FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to fastening of conduits to a vehicle body and more particularly, relates to a clamp structure for securing a plurality of conduits to the vehicle body. 5
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Conventionally, conduits such as fuel, brake, or water pipes are assembled as a cluster on vehicle body, for example underneath the vehicle body, with the help of plastic or metal clamps that hold the cluster via means of a stud or a hole mounting. In conventional design of clamps, the conduit cluster is spread laterally. 10 Such a layout is disadvantages as the layout is spread out so more space or span is required for arranging the conduits or pipes on vehicle body/ engine room. Since entire conduit cluster has to be assembled as a sub-assembly on vehicle along with clamps, it is ergonomically difficult for assembly shop operator to hold the cluster and assemble the clamps on respective studs if number of conduits are more. 15
[003] Further, since the underbody conduit or pipes are prone to stone chipping, protective coating or covering on all pipes have to be provided to prevent damage. Also, the conventional clamps providing the spread layout is very restrictive, as span of the vehicle body differs from vehicle to vehicle, and number of conduits or conduit clusters can be spread laterally on a large span underbody as against a 20 small span underbody. Hence, assembling the conduits or conduits cluster in more than one orientation is required, such that conduits or conduits cluster are assembled to vehicles with multiple span underbodies.
[004] French Patent Publication FR3035473(A1) provides an invention related to a pipe clamping clip on a frame member (5) of a vehicle. The clip is formed on 25 the one hand by a fixed clip portion (10) fixed to the frame member (5) of the vehicle, and on the other hand by a plurality of movable clip parts. (20, 30) articulated to allow passage from an open "accordion" position to a closed position in which said fixed (10) and moveable clip (20, 30) portions are
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superimposed and joined, the facing surfaces fixed (10) and movable clip (20, 30) portions being provided with housings for receiving and holding the channels (C1-C6) when the clip is in the closed position, and locking means being provided for holding the moving parts (20, 30) of the clip in said closed position.
[005] The French prior art provides a clamping arrangement wherein plurality of 5 conduits is assembled in a parallel orientation. However, the clamping arrangement includes a restricted orientation suitable for vehicle body with a small span underbody, and cannot be utilized for a large span underbody based on a different orientation.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION: 10
[006] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a clamp structure for a vehicle body that does not have the drawbacks or shortcomings of the conventional clamping techniques.
[007] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a simple, cost effective, and efficiently designed clamp structure capable of achieving multiple 15 orientations that is distinct from all conventional designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[008] The present invention relates to a clamp structure for securing a plurality of conduits to a vehicle body. The clamp structure includes a first clamping part having a side male snap disposed on a first side face, and a bottom male snap 20 disposed on a first bottom face of the first clamping part. The clamp structure further includes a second clamping part pivotally coupled to the first clamping part about a common edge, the second clamping part having a side female receptacle provided on a second side face, and a bottom female receptacle provided on a second bottom face of the second clamping part. Upon a pivotal 25 movement of the first clamping part and the second clamping part about the common edge, the side male snap is configured to engage with the side female receptacle to achieve a first orientation of the clamp structure, and the bottom
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male snap is configured to engage with the bottom female receptacle to achieve a second orientation of the clamp structure.
[009] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative 5 only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be 10 considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and 15 components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0011] Fig. 1 illustrates illustrates a typical conduits cluster layout associated with a vehicle body; 20
[0012] Figs. 2a – 2b illustrates views of a clamp structure for securing a plurality of conduits to a vehicle body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] Fig. 3a – 3b illustrates views of the clamp structure of Figs. 2a – 2b in a first orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 25
[0014] Fig. 4a – 4b illustrates views of the clamp structure of Figs. 2a – 2b in a second orientation in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
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[0015] Fig. 5a – 5b illustrates different views of the clamp structure in the first orientation, the clamp structure being provided with the plurality of conduits; and
[0016] Figs. 6a – 6b illustrates different views of the clamp structure in the second orientation, the clamp structure being provided with the plurality of conduits. 5
[0017] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein. 10
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0018] The present disclosure presents embodiments for a clamp structure for securing a plurality of conduits to a vehicle body. The clamp structure includes a first clamping part having a side male snap disposed on a first side face, and a bottom male snap disposed on a first bottom face of the first clamping part; and a 15 second clamping part pivotally coupled to the first clamping part about a common edge, the second clamping part having a side female receptacle provided on a second side face, and a bottom female receptacle provided on a second bottom face of the second clamping part, wherein, upon a pivotal movement of the first clamping part and the second clamping part about the common edge, the side 20 male snap is configured to engage with the side female receptacle to achieve a first orientation of the clamp structure, and the bottom male snap is configured to engage with the bottom female receptacle to achieve a second orientation of the clamp structure.
[0019] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the 25 principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those
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skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the 5 concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the 10 following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0020] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject 15 matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates a typical conduits cluster layout 10 having a conduit cluster 12 associated with a vehicle body. The conduit cluster 12 may include fuel, 20 brake, or water pipes. As seen, the conduit cluster 12 is secured to a plurality of clamps 14 at a plurality of locations. The plurality of clamps 14 being configured to secure the conduit cluster 12 to the vehicle body. However as discussed earlier, Fig. 1 shows a spread-out conduits cluster layout 10 that is prone to disadvantages mentioned in the aforementioned background. 25
[0022] Fig. 2a illustrates a clamp structure 100 for securing a plurality of conduits 302 (See Figs. 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) to a vehicle body in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As mentioned earlier, the plurality of conduits 302 may include a conduit cluster having fuel, brake, or water pipes. Fig. 2b illustrates another view of the clamp structure 100. In an embodiment, the clamp structure 30
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100 includes a first clamping part 102. The first clamping part 102 includes a side male snap 106 disposed on a first side face 108. The first clamping part 102 further includes a bottom male snap 110 disposed on a first bottom face 112.
