Fuel pipe clamp

• US 9,970,586 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Cetnar, Brent C., Shimizu, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): Cigna, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US14/453,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20160040822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 248 49, 248 58, 248 61, 248 62, 248 65, 248 681, 248 72
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/046 Devices for pipe guiding and fixing
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1075 with two members, the two members being joined with a hinge on one side and fastened together on the other side
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/1091 with two members, the two members being fixed to each other with fastening members on each side
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/237 for two pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 57/00 Protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear protection under water F16L1/123; supporting of pipes inside other pipes or sleeves F16L7/00; used in connection with end fittings of hoses F16L35/00; protection thereof during transport B65D59/00

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a tubing from a moving object includes a housing and a hooking member. The housing includes an exterior surface and a passage. The passage is configured to receive the tubing, and extends from a first end to a second end of the housing. The hooking member extends from the exterior surface of the housing, and is configured to catch onto the moving object to protect piece of tubing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for protecting a piece of tubing of a vehicle secured therein from a moving object impacting said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having an exterior surface and a generally U-shaped passage extending from a first end of said housing to a second end of said housing, said exterior surface having a generally flat area, and said U-shaped passage having an open end opposite said flat area on said exterior surface of said housing, said U-shaped passage configured to receive and secure the piece of tubing, said housing extends a first distance in the axial direction of the U-shaped passage; and

a hooking member having an elongated catching surface and a hook portion, said elongated catching surface extending from said exterior surface of said housing from one of said first end or said second end in a direction generally perpendicular to an axial direction of said U-shaped passage, said hook portion extending outwardly from said elongated catching surface in a direction generally parallel to said axial direction of said U-shaped passage, said hook portion extends a second distance in the axial direction of the U-shaped housing, the second distance is less than the first distance, said flat area positioned adjacent said hooking member;

said hooking member configured to catch onto the moving object and prevent contact between the moving object and the piece of tubing during a vehicle collision in which the moving object is displaced.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hooking member extends from said first end of said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein only said hooking member extends beyond said flat area on said exterior surface of said housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said elongated catching surface extends from said exterior surface perpendicular to an axial direction of said passage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said passage has a diameter, and said elongated catching surface extends perpendicular to said axial direction at least as far as said diameter of said passage.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said housing has a width, and said elongated catching surface extends perpendicular to said axial direction as far as said width of said housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lid, said lid configured to attach to said housing to cover said open end of said U-shaped passage.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said lid is hingedly attached to said housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said lid has a pair of clips, said pair of clips engaging a pair of flanges on said housing when said lid is attached to said housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said U-shaped passage extends an entire length of said housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said lid has a length less than a length of said housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing includes a second generally U-shaped passage having an open end opposite said flat area on said exterior surface of said housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second lid, said lid and said second lid are hingedly attached to said housing to cover said open end of said U-shaped passage and said open end of said second U-shaped passage, respectively.

14. A method for protecting a piece of tubing of a vehicle from a moving object, the method comprising:

placing a piece of tubing into a generally U-shaped passage of a housing, said housing having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end between which said generally U-shaped passage extends, and a hooking member having an elongated catching portion and a hook portion, said elongated catching portion extending from said exterior surface of said housing from one of said first end or said second end in a direction generally perpendicular to an axial direction of said U-shaped passage, said housing extends a first distance in the axial direction of the U-shaped passage, said hook portion extending outwardly from said elongated catching portion in a direction generally parallel to said axial direction of said U-shaped passage, said hook portion extends a second distance in the axial direction of the U-shaped housing, the second distance is less than the first distance, said exterior surface having a generally flat area, said U-shaped passage having an open end opposite said flat area on said exterior surface of said housing, said U-shaped passage configured to receive and secure said piece of tubing, said flat area positioned adjacent said hooking member;

catching the moving object with said hooking member to prevent the moving object from contacting said piece of tubing during a vehicle collision in which the moving object is displaced.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said housing moves with the moving object after said hooking member catches the moving object.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing a lid configured to attach to said housing; and

attaching said lid to said housing after said piece of tubing is placed into said U-shaped passage.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said lid covers said open end of said U-shaped passage.

18. A method for protecting a piece of tubing of a vehicle during a collision in which a vehicle component is displaced, said method comprising:

placing the piece of tubing into a generally U-shaped passage of a housing, said housing having an exterior surface having a generally flat area, and said U-shaped passage having an open end opposite said flat area on said exterior surface of said housing, said U-shaped passage extending from a first end of said housing to a second end of said housing, said U-shaped passage configured to receive and secure the piece of tubing, said housing having a hooking member extending from said exterior surface of said housing, said flat area positioned adjacent said hooking member; and

catching the displaced vehicle component with said hooking member during the collision such that said housing is displaced with the vehicle component to prevent contact between the vehicle component and the piece of tubing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said hooking member has an elongated catching portion and a hook portion, said elongated catching portion extending from said exterior surface of said housing from one of said first end or said second end in a direction generally perpendicular to an axial direction of said U-shaped passage, said hook portion extending outwardly from said elongated catching portion in a direction generally parallel to said axial direction of said U-shaped portion.