JP2009026592A - Dimmer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dimmer capable of reducing deformation and damage of a pawl section and a pawl receiving section while preventing a gap in the direction orthogonal to the assembling direction of a cover and body. <P>SOLUTION: The dimmer has a box-shaped case, an operation knob arranged on the front face of the case, and a plurality of circuit elements housed in the case and constituting a dimming circuit in order to light-control a lighting load in response to operation of the operation knob. The case is provided with a front-side cover 3 and a rear-side body 4 which are assembled with connection pawls 3b and connection holes 4b. Recessed sections 3f and projected sections 4d, which are mutually connectable to regulate relative movements in the three directions among four orthogonal directions viewed from the frontward/backward direction in the state that the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled, are arranged in the vicinities of respective both sides of the connection pawls 3b and the connection holes 4b for the cover 3 and the body 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dimmer that performs dimming of an illumination load such as an incandescent lamp.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a dimmer that is interposed between an AC power source such as a commercial power source and an illumination load such as an incandescent lamp and performs dimming of the illumination load is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
Such a dimmer adjusts the lighting load according to the operation of the box-shaped housing (body and cover), the operation knob provided on the front surface of the housing, and the operation knob housed in the housing. And a plurality of circuit elements constituting a dimming circuit. The housing of such a dimmer is composed of a front cover (where an operation knob is disposed) and a rear body, and is assembled by a claw portion and a claw receiving portion which are included in a box shape. It is said that. The claw part and the claw receiving part are engaged with each other to lock the cover and the body, and at least one of the claw part and the claw receiving part has a bending part that bends in the middle of bringing the cover and the body close to each other. When the cover and the body are brought close to the position to be locked, the bending of the bending portion is released and they are engaged with each other.
Japanese Patent No. 3700329

  By the way, in the dimmer as described above, since the electric wire from the body side to the power source etc. is led out, when the electric wire is pulled at the time of construction etc., it is fixed to the wall etc. via the decorative plate In some cases, the body is pulled in one direction in a direction orthogonal to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) or the like. Therefore, in the dimmer as described above, in order to prevent the displacement between the cover and the body, the rigidity of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion is increased in consideration of the pulling force described above (specifically, the thickness of the bent portion). In this case, there is a possibility that a large force is required when the cover and the body are assembled, and that the claw portion and the claw receiving portion are deformed or broken.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to prevent the shift of the cover and the body in the direction perpendicular to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the claw part and the claw receiving part. An object of the present invention is to provide a dimmer capable of reducing deformation and breakage.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention according to claim 1, a box-shaped housing, an operation knob provided on the front surface of the housing, and a housing that is accommodated in the housing according to the operation of the operation knob. A plurality of circuit elements constituting a dimming circuit for dimming the lighting load, and the housing includes a front cover and a rear body assembled by the claw portion and the claw receiving portion. The light control device according to claim 1, wherein at least three of the four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction in the assembled state at positions near the claw portion and the claw receiving portion in the cover and the body. The gist is that a concave portion and a convex portion that are engageable with each other are provided to restrict relative movement.

  According to this configuration, the relative movement in at least three of the four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction is regulated in the assembled state in the vicinity of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion in the cover and the body. Since the concave portion and the convex portion that can be engaged with each other are provided, the concave portion and the convex portion can prevent displacement in the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover and the body. Specifically, considering the pulling force of the wire during construction, etc., the claw part and claw receiving part do not have to be highly rigid (more specifically, the thickness of the bent part is thick), and the concave part and convex part are related. By combining, it is possible to prevent displacement in the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover and the body. Further, since the concave portion and the convex portion can be engaged with each other so as to restrict relative movement in at least three of the four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction, one or two of the four directions can be engaged. Compared with the one that restricts the relative movement, it is possible to cope with the tensile force in multiple directions, and the effect is high. In addition, when the cover and body are assembled, compared to the case where the rigidity of the claw part and claw receiving part is made higher (specifically, the thickness of the bent part is thicker) in consideration of the pulling force of the wire during construction, etc. The required force is reduced and the deformation and breakage of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion are reduced.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the dimmer according to the first aspect, the concave portion and the convex portion are provided at positions near both sides of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion, respectively. The gist.

