JP5075725B2 - Lock structure and cover lock structure of terminal cap - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lock structure including a lock receiving frame and a lock arm, and a cover lock structure of a terminal cap that employs the lock structure.

  A terminal cap is conventionally known as one that covers an L-shaped terminal (connection terminal) in a side view provided at the terminal of electric wiring and connected to a connection terminal of an electric device. The terminal cap has a function of insulating so that current does not leak and protecting the terminal and the connection terminal of the electrical device from moisture and dust. The terminal cap is generally formed by injection molding a synthetic resin material having insulating properties.

  The terminal cap disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 includes a cap body that accommodates an L-shaped terminal having a bent portion and a plurality of covers that cover the terminal housing side opening of the cap body. Has been. There are three types of covers, the first cover to the third cover, so that the first cover can cover the opening at the position corresponding to the electric wire connection part of the terminal, and the second cover is the terminal The third cover is formed so as to cover the opening at a position corresponding to the electrical contact portion of the terminal.

  The third cover is coupled to the second cover via a very thin hinge. The third cover is not closed until the electrical contact portion of the terminal is connected to the connection terminal of the electric device, and until then, the lock arm formed on the third cover is caught in the locking recess of the second cover. By being locked, the open state is maintained.

After the electrical contact part of the terminal is connected to the connection terminal of the electrical device, if the lock locking state is released in such a manner that the lock arm is pulled out, the opening at the position corresponding to the electrical contact part of the terminal is opened. It can be covered with a cover.
JP 2004-253223 A

  By the way, in the above prior art, when the lock engagement state between the third cover and the second cover is released, if there is a backlash between the lock arm and the recess for locking (lock arm pulling direction) There is a possibility that the lock arm will be loose in the width direction of the lock arm, which may occur due to design tolerances, product tolerances, etc.). is there. At this time, if a large load is applied to the hinge, the hinge is cut. The above prior art has such problems.

  Note that the backlash between the lock arm and the locking recess is not limited to the cover locking structure of the terminal cap.

  This invention is made | formed in view of an above-described situation, and makes it a subject to provide the lock structure which can stabilize the pulling-out direction of the lock arm at the time of lock locking state cancellation | release. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover lock structure for a terminal cap that can reduce the load applied to the hinge.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the lock structure of the present invention according to claim 1 is formed on a pair of opposing side walls, a thin lock receiving part that is thinner than the side walls, and both sides of the thin lock receiving part. A frame-shaped lock receiving frame having a pair of lock guide portions, and an arm portion and a lock arm having a substantially claw-shaped lock portion protruding from the arm portion, and the inner side of the lock receiving frame. When the lock portion enters, the thin-walled lock receiving portion and the lock portion are hooked to form a lock engagement state, and when the lock engagement state is released, the lock arm is pulled out. Accordingly, the thin lock receiving portion is pulled up by the lock portion, whereby the thin lock receiving portion bends and the pair of side walls also bend inwardly. Moiety is characterized by being movably supported sandwiched by the pair of lock guide portions.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cover lock structure of the terminal cap of the present invention according to claim 2 is an insulating material used for accommodating and protecting the conductive structure of the lock structure according to claim 1. This is characterized in that it is employed in a lock structure of covers connected by hinges in a sex terminal cap.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the lock arm pull-out direction when releasing the locked state can be stabilized by the shape of the lock receiving frame. Thereby, there exists an effect that the load concerning parts other than a lock structure can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the load applied to the hinge can be reduced by suppressing the twist by stabilizing the pulling direction of the lock arm.

  Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are schematic views showing an embodiment of the lock structure of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a front view showing a lock engagement state, and FIG. 1B is a state in which a lock is being pulled. (C) is a front view showing a state where the lock is released, (d) is a perspective view showing a locked state, (e) is a perspective view showing a state where the lock is pulled to release the lock, ( f) is a perspective view showing a state in which the lock is released.

