JP5229574B2 - Electrical component with hinged closure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical component such as an electrical connection box or a harness protector mounted on an automobile or the like, and particularly includes a recessed groove covered with a closing body, and the energizing wire is formed with the recessed groove covered with the closing body. It is related with the component for electrical equipment which carried out positioning holding in the insertion state.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in automobiles and the like, many current-carrying wires are routed to electrically connect various electrical components such as headlamps, various motors, and relays. These energizing wires are positioned and held at predetermined positions so as not to interfere with the running of the automobile.

  At that time, it has been proposed to use a part for electrical equipment such as an electrical junction box or a harness protector and to have a function of holding a conductive wire in a part thereof. For example, it describes in FIGS. 2-4 of patent document 1 (Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2007-300756).

  In general, these electrical parts are configured to position and hold the energized wire by covering the opening of the housing concave groove that accommodates the energized wire with a closing body that can be opened and closed. The closing body is integrally formed on one opening edge in the width direction of the receiving groove with a hinge part, and the tip edge opposite to the hinge part is opposite to the other opening edge in the width direction of the receiving groove. And is locked by a locking mechanism.

  By the way, as described in the above publication, the locking mechanism includes a locking groove formed at the opening edge of the housing groove, and a locking groove protruding substantially perpendicularly from the front edge of the closing body. It consists of a locking piece that enters. A locking projection is formed on the inner surface of the boundary wall of the locking groove with the receiving groove, and a locking claw is formed on the surface of the locking piece facing the locking projection.

  Then, after the energizing wire is inserted and accommodated from the opening of the accommodating groove while the accommodating groove is open, the closing member is pressed with fingers to bend the hinge portion and insert the locking piece into the locking groove. . By this pressing operation of the closing body, the locking claw of the locking piece rides over the locking protrusion of the locking groove and gets over the locking groove. As a result, the locking claw of the locking piece and the locking projection of the locking groove are locked with each other, and the closing body is held at a position covering the receiving concave groove.

  However, in the lock mechanism of the closing body having such a conventional structure, a considerable force is required for the pressing operation of the closing body for covering the housing concave groove, which is a heavy burden on the operator in the production line or the like. It was. In order to improve workability, it is conceivable to reduce the protruding height of the locking projection, but this makes it easier for the locking claw in the locked state to come off, and the original purpose of positioning and holding the conducting wire Cannot be reached.

JP 2007-300756 A

  The present invention has been made in the background as described above, and the solution is to easily perform the operation of locking the closing body at the cover position with respect to the housing groove for positioning and holding the conducting wire. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical component having a hinge-type closing body having a novel structure.

That is, according to the present invention, the housing groove is formed on both sides in the groove length direction with respect to the outer peripheral portion of the resin-molded component main body, and the closing body that covers the opening of the housing groove is provided. The housing recess is formed integrally with the distal end portion of one side wall in the width direction of the housing recess through a hinge portion, and the housing recess is disposed between the front edge portion of the closing body and the front end portion of the other side wall in the width direction of the housing groove. In an electrical component having a hinge-type closing body provided with a locking mechanism for holding the closing body at a position covering the opening of the groove, the front end surface of the other side in the width direction of the housing groove A locking groove that opens toward the locking groove is formed in parallel with the receiving groove, and a locking piece that protrudes toward the locking groove is formed at the end edge of the closing body, and is far from the receiving groove in the locking groove. A locking projection on the inner wall of the wall and the tip of the locking piece In order to lock the closing body, a locking claw is provided so as to face the locking projection, and the closing body is bent at the hinge portion so as to cover the opening of the receiving groove. The piece is inserted into the locking groove, and the locking claw that has passed over the locking protrusion is locked to the locking protrusion so that the closing body is held in a position covering the opening of the receiving groove , and A regulating projection is provided on the wall inner surface of the locking groove close to the housing recess so as to be shallower than the locking projection, and the distance between the top of the locking projection and the top of the regulating projection is linear. The locking claw of the locking piece is formed in the groove width direction which is larger than the maximum thickness dimension of the tip portion where the locking claw of the locking piece is formed in the direction and is orthogonal to the depth direction of the locking groove. It is characterized by being smaller than the maximum thickness of the tip .

