JPH09210019A - Locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a locking device whose locking claw is not transformed more than necessary nor destroyed by external force. SOLUTION: This locking device 14 includes locking claws 14a which extend perpendicularly along the approach direction of members which are fitted onto one member 12, of the two members to be locked under an approaching condition to each other and has a protrusion 14c which protrudes to one side, and an engaged recess part 14b formed in an inner wall which extends along an approach direction of the other member 13. When both the members approach each other, locking operation is conducted by fitting the protrusion 14c of the locking claw 14a into the engaged recess part 14b of the other member based on its elasticity after the locking claw 14a of one member is deformed toward the inner side once. The locking device 14 is constituted so that the locking claws 14a may be provided, in a deforming direction at the time of locking and on both sides, with a protective wall 14d formed so that it may extend in the approach direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a locking device for locking a cover for opening and closing a part of housings of various devices in a closed state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device having such a cover, for example, a battery charger configured as shown in FIG. 3 has been known. In FIG. 3, the battery charger 1
Is a main body housing 3 having a concave portion 3a for accommodating the battery 2 to be charged on its upper surface, and the main body housing 3
A cover 4 swingably supported on one side of the main body housing 3 so as to cover the entire top surface of the main body 3, a locking claw 5a provided on the top surface of the other side of the main body housing 3 and the other side of the cover 4. Locking device 5 which comprises an engaged recess 5b.

The main body housing 3 contains a circuit for charging the battery 2 inside, and a power switch 3b on the upper surface thereof.

The cover 4 has engaging holes (not shown) provided at both ends on one side thereof fitted to a pin 3c provided on the one side of the main body housing 3 near the upper surface thereof.
Around the pin 3c, it is swingably supported from the illustrated open position to a closed position that covers the upper surface of the main body housing 3.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the locking claw 5a of the locking device 5 is provided with a projection 5c which extends upward from the upper surface of the main body housing 3 and which projects outward. Further, the locking claws 5a are elastically deformable, preferably integrally with the main body housing 3 and formed of an elastic material. On the other hand, the engagement concave portion 5b is similarly formed in FIG.
As shown in (B), the inner surface of the other side of the cover 4 is arranged so that the locking claw 5a can be fitted therein when the cover 4 is in the closed position.

According to the battery charger 1 thus constructed, when the cover 4 is swung from the open position to the closed position, the lower edge of the other side of the cover 4 is locked by the locking claw of the locking device 5. 5
It comes in contact with the projection 5c of a and pushes the locking claw 5a inward against its elasticity to descend. Then, when the lower edge of the other side of the cover 4 reaches the upper surface of the main body housing 3, the engaging recess 5 formed on the inner surface of the other side of the cover 4
b is aligned with the locking claw 5a, and the locking claw 5a fits into the engaging recess 5b based on its elasticity. As a result, the cover 4 is locked by the locking device 5 in the closed position covering the entire upper surface of the main body housing 3.

[0007]

However, in such a locking device 5, when the cover 4 is repeatedly opened and closed, the locking claw 5a of the locking device 5 is repeatedly elastically deformed inward. As a result, excessive deformation may cause plastic deformation inside. In addition, the locking claw 5a may be broken due to an external force being carelessly applied from the outside or the battery charger 1 itself falling.

In view of the above points, the present invention has an object to provide a locking device in which the locking claw is not deformed more than necessary and is not destroyed by an external force.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the above object is to be met along the approach direction of the above-mentioned member provided on one of the two members to be locked in the state of approaching each other. When both members approach each other, the locking claw including a protrusion extending vertically and protruding to one side and an engaging recess provided in an inner wall extending along the approach direction of the other member are included. , After the locking claw of one member is once deformed inward, the protrusion of the locking claw based on its elasticity
In the locking device in which locking is performed by fitting into the engaging recess of the other member, the locking claws are formed so as to extend in the deformation direction at locking and both sides in the approaching direction. This is achieved by a locking device characterized in that it comprises a wall.

According to the above construction, when the two members approach each other, the locking claw provided on one member is deformed inward by the inner wall of the other member, so that the locking claw is formed. After moving along the inner wall surface of the other member, it is fitted into the engaging recess. As a result, the locking claw is held in the engagement recess due to its elasticity, so that both members are locked in a state of being close to each other.

Here, since the locking claw is surrounded by the protective wall in the deformation direction and both sides, when the locking claw is deformed, the locking claw comes into contact with the protection wall in the deformation direction. , The amount of deformation will be regulated. Therefore,
Excessive deformation of the locking pawl does not cause plastic deformation of the locking pawl.

Further, since the locking claws are surrounded by the protective walls in the deformation direction and on both sides, the locking claws are surrounded by the protective walls even if an external force is inadvertently applied by, for example, dropping. As a result, the locking claw is not directly impacted. Therefore, breakage such as breakage of the locking claws due to external force can be prevented.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show the structure of a battery case incorporating an embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention. 1 and 2, a battery charger 10 includes a main body housing 12 having a concave portion 12a for accommodating a battery 11 to be charged on its upper surface.
And so as to cover the entire upper surface of the main body housing 12,
A cover 13 swingably supported on one side of the main body housing 12, and a cover 1 for the other side of the main body housing 12.
3 and a locking device 14 for locking the other side.

