Belt Clamp

Abstract

A belt clamp is disclosed in which, for example, a pair of anti-slipping portions are arranged on a front surface (a surface provided with a toothed portion) at both ends in width direction of a belt body of a belt of the belt clamp. The pair of anti-slipping portions are disposed at a portion of a distal end of the belt body not having a toothed portion and so as not to overlap with the toothed portion in the width direction.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-124774 filed on Jun. 3, 2011. The disclosure of the prior application is hereby incorporated herein in the entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a belt clamp for clamping an object to be clamped.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a vehicle, a belt clamp is used for attaching a wiring harness (a bundle of electric wires) to a body, etc.

The belt clamp is provided with an elongated strap-shaped belt and a buckle fastening a base end of the belt and having a belt insertion hole into which is inserted a distal end of the belt wound around an object to be clamped. The belt has on its one side a multiplicity of juxtaposed teeth which, when it is inserted into the belt insertion hole of the buckle, engage with a locking portion formed on the inside of the buckle. This serves to prevent the belt from disengaging from the belt insertion hole.

When using the belt clamp, the belt is wound around the object to be clamped and is inserted into the belt insertion hole of the buckle to allow the distal end of the belt to protrude from an outlet of the belt insertion hole by a predetermined length while engaging the teeth of the belt with the locking portion. To this end, the operator grasps and pulls the distal end of the belt. In this state, a predetermined tool (e.g., a tightening gun) is used to grasp the distal end of the belt and pull the belt against a resistance force of the locking portion trying to engage successively with the multiplicity of teeth so that the belt is cut off while clamping the object to be clamped.

Since the resistance force of the locking portion trying to engage with the teeth is relatively large, the operator may not be able to successfully grasp and pull the distal end of the belt due to the slip. This results in a lowered efficiency of the work of clamping the object to be clamped.

In order to prevent this, a belt clamp is disclosed whose belt has an anti-slipping portion formed at the distal end thereof (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. H9-40004). The formation of the anti-slipping portion, however, leads to an increased belt thickness, with the result that the buckle thickness also increases. An increased space is thus required for accommodating the belt clamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention was conceived in view of the above circumstances and it is therefore an object thereof to provide a belt clamp hard to cause a slip when the operator pulls a belt, without altering the dimensions and thickness of the belt clamp.

To achieve the above object, according to the invention there is provided a belt clamp comprising an elongated strap-shaped belt having a flexibility capable of being wound around an outer circumferential surface of an object to be clamped; a buckle disposed at a base end of the belt and having a belt insertion hole for allowing insertion of the belt therethrough; a locking portion projecting toward a front surface of the belt inserted into the belt insertion hole; and a locked portion disposed on the front surface of the belt confronting the locking portion; the locking portion being disposed confronting part of the front surface of the belt, the locked portion being aligned on the front surface of the belt along a longitudinal direction thereof; near a tip of the belt extended from a region not having the locked portion on the front surface of the belt, an anti-slipping portion formed from alternate concaves and convexes being arranged in rows on the front surface of the belt along the longitudinal direction thereof.

The belt clamp according to the invention is thus configured and the anti-slipping portions of alternate concave and convex rows are arranged along the longitudinal direction on the front surface (the surface provided with the locked portion) of the belt in the vicinity of the tip thereof. When the operator inserts the tip of the belt engaged with the object to be clamped into the belt insertion hole of the buckle and pulls the tip projecting from the outlet thereof, the operator can pull it while pressing the anti-slipping portions with the result that a slip can hardly occur. This contributes to an improved efficiency in the clamping work of the object to be clamped.

At least two ridges extending along the longitudinal direction of the belt are formed at a predetermined interval on the front surface of the belt, the locked portion aligned being disposed in a row at a width of the interval between the ridges and inside the ridges along the belt longitudinal direction. In a belt region having the ridges thereon but not having the locked portion aligned, the ridges are formed with alternate concaves and convexes so that the ridges have a difference in height along the belt longitudinal direction, the concaves and convexes of the ridges functioning as the anti-slipping portion when the belt region is grasped.

The locked portion is disposed at a central portion in a width direction crossing to the longitudinal direction of the belt, and the anti-slipping portion is disposed at both ends of the belt in the width direction thereof and at portions not overlapping with the locked portion.

This prevents the anti-slipping portion from interfering with the locking portion of the buckle when the locked portion is inserted into the belt insertion hole.