  In the structure in which the locking protrusion protrudes from the wall on the side close to the receiving groove in the locking groove, like the lock mechanism of the conventional structure described in Patent Document 1, the locking claw does not move the locking protrusion. When riding, the locking piece is bent outward from the closing body. Due to this, a drag force acting in a direction substantially opposite to the operation direction when the closing body is arranged in the opening acts, and thus a large force is required for climbing the locking claw. On the other hand, according to the present invention, since the locking projection is formed on the inner wall surface of the locking groove on the side far from the receiving concave groove, when the locking claw rides on the locking projection, the locking piece Is bent inward of the closed body. Therefore, the drag in the direction opposite to the operation direction of the closing body can be reduced, and the closing body can be more easily held in the housing concave groove.

  The electrical component in the present invention includes a relay box, a junction box, an electrical connection box such as a fuse box, a wire harness protector, and the like.

  In the electrical component having the structure according to this aspect, when the closing body is arranged at a position covering the opening of the receiving groove, the locking piece is inserted between the top of the locking protrusion and the top of the restricting protrusion. . In this case, since the distance between the top of the locking projection and the top of the regulating projection is linearly greater than the maximum thickness of the tip of the locking piece, a large force is applied to the locking piece. Without the need to pry open the stop protrusion and restriction protrusion, the locking piece can be easily inserted between the engagement protrusion and the restriction protrusion while avoiding contact with the restriction protrusion. The nail can be easily engaged.

  On the other hand, when the locking projection and the locking claw are separated from each other in the groove width direction of the locking groove by an external force or the like in the locked state in which the locking projection and the locking claw are engaged, Since the distance between the top and the top of the restricting projection is smaller than the maximum thickness of the tip of the locking piece in the groove width direction of the locking groove, the engagement state of the locking projection and the locking claw is The lock piece can be brought into contact with the restricting projection before being released, and further separation can be made difficult. As a result, the engagement state between the engagement protrusion and the engagement claw can be maintained more stably, and the lock state can be maintained more firmly.

  That is, in the lock mechanism having the conventional structure, when the locking projection and the locking claw are displaced in the direction away from each other, the locked state is easily released. In addition to the direction in which the protrusion and the locking claw approach each other in the groove width direction of the locking groove, the locking protrusion is prevented from being displaced by the restriction protrusion in the direction away from each other. It is possible to maintain the engagement state of the locking claw more stably. As a result, the unexpected disengagement of the closed body in the locked state can be effectively prevented, and the current-carrying wire positioning and holding function can be more stably exhibited.

  Further, in the present invention, the groove width of the locking groove gradually increases from the protruding tip of the locking projection toward the opening side of the locking groove on the inner wall surface of the locking groove far from the housing groove. When the closing body is arranged in a direction to cover the opening of the housing groove, the locking claw formed on the locking piece of the closing body extends along the guiding inclination surface. A mode in which the guide is guided and gets over the locking projection and is locked to the locking projection can also be suitably employed.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to smoothly run the locking claw onto the locking projection. At the same time, the locking piece can be gradually bent inward of the closing body by the guide inclined surface, and can be inserted between the locking protrusion and the restricting protrusion more easily.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, a mode in which the locking piece in the closing body is formed with a bending rigidity smaller than that of the closing body can be suitably employed.

  According to this aspect, when the closing body is arranged in the direction to cover the housing concave groove, the locking piece with reduced bending rigidity is elastically deformed more effectively to avoid contact with the regulation protrusion. However, it is possible to get over the locking projection and to be locked. In addition, when an external force is applied in the locking direction of the locking piece from the locking groove in the locked state, almost no bending force acts on the locking piece. A more stable lock state is maintained.

The top view of the components for electrical equipment provided with the hinge type closing body as one embodiment of the present invention. The side view of the component for the same electrical equipment. The principal part enlarged view of FIG. The principal part enlarged view of FIG. The A arrow directional view in FIG. 3 of a closing body. Explanatory drawing which shows the middle state of closing operation of the hinge type closing body in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the closed state of the hinge type closing body in FIG. Explanatory drawing when external force is exerted on a component main body. Explanatory drawing when the force of an opening direction is exerted on the closing body.

  Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a main body 14 of an electrical junction box 12 as an electrical component provided with a hinged closure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 show the open state of the hinge-type closing body 10. As the electrical junction box 12 in the present invention, any conventionally known junction block, fuse box, relay box or the like can be employed. The electrical junction box 12 in this embodiment is a relay box, and the main body 14 has a substantially rectangular block shape made of synthetic resin in which a large number of relay mounting portions 15 are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner, a housing groove 16 is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the main body 14. The housing groove 16 has a groove shape extending in the thickness direction of the main body 14 (vertical direction in FIG. 2), and the outer side of the main body 14 (upward in FIG. 3) and the groove length direction (in FIG. 2). , In the vertical direction).

  In addition, a locking groove 18 that opens to the outside of the main body 14 is formed in the outer peripheral portion of the main body 14 in parallel with the housing concave groove 16. The locking groove 18 is formed to open to the distal end surface 22 at the distal end portion of the side wall 20a on one side in the width direction of the housing concave groove 16 (left side in the left-right direction in FIG. 1). Further, the groove depth dimension of the locking groove 18 is made smaller than that of the housing concave groove 16.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the essential portions of the locking groove 18 and the hinged closure 10. FIG. 4 shows the closed state of the hinge-type closing body 10. The locking groove 18 has a side wall 24 a far from the housing groove 16 and a side wall 24 b near the housing groove 16, and the side wall 24 b is formed by a portion common to the side wall 20 a of the housing groove 16. Is formed. In addition, the locking groove 18 is formed to open on both sides in the groove length direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) extending in the thickness direction of the main body 14, similarly to the housing groove 16.

  A locking projection 28 that protrudes inward of the locking groove 18 is integrally formed on the inner surface 26a of the side wall 24a. The locking projection 28 is shaped to protrude inwardly of the locking groove 18 from the opening side of the locking groove 18 toward the back side (downward in FIG. 3). The guide inclined surface gradually widens in the direction in which the opening dimension of the locking groove 18 gradually increases from the protruding tip 32 toward the opening side of the locking groove 18. Further, the locking surface 34 of the locking projection 28 is opposed to the back wall surface 36 of the locking groove 18 at a predetermined distance in the groove depth direction. The locking surface 34 is an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction of gradually approaching the inner wall surface 36 as it goes from the inner surface 26a of the side wall 24a to the projecting tip portion 32.

  On the other hand, on the inner surface 26b of the side wall 24b, a restricting projection 38 that protrudes toward the other side wall 24a in the groove width direction of the locking groove 18 is integrally formed. The restricting protrusion 38 is located at the tip of the side wall 24 b and is formed at a position shallower than the locking protrusion 28 in the groove depth direction of the locking groove 18.

  Further, a closing body 40 is integrally formed on the side wall 20 b of the housing groove 16. The closing body 40 has a substantially flat plate shape that is large enough to cover the opening of the housing groove 16. A hinge portion 42 that is thinner than the closing body 40 and is formed so as to be able to be bent is integrally formed between one end edge of the closing body 40 and the tip end portion of the side wall 20b. Is connected to the side wall 20b. The hinge 42 is bent so that the opening of the housing groove 16 is covered with the closing body 40.

  Further, a locking piece 44 is integrally formed at the other end edge portion of the closing body 40 facing the hinge portion 42. The locking piece 44 is formed so as to protrude substantially perpendicularly from the other end edge of the closing body 40 in the direction toward the locking groove 18 in the closed state of the closing body 40. Further, a locking claw 46 that protrudes outward (upward in FIG. 1) of the closing body 40 is integrally formed at a position facing the locking projection 28 at the protruding tip of the locking piece 44. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, the locking surface 48 of the locking claw 46 corresponds to the locking surface 34 of the locking projection 28 at the position where the closing body 40 covers the receiving groove 16. The claw 46 is inclined so as to gradually move away from the rear wall surface 36 of the locking groove 18 as it goes from the base end portion 47 side to the projecting distal end portion 49. The protruding tip surface 50 of the locking piece 44 has an arcuate curved surface that protrudes outward, and the contact surface 52 that is continuous from the protruding tip surface 50 of the locking claw 46 is a protrusion of the locking claw 46. The inclined surface approaches the locking surface 48 as it goes to the tip 49.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the width dimension W1 of the locking piece 44 is smaller than the width dimension W2 of the closing body 40. Thereby, the bending rigidity of the locking piece 44 is made smaller than that of the closing body 40. As shown in FIG. 4, the thickness dimension D1 of the locking piece 44 is substantially equal to the thickness dimension D2 of the closing body 40, but the thickness dimension of the locking piece 44 should be reduced. The bending rigidity may be reduced by

