Fixing, fixing structure of fixing object, fixing method for fixing object, and method for unfixing fixing

• US 8,047,475 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yasuhiro, Fukumoto, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Tan
• Application Number:
  US12/244,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20090084915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 248/56, 248/71, 248/74.3, 248/222.12, 248/222.13, 248/222.51, 248/222.52, 248/223.41, 248/231.81, 248/500, 248/503, 411/22, 411/24, 411/27, 411/28, 411/553, 411/508, 242/97, 403/225, 403/322.4, 403/322.1, 403/408.1
• US Class Current: 248/73
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/263 Snap-in fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/185 using levers
• 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: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 having operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/75 having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members

Abstract

When an insertion portion of a clip is inserted into a through hole and passes through the through hole, lug portions revert toward their original shape, and the top faces of the lug portions are contactable with peripheral edge portions of the through hole. An operation lever is inserted into a fixing hole of a body panel in this state, and after passing through the fixing hole, the operation lever reverts toward its original shape, and the operation lever is contactable to peripheral edge portions of the fixing hole. An operation portion is tilted from this state, and a lock bar is engaged with a lock groove. Movement of the operation lever is thereby restricted, and a housing is fixed to the body panel.

Claims

1. A fixing for fixing a fixing object to a fixing member by insertion of the fixing into a fixing hole formed in the fixing member and into a fixing object hole formed in the fixing object, the fixing comprising:

a main body portion to be inserted into the fixing hole and into the fixing object hole;

an anchoring portion, formed jutting out from a side face at one end side of the main body portion, inserted through the fixing object hole by radial compression, reverting toward its original shape after passing through the fixing object hole and anchoring onto a peripheral edge portion of the fixing object hole;

an operation lever, attached to the other end of the main body portion so as to be capable of tilting, tilting over in a state in which the anchoring portion is anchored onto the peripheral edge portion of the fixing object hole, contacting the fixing member and nipping the fixing member and the fixing object with the anchoring portion; and

a lock mechanism that maintains a tilted state of the operation lever, wherein

the operation lever is formed from an elastic member, is widthwise compressed and inserted into the fixing hole or the fixing object hole and reverts toward its original shape after passing through the fixing hole or the fixing object hole.

2. The fixing of claim 1, wherein the operation lever forms substantially a U-shape, and the operation lever is made capable of tilting by pins that are provided to both end portions of the operation lever and engage with a shaft hole provided in the main body portion.

3. The fixing of claim 1, wherein a pressing portion is provided to an axial portion of the operation lever for pressing the fixing member in a locked state in which the tilted state of the operation lever is maintained by the lock mechanism.

4. The fixing of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is configured comprising:

an engaging portion provided to the operation lever or to the main body portion; and

a lock groove provided to the main body portion or to the operation lever, with which the engaging portion engages, and maintaining the tilted state of the operation lever that has been tilted.

5. The fixing of claim 4, wherein the engaging portion is provided to the operation lever, and an engaged portion is provided to the main body portion and engaged by the engaging portion to stand the operation lever upright along the axial direction of the main body portion.

6. The fixing of claim 4, wherein a locked state in which the engaging portion is locked in the lock groove so that the tilted state of the operation lever is maintained is unlocked by the engaging portion moving in a direction intersecting with the tilting direction of the operation lever.

7. The fixing of claim 4, further comprising a return groove connecting the engaged portion and the lock groove, for the engaging portion to pass along from the lock groove up to the engaged portion.

8. The fixing of claim 1, further comprising a centering mechanism provided to the operation lever, the centering mechanism contacting the hole wall of the fixing hole or the fixing object hole when the operation lever is in an upright state, and setting the central position of the main body portion relative to the fixing hole or the fixing object hole.

9. The fixing of claim 1, further comprising a restricting portion, positioned at one end side of the main body portion, contacting the fixing object and restricting tilting of the main body portion in the operation lever tilting direction.

10. A fixing structure of a fixing object for fixing the fixing object to a fixing member, the fixing structure employing the fixing of claim 1.

11. A fixing for fixing a fixing object to a fixing member by insertion of the fixing into a fixing hole formed in the fixing member and into a fixing object hole formed in the fixing object, the fixing comprising:

a main body portion to be inserted into the fixing hole and into the fixing object hole;

a retaining portion, provided at a side face at one end side of the main body portion and retained at a peripheral edge portion of the fixing object hole after passing through the fixing object hole;

an operation lever, attached to the other end of the main body portion so as to be capable of tilting, tilting over in a state in which the retaining portion is retained at the peripheral edge portion of the fixing object hole, contacting the fixing member and nipping the fixing member and the fixing object with the retaining portion; and

a lock mechanism that maintains a tilted state of the operation lever, wherein

the operation lever is formed from an elastic member, is widthwise compressed and inserted into the fixing hole or the fixing object hole, and reverts toward its original shape after passing through the fixing hole or the fixing object hole.

12. The fixing of claim 11, the retaining portion is formed as a retaining rib along the direction of insertion of the main body portion into the fixing object hole, wherein the retaining rib is retained by the peripheral edge portion of the fixing object hole by rotation of the main body portion after an end face of the retaining rib has passed a cut-out portion formed to the hole wall of the fixing object hole.

13. The fixing of claim 11, wherein the operation lever forms substantially a U-shape, and the operation lever is made capable of tilting by pins that are provided to both end portions of the operation lever and engage with a shaft hole provided in the main body portion.

14. The fixing of claim 11, wherein a pressing portion is provided to an axial portion of the operation lever for pressing the fixing member in a locked state in which the tilted state of the operation lever is maintained by the lock mechanism.