Specifically, the anti-slipping portion is formed from a convexed portion and a concaved portion alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction of the belt, the convexed portion having a top surface coplanar with the front surface of the belt, the concaved portion having a bottom notched from the front surface of the belt in the direction of thickness.

Then, a wall surface of the anti-slipping portion toward at least the base end of the belt may be slanted or curved in front view of the belt, or a wall surface of the anti-slipping portion toward at least the base end of the belt may be slanted or curved with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt in side view of the belt.

The length of the concaved portion of the anti-slipping portion in the longitudinal direction of the belt is preferably greater than the length of the convexed portion of the anti-slipping portion in the same direction.

These contribute to an increased degree of intimate contact of the anti-slipping portion with the operator's fingers and hence to even less slip.

On a surface opposite to the surface on which the locked portion is disposed in a row, the belt clamp may have, in the vicinity of the tip of the belt, the anti-slipping portion consisting of an alternate concave and convex row in the belt longitudinal direction. This belt clamp is provided with the anti-slipping portions on both surfaces of the belt, achieving an even less slip.

It is preferred that the anti-slipping portion disposed on the opposite surface of the belt be formed such that its tops do not protrude from the opposite surface. This allows the thickness of the belt of the belt clamp to be the same as that of the conventional one (in other words, not to become greater than that), resulting in no hindrance to the work of inserting the belt into the belt insertion hole of the buckle.

The belt clamp of the invention is available as a belt clamp hard to slip when the operator pulls the belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of a belt clamp;

FIG. 1B is a right side view of the same;

FIG. 1C is a rear view of the same;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged front view of a lower portion of a belt;

FIG. 2B is a partly cut-away right side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a buckle and an engaging portion;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the same;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation when the operator pulls a belt body with fingers;

FIG. 6A is a left side view of an anti-slipping portion of a second embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a front view of the same;

FIG. 6C is a perspective view of the same;

FIG. 7A is a left side view of an anti-slipping portion of a third embodiment;

FIG. 7B is a front view of the same;

FIG. 7C is a perspective view of the same;

FIG. 8A is a left side view of an anti-slipping portion of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 8B is a front view of the same;

FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the same;

FIG. 9A is a left side view of an anti-slipping portion of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 9B is a front view of the same;

FIG. 10A is a front view of an anti-slipping portion of a sixth embodiment;

FIG. 10B is a right side view of the same;

FIG. 10C is a rear view of the same;

FIG. 11A is a front view of an anti-slipping portion of a seventh embodiment;

FIG. 11B is a front view of an anti-slipping portion of an eighth embodiment; and

FIG. 11C is a front view of an anti-slipping portion of a ninth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail. FIG. 1A is a front view of a belt clamp 1; FIG. 1B is a right side view of the same; FIG. 1C is a rear view of the same; FIG. 2A is an enlarged front view of a lower portion of a belt 3; FIG. 2B is a partly cut-away right side view thereof; FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a buckle 5 and an engaging portion 8; and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the same.

First Embodiment

An overall configuration of the belt clamp 1 of this embodiment will first be described hereinbelow. The belt clamp 1 is made of a resin material (e.g., polypropylene) and includes, as depicted in FIGS. 1A to 1C, an elongated strap-shaped belt 3 wound around an external surface of an object to be clamped (e.g., a wiring harness 2 depicted in FIG. 5) and a buckle 5 fastening a base end 9 of the belt 3 and having a belt insertion hole 4 that allows insertion of the belt 3 from an inlet 4a thereof. In case of the belt clamp 1 of this embodiment, the buckle 5 has on its surface opposite to the belt insertion hole 4 an engaging portion 8 that is fitted into and engaged with a fitting hole 7 of an object of attachment (e.g., a vehicle body panel 6 depicted in FIG. 3).

The belt 3 will first be described. As depicted in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the belt 3 includes the base end 9 diagonally downward extending and continuously narrowing in width from a bottom surface at an end (a left end when viewed in FIG. 1B) of the buckle 5 closer to an outlet 4b of the belt insertion hole 4 thereof, and an elongated strap-shaped belt body 11 made of a thin flat plate extending with a certain width W1 (see FIG. 3) from the base end 9. The belt body 11 is inserted from its distal end 11a into the belt insertion hole 4 of the buckle 5. Thus, for facilitating the insertion into the belt insertion hole 4, the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 is of a reduced thickness and a substantially triangular tapered shape in front view. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the belt 3 is denoted by reference numeral 12 and the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 12 is denoted by reference numeral 13. The distal end 11a of the belt body 11 refers to a length portion needed to be grasped by the operator and refers to a length portion of about 20 to 30 mm from a tip of the belt body 11.

