Band clamp

Abstract

To provide a band clamp capable of reducing stress concentration on a position serving as a fulcrum when rotating a band.SOLUTION: A band clamp 10 comprises a band part 12 that is wrapped around a linear member, a lock part 14 that fastens the band part 12 in a wrapped state, and a connection part 16 that connects the band part 12 and the lock part 14. The band part 12 has an engaging part. The lock part 14 has: a pair of side wall parts 32; an insertion part 34 that is provided between the pair of side wall parts 32, into which the band part 12 can be inserted, and that forms an inlet and an outlet of the band part 12; and an engaged part formed in the insertion part 34 and engaged with the engaging part. The connection part 16 has a shape that is bifurcated from the band part 12 side, and is connected only to the respective side surfaces of the pair of side wall parts 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a band clamp for holding a linear member.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a band clamp including a band portion wound around a bundled member and a lock portion to which a proximal end of the band portion is connected. The lock portion has an insertion passage through which a distal end of the band portion is inserted, and a lock claw disposed in the insertion passage and engaging with an engagement protrusion of the band portion. The proximal end of the band portion is connected to the upper surface of the lock portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, particularly when fastening a bundled member with a small diameter, the proximal end of the band portion may bend significantly, and stress may be excessively concentrated.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a band clamp that alleviates stress concentration at a position serving as a fulcrum when the band is rotated.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a band clamp according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a band portion that is wrapped around a linear member, a locking portion that secures the band portion in the wrapped state, and a connecting portion that connects the band portion and the locking portion. The band portion has an engaging portion. The locking portion has a pair of side wall portions, an insertion portion provided between the pair of side wall portions that allows the band portion to be inserted and forms an entrance and exit for the band portion, and an engaged portion formed within the insertion portion that engages with the engaging portion. The connecting portion has a bifurcated shape from the band portion side and connects only to the sides of the pair of side wall portions. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a band clamp can be provided that alleviates stress concentration at the pivot point when the band is rotated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the band clamp in the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective cross-sectional view of a band clamp. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a front view of the band clamp, and Figure 3(b) is a side view of the band clamp. [Figure 4] This is a side view of a band clamp holding a linear member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the band clamp 10 of the embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the band clamp 10. Figure 3(a) is a front view of the band clamp 10, and Figure 3(b) is a side view of the band clamp 10.

[0010] The band clamp 10 is used to attach linear members such as harnesses and pipes to mounting members such as vehicle body panels and interior panels. The linear member held by the band clamp 10 may consist of a single harness, or it may consist of multiple harnesses bundled together.

[0011] The band clamp 10 comprises a band portion 12, a locking portion 14, a connecting portion 16, and a fixing portion 18. The fixing portion 18 has a flange portion 26, a shaft portion 28, and an elastic leg portion 30. The fixing portion 18 is located below the locking portion 14 and is fixed to the member to be attached. The flange portion 26 is formed in an umbrella shape so as to protrude radially outward.

[0012] The shaft portion 28 hangs down from the center of the flange portion 26. A pair of elastic legs 30 are formed to face each other, sandwiching the shaft portion 28. The pair of elastic legs 30 extend from the lower end of the shaft portion 28 toward the flange portion 26 and are formed to be flexible. The pair of elastic legs 30 engage with the back edge of the mounting hole formed in the mounting member, fixing the band clamp 10 to the mounting member. Note that the fixing portion 18 is not limited to being fixed by a snap fit, but may also be fixed by adhesive or by a separate fastener.

[0013] The band portion 12 has an engaging portion 20, a band edge portion 22, and projections 24. The band portion 12 is formed in a strip shape and is wrapped around a linear member. As shown in Figure 2, the engaging portion 20 is formed in a multi-stage claw shape along the longitudinal direction of the band portion 12. The band edge portion 22 shown in Figure 1 is formed in a rib shape along the longitudinal direction of the band portion 12. Multiple projections 24 are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction and are located on the back side of the engaging portion 20. The band edge portion 22 and projections 24 abut against the wrapped linear member and prevent the linear member from shifting.

