Bracket coupling structure

• US 20040124656A1
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Sawayanagi, Masahiro, Akama, Kiyotaka, Ohono, Mitsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,880,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/97.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/01 Liners for load platforms or load compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0061 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/10 by means of bayonet connections F16B5/0092 takes precedence; fastening devices locking by rotation F16B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/743 integral with the housing

Abstract

A bracket coupling structure is disclosed having hook portions 8, disposed on two positions of a base plate 5 of a panel-side bracket 2, and having L-shape cross sections directed outward, respectively, with respect to a rotation center wherein under a condition in which the hook portions 8 are inserted to a mounting opening 30 of a trim 4, the panel-side bracket 2 is rotated in a mounting rotational direction to cause the hook portions 8 to engage a peripheral edge of the mounting opening 30 for permitting the panel-side bracket 2 to be fixed to the trim 4. Disposed on leading ends, facing the mounting rotational direction, of the hook portions 8, respectively, are resilient catch-up blades 15 each of which is sloped in a direction to be separate away from the base plate 5 toward an upstream of the mounting rotational direction.

Claims

1. A bracket coupling structure for coupling a bracket to a mounting objective plate body, comprising:

hook portions disposed on at least two positions of a base plate of the bracket and having L-shape cross sections directed outward, respectively, with respect to a rotation center of the bracket; and

resilient catch-up blades disposed on distal ends, facing in an mounting rotational direction, of the book portions and sloped in directions to be separate away from the base plate toward an upstream of the mounting rotational direction;

wherein if the resilient catch-up blades are urged to the mounting objecting plate body during rotation of the bracket in the mounting rotational direction under a condition where the bracket is inserted to a mounting opening of the mounting objective plate body, the hook portions are brought into engagement with a peripheral edge of the mounting opening under a situation where the resilient catch-up blades are resiliently deformed by a resulting urging force.

2. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a connector section.

3. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the mounting objective plate body includes a trim that forms interior material of a panel, and the bracket includes a panel-side bracket fixedly secured to a mounting opening of the trim, with a visor-side bracket mounted to the panel allowing the resilient catch-up blades of the panel-side bracket to be urged onto the trim and resiliently deformed.

4. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 2, wherein the hook portions and the resilient catch-up blades, both disposed in plural positions, are located on equidistantly spaced positions on a rotating circumference.

5. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 3, wherein the panel-side bracket includes a panel-side connector section, and the visor-side bracket includes a visor-side connector section.

6. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 1, further comprising a reverse-rotation interrupt protrusion disposed on either one of surfaces of the base plate, with which a peripheral edge of the mounting opening of the mounting objective plate body is held in abutting engagement, and the hook portions for providing small rotational resistance during rotation in the mounting rotational direction and large rotational resistance during rotation in a dismounting rotational direction.

7. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 6, wherein the reverse-rotation interrupt protrusion includes a trailing wall, facing in the mounting rotational direction, formed in a sharp slope and a leading end wall, facing in the mounting rotational direction, formed in a gradual slope.

8. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 6, wherein the reverse-rotation interrupt protrusion is disposed on a surface of the hook portion.

9. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the reverse-rotation interrupt protrusions are located on a plurality of equidistantly spaced positions on a rotating circumference.

10. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a rotation center of the bracket and an end face of the mounting opening is set to gradually decrease from a rotating start position toward a rotating complete position;

and

wherein the bracket coupling structure further comprises a centering rib disposed on either one of surfaces of the base plate, with which a peripheral edge of the mounting opening of the mounting objective plate body is held in abutting engagement, and the hook portions and having a slope with a height that progressively increases from an outer peripheral side toward an inner peripheral side.

11. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 10, wherein mounting opening is formed such that the distance between the rotation center of the bracket and the end face of the mounting opening has the minimum distance at a rotating complete position, and a pair of left and right centering ribs are disposed on a plurality of locations and arranged such that at the rotating complete position of the bracket, the pair of left and right centering ribs assume positions slightly in front of a position slightly rotated far away from the rotating complete position.

12. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 10, wherein the centering rib is disposed, on a surface of the base plate.

13. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of the centering ribs are disposed in equidistantly spaced positions on a rotating circumference.

14. The bracket coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a rotation center of the bracket and an end face of the mounting opening is set to gradually decrease from a rotating start position toward a rotating complete position;

and

wherein the bracket coupling structure further comprises a reverse-rotation interrupt protrusion disposed on either one of surfaces of the base plate, with which a peripheral edge of the mounting opening of the mounting objective plate body is held in abutting engagement, and the hook portions for providing small rotational resistance during rotation in the mounting rotational direction and large rotational resistance during rotation in a dismounting rotational direction, and a centering rib disposed on either one of surfaces of the base plate, with which a peripheral edge of the mounting opening of the mounting objective plate body is held in abutting engagement, and the hook portions and having a slope with a height that progressively increases from an outer periphery side toward an inner peripheral side.