  According to the same configuration, the concave portion and the convex portion are provided at positions near both sides of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion, respectively, so that the displacement in the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover and the body is prevented. More can be prevented.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the dimmer according to the first or second aspect, the casing is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and the claw portion and the claw receiving portion include the cover and the body. A pair of locking side walls that are opposed to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction, and lock the housings in pairs, respectively, and a pair of non-perpendiculars orthogonal to the locking side walls of the cover and the body, respectively. The locking side wall is provided with a regulating portion and a regulated portion that can be engaged with each other so as to regulate relative movement in a direction in which the pair of non-locking side walls are aligned when viewed from the front-rear direction. This is the gist.

  According to this configuration, the pair of non-locking side walls, which are orthogonal to the locking side walls provided with the claw portions and the claw receiving portions in the cover and the body, respectively, are assembled and viewed from the front-rear direction. Since the restricting portion and the restricted portion that can be engaged with each other are provided to restrict the relative movement in the direction in which the stop walls are arranged, it is possible to further prevent a shift in the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover and the body. Can do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the dimmer according to the third aspect, the pair of locking side walls are arranged in a state where the restriction portion and the restricted portion are assembled in the assembled state. The gist is that a restriction recess and a restriction protrusion that can be engaged with each other are provided to restrict relative movement in the direction.

  According to this configuration, the regulating recess and the regulated portion can be engaged with each other so as to regulate relative movement in a direction in which a pair of locking side walls are aligned when viewed from the front-rear direction in the assembled state. And the restricting convex portion are provided, it is possible to further prevent the displacement in the direction perpendicular to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover and the body.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the dimmer according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the convex portion is formed on a side where the strength of the material in the cover and the body is strong. This is the gist.

  According to this configuration, the convex portion is formed on the side where the strength of the material in the cover and the body is strong, so that it is difficult to break compared to the case where the convex portion is formed on the side where the strength of the material is weak. Deviation in the direction perpendicular to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) with the body can be further prevented.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the dimmer according to the fifth aspect, the body accommodates more heat generating components in the circuit element than the cover, and has higher heat resistance and strength than the cover. The main point is that it is made of a strong material.

  According to this configuration, the body accommodates more heat generating components in the circuit element than the cover, but is made of a material having higher heat resistance than the cover, so that damage or the like is reduced. In addition, a material having high heat resistance and high strength can be easily obtained, and since the convex portion is formed on the body side, the effect of the invention of claim 5 can be easily obtained. In other words, it is wasteful to use a body with a high heat resistance and a cover with a strong material and to provide a convex part on the cover. For example, both the manufacturing cost of the cover and the manufacturing cost of the body are high. However, this can be avoided and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dimmer capable of reducing deformation and breakage of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion while preventing a shift in the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover and the body. Can do.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the dimmer 1 has a rectangular plate shape and is fixed to a decorative plate 2 having an exposure hole 2a formed in the center thereof via a mounting frame (not shown), and the front surface thereof is exposed from the exposure hole 2a. It is fixed to a wall or the like (not shown) in an exposed state. The front surface of the dimmer 1 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and in the present embodiment, the dimmer 1 is fixed so that the short direction is the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dimmer 1 is provided on a front surface of the housing 5 (cover 3) having a box-like housing 5 including a front cover 3 and a rear body 4. The operation knob 6 and a dimming circuit 8 (see FIG. 6) for dimming the incandescent lamp 7 (see FIG. 6) as an illumination load according to the operation of the operation knob 6 housed in the housing 5 are configured. And a circuit block 9 (see FIG. 3) having a plurality of circuit elements. In the dimmer 1, the cover 3 is fixed to the decorative plate 2, and the body 4 is fixed to the decorative plate 2 through the cover 3.

  The casing 5 of the present embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape (hollow), and the cover 3 and the body 4 are intermediate portions (frontward) of the casing 5 in the front-rear direction. It is formed in a divided shape. Specifically, the cover 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with the rear side opened, and the body 4 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape with the front side opened. The body 4 is made of a synthetic resin material having higher heat resistance and higher strength than the cover 3.

  The cover 3 has a claw portion extending toward the rear side from the center in the left-right direction (width direction) at the rear end of the locking side wall 3a that is a pair of walls facing in the up-down direction when viewed from the front-rear direction. Engaging claws 3b are formed (a pair of top and bottom). The pair of engaging claws 3b extend from the rear end of the locking side wall 3a to the rear side in a plate shape so as to be easily bent in the vertical direction, and from the tip of the bending portion 3c to each other. It comprises an engaging projection 3d that protrudes away from the side (that is, the upper side from the upper flexure 3c and the lower side from the lower flexure 3c). Note that the engagement protrusion 3d is formed so as to protrude larger toward the front side (that is, the base end side of the bending portion 3c).