[0014] The locking portion 14 has a side wall portion 32, an insertion portion 34, a bottom portion 35, a base portion 36, an engaged portion 38, a mounting portion 40, and a central rib 42. The locking portion 14 secures the band portion 12 when it is wrapped around the band. The locking portion 14 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape and defines a through insertion portion 34. As shown in Figure 3(b), the insertion portion 34 has an inlet 34a and an outlet 34b, and the band portion 12 is inserted from the inlet 34a and ejected from the outlet 34b.

[0015] The side wall portions 32 are formed in pairs by being erected from the bottom portion 35 on the fixing portion 18 side and are arranged facing each other. The bottom portion 35 and the base portion 36 are arranged facing each other vertically and together with the pair of side wall portions 32 define an insertion portion 34. The insertion portion 34 is provided between the pair of side wall portions 32 and through which the band portion 12 can be inserted.

[0016] As shown in Figure 2, the engaged portion 38 is formed within the insertion portion 34 and is formed in a two-tiered claw shape. The engaged portion 38 extends from the bottom portion 35 and is flexible. The engaged portion 38 engages with the engaging portion 20 of the band portion 12 inserted into the insertion portion 34. The engaged portion 38 may also extend from the base portion 36, in which case the engaging portion 20 of the band portion 12 is positioned on the opposite side of the arrangement shown in Figure 2.

[0017] The pair of mounting portions 40 and the central rib 42 are formed on the surface side of the base portion 36 and are formed as protrusions along the through-direction of the insertion portion 34. The mounting portions 40 are located on both edges of the upper surface of the lock portion 14 in the width direction, above the side wall portion 32, and at the upper end of the lock portion 14. The mounting portions 40 and the central rib 42 function as contact ribs that abut against the linear member. The distance between the pair of mounting portions 40 is greater than the distance between the pair of band edge portions 22.

[0018] The connecting portion 16 has a bifurcated portion 44 and a protruding portion 46. The connecting portion 16 connects the band portion 12 and the locking portion 14. The connecting portion 16 has a bifurcated shape from the band portion 12 side and connects only to the side surfaces 32a of the pair of side wall portions 32. When the band portion 12 wraps around the linear member, it rotates with the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 as the pivot point. Since the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 is on the side surface 32a of the side wall portion 32, it can be positioned further away from the linear member compared to when it is provided on the upper surface of the locking portion 14. Therefore, when the band portion 12 wraps around the linear member, the degree of twisting at the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 can be reduced, and stress concentration at the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 can be alleviated. In addition, even if an impact is applied to the band clamp 10 after the linear member has been fastened, stress concentration at the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 can be reduced.

[0019] The bifurcated portion 44 extends from the side surface 32a of the pair of side wall portions 32 toward the band portion 12, joins midway, and connects to the band portion 12. The position 50 where the bifurcated portion 44 is connected to the side wall portion 32 is connected at a position away from the placement portion 40. That is, the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 is offset downward from the upper end of the locking portion 14 on the side surface 32a. The connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 is located on the insertion portion 34 side rather than the placement portion 40 side, on the fixing portion 18 side rather than the placement portion 40 side, and on the bottom portion 35 side of the locking portion 14 rather than the placement portion 40 side. A gap is formed between the connecting portion 16 and the side surface 32a of the side wall portion 32. Thereby, the connection position 50 serving as the rotation fulcrum of the band portion 12 can be separated from the linear member, and stress concentration at the connection position 50 can be alleviated.

[0020] The connecting portion 16 is connected to the side surface 32a at the position 50 on the outlet 34b side rather than the inlet 34a side. The connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 is formed on the outlet 34b side rather than the center of the side surface 32a in the penetrating direction of the insertion portion 34. Since the linear member is likely to be placed on the center side of the side wall portion 32, the connection position 50 serving as the rotation fulcrum of the band portion 12 can be separated from the linear member, and stress concentration at the connection position 50 can be alleviated. Also, it becomes possible to wind a linear member with a large diameter, and the applicable diameter range of the band clamp 10 can be widened.

