Height Adjustment Stopper Assembly

Abstract

To enable finer adjustment of the height or axial dimension of a stopper assembly.SOLUTION: A stopper assembly 100, disposed between a static member 10 and a movable member 14, for maintaining a constant distance between the static member and movable member includes a base member 200 that is fixed to the static member and that has an internal thread 202, a coupling member 300, 400 that has an external thread 304 that engages the internal thread of the base member on a base end side 302 and an internal thread 406 on a tip end side, and a contact member 500 that has an external thread 506 that engages the internal thread of the main body part on the base end side and a contact surface 508 that contacts the movable member on the tip end side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a stopper assembly having an adjustable height for maintaining a constant distance between a stationary member and a movable member. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, stopper assemblies have been used in the past to maintain a constant distance between a stationary member, such as the body of an automobile, and a movable member, such as a door or trunk lid of an automobile, that is provided so as to be capable of approaching or receding from the stationary member. Some of these stopper assemblies have an adjustable height, i.e., an axial dimension. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The present invention is directed to providing finer adjustment of the height or axial dimension of such stopper assemblies. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a stopper assembly which is disposed between a stationary member and a movable member which is provided so as to be capable of approaching and receding from the stationary member, and which maintains a constant distance between the stationary member and the movable member, comprising: A stopper assembly is provided which includes a base member fixed to the stationary member and having an internal thread, a connecting member having an external thread on a base end side which engages with the internal thread of the base member and an internal thread on a tip end side, and an abutment member having an external thread on a base end side which engages with the internal thread of the connecting member and an abutment surface on a tip end side which abuts against the movable member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a stopper assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2]2 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the stopper assembly of FIG. 1 cut along a plane including an axis. [Diagram 3] 2 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view showing a body member, a receiving member and an abutment member of the stopper assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing a receiving member and an abutting member of the stopper assembly of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 5 is a side view of the receiving member and the abutting member of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 2 is a longitudinal sectional perspective view of a body member of the stopper assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the receiving member and the abutting member of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the abutment member is completely pressed into the receiving member. [Figure 9] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stopper assembly of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the movable member is in contact with the abutment member, and the abutment member, the receiving member and the main body member are pressed into the base member. [Figure 10] 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the stopper assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating a method for axially moving the abutment member from the receiving member in the state of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the axis, showing grooves and ribs for rotational positioning of the abutting member. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a stopper assembly according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 10, the stopper assembly 100 includes, as main components, a base member 200 having an internal thread 202 formed thereon, a main body member 300 having an external thread 302 that screws into the internal thread 202 of the base member 200, a receiving member 400 that fits into the main body member 300, and an abutment member 500. The stopper assembly 100 can be made of metal or plastic material.

[0007] The stopper assembly 100 is disposed between a stationary member 10 (FIG. 9) such as a steel plate forming the body of an automobile, and a movable member 14 (FIG. 9) such as a door rotatably attached to the body as the stationary member 10 so as to move toward and away from the body. In this embodiment, a base member 200 is fixed to the stationary member 10.

[0008] The base member 200 is formed of a hollow, substantially cylindrical member having a bottom. The base member 200 includes a flange portion 206 extending radially outward, a base end portion 208 extending axially from the flange portion 206 and fitted into a mounting hole 12 formed in the stationary member 10, and a protruding portion 210 extending from the flange portion 206 in the opposite direction to the base end portion 208. At least one, preferably two, locking slots 214 are formed in the protruding portion 210. The locking slots 214 extend a predetermined length in the circumferential direction of the protruding portion 210. When two locking slots 214 are provided, the two locking slots 214 are arranged on opposite sides of the protruding portion 210 in the diametrical direction.

[0009] An internal thread 202 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base end portion 208. The internal thread 202 does not extend around the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the base end portion 208, but is formed in two regions arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the base end portion 208, with a curved portion 208a (see Figures 2 and 9) between the two where no threads are formed.

[0010] An engaging portion 212 that engages with the periphery of the mounting hole 12 of the stationary member 10 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the base end portion 208. The engaging portion 212 is disposed on the diametrically opposite side of the base end portion 208. The engaging portion 212 has first and second clamp portions 212a, 212b. The first clamp portion 212a is disposed at different axial distances from the flange portion 206 so as to engage with the stationary member 10 made of a relatively thick plate material, and the second clamp portion 212b is disposed at different axial distances from the flange portion 206 so as to engage with the stationary member 10 made of a relatively thin plate material.

[0011] 9 and 10, the base member 200 can be provided with a seal lip 204 that comes into liquid-tight contact with the surface of the stationary member 10 when the engaging portion 212 is engaged with the periphery of the mounting hole 12 and attached to the stationary member 10. The seal lip 204 can be provided in the flange portion 206 so as to extend along the outer periphery of the side surface on which the base end portion 208 is formed. The seal lip 204 can be formed from the same material as the base member 200 or a different, more flexible material.