  Further, the body 4 has a hook as a claw receiving portion penetrating in the vertical direction at the center portion in the left-right direction (width direction) on the front side of the locking side wall 4a that is a pair of walls facing in the vertical direction when viewed from the front-rear direction. A joint hole 4b is formed (a pair of top and bottom). The cover 3 and the body 4 are engaged with each other by engaging the engagement protrusion 3d of the engagement claw 3b with the engagement hole 4b (so-called snap fit engagement) to form the housing 5. To do. The bending portion 3c bends while the cover 3 and the body 4 are brought close to each other, and the bending is released when the cover 3 and the body 4 are brought close to a position where the engagement protrusion 3d fits into the engagement hole 4b. When the bending is released, the engagement protrusion 3d and the engagement hole 4b are engaged in the front-rear direction.

  A circular operation hole 3e is formed in the bottom of the cover 3, that is, the front surface, when viewed from the front-rear direction. An operation knob 6 is rotatably supported in the operation hole 3 e of the cover 3.

  Specifically, the operation knob 6 is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape having a diameter that is approximately the same as the diameter of the operation hole 3e and can be loosely fitted, and has a flange portion 6a (see FIG. 3) at the opening end thereof. Then, it is inserted into the operation hole 3e from the rear side and is prevented from coming off from the operation hole 3e by the flange portion 6a, so that it is rotatably supported in a state of protruding forward.

  The circuit block 9 includes first and second printed circuit boards 11 and 12, and the plurality of circuit elements, that is, the variable resistor 13, the triac 14, and the coil are provided to the first and second printed circuit boards 11 and 12. 15, a resistor 16, capacitors 17, 18, a diac 19, and the like are mounted (see FIG. 6 for the resistors 16, capacitors 17, 18 and the diac 19). Further, a heat sink 21 bent in a U-shape is fixed to the first printed circuit board 11, and the triac 14 is fixed in close contact with the heat sink 21. Furthermore, a terminal block 24 that holds a pair of connection terminals 22 and 23 (see FIG. 5B) is fixed to the second printed circuit board 12. The pair of connection terminals 22 and 23 are formed in the wire insertion holes 4c (FIGS. 4B and 5) formed in the bottom (rear surface) of the body 4 in a state where the circuit block 9 is accommodated in the housing 5. It is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside via (b). In the present embodiment, more triacs 14, coils 15, and connection terminals 22, 23, which are heat generating components that easily generate heat in the circuit elements, are accommodated on the body 4 side rather than the cover 3 side.

  The dimmer circuit 8 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the triac 14 and the coil 15 are connected in series between the pair of connection terminals 22 and 23 via the switch 13a in the variable resistor 13. In parallel with the triac 14, a resistor 16, a variable resistor 13, and a capacitor 17 connected in series are connected. A diac 19 is connected between the connection point of the variable resistor 13 and the capacitor 17 and the gate of the triac 14, and a capacitor 18 is connected between the connection terminals 22 and 23 via the switch 13a. Has been. A series circuit of the incandescent lamp 7 and the power supply 31 is connected between the pair of connection terminals 22 and 23. At this time, a pair of electric wires (not shown) connected to the incandescent lamp 7 and the power source 31 are connected and fixed to the connection terminals 22 and 23 in the housing 5 through the electric wire insertion hole 4c.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating shaft 13 b of the variable resistor 13 protruding from the circuit block 9 is inserted into the operation knob 6 from the rear side so as to be rotatable integrally with the operation knob 6. Then, by rotating the operation knob 6, the rotation shaft 13b is rotated, the switch 13a (see FIG. 6) is opened and closed, and variable according to the rotation amount (operation amount) of the rotation shaft 13b. The resistance value of the resistor 13 is changed.

  Here, in the cover 3 and the body 4 of the present embodiment, in the vicinity of the engaging claws 3b and the engaging holes 4b, the four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction with the cover 3 and the body 4 assembled. A recess 3f (see FIG. 4A) and a protrusion 4d (see FIGS. 3 and 4B) that can be engaged with each other are provided to restrict relative movement in three directions.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 5 (a), in the vicinity of both sides in the left-right direction (width direction) of the engaging claw 3b at the rear end of each locking side wall 3a of the cover 3, In addition, concave portions 3f that are recessed toward the front side and open to the center side in the vertical direction of the cover 3 are formed in a U-shape when viewed from the front-rear direction (four in total).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 5 (a), the front side of each of the locking side walls 4a of the body 4 has a forward position in the vicinity of both sides in the left-right direction (width direction) of the engagement hole 4b. Convex portions 4d that are convex toward the side and are square when viewed from the front-rear direction are formed (four in total).

