Terminal protective cover

Abstract

To make it easier to close a terminal cover portion.SOLUTION: A hinge 30 has a thick portion 31 on a ring-shaped outer peripheral edge, and a thin portion 32 that is formed inside the thick portion 31 and thinner than the thick portion 31. The thick portion 31 has a first connecting portion 33 to be connected to a connecting portion 11b of a terminal accommodating portion 11, a second connecting portion 34 to be connected to a connecting portion 12b of a terminal cover portion 12, a third connecting portion 35 that connects one ends in an extension direction of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 to each other and has a section modulus changed between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34, and a fourth connecting portion 36 that connects the other ends in the extension direction of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 and has a section modulus changed between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34. The third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36 each have a low-rigidity portion between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34, the low-rigidity portion having the smallest section modulus, and the low-rigidity portion serves as bending starting points 35a, 36a when the hinge 30 is bent.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal protection cover. [Background technology]

[0002] The terminal protection cover has a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates the terminal metal fittings and exposes the terminal metal fittings from an opening, and a terminal cover portion that closes the opening. The terminal protection cover also has a living hinge that rotates the terminal cover portion between an open position and a closed position relative to the terminal accommodating portion, and a retention mechanism that fits together the engagement portions of the terminal accommodating portion and the terminal cover portion to keep the terminal accommodating portion and the terminal cover portion in the closed position. This type of terminal protection cover is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-324069 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the terminal protection cover, the living hinge is formed in a bendable thin shape, and the terminal cover part is closed by bending the living hinge around a virtual axis of rotation. However, in the living hinge, the axis of rotation is difficult to be fixed at one place until a bending habit is formed, and the bending starting point when bending is also not fixed at one place. In addition, in the living hinge, the bending habit may be formed at the axis of rotation and the bending starting point that are shifted from the desired position. Therefore, in the terminal protection cover, for example, the engaging portion of the terminal cover part may hit the terminal accommodating part or the engaging portion of the terminal accommodating part may hit the terminal cover part when closing the terminal cover part, which may reduce the workability.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal protection cover in which the terminal cover portion is easily closed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has a terminal accommodating section that accommodates terminal fittings and exposes the terminal fittings from openings, a terminal cover section that exposes the terminal fittings from the openings in an open position and closes the openings in a closed position, a holding mechanism that holds the terminal accommodating section and the terminal cover section in the closed position by fitting a second engaging section of the terminal cover section into a first engaging section of the terminal accommodating section in the closed position, and a hinge that connects respective coupling sections that are arranged opposite to each other with a gap in between in the terminal accommodating section and the terminal cover section and extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the opposing arrangement, and rotates the terminal cover section relative to the terminal accommodating section between the open position and the closed position, the hinge being a living hinge that can be bent around a rotation axis that is aligned in the perpendicular direction, and having a thick-walled section at an annular outer circumferential edge and a thick-walled section at the thick-walled section. and a thin-walled portion formed thinner than the thick portion on the inside, the thick portion having a first connecting portion connected to the connecting portion of the terminal accommodating portion, a second connecting portion connected to the connecting portion of the terminal cover portion, a third connecting portion connecting one ends of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in the extension direction and having a cross-sectional modulus that changes between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and a fourth connecting portion connecting the other ends of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in the extension direction and having a cross-sectional modulus that changes between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion each having a low-rigidity portion between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the low-rigidity portion being a bending starting point when the hinge is bent. Effect of the Invention

[0007] In the terminal protection cover according to the present invention, when the terminal cover part is closed on the terminal accommodating part, the hinge is bent around the bending origin of each of the third connecting part and the fourth connecting part in the thick part, and accordingly, the terminal cover part can be rotated around the axis of the rotation axis set at one location. Therefore, in this terminal protection cover, by setting the bending origin (rotation axis) of the hinge at a location suitable for the fitting trajectory of the first engaging part and the second engaging part of the holding mechanism, the first engaging part and the second engaging part can be fitted together without the first engaging part hitting the terminal cover part or the second engaging part hitting the terminal accommodating part. Therefore, the terminal protection cover according to the present invention is easy to work with when closing the terminal cover part, and makes it easy to close the terminal cover part on the terminal accommodating part. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a terminal protection cover of an embodiment in a closed state. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the terminal protection cover of the embodiment in a closed state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the terminal protection cover of the embodiment in an open state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the terminal protection cover of the embodiment in an open state. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. 7 rotated 90 degrees. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a terminal protection cover according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] One embodiment of a terminal protection cover according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] 1 to 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a terminal protection cover of this embodiment. This terminal protection cover 1 is placed over a terminal metal fitting (not shown) to protect the terminal metal fitting. This terminal protection cover 1 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0012] The terminal protective cover 1 has a terminal accommodating portion 11 that accommodates terminal fittings and exposes the terminal fittings from openings 11a, and a terminal cover portion 12 that exposes the terminal fittings from the openings 11a in the open position and closes the openings 11a in the closed position (FIGS. 1 to 6). The terminal accommodating portion 11 shown here is formed in an annular shape and exposes the terminal fittings from the openings 11a at one end. The terminal cover portion 12 shown here closes the openings 11a of the terminal accommodating portion 11 by abutting against the annular periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 11.

