JPH09163549A - Lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple structure of lock mechanism with which the mounting and removal of a cover are easy and the lock by which is never released inadvertently and besides which can be installed in small space. SOLUTION: A lock frame 18 is provided at the sidewall 2a of a cover 2, and a lock bar 7 is provided at the side wall of the main body. The lock frame is U-shaped in section, consisting of a flexible wall 18a parallel with the sidewall of the cover 2 and coupling walls 19b for coupling both ends in width direction of the flexible wall to the said side wall. Engaging projections 9 and 10, which get over the other party, making use of the flexure outward of the flexible wall, when the lock bar is penetrated into the lock frame, and engage with each other thereby, are provided, respectively, at the opposite parts of the lock bar and the flexible wall. The lock frame is provided with semicircular curved walls at both ends of the flexible wall, as flexion accelerators for accelerating the flexion outward of the flexible wall, and slits 2 at the coupling walls.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lock mechanism for locking a main body and a cover in an electric junction box and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of an electric junction box having this type of lock mechanism, the one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-22126 is known.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, this electric junction box is composed of a main body 1 and a cover 2. The side wall portions of the main body 1 and the cover 2 which are to be abutted against each other are locked by a lock mechanism. It has a protrusion 3 and a lock hole 4. Further, when the side wall of the cover 2 separates from the side wall of the main body 1, the lock may be released, and therefore a separation preventing rib 5 for preventing the separation of the cover 2 is provided on the upper end of the side wall of the main body 1.

[0004]

By the way, when such a separation preventing rib 5 is provided, there is a possibility that the cover 2 rides on the rib 5 when the cover 2 is closed. Therefore, it is difficult to fit the cover 2 or the cover 2 is locked. There was a problem that the positioning of the mechanism was difficult.

Therefore, a lock mechanism as shown in FIG. 8 was developed (Japanese Patent Application No. 6-243046).

This lock mechanism is provided on the side wall 2a of the cover 2.
And a flexible wall 8a parallel to the side wall 2a and the flexible wall 8a.
A lock frame 8 having a U-shaped cross section, which includes connecting walls 8b and 8b for connecting both ends in the width direction of the main body 1 to the side wall 2a, is provided. A lock rod 7 is provided to enter the lock frame 7. When the lock rod 7 is inserted into the lock frame 8 as shown in FIG. This is a structure in which engaging projections 9 and 10 are provided so as to get over the other party by utilizing the bending toward one side and thereby engage with each other. A rib 11 for positioning the lock rod 7 in the width direction is provided inside the lock frame 8.

In the case of this lock mechanism, since there is the lock frame 8 surrounding the lock rod 7, there is no risk of the lock being accidentally released. Further, there are advantages that the positioning at the time of fitting is easy, the workability of attaching the cover is good, and the lock function is highly reliable.

However, since it is necessary to bend the flexible wall 8a outward during locking or unlocking,
As shown in 0, the width L of the flexible wall 8a of the lock frame 8 must be large, which causes a problem that the space of the lock mechanism is enlarged. Further, since the size of the lock frame 8 in the width direction becomes large, it is necessary to provide the rib 11 for positioning the lock rod 7 in the lock frame 8, resulting in a complicated structure.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lock mechanism having a simple structure, in which the cover can be easily attached and detached, the lock does not accidentally come off, and which can be installed in a small space. And

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lock mechanism for locking a main body and a cover in a combined state, the lock mechanism being provided on either one of the side walls of the main body and the cover and parallel to the side wall. A lock frame having a U-shaped cross-section, which includes a flexible wall and a connecting wall that connects both ends in the width direction of the flexible wall to the side wall, and an operation of providing the main body and the cover on one of the other side walls of the main body and the cover. When the lock rod is inserted into the lock frame, the lock rod enters the inside of the lock frame, and the lock rod and the flexible wall project from the opposing portion of the flexible wall. A bending-promoting portion that promotes outward bending of the flexible wall at least at one position in the circumferential direction of the lock frame by using Is provided.

