JPH056138Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a snap-fit mechanism for joining covers forming a housing.

(Prior Art) Housings of typewriters, printers, etc. mainly consist of a main cover that covers a mechanical part and a bottom cover that forms a bottom, and these are joined together using various methods.

FIG. 5 shows the hook 102 of the main cover 100.
shows a snap-fit mechanism that is hooked to the hook portion 106 of the bottom cover 104.

In order to join, this mechanism joins the hook 102 and the hook 106 by pressing the main cover 100 against the bottom cover 104. Disassembly is main cover 100 hook 10
This is a method in which the two parts are pushed in the direction of arrow Z to release the latching, and both covers 100 and 104 are separated. However, for safety reasons, it is desirable that the housing have a mechanism that allows it to be disassembled without the use of tools.
There is a system in which a tap screw 108 is used in conjunction with the snap-fit mechanism shown in the figure.

Assembly is carried out by pressing the hooks 114 and 116 provided on the main cover 110 and the bottom cover 112 together, and then tightening the tap screws 108. Therefore, for disassembly, remove the tap screws 108 with a tool such as a screwdriver, and then remove the bottom cover 112.
By pushing in the direction of arrow Y, the hook 116 is moved in the direction of arrow X to release the hook. This method also clears UL standards.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the snap-fit mechanism described above has the following problems.

The snap-fit mechanism shown in Figure 5, which can be disassembled without the use of tools, can be used even if the user does not intend to disassemble it, if force is applied to the main cover in the direction of arrow Z due to some reason, such as falling. However, there is a problem in that the housing disassembles, and there is also a problem in that an accident may occur due to unintended disassembly.

Further, the method using tap screws illustrated in FIG. 6 has problems such as the need to tighten and loosen the tap screws with a screwdriver during assembly and disassembly, which is troublesome and does not improve work efficiency.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a housing snap-fit mechanism that does not disassemble even when an external force is applied to the housing, can be disassembled only by using a tool, and can be assembled with one touch.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, in a snap-fit mechanism for joining a main cover and a bottom cover that form a housing, a first hook portion formed on the inner surface side of the peripheral wall of the main cover and a first hook portion formed on the outer surface side of the peripheral wall of the main cover. The formed second hooking portion is erected from the inner bottom surface of the bottom cover, and when joined to the main cover, the first hooking portion and the first hooking portion are connected from inside to the first hooking portion. a third latching part that is capable of being locked and that is elastically deformed by a force received from a tool during disassembly to release the first latching part; , when joining the main cover, the second
The second latching part can be latched from the outside to the latching part, and when the first latching part and the third latching part are released, the second latching part can be latched from the outside. a fourth latch part that releases the latch from the second latch part, and a fourth latch part that is bored near the third latch part of the bottom cover, and
In order to release the latching between the latching part and the third latching part, a working hole is provided for inserting a tool for elastically deforming the third latching part. .

(effect) The effect will be explained.

When the main cover and the bottom cover are connected to each other, the third hook part has a first hook part formed on the inside of the peripheral wall of the main cover. Stop. Further, when the main cover and the bottom cover are in a joined state, the fourth hook portion is connected to the second hook portion from the outside with respect to the second hook portion formed on the outside of the peripheral wall of the main cover. Latch. Therefore, even if an external force is applied to the main cover and the second and fourth hooks become loose, the first and third hooks will remain locked. Since the housing is retained, disassembly of the housing can be prevented.

When disassembling the housing, when the tool inserted into the work hole is used to elastically deform only the third latch part and release the latch between the first latch part and the third latch part, the second latch part is released. The latch between the main cover and the fourth latch part is also released, making it possible to easily separate the main cover and the bottom cover.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, the configuration will be explained in detail.

In FIG. 1, a main cover 12 and a bottom cover 14 constituting a housing 10 are both made of a resin material such as plastic.

The main cover 12 has an appropriate shape to cover the top and side surfaces of the printer, and the part where it joins with the bottom cover 14 has a hook that is a first hook protruding inward from the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall. A stop portion 18 is formed, the upper surface of which is flat, and the lower surface of which is tapered. Legs 20 are provided below the hook 18.
will be extended. The length should be such that it does not come into contact with the inner bottom surface of the bottom cover 14 when both the covers 12 and 14 are joined.

The bottom cover 14 has the hooking part 1 on the inner bottom surface.
An elastic hook 16, which is a third hook part for engaging with the cover 8 and joining the covers 12 and 14, is provided protrudingly at an appropriate position. The elastic hook 16 must have sufficient elasticity. The tip of the elastic hook 16 is formed into a hook shape, and the bottom surface of the hook is flat so as to engage with the hooking section 18, and the top surface has an inclination opposite to the upper tapered surface of the hooking section 18. A tapered surface is formed.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a working hole, which is bored in the bottom cover 14 at a position below the engagement portion between the hook portion 18 and the elastic hook 16 when both the covers 12 and 14 are joined. The size of the working hole 22 is such that a tool such as a screwdriver can be inserted and moved by a predetermined amount. Also, when both covers 12 and 14 are joined,
A working space 24 is provided between the opposing surfaces of the elastic hook 16 and the leg 20, into which a tool such as a screwdriver can be inserted.

