Electrical junction box

Abstract

An electrical junction box includes: a housing having a first opening and a second opening formed thereon; a first cover configured to be fixed to the housing such that the first cover covers the first opening; and a second cover configured to be fixed to the housing such that the second cover covers the second opening. The second cover is fixed to the housing by a first swivel point engagement portion and a cover-to-cover engagement portion. The first swivel point engagement portion includes an engagement protrusion formed at one end of the housing and an engagement frame formed at one end of the second cover and configured to engage with the engagement protrusion. The cover-to-cover engagement portion includes a locking arm formed at the other end of the second cover and a locking arm receiving portion formed on the first cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical junction box configured for installation on a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Figure 9 The electrical junction box 501 shown is an example of a conventional electrical junction box configured for installation in a motor vehicle. The electrical junction box 501 includes: a housing 521 having an upper surface on which a first opening 531 and a second opening 532 are formed; a first cover 527 covering the first opening 531; and a second cover 525 covering the second opening 532. The first cover 527 and the second cover 525 are respectively secured to the housing 521 by a plurality of engaging components (e.g., locking arms formed on the sides of the covers 527 and 525 or locking arm receiving portions formed on the side of the housing 521) (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent Document 1: JP 2021-044944 A Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical problems to be solved

[0006] The conventional electrical junction box 501 has a disadvantage: since each cover 527, 525 is fixed to the box 521 by multiple locking components, removing these covers 527, 525 from the box 521 during maintenance or other work requires disassembling multiple locking components, which complicates the work.

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages, the object of the present invention is to provide an electrical junction box in which the cover can be easily removed from the box body.

[0008] Technical solutions to the problem

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, in one aspect, the present invention provides an electrical junction box, comprising: a box body having a first opening and a second opening formed thereon; a first cover, the first cover being configured to be fixed to the box body such that the first cover covers the first opening; and a second cover, the second cover being configured to be fixed to the box body such that the second cover covers the second opening, wherein the second cover is fixed to the box body by a first swivel point engaging portion and a cover-to-cover engaging portion, the first swivel point engaging portion including an engaging protrusion formed on one end of the box body and an engaging frame formed on one end of the second cover and configured to engage with the engaging protrusion, and the cover-to-cover engaging portion including a locking arm formed on the other end of the second cover and a locking arm receiving portion formed on the first cover.

[0010] Advantages of the present invention

[0011] According to the present invention, the second cover can be easily removed from the box. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded view of the electrical junction box.

[0014] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 The state shown is where the first opening is covered by the first cover.

[0015] Figure 4 Show Figure 3 The second opening shown is covered by the second cover.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 6 Looking at it from another perspective Figure 5 A 3D view of the electrical junction box.

[0018] Figure 7 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view taken from line AA in the middle.

[0019] Figure 8 Show Figure 5 The state in which the first opening is covered by the first cover and the state in which the second opening is covered by the second cover; and

[0020] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of a traditional electrical junction box.

[0021] Reference Mark List

[0022] 1. 101 Electrical Junction Box

[0023] 2. 102 enclosure

[0024] 3, 103 First Cover

[0025] 4. 104 Second cover

[0026] 5. Rotating pivot engagement part

[0027] 6. 106 Cover Interlocking Part

[0028] 51. Snap protrusion

[0029] 52-card frame

[0030] 61, 161 locking arms

[0031] 62, 162 Locking Arm Receiving Unit Detailed Implementation

[0032] In the following text, reference will be made to Figures 1 to 4 An electrical junction box according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0033] Figure 1 The electrical junction box 1 shown is configured to be installed on a motor vehicle, and the electrical junction box 1 includes a housing 2, multiple components (e.g., relays, fuses) housed in the housing 2, a first cover 3 and a second cover 4.

[0034] Box 2 is made of synthetic resin. Box 2 is formed into an elongated shape, with its length, width, and height directions corresponding to... Figure 2 The X, Z, and Y directions in the equation. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the housing 2 includes an upper surface on which a first opening 21 and a second opening 22 are formed. The first opening 21 and the second opening 22 are aligned along the length of the housing 2. A fixing part 24 for fixing relative to the vehicle body is provided at one end along the length of the housing 2. A fixing part 23 for fixing relative to the vehicle body is provided at the other end along the length of the housing 2.

[0035] In the electrical junction box 1 of this example, to improve user maintainability, the box 2 is divided into a dealer maintenance area and a user maintenance area. The area corresponding to the first opening 21 is the dealer maintenance area, and the area corresponding to the second opening 22 is the user maintenance area.

