not be easily pulled away. Specifically, when an external force is applied that would pull the plate 2 away from the mat 4, an external force is applied to the claw portion 12 and the inclined rib 10 that are engaged with the protrusions 7 of the fixing shaft 6 of the plate 2, pulling them upward toward one side (up) of the mat 4 (4a). However, the flat portion 8 of the clip 3 maintains a state of close contact with the other side (lower surface) 4b of the mat 4, resisting the external force transmitted via the inclined rib 10. In other words, an external force is applied to the inclined rib 10 in a direction that pulls it upward toward one side 4a of the mat 4, and the flat portion 8 receives a force in a direction relative to the mat 4 toward the other side 4b. As a result, the clip 3 attempts to deform by bending. Consequently, the flat portion 8 tries to bend, and the inward inclination of each pair of inclined ribs 10 increases. This causes the claw portion 12 of the inclined rib 10 to bite deeper into the uneven portion 7 of the fixed shaft 6, greatly reducing the possibility of detachment. The greater the force that the plate 2 and the inclined rib 10 exert to pull it upward toward one side 4a of the mat 4, the greater the inward inclination of the inclined rib 10, and the deeper the claw portion 12 bites into the uneven portion 7, resulting in a very high level of separation prevention. An analytical model of the increasing inward inclination of the inclined rib 10 is shown in Figure 8.
[0021] If an outward-sloping inclined rib is provided, the outward slope of the inclined rib will increase as the flat portion 8 tries to bend. In this embodiment, since an inclined rib 10 that slopes inward is provided, the inward slope of the inclined rib 10 will increase as the flat portion 8 tries to bend. In any case, the slope of the inclined rib 10 will increase as the flat portion 8 tries to bend. In this embodiment, since a weakened portion such as a notch 17 is provided in the flat portion 8, when an external force is applied to the plate 2 and the inclined rib 10 in a direction that pulls upward toward one side 4a of the mat 4, the flat portion 8 tends to bend, so the inward slope of the inclined rib 10 tends to increase, which is efficient. In addition, since the root portion 13 of the inclined rib 10 extends in a direction that intersects, preferably perpendicular to, the direction in which the claw portions 12 face each other, the inclined rib 10 can be stably elastically deformed. Furthermore, the inclined rib 10 is made more inclined because both ends 14 in the direction in which the root portion 13 extends are curved in a concave shape between the portion where the claw portion 12 is provided and the root portion 13. Note that the weakened portion is not limited to the notched portion 17, but may also be a thin-walled portion with a partially reduced thickness.
[0022] In one example of the plate assembly of the present invention, the mat 4 is a vehicle floor mat, and the plate 2 is a nameplate with a logo displayed on the flat portion 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this example and can be applied to various uses. In the above-described embodiment, since multiple recessed and protruding portions 7 into which the claw portion 12 can engage are formed at multiple positions in the longitudinal direction of the fixed shaft 6, the plate assembly 1 can be used universally even if the thickness of the mat 4 is different. For example, if the thickness of the mat 4 is thick, the gap between the flat portion 5 of the plate 2 and the planar portion 8 of the clip 3 can be increased by engaging the claw portion 12 with the recessed and protruding portions 7 near the tip of the fixed shaft 6. If the thickness of the mat 4 is thin, the gap between the flat portion 5 of the plate 2 and the planar portion 8 of the clip 3 can be decreased by engaging the claw portion 12 with the recessed and protruding portions 7 near the base of the fixed shaft 6. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0023] 1 Plate Assembly 2 plates 3 clips 4 mats 4a One side 4b The other side 4c hole 5 Flat plate part 6 Fixed axis 7 Uneven part 8 Plane part 9 Hole 10 Inclined Ribs 11 Positioning ribs 12. Claw part 13. Root part 14 Both ends 15 base 16 Clamping part 17 Notched section (weak section) 18 protrusions
Claims
1. A plate assembly comprising a plate positioned on one side of the mat and a clip positioned on the other side of the mat, The plate has a flat portion placed on one surface of the mat and a fixed shaft erected on the flat portion, and a part of the outer circumference of the fixed shaft is provided with an uneven surface. The clip has a flat portion positioned on the other surface of the mat, a hole provided in the flat portion into which the fixing shaft can be inserted, and a pair of inclined ribs erected on the flat portion and facing each other with the hole in between. Each of the pair of inclined ribs has a claw portion on the opposite side of the base portion that is connected to the flat portion. The claw portions of the pair of inclined ribs protrude inward so that their tips face each other. The pair of inclined ribs are inclined inward so that they move closer to each other as they move from the root portion toward the portion where the claw portion is provided. A plate assembly characterized in that the fixing shaft of the plate penetrates the hole in the mat, extends to the other side of the mat, and is inserted into the hole of the clip, the claw engages with the protrusions and recesses, and the plate and the clip are fixed to each other via the mat.
2. The plate assembly according to claim 1, wherein when an external force is applied to the plate and the inclined ribs in an upward direction toward one side, the flat portion maintains a state of close contact with the other surface of the mat against the external force transmitted through the inclined ribs, and the inward inclination of the pair of inclined ribs increases.
3. The plate assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed shaft has a plurality of recessed and recessed portions formed at multiple positions in the longitudinal direction of the fixed shaft, with which the claw portion can engage.
4. The clip further has a pair of positioning ribs that face each other across the center of the hole, A straight line passing through the pair of inclined ribs and the center of the hole intersects with a straight line passing through the pair of positioning ribs and the center of the hole. The plate assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing shaft of the plate is inserted into the hole of the clip through the hole of the mat and the claw is engaged with the uneven portion, and the fixing shaft is sandwiched by a pair of positioning ribs.
5. The plate assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flat portion of the clip is provided with a weakened portion at a position on the outer circumference of the inclined ribs, along a straight line passing through the pair of inclined ribs and the center of the hole.
6. The base portion of the inclined rib extends in a direction intersecting the direction in which the claw portions face each other. The plate assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both ends of the inclined rib in the direction in which the root portion extends are curved in a concave shape between the portion where the claw portion is provided and the root portion.