JPH09181466A - Flat plate holding structure in housing box - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hold a printed circuit board without play. SOLUTION: A printed circuit board 10 is pushed into a housing box 2, elastically deforming an oscillating beam 5 outward from the box 2. The beam 5 has an oscillating claw 6 and stopper 7 integrated therewith and hence the stopper 7 integrated with the claw 6 moves outwards from the box 2. Since the width of a hold groove 8 defined by the claw 6 and stopper 7 does not change, the groove can be set to a width approximately equal to the thickness 5 of the board 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for holding a flat plate such as a printed circuit board in a storage box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a printed circuit board for an electronic control unit such as an air conditioner for a vehicle is mounted in an automobile or the like while being housed in a storage box. FIG.
FIG. 6D is an explanatory view of the operation of the conventional printed circuit board holding structure. (A) shows a state where the swing claw is pressed by the printed circuit board pushed into the storage box.

The structure for holding the printed circuit board comprises a stopper 102 fixed in a storage box 101 and a storage box 1.
01, and a swinging claw 103 provided swingably. When the printed circuit board 104 is pushed into the storage box 101 as indicated by an arrow, the end portion 104 a of the printed circuit board 104 contacts the swing claw 103. From this state, the printed circuit board 104
Is pushed further in, the end portion 104 of the printed circuit board 104 is
a moves along the inclined surface 103a of the swing claw 103,
The swing claw 103 is pushed toward the outside of the storage box 101.

(B) shows a state in which the printed circuit board has reached a position beyond the swing claw. Edge 1 of printed circuit board 104
When 04a reaches a position beyond the inclined surface 103a of the swing claw 103, the tip of the swing claw 103 tilts by θ °. At this time, the interval between the swing claw 103 and the stopper 102 is T
When set to _1, this interval T _1, it is necessary to set larger than the plate thickness t of the printed circuit board 104. This is because the printed circuit board 104 does not enter the interval T ₁ if T ₁ <t. With this setting, when the end portion 104a of the printed circuit board 104 exceeds the inclined surface 103a of the swing claw 103, the printed circuit board 1
The end portion 104a of 04 is fitted between the swing claw 103 and the stopper 102.

(C) shows a state where the swing claw is restored. When the end portion 104a of the printed circuit board 104 crosses the inclined surface 103a of the swing claw 103, the swing claw 103 is restored to the state before the elastic deformation, and the end portion 104a of the printed circuit board 104 is moved to the swing claw 103 and the stopper 102. Enter between and. In this case, since the swing claw 103 is restored, the tilt angle θ ° (see FIG. (B)) of the tip of the swing claw 103 becomes 0 and the swing claw 10 moves.
The distance T ₂ between the stopper 3 and the stopper 102 is T ₂ ≈T ₁ + w · sin
θ (however, w: thickness of the tip portion of the swing claw 103). Therefore, a relatively large gap δ (δ≈w · sin θ) is generated between the swing claw 103 and the printed circuit board 104, so that the printed circuit board 104 is loosened in the vertical direction (arrow direction).

[0006] (d) shows another form (the tip of the rocking claw is chamfered). If the tip of the swing claw 103 is chamfered, even if the tip of the swing claw 103 is inclined by θ ° due to the pressing of the printed circuit board 104 as in (b), the swing claw 1
The distance between 03 and the stopper 102 does not become narrow. Therefore, when the swing claw 103 is restored, the distance T ₃ between the swing claw 103 and the stopper 102 can be made substantially the same as the plate thickness t of the printed circuit board 104. Therefore, if the end portion 104a of the printed board 104 is fitted to the position shown by the broken line, the backlash of the printed board 104 can be suppressed.

However, due to manufacturing errors and the like, the printed circuit board 10
4, the end portion 104a of 4 is shortened, and the chamfered portion 1 of the swing claw 103 is
When located at 03b, the swinging claw 103 causes the printed circuit board 10 to move.
The end 104a of No. 4 cannot be pressed. This causes backlash on the printed circuit board 104.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are front views showing another form of the printed circuit board holding structure. (A) is a top view of other forms of a printed circuit board holding structure. Swing claw 10
6, a pair of stoppers 10 are provided at positions on both sides which are offset from the lower side.
7 and 107 are arranged. And a pair of stoppers 10
A distance T ₄ between the rocking pawls 106 and 107 is set to be substantially the same as the plate thickness t of the printed circuit board 104 shown in FIG. 1
Reference numeral 08 is a side wall of the storage box, and 109 is a substantially U-shaped separating groove. The separation groove 109 separates the swing claw 106 from the side wall 108.