[0012] In this embodiment, the main body member 300 is a substantially cylindrical member having a base end portion 302 and a tip portion 306. The main body member 300 is introduced into the base member 200 from the protruding portion 210 of the base member 200. Between the base end portion 302 and the tip portion 306, a flange portion 310 is formed that protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the main body member 300. An outer peripheral surface of the base end portion 302 is formed with an outer thread 304 that can be engaged with the inner thread of the base member 200. The outer thread 304 is formed in two regions arranged on opposite sides in the diametric direction of the base end portion 302, similar to the inner thread 208 of the base member 200, and a curved surface portion 302a (see FIGS. 2 and 9) where no thread is formed is provided between the two. When the external threads 304 of the body member 300 are threadedly engaged with the internal threads 202 of the base member 200 , the central axes of the body member 300 and the base member 200 coincide with the central axis O of the stopper assembly 100 .

[0013] In the main body member 300, a tip portion 306 opposite the base portion 302 is formed with a recess 308 as a receiving portion for receiving the receiving member 400. At least one, and preferably two, locking openings 312 are formed in the outer circumferential surface of the tip portion 306. The two locking openings 312 are disposed on opposite sides in the diametrical direction of the tip portion 306.

[0014] The receiving member 400 has a hollow cylindrical fitting portion 402 and a flange portion 404 connected to one end of the fitting portion 402. An internal thread 406 is formed in the fitting portion 402. A plurality of slits 408 extending in the axial direction are formed in the fitting portion 402, and the fitting portion 402 has a plurality of legs 410 formed therein that are swingable relative to the flange portion 404. When the abutment member 500, which will be described later, is inserted into the fitting portion, the ends of the plurality of legs 410 on the opposite side to the flange portion 404 are expanded.

[0015] Furthermore, at least one locking projection 416 is formed on the outer surface of the fitting portion 402 at a position adjacent to the tip portion. When the fitting portion 402 is inserted into the tip portion 306 of the main body member 300, the locking projection 416 enters the locking opening 312 of the tip portion 306 of the main body member 300 and engages with the locking opening 312 to prevent the receiving member 400 from coming off the main body member 300. Furthermore, a central hole 412 is formed in the flange portion 404.

[0016] The abutment member 500 includes a head 502 having an abutment surface 508, and a shank portion 504 extending from the head 502 along a central axis. The shank portion 504 is formed with an external thread 506 that can be screwed into the internal thread 406 of the receiving member 400. Preferably, the abutment member 500 can be molded integrally with the receiving member 400, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this case, the tip of the shank portion 504 is connected to the flange portion 404 of the receiving member 400 by a plurality of bridge portions 414 that extend radially from the outer periphery of a central hole 412 of the receiving member 400.

[0017] The head 502 may be formed with a recess 510 extending axially from the abutment surface 508. The recess 510 has a shape adapted to a screwdriver (not shown) or a hexagonal wrench (not shown) for rotating the abutment member 500 about the central axis. In this example, the recess 510 has a hexagonal cross section.

[0018] As described above, the fitting portion 402 of the receiving member 400 is formed of a plurality of legs 410, and the tip portions 402a of the legs 410 are expanded, so that the abutting member 500 can be pushed into the fitting portion 402 of the receiving member 400 by pressing it axially toward the receiving member 400 during use, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. At this time, the bridge portion 414 between the shank portion 504 of the abutting member 500 and the flange portion 404 of the receiving member 400 is broken.

[0019] Next, the receiving member 400 and the abutment member 500 thus assembled are inserted into the recess 308 in the tip portion of the main body member 300, and the main body member 300, the receiving member 400 and the abutment member 500 are integrated together. The integrated main body member 300, the receiving member 400 and the abutment member 500 are inserted into the base member 200 from the protruding portion 210 of the base member 200.

[0020] At this time, the main body member 300 is rotated and positioned around the central axis O so that the external threads 304 formed in two regions on the outer circumferential surface of the main body member 300 match the region 208a where the internal threads 202 of the base member 200 are not formed. In this manner, the integrated main body member 300, receiving member 400, and abutting member 500 can be inserted into the base member 200 from the protruding portion 210 of the base member 200 by simply pushing them in the axial direction without engaging the external threads 304 of the main body member 300 with the internal threads 202 of the base member 200 until the locking portion 314 of the main body member 300 engages with the locking slot 214 of the base member 200 (see FIGS. 2 and 9).

[0021] In this manner, the base member 200, the main body member 300, the receiving member 400 and the abutment member 500 are assembled into the stopper assembly 100. When the main body member 300 is coupled to the base member 200, the locking portion 314 engages with the locking slot 214, thereby preventing the main body member 300 from being detached from the base member 200. In this embodiment, the main body member 300 and the receiving member 400 constitute a coupling member that couples the abutment member 500 to the base member 200.

