Hook device

Abstract

This hook device 10 comprises a base 12 formed from a resin material, a hook 14 formed from a metal material and rotatably provided with respect to the base 12, and a metal spring that biases the hook 14. The hook 14 has a load-hanging part located on the leading-end side, a pair of base-end parts arranged opposite each other on the base-end side, and a contact surface formed on the periphery of the base-end parts. The axis of rotation of the hook 14 along which the pair of base-end parts face each other is positioned to run through the pair of base-end parts, and the base 12 has a flexible piece interposed between the contact surface and the metal spring. The metal spring biases the contact surface via the flexible piece toward the axis of rotation of the hook 14.

Description

Hook device

[0001] The present invention relates to a hook device including a hook and a metal spring made of a metal material and a base made of a resin material.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hook member that includes a base frame having a recess in the center and bearing portions on both sides, a hook body journaled on the bearing portions, a leaf spring that elastically contacts the cam surface of the hook body, a cover body journaled on the bearing portions and conceals the bolt head, and a metal bracket attached to the outside bottom surface of the base frame.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-46548

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the leaf spring contacts the cam surface of the hook body and slides in response to the rotation of the hook body. Furthermore, it is time-consuming to apply a surface treatment to the hook body to reduce sliding resistance.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a hook device that can be easily manufactured by suppressing direct sliding between the hook and the metal spring.

[0006] To solve the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a hook device comprising a base made of a resin material, a hook made of a metal material and rotatably mounted relative to the base, and a metal spring that biases the hook. The hook has a load-carrying portion located at the distal end, a pair of base ends arranged opposite each other at the proximal end, and an abutment surface formed on the outer periphery of the base end. The hook's rotation axis, which runs along the direction in which the pair of base ends oppose each other, passes through the pair of base ends, and the base has a flexible piece interposed between the abutment surface and the metal spring. The metal spring biases the abutment surface toward the rotation axis of the hook via the flexible piece.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hook device that can be easily manufactured by suppressing direct sliding between the hook and the metal spring.

[0008] 3(a) is a perspective view of the hook device of the embodiment; FIG. 3(b) is an exploded view of the hook device of the embodiment; FIG. 3(a) is a top view of the base, and FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of the base taken along line A-A in FIG. 3(a); FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view of the hook device before the hook and the shaft are assembled; FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the hook device taken along line B-B in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hook device shown in FIG.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hook device 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hook device 10 according to an embodiment. The member to which the hook device 10 is fixed is a vehicle body panel, but may also be an interior panel forming the vehicle interior. The hook device 10 is disposed on the floor, side wall, or ceiling of the luggage compartment of the vehicle. In the hook device 10 shown in FIG. 1, the hook 14 is in a retracted state.

[0010] The hook device 10 includes a base 12, a hook 14, a metal spring 16, a bracket 18, a screw 20, a shaft 22, and a washer 24. The base 12 is formed from a resin material and covers the metal spring 16, the screw 20, and the shaft 22. The hook 14, the metal spring 16, the bracket 18, the screw 20, and the shaft 22 are formed from a metal material. The base 12 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 .

[0011] Fig. 3(a) is a top view of the base 12, and Fig. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view of the base 12 taken along line A-A in Fig. 3(a). The base 12 has a bottom 26, a flange 27, a side wall 28, a support wall 29, a lid 30, a locking claw 32, a hinge 34, an insertion hole 36, an operation hole 38, a receiving portion 40, a pin 42, a protrusion 44, a flexible piece 46, a slit 47, a support portion 48, and a locking hole 49.

[0012] As shown in Figure 2, the side walls 28 and the support walls 29 extend upright from the bottom 26 and form the outer periphery of the base 12. The flanges 27 are formed to protrude outward from the tops of the side walls 28 and the support walls 29. The flanges 27 hook onto the edges of openings in interior panels. The support walls 29 extend along the rotational axis of the hook 14 and are connected to the pair of side walls 28.

[0013] The lid 30 is rotatably connected to the support wall 29 by a thin hinge 34. A locking claw 32 is formed on each side of the lid 30. The locking claws 32 lock onto the bottom 26 to maintain the lid 30 in a closed state as shown in FIG. 1 . After the hook device 10 is fixed to the workpiece with the screw 20, the lid 30 is closed. The hinge 34 is disposed parallel to the shaft 22.