In this locking mechanism, when the main body and the cover are fitted together, the locking rod enters the inside of the locking frame, the flexible wall bends outward with its operation, and the engaging projections cross over and engage with each other. . At this time, since the lock frame has the bending-promoting portion, the flexible wall can be easily bent outward and can be easily locked and unlocked without increasing the width dimension of the flexible wall.

A second aspect of the present invention is the lock mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein as one of the bending promoting portions, a semi-circle curved in the circumferential direction of the lock frame is provided at both ends in the width direction of the flexible wall. It is characterized in that it has a curved wall portion.

In this lock mechanism, when the lock rod enters the lock frame, the flexible wall is largely bent outward due to the bending deformation of the curved wall portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the lock mechanism according to the first or second aspect, wherein as one of the bending promoting portions, the lock wall is inserted into the connecting wall from the inlet side of the lock rod. It is characterized in that slits are formed along the direction.

In this lock mechanism, when the lock rod enters the lock frame, the connecting wall portion provided with the slit expands and deforms, so that the flexible wall largely bends outward.

The invention according to claim 4 is the lock mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a reinforcing rib of the lock rod is provided between the lock rod and the side wall provided with the lock rod. The side wall provided with the lock frame is provided with a notch for avoiding interference with the rib.

In this lock mechanism, since the reinforcing rib is provided on the lock rod, the strength of the lock rod can be increased.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of a lock mechanism 20 of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of an electric connection box equipped with the lock mechanism 20. This electrical junction box is shown in Figure 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 1 and the cover 2 are provided, and the side wall portion is provided with a lock mechanism 20 that locks the main body 1 and the cover 2 together.

A lock frame 18 having a U-shaped cross section is provided on the side wall 2a of the cover 2 with the penetrating direction facing up and down.
As shown in FIG. 1, the lock frame 18 is composed of a flexible wall 18a parallel to the side wall 2a and a pair of connecting walls 18b and 18b connecting both ends in the width direction of the flexible wall 18a to the side wall 2a. A lock rod 7 is provided on the side wall 1a of the main body 1 to enter the lock frame 18 when the main body 1 and the cover 2 are combined. Then, the lock rod 7 and the flexible wall 1
Engagement protrusions 9 and 10 are provided on the opposing portions of 8a, respectively.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock frame 18 is provided with a curved plate portion 21 and a slit 22 as a bending promoting portion for promoting the outward bending of the flexible wall 18a. There is. The curved plate portions 21 are arranged at both ends in the width direction of the flexible wall 18a, have a semicircular shape curved in the circumferential direction of the lock frame 18, and extend continuously from the upper end to the lower end of the flexible wall 18a. Further, the slits 22 are formed in both connecting walls 18b from the entrance direction entrance 19 side of the lock rod 7 with respect to the lock frame 18 along the entrance direction.

In the lock mechanism 20, when the main body 1 and the cover 2 are put together, the lock rod 7 enters the lock frame 18, and the flexible wall 18a bends outward in accordance with the movement thereof, and the engaging projection 9 10 overtake each other and engage as shown in FIG. At that time, since the lock frame 18 has the curved wall portion 21 and the slit 22 as the bending promoting portion, the bending deformation of the curved wall portion 21 and the connecting wall 18 with the slit 22.
The elastic deformation of b causes the flexible wall 18a to largely bend outward.

Therefore, even if the width of the flexible wall 18a is not large, the flexible wall 18a can be easily bent outward and can be easily locked and unlocked. As a result, the lock mechanism 20 as a whole can be downsized. Also,
Since the left and right connecting walls 18b, 18b define the position of the lock rod 7 by reducing the width dimension of the flexible wall 18a, the positioning rib 11 can be positioned as in the prior art of FIGS. 8 to 10.
(See FIGS. 9 and 10) is not necessary, and the structure is simplified.

When the lock is released, as shown in FIG. 5, the jig 50 is inserted into the gap between the flexible wall 18a and the lock rod 7 from above, and the flexible wall 18a is twisted in that state. Bend outwards. Thereby, the engagement protrusions 9 and 10 can be disengaged.

6 and 7 show another embodiment.