Appropriate engaging portions 26 are formed on the outer peripheries of both covers 12 and 14 so that they come into close contact when joined.
The engaging portion 26 of this embodiment is formed at a step, which is a second engaging portion, formed on the outer surface side of the peripheral wall of the main cover 12 and on the inner surface side of the peripheral wall of the bottom cover 14, and is formed on the inner surface side of the peripheral wall of the bottom cover 14. At the time of joining, a fourth hook that hooks from the outside to the step that is the second hook
It consists of a step that is a hook part. Elastic hook 16
When the latching of the latching portion 18 is released, the latching of both steps, that is, the engagement of the engaging portion 26 is also released.

Note that the main cover 12 and the bottom cover 14 are each made of integral molding.

Next, the effects, etc. will be explained in detail.

A method for joining the main cover 12 and the bottom cover 14 will be described based on FIG.

First, when both covers 12 and 14 are aligned in a predetermined position and the main cover 12 is pressed against the bottom cover 14, the tapered surface at the bottom of the hook 18 and the tapered surface at the top of the elastic hook 16 engage, and then both covers When 12 and 14 are pressed, the hook 18 is pushed in the direction of arrow A, and the elastic hook 16 is deformed in the direction of arrow B by the action of the tapered surface.
Therefore, the hook 18 moves downward, and the elastic hook 16 and the hook 18 are engaged with each other as shown in FIG. Further, since the steps that are the second and fourth hooking portions constituting the engaging portion 26 are also hooked to each other at approximately the same time, both the covers 12 and 14 are joined.

Next, the disassembly method will be described based on FIG.

A tool such as a dry door 28 is inserted into the working space 24 through the working hole 22, the tip of the driver 28 is placed on the elastic hook 16, fixed as a fulcrum, and a force is applied in the direction of arrow C to rotate the driver 28. . Since the elastic hook 16 has elasticity as described above, only the elastic hook 16 deforms in the direction of the arrow D and disengages from the hook 18. The force acting on the contact point between the driver 28 and the leg 20 at this time will be described.

The point of contact between the driver 28 and the leg 20 is the point of action O.
Therefore, the force F applied to the driver 28 is the force
It is decomposed into f1 and force f2. Therefore, a force f1 that pushes the main cover 12 upward acts on the leg 20.

Therefore, when the hook 16 and the hook 18 are disengaged, the main cover 12 is moved upward by the aforementioned force f1. At the same time, the steps that are the second and fourth hooking parts that constitute the engaging part 26 also separate from each other. Main cover 12 and bottom cover 14 are separated.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which no legs are provided.

In this example, legs are provided, so when the driver 58 is rotated in the direction of the arrow H, only the hook 54, which is the third hook, deforms in the direction of the arrow G, and the hook 54 and the first hook are deformed in the direction of the arrow G. Latch part 5 which is a stop part
6, but since there is no leg, no force is applied to move the main cover 50 upward. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to separate the main cover 50 and the bottom cover 52 by their own strength. Note that the second hooking portion and the fourth hooking portion may have the same structure as in the above-described embodiment.

Therefore, if the snap-fit mechanism of the present invention is used, it cannot be disassembled without first deforming the third hook part inside the housing, so it will not disassemble easily even if an external force is applied, so it is effective in preventing accidents. be.

Furthermore, this snap-fit mechanism can be used not only for printer housings, but also for housings for all sorts of things, such as other office equipment, electrical appliances, and daily necessities.

Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the snap-fit mechanism according to the present invention can be disassembled not only into upper and lower covers but also into left and right parts Of course, it is possible to make many further modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as being able to use it as a cover.

(Effects of the invention) By using the snap-fit mechanism of the invention, assembly can be done with one touch, and when disassembling, applying force with a single tool not only releases the engagement but also separates the joined covers, making it easy to assemble. It becomes possible to disassemble it. Furthermore, even if an external force is applied to the main cover and the second and fourth hooks become loose, the first and third hooks will remain locked. This makes it possible to prevent the housing from disassembling. Therefore, work efficiency during assembly is improved, and safety and maintainability are also improved, which is extremely effective both technically and economically.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the main parts of the snap-fit mechanism of the housing according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the assembly method, Figure 3 is a diagram explaining the disassembly method, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing the disassembly method. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing a conventional snap-fit mechanism. 12...Main cover, 14...Bottom cover, 16...Elastic hook, 18...Latching part, 20
... Leg, 22 ... Working hole, 26 ... Engagement part,
28...Driver, 54...Hook, 56...
Latch part, 58...driver.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A snap-fit mechanism for joining a main cover and a bottom cover forming a housing, comprising: a first hook formed on the inner surface of a peripheral wall of the main cover; and the main cover. a second hook part formed on the outer surface side of the peripheral wall of the bottom cover; a third latching part that can be latched to the latching part of the bottom cover and is elastically deformed by the force received from the tool during disassembly to release the latching from the first latching part; and a peripheral wall of the bottom cover. is formed on the inner side of
When joined to the main cover, the second hooking portion can be hooked to the second hooking portion from the outside, and the first hooking portion and the third hooking portion can be hooked to the second hooking portion from the outside. When the latch is released, a fourth latch part that releases the latch with the second latch part, and a fourth latch part that is bored near the third latch part of the bottom cover, and In order to release the latching between the first latching part and the third latching part, the third latching part is provided with a working hole for inserting a tool for elastically deforming the third latching part. Snap-fit mechanism.