  In FIG. 1, the lock structure of the present invention includes a lock arm 1 and a lock receiving frame 2. Although not particularly shown in the present embodiment, the lock arm 1 is provided on a movable part or portion made of synthetic resin, and the lock receiving frame 2 is non-movable made of synthetic resin (relative to the lock arm 1 side). It is provided in a part or part that is not movable.

  The lock arm 1 has an arm portion 3 and a lock portion 4. The lock arm 1 is integrated with the movable part or part at the position of the reference numeral 5. The arm portion 3 is formed in a plate shape having a predetermined thickness T1 and a predetermined width W1 (in this embodiment, the shape in front view is a rectangle. This is an example. Suppose). Moreover, the arm part 3 is formed so that it may have flexibility. A lock part 4 is coupled to the end of the arm part 3.

  The lock portion 4 is formed so as to protrude forward from the front surface 6 of the arm portion 3. The lock portion 4 has a lock-side engagement surface 7 and is formed in a shape that is substantially claw-shaped. The lock-side locking surface 7 is a flat surface extending in the width direction of the arm portion 3 and is formed to be orthogonal to the front surface 6. The lock portion 4 is formed as a portion that enters the inside of the lock receiving frame 2 and is hooked on the lock receiving frame 2 to bring the lock arm 1 and the lock receiving frame 2 into a locked engagement state.

  The lock portion 4 is formed with a taper 8 that is slidably contacted with the lock receiving frame 2 immediately before the lock engagement state. Further, the lock portion 4 is formed with side portions 9 which are both side portions in the width direction and a side taper 10 which is continuous with the side portion 9. The side portion 9 is set so that the height H is sufficiently low. In this embodiment, the lock portion 4 is formed such that the width, the interval between the side portions 9, and the width of the lock-side engagement surface 7 are the same as the width W1 of the arm portion 3 (as an example) To do).

  The lock receiving frame 2 has a pair of side walls 12 rising from the base 11 and facing each other, and a locking wall 13 connecting the tip positions of the pair of side walls 12, and is formed in a substantially U-shaped frame shape. ing. The pair of side walls 12 are formed as walls protruding in a direction orthogonal to the base 11. Further, the pair of side walls 12 are arranged and formed so that the interval S1 is wider than the width (W1) of the lock portion 4. The pair of side walls 12 is set to a thickness T2 that allows them to bend slightly inward.

  The locking wall 13 has a thin lock receiving portion 14 and a pair of lock guide portions 15 formed on both sides of the thin lock receiving portion 14. In this embodiment, the thin lock receiving portion 14 and the pair of lock guide portions 15 are formed in a state where the wall is recessed. The thin lock receiving portion 14 is formed so as to be thinner (T2> T3) than the side wall 12. The thin lock receiving portion 14 is formed to be more easily bent than the side wall 12. The thin lock receiving portion 14 is formed so that the inside of the lock receiving frame 2 is recessed.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of lock guide portions 15 are portions that are generated by the dents by the thin lock receiving portion 14. When the thin lock receiving portion 14 and the pair of side walls 12 are bent, both side portions of the lock portion 4 are formed. 9 is formed so that the lock portion 4 can be guided.

  The pair of lock guide portions 15 are formed so that the distance S2 matches the width (W1) of the lock portion 4. The distance S2 between the pair of lock guide portions 15 and the width (W1) of the lock portion 4 are set such that 0 or the minimum play ΔG occurs due to dimensional tolerances.

  In the locking wall 13, reference numeral 16 indicates a receiving side locking surface, and reference numeral 17 indicates a lock sliding contact portion. The receiving side locking surface 16 is formed to be a portion (surface for locking) that comes into surface contact with the lock side locking surface 7 of the lock portion 4 when the lock locking state is formed. . The lock slidable contact portion 17 is formed as a portion where the taper 8 of the lock portion 4 is slidably contacted immediately before the lock engagement state.