  The locking mechanism 18 includes the locking groove 18, the locking protrusion 28, and the restricting protrusion 38, and the hinge-type closing body 10 includes the locking mechanism and the closing body 40.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the separation distance A in the linear direction between the top 54 of the locking projection 28 and the top 56 of the regulating projection 38 is the locking claw 46 provided at the tip of the locking piece 44. The distance from the base end portion 47 to the projecting tip portion 49 is larger than B: and the separation distance in the groove width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2) of the locking groove 18 between the top portion 54 and the top portion 56: C Is smaller than the distance B from the base end portion 47 of the locking claw 46 to the protruding tip portion 49.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the electrical junction box 12 having the hinge-type closing body 10 having such a structure, first, for example, a wire harness 60 is appropriately disposed in the housing concave groove 16 in which the closing body 40 is opened. After accommodating a sufficient number, the closing body 40 is pressed with a finger or the like to bend the hinge portion 42, and the closing body 40 is arranged toward the opening of the receiving groove 16. As a result, the protruding tip of the locking piece 44 comes into contact with the locking projection 28 of the locking groove 18. Then, by further pressing the closing body 40, the locking piece 44 is inserted into the locking groove 18 through the gap between the locking projection 28 and the regulating projection 38.

  Here, the locking piece 44 is guided by sliding the contact surface 52 of the locking claw 46 against the inner surface 30 of the locking projection 28. Further, since the inner surface 30 is an inclined surface, the locking claw 46 can gradually run over the locking protrusion 28. At the same time, since the contact surface 52 of the locking claw 46 is an inclined surface, it is brought into contact with the inner surface 30 that is also an inclined surface in a surface contact state having a predetermined contact area. Thus, the locking piece 44 can be smoothly slid with respect to the locking projection 28 without being caught by the locking projection 28.

  Further, the locking piece 44 is guided along the inner surface 30 of the locking projection 28, is bent along the inclination of the inner surface 30, and is inserted between the locking projection 28 and the regulating projection 38. In this case, the distance A between the locking projection 28 and the regulating projection 38 in the linear direction: A is larger than the distance B from the base end portion 47 of the locking claw 46 to the protruding tip portion 49. The piece 44 is inserted into the locking groove 18 without contacting the restricting protrusion 38. Thereby, the locking piece 44 can be easily inserted into the locking groove 18 without applying a large force. Further, since the bending rigidity of the locking piece 44 is smaller than that of the closing body 40, the reaction force exerted on the closing body 40 from the locking projection 28 via the locking piece 44 is caused by the bending of the locking piece 44. It can absorb and can make pushing of closing object 40 easier. In addition, since the locking piece 44 is bent inward of the closing body 40, it is possible to make it easier to push the closing body 40 than when it is bent outward of the closing body 40. It is said that.