[0014] The insertion holes 36 are formed in each of a pair of opposing side wall portions 28 and are arranged coaxially. Both ends of the shaft 22 are inserted into the pair of insertion holes 36. The operation hole 38 is formed in the bottom portion 26 and is configured so that a tool for rotating the screw 20 can be inserted therein.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3( a), a pair of receiving portions 40 are formed in the shape of holes in the bottom portion 26. The receiving portions 40 engage with the bracket 18. The pin portions 42 are formed in a columnar shape and protrude from the rear surface of the bottom portion 26. The pin portions 42 function as positioning devices when attaching the hook device 10 to a workpiece. As shown in FIG. 3( a), a pair of locking holes 49 are formed in the bottom portion 26 and lock the locking claw portions 32.

[0016] The protrusion 44 is formed as a cantilever protruding from the support wall 29. The protrusion 44 is formed in a columnar shape and protrudes in a direction Y perpendicular to the rotation axis direction X of the hook 14. A pair of protrusions 44 are provided spaced apart in the rotation axis direction X of the hook 14. As shown in FIG. 3(b) , the protrusion 44 has a convex portion 44a protruding from the back surface toward the metal spring 16.

[0017] The flexible piece 46 is formed as a cantilever extending from the protruding portion 44 along the rotation axis direction X. The flexible piece 46 is formed in a flat plate shape, is spaced apart from the support wall portion 29, and is flexible in the up-down direction. The slit 47 is formed so as to cut out the bottom portion 26, and is located below the protruding portion 44 and the flexible piece 46.

[0018] The support portion 48 is formed from the bottom portion 26 to the support wall portion 29, and protrudes from the support wall portion 29 in a direction Y perpendicular to the rotation axis direction X. The support portion 48 is located between the pair of protruding portions 44. Slits 47 are provided on both sides of the support portion 48 in the rotation axis direction X.

[0019] Returning to Figure 2, the bracket 18 is formed by cutting and bending a metal plate material. The bracket 18 has a bottom portion 56, an upright portion 58, a support hole portion 60, a rotation stop portion 62, a screw fixing hole 64, a protruding portion 66, and a protruding portion 68.

[0020] The upright portions 58 are bent and erected from the bottom portion 56, and are formed as a pair facing each other. A support hole 60 is formed in each of the pair of upright portions 58. The pair of support holes 60 are formed coaxially and support the inserted shaft 22. As a result, the hook 14 is rotatably supported on the bracket 18 via the shaft 22, and the load pulling the hook 14 is input to the bracket 18.

[0021] The rotation stopper 62 is formed to protrude inward from the upright portion 58 and is spaced upward from the bottom portion 56. The rotation stopper 62 abuts against the radial protrusion 54 of the hook 14 to stop the hook 14 from rotating in the opening direction. The screw fixing hole 64 is formed in the bottom portion 56 so that the screw 20 can be inserted therein. The screw fixing hole 64 is smaller than the head of the screw 20. The bracket 18 is fixed to the workpiece by the screw 20.

[0022] The protruding portions 66 are formed as a pair so as to protrude. The protruding portions 66 are inserted into the receiving portions 40 of the base 12 to join the bracket 18 and the base 12 together.

[0023] The protruding portion 68 is formed between the pair of overhanging portions 66, and bends the bottom portion 56 to protrude toward the back side. The protruding portion 68 is inserted into an insertion hole in the workpiece, and prevents the hook device 10 from tilting when it comes into contact with the insertion hole.

[0024] The hook 14 is formed in a generally U-shape, is rotatable relative to the base 12, and is supported by the bracket 18 via the shaft 22. The hook 14 is inexpensive because it can be formed from a metal plate. A load-carrying portion 53 is formed at the tip end of the hook 14, and base ends 50 are formed on both base ends of the hook 14. A pair of base ends 50 are formed opposite each other. The base ends 50 have an axial hole 52 in the center, into which the shaft 22 can be inserted. The rotation axis of the hook 14 is aligned along the opposing direction of the pair of base ends 50 and passes through the center of the axial hole 52.

[0025] The base end portion 50 has an abutment surface 55 on its outer periphery. The abutment surface 55 is formed smoothly so that the diameter from the shaft hole portion 52 changes circumferentially, and constitutes a cam surface along which the flexible piece 46 slides. The radial protrusions 54 protrude radially outward from the outer periphery of the base end portion 50. The radial protrusions 54 function as stoppers that stop the rotation of the hook 14.