15. The fixing of claim 11, wherein the lock mechanism is configured comprising:

an engaging portion provided to the operation lever or to the main body portion; and

a lock groove provided to the main body portion or to the operation lever, with which the engaging portion engages, and maintaining the tilted state of the operation lever that has been tilted.

16. The fixing of claim 15, wherein the engaging portion is provided to the operation lever, and an engaged portion is provided to the main body portion and engaged by the engaging portion to stand the operation lever upright along the axial direction of the main body portion.

17. The fixing of claim 15, wherein a locked state in which the engaging portion is locked in the lock groove so that the tilted state of the operation lever is maintained is unlocked by the engaging portion moving in a direction intersecting with the tilting direction of the operation lever.

18. The fixing of claim 15, further comprising a return groove connecting the engaged portion and the lock groove, for the engaging portion to pass along from the lock groove up to the engaged portion.

19. The fixing of claim 11, further comprising a centering mechanism provided to the operation lever, the centering mechanism contacting the hole wall of the fixing hole or the fixing object hole when the operation lever is in an upright state, and setting the central position of the main body portion relative to the fixing hole or the fixing object hole.

20. The fixing of claim 11, further comprising a restricting portion, positioned at one end side of the main body portion, contacting the fixing object and restricting tilting of the main body portion in the operation lever tilting direction.

21. The fixing of claim 20, wherein the restricting portion also serves as the retaining portion.

22. A fixing structure of a fixing object for fixing the fixing object to a fixing member, the fixing structure employing the fixing of claim 11.

23. A fixing for fixing a fixing object to a fixing member, the fixing comprising:

a main body portion provided to the fixing member for insertion into a fixing object hole formed in the fixing object;

an operation lever, attached to the main body portion so as to be capable of tilting, tilting over and contacting a peripheral edge portion of the fixing object hole, the operation lever and the fixing member nipping the fixing object; and

a lock mechanism that maintains a tilted state of the operation lever,

wherein the operation lever is formed from an elastic member, is widthwise compressed and inserted into the fixing object hole and reverts toward its original shape after passing through the fixing object hole.

24. The fixing of claim 23, wherein the operation lever forms substantially a U-shape, and the operation lever is made capable of tilting by pins that are provided to both end portions of the operation lever and engage with a shaft hole provided in the main body portion.

25. The fixing of claim 23, wherein a pressing portion is provided to an axial portion of the operation lever for pressing the fixing object in a locked state in which the tilt state of the operation lever is maintained by the lock mechanism.

26. The fixing of claim 23, wherein the lock mechanism is configured comprising:

an engaging portion provided to the operation lever or to the main body portion; and

a lock groove provided to the main body portion or to the operation lever, with which the engaging portion engages, and maintaining the tilted state of the operation lever that has been tilted.

27. The fixing of claim 26, wherein the engaging portion is provided to the operation lever, and an engaged portion is provided to the main body portion and engaged by the engaging portion to stand the operation lever upright along the axial direction of the main body portion.

28. The fixing of claim 26, wherein a locked state in which the engaging portion is locked in the lock groove so that the tilted state of the operation lever is maintained is unlocked by the engaging portion moving in a direction intersecting with the tilting direction of the operation lever.

29. The fixing of claim 26, further comprising a return groove connecting the engaged portion and the lock groove, for the engaging portion to pass along from the lock groove up to the engaged portion.

30. The fixing of claim 23, further comprising a centering mechanism provided to the operation lever, the centering mechanism contacting the hole wall of the fixing hole or the fixing object hole when the operation lever is in an upright state, and setting the central position of the main body portion relative to the fixing hole or the fixing object hole.

31. A fixing structure of a fixing object for fixing the fixing object to a fixing member, the fixing structure employing the fixing of claim 23.

32. A fixing for fixing a fixing object to a fixing member, the fixing comprising:

a main body portion provided to the fixing object for insertion into a fixing hole formed in the fixing member;

an operation lever, attached to the main body portion so as to be capable of tilting, tilting over and contacting a peripheral edge portion of the fixing hole, the operation lever and the fixing object nipping the fixing member; and

a lock mechanism that maintains a tilted state of the operation lever,

wherein the operation lever is formed from an elastic member, is widthwise compressed and inserted into the fixing hole and reverts toward its original shape after passing through the fixing hole.

33. The fixing of claim 32, wherein the operation lever forms substantially a U-shape, and the operation lever is made capable of tilting by pins that are provided to both end portions of the operation lever and engage with a shaft hole provided in the main body portion.

34. The fixing of claim 32, wherein a pressing portion is provided to an axial portion of the operation lever for pressing the fixing member in a locked state in which the tilting state of the operation lever is maintained by the lock mechanism.

35. The fixing of claim 32, wherein the lock mechanism is configured comprising:

an engaging portion provided to the operation lever or to the main body portion; and

a lock groove provided to the main body portion or to the operation lever, with which the engaging portion engages, and maintaining a tilted state of the operation lever that has been tilted.

36. The fixing of claim 35, wherein the engaging portion is provided to the operation lever, and an engaged portion is provided to the main body portion and engaged by the engaging portion to stand the operation lever upright along the axial direction of the main body portion.

37. The fixing of claim 35, wherein a locked state in which the engaging portion is locked in the lock groove so that the tilted state of the operation lever is maintained is unlocked by the engaging portion moving in a direction intersecting with the tilting direction of the operation lever.

38. The fixing of claim 35, further comprising a return groove connecting the engaged portion and the lock groove, for the engaging portion to pass along from the lock groove up to the engaged portion.

39. The fixing of claim 35, further comprising a centering mechanism provided to the operation lever, the centering mechanism contacting the hole wall of the fixing hole when the operation lever is in an upright state, and setting the central position of the main body portion relative to the fixing hole.

40. A fixing structure of a fixing object for fixing the fixing object to a fixing member, the fixing structure employing the fixing of claim 32.