Metal nut with flange and its fixing structure

Abstract

The objective is to securely fit a flanged metal nut into a pair of first fitting grooves in the object to be fixed, without loosening. [Solution] A ring-shaped resin layer 3 is integrally molded in a laminated state onto the flange portion 2 of the flanged metal nut N1, and a first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1 is formed slightly protruding from the flat surface 3a on the side of the resin layer 3 opposite the flange portion, and presses against the inner opposing surfaces 13a and 15a of the pair of first and second fitting grooves G1 and G2 of the holder H.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a flanged metal nut in which a resin layer is integrally formed in a laminated state on a flange portion, and a structure for fitting and fixing the flanged metal nut into a pair of first fitting grooves having a U-shaped cross section formed to face an object to be fixed without loosening.

Background Art

[0002] As a nut that can be fixed to an object to be fixed by the structure of the nut itself, the one disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In this nut, a plurality of bulging portions are formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and by press-fitting the nut into the lower hole of the object to be fixed, the plurality of bulging portions are plastically deformed, thereby fixing the nut to the lower hole of the object to be fixed.

[0003] On the other hand, as shown in the embodiment of the present application, there is also known a structure in which a flange portion of a flanged metal nut integrally formed at one end in the screw axis direction is fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves having a U-shaped cross section formed to face an object to be fixed, and the flanged metal nut is fixed to the object to be fixed. In this fixing structure, the flange portion of the flanged metal nut is designed to be fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed in a loosely fitting state, that is, in a state having a certain gap. Therefore, a filler made of elastic deformable sponges is filled into the gap, and the flange portion of the flanged metal nut is fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed, thereby fitting and fixing the flanged metal nut to a pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed.

[0004] However, in the fitting and fixing structure using the filler made of sponges, since an operation of putting together a separate filler and a flanged metal nut and fitting and inserting them into a pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed is required, in addition to the time-consuming operation, only by the compression deformation of the filler, when impacts are repeatedly applied during transportation or the like, the flanged metal nut may be displaced with respect to the set position of the object to be fixed, and in a severe case, the flanged metal nut may come off from a pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed.

Prior Art Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-213692 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention aims to securely fit a flanged metal nut into a pair of first fitting grooves formed opposite each other on the object to be fixed, without loosening. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention of claim 1, which solves the above problems, A structure for fixing a flanged metal nut, in which a flange portion is integrally formed at one end in the axial direction of the screw core, is fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves with a U-shaped cross-section formed opposite each other on the object to be fixed, A ring-shaped resin layer is integrally molded in a laminated state onto the flange portion of the flanged metal nut, and a ring-shaped pressure contact portion is formed slightly protruding from at least one of the plane and outer peripheral surface of the resin layer on the side opposite the flange portion, which is pressed against one of the plurality of pressure contact surfaces formed on the inner surface of the pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed. The ring-shaped contact portion is press-fitted into the pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed by the contact of the ring-shaped contact portion with the surface to be contacted, thereby pressing the integrated flange portion and resin layer of the flanged metal nut into the grooves of the object to be fixed.

[0008] According to the invention of claim 1, when the integrated flange portion and resin layer of a flanged metal nut are press-fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves formed opposite to the object to be fixed, the ring-shaped pressure contact portion formed on at least one of the plane or outer peripheral surface of the resin layer opposite the flange portion presses against one of the plurality of contact surfaces formed on the inner surface of the pair of first fitting grooves. This increases the sliding resistance of the flanged metal nut to the pair of first fitting grooves, ensuring secure fitting and preventing it from shifting from its set position.

[0009] The invention of claim 2 is, in the invention of claim 1, The flange portion of the flanged metal nut is characterized in that the largest diameter portion of the flange is located on the inside of the outer end in the direction of the screw core axis, an undercut portion is formed at the outer end of the flange, and the resin layer is formed by wrapping around the undercut portion.

[0010] According to the invention of claim 2, since an undercut portion is provided at the outer end of the flange portion of the flanged metal nut, the resin layer provided in a laminated state on the flange portion is molded to wrap around the undercut portion during molding, thereby further enhancing the unity between the flange portion and the resin layer of the flanged metal nut, making it difficult for the resin layer to separate from the flange portion.

