Vehicle interior accessory retainer

• US 7,717,394 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2007
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Masahiko, Tanaka, Yoshito, Fukai, Akira, Nakazawa, Yoshitake
• Primary Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US11/626,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20070228247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 248/475.1, 248/481
• US Class Current: 248/549
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle interior accessory retainer includes a base, a base inner and a plate spring. In the base inner, upper and front openings are formed in upper and front parts, respectively, side walls are formed in side parts in the upper opening, a lower part is formed at a position opposite to the upper opening with the side walls in between, and a stay mount part is provided in the lower part. The plate spring has a planar portion, upright portions, and base-retaining pieces. The stay mount part has a projection. A nip part is formed between the projection and the lower part of the base inner. A through hole is formed in the planar portion in the plate spring. A tension applying part is formed between the upper surface of the lower part in the base inner and the projection in the stay mount part.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior accessory retainer comprising:

a base to be fixed in a vehicle interior;

a base inner in which an upper opening and a front opening are formed in an upper part and in a front part, respectively, in which side walls are formed in side parts facing each other with the front opening in between in the upper opening, in which a lower part is formed at a position opposite to the upper opening with the side walls in between, and in which a stay mount part, on which a stay in an accessory body is to be mounted, is provided in the lower part; and

a plate spring mounted on the base inner and arranged to retain the base in the base inner,

wherein the plate spring has a planar portion arranged along an upper surface of the lower part in the base inner, upright portions standing upright from both sides of the planar portion and arranged along the side walls in the base inner, and base-retaining pieces formed as directed inward from the upright portions, the stay mount part has a projection projecting from the lower part toward the upper part of the base inner, and a nip part which nips the planar portion in the plate spring is formed between the projection and the lower part of the base inner, a through hole which lets the projection in the stay mount part pass is formed in the planar portion in the plate spring, and a tension applying part which applies a tension is formed between the upper surface of the lower part in the base inner and the projection in the stay mount part.

2. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 1, wherein a groove which receives the tension applying part is formed in the upper surface of the lower part in the base inner.

3. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 2, wherein a load adjusting structure is formed in the upright portions in the plate spring.

4. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the base and the plate spring is made of metal.

5. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 2, wherein the plate spring is coated with a lubricating coating.

6. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 1, wherein a load adjusting structure is formed in the upright portions in the plate spring.

7. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and the plate spring is made of metal.

8. The vehicle interior accessory retainer according to claim 1, wherein the plate spring is coated with a lubricating coating.