Spacer and mounting structure for lead wire employing the same

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a spacer and a mounting structure for a lead wire employing the same, and more particularly, it relates to a spacer capable of mounting wires having different diameters and a mounting structure for a lead wire employing the same.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] In general, a spacer for mounting a lead wire such as an anode lead wire delivered from a CRT or the like is known in the art. This spacer has a function of preventing the lead wire from coming into contact with the CRT or the like.

[0006] A spacer capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters is developed as such a conventional spacer. For example, Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 4-34783 (1992) discloses such a spacer. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the conventional spacer disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 4-34783. Referring to FIG. 11, the conventional spacer is provided with two through holes 110 and 111, to be capable of corresponding to lead wires having different diameters.

[0007] However, the conventional spacer is not so fixed as to completely close a lead wire inlet 108, and hence a lead wire 109 may be displaced from the spacer.

[0008] Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 60-61780 (1985), for example, proposes a structure for preventing displacement of a lead wire from a spacer capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters. In the proposed structure, the spacer is divided into two parts while a pair of serrate engaging portions are provided around a lead wire mounting portion formed on a central part. The divided parts of the spacer are engaged with each other through the pair of serrate engaging portions, thereby undisplaceably fixing a lead wire. In the proposed conventional spacer, however, the serrate engaging portions are complicated in structure and it is disadvantageously troublesome to dismount a lead wire once mounted.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a spacer capable of mounting wires having different diameters and reliably preventing displacement of the wires with a simple structure.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to readily mount and dismount the wires in the aforementioned spacer.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a lead wire capable of mounting wires having different diameters and reliably preventing displacement of the wires with a simple structure.

[0012] A Further object of the present invention is to readily mount and dismount the wires in the aforementioned mounting structure for a lead wire.

[0013] A spacer according to an aspect of the present invention comprises an outer frame, a plurality of ribs, a mounting portion, a release portion, a hook and a hook receiver. The plurality of ribs are radially provided from the outer frame toward a central part. The mounting portion is provided on the central part of the outer frame, and is capable of mounting wires having different diameters. The release portion is provided to reach the mounting portion the central part from the outer frame, and is substantially V-shaped. The hook is integrally provided on one of opposite end surfaces of the substantially V-shaped release portion. The hook receiver is integrally provided on another one of the opposite end surfaces of the substantially V-shaped release portion.

[0014] The spacer according to this aspect is provided with the mounting portion capable of mounting wires having different diameters as well as the hook and the hook receiver formed on the opposite end surfaces of the release portion as hereinabove described, for readily fixing wires having different diameters by simply inserting the wires having different diameters from the release portion for mounting the same on the mounting portion and thereafter hanging the hook on the hook receiver. Thus, a spacer capable of readily mounting wires having different diameters and reliably preventing displacement of the wires can be provided. The hook and the hook receiver are simply provided on the opposite end surfaces of the release portion, whereby the structure is simple. Further, the hook can be readily attached to/detached from the hook receiver, whereby the wires can be readily mounted and dismounted.

[0015] In the structure of the spacer according to the aforementioned aspect, the mounting portion may include a single mounting hole capable of mounting the wires having different diameters, and the single mounting hole may have three grip portions for holding the wires. At least one of the three grip portions is preferably elastically deformable in response to the diameter of the wire. Thus, at least one of the three grip portions is formed to be elastically deformable in response to the diameter of the wire, so that this grip portion is elastically deformed when mounting a wire having a thick diameter. Thus, not only a thin wire but also a thick wire can readily be fixed through the single mounting hole. Further, the wires having different diameters can be fixed at the same portion due to the single mounting hole, whereby the operator will not take a wrong mounting position dissimilarly to the case of a spacer having different mounting holes corresponding to wires having different diameters.