  Next, the operation of the lock structure of the present invention will be described based on the above configuration and structure. When the lock portion 4 of the lock arm 1 enters the inside of the lock receiving frame 2, the receiving-side engaging surface 16 of the thin-walled lock receiving portion 14 and the lock-side engaging surface 7 of the lock portion 4 are hooked and locked. A locked state is formed (see FIGS. 1A and 1D).

  On the other hand, when releasing the locked state, the thin-walled lock receiving portion 14 is pulled up by the lock portion 4 as the lock arm 1 is pulled out (see FIGS. 1B and 1E). The receiving portion 14 is bent outward, and the pair of side walls 12 are bent inward. At this time, the backlash ΔG disappears, and the lock portion 4 is supported so that the both side portions 9 can be sandwiched between the pair of lock guide portions 15 (in addition, depending on the degree of bending, a pair of lock guides are supported). The part 15 may guide the side taper 10 of the locking part 4). Thereafter, when the lock portion 4 is separated from the locking wall 13, the release of the locked state is completed (see FIGS. 1C and 1F).

  As described above with reference to FIG. 1, according to the invention, the shape of the lock receiving frame 2 can stabilize the pull-out direction of the lock arm 1 when the lock engagement state is released. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the load applied to portions other than the lock structure.

  Next, the cover lock structure of the terminal cap according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a view showing an embodiment of a cover lock structure. 2A is a perspective view of the terminal cap showing a state before the terminal is accommodated and the cover is closed, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the terminal cap showing a state where the cover is closed.

  3 is a perspective view showing the terminal cap in a state where the third cover and the second cover are locked and locked, and FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the terminal cap shown in FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. 4, FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of FIG. 6A, FIG. 6A is a side view of the terminal cap of FIG. FIG. 7B is a rear view of the terminal cap of FIG. 3, FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a comparative example of the cover lock structure.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 21 denotes a terminal connected to a stud bolt-like connection terminal of an electric device (for example, a vehicle starter) not shown. The terminal 21 is formed by bending a relatively thick metal plate having conductivity. The terminal 21 is formed in a shape having an L shape in side view having a bent portion 22.

  In the terminal 1, one bent piece serves as an electrical contact portion 23 with the bent portion 22 therebetween, and the other bent piece serves as a relay portion 24. A stud bolt 25 is inserted into the relay portion 24. A second terminal (not shown) provided at the end of the electrical wiring (electric wire) is connected via the stud bolt 25.

  2 to 7, the terminal cap 31 is made of an insulating synthetic resin, and includes a cap main body 32 that accommodates the terminal 21 and an opening of the cap main body 32 (on the accommodating side of the terminal 21). And a cover 33 that covers an opening (not shown).

  The cap body 32 includes an electrical contact portion corresponding portion 34 corresponding to the electrical contact portion 23 of the terminal 21, a bent portion corresponding portion 35 corresponding to the bent portion 22 of the terminal 21, and a relay portion corresponding to the relay portion 24 of the terminal 21. It has a corresponding portion 36 and a wire connection portion corresponding portion 37 corresponding to a wire connection portion of a second terminal (not shown).

  The cover 33 includes a first cover 40 and a second cover 41 that are coupled to the cap body 32 via hinges 38 and 39, and a third cover 43 that is coupled to the second cover 41 via the hinge 42. It is configured.

  The first cover 40 is formed so as to cover the openings of the relay part corresponding part 36 and the wire connection part corresponding part 37. Moreover, it forms so that it may be latched by the side wall of the electric wire connection part corresponding | compatible part 37. As shown in FIG. The second cover 41 is formed so as to cover the opening of the bent portion corresponding portion 35. Further, it is formed so as to be locked to the side wall of the bent portion corresponding portion 35. The third cover 43 is formed so as to cover the opening of the electrical contact portion corresponding portion 34. Further, it is formed so as to be locked to the side wall of the electrical contact portion corresponding portion 34.

  The third cover 43 is not closed until the electrical contact portion 23 of the terminal 21 is connected to the connection terminal of the electrical device. Until then, the lock arm 1 formed on the third cover 43 is attached to the second cover 41. By being hooked and locked on the formed lock receiving frame 2 (lock locked state), the open state is maintained.