[0023] The clamp structure 100 further includes a second clamping part 104 pivotally coupled to the first clamping part 102 about a common edge 114. In an 5 embodiment, the second clamping part 104 includes a side female receptacle 116 provided on a second side face 118. The second clamping part 104 further includes a bottom female receptacle 120 provided on a second bottom face 122. In an example, the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 define a substantially cuboidal profile. In another example, profile of the first clamping 10 part 102 and the second clamping part 104 may be any regular or irregular geometry. Further, the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 includes a plurality of receptacles 105 for receiving the plurality of conduits 302. Further, the first clamping part 102 include a first through hole 107 proximal to the side male snap 106, and the second clamping part 104 include a second 15 through hole 117 proximal to the side female receptacle 116. The first through hole 107 and the second through hole 117 are configured to receive a securing element for securing the clamp structure 100 to the vehicle body. The securing element may include a nut and bolt, rivet, snap arrangement, welding, or the like securing techniques know to a person skilled in the art. 20
[0024] In an embodiment, upon a pivotal movement of the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 about the common edge 114, the side male snap 106 of the first clamping part 102 is configured to engage with the side female receptacle 116 of the second clamping part 104 to achieve a first orientation 300 of the clamp structure 100, as shown in Fig. 3a. Further, Fig. 3b illustrates another 25 view of the clamp structure 100 in the first orientation 300. As is evident from Figs. 3a – 3b, the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 overlap each other in the first orientation 300. Further, as the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 overlap each other the first through hole 107 and the second through hole 117 align coaxially to achieve a common through 30
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hole 304 in the first orientation 300 of the clamp structure 100. The common through hole 304 is also configured to receive the securing element described earlier.
[0025] Further in an embodiment, based again upon a pivotal movement of the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 about the common edge 5 114, the bottom male snap 110 of the first clamping part 102 is configured to engage with the bottom female receptacle 120 of the second clamping part 104 to achieve a second orientation 400 of the clamp structure 100, as shown in Fig. 4a. Further, Fig. 4b illustrates another view of the clamp structure 100 in the second orientation 400. As is evident in Figs. 4a – 4b, the first clamping part 102 and the 10 second clamping part 104 are side by side to each other in the second orientation 400.
[0026] Figs. 5a – 5b illustrates different views of the clamp structure 100 in the first orientation 300, wherein the clamp structure 100 is provided with the plurality of conduits 302. As can be seen in Figs. 5a – 5b, the plurality of conduits 15 302 as received in the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 achieve an overlapping and parallel arrangement based on the first orientation 300 of the clamp structure 100.
[0027] Figs. 6a – 6b illustrates different views of the clamp structure 100 in the second orientation 400, wherein the clamp structure 100 is provided with the 20 plurality of conduits 302. As can be seen in Figs. 6a – 6b, the plurality of conduits 302 as received in the first clamping part 102 and the second clamping part 104 achieve a side by side longitudinal arrangement based on the second orientation 400 of the clamp structure 100.
[0028] Hence, a simple and cost-effective design of the clamp structure 100, 25 along with the capability of the clamp structure 100 to attain different orientations, i.e. the first orientation 300 and the second orientation 400, makes the clamp structure 100 suitable for the vehicle bodies having both small span and large span underbodies, wherein the plurality of conduits 302 can be arranged in multiple orientations based on space constraints. 30
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[0029] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component 5 of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

We claim:
1. A clamp structure (100) for securing a plurality of conduits (302) to a vehicle body, the clamp structure (100) comprising:
a first clamping part (102) having a side male snap (106) disposed on a first side face (108), and a bottom male snap (110) disposed on a first 5 bottom face (112) of the first clamping part (102); and
a second clamping part (104) pivotally coupled to the first clamping part (102) about a common edge (114), the second clamping part (104) having a side female receptacle (116) provided on a second side face (118), and a bottom female receptacle (120) provided on a second bottom face 10 (122) of the second clamping part (104),
wherein, upon a pivotal movement of the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) about the common edge (114), the side male snap (106) is configured to engage with the side female receptacle (116) to achieve a first orientation (300) of the clamp structure (100), and the bottom 15 male snap (110) is configured to engage with the bottom female receptacle (120) to achieve a second orientation (400) of the clamp structure (100).
2. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) define a substantially cuboidal profile. 20
3. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) includes a plurality of receptacles (105) for receiving the plurality of conduits (302).
4. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) overlap each other in the first 25 orientation (300).
5. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) are side by side to each other in the second orientation (400).
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6. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of conduits (302) as received in the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) achieve an overlapping and parallel arrangement based on the first orientation (300).
7. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plurality of 5 conduits (302) as received in the first clamping part (102) and the second clamping part (104) achieve a side by side longitudinal arrangement based on the second orientation (400).
8. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first clamping part (102) include a first through hole (107) 10 proximal to the side male snap (106), and the second clamping part (104) include a second through hole (117) proximal to the side female receptacle (116).
9. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first through hole (107) and the second through hole (117) align 15 coaxially to achieve a common through hole (304) in the first orientation (300) of the clamp structure (100).
10. The clamp structure (100) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein, the first through hole (107), the second through hole (117), or the common through hole (304) are configured to receive at least one securing 20 element for securing the clamp structure (100) to the vehicle body.