[0016] In the structure of the aforementioned spacer, the plurality of ribs may include a first rib, a second rib, a third rib and a fourth rib. In this case, the first and second ribs preferably form the substantially V-shaped release portion. The third rib preferably has a first branch portion branched into two parts on the central part, and one end of the first branch portion is preferably connected to an end of the first rib. The fourth rib preferably has a second branch portion branched into two on the central part, and one end of the second branch portion is preferably connected to an end of the second rib while another end of the second branch portion is preferably connected to another end of the first branch portion. The aforementioned grip portions may include a first grip portion, a second grip portion and a third grip portion. In this case, the first grip portion may be provided on the inner surface of a connecting portion between the third rib and the fourth rib. The second grip portion may be provided on the inner surface of a connecting portion between the third rib and the first rib. The third grip portion may be provided on the inner surface of a connecting portion between the fourth rib and the second rib. Preferably, the first grip portion, the second grip portion and the third grip portion are elastically deformable toward the outer frame. All of the first to third grip portions are formed to be elastically deformable toward the outer frame as described above, whereby the first to third grip portions are elastically deformed when mounting a wire having a large diameter. Thus, not only a thin wire but also a thick wire can be more readily fixed through the single mounting hole.

[0017] In the structure of the aforementioned spacer, a notch portion is preferably formed on a part of the outer frame opposite to the release portion, and end portions of the outer frame located on both ends of the notch portion can preferably be distorted and superposed with each other when opening the release portion for mounting the wires on the single mounting hole. The release portion can be more widely opened with the end portions of the outer frame located on both ends of the notch portion superposed with each other due to the aforementioned structure, whereby a thick wire can be readily inserted from the release portion.

[0018] In the structure of the aforementioned spacer, the single mounting hole may include a wire inlet on the side of the release portion. In this case, the width of the inlet of the single mounting hole preferably increases in response to the degree of opening of the release portion. When adjusting the degree of opening of the release portion in response to the diameter of the wire, the width of the inlet of the mounting hole increases due to the aforementioned structure, whereby the wire can be readily inserted into the mounting hole.

[0019] In the structure of the spacer according to the aforementioned aspect, the mounting hole may include a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole. In this case, the first mounting hole is preferably capable of mounting a wire having a first diameter. The second mounting hole is preferably provided adjacently to the first mounting hole, and capable of mounting a wire having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. Thus, two mounting holes capable of mounting wires having different diameters are so provided that the wires having different diameters can be readily mounted by combination of the two mounting holes, the hook and the hook receiver, and the wires can be reliably prevented from displacement with a simple structure. In this structure, further, a substantially V-shaped notch portion opening by absorbing stress applied to the spacer when hanging the hook on the hook receiver is preferably provided on the opposite side of the substantially V-shaped release portion. The spacer can be effectively prevented from application of stress due to the substantially V-shaped notch portion.

[0020] In the structure of the aforementioned spacer, the first mounting hole preferably includes a wire inlet on the side of the substantially V-shaped release portion, and the width of the inlet of the first mounting hole preferably increases in response to the degree of opening of the release portion. When adjusting the degree of opening of the release portion in response to the diameter of the wire, the width of the inlet of the first mounting hole increases due to the aforementioned structure, whereby the wire can be readily inserted into the first mounting hole.

[0021] A mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer according to another aspect of the present invention is a structure for mounting a lead wire with the spacer according to the aforementioned aspect. In this mounting structure for a lead wire, the lead wire is fixed by inserting the lead wire into the substantially V-shaped release portion for mounting the lead wire on the mounting portion and thereafter hanging the hook on the hook receiver. A mounting structure for a lead wire capable of readily mounting lead wires having different diameters and reliably preventing displacement of the lead wires can be provided due to the aforementioned structure. The hook and the hook receiver are simply provided on the opposite end surfaces of the release portion, whereby the structure is simple. Further, the hook can be readily attached to/detached from the hook receiver, whereby the lead wires can be readily mounted and dismounted.

[0022] In the mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer according to this aspect of the present invention, the lead wire may be a high-voltage lead wire employed for a cathode ray tube. When the lead wire is a high-voltage lead wire employed for a cathode ray tube, the spacer can sufficiently and reliably hold a space between the high-voltage lead wire and the cathode ray tube, whereby remarkably excellent safety can be attained.

[0023] In the mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer according to this aspect, the mounting portion may include a single mounting hole capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters, and the single mounting hole may have three grip portions for holding the lead wire. At least one of the three grip portions is preferably elastically deformable in response to the diameter of the lead wire. Thus, at least one of the three grip portions is formed to be elastically deformable in response to the diameter of the lead wire, so that this grip portion is elastically deformed when mounting a lead wire having a large diameter. Thus, not only a thin lead wire but also a thick lead wire can be readily fixed through the single mounting hole. Further, lead wires having different diameters can be mounted on the same portion by providing the single mounting hole, whereby the operator will not take a wrong mounting position dissimilarly to the case of a spacer having different mounting holes corresponding to lead wires having different diameters.