At a central portion in the width direction 13 on a surface of the belt body 11 except the distal end 11a, as depicted in FIG. 2A, there is arranged a toothed portion 14 (a locked portion) having a multiplicity of teeth arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the belt 3. When the belt body 11 is inserted into the belt insertion hole 4 of the buckle 5, the toothed portion 14 is locked by a locking piece 26 (described later) of a locking portion 24 disposed on the buckle 5, to thereby prevent the belt body 11 from disengaging from the belt insertion hole 4.

As depicted in FIG. 2B, the toothed portion 14 is made up of a multiplicity of trapezoidal teeth 15 each having a top 15a coplanar with a surface (i.e., a surface that is externally exposed when clamping the wiring harness 2) of the belt body 11 and arranged at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11. Toward the distal end 11a of the belt body 11, the tooth 15 has an inclined surface 15b that is inclined at a predetermined angle α. Similarly, toward the base end 9 of the belt body 11, the tooth 15 has a vertical surface 15c that is substantially vertical to the top 15a. Between the inclined surface 15b and the vertical surface 15c of the adjoining teeth 15 is formed a bottom 16 with a reduced thickness.

As depicted in FIG. 2A, the belt body 11 has at its distal end 11a a pair of anti-slipping portions (anti-slipping portions 17 of the first embodiment) formed at both ends in the width direction 13. The anti-slipping portions 17 serve to prevent fingers 18 of the operator depicted in FIG. 5 from slipping when the operator grasps and pulls the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 and are disposed on portions not having the toothed portion 14 at the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 and so as not to overlap with the toothed portion 14 in the width direction 13. The pair of anti-slipping portions 17 have substantially the same shape except that they are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis (not depicted) of the belt body 11.

The anti-slipping portions 17 of the first embodiment will be described. As depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the anti-slipping portions 17 are each made up of a plurality of anti-slipping elements 19 having a substantially triangular section arranged in rows at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11. Accordingly, the anti-slipping portions 17 are formed as ridges longitudinally extending on the front surface of the belt body 11, with the toothed portion 14 being disposed on a region defined between the two ridges in the width direction. The anti-slipping portions 17 are each formed as an alternately recessed and raised ridge so as to have a difference in the height. Toward the distal end 11a of the belt body 11, the anti-slipping element 19 has a first inclined surface 19a that is inclined at a predetermine angle β with respect to the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt 3 in the side view of the belt 3. Similarly, toward the base end 9 of the belt body 11 is formed a substantially vertically extending second inclined surface 19b. The angle β of the first inclined surface 19a is gentle, e.g., 15 to 25 degrees (preferably, 18 to 22 degrees). Thus, when the operator grasps and pulls the distal end 11a of the belt body 11, the operator's fingers 18 enter and come into intimate contact with a space defined by the first inclined surface 19a and the second inclined surface 19b adjoining each other. According as the degree of the intimate contact increases at that time, the friction force between the fingers 18 and the belt body 11 becomes larger, resulting in an enhanced anti-slipping effect. Furthermore, the second inclined surface 19b is a substantially vertical surface, contributing to an increased resistance against the slip when the operator pulls the belt body 11. A top (a connecting portion between the first inclined surface 19a and the second inclined surface 19b ) of the anti-slipping element 19 is of a curved shape (a shape with a radius) so that the operator feels no pain when pressing the fingers 18 against the anti-slipping portions 17.

It is to be noted that at the distal end 11a of the belt body 11, the toothed portion 14 is not disposed on a region between the pair of anti-slipping portions 17. A region between the pair of anti-slipping portions 17 is an inclined surface portion whose thickness continuously decreases according as it approaches the distal end 11a from a terminal end (a lower end) of the toothed portion 14, to thereby function as an insertion guide 21 upon the insertion into the belt insertion hole 4. In case of the anti-slipping portions 17 of the first embodiment, the pair of anti-slipping portions 17 have the same width. The width of the insertion guide 21 (i.e., the distance between the pair of anti-slipping portions 17) is equal to the width of the toothed portion 14.