[0026] The metal spring 16 is a strip-shaped leaf spring that biases the contact surface 55 of the hook 14. The metal spring 16 has an elastic piece 70 and a central portion 72. The central portion 72 is located in the center of the metal spring 16 and is formed in an inverted U shape. The central portion 72 engages with the support portion 48 of the base 12 and is supported by the support portion 48. A pair of elastic pieces 70 extend from both sides of the central portion 72 along the rotation axis direction X. The elastic pieces 70 extend from a root portion 70a connected to the central portion 72 to a tip portion 70b. The bias of the metal spring 16 maintains the hook 14 shown in FIG. 1 in a retracted state or a fully open state.

[0027] The shaft 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is inserted into the insertion hole 36 of the base 12, the axial hole 52 of the hook 14, and the metal spring 16. The shaft 22 has a large diameter portion 22a at one end that acts as a retainer. The washer 24 is formed from a soft material and allows the pin portion 42 of the base 12 and the protrusion 68 of the bracket 18 to be inserted therein. The washer 24 prevents foreign matter from entering through the insertion hole of the attached member.

[0028] 4 is a perspective view of the hook device 10 before the hook 14 and the shaft 22 are assembled. The shaft hole 52 of the hook 14 is aligned with the support hole 60 of the bracket 18, and the shaft 22 is inserted into the shaft hole 52 and the support hole 60, completing the assembly of the hook device 10. The lid 30 of the base 12 is in an open state.

[0029] The metal spring 16 is disposed on the rear side of the protrusion 44 and the flexible pieces 46, and is supported by the support 48. The central portion 72 of the metal spring 16 is placed on the support 48 and engages with the protrusions and recesses. The pair of flexible pieces 46 are disposed on the front side of the pair of elastic pieces 70, respectively. The flexible pieces 46 have the same width as or a width greater than the elastic pieces 70, and cover the elastic pieces 70.

[0030] The support portion 48 is disposed between the pair of protrusions 44 and is located lower on the bottom 26 side than the protrusions 44. The protrusions 44 and the flexible piece 46 are formed at a higher position on the front side (upward) than the bottom 26. The elastic piece 70 is disposed between the protrusions 44 and the flexible piece 46 and the bottom 26 in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the bottom 26, i.e., the up-down direction. Therefore, the worker can easily assemble the metal spring 16 by placing the metal spring 16 on the bottom 26 and sliding it along the bottom 26 toward the support wall portion 29.

[0031] The protrusion 44a protrudes from the rear side toward the metal spring 16. The protrusion 44a improves the rigidity of the protrusion 44 and improves the support of the flexible piece 46. This makes it possible to increase the elasticity of the flexible piece 46, and the flexible piece 46 can be configured to bias the hook 14.

[0032] The protrusion 44a may be tapered so as to approach the support wall 29 toward the rear side, thereby functioning as a guide when the metal spring 16 is slid toward the support wall 29 for assembly.

[0033] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hook device 10 shown in Figure 1 taken along line B-B. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hook device 10 taken along line C-C. A bracket 18 is disposed on the bottom surface on the back side of the hook device 10. The base 12 rests on the bracket 18, with the bottom 26 located on the front side of the bracket 18.

[0034] The shaft 22 is inserted into the insertion hole 36, the support hole 60, and the axial hole 52. The erected portion 58 is disposed inside the side wall portion 28, and the axial hole 52 of the hook 14 is disposed inside the erected portion 58. The elastic piece 70 of the metal spring 16 biases the abutment surface 55 toward the rotation axis of the hook 14 via the flexible piece 46.

[0035] The flexible piece 46 extends in the axial direction X from a base portion 46a connected to the protrusion 44 toward a tip portion 46b. The flexible piece 46 is disposed around the base end portion 50 facing the metal spring 16 and is pressed against the abutment surface 55 by the metal spring 16. The flexible piece 46 is interposed between the abutment surface 55 and the metal spring 16. The flexible piece 46 prevents contact between the hook 14 and the metal spring 16, which are made of metal, and prevents sliding between the metal parts. This improves durability without requiring expensive surface treatment of the hook 14. Reducing the surface treatment process for the hook 14 makes it easier to manufacture the hook device 10.

[0036] The flexible piece 46 extends substantially parallel to the elastic piece 70 of the metal spring 16 when viewed from the side. This allows the flexible piece 46 to bend in the same manner as the elastic piece 70, and to follow the contact surface 55 when the hook 14 rotates.