[0024] In the aforementioned mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer, the plurality of ribs may include a first rib, a second rib, a third rib and a fourth rib. In this case, the first and second ribs preferably form the substantially V-shaped release portion. The third rib preferably has a first branch portion branched into two parts on the central part, and one end of the first branch portion is preferably connected to an end of the first rib. The fourth rib preferably has a second branch portion branched into two parts on the central part and one end of the second branch portion is preferably connected to an end of the second rib while another end of the second branch portion is preferably connected another end of the first branch portion. The aforementioned grip portions may include a first grip portion, a second grip portion and a third grip portion. In this case, the first grip portion may be provided on the inner surface of a connecting portion between the third rib and the fourth rib. The second grip portion may be provided on the inner surface of a connecting portion between the third rib and the first rib. The third grip portion may be provided on the inner surface of a connecting portion between the fourth rib and the second rib. Preferably, the first grip portion, the second grip portion and the third grip portion are elastically deformable toward the outer frame. All of the first to third grip portions are formed to be elastically deformable toward the outer frame as described above, whereby the first to third grip portions are elastically deformed when mounting a lead wire having a large diameter. Thus, not only a thin lead wire but also a thick lead wire can be more readily fixed through the single mounting hole.

[0025] In the aforementioned mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer, a notch portion is preferably formed on a part of the outer frame opposite to the release portion, and end portions of the outer frame located on both ends of the notch portion can preferably be distorted and superposed with each other when opening the release portion for mounting the lead wire on the single mounting hole. The release portion can be more widely opened with the end portions of the outer frame located on both ends of the notch portion superposed with each other due to the aforementioned structure, whereby a thick lead wire can be readily inserted from the release portion.

[0026] In the aforementioned mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer, the single mounting hole may include a wire inlet on the side of the release portion. In this case, the width of the inlet of the single mounting hole preferably increases in response to the degree of opening of the release portion. When adjusting the degree of opening of the release portion in response to the diameter of the lead wire, the width of the inlet of the mounting hole increases due to the aforementioned structure, whereby the lead wire can be readily inserted into the mounting hole.

[0027] In the mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer according to this aspect, the mounting hole may include a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole. In this case, the first mounting hole is preferably capable of mounting a lead wire having a first diameter. The second mounting hole is preferably provided adjacently to the first mounting hole, and capable of mounting a lead wire having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. Thus, two mounting holes capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters are so provided that the lead wires having different diameters can be readily mounted by combination of the two mounting holes, the hook and the hook receiver, and the lead wires can be reliably prevented from displacement with a simple structure. In this structure, further, a substantially V-shaped notch portion opening by absorbing stress applied to the spacer when hanging the hook on the hook receiver is preferably provided on the opposite side of the substantially V-shaped release portion. The spacer can be effectively prevented from application of stress due the substantially V-shaped notch portion.

[0028] In the aforementioned mounting structure for a lead wire employing a spacer, the first mounting hole preferably includes a wire inlet on the side of the substantially V-shaped release portion, and the width of the inlet of the first mounting hole preferably increases in response to the degree of opening of the release portion. When adjusting the degree of opening of the release portion in response to the diameter of the lead wire, the width of the inlet of the first mounting hole increases due to the aforementioned structure, whereby the lead wire can be readily inserted into the first mounting hole.

[0029] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a spacer according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a hook portion of the spacer shown in FIG. 1;

[0032] FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams for illustrating a procedure for mounting a thin lead wire on the spacer;

[0033] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams for illustrating a procedure for mounting a thick lead wire on the spacer;

[0034] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the spacer according to the first embodiment mounted on an anode lead wire of a CRT;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a spacer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the spacer according to the second embodiment on which a thin lead wire is mounted;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the spacer according to the second embodiment on which a thick lead wire is mounted; and

[0038] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional spacer.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the drawings.

[0040] (First Embodiment)

[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a spacer 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has four ribs 2a, 2b, 2cand 2dradially provided from an outer frame 1 toward a central part. The ribs 2cand 2dform the first and second ribs of the present invention respectively. The ribs 2aand 2bform the third and fourth ribs of the present invention respectively.