As depicted in FIG. 1C, the belt body 11 has on its rear surface (a surface facing inside when clamping the wiring harness 2) a pair of ridges 22 functioning as ribs formed at portions except the distal end 11a at both ends in the width direction 13 so as to extend along the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11. The ridges 22 are ridges formed on the rear surface side. The belt body 11 has on its rear surface a multiplicity of (15 in case of this embodiment) protuberances 23 formed at a substantial center in the width direction 13 at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt 3, the protuberances 23 serving to press the wiring harness 2 when the belt body 11 is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the wiring harness 2, thereby preventing the rotation thereof.

The buckle 5 will next be described. As depicted in FIGS. 1A to 1C, 3 and 4, the buckle 5 is of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has at its substantial center in front view the belt insertion hole 4 of a substantially rectangular section extending through from the back (the inlet 4a ) to the front (the outlet 4b ) of the buckle 5. When the width of the belt body 11 is W1, an inner width W2 of the belt insertion hole 4 is slightly greater than the width W1 of the belt body 11 as depicted in FIG. 3.

At a substantial center in the width direction of an interior upper surface, i.e., a ceiling of the belt insertion hole 4, as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking portion 24 projects therefrom for engaging with the toothed portion 14 disposed on the belt body 11. The locking portion 24 overhangs from the ceiling of the belt insertion hole 4 toward the outlet 4b thereof. The locking portion 24 is turnable (resiliently deformable) in the direction indicated by an arrow 25 about a base end 24a (a connecting portion with the ceiling of the belt insertion hole 4). At a distal end of the locking portion 24, the locking piece 26 projects therefrom for entering a space defined between the inclined surface 15b and the vertical surface 15c of the adjoining teeth 15. A surface of the locking piece 26 toward the outlet 4b of the belt insertion hole 4 is a vertical surface 26a rising substantially vertically from the bottom of the locking portion 24. A surface of the locking piece 26 toward the inlet 4a of the belt insertion hole 4 is an inclined surface 26b that is inclined at an angle y with respect to the bottom of the locking portion 24. The angle y is substantially equal to the formation angle α of the inclined surface 15b of the tooth 15 of the belt body 11 depicted in FIG. 2B. As depicted in FIG. 3, a width W3 of the locking portion 24 is slightly smaller than a width W4 of the toothed portion 14 of the belt body 11.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the belt insertion hole 4 has on both sides of the locking portion 24 and on the bottom a pair of upper guides 27 and a pair of lower guides 28, respectively, for guiding the belt body 11 inserted into the belt insertion hole 4. Grooves 29 are disposed on both sides, respectively, of the lower guide 28. The grooves 29 receive the pair of ridges 22 disposed on the belt body 11. The height of a gap between the upper guides 27 and the lower guides 28 is slightly greater than the thickness of the belt body 11. The belt body 11 inserted into the belt insertion hole 4 is restricted in its position in height by the upper guides 27 and the lower guides 28. As a result, the belt body 11 cannot easily tilt in the process of insertion, enabling the operator to smoothly insert the belt body 11 into the belt insertion hole 4. The height of a gap between the locking piece 26 and the lower guide portions 28 is smaller than the thickness of the belt body 11. For this reason, as depicted in FIG. 4, the locking piece 26 and the toothed portion 14 are securely locked together when the belt body 11 is inserted into the belt insertion hole 4.

The engaging portion 8 will then be described briefly. As depicted in FIGS. 1A to 1C, 3, and 4, a stabilizer 31 is disposed that flares upward from a top surface of the buckle 5. An engaging portion body 32 projects from the top surface of the buckle 5 at a substantial center thereof. The engaging portion body 32 has a pair of pawls 33 projecting from both sides thereof. The pawls 33 are coupled at only their respective upper ends to the engaging portion body 32 and are apart at the other portions from the engaging portion body 32. This allows the pawls 33 to be turnable (resiliently deformable) about a coupling portion 33a (upper end) with the engaging portion body 32 so as to come closer to and go away from an axis (not depicted) of the engaging portion body 32. In FIG. 3, an arrow 34 indicates the direction of turn (the direction of deformation) of the pawls 33.

As depicted in FIG. 3, the length of the fitting hole 7 of a vehicle body panel 6 as an example of the object of attachment is somewhat smaller than the length joining tops 33b of the pair of pawls 33. In consequence, when the engaging portion body 32 is fitted into the fitting hole 7, the pair of pawls 33 are pressed against an inner circumferential rim of the fitting hole 7 so as to turn (resiliently deform) toward the axis. When passing through the fitting hole 7, the pair of pawls 32 turn (resiliently deform) in the direction away from the axis and the stabilizer 31 presses the body panel 6. This allows the belt clamp 1 to be attached to the body panel 6 without any disengagement.

