Fixture device for a distributor

In a distributor for an internal combustion enginer, a separable, locking-type, bolt-head protective device for preventing an unauthorized access to a head of a fixing bolt tightened at a selected position to hold a distributor flange in place, which comprises:

• a detent-type enclosure including a fastened outer cup member and an inverted inner cup member, said outer cup member including a first side wall, a first open end portion and a first substantially closed end portion including a bottom wall having a central bolt hole formed therethrough and fixed to said flange by said fixing bolt inserted through said bolt hole, said first side wall having at least a first and second circumferentially spaced elastically yieldable tongue protruding inwardly toward said first closed end, said inverted inner cup member including a second side wall, a second open end and a second closed end and received within said fastened outer cup member with said first closed end located adjacent a side of said second open end of said outer cup member such that said inner cup member encases therein said head of said fixing bolt, said second side wall of said inner cup member having at least one tongue-mating portion formed therein for engaging said first and second tongue upon said inner cup member being forced into said outer cup member, an outer surface of said second side wall of said inner cup member and an inner surface of said first side wall of said outer cup member defining an annular clearance therebetween defined so as to permit engagement of said first and second elastically yieldable tongue with said tongue-mating portion for locking said inner cup member to said fastened outer cup member;
• and
• disassembling means for removing said inverted inner cup member locked to said fastened outer cup member, wherein said disassembly means further comprises an annular portion having a height greater than that of said inner cup member and forced into said annular clearnace, wherein said annular portion further comprises at least one elastically yieldable pawl which inwardly protrudes such that, upon insertion of said annular portion into said annular clearance, said annular portion first forces said first and second elastically yieldable tongue from said tongue-mating portion and then said elastically yieldable pawl elastically engages said tongue-mating portion in place of said first and second tongue, such that said locked inner cup member is removed from said fastened outer cup member by removing said disassembling means and such that access to said head of said fixing bolt is obtainable only upon use of said disassembling means.

In an internal combustion engine, an apparatus including a pivotable member which is pivotably supported by a body to which the apparatus is fixed and has an elongated hole through which a fastener is inserted to fix the apparatus to the body at a selected angular position along the elongated hole with respect to a pivoting axis of the pivotable member, a separable, locking-type, fastener protective device preventing unauthorized access to a manipulating path of said fastener tightened at said selected position to hold said apparatus in its best operating condition, which comprises:

• a detent-type enclosure including a fastened outer cup member and an open end, and a substantially closed end including a bottom wall which has a central fastener hole therethrough and which is fixed to said pivotable member by said fastener inserted through said fastener hole, said side wall having at least a first and second circumferentially spaced elastically yieldable tongue protruding inwardly toward said closed end, said inverted inner cup member including a side wall, an open end and a closed end and received within said fastened outer cup member with said closed end thereof located on the side of said open end of said outer cup member such that said inner cup member encases therein said manipulating part of the fastener, said side wall of said inner cup member having at least one tongue-mating portion engaging said first and second tongue once said inner cup member is forced into said outer cup member, an outer surface of said side wall of the inner cup member and an inner surface of said side wall of the outer cup member defining an annular clearance therebetween whose thickness is selected so as to permit engagement of said tongues with said tongue-mating portion through elasticity of the former for locking said inner cup member to said fastened outer cup member;
• and
• enclosure disassembling means for removing said inverted inner cup member locked to said fastened outer cup member, wherein said enclosure disassembling means further comprises an annular portion having a height greater than that of said inner cup member and forced ino said annular clearance, said annular portion having at least one elastically yieldable pawl which inwardly protrudes such that, upon insertion of said annular portion into said annular clearance, said annular portion first forces said first and second tongue against elasticity of the latter away from said tongue-mating portion through elasticity thereof in place of said first and second tongue, whereby said locked inner cup member is removed out of said fastened outer cup member by said pawl by removing the inserted enclosure disassembly means such that access to said manipulating portion of said fastener is obtainable only when said disassembly means is used.