  Then, in a state where the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled, each convex portion 4d is inserted into each concave portion 3f, so that each pair (a combination of the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d) is viewed from the front-rear direction. The relative movement (of the cover 3 and the body 4) in three directions out of the four orthogonal directions is restricted. In the present embodiment, the movement of the body 4 relative to the cover 3 in the upward and leftward and rightward directions is restricted by the set of the upper concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d, and the lower concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d. The downward movement and the lateral movement of the body 4 with respect to the cover 3 are restricted.

  The pair of non-locking side walls 3g, 4e orthogonal to the locking side walls 3a, 4a of the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled to the pair of non-locking side walls 3g, A restricting portion 3h and a restricted portion 4f that can be engaged with each other are provided to restrict the relative movement in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which 4e is arranged.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 5A, the rear end of each of the non-locking side walls 3g of the cover 3 is approximately half the thickness of the non-locking side wall 3g. Each of the restricting portions 3h that protrudes toward the rear side is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4B and 5A, at the front end of each of the non-locking side walls 4e of the body 4, the restriction portion 3h can be fitted on the rear side. Regulated portions 4f that are recessed toward the surface are respectively formed.

  Then, in a state where the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled, the relative movement in the left-right direction (the cover 3 and the body 4) is restricted by fitting each regulating portion 3h to each regulated portion 4f. become.

  In addition, the restricting portion 3h and the restricted portion 4f can be engaged with each other so as to restrict the relative movement in the vertical direction, which is the direction in which the pair of locking side walls 3a and 4a are arranged when viewed from the front and rear direction. A restricting recess 3i and a restricting protrusion 4g are provided.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (a), and 5 (a), a regulation recess 3 i that is recessed toward the front side is provided on the lower side of the middle part in the vertical direction of the regulation part 3 h. Is formed.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (b) and 5 (a), on the lower side of the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the restricted portion 4f, the front side so as to be fitted into the restricting recess 3i. The regulation convex part 4g which protrudes toward is formed, respectively.

  Then, in a state where the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled, the restricting convex portion 4g is fitted into the restricting concave portion 3i, so that the relative movement in the vertical direction (the cover 3 and the body 4) is restricted. .

  Further, a display lamp through hole 3j is formed on the bottom of the cover 3 according to the present embodiment, that is, on the left side above the operation hole 3e on the front surface, and the circuit block 9 is accommodated in the housing 5. In this state, a display lamp 32 that is exposed to the outside through the display lamp through hole 3j is provided. When the display lamp through hole 3j and the display lamp 32 are arranged above the operation hole 3e and the operation knob 6 as described above, the dimmer 1 generally provided at a height of about 120 cm from the floor is used as an adult. When the display lamp 32 is viewed in a standing state, it is reduced that the display lamp 32 is hidden behind the operation knob 6 and cannot be seen. In addition, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment is fixed so that the short side direction is the horizontal direction when viewed from the front. However, depending on the installation location and the like, the longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction when viewed from the front. In some cases, the light dimmer 1 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed by rotating it 90 degrees clockwise. Even in this case, in the present embodiment, the display lamp through hole 3j and the display lamp 32 can be disposed above the axial center of the operation hole 3e and the operation knob 6. This prevents the display lamp 32 from being hidden by the operation knob 6 and becoming invisible.

  In the dimmer 1 configured as described above, when the operation knob 6 is rotated clockwise, the rotation shaft 13b is rotated and the switch 13a in the variable resistor 13 is closed. Then, the resistance value of the variable resistor 13 is adjusted according to the rotation amount of the rotation shaft 13b, and the charging time of the capacitor 17 is adjusted according to the change in the resistance value. Then, the conduction of the triac 14 is phase-controlled through the diac 19, the amount of power supplied to the incandescent lamp 7 is controlled, and the incandescent lamp 7 is dimmed. On the other hand, when the operation knob 6 is rotated to the maximum in the counterclockwise direction, the incandescent lamp 7 is turned off. Although the display lamp 32 is not shown in the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 6, the display lamp 32 is connected in parallel with the switch 13a, and the switch 13a is in an open state, that is, the incandescent lamp 7 is turned off. It is provided to light up only in the state. Therefore, for example, when the display lamp 32 is lit in a dark room where the incandescent lamp 7 is turned off, the position of the operation knob 6 can be easily found.