(B) shows a state in which the printed circuit board has reached a position beyond the swing claw. When the printed circuit board 104 is pushed in as indicated by the arrow, the printed circuit board 104 moves to the swinging claw 10.
6 is pressed against the pair of stoppers 107, 107 while being pressed in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface. When the printed circuit board 104 is further pushed in at this position, the printed circuit board is elastically deformed downward and passes over the swing claw 106.

(C) shows a state in which the swing claw is restored and the printed circuit board is clamped. The printed board 104 is the swing claw 10.
When the number exceeds 6, the swing claw 106 is restored and the printed circuit board 1
04 is clamped by the swing claw 106 and the pair of stoppers 107, 107. In this case, the pair of stoppers 107, 107
Since the distance T ₄ between the rocking claw 106 and the swing claw 106 is substantially the same as the plate thickness t of the printed circuit board 104, the printed circuit board 104 can be held in a play-free state.

[0011]

However, in the case of the printed circuit board holding structure shown in FIG. 5, a relatively large gap is generated between the swing claw 103 and the printed circuit board 104 while the printed circuit board 104 is held. Rattling occurs on the printed circuit board 104. In the case of the printed circuit board holding structure of FIG. 6, since the pair of stoppers 107, 107 are arranged on both sides of the swinging claw 106 in a staggered manner, the space for arranging the stoppers becomes large and the overall size becomes large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is not to increase the size because it is not necessary to increase the space for arranging the stopper of the printed circuit board holding structure, and to hold a flat plate such as a printed circuit board in a play-free state. It is to provide the technology that can.

[0013]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a stopper and a swinging claw inside a storage box having at least one surface opened, and a printed circuit board or the like inserted through the opening. In the structure for holding a flat plate in a storage box in which the flat plate of the above is applied to the stopper and the swinging claw prevents the pulling out toward the front, the swinging beam that supports the swinging claw is also provided with the stopper and A flat plate holding groove is formed between the stopper and the stopper.

Therefore, by pushing a flat plate such as a printed circuit board into the storage box, the swing claw is pressed to the outside of the storage box by the end of the flat plate. As a result, the swing beam is elastically deformed to the outside of the storage box. In this case, since the swing claw and the stopper are integrally provided on the swing beam, the stopper moves together with the swing claw in the outward direction of the storage box.

Therefore, since the width of the holding groove formed by the swing claw and the stopper does not change, the width of the holding groove can be set to be substantially the same as the plate thickness of the flat plate. As a result, when the flat plate pushed into the storage box exceeds the swing claw,
The oscillating beam is restored to the state before elastic deformation, and the end of the flat plate is fitted into the holding groove.

Further, since only one stopper is provided on the lower side of the swing claw, it is not necessary to secure a large space for disposing the stopper. Therefore, if a flat plate is used as the printed circuit board, the component mounting range of the printed circuit board can be expanded.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the holding groove is a tapered groove whose inlet is narrower than the inner side. Since the holding groove is a tapered groove whose inlet is narrower than the back, the flat plate can be held at the inlet of the holding groove. Therefore, even if the end portion of the flat plate is fitted only up to the vicinity of the entrance of the holding groove due to manufacturing error or the like, the end portion of the flat plate can be reliably held by the holding groove.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A printed circuit board holding structure will be described below as an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board holding structure according to the present invention. The flat plate holding structure in the storage box is formed by integrally molding a resin material, and has a storage box 2 having at least one open surface, and a swing beam 5 provided on a side wall 3 of the storage box 2.
(... indicates a plurality. The same applies to the following.), Rocking claws 6 provided on the inside of the rocking beams 5, ... It is provided with a stopper 7 ... 10 is a printed circuit board.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of a printed circuit board holding structure according to the present invention. The rocking beam 5 has a tip portion 5a and left and right side portions 5b and 5c separated from the side wall 3 by forming a substantially U-shaped separation groove 3a in the side wall 3 of the storage box 2. As a result, the swing beam 5 has a shape in which the base end portion 5d is supported by the side wall 3 in a cantilevered manner as described above.
It becomes elastically deformable to the outside of the storage box 2. Swing claw 6
Is provided with an inclined surface 6a that projects obliquely downward inside the storage box 2 from the base end portion 5d of the swing beam 5 toward the tip end portion 5a. The stopper 7 is provided at the front end portion 5a of the swing beam 5 at a constant distance from the swing claw 6, and the stopper 7 and the swing claw 6 form a holding groove 8.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. The holding groove 8 formed by the stopper 7 and the swing claw 6 penetrates from the inside to the outside of the storage box 2. The inlet 8a of the holding groove 8 is located inside the storage box 2, and the inlet 8a
The interval T _{5 of} is a tapered groove narrower than the back. That is, the interval T _{5 of the} inlet 8a is made smaller than the interval T ₆ outside the storage box 2, and the plate thickness t of the printed circuit board 10 shown in FIG.
It is almost the same as.

