Cushioning clip

• US 7,566,081 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Daiwa Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoyama, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US11/803,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20070234527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 296/1.03, 296/207, 293/104, 293/132, 293/136
• US Class Current: 296/1.03
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/022 specially adapted for vehicles, e.g. for hoods or trunks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/53 Snapping
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/546 Tailgates
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/373 characterised by having a particular shape F16F9/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/44 loaded mainly in compression
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/007 with, or used as an end stop or buffer; Limiting excessive axial separation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type

Abstract

A cushioning clip for receiving a movement of a movable member approaching a stationary member, including a cushioning part, for absorbing an impact force, and a mounting part for mounting the cushioning part to the stationary member. The cushioning part is formed of a flexible material exhibiting elasticity. The mounting part is formed of a rigid material exhibiting a predetermined rigidity. A hollow part is formed in the cushioning part. An inner wall of the hollow part is formed almost perpendicularly to the stationary member, and an apex part on a distal end side of the inner wall is flexed inwardly.

Claims

1. A cushioning clip for receiving a movement of a movable member approaching a stationary member, the cushioning clip comprising:

a cushioning part adapted for absorbing an impact force and formed of a flexible material exhibiting elasticity, the cushioning part extending between distal and proximal ends thereof and provided with a hollow interior part, the hollow interior part is defined by an inner wall extending substantially normally to the stationary member and an apex part extending transversely to the inner wall, a projection part projecting within the hollow interior part from the proximal end toward the distal end, an opening provided within the apex part, the apex part is inwardly flexed via a flexure part disposed at a junction thereof with the inner wall; and

a mounting part for mounting the cushioning part to the stationary member, the mounting part is positioned at the proximal end of the cushioning part and exhibiting a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the cushioning part;

whereby the impact force caused upon receiving the movement of the movable member approaching the stationary member is absorbed through inward flexural deformation of the apex part including the flexure part.

2. The cushioning clip according to claim 1, wherein said projection part prevents the cushioning part from being excessively deformed and functions as means for adjusting impact force absorbing characteristics of the cushioning part.

3. The cushioning clip according to claim 2, wherein said impact force absorbing characteristics are adjusted by changing the lengths or shape of the projection part.

4. A cushioning clip according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed within a central area of the apex part, and the impact force is absorbed through the inward flexural deformation of the apex part adjacent the opening and the flexure part.

5. A cushioning clip according to claim 1, wherein the hollow interior part is formed having substantially cylindrical configuration.

6. A cushioning clip for receiving a movement of a movable member approaching a stationary member, the cushioning clip comprising:

a cushioning part adapted for absorbing an impact force and formed of a flexible material exhibiting elasticity, the cushioning part extending between distal and proximal ends thereof and provided with a hollow interior part, the hollow interior part is defined by an inner wall extending substantially normally to the stationary member and an apex part extending transversely to the inner wall, the hollow interior part formed having substantially cylindrical configuration;

an opening provided within the apex part, the apex part is inwardly flexed via a flexure part disposed at a junction thereof with the inner wall; and

a mounting part for mounting the cushioning part to the stationary member, the mounting part is positioned at the proximal end of the cushioning part and exhibiting a rigidity greater than the rigidity of the cushioning part;

whereby the impact force caused upon receiving the movement of the movable member approaching the stationary member is absorbed through inward flexural deformation of the apex part including the flexure part.

7. Cushioning clip according to claim 6, wherein the hollow interior part is provided with a projection part projecting within the hollow interior part from a base end side toward the distal end.

8. The cushioning clip according to claim 7, wherein said projection part prevents the cushioning part from being excessively deformed and functions as means for adjusting impact force absorbing characteristics of the cushioning part.

9. The cushioning clip according to claim 8, wherein said impact force absorbing characteristics are adjusted by changing the lengths or shape of the projection part.

10. The cushioning clip according to claim 6, wherein said hollow interior part is unobstructed.