[0013] Furthermore, the terminal protective cover 1 has a retention mechanism 20 that keeps the terminal accommodating portion 11 and the terminal cover portion 12 in the closed position (FIGS. 2 to 6). The retention mechanism 20 includes a first engagement portion 21 provided in the terminal accommodating portion 11 and a second engagement portion 22 provided in the terminal cover portion 12 (FIGS. 2 to 6). In the closed position, the retention mechanism 20 fits the second engagement portion 22 of the terminal cover portion 12 into the first engagement portion 21 of the terminal accommodating portion 11, thereby retaining the terminal accommodating portion 11 and the terminal cover portion 12 in the closed position.

[0014] The first engagement portion 21 shown here is formed in a claw shape protruding from the outer peripheral wall surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11. The second engagement portion 22 shown here has two flexible shaft portions 22a protruding from the outer peripheral wall surface of the terminal cover portion 12, and a connecting portion 22b connecting the free ends of the two shaft portions 22a (FIGS. 2 to 6). When the terminal cover portion 12 is closed to the terminal accommodating portion 11, the holding mechanism 20 causes the connecting portion 22b of the second engagement portion 22 to bend the two shaft portions 22a while sliding along the inclined surface 21a of the first engagement portion 21 (FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6). When the retaining mechanism 20 is in the closed position where the connecting portion 22b overcomes the first engagement portion 21, the deflection of the two shaft portions 22a is eliminated, and the connecting portion 22b is in a position where it is hooked onto the first engagement portion 21, thereby fitting the second engagement portion 22 into the first engagement portion 21.

[0015] Furthermore, this terminal protection cover 1 has a hinge 30 that connects the connecting parts 11b, 12b that are arranged opposite to the terminal accommodating part 11 and the terminal cover part 12 with a gap therebetween and extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which they are arranged opposite to each other, and rotates the terminal cover part 12 between an open position and a closed position relative to the terminal accommodating part 11 (FIGS. 1 to 10). This hinge 30 is a living hinge that can be bent around a rotation axis that is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which they are arranged opposite to each other.

[0016] This hinge 30 has a thick portion 31 on the annular outer periphery, and a thin portion 32 formed inside the thick portion 31 and thinner than the thick portion 31 (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 7 to 10). The thick portion 31 has a uniform thickness over the entire circumference in a direction perpendicular to the opposing arrangement direction and extension direction of each of the connecting portions 11b, 12b. The thin portion 32 has a uniform thickness over the entire region in the perpendicular direction.

[0017] The thick portion 31 has a first connecting portion 33 that connects to the connecting portion 11b of the terminal accommodating portion 11, a second connecting portion 34 that connects to the connecting portion 12b of the terminal cover portion 12, a third connecting portion 35 that connects one ends of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 in the extension direction and has a cross-sectional modulus that changes between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34, and a fourth connecting portion 36 that connects the other ends of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 in the extension direction and has a cross-sectional modulus that changes between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 (Figures 7 to 10).

[0018] The first connecting portion 33 extends along the extending direction of the joint portion 11b of the terminal accommodating portion 11. The first connecting portion 33 shown here extends linearly along the extending direction of the joint portion 11b of the terminal accommodating portion 11 which extends linearly. The second connecting portion 34 extends along the extending direction of the joint portion 12b of the terminal cover portion 12. The second connecting portion 34 shown here extends linearly along the extending direction of the joint portion 12b of the terminal cover portion 12 which extends linearly.

[0019] The third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36 each have a low-rigidity portion between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34, the low-rigidity portion being the bending starting point 35a, 36a when the hinge 30 is bent (Figures 7 to 10).

[0020] For example, here, the thickness of the thick portion 31 is uniform over the entire circumference. Therefore, the third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36 shown here each have a narrow portion between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34, which is the narrowest in the extension direction, as a low rigidity portion, and this narrow portion is set as the bending starting point 35a, 36a.