[0036] The first cover 3 and the second cover 4 are made of synthetic resin. The first cover 3 is fixed to the housing 2 such that it covers the first opening 21. Furthermore, the first cover 3 is fixed to the housing 2 only by the engaging part 7 and the inter-cover engaging part 6. The second cover 4 is fixed to the housing 2 such that it covers the second opening 22. Furthermore, the second cover 4 is fixed to the housing 2 only by the rotating pivot engaging part 5 and the inter-cover engaging part 6.

[0037] The engaging portion 7 includes a locking arm 71 formed on the first cover 3 and a locking arm receiving portion 72 formed on the housing 2. More specifically, the locking arm 71 is formed on a side surface of the first cover 3 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2. The locking arm receiving portion 72 is formed on a side surface of the housing 2 extending in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] The interlocking portion 6 includes a locking arm 61 formed on the second cover 4 and a locking arm receiving portion 62 formed on the first cover 3. More specifically, the locking arm 61 is formed on a side surface of the second cover 4, which is adjacent to the first cover 3 and extends in the width direction of the housing 2. The locking arm receiving portion 62 is formed on a side surface of the first cover 3, which is adjacent to the second cover 4 and extends in the width direction of the housing 2.

[0039] The rotating pivot engagement portion 5 includes an engagement protrusion 51 formed on the housing 2 and an engagement frame 52 formed on the second cover 4 and configured to engage with the engagement protrusion 51. More specifically, the engagement protrusion 51 is formed on a side surface located at one end of the housing 2 along its length and above the fixing member 24. The engagement frame 52 is formed on a side surface of the second cover 4, which is located on the side opposite to the first cover 3 and extends in the width direction of the housing 2.

[0040] The first cover 3 and the second cover 4 are fixed to the box body 2 in the following manner. For example... Figure 3 As shown, firstly, the first opening 21 is covered with the first cover 3, and the first cover 3 is pushed in the opposite direction to the Y direction to engage the locking arm 71 with the locking arm receiving part 72. Next, as... Figure 4 As shown, the locking frame 52 engages with the locking protrusion 51, and the second cover 4 is rotated around the locking frame 52 in the direction of the arrow, so that the second cover 4 covers the second opening 22 and the locking arm 61 engages with the locking arm receiving part 62. In this way, the first cover 3 and the second cover 4 are fixed to the housing 2.

[0041] The first cover 3 and the second cover 4 are removed from the housing 2 as follows: First, for example, by pressing the locking arm 61, the locking arm 61 is elastically deformed in the disengagement direction, causing the locking arm 61 to disengage from the locking arm receiving portion 62. While maintaining this state, a portion of the second cover 4 on the locking arm 61 side is lifted, causing the engaging frame 52 to move away from the engaging protrusion 51, thereby removing the second cover 4 from the housing 2. Next, for example, by pressing the locking arm 71, the locking arm 71 is elastically deformed in the disengagement direction, causing the locking arm 71 to disengage from the locking arm receiving portion 72. While maintaining this state, the first cover 3 is lifted to remove the first cover 3 from the housing 2.

[0042] Therefore, in the electrical junction box 1, the first cover 3 is fixed to the box body 2 only by the engaging part 7 and the inter-cover engaging part 6, while the second cover 4 is fixed to the box body 2 only by the rotating pivot engaging part 5 and the inter-cover engaging part 6. With this configuration, the first cover 3 and the second cover 4 can be easily fixed to the box body 2 and removed from the box body 2.

[0043] In the following text, reference will be made to Figures 5 to 8An electrical junction box according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described. Figures 5 to 8 In this document, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are represented by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0044] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The electrical junction box 101 shown is configured to be installed on a motor vehicle and includes a housing 102, a plurality of components (e.g., relays and fuses) housed in the housing 102, a first cover 103 and a second cover 104.

[0045] The housing 102 has the same structure as the housing 2 in the first embodiment, except that it does not include the locking arm receiving part 72 described in the first embodiment, but instead includes two engaging protrusions 171. The two engaging protrusions 171 are formed on a side surface at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the housing 102 and are formed above the fixing member 23.

[0046] Similar to the first embodiment, the first cover 103 is fixed to the housing 102 such that the first cover 103 covers the first opening 21. However, unlike the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the first cover 103 is fixed to the housing 102 only by the rotation pivot engagement portion 107 and the inter-cover engagement portion 106.

[0047] Similar to the first embodiment, the second cover 104 is fixed to the housing 102 such that the second cover 4 covers the second opening 22. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second cover 4 is fixed to the housing 102 only by the rotating pivot engagement portion 5 and the cover-to-cover engagement portion 106. The rotating pivot engagement portion 5 has the same structure as in the first embodiment, therefore its description is omitted.