[0011] The invention of claim 3 is, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, The object to be fixed is characterized in that it is provided with a second fitting groove at the end of the pair of first fitting grooves, in a direction perpendicular to the groove direction of the first fitting grooves, so as to connect the pair of first fitting grooves.

[0012] According to the invention of claim 3, the ring-shaped pressure-contact portion provided in the resin layer of the flanged metal nut is pressed against the pressure-contact surfaces of the three fitting grooves, a pair of first fitting grooves and a second fitting groove, and the increased number of pressure-contact points makes the fixing of the flange portion of the flanged metal nut to the object to be fixed even more secure.

[0013] The invention of claim 4 is, A flanged metal nut is characterized in that a flange portion is integrally formed at one end in the axial direction of the screw core, and a ring-shaped resin layer is integrally molded in a laminated state onto the flange portion of the flanged metal nut, and a ring-shaped pressure contact portion is formed slightly protruding from at least one of the plane and outer peripheral surface of the resin layer opposite the flange portion, which is pressed against one of a plurality of pressure contact surfaces formed on the inner surface of the pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed.

[0014] The invention of claim 4 is a representation of the invention of claim 1, "a fixing structure for a flanged metal nut to an object to be fixed, which has a pair of fitting grooves," from the perspective of "a flanged metal nut," and is substantially identical to the invention of claim 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, when the integrated flange portion and resin layer of a flanged metal nut are press-fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves formed opposite each other on the object to be fixed, the ring-shaped pressure contact portion formed on the resin layer presses against the contact surface on the inner surface of the pair of first fitting grooves. This increases the sliding resistance of the flanged metal nut against the pair of first fitting grooves, ensuring secure fixation to the object to be fixed and preventing displacement from the set position. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] (a) to (c) are perspective views, partially broken perspective views, and cross-sectional views, respectively, of the flanged metal nut N1 according to the present invention. [Figure 2] (a) is a plan view of holder H, and (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views of (a) along lines X1-X1 and X2-X2, respectively. [Figure 3] (a) and (b) are perspective views of the holder H with the flanged metal nut N1 before and after it is set. [Figure 4] (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views along the lines Y1-Y1 and Y2-Y2 in Figure 3(b), respectively. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing a bolt 31 being screwed into a flanged metal nut N1 fitted into the first and second fitting grooves G1 and G2 of holder H. [Figure 6] (a) and (b) are perspective and cross-sectional views, respectively, of the flanged metal nut N2. [Figure 7] (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views corresponding to the lines Y1-Y1 and Y2-Y2 in Figure 4(b), respectively, showing the holder H with the flanged metal nut N2 set in place.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the best embodiments. First, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a flanged metal nut N1 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention and a holder H that is fitted and fixed using the flange portion 2 of the flanged metal nut N1 will be described. The flanged metal nut N1 has a flange portion 2 integrally formed at one end in the screw axis direction of a general nut body 1, and an undercut portion 2a is formed at the outer end portion of the flange portion 2. A resin layer 3 having an overall ring disk shape is integrally formed by injection molding of resin into the undercut portion 2a of the flange portion 2 of the flanged metal nut N1. Therefore, both the wall thickness T1 and the outer diameter D1 of the resin layer 3 are formed larger than the corresponding portions of the flange portion 2. The wall thickness T1 of the resin layer 3 is formed slightly smaller than the distance S1 between the inner opposing surfaces 13a of the first and second fitting grooves G1, G2 of the holder H and the upper surface of the base portion 11, and the outer diameter D1 of the resin layer 3 is formed slightly smaller than the distance S2 between the inner surfaces 12a of the pair of first fitting grooves G1 of the holder H. And on the flat surface 3a on the side opposite to the flange portion of the resin layer 3 of the flanged metal nut N1, a first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1 that is pressure contacted with the inner opposing surfaces 13a, 15a of the first and second top wall portions 13, 15 of the first and second fitting grooves G1, G2 of the holder H is integrally formed. The wall thickness T2 of the resin layer 3 including the first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1 is formed to be slightly larger than the distance S1 between the inner opposing surfaces 13a, 15a of the first and second fitting grooves G1, G2 of the holder H and the upper surface of the base portion 11.