[0021] Specifically, the third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36 each have inner edge portions 35b, 36b on the thin-walled portion 32 side that are farther away from the virtual line Li along the opposing arrangement direction of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 in the extension direction of the first connecting portion 33 as they move from the bending origins 35a, 36a toward the first connecting portion 33, and are farther away from the virtual line Li in the extension direction of the second connecting portion 34 as they move from the bending origins 35a, 36a toward the second connecting portion 34 (FIG. 7). The third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36 each have outer edge portions 35c, 36c that are farther away from the virtual line Li in the extension direction of the first connecting portion 33 as they move from the bending origins 35a, 36a toward the first connecting portion 33, and are farther away from the virtual line Li in the extension direction of the second connecting portion 34 as they move from the bending origins 35a, 36a toward the second connecting portion 34 (FIG. 7). Each of the inner edge portions 35b, 36b is formed in an arc shape having a center on the thin portion 32 side. Each of the outer edge portions 35c, 36c is formed in an arc shape having a center on the outer side opposite to the thin portion 32 side.

[0022] In this terminal protection cover 1, when the terminal cover part 12 is closed to the terminal accommodating part 11, the hinge 30 is bent around the bending starting points 35a, 36a of the third connecting part 35 and the fourth connecting part 36 in the thick part 31, respectively, and the terminal cover part 12 can be rotated around the axis of the rotation axis determined at one location. Therefore, in this terminal protection cover 1, by setting the bending starting points 35a, 36a (rotation axis) of the hinge 30 at a location suitable for the fitting trajectory of the first engaging part 21 and the second engaging part 22 of the holding mechanism 20, the first engaging part 21 and the second engaging part 22 can be fitted together without the first engaging part 21 hitting the terminal cover part 12 or the second engaging part 22 hitting the terminal accommodating part 11. Therefore, the terminal protection cover 1 of this embodiment has excellent workability when closing the terminal cover part 12, and makes it easy to close the terminal cover part 12 to the terminal accommodating part 11.

[0023] In addition, the terminal protection cover 1 of this embodiment does not develop a bending tendency at the rotation axis and bending starting point that are shifted from the desired position. Furthermore, the terminal protection cover 1 of this embodiment has a thick portion 31 that is thicker than the inside of the hinge 30 at the outer periphery, so that the deterioration of durability due to repeated bending and straightening of the hinge 30 can be suppressed.

[0024] Here, in the terminal protection cover 1 of this embodiment, both the inner edge portions 35b, 36b and the outer edge portions 35c, 36c are arc-shaped, but only the inner edge portions 35b, 36b may be arc-shaped and the outer edge portions 35c, 36c may be straight-lined along the opposing arrangement direction of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34, or only the outer edge portions 35c, 36c may be arc-shaped and the inner edge portions 35b, 36b may be straight-lined along the opposing arrangement direction of the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34.

[0025] In the terminal protective cover 1 of this embodiment, the bending origins 35a, 36a of the third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36 are provided in the center between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34. However, since the bending origins 35a, 36a need to be set at locations suitable for the fitting trajectory of the first engaging portion 21 and the second engaging portion 22 of the holding mechanism 20, they may be disposed between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 and closer to the first connecting portion 33 side, or may be disposed between the first connecting portion 33 and the second connecting portion 34 and closer to the second connecting portion 34 side.

[0026] Furthermore, in the terminal protection cover 1 of this embodiment, when the width of the hinge 30 (i.e., the distance in the opposing arrangement direction of the respective joint parts 11b, 12b) is made wide, a plurality of pairs of the bending origin 35a of the third connecting part 35 and the bending origin 36a of the fourth connecting part 36 may be provided in the opposing arrangement direction of the respective joint parts 11b, 12b. As a result, the terminal protection cover 1 can close the terminal cover part 12 while rotating the terminal cover part 12 by switching the rotation axis for each combination of the paired bending origins 35a, 36a.