In the lock mechanism 20B of this embodiment, the reinforcing rib 7a of the lock rod 7 is provided between the lock rod 7 and the side wall 1a of the main body 1. In accordance with this, the side wall 2a of the cover 2 has a notch 1 for avoiding interference with the reinforcing rib 7a.
7a is provided.

When the reinforcing rib 7a is provided in this way, the strength of the lock rod 7 can be increased, so that the lock rod 7 can be provided.
The cross section can be made smaller, and the lock mechanism 20B can be made smaller.

Although the lock frame 18 is provided on the cover 2 and the lock rod 7 is provided on the main body 1 in the above embodiment, they may be provided in reverse.

[0029]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, in the engaged state, the lock rod is surrounded by the lock frame, so that there is no risk of the lock being accidentally disengaged, and the reliability of the lock function is improved. Can be increased. Further, since the cover can be locked to the main body simply by inserting the lock rod into the lock frame, the positioning at the time of fitting can be facilitated and the workability of attaching the cover can be improved. Further, since the flexible wall is easily bent by the action of the bending promoting portion, it is not necessary to make the width of the flexible wall large, and the lock mechanism as a whole can be downsized. Also,
Since the width of the flexible wall can be reduced, the space between the left and right connecting walls can be narrowed, so that the locking rod can be positioned by the connecting wall while maintaining the width of the locking rod.
There is no need to provide a rib for positioning, and the structure is simple. Further, since the flexible wall is easily bent, locking and unlocking can be easily performed.

According to the invention of claim 2, the flexible wall can be largely bent outward by the bending deformation of the curved wall portion. Therefore, with a simple structure, dimensional expansion is not performed, and The effect of 1 can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flexible wall can be largely deflected outward by the extensional deformation of the connecting wall portion provided with the slits. Therefore, the structure is simple and the dimension is not enlarged. In addition, the effect of claim 1 can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the strength of the lock rod can be increased by the reinforcing ribs, the cross section of the lock rod can be made smaller and the lock mechanism can be made smaller.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a state before locking of a lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of an electric connection box including a lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lock mechanism side of the lock mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an engaged state of the lock mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an engaged state of a lock mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part of an electric junction box shown as a prior art.

9 is a perspective view showing a partially broken state of an engaged state of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the lock frame shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional electric junction box.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional electrical junction box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main Body 1a Side Wall 2 Cover 2a Side Wall 7 Lock Rod 7a Rib 9,10 Engagement Protrusion 17a Notch 18 Lock Frame 18a Flexible Wall 18b Connecting Wall 19 Entrance 20, 20B Lock Mechanism 21 Curved Wall (Flexure Accelerator) 22 Slit ( Deflection promotion part)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lock mechanism for locking a main body and a cover in a combined state, wherein a flexible wall is provided on one of the side walls of the main body and the cover and is parallel to the side wall, and a width direction of the flexible wall. A lock frame having a U-shaped cross section composed of connecting walls having both ends connected to the side wall, and a lock provided on the other side of the side wall of the main body and the cover, and entering the lock frame when the main body and the cover are fitted together. The rod and the lock rod are respectively projectingly provided at the opposing portions of the flexible wall and when the lock rod is inserted into the lock frame, the outward deflection of the flexible wall is used to overcome the opponent, thereby The locking mechanism is provided with an engagement protrusion that engages with the lock frame, and a flexure promoting portion that promotes outward flexure of the flexible wall is provided at at least one position in the circumferential direction of the lock frame. 2. The lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, as one of the flexure promoting portions, a semicircular curved wall portion curved in a circumferential direction of the lock frame is provided at both widthwise ends of the flexible wall. A lock mechanism characterized by being provided with. 3. The lock mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, as one of the flexure promoting portions, a slit is formed in the connecting wall from an entrance side of an entrance direction of the lock rod to the lock frame along the entrance direction. The locking mechanism is characterized in that 4. The lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing rib of the lock rod is provided between the lock rod and a side wall provided with the lock rod, and the lock frame is provided. A lock mechanism characterized in that a notch is provided on the side wall provided so as to avoid interference with the rib.