[0042] The ribs 2cand 2dform a substantially V-shaped release portion 5. The rib 2ahas two branch portions (first branch portions) 12aand 12b, and the rib 2bhas two branch portions (second branch portions) 12cand 12d. The branch portion 12aof the rib 2ais connected with the branch portion 12cof the rib 2b. The branch portion 12bof the rib 2ais connected with the rib 2c. The branch portion 12dof the rib 2bis connected with the rib 2d.

[0043] A grip portion (first grip portion) 4ais formed on the inner side of a connecting portion between the branch portions 12aand 12c. A grip portion (second grip portion) 4bis formed on the inner side of a connecting portion between the branch portion 12band the rib 2c. A grip portion (third grip portion) 4cis formed on the inner side of a connecting portion between the branch portion 12dand the rib 2d. The three grip portions 4a, 4band 4care flexibly deformable (elastically deformable) toward the outer frame 1. Lead wires having different diameters can be gripped with the three grip portions 4a, 4band 4c. A mounting hole 3 is provided to be enclosed with the three grip portions 4a, 4band 4c. The mounting hole 3 is provided with a lead wire inlet 3aon the side of the release portion 5.

[0044] According to the first embodiment, a hook 7 is integrally provided on the rib 2cforming the release portion 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A hook receiver 8 engageable with the hook 7 is integrally provided on the other rib 2dforming the release portion 5. A notch portion 6 is formed on the opposite side of the release portion 5.

[0045] A procedure for mounting a thin lead wire 30 on the spacer 10 according to the first embodiment is now described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the V-shaped release portion 5 is first spread thereby increasing the width of the lead wire inlet 3a. In this case, the width of the lead wire inlet 3aincreases in response to the degree of opening of the release portion 5. When adjusting the degree of opening of the release portion 5 in response to the diameter of the thin lead wire 30, therefore, the width of the lead wire inlet 3aof the mounting hole 3 increases so that the thin lead wire 30 can be readily inserted into the mounting hole 3 through the release portion 5 and the lead wire inlet 3a.

[0046] After inserting the thin lead wire 30 into the mounting hole 3, the hook 7 is hung on the hook receiver 8 thereby fixing the thin lead wire 30 by the grip portions 4a, 4band 4cas shown in FIG. 4. The diameter 3 of the mounting hole 3 is set slightly smaller than that of the thin lead wire 30. Thus, the three grip portions 4a, 4band 4ccan grip the thin lead wire 30 with a certain degree of clamping force when mounting the thin lead wire 30 on the mounting hole 3. Consequently, the spacer 10 can be prevented from moving with respect to the thin lead wire 30.

[0047] A procedure of mounting a thick lead wire 40 on the spacer 10 according to the first embodiment is now described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, the V-shaped release portion 5 is relatively largely spread thereby largely increasing the width of the lead wire inlet 3a, as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, end portions 1aand 1bof the outer frame 1 closer to the notch portion 6 are distorted as shown in FIG. 5, to be superposable with each other. According to the first embodiment, the release portion 5 can be more largely spread due to such superposition of the end portions 1aand 1b, whereby the thick lead wire 40 can be readily inserted into the mounting hole 3 through the release portion 5 and the lead wire inlet 3a.

[0048] After inserting the thick lead wire 40 into the mounting hole 3, the hook 7 is hung on the hook receiver 8 thereby fixing the thick lead wire 40 with the grip portions 4a, 4band 4c, as shown in FIG. 6. In this case, the grip portions 4a, 4band 4care flexibly deformable (elastically deformable) along arrows shown in FIG. 6, and hence the grip portions 4a, 4band 4care elastically deformed along arrows when mounting the thick lead wire 40.

[0049] According to the first embodiment, not only the aforementioned thin lead wire 30 but also the thick lead wire 40 can be readily fixed through the single mounting hole 30 by elastically deformably forming the grip portions 4a, 4band 4cas described above. The elastically deformed three grip portions 4a, 4band 4crelatively strongly clamp the thick lead wire 40 with elastic returning force, whereby the spacer 10 can be effectively prevented from moving with respect to the thick lead wire 40.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows the spacer 10 according to the first embodiment mounted on an anode lead wire 53 of a CRT (cathode ray tube) 52 along the aforementioned procedure of mounting the spacer 10. Referring to FIG. 7, the high-voltage anode lead wire 53 delivered from an anode 54 of the CRT 52 is connected to a flyback transformer 51 provided on a printed board 54. The spacer 10 according to the first embodiment is mounted on the anode lead wire 53. Thus, the anode lead wire 53 can be reliably prevented from coming into contact with the CRT 52 or another electric part or the like.