Description will be made of an operation when clamping the wiring harness 2 using the belt clamp 1. As depicted in FIG. 5, the belt body 11 of the belt clamp 1 is wound around the outer circumferential surface of the wiring harness 2 and the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 is inserted from the inlet 4a of the belt insertion hole 4. The distal end 11a of the belt body 11 is thinned and the insertion guide 21 of the distal end 11a has an inclined surface. Furthermore, the pair of anti-slipping portion 17 and the locking piece 26 do not interfere with (abut against) each other. For these reasons, the resistance is small (the resistance does not increase as a result of formation of the anti-slipping portion 17) when inserting the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 into the belt insertion hole 4.

When the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 protrudes from the outlet 4b of the belt insertion hole 4 to some extent, the operator presses and grasps the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 from top and bottom by his/her own fingers 18. At that time, the finger 18 pressing the front surface (i.e., the side provided with the pair of anti-slipping portions 17) of the belt body 11 enters into the space formed between the first inclined surface 19a and the second inclined surface 19b of the adjoining anti-slipping elements 19. In this state, the operator pulls the belt body 11 toward the direction indicated by the arrow 35. At this time, the substantially vertically formed second inclined surface 19b of the anti-slipping portion 19 functions to prevent the slip of the operator's fingers 18. By pulling the belt body 11 toward the direction of the arrow 35, the operator allows the locking piece 26 to enter into the space formed between the first tooth 15 and the second tooth 15 of the toothed portion 14. As depicted in FIG. 4, the vertical surface 26a of the locking piece 26 abuts against the vertical surface 15c of the first tooth 15. This prevents the belt body 11 from returning (moving in the direction opposite to the arrow 35). The inclined surface 26b of the locking piece 26 is oriented substantially in parallel with the inclined surface 15b of the second tooth 15 to form a slight gap therebetween.

The operator then uses a predetermined tool (e.g., the tightening gun) to grasp and pull a portion of the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 protruding from the outlet 4b of the belt insertion hole 4. Since the pulling force at that time is larger by far than the engaging force of the toothed portion 14 of the belt body 11 with the locking piece 26, the belt body 11 is pulled while turning the teeth 15 in the direction thrusting up the locking piece 26. Then, the portion protruding from the buckle 5 of the belt body 11 is cut off while the wiring harness 2 is clamped.

In case of the belt clamp 1 of this embodiment, the anti-slipping portions 17 are disposed at the distal end 11a of the belt body 11. Since the operator can grasp these anti-slipping portions 17 to pull the belt body 11, a slip is hard to occur. In addition, since the thickness of the belt body 11 is unvaried regardless of the disposition of the anti-slipping portions 17, there is no need to change the thicknesses of the other members. Furthermore, since the anti-slipping portions 17 are disposed along the both edges in the width direction 13 (at portions not abutting against the locking piece 26) of the belt body 17, they are not a hindrance to passage of the buckle 5 through the belt insertion hole 4, so that the load on the locking piece 26 does not increase as a result of formation of the anti-slipping portions 17.

Second Embodiment

Anti-slipping portions 36 of a second embodiment will next be described. As depicted in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the anti-slipping portions 36 of the second embodiment each include a plurality of anti-slipping elements 37 each having a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape in side view and arranged at the both ends of the belt body 11 in the width direction 13 in rows at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11. At this time, a length L2 of a bottom 37b of the anti-slipping element 37 is set to be greater than a length L1 of a top 37a thereof so that the pressing area of the operator's finger 18 increases. The anti-slipping portions 36 of this embodiment have a similar effect to that of the anti-slipping portions 17 of the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment

Anti-slipping portions 38 of a third embodiment will next be described. As depicted in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the anti-slipping portions 38 of the third embodiment are obtained by slanting the anti-slipping elements 37 of each of the anti-slipping portions 36 of the second embodiment at predetermined angles θ1 and θ2, respectively, so as to be symmetrical in the width direction in front view. The angles θ1 and θ2 may be the same or may differ. As a result, a wall surface 39a toward the base end 9 and a wall surface 39b toward the distal end 11a of each of the anti-slipping elements 39 are slanted relative to the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11. In this case, by slanting the anti-slipping elements 39 so as to be tapered toward the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 in the longitudinal direction 12 (i.e., so as to be tapered in the direction pulling the belt body 11), there increases the area of abutment of the operator's finger 18 against the connection surface 39a of the anti-slipping element 39 toward the base end 9 in the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11, with the result that a slip becomes hard to occur. Therefore, as long as the wall surface toward the base end 9 of the anti-slipping element 39 is slanted, the wall surface toward the distal end 11a may not be slanted.