[0027] For example, in the terminal protection cover 1, when two sets of paired combinations of bending origins 35a, 36a are provided in the third connecting portion 35 and the fourth connecting portion 36, when the terminal cover part 12 starts to be closed relative to the terminal accommodating portion 11, the hinge 30 is first bent about one combination of bending origins 35a, 36a, and the terminal cover part 12 can be rotated around an axis of rotation determined at one location according to the one bending origins 35a, 36a. Next, in the terminal protection cover 1, during the rotation of the terminal cover part 12, the bending origin switches to the other bending origins 35a, 36a, and the hinge 30 is bent about the other combination of bending origins 35a, 36a, and the terminal cover part 12 can be rotated around another axis of rotation determined at one location according to the other bending origins 35a, 36a. In this terminal protection cover 1, in the open position, the hinge 30 opens the terminal accommodating section 11 and the terminal cover section 12 by 180 degrees; for example, the hinge 30 can be bent 90 degrees around the combination of one bending starting point 35a, 36a, and then the hinge 30 can be bent 90 degrees around the combination of the other bending starting points 35a, 36a to close the terminal cover section 12 in the open position.

[0028] The terminal protection cover 1 shown here also protects electric wires (not shown) whose terminal fittings are connected to the terminals. Therefore, the terminal protection cover 1 has an electric wire housing portion 13 that houses the electric wires and exposes the electric wires from an opening, and an electric wire cover portion 14 that exposes the electric wires from the opening in the open position and closes the opening in the closed position. The terminal protection cover 1 also has a holding mechanism 15 that keeps the electric wire housing portion 13 and the electric wire cover portion 14 in the closed position, and a hinge 16 that rotates the electric wire cover portion 14 between the open position and the closed position with respect to the electric wire housing portion 13 (FIGS. 1 to 4). The hinge 16 may be shaped in the same manner as the hinge 30 exemplified above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1 Terminal protection cover 11 Terminal housing 11a opening 11b Joint 12 Terminal cover 12b Joint 20 Retention mechanism 21 First engagement portion 22 Second engagement portion 30 Hinge 31 Thick part 32 Thin section 33 1st connection part 34 2nd connection part 35 Third connection part 35a bending start point 35b Inner edge 35c Outer edge 36 4th connection part 36a Bend start point 36b Inner edge 36c Outer edge Li Virtual Line

Claims

1. a terminal accommodating portion that accommodates the terminal metal and exposes the terminal metal through an opening; a terminal cover portion that exposes the terminal fittings from the openings in an open position and closes the openings in a closed position; a holding mechanism for holding the terminal accommodating portion and the terminal cover portion in the closed position by fitting a second engaging portion of the terminal cover portion into a first engaging portion of the terminal accommodating portion at the closed position; a hinge that connects the connecting portions of the terminal accommodating portion and the terminal cover portion, the connecting portions being disposed opposite each other with a gap therebetween and extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the terminal accommodating portion and the terminal cover portion are disposed opposite each other, and that rotates the terminal cover portion between the open position and the closed position relative to the terminal accommodating portion; having the hinge is a living hinge that can be bent around a rotation axis along the orthogonal direction, and has a thick portion on an annular outer circumferential edge and a thin portion formed inside the thick portion and thinner than the thick portion, the thick portion has a first connecting portion connected to the connecting portion of the terminal accommodating portion, a second connecting portion connected to the connecting portion of the terminal cover portion, a third connecting portion connecting one ends of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in the extension direction and having a section modulus that changes between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and a fourth connecting portion connecting the other ends of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion in the extension direction and having a section modulus that changes between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, A terminal protection cover characterized in that the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion each have a low-rigidity portion between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, the low-rigidity portion being the bending starting point when the hinge is bent.

2. The thick portion has a uniform thickness around the entire periphery in a direction perpendicular to the opposing arrangement direction and the extending direction of each of the connecting portions, The terminal protection cover of claim 1, characterized in that the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion each have a narrow portion between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion that has the narrowest width in the extension direction as the low rigidity portion, and the narrow portion is used as the bending starting point.

3. 3. The terminal protection cover of claim 2, wherein the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion each have an inner edge portion on the thin-walled portion that is further away from a virtual line along the opposing arrangement direction in the extension direction from the bend starting point toward the first connecting portion and that is further away from the virtual line in the extension direction from the bend starting point toward the second connecting portion, and an outer edge portion that is further away from the virtual line in the extension direction from the bend starting point toward the first connecting portion and that is further away from the virtual line in the extension direction from the bend starting point toward the second connecting portion.

4. The inner edge portion of each of the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion is formed in an arc shape having a center on the thin-walled portion side, The terminal protection cover according to claim 3 , wherein the outer edge portions of the third connecting portion and the fourth connecting portion are formed in an arc shape having a center on the outer side opposite the thin-walled portion.

5. 5. The terminal protection cover according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pairs of the bending start points of the third connecting portion and the bending start points of the fourth connecting portion are provided in the opposing arrangement direction.

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