SEOL, Hwan Soo (110-301 Hak-maeul Seohae Apt, Byeongbang-dong Gyeyang-gu, Incheon 407-706, KR)
| Claims
[1] A fastener for vehicles, comprising: a fastening boss fixed to a first assembly part and provided with a fitting rib having a locking hole in a predetermined position; and a clip having a fitting slot to be fitted over the fitting rib of the fastening boss, a pair of elastic ribs provided on opposite sides of the fitting slot, the elastic ribs being elastically separable from each other, vertical ribs extending from the respective elastic ribs and spaced apart from inner surfaces of the respective elastic ribs at predetermined positions, and a reinforcing rib coupling each of the vertical ribs to each of the elastic ribs, wherein a locking protrusion and a recess corresponding to each other are provided on surfaces of the vertical ribs that face each other, the locking protrusion of the clip is locked to the locking hole of the fastening boss, and a removal prevention protrusion protrudes from an end of the locking protrusion.
[2] The fastener for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the fastening boss has an upper end having a wedge shape.
[3] The fastener for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the elastic ribs are elastically connected at first ends thereof to each other through a connection part, and removal prevention protrusions are provided on second ends of the respective elastic ribs.
[4] The fastener for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein each of the elastic ribs is constructed such that an upper outer surface thereof is inclined downwards and a lower outer surface thereof is inclined upwards to have a shape such that a locking stop protrudes at a junction between the upper outer surface and the lower outer surface of the elastic rib. |
Description AUTOMOTIVE FASTENER
Technical Field
[1] The present invention relates, in general, to fasteners for vehicles which are used for coupling between pieces of trim of vehicles, between panels or between panels and pieces of trim and, more particularly, to a fastener for vehicles which facilitates coupling, separating and recoupling between two associated assembly parts, such as panels and/or pieces of trim. Background Art
[2] As well known to those skilled in the art, various kinds of panels and trim are mounted to a frame of a vehicle. Various kinds of fasteners are used for coupling between two associated assembly parts, such as panels, pieces of trim or a panel and a piece of trim. The fasteners have various shapes and structures, depending on the intended purpose. Furthermore, these days, the fasteners are made of material such as plastic to increase the reusability and reduce the weight thereof.
[3] Among such fasteners, a fastener having a structure including a fastening boss and a clip has been disclosed. In this fastener, the fastening boss is integrally or detachably provided on a first assembly part, such as a panel or a piece of trim, and the clip is removably fastened to the fastening boss. A second assembly part is coupled to the clip. Thus, the associated first and second assembly parts can be coupled to each other by the fastener.
[4] Meanwhile, to allow the replacement or repair of the first or second assembly part
100 or 200, which are coupled to each other through the fastener, or the replacement or repair of internal elements installed between the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200, the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 must be separable from each other and be reassemblable after the desired work has been completed.
[5] However, in the conventional fastener, when separating the first and second assembly parts from each other, the clip may be undesirably removed from the fastening boss. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that, in the case where the clip is removed from the fastening boss, an operation of recoupling the first and second assembly parts is complicated. Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[6] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fastener for vehicles in which a clip is prevented from being undesirably removed
from a fastening boss when disassembling first and second assembly parts that have been coupled to each other, thus facilitating the operation of separating and recoupling the first and second assembly parts. Technical Solution
[7] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a fastener for vehicles, including: a fastening boss fixed to a first assembly part and provided with a fitting rib having a locking hole in a predetermined position, and a clip having a fitting slot to be fitted over the fitting rib of the fastening boss, a pair of elastic ribs provided on opposite sides of the fitting slot, the elastic ribs being elastically separable from each other, vertical ribs extending from the respective elastic ribs and spaced apart from inner surfaces of the respective elastic ribs at predetermined positions, and a reinforcing rib coupling each of the vertical ribs to each of the elastic ribs, wherein a locking protrusion and a recess corresponding to each other are provided on surfaces of the vertical ribs that face each other, the locking protrusion of the clip is locked to the locking hole of the fastening boss, and a removal prevention protrusion protrudes from an end of the locking protrusion.
[8] Preferably, the fastening boss may have an upper end having a wedge shape.
[9] Furthermore, the elastic ribs may be elastically connected at first ends thereof to each other through a connection part, and removal prevention protrusions may be provided on second ends of the respective elastic ribs.
[10] In addition, each of the elastic ribs may be constructed such that an upper outer surface thereof is inclined downwards and a lower outer surface thereof is inclined upwards to have a shape such that a locking stop protrudes at a junction between the upper outer surface and the lower outer surface of the elastic rib.
Advantageous Effects
[11] In the fastener for vehicles according to the present invention, a clip is prevented from being undesirably removed from a fastening boss when first and second assembly parts, which have been coupled to each other, are disassembled. Therefore, the present invention has an advantage in that the operation of separating and recoupling the first and second assembly parts can be conducted more easily. Brief Description of the Drawings
[12] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fastener, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[13] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;
[14] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing first and second assembly parts, which are coupled to each other using the fastener according to the present invention;
[15] FIG. 4 is a view showing a process of separating the second assembly part from the
fastener according to the present invention; and
[16] FIG. 5 is a view showing the second assembly part, which is completely separated from the fastener, according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[17] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[18] FIGS. 1 through 5 are views showing a fastener for vehicles according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[19] As shown in the drawings, the fastener of the present invention includes a clip 10 and a fastening boss 30.
[20] The clip 10 includes a pair of elastic ribs 12 and 13, which are elastically connected to each other through a connection part 19. A fitting slot 11 is defined between the elastic ribs 12 and 13. The elastic ribs 12 and 13 are elastically spreadable and compressible thanks to the fitting slot 11.
[21] The elastic ribs 12 and 13 are elastically connected to each other at first ends thereof through the connection part 19. Removal prevention protrusions 16 and 17 are provided on respective second ends of the elastic ribs 12 and 13.
[22] Furthermore, each elastic rib 12, 13 is constructed such that the upper outer surface
12a, 13a thereof is inclined downwards and the lower outer surface 12b, 13b thereof is inclined upwards to have a shape such that a locking stop 14, 15 protrudes at a junction between the upper outer surface 12a, 13a and the lower outer surface 12b, 13b.
[23] In addition, seating parts 16a and 17a, onto which the inner surface of a fitting hole
201 of the second assembly part 200 is seated, are formed between the locking stops 14 and 15 and the removal prevention protrusions 16 and 17.
[24] Vertical ribs 21 and 22 vertically extend predetermined lengths from respective inner surfaces of the first ends of the elastic ribs 12 and 13. The vertical ribs 21 and 22 are coupled to respective inner surfaces of the second ends of the elastic ribs 12 and 13 by respective reinforcement ribs 24 and 25. Thus, spaces 28 and 29 are respectively defined between the vertical ribs 21 and 22, the elastic ribs 12 and 13 and the reinforcement ribs 24 and 25.
[25] A recess 27 and a locking protrusion 25 are provided on respective surfaces of the vertical ribs 21 and 22 that face each other. The locking protrusion 25 is locked into a locking hole 31a of the fastening boss 30, which will be explained later herein. A removal prevention protrusion 26 protrudes upwards from one end of the locking protrusion 25.
[26] The fastening boss 30 is provided at a predetermined position on the first assembly part 100 as an integrated or detachable structure. The fastening boss 30 includes a
fitting rib 31 to be inserted into the fitting slot 11 of the clip 10. Here, the first assembly part 100 designates various assembly parts, such as various kinds of panels or trim used in a vehicle, which are fastenable to other parts using the fastener of the present invention.