Fourth Embodiment

Anti-slipping portions 41 of a fourth embodiment will next be described. As depicted in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the anti-slipping portions 41 of the fourth embodiment are in the form in which an anti-slipping element 42 corresponding to the anti-slipping element 37 of each of the anti-slipping portions 36 of the second embodiment has a curved connection surface 42a toward the base end 9 in the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11 in front view. At this time, a center of curvature (not depicted) of the curved surface (the connection surface 42a ) lies toward the base end 9 in the longitudinal direction 12 of the belt body 11.

Fifth Embodiment

An anti-slipping portion 43 of a fifth embodiment will next be described. The anti-slipping portions 17, 36, 38, and 41 of the first to fourth embodiments described above are disposed in pairs at both ends of the belt body 11 in the width direction 13. As depicted in FIGS. 9A and 9B, however, the anti-slipping portion 43 of the fifth embodiment is disposed across the overall length in the width direction 13 of the belt body 11 at portions of the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 not having the toothed portion 14. An anti-slipping element 44 in this case is of a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape in side view, but may be of a similar shape to those of the anti-slipping elements 19, 37, 39, and 42 of the first to fourth embodiments. In order to form the insertion guide 21 by top surfaces of the anti-slipping elements 44 to minimize (or not to increase) the resistance against the locking piece 26 when the belt body 11 is inserted into the belt insertion hole 4 of the buckle 5, it is preferred that, toward the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 in the longitudinal direction 12, an inclined surface portion be formed that becomes continuously thinner toward the tip (and that the belt thickness at the region having the anti-slipping elements 44 be less than or equal to the belt thickness at the region having the toothed portion 14).

Sixth Embodiment

Anti-slipping portions 45 and 46 of a sixth embodiment will next be described. The anti-slipping portions 17, 36, 38, 41, and 43 of the first to fifth embodiments described above are disposed on only the front surface of the belt body 11. As depicted in FIGS. 10A to 10C, however, the anti-slipping portions 45 and 46 of the sixth embodiment are disposed on both surfaces of the belt body 11. Specifically, the front surface of the belt body 11 is formed with the anti-slipping portions 45 similar to the anti-slipping portions 36 of the second embodiment, while the rear surface of the belt body 11 is formed with the anti-slipping portion 46 extending over the entire length in the width direction 13. When pulling the belt body 11, the operator presses the both surfaces with the fingers 18. Since in case of this embodiment the anti-slipping portions 45 and 46 are disposed on the both surfaces, the anti-slipping effect is enhanced. The formation of the anti-slipping portions 45 and 46 on the both surfaces, however, results in an extremely small thickness between the bottoms 47a and 48a of the anti-slipping elements 47 and 48. For this reason, the ridges 22 are not disposed on the rear surface of the belt body 11. Since this portion is cut off and discarded after clamping the wiring harness 2, the thickness is sufficient to the extent that it does not break when pulling the distal end 11a of the belt body 11 with a tool. It is preferred that the tops of the anti-slipping elements 48 on the rear surface be level with the rear surface of the belt body 11 (in other words, that the tops do not protrude from the rear surface).

As depicted in FIG. 10C, of the anti-slipping portions 45 and 46 of the sixth embodiment, the anti-slipping portion 46 on the rear side of the belt body 11 extends over the entire length in the width direction 13. Similar to the anti-slipping portions 45 on the front surface, however, it may be disposed in a pair at both ends in the width direction 13.

Seventh Embodiment

In the belt clamp 1 of the first to fourth embodiments, the anti-slipping portions 17, 36, 38, and 41 are disposed in pairs (i.e., in twos) at both ends in the width direction 13 of the belt body 11. As in anti-slipping portions 49 of a seventh embodiment depicted in FIG. 11A, three (or more) anti-slipping portions 49 may be disposed on the front surface of the belt body 11. The shape of each of the anti-slipping portions 49 may be the same as the shape of each of the embodiments described above.