  The lock arm 1 of the third cover 43 has an arm portion 3 and a lock portion 4 as described in FIG. Similarly, the lock receiving frame 2 of the second cover 41 has a pair of side walls 12 and a locking wall 13 and is formed in a substantially U-shaped frame shape. The locking wall 13 has a thin lock receiving portion 14 and a pair of lock guide portions 15 formed on both sides of the thin lock receiving portion 14.

  Since the terminal cap 31 has the same lock arm 1 and lock receiving frame 2 as described with reference to FIG. 1, the cover lock structure of the present invention has the pull-out direction of the lock arm 1 when releasing the lock engagement state. It can be stabilized. Therefore, according to the present invention, the hinge 42 is not twisted via the third cover 43, and the load applied to the hinge 42 can be reduced or eliminated.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, when the dent of the thin-walled lock receiving portion 51 is different from that of the present invention (a large backlash G is generated on both sides of the lock portion 4), the lock portion 4 is not guided. As a result, the hinge 42 may be twisted via the third cover 43. When a large load is applied to the hinge 42, the hinge 42 is cut. Such a problem can be solved by the cover lock structure of the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention can of course be modified in various ways within the scope not changing the gist of the present invention.

  The lock structure of the present invention is not limited to the terminal cap 31 and can be applied to various lock structures such as a protector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic diagram which shows one Embodiment of the lock structure of this invention, (a) is a front view which shows a lock latching state, (b) is a front view which shows the state currently pulled | pulling to cancel a lock | rock, (C) is a front view showing a state where the lock is released, (d) is a perspective view showing a locked state, (e) is a perspective view showing a state of being pulled to release the lock, (f) It is a perspective view which shows the state by which the lock | rock was cancelled | released. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the cover lock structure of the terminal cap of this invention, (a) is a perspective view of the terminal cap which shows the state before accommodating a terminal and closing a cover, (b) closed the cover. It is a perspective view of the terminal cap which shows a state. It is a perspective view which shows the terminal cap in which a 3rd cover and a 2nd cover are a lock latching state. It is a top view which shows the state which looked at the terminal cap of FIG. 3 planarly. (A) is the EE sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 4, (b) is the J view enlarged view of (a). (A) is a side view of the terminal cap of FIG. 3, (b) is a rear view of the terminal cap of FIG. (A) is the DD sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 6, (b) is the I view enlarged view of (a). It is an enlarged view which shows the comparative example of a cover lock structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lock arm 2 Lock receiving frame 3 Arm part 4 Lock part 6 Front surface 7 Lock side latching surface 8 Taper 9 Side part 10 Side taper 11 Base 12 Side wall 13 Locking wall 14 Thin lock receiving part 15 Lock guide part 16 Receiving side Locking surface 17 Lock sliding contact portion 31 Terminal cap 32 Cap body 33 Cover 40 First cover 41 Second cover 42 Hinge 43 Third cover 43

Claims (2)

A frame-shaped lock receiving frame having a pair of opposing side walls, a thin lock receiving portion that is thinner than the side walls, and a pair of lock guide portions formed on both sides of the thin lock receiving portion;
A lock arm having an arm portion and a substantially claw-shaped lock portion protruding from the arm portion;
With
While the lock portion enters the inside of the lock receiving frame, the thin lock receiving portion and the lock portion are hooked to form a lock locking state,
When the lock engagement state is released, the thin lock receiving portion is pulled up by the lock portion as the lock arm is pulled out, whereby the thin lock receiving portion is bent and the pair of side walls are also inward. A lock structure, wherein both side portions of the lock portion are bent and sandwiched between the pair of lock guide portions and supported movably. The lock structure according to claim 1 is used in a lock structure of covers connected by hinges in an insulating terminal cap used for accommodating and protecting a conductive terminal. Cover lock structure.

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