[0048] The pivot engagement portion 107 includes an engagement protrusion 171 formed on the housing 102 and an engagement frame 172 formed on the first cover 103 and configured to engage with the engagement protrusion 171. The engagement frame 172 is formed on a side surface of the first cover 103 located on the side opposite to the second cover 104 and extending in the width direction of the housing 102. In this embodiment, the two pivot engagement portions 107 (i.e., two sets of engagement protrusions 171 and engagement frames 172) are arranged spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the housing 102.

[0049] The interlocking portion 106 includes a locking arm 161 formed on the second cover 104, and a locking arm receiving portion 162 and a recess 163 formed on the first cover 103.

[0050] like Figure 7As shown, the locking arm 161 includes: an elastically deformable arm portion 161b; a hole 161a formed on the arm portion 161b, into which a locking arm receiving portion 162 having a protruding shape can be fitted; and an operating portion 161c configured to be pushed to disengage.

[0051] A recess 163 is formed on the upper surface of the first cover 103 and is configured to position the arm portion 161b of the locking arm 161 therein, as shown below. Figure 7 As shown, the locking arm receiving portion 162 is formed in the recess 163.

[0052] The first cover 103 and the second cover 104 are fixed to the housing 102 as follows. First, as... Figure 8 As shown, the engaging frames 172 of the first cover 103 are engaged with the engaging protrusions 171, and then the first cover 103 is rotated around these engaging frames 172 in the direction of the arrows to cover the first opening 21. Next, the engaging frames 52 of the second cover 104 are engaged with the engaging protrusions 51, and the second cover 104 is rotated around the engaging frames 52 in the direction of the arrows to cover the second opening 22 and engage the locking arm 161 with the locking arm receiving part 162. In this way, the first cover 103 and the second cover 104 are secured to the housing 102.

[0053] The first cover 103 and the second cover 104 are removed from the housing 102 as follows: First, the operating part 161c is pushed to elastically deform the arm part 161b in the disengagement direction, thereby disengaging the locking arm 161 from the locking arm receiving part 162. While maintaining this state, the portion of the second cover 104 on the locking arm 161 side is lifted, causing the engaging frame 52 to move away from the engaging protrusion 51, thereby removing the second cover 104 from the housing 102. Next, the portion of the first cover 103 on the locking arm receiving part 162 side is lifted, causing each engaging frame 172 to move away from each engaging protrusion 171, thereby removing the first cover 103 from the housing 102.

[0054] Therefore, in the electrical junction box 101, the first cover 103 is fixed to the box body 102 only by the rotating pivot engagement portion 107 and the inter-cover engagement portion 106, and the second cover 104 is fixed to the box body 102 only by the rotating pivot engagement portion 5 and the inter-cover engagement portion 106. With this configuration, the first cover 103 and the second cover 104 can be fixed to and removed from the box body 102 more easily than in the first embodiment. Furthermore, with the locking arm 161 located in the recess 163, the distance between the first cover 103 and the second cover 104 can be shortened, thereby miniaturizing the electrical junction box 101.

[0055] The embodiments described above are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In other words, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. These modifications, as long as they have the configuration of the present invention, are of course within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electrical junction box, comprising: The box has a first opening and a second opening formed on it; A first cover is configured to be fixed to the housing such that the first cover covers the first opening; as well as A second cover, configured to be fixed to the housing such that the second cover covers the second opening, wherein... The first cover is fixed to the box body only by the second rotating fulcrum locking part and the cover locking part. The second cover is fixed to the box body only by the first rotating fulcrum locking part and the cover locking part. The first rotating pivot engagement part includes: A first engaging protrusion is formed on one end of the housing; and A first engaging frame is formed on one end of the second cover and configured to engage with the first engaging protrusion. and The cover locking portion includes: A first locking arm is formed on the other end of the second cover; and A first locking arm receiving portion having a protruding shape is formed on the first cover. The first locking arm includes: The arm portion, which is capable of elastic deformation; and A hole is formed in the arm portion for the first locking arm receiving portion to be inserted, and When the first cover and the second cover are fixed to the housing, the first locking arm is pressed against the first locking arm receiving part and elastically deformed. With the first locking arm receiving part embedded in the hole, the first locking arm and the first locking arm receiving part are engaged. The second rotating pivot engagement part includes: A second engaging protrusion is formed on the other end of the housing; and A second engaging frame is formed on the end of the first cover located on the side opposite to the first locking arm receiving portion, and the second engaging frame is configured to engage with the second engaging protrusion of the second rotating pivot engaging portion.

2. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein, A recess is formed on the first cover, the recess being configured to position the first locking arm formed on the second cover, and The first locking arm receiving portion is formed in the recess.

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