[0051] The spacer 10 according to the first embodiment, which is provided with the mounting hole 3 capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters as well as the hook 7 and the hook receiver 8 on opposite end surfaces of the release portion 5, can fix any lead wire by simply inserting the lead wire from the release portion 5 for mounting the same on the mounting hole 3 and thereafter hanging the hook 7 on the hook receiver 8. Thus, the spacer 10 can readily mount lead wires having different diameters and reliably prevent displacement of the lead wires. The hook 7 and the hook receiver 8 are simply provided on the opposite end surfaces of the release portion 5, whereby the structure is simple. The hook 7 can be readily attached to/detached from the hook receiver 8, whereby the lead wires can be readily mounted and dismounted.

[0052] The spacer 10 according to the first embodiment, which is provided with the single mounting hole 3 capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters, can fix the lead wires on the same portion. Thus, the operator will not take a wrong mounting position dissimilarly to the case of a spacer having different mounting holes corresponding to wires having different diameters.

[0053] (Second Embodiment)

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, a spacer 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention has two mounting holes, i.e., a first mounting hole 23 and a second mounting hole 24, dissimilarly to the aforementioned first embodiment. The first mounting hole 23 is provided on a central part. The second mounting hole 24 is provided on a position adjacent to the first mounting hole 23 by forming ribs 22cand 22din outwardly projecting bent shapes. The first mounting hole 23 is employed for mounting a thin lead wire 30 (see FIG. 9), and the second mounting hole 24 is employed for mounting a thick lead wire 40 (see FIG. 10). According to the second embodiment, a substantially V-shaped notch portion 26 is provided on the opposite side of a release portion 25. This notch portion 26 is formed by two ribs 22eand 22fdirected to the central part from an outer frame 21.

[0055] The remaining structure of the second embodiment is substantially identical to that of the first embodiment. Four ribs 22a, 22b, 22cand 22dare radially provided from the outer frame 21 toward the central part. The ribs 22cand 22dform the substantially V-shaped release portion 25. The rib 22ahas two branch portions 32aand 32b, while the rib 22bhas two branch portions 32cand 32d. The branch portion 32aof the rib 22ais connected with the branch portion 32cof the rub 22b. The branch portion 32bof the rib 22ais connected with the rib 22c. The branch portion 32dof the rib 22bis connected with the rib 22d.

[0056] A grip portion 34ais formed on the inner side of a connecting portion between the branch portions 32aand 32c. A grip portion 34bis formed on the inner side of a connecting portion between the branch portion 32band the rib 22c. A grip portion 34cis formed on the inner side of a connecting portion between the branch portion 32dand the rib 22d. The three grip portions 34a, 34band 34cgrip the thin lead wire 30 in the first mounting hole 23. The first mounting hole 23 is provided with a lead wire inlet 23aon the side closer to the second mounting hole 24.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 8, the spacer 20 according to the second embodiment is provided with the first mounting hole 23 and the second mounting hole 24 capable of mounting lead wires having different diameters respectively. A hook 27 is integrally provided on the rib 22cforming the release portion 25, while a hook receiver 28 engageable with the hook 27 is integrally provided on the other rib 22dforming the release portion 25. Thus, the spacer 20 according to the second embodiment can readily mount lead wires having different diameters and reliably prevent displacement of the lead wires with a simple structure, similarly to the spacer 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, the spacer 20 can readily mount and dismount the lead wires.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

[0059] For example, while all of the three grip portions 4a, 4band 4care formed to be flexibly deformable (elastically deformable) in the aforementioned first embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this but lead wires having different diameters can be fixed through the single mounting hole 3 so far as at least one of the three grip portions 4a, 4band 4cis flexibly deformable (elastically deformable).

[0060] Further, while the spacer 20 according to the second embodiment is provided with the two mounting holes, i.e., the first mounting hole 23 and the second mounting hole 24, the present invention is not restricted to this but three or more mounting holes may be provided.