[0022] In the stopper assembly 100 thus assembled, the base end portion 208 of the base member 200 is inserted into the mounting hole 12 preliminarily formed in the stationary member 10, and then the base member 200 is rotated about the central axis O to engage the engagement portion 212 with the periphery of the mounting hole 12 in the stationary member 10, thereby fixing the stopper assembly 100 to the stationary member 10 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Next, the movable member 14 is moved toward the stationary member 10 and abuts against the abutment surface 508 of the abutment member 500 of the stopper assembly 100 fixed to the stationary member 10. Figure 9 shows a state in which the buffer pad 14a attached to the movable member 14 such as a trunk lid abuts against the abutment surface 508. At that time, the impact acting on the abutment member 500 from the movable member 14 causes the locking opening 312 of the main body member 300 to disengage from the locking slot 214 of the base member 200, and the abutment member 500, the receiving member 400 and the main body member 300 move axially together relative to the base member 200.

[0023] Next, the flange portion 404 of the receiving member 400 is held by the operator's fingers (not shown) or a tool such as pliers (not shown) and the receiving member 400 is rotated to engage the outer thread 304 of the main body member 300 with the inner thread 202 of the base member 200, and the main body member 300 is fixed to the base member 200. Next, the abutting member 500 is rotated around the central axis O in the loosening direction, so that it moves in a direction away from the receiving member 400 and the main body member 300 (upward in FIG. 10). This makes it possible to finely adjust the distance between the stationary member 10 and the movable member 14 when the movable member 14 abuts against the abutting member 500. This operation can be performed with the movable member 14 separated from the abutting member.

[0024] In order to fix the rotational position of the abutting member 500 relative to the receiving member 400, a groove 418 extending in the axial direction can be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member 400, and a rib 512 engageable with the groove 418 can be formed on the shank portion 504 of the abutting member 500. By forming the groove 418 in the receiving member 400 and the rib 512 in the abutting member 500 in this way, when the receiving member 400 is rotated to fine-tune the axial dimension of the stopper assembly 100 after the stopper assembly 100 is fixed to the stationary member 10, the rib 512 snaps into engagement with the groove 418 with each rotation, and the operator can know that the abutting member 500 has been rotated once by the clicking sensation that occurs at that time. In addition, by rotating the abutment member 500 once, it is possible to adjust the axial dimension or height of the stopper assembly 100 protruding from the stationary member 10 by a distance equivalent to the pitch of the internal thread 406 of the receiving member 400 and the external thread 506 of the abutment member 500.

[0025] Thus, since the main body member 300 is coupled to the base member 200 through threaded engagement between the inner thread 202 of the base member 200 and the outer thread 304 of the main body member 300, and the abutment member 500 is coupled to the main body member 300 through threaded engagement between the inner thread 406 of the receiving member 400 and the outer thread 506 of the abutment member 500, the axial dimension or height of the stopper assembly 100 protruding from the stationary member 10 can be adjusted in two stages. Therefore, the axial dimension or height of the stopper assembly 100 can be easily adjusted to properly maintain the distance between the stationary member 10 and the movable member 14.