Eighth and Ninth Embodiments

As in an anti-slipping portion 51 of an eighth embodiment and an anti-slipping portion 52 of a ninth embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11B and 11C, respectively, a single anti-slipping portion may be disposed at a center in the width direction 13 or at one end in the width direction 13 on the front surface of the belt body 11. Whichever form is employed, in case of the formation on the belt front surface, the anti-slipping portion of the invention may be formed at a position in the width direction not abutting against the locking piece 26 upon the insertion into the belt insertion hole 4, or when forming it at a position abutting against the locking piece 26, it may be formed so as not to increase the belt thickness. Also in case of the formation of the anti-slipping portion on the belt rear surface, it may be formed so as not to increase the belt thickness.

Claims

1. A belt clamp comprising:

an elongated strap-shaped belt having a flexibility capable of being wound around an outer circumferential surface of an object to be clamped;

a buckle disposed at a base end of the belt and having a belt insertion hole for allowing insertion of the belt therethrough;

a locking portion projecting toward a front surface of the belt inserted into the belt insertion hole; and

a locked portion disposed on the front surface of the belt confronting the locking portion,

the locking portion being disposed confronting part of the front surface of the belt, the locked portion being aligned on the front surface of the belt along a longitudinal direction thereof,

near a tip of the belt extended from a region not having the locked portion on the front surface of the belt, an anti-slipping portion formed from alternate concaves and convexes being arranged in rows on the front surface of the belt along the longitudinal direction thereof.

2. The belt clamp of claim 1, wherein

at least two ridges extending along the longitudinal direction of the belt are formed at a predetermined interval on the front surface of the belt, the locked portion aligned being disposed in a row at a width of the interval between the ridges and inside the ridges along the belt longitudinal direction, and wherein

in a belt region having the ridges thereon but not having the locked portion aligned, the ridges are formed with alternate concaves and convexes so that the ridges have a difference in height along the belt longitudinal direction, the concaves and convexes of the ridges functioning as the anti-slipping portion when the belt region is grasped.

3. The belt clamp of claim 1, wherein

the locked portion is disposed at a central portion in a width direction crossing to the longitudinal direction of the belt, and wherein

the anti-slipping portion is disposed at both ends of the belt in the width direction thereof and at portions not overlapping with the locked portion.

4. The belt clamp of claim 1, wherein

the anti-slipping portion is formed from a convexed portion and a concaved portion alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction of the belt, the convexed portion having a top surface coplanar with the front surface of the belt, the concaved portion having a bottom notched from the front surface of the belt in the direction of thickness.

5. The belt clamp of claim 4, wherein

a wall surface of the anti-slipping portion toward at least the base end of the belt is slanted or curved in front view of the belt.

6. The belt clamp of claim 4, wherein

a wall surface of the anti-slipping portion toward at least the base end of the belt is slanted or curved with respect to the longitudinal direction of the belt in side view of the belt.

7. The belt clamp of claim 4, wherein

length of the concaved portion of the anti-slipping portion in the longitudinal direction of the belt is greater than length of the convexed portion of the anti-slipping portion in the same direction.

8. The belt clamp of claim 2, wherein

the locked portion is disposed at a central portion in a width direction crossing to the longitudinal direction of the belt, and wherein

the anti-slipping portion is disposed at both ends of the belt in the width direction thereof and at portions not overlapping with the locked portion.

9. The belt clamp of claim 2, wherein

the anti-slipping portion is formed from a convexed portion and a concaved portion alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction of the belt, the convexed portion having a top surface coplanar with the front surface of the belt, the concaved portion having a bottom notched from the front surface of the belt in the direction of thickness.

10. The belt clamp of claim 3, wherein

the anti-slipping portion is formed from a convexed portion and a concaved portion alternately disposed along the longitudinal direction of the belt, the convexed portion having a top surface coplanar with the front surface of the belt, the concaved portion having a bottom notched from the front surface of the belt in the direction of thickness.

11. The belt clamp of claim 5, wherein

length of the concaved portion of the anti-slipping portion in the longitudinal direction of the belt is greater than length of the convexed portion of the anti-slipping portion in the same direction.

12. The belt clamp of claim 6, wherein

length of the concaved portion of the anti-slipping portion in the longitudinal direction of the belt is greater than length of the convexed portion of the anti-slipping portion in the same direction.