Next, characteristic effects of the above embodiment will be described below.
(1) Three directions out of four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction when the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled at positions near the engaging claws 3b and the engaging holes 4b in the cover 3 and the body 4. Since the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d that can be engaged with each other are provided to restrict the relative movement of the cover 3 and the convex portion 4d, the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d are displaced in the direction orthogonal to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover 3 and body 4. Can be prevented. Of course, engaging in three of the four orthogonal directions leads to restricting not only the three directions but also the relative movement in the oblique direction, and the displacement in the oblique direction is prevented. Specifically, in the dimmer 1 as in the present embodiment, since the electric wires connected and fixed to the connection terminals 22 and 23 are led out from the body 4 side, the electric wires are pulled during construction or the like. Then, the body 4 may be pulled in one of the directions perpendicular to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) with respect to the cover 3 fixed to the wall or the like via the decorative plate 2. However, the rigidity of the claw part and the claw receiving part (engagement claw 3b and engagement hole 4b) is increased in consideration of the pulling force of the electric wire during construction, etc. (specifically, the thickness of the bending part 3c is increased). Even if it is not thick), the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d are engaged with each other, so that a shift in the direction perpendicular to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover 3 and the body 4 can be prevented. Further, the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d can be engaged with each other so as to restrict relative movement in three directions out of the four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction. Compared with the one that restricts the relative movement in the direction, it can cope with the tensile force in multiple directions, and the effect is high. Moreover, the rigidity of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion (engagement claw 3b and engagement hole 4b) is increased in consideration of the pulling force of the electric wire during construction and the like (specifically, the thickness of the bending portion 3c is increased). Compared to the above, the force required when the cover 3 and the body 4 are assembled is reduced, and deformation and breakage of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion (engagement claw 3b and engagement hole 4b) are reduced.

  (2) Since the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d are provided in the vicinity of both sides of the engaging claw 3b and the engaging hole 4b, respectively, the neighboring positions on one side of the engaging claw 3b and the engaging hole 4b. Compared with what is provided in this, the shift | offset | difference of the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-back direction) of the cover 3 and the body 4 can be prevented more.

  (3) A pair of non-locking side walls 3g, 4e that are orthogonal to the locking side walls 3a, 4a provided with the engaging claws 3b and the engaging holes 4b in the cover 3 and the body 4, respectively, Since the restricting portion 3h and the restricted portion 4f that can be engaged with each other are provided to restrict the relative movement in the direction, it is possible to further prevent a shift in the orthogonal direction of the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover 3 and the body 4. Can do.

  (4) Since the restriction portion 3h and the restricted portion 4f are provided with a restriction concave portion 3i and a restriction convex portion 4g that can be engaged with each other to restrict the relative movement in the vertical direction in the assembled state, the cover 3 And the assembly direction (front-rear direction) between the body 4 and the body 4 can be further prevented from shifting in the orthogonal direction.

  (5) Since the convex portion 4d is formed on the body 4 on the side of the cover 3 and the body 4 where the strength of the material is strong, it is less likely to be damaged than when it is formed on the side where the strength of the material is weak. (Because it is difficult to break), it is possible to further prevent the displacement in the direction orthogonal to the assembly direction (front-rear direction) of the cover 3 and the body 4.

  (6) The body 4 accommodates more triacs 14, coils 15, and connection terminals 22, 23 as heat-generating components that easily generate heat in the circuit elements than the cover 3 side, but is made of a material having higher heat resistance than the cover 3. Therefore, the damage etc. are reduced. A material having high heat resistance and high strength can be easily obtained, and the protrusion 4d is formed on the body 4 side made of the material, so that the effect (5) can be easily obtained. In other words, it is wasteful that the body 4 is made of a material having high heat resistance and the cover 3 is made of a material having high strength, and the cover 3 is provided with a convex portion. For example, both the manufacturing cost of the cover 3 and the manufacturing cost of the body 4 are both However, this can be avoided and cost reduction can be achieved.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, the recesses 3f and the protrusions 4d are provided at positions close to both sides of the engaging claws 3b and the engaging holes 4b (that is, four), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be provided in the vicinity of one side of each of the engagement claw 3b and the engagement hole 4b (for example, only on the right side on the upper side when viewed from the front and only on the left side on the lower side (that is, two each). Good.

  In the above embodiment, when each of the non-locking side walls 3g and 4e is provided with a restricting portion 3h and a restricted portion 4f that can be engaged with each other to restrict relative movement in the left-right direction in the assembled state. However, it is not limited to this, It is good also as a structure in which the control part 3h and the to-be-controlled part 4f are not formed.