[0018] The holder H has a base portion 11, with a pair of left and right first side wall portions 12 standing upright opposite to each other and parallel to each other. At the upper ends of the pair of first side wall portions 12, a first top wall portion 13 is integrally formed inwardly parallel to the base portion 11, thereby forming a pair of opposing first fitting grooves G1. The inner ends of the pair of first side wall portions 12 along the groove direction of the pair of first fitting grooves G1 are connected by a second side wall portion 14. At the upper end of the second side wall portion 14, a second top wall portion 15 is integrally provided inwardly, thereby providing a second fitting groove G2 that is connected orthogonally to the pair of first fitting grooves G1. The ends of the pair of first fitting grooves G1 on the side opposite to the second fitting groove G2 are nut insertion openings 16 for inserting and fitting the integrated flange portion 2 and resin layer 3 of the flanged metal nut N1 with an open end. The intervals between the inner side surfaces 12a constituting the first and second fitting grooves G1, G2, and the interval between the inner opposing surface 13a and the upper surface of the base portion 11 are as described above. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 14a and 15a respectively indicate the inner side surface and inner opposing surface of the second fitting groove G2, and 17 indicates a bolt insertion hole for inserting a bolt 31 that is screwed into the flanged metal nut N1 fitted and fixed in the first and second fitting grooves G1, G2 of the holder H.

[0019] [[ID= (4)]]The above-mentioned flanged metal nut N1 is formed by injecting molten resin into a cavity formed by closing a pair of split molds that constitute an injection molding die with the nut body 1 set in a form that closes the female screw hole on one of the pair of split molds. After the molten resin cools and the pair of split molds are opened, a flanged metal nut N1 with a resin layer 3 laminated on the flange portion 2 is formed on the split mold on the side where the nut body 1 is set. In particular, in Example 1, due to the presence of the undercut portion 2a provided at the outer end of the flange portion 2 of the flanged metal nut N1 along the screw axis direction, there is a function of preventing the resin layer 3 from peeling off from the nut body 1. The resin constituting the resin layer 3 is not particularly limited, but representative examples include polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.

[0020] Then, as shown in Figure 3(a), when the flanged metal nut N1, in which the resin layer 3 is integrated with the flange portion 2, is inserted into the holder H through the nut insertion opening 16, press-fitting until the outer peripheral surface 3b of the resin layer 3 abuts against the inner surface 14a of the second side wall portion 14 of the second fitting groove G2, the flange portion 2 of the nut body 1 is pressed against the upper surface of the base portion 11 of the holder H, and the flanged metal nut N1, with the resin layer 3 integrated with the flange portion 2, is fitted into the pair of first fitting grooves G1 and second fitting grooves G2, and is set in a specific position on the holder H. In this fitted state, as shown in Figure 4, the first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1, which is integrally formed on the plane 3a on the side of the resin layer 3 of the flanged metal nut N1 that is not the flange portion, is pressed against the inner opposing surfaces 13a and 15a of the pair of first fitting grooves G1 and second fitting grooves G2. As a result, the flanged metal nut N1 set in the holder H is fitted and fixed into the first and second fitting grooves G1 and G2 of the holder H without its set position shifting due to the pressure contact. In particular, the first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1 of the resin layer 3 is continuously pressed against the inner opposing surfaces 13a and 15a of the top walls 13 and 15 of the first and second fitting grooves G1 and G2, and the total pressure contact length is increased, which has the advantage of increasing the fitting and fixing force of the flanged metal nut N1 to the holder H.

[0021] Therefore, when transporting or storing the holder H with the flanged metal nut N1 assembled in the manner described above, the position of the flanged metal nut N1 relative to the holder H will not shift even if an impact force is applied. As a result, in subsequent processes, the bolt 31 can be screwed onto the flanged metal nut N1 set in the holder H without any problems.

[0022] Next, referring to Figures 6 and 7, the flanged metal nut N2 of Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described, with the same reference numerals used for the same parts as in Embodiment 1, and only the different parts will be described to avoid redundant explanations. The flanged metal nut N2 has a configuration that enhances the fitting and fixing force of the flanged metal nut N2 to the holder H, by forming a second ring-shaped pressure contact portion P2 on the outer peripheral surface 3b of the resin layer 3, in addition to the first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1 integrally provided on the plane 3a on the side of the resin layer 3 opposite the flange portion. The outer diameter D2 of the resin layer 3 including the second ring-shaped pressure contact portion P2 is slightly larger than the distance S2 between the opposing inner surfaces 12a of the pair of first fitting grooves G1 of the holder H.