[0026] In the above-described embodiment, the body member 300 and the receiving member 400 constituting the coupling member are separate members, but as shown in FIG. 11, they may be integrated. In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 11, the coupling member 600 has a fitting portion 602 having an inner thread 604 that can be screwed with an outer thread 606 of a shank portion 704 extending from a head portion 702 of the abutting member 700. The fitting portion 602 also has a plurality of legs 608 formed by a plurality of slits 606 extending in the axial direction, similar to the fitting portion 402 of the receiving member 400 in the first embodiment, and the end opposite to the flange portion 610 is expanded. Note that, in the second embodiment, a groove (not shown) that engages with a rib (not shown) provided on the abutting member 700 can be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the coupling member 600, similar to the rib 512 and the groove 418 in the first embodiment. Some aspects of the invention are described below. [Aspect 1] A stopper assembly is provided between a stationary member and a movable member that can approach and move away from the stationary member, for maintaining a constant distance between the stationary member and the movable member, comprising: a base member secured to the stationary member and having an internal thread; a coupling member having an external thread on a proximal end side that engages with the internal thread of the base member and an internal thread on a distal end side; A stopper assembly comprising an abutment member having an external thread on a base end side that engages with the internal thread of the coupling member, and an abutment surface on a tip end side that abuts against the movable member. [Aspect 2] A stopper assembly as described in embodiment 1, wherein the base member is a hollow, approximately cylindrical member having a base end portion that fits into a hole formed in the stationary member and a tip portion opposite the base end portion, and the internal thread is formed on the inner surface of the base end portion. [Aspect 3] The stopper assembly of embodiment 1, wherein the abutment member has a flat head portion forming the abutment surface, and a shank portion extending axially from the side of the head opposite the abutment surface, and the shank portion is formed with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the connecting member. [Aspect 4] The stopper assembly of claim 2, wherein the connecting member is a hollow, approximately cylindrical member having a base end portion formed with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the base member, and a tip portion opposite the base end portion, the tip portion having an internal thread that engages with the external thread of the abutment member. [Aspect 5] The stopper assembly of embodiment 1, wherein the connecting member includes a main body member having an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the base member, and a receiving member attached to the main body member opposite the external thread and having an internal thread that engages with the external thread of the abutment member. [Aspect 6] A stopper assembly as described in embodiment 5, wherein the main body member has a base end portion on which the external thread is formed and a tip end portion opposite the base end portion, and a recess for receiving the receiving member is formed in the tip end portion. [Aspect 7] The stopper assembly of embodiment 6, wherein the receiving member includes a flat flange portion having a central hole, and a hollow fitting portion extending from one side of the flange portion and fitting into the recess, and an internal thread is formed on the inner surface of the fitting portion with which the external thread of the abutment portion engages. [Aspect 8] A stopper assembly according to embodiment 7, wherein the fitting portion of the receiving member is formed with a plurality of axially extending slits, thereby allowing the tip to be expanded. [Aspect 9] The stopper assembly of embodiment 7, wherein the abutment member has a flat head portion forming the abutment surface, and a shank portion extending axially from the side of the head opposite the abutment surface, and the shank portion is formed with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the fitting portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10 Stationary Members 12 Mounting holes 14 Movable parts 14a Cushioning pad 100 Stopper assembly 200 Base material 204 Seal Lip 206 Flange part 208 Proximal part 208a Curved part 210 Projecting part 212 Engagement part 212a first clamp part 212b Second clamp part 214 Locking slot 300 Main body material 302 Proximal part 302a Curved part 304 External thread 306 Tip part 308 Recess 310 Flange part 312 Locking opening 314 Locking part 400 Receiving member 402 Fitting part 402a Tip 404 Flange part 408 Slit 410 Legs 412 Center hole 414 Bridge 416 Locking protrusion 418 Groove 500 Contact member 502 Head 504 Shank 506 External Thread 508 Contact surface 510 Recess 512 Rib 600 Connecting member 602 Fitting part 606 Slit 608 Legs 610 Flange part 700 Contact member 702 Head 704 Shank

Claims

1. A stopper assembly is provided between a stationary member and a movable member that can approach and move away from the stationary member, for maintaining a constant distance between the stationary member and the movable member, comprising: a base member secured to the stationary member and having an internal thread; a coupling member having an external thread on a proximal end side that engages with the internal thread of the base member and an internal thread on a distal end side; a contact member having an external thread at a base end side that engages with the internal thread of the coupling member and an contact surface at a tip end side that contacts the movable member; A stopper assembly in which the coupling member includes a body member having external threads that engage with the internal threads of the base member, and a receiving member attached to the body member opposite the external threads and having internal threads that engage with the external threads of the abutment member.

2. 2. The stopper assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member is a hollow, approximately cylindrical member having a base end portion that fits into a hole formed in the stationary member and a tip portion opposite the base end portion, and the internal thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the base end portion.

3. 2. The stopper assembly according to claim 1, wherein the abutment member has a flat head portion forming the abutment surface, and a shank portion extending axially from a side of the head opposite the abutment surface, and the shank portion is formed with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the connecting member.

4. 3. The stopper assembly of claim 2, wherein the coupling member comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical member having a base end portion formed with external threads for engaging with the internal threads of the base member, and a tip portion opposite the base end portion and having internal threads for engaging with the external threads of the abutment member.

5. 2. The stopper assembly according to claim 1, wherein the body member has a base end portion on which the external threads are formed and a distal end portion opposite the base end portion, the distal end portion being formed with a recess for receiving the receiving member.

6. 6. The stopper assembly as described in claim 5, wherein the receiving member includes a flat flange portion having a central hole, and a hollow fitting portion extending from one side of the flange portion and fitting into the recess, and an internal thread is formed on the inner surface of the fitting portion with which the external thread of the abutment member engages.

7. 7. The stopper assembly according to claim 6, wherein the fitting portion of the receiving member is formed with a plurality of axially extending slits, thereby allowing the tip end to be expanded.

8. 7. The stopper assembly according to claim 6, wherein the abutment member has a flat head portion forming the abutment surface, and a shank portion extending axially from the side of the head opposite the abutment surface, and the shank portion is formed with an external thread that engages with the internal thread of the fitting portion.

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