[0037] Since the protrusion 44 is a cantilever and the flexible piece 46 is a cantilever extending from the protrusion 44, the flexible piece 46 is easily bent up and down, and the ability to follow the contact surface 55 is improved.

[0038] The flexible pieces 46 are longer outward in the rotation axis direction X than the elastic pieces 70, i.e., in the direction away from the center along the rotation axis direction X. This prevents the elastic pieces 70 from coming into contact with the hooks 14.

[0039] 6, in the closed state in which the hook 14 is aligned with the bottom surface of the base 12, the surface of the abutment surface 55 that is in contact with the tip 46b of the flexible piece 46 is located between the base 46a of the flexible piece 46 and the base 70a of the elastic piece 70 of the metal spring 16 in the up-down direction. In other words, the base 46a of the flexible piece 46 and the base 70a of the elastic piece 70 are located apart from each other across the abutment surface 55, and the tip portions 46b, 70b of the flexible piece 46 and the metal spring 70 are actuated, so that it is possible to prevent the base portions 46a, 70a from interfering with each other from the intermediate portion between the flexible piece 46 and the metal spring 70 during actuation.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications such as design changes may be made to the embodiments based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such modified embodiments may also be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0041] In the embodiment, the metal spring 16 is a single metal plate spring, but is not limited to this. As long as the metal spring 16 biases the contact surface 55 of the hook 14 and the flexible piece 46 is located between the metal spring 16 and the contact surface 55, the metal spring 16 may be a coil metal spring or a disc metal spring, and may be provided individually for each pair of contact surfaces 55.

[0042] In the embodiment, the flexible piece 46 extends from the protruding portion 44, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the flexible piece may extend directly from the side wall portion 28 or the support wall portion 29.

[0043] The present invention relates to a hook device including a hook and a metal spring made of a metal material and a base made of a resin material.

[0044] 10 Hook device, 12 Base, 14 Hook, 16 Metal spring, 18 Bracket, 20 Screw, 22 Shaft, 22a Large diameter portion, 24 Washer, 26 Bottom portion, 27 Flange portion, 28 Side wall portion, 29 Support wall portion, 30 Lid portion, 32 Locking claw portion, 34 Hinge portion, 36 Insertion hole, 38 Operation hole, 40 Receiving portion, 42 Pin portion, 44 Protruding portion, 44a Convex portion, 46 Flexible piece, 47 Slit, 48 Support portion, 49 Locking hole portion, 50 Base end portion, 52 Axial hole portion, 54 Radial convex portion, 55 Abutment surface, 56 Bottom portion, 58 Standing portion, 60 Support hole portion, 62 Rotation stopper portion, 64 Screw fixing hole, 66 Protruding portion, 68 Protruding portion, 70 Elastic piece, 72 Central portion.

Claims

1. A hook device comprising: a base formed of a resin material; a hook formed of a metal material and rotatably mounted on the base; and a metal spring which biases the hook, wherein the hook has a load hanging portion located at a tip end, a pair of base ends arranged opposite each other at a base end, and an abutment surface formed on the outer periphery of the base ends, wherein the axis of rotation of the hook, which runs along the direction in which the pair of base ends face each other, passes through the pair of base ends, the base has a flexible piece interposed between the abutment surface and the metal spring, and the metal spring biases the abutment surface via the flexible piece towards the axis of rotation of the hook.

2. A hook device as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the hook is in a closed state along the bottom surface of the base, the surface of the abutment surface against which the flexible piece abuts is located between the base of the flexible piece and the base of the metal spring.

3. A hook device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the base has a support wall portion extending along the rotational axis direction of the hook, and a protrusion portion protruding from the support wall portion and formed as a cantilever beam, the protrusion portion being provided in a pair spaced apart in the rotational axis direction of the hook, and the flexible piece being formed as a cantilever beam extending from the protrusion portion along the rotational axis direction.

4. A hook device as described in claim 3, characterized in that the base has a support portion protruding from the support wall portion and located between a pair of the protruding portions, and the metal spring has a central portion supported by the support portion and a pair of elastic pieces extending from either side of the central portion.

5. The hook device according to claim 4, wherein the elastic piece is disposed between the protrusion and the bottom of the base.

6. The hook device according to claim 3, wherein the protrusion has a convex portion that protrudes toward the metal spring.

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