  When the closing body 40 is further pushed in, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking claw 46 gets over the locking projection 28, and the locking surface 48 is overlapped with the locking surface 34 of the locking projection 28. Locked to the locking protrusion 28. As a result, the closing body 40 is held at a position that covers the opening of the receiving groove 16, and the wire harness 60 is held in the receiving groove 16. The side wall 20a (24b) located between the housing concave groove 16 and the locking groove 18 has a protruding height lower than that of the other side wall 20b (24a) by the substantially thickness dimension of the closing body 40. The outer surface of the closing body 40 held at a position covering the concave groove 16 is positioned on substantially the same plane as the outer surface of the main body 14.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the locking claw 46 is locked to the locking projection 28, the main body 14 is deformed by the action of an external force or the like, and the locking claw 46 and the locking projection 28 are separated from each other. In the case of displacement in the direction (arrow direction in FIG. 8), the separation distance C in the groove width direction of the locking groove 18 between the locking protrusion 28 and the restricting protrusion 38 is C. Since the distance from the projecting tip 49 to the protruding tip 49 is smaller than B, the locking piece 44 abuts against the regulating projection 38 before the engagement between the locking claw 46 and the locking projection 28 is released. Thus, further displacement in the direction of separating the locking claw 46 and the locking projection 28 is limited. Thereby, the engagement state of the latching claw 46 and the latching protrusion 28 is maintained more stably. Further, the locking claw 46 protrudes to the outside of the closing body 40, and the restriction projection 38 is positioned shallower than the locking projection 28 in the depth direction of the locking groove 18. When the locking claw 46 and the locking projection 28 are displaced away from each other, the locking piece 44 works as a lever with the regulating projection 38 as a fulcrum, and the locking claw 46 approaches the locking projection 28. It can be made.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when an opening force F is applied to the closing body 40 by an external force or the like, the locking surface 34 of the locking projection 28 and the locking surface 48 of the locking claw 46 are locked. Since the groove 18 is inclined with respect to the rear wall surface 36, when the inclination angle of the locking surfaces 34, 48 with respect to the rear wall surface 36 is θ, the locking claw 46 is locked in a direction parallel to the rear wall surface 36. A component force in the direction of approaching the protrusion 28: F ″ = Fsinθcosθ is exerted. Accordingly, even when an external force in the opening direction is applied to the closing body 40, the locked state of the locking claw 46 to the locking projection 28 can be stably maintained.

  As mentioned above, although one embodiment of the present invention has been described, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not construed as being limited by the specific description in the embodiment. For example, In the above-described embodiment, the inner surface 30 of the locking projection 28 is a guide inclined surface. However, such a guide inclined surface is not always necessary, and the projecting dimension of the locking projection 28 from the side wall 24 a can be determined by the locking groove 18. It may be constant in the groove depth direction.

10: Hinge-type closing body, 12: Electrical junction box, 14: Main body, 16: Housing groove, 18: Locking groove, 22: Tip surface, 24a, b: Side wall, 26a, b: Inner surface, 28: Locking Projection, 38: Restriction projection, 40: Closed body, 42: Hinge part, 44: Locking piece, 46: Locking claw, 54: Top part, 56: Top part

Claims (3)

A housing groove is formed on both sides in the groove length direction with respect to the outer peripheral portion of the resin molded component main body, and a closing body that covers the opening of the housing groove is formed on the housing groove. One of the side walls in the width direction is integrally formed via a hinge portion, and the accommodation groove is between the edge of the closure body and the width of the accommodation groove in the other side wall. In an electrical component comprising a hinge-type closing body provided with a lock mechanism for holding the closing body at a position covering the opening of
A locking groove that opens to the front end surface of the side wall in the width direction of the housing groove is formed in parallel with the housing groove, and the locking edge is formed on the front edge of the closing body. A locking piece that protrudes toward the groove is formed, and a locking projection is provided on the inner surface of the locking groove on the side of the locking groove that is remote from the receiving concave groove, and the locking piece is provided at the front end portion of the locking piece. A locking claw is provided so as to face the protrusion, and the closing body is bent at the hinge portion so that the closing body is disposed at a position covering the opening of the housing groove. A locking piece is inserted into the locking groove, and the locking claw that has climbed over the locking protrusion is locked to the locking protrusion, so that the closing body covers the opening of the receiving groove. In position , and
On the inner wall surface of the locking groove close to the receiving groove, a restricting protrusion protrudes at a position shallower than the locking protrusion,
The distance between the top of the locking projection and the top of the regulating projection is larger than the maximum thickness of the tip of the locking piece where the locking claw is formed in the linear direction, and the locking groove For electrical equipment equipped with a hinge-type closing body characterized in that it is smaller than the maximum thickness dimension of the tip end portion where the locking claw of the locking piece is formed in the groove width direction perpendicular to the depth direction parts. Widening in the direction in which the groove width of the locking groove gradually increases from the projecting tip of the locking projection toward the opening side of the locking groove on the inner wall surface of the locking groove on the side far from the receiving groove. There is a guide slope to be
When the closing body is disposed in a direction to cover the opening of the receiving groove, the locking claw formed on the locking piece of the closing body is guided along the guide inclined surface to be locked. The electrical component provided with the hinge-type closing body according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection component is configured to get over the protrusion and be locked to the locking protrusion. The electrical component provided with the hinge-type closing body according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the locking piece in the closing body is formed with a bending rigidity smaller than that of the closing body.

Images