[27] Sidewalls 32 and 33, which face each other, are provided on respective opposite edges of the fitting rib 31. The locking hole 31a, to which the locking protrusion 25 of the clip 10 is locked, is formed at a predetermined position in the fitting rib 31. Furthermore, an upper end 31b of the fitting rib 31 has a wedge shape. The wedge- shaped end 31b serves to guide the clip 10 such that the fitting slot 11 of the clip 10 can be more easily fitted over the fitting rib 31.
[28] The operation of coupling, separating and recoupling the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200, such as various kinds of panels or trim of the vehicles, using the fastener of the present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be described in detail herein below with reference to FIGS. 2 through 5.
[29] At least one fastener of the present invention is provided between the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 to couple the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 to each other more reliably.
[30] To couple the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 to each other, the fitting slot 11 of the clip 10 is fitted over the fitting rib 31 of the fastening boss 30. Then, the locking protrusion 25 of the vertical rib 22 is locked to the locking hole 31a of the fitting rib 31. Thereby, the clip 10 and the fitting boss 30 maintain the locked state.
[31] In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the clip 10 is inserted into the fitting hole 201 of the second assembly part 200. Then, the fitting hole 201 of the second assembly part
200 is moved along the inclined surfaces 12a, 13a, 12b and 13b of the elastic ribs 12 and 13 and is seated onto the seating parts 16a and 17a. Here, when the inner surface of the fitting hole 201 is seated onto the seating parts 16a and 17a, the elastic ribs 12 and 13 are moved outwards by the elasticity, so that the inner surface of the fitting hole
201 and the seating parts 16a and 17a are pressed into each other. Thus, the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 are fastened to each other by the fastener of the present invention. As such, after the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 have been fastened to each other, even if a predetermined outside force is applied to the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 in a direction in which the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 are separated from each other, because the removal prevention protrusions 16 and 17 of the elastic ribs 12 and 13 are locked to the lower edge of the fitting hole 201, the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 are prevented from being separated from each other, so long as the clip 10 and the fastening boss 30 are in the fastened state.
[32] In the present invention, the outward elastic force of the elastic ribs 12 and 13 is
increased by the structure such that the reinforcing ribs 23 and 24 respectively couple the elastic ribs 12 and 13 to the vertical ribs 21 and 22. Thus, there is an advantage in that the coupling force between the fitting hole 201 and the elastic ribs 12 and 13 is increased.
[33] Meanwhile, to separate the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200, which have been coupled to each other by the fastener, from each other for replacement or repair of the first or second assembly part 100 or 200 or for replacement or repair of elements of the vehicle installed between the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200, as shown in FIG. 4, the second assembly part 200 must be first separated from the clip 10.
[34] For this, when the second assembly part 200 is pulled from the clip 10 using outside force sufficient to compress the elastic ribs 12 and 13 of the clip 10 inwards, the fitting hole 201 of the second assembly part 200 is moved upwards along the lower inclined surfaces 12b and 13b of the elastic ribs 12 and 13 while the elastic ribs 12 and 13 are compressed and moved inwards. When the second assembly part 200 is pulled further, the fitting hole 201 of the second assembly part 200 crosses over the locking stops 14 and 15 of the elastic ribs 12 and 13. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, the second assembly part 200 is completely removed from the clip 10, thus the first and second assembly parts 100 and 200 are separated from each other.
[35] Meanwhile, as shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 3 and 4, because the removal prevention protrusion 26 of the locking protrusion 25 is locked to the edge of the locking hole 31a of the fitting rib 31, the clip 10 is prevented from being removed from the fastening boss 30 by frictional force between the fitting hole 201 of the second assembly 200 and the elastic ribs 12 and 13 of the clip 100 when the second assembly part 200 is separated from the clip 10.
[36] As such, because the clip 10 is prevented from being undesirably removed from the fastening boss 30 during the process of separating the second assembly part 200 from the first assembly part 100, the present invention has an advantage in that an operation of recoupling the second assembly part 200 to the first assembly part 100 can be easily conducted.
[37] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Such modifications, additions and substitutions must be regarded as falling within the bounds of the accompanying claims of the present invention.