The operation of the flat plate holding structure in the storage box having the above structure will be described. FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views of the operation of the printed circuit board holding structure. (A) shows a state in which the swing claw is pressed outward by the printed circuit board. By pushing the printed circuit board 10 into the storage box 2, the end portion 10 a of the printed circuit board 10 contacts the inclined surface 6 a of the swing claw 6. From this state, by further pushing the printed circuit board 10, the end portion 10 of the printed circuit board 10 is
Since “a” descends along the inclined surface 6 a of the swing claw 6, the swing claw 6 is pressed to the outside of the storage box 2. This allows
The swing beam 5 elastically deforms to the outside of the storage box 2.

In this case, since the swing beam 5 is provided with the swing claw 6 and the stopper 7, the stopper 7 moves together with the swing claw 6 toward the outside of the storage box 2. Therefore, the entrance corner portion 6b of the swinging pawl 6 is changed from the state before elastic deformation to h
_1. The entrance corner portion 7a of the stopper 7 descends h ₁ from the state before the elastic deformation. Thereby, the inlet 8a of the holding groove 8
Can maintain the interval T ₅ before the elastic deformation.

(B) shows a state in which the swing claw is restored and holds the printed circuit board. When the printed circuit board 10 pushed into the storage box 2 exceeds the inclined surface 6a of the swing claw 6, the swing beam 5 is restored to the state before the elastic deformation, and the end portion 10a of the printed circuit board 10 is held in the holding groove. Insert into 8 As a result, the end portion 10 of the printed circuit board 10 is inserted at the entrance 8a of the holding groove 8.
Hold a. In this case, the interval T of the inlet 8a of the holding groove 8
_{Since 5} is set to be substantially the same as the plate thickness t of the printed circuit board 10, the swing claw 6 and the stopper can hold the flat plate without backlash.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case of holding the printed circuit board has been described, but the flat plate holding structure of the storage box according to the present invention can hold other flat plates other than the printed circuit board.

[0025]

The present invention has the following effects due to the above configuration. According to the first aspect, by pushing a flat plate such as a printed circuit board into the storage box, the swing claw is pressed to the outside of the storage box by the end of the flat plate. As a result, the swing beam is elastically deformed to the outside of the storage box. In this case, since the swing claw and the stopper are integrally provided on the swing beam, the stopper moves together with the swing claw in the outward direction of the storage box. Therefore, since the width of the sandwiching groove formed by the swinging claw and the stopper does not change, the width of the sandwiching groove can be set to be substantially the same as the plate thickness of the flat plate.

As a result, when the flat plate pushed into the storage box passes over the swing claw, the swing beam is restored to the state before the elastic deformation and the end of the flat plate is fitted into the holding groove. In this case, since the width of the holding groove is set to be substantially the same as the thickness of the flat plate, the flat plate can be held by the swinging claw and the stopper without backlash.

Further, since only one stopper needs to be provided on the lower side of the swing claw, it is not necessary to secure a large space for disposing the stopper. Therefore, for example, when a flat plate is used as the printed circuit board, the component mounting range of the printed circuit board can be expanded and the limited space in the storage box can be effectively used.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the holding groove is a tapered groove whose inlet is narrower than the inner side, the flat plate can be held at the inlet of the holding groove. Therefore, even if the end portion of the flat plate is fitted only up to the vicinity of the entrance of the holding groove due to manufacturing error or the like, the end portion of the flat plate can be reliably held by the holding groove.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printed circuit board holding structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of a printed circuit board holding structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of a printed circuit board holding structure in a storage box.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of a conventional printed circuit board holding structure.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another form of a conventional printed circuit board holding structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... storage box, 5 ... rocking beam, 6 ... rocking claw, 7 ... stopper, 8 ... nipping groove, 8a ... inlet, 10 ... printed circuit board (flat plate).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A stopper and a swinging pawl are provided in a storage box having at least one surface opened, and a flat plate such as a printed circuit board inserted from the opening is applied to the stopper and the swinging pawl prevents it from coming out toward the front. A structure for holding a flat plate in a storage box configured as described above, wherein the swing beam supporting the swing claw is also provided with the stopper, and a flat plate holding groove is formed between the swing claw and the stopper. A flat plate holding structure in a box. 2. The holding structure for a flat plate in a storage box according to claim 1, wherein the holding groove is a tapered groove whose inlet is narrower than the inner side.