[0023] When the flanged metal nut N2 is set on the holder H, the first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1 is in pressure contact with the inner opposing surfaces 13a and 15a of the first and second top wall portions 13 and 15 of the holder H, and in addition, the second ring-shaped pressure contact portion P2 is in pinpoint pressure contact with the inner surfaces 12a and 14a of the first and second side wall portions 12 and 14 at a total of three locations. In other words, the flanged metal nut N2 on the holder H has a fixing structure in which the first and second ring-shaped pressure contact portions P1 and P2 are in pressure contact with mutually orthogonal and different inner opposing surfaces 13a and 15a and inner surfaces 12a and 14a, so the fitting and fixing force of the flanged metal nut N2 on the holder H is further enhanced.

[0024] Furthermore, it is possible to increase the fitting and fixing force of the flanged metal nut to the holder H by simply providing a second ring-shaped pressure contact portion P2 on the resin layer 3 without using the first ring-shaped pressure contact portion P1.

[0025] Furthermore, even in the case of a holder that is the object to be fixed, which only has a pair of left and right first fitting grooves G1 and does not have a second fitting groove G2 perpendicular to the first fitting grooves G1, it is possible to fit and fix a flanged metal nut to a specific position in the base portion where a bolt insertion hole is provided, along the groove direction of the first fitting grooves G1. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0026] D1: Outer diameter of the resin layer D2: Outer diameter of the resin layer including the second ring-shaped pressure-welded portion G1: First fitting groove G2: 2nd fitting groove H: Holder (object to be fixed) N1, N2: Metal nuts with flanges P1: First ring-shaped pressure-welded section P2: Second ring-shaped pressure-welded section S1: Distance between the inner surfaces of the first and pair of first fitting grooves T1: Thickness of the resin layer T2: Thickness of the resin layer including the ring-shaped pressure-welded portion. 1: Nut body 2: Tsuba (guard) 2a: Undercut section 3: Resin layer 3a: Plane on the side of the resin layer opposite the flange. 3b: Outer surface of the resin layer 11: Base Unit 12: First side wall section 12a: Inner surface (pressure contact surface) 13: First ceiling section 13a: Inner facing surface (pressure contact surface) 14: Second side wall section 14a: Inner surface (pressure contact surface) 15: Second ceiling section 15a: Inner facing surface (pressure contact surface)

Claims

1. A structure for fixing a flanged metal nut, in which a flange portion is integrally formed at one end in the axial direction of the screw core, is fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves with a U-shaped cross-section formed opposite each other on the object to be fixed, A ring-shaped resin layer is integrally molded in a laminated state onto the flange portion of the flanged metal nut, and a ring-shaped pressure contact portion is formed slightly protruding from at least one of the plane and outer peripheral surface of the resin layer on the side opposite the flange portion, which is pressed against one of the plurality of pressure contact surfaces formed on the inner surfaces of the pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed. A fixing structure for a flanged metal nut, characterized in that the integrated flange portion and resin layer of the flanged metal nut are press-fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed by the pressure contact of the ring-shaped pressure contact portion with the surface to be pressure contacted.

2. The fixing structure for a flanged metal nut according to claim 1, characterized in that the maximum diameter portion of the flange of the flanged metal nut is provided on the inside of the outer end in the direction of the screw core, an undercut portion is formed at the outer end of the flange, and the resin layer is formed to wrap around the undercut portion.

3. The fixing structure for a flanged metal nut according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the object to be fixed is provided with a second fitting groove at the end of the pair of first fitting grooves, in a direction perpendicular to the groove direction of the first fitting grooves so as to connect the pair of first fitting grooves.

4. A flanged metal nut in which a flange portion is integrally formed at one end in the axial direction of the screw core, which is fitted into a pair of first fitting grooves with a U-shaped cross-section formed opposite to the object to be fixed, A flanged metal nut characterized in that a ring-shaped resin layer is integrally molded in a laminated state on the flange portion of the flanged metal nut, and a ring-shaped pressure contact portion is formed slightly protruding from at least one of the plane and outer peripheral surface of the resin layer on the side opposite the flange portion, which is pressed against one of the plurality of pressure contact surfaces formed on the inner surface of the pair of first fitting grooves of the object to be fixed.

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