[0021] The bifurcated portion 44 has a rising portion 52 and a bent portion 54. As shown in FIG. 3(b), the rising portion 52 rises from the side surface 32a toward the placement portion 40 when viewed in the plane direction of the side wall portion 32. The rising portion 52 extends along the vertical direction. The bent portion 54 bends from the rising portion 52 toward the outlet 34b side when viewed in the plane direction of the side wall portion 32 and inclines with respect to the rising portion 52. The bent portion 54 is located on the band portion 12 side rather than the placement portion 40 side and extends so as to protrude above the upper end of the locking portion 14. Since the bent portion 54 inclines toward the outlet 34b side, when the band portion 12 winds the linear member, the rotation angle of the connecting portion 16 viewed in the plane direction of the side wall portion 32 can be reduced, and stress concentration at the connection position 50 can be alleviated.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3(a), the bifurcated portion 44 projects in the width direction from the side surface 32a and then rises, having a gap separated from the side surface 32a by a distance L. The width direction is the same as the plane direction of the side wall portion 32. The distance L may be approximately the same as the width of the bifurcated portion 44 or may be more than half of the width of the bifurcated portion 44. The bifurcated portion 44 is provided so as not to project outside the radial direction of the flange portion 26. The connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 is provided above and separated from the flange portion 26 of the fixing portion 18.

[0023] The convex portion 46 is formed to project from the bifurcated portion 44 and extends from below the mounting portion 40 to the side of the band portion 12 rather than the mounting portion 40 as shown in Fig. 3(a). The convex portion 46 is used for positioning the linear member and suppresses the displacement of the linear member wound around the band portion 12.

[0024] Fig. 4 is a side view of the band clamp 10 holding the linear member 60. The band clamp 10 can hold a plurality of types of linear members with different wire diameters, and the linear member shown in Fig. 4 is one of the linear members with the smallest wire diameter among those assumed to be used. The band clamp 10 can also hold a linear member having a wire diameter about 2.5 times that of the linear member 60 shown in Fig. 4.

[0025] The mounting portion 40 is located between the linear member 60 and the insertion portion 34 in a state where the linear member 60 is wound around, and the linear member 60 wound by the band portion 12 is placed thereon. The convex portion 46 abuts against the linear member 60 to position the linear member 60. Even when holding a linear member 60 with a small diameter, the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 is sufficiently separated from the action point of the linear member 60, so that the degree of torsion around the connection position 50 of the connecting portion 16 can be suppressed and the stress concentration can be alleviated.

[0026] The connecting portion 16 is configured so as not to hit the mounting portion 40 when winding the linear member 60. That is, even when fastening the linear member 60 with the minimum applicable diameter, the connecting portion 16 does not interfere with the upper end of the locking portion 14. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of stress concentration at the portion where the connecting portion 16 hits the mounting portion 40.

[0027] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications such as design changes can be made to each embodiment based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and embodiments with such modifications may also be included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10 Band clamp, 12 Band section, 14 Locking section, 16 Connecting section, 18 Fixing section, 20 Engaging section, 22 Band edge section, 24 Projection section, 26 Flange section, 28 Shaft section, 30 Elastic leg section, 32 Side wall section, 32a Side view, 34 Insertion section, 34a Inlet, 34b Outlet, 35 Bottom section, 36 Base section, 38 Engaged section, 40 Mounting section, 42 Central rib, 44 Bifurcated section, 46 Convex section, 52 Rising section, 54 Bent section, 60 Linear member.

Claims

1. A band portion that is wrapped around a linear member, A locking mechanism for securing the band portion in its wrapped state, It comprises a connecting portion that connects the band portion and the locking portion, The band portion has an engaging portion, The aforementioned locking mechanism is A pair of side walls, An insertion portion is provided between a pair of side wall portions, through which the band portion can be inserted, and which forms the entrance and exit of the band portion, It has an engaged portion formed within the insertion portion and engaged with the engaging portion, The band clamp is characterized in that the connecting portion has a bifurcated shape from the band portion side and connects only to the sides of the pair of side wall portions.

2. The locking portion is located between the linear member and the insertion portion when the linear member is wrapped around it, and has a mounting portion on which the linear member wrapped by the band portion is placed. The band clamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion is connected at a position away from the mounting portion described above.

3. The band clamp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting portion is connected to the side surface at a position closer to the exit side than to the inlet side.

4. The aforementioned connecting portion is A rising portion that rises from the side surface toward the aforementioned mounting portion when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the side wall portion, The side wall portion has a bent portion that bends from the rising portion toward the exit side when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the side wall, The band clamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the bent portion is located on the band portion side of the previously described mounting portion.

5. The band clamp according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that the connecting portion is configured so as not to come into contact with the aforementioned mounting portion when winding a linear member.

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