The main body housing 12 accommodates a circuit for charging the battery 11 inside and has a power switch 12b on its upper surface.

The cover 13 has engagement holes (not shown) provided at both ends on one side thereof fitted to a pin 12c provided on the one side of the main body housing 12 near the upper surface thereof. Around this pin 12c, from the open position shown,
It is swingably supported to a closed position that covers the upper surface of the main body housing 12.

The locking device 14 includes a main body housing 12
Locking claw 14a and cover 13 provided on the upper surface of the other side
And an engaging recess 14b provided on the other side. As shown in FIG. 2A, the locking claw 14a extends upward from the upper surface of the main body housing 12 and includes a protrusion 14c protruding outward. Further, the locking claws 14a are elastically deformable, preferably formed integrally with the main body housing 12 and made of an elastic material. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2A, on the other hand, the engagement recess 14b is formed on the inner surface of the other side of the cover 13 so that the locking claw 14a can be fitted when the cover 13 is in the closed position. ,
It is arranged.

The above structure is similar to the conventional locking device 5 shown in FIG. 3, but the locking device 14 according to the present invention is used.
In addition, a protective wall 14d surrounding the locking claw 14a with a space in the deformation direction and on both sides is further provided. The protection wall 14d is, as shown in FIG.
Since the cross-sectional shape is formed in a "U" shape, it has rigidity. As a result, when the locking claw 14a is elastically deformed, as shown by the chain line in FIG.
4a comes into contact with the protection wall 14d, so that the locking claw 14
The amount of deformation of a is regulated.

A battery charger 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Is configured as described above, and the cover 13 is
When the cover 13 is swung from the open position to the closed position, the lower edge of the other side of the cover 13 comes into contact with the protrusion 14c of the locking claw 14a of the locking device 14 to prevent the locking claw 14a from resisting its elasticity. Then, it pushes inward and descends. Then, when the lower edge of the other side of the cover 13 reaches the upper surface of the main body housing 12, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), the engaging concave portion 14b formed on the inner surface of the other side of the cover 13 is engaged. Aligning with the stop claw 14a, the locking claw 14a is fitted into the engagement recess 14b due to its elasticity. This allows the cover 1
3 will be locked by the locking device 14 in a closed position covering the entire upper surface of the body housing 12.

When the locking claw 14a is deformed as described above, the deformation amount of the locking claw 14a is regulated by contacting the vicinity of the upper end of the locking claw 14a with the protective wall 14d. . Therefore, the locking claw 14a is not excessively deformed, so that the plastic deformation in the deformation direction of the locking claw 14a can be suppressed.

Further, since the locking claw 14a is surrounded by the protective walls 14d in the deformation direction and on both sides as shown in FIG. 6B, the battery charger 10 may be dropped or the like.
Even if an external force is inadvertently applied to the locking claw 14a,
External force is blocked by the protection wall 14d and does not reach the locking claw 14a. Therefore, the locking claw 14a is not broken or broken by the external force.

Although the locking device 14 for locking the main body housing 12 and the cover 13 of the battery charger 10 has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the main body of various other devices and It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to a locking device for locking a cover or other two members to be locked together.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the two members approach each other, the locking claw provided on one member is deformed inward by the inner wall of the other member. As a result, the locking claw moves along the inner wall surface of the other member and then fits into the engagement recess. As a result, the locking claw is held in the engagement recess due to its elasticity, so that both members are locked in a state of being close to each other.

Here, since the locking claw is surrounded by the protective wall in the deformation direction and both sides thereof, when the locking claw is deformed, the locking claw comes into contact with the protection wall in the deformation direction. , The amount of deformation will be regulated. Therefore,
Excessive deformation of the locking pawl does not cause plastic deformation of the locking pawl.

Further, since the locking claws are surrounded by the protective walls in the deformation direction and on both sides, the locking claws are surrounded by the protective walls even when an external force is inadvertently applied by, for example, dropping. As a result, the locking claw is not directly impacted. Therefore, breakage such as breakage of the locking claws due to external force can be prevented.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent locking device in which the locking claw is not deformed more than necessary and is not destroyed by an external force.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a battery charger to which an embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention is applied.

2A and 2B show the battery charger of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is an enlarged sectional view of a locking device, and FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view of a locking claw and a protective wall.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a battery charger using an example of a conventional locking device, (A) is a schematic perspective view, and (B) is an enlarged sectional view of the locking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Battery Charger 11 Battery 12 Main Body Housing (First Member) 13 Cover (Second Member) 14 Locking Device 14a Locking Claw 14b Engagement Recess 14c Protrusion 14d Protective Wall

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A lock having a protrusion that extends vertically along the approach direction of one of the two members to be locked in the state of being close to each other and that protrudes to one side. It includes a claw and an engaging recess provided in an inner wall extending along the approaching direction of the other member, and when both the members approach each other, the locking claw of one member temporarily moves inward. After being deformed, the protrusion of the locking claw is fitted into the engaging recess of the other member based on its elasticity,
In a locking device in which locking is performed, the locking claw is provided with protective walls formed to extend in the approach direction in the deformation direction and both sides at the time of locking. apparatus.