  In the above embodiment, when the regulating portion 3h and the regulated portion 4f are provided with the regulating concave portion 3i and the regulating convex portion 4g that can be engaged with each other to regulate the relative movement in the vertical direction in the assembled state. However, it is not limited to this, It is good also as a structure in which the control recessed part 3i and the control convex part 4g are not formed.

  In the above embodiment, the convex portion 4d is formed on the body 4 on the side of the cover 3 and the body 4 where the strength of the material is strong. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be formed on the side (cover 3), or the cover 3 and the body 4 may be formed on the same material.

  In the above embodiment, the body 4 has more heat resistance than the cover 3 because the body 4 accommodates more triacs 14, coils 15, and connection terminals 22, 23 than the cover 3 side as heat generating components that easily generate heat in the circuit elements. The cover 3 is made of a high material. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cover 3 may be made of a material having high heat resistance as a structure in which the cover 3 accommodates many of the heat generating components. In this case, it is preferable to form the convex portion on the cover 3 side.

  In the above embodiment, the concave portion 3f and the convex portion 4d can be engaged with each other to restrict relative movement (of the cover 3 and the body 4) in three of four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be engaged with each other so as to restrict all relative movements in the four directions. That is, the recess 3f in the above embodiment is open to the center side in the vertical direction of the cover 3 (see FIG. 4A). You may change to If it does in this way, each recessed part and convex part can respond to the said pulling force of many directions further, and the effect which prevents the shift mentioned above becomes high.

  -In the said embodiment, although the illumination load was the incandescent lamp 7, it is not limited to this, You may change to another illumination load which can be dimmed.

The front view of the light control device fixed with respect to the decorative plate in this Embodiment. The perspective view of the light control device in this Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the light control device in this Embodiment. (A) The bottom view which looked at the cover in this Embodiment from back. (B) The bottom view which looked at the body in this Embodiment from the front. (A) The side view of the light control device in this Embodiment. (B) The rear view of the light control device in this Embodiment. The circuit diagram for demonstrating the light control circuit of the light control device in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  3 ... Cover, 3a, 4a ... Locking side wall, 3b ... Engagement claw (claw part), 3f ... Recess, 3g, 4e ... Non-locking side wall, 3h ... Restriction part, 3i ... Restriction recess, 4 ... Body, 4b ... engaging hole (claw receiving part), 4d ... convex part, 4f ... regulated part, 4g ... regulating convex part, 5 ... housing, 6 ... operation knob, 7 ... incandescent lamp (illumination load), 8 ... dimming circuit.

Claims (6)

A box-shaped housing;
An operation knob provided on the front surface of the housing;
A plurality of circuit elements that are housed in the housing and constitute a dimming circuit for dimming a lighting load according to the operation of the operation knob;
The housing is a dimmer composed of a front cover and a rear body assembled by a claw portion and a claw receiving portion,
In the vicinity of the claw part and the claw receiving part in the cover and the body, in an assembled state, they are engaged with each other so as to restrict relative movement in at least three directions out of four directions orthogonal to each other when viewed from the front-rear direction. A dimmer having a concave portion and a convex portion that can be combined. The dimmer according to claim 1,
The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the concave portion and the convex portion are provided at positions near both sides of the claw portion and the claw receiving portion, respectively. The dimmer according to claim 1 or 2,
The housing has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape,
The claw portion and the claw receiving portion are respectively provided on a pair of locking side walls facing the cover and the body as viewed from the front-rear direction, and lock the housing in pairs.
The pair of non-locking side walls orthogonal to the cover and the locking side walls of the body are attached to each other to restrict relative movement in a direction in which the pair of non-locking side walls are aligned when viewed from the front-rear direction. A dimmer characterized in that a restricting portion and a restricted portion that can be engaged with each other are provided. The dimmer according to claim 3.
A restriction recess and a restriction protrusion that can be engaged with each other to restrict relative movement in a direction in which the pair of locking side walls are aligned when viewed from the front-rear direction when assembled to the restriction portion and the restricted portion. A dimmer characterized in that is provided. The dimmer according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The dimmer characterized in that the convex portion is formed on the side where the strength of the material in the cover and the body is strong. The dimmer according to claim 5,
The dimmer is characterized in that the body contains more heat-generating components in the circuit element than the cover, and is made of a material having higher heat resistance and strength than the cover.

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