Lock structure

Abstract

To provide a lock structure capable of regulating erroneous insertion of a male lock into a clearance.SOLUTION: A lock structure includes a male lock 11 which is formed in a first structure body 10, a female lock 21 which is formed in a second structure body 20 and into which the male lock can be inserted, a clearance which is formed adjacently to the female lock in the second structure body and allows deflection occurring in the female lock during insertion of the male lock into the female lock, and a regulating portion 23 which is formed in the second structure body and regulates insertion of the male lock into the clearance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a locking structure for locking a cover of a protector to a protector main body. This locking structure includes a male locking portion having a locking piece extending from the cover and standing upright and an engaging protrusion protruding in the plate thickness direction of the locking piece, and a female locking portion formed on a side wall of the protector main body and having an engaging portion that guides the locking piece and locks the engaging protrusion. The side wall has a notch formed in a part of the side wall to allow displacement of the locking piece due to elastic deformation of the locking piece.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a locking structure such as a protector, when the female locking portion and the fixed shape of the vehicle are adjacent to each other, a clearance portion that allows the deflection of the female locking portion generated when the male locking portion is inserted may be formed adjacent to the female locking portion. In such a configuration, there is a possibility that the male locking portion may be erroneously inserted into the clearance portion.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a locking structure capable of regulating the erroneous insertion of the male lock into the clearance portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The locking structure of the present invention includes a male locking portion formed on a first structure, a female locking portion formed on a second structure into which the male locking portion can be inserted, a clearance portion formed adjacent to the female locking portion in the second structure and allowing deflection of the female locking portion when the male locking portion is inserted into the female locking portion, and a restricting portion formed on the second structure for restricting insertion of the male locking portion into the clearance portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] The locking structure according to the present invention has an effect of being able to restrict incorrect insertion of the male lock into the clearance portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

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Figure 10

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the lock structure according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. Further, the components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. This embodiment relates to a lock structure. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the lock structure according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the female lock portion in the lock structure according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the first direction of the lock structure according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the first direction of the lock structure according to the embodiment.

[0011] The lock structure 100 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a protector constituting a wire harness. As shown in FIG. 1, the lock structure 100 according to the embodiment includes a male lock portion 11, a female lock portion 21, a clearance portion 22, and a restricting portion 23. In the embodiment, the male lock portion 11 is formed on the first structure 10 which is a lid member of the protector. Further, the female lock portion 21, the clearance portion 22, and the restricting portion 23 are formed on the second structure 20 which is a base member of the protector. The lock structure 100 according to the embodiment is a structure for locking a lid member assembled to a base member to the base member. That is, the lock structure 100 is a structure in which the first structure 10 (lid member) is locked to the second structure 20 (base member) by the engagement of the male lock portion 11 and the female lock portion 21. Here, the base member is a constituent member constituting the protector and forms an accommodation space for accommodating a wiring material or the like. Further, the lid member is assembled to the base member and covers the wiring material or the like placed in the accommodation space of the base member.

[0012] Here, the protector is incorporated into the wire harness routed in a vehicle or the like, and is attached, for example, under the floor of the vehicle (e.g., around the lower side of the console box). Also, the wire harness is, for example, a collective component formed by bundling a plurality of wiring materials used for power supply and signal communication for connecting between devices mounted on the vehicle, and the plurality of wiring materials are connected to each device with connectors or the like. As the wiring materials, for example, metal bars, electric wires, wire bundles, etc. can be used. The metal bar is one in which the outside of a rod-shaped member having conductivity is covered by a covering portion having insulation.

[0013] In the following description, among the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction that intersect each other, the first direction is referred to as the "first width direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "height direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "second width direction Z". Here, the first width direction X, the height direction Y, and the second width direction Z are mutually orthogonal. In the embodiment, the first width direction X is a direction along the direction in which the female lock portion 21 and the clearance portion 22 are adjacent. Also, the height direction Y is a direction along the insertion direction of the male lock portion 11 into the female lock portion 21. Also, the second width direction Z is a direction along the width direction of the female lock portion 21 and the clearance portion 22. Also, each direction used in the following description is, unless otherwise specified, the direction in the state where the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are assembled, that is, the direction in the state where the male lock portion 11 is inserted into the female lock portion 21 and the male lock portion 11 and the female lock portion 21 are engaged.

[0014] Also, in the height direction Y, the upper side corresponds to the side where the first structure 10 is located with respect to the second structure 20 in the state where the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are assembled. Also, in the height direction Y, the lower side corresponds to the side where the second structure 20 is located with respect to the first structure 10 in the state where the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are assembled.

[0015] The male locking portion 11 is formed on the outer wall of the first structure 10 and extends downward in the height direction Y. The male locking portion 11 includes an arm portion 11a and a locking projection 11b. The arm portion 11a extends downward from the outer wall of the first structure 10 in the height direction Y and is a plate-like portion that spreads along the height direction Y and the second width direction Z. The locking projection 11b is formed at the lower end of the arm portion 11a and protrudes in the direction from the female locking portion 21 toward the clearance portion 22.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the female locking portion 21 is formed as an opening in the second structure 20. The female locking portion 21 is formed so that the male locking portion 11 can be inserted. In the embodiment, when viewed from above, the female locking portion 21 is formed as a substantially rectangular opening having the second width direction Z as the short side direction and the second width direction Z as the long side direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the insertion port 21a of the male locking portion 11 in the female locking portion 21 has a tapered shape in which the opening width in the first width direction X decreases from the upper side to the lower side in the height direction Y. That is, the insertion port 21a of the female locking portion 21 has an attracting tapered shape that guides the male locking portion 11 from the outer wall portion of the female locking portion 21 toward the central opening when the male locking portion 11 is inserted.

[0017] The clearance portion 22 is a portion that allows the deflection that occurs in the female locking portion 21 when the male locking portion 11 is inserted into the female locking portion 21. The clearance portion 22 is formed as an opening in the second structure 20 and is formed adjacent to the female locking portion 21 in the second structure 20. In the embodiment, the shape of the clearance portion 22 when viewed from the upper side in the height direction Y is substantially the same as the shape of the female locking portion 21 when viewed from the upper side in the height direction Y. When the male locking portion 11 is inserted into the female locking portion 21, the clearance portion 22 allows the deflection that occurs in the female locking portion 21 by the wall portion separating the opening of the female locking portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 deflecting toward the clearance portion 22 side.

[0018] The restricting part 23 is a part that restricts the insertion of the male locking part 11 into the clearance part 22. In the embodiment, the clearance part 22 has an open end part 22a adjacent to the insertion port 21a of the female locking part 21, and the restricting part 23 is formed so as to block the open end part of the clearance part 22.

[0019] The restricting part 23 of the embodiment is a strip-shaped member extending along the first width direction X. The restricting part 23 of the embodiment is partially formed so as to block the central part of the open end part 22a of the clearance part 22. That is, the restricting part 23 is formed so as to cross the central part of the clearance part 22 in the second width direction Z along the first width direction X.

[0020] In the embodiment, the restricting part 23 includes a first straight part 23a, a second straight part 23b, and a bent part 23c. The first straight part 23a is a plate-shaped part extending from the wall part on the female locking part 21 side in the clearance part 22 in the first width direction X. The first straight part 23a extends from the upper end part of the wall part on the female locking part 21 side in the clearance part 22. Also, the second straight part 23b is a plate-shaped part extending from the wall part on the side opposite to the female locking part 21 side in the clearance part 22 in the first width direction X. In the embodiment, the upper end of the wall part on the side opposite to the female locking part 21 side in the clearance part 22 is located above the upper end part of the wall part on the female locking part 21 side in the clearance part 22, and the second straight part 23b extends from the wall surface of the wall part on the side opposite to the female locking part 21 side in the clearance part 22. The bent part 23c is a bent part provided between the first straight part 23a and the second straight part 23b.

[0021] Here, the bent portion 23c is formed so as to bend when the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 bends toward the clearance portion 22 side, thereby reducing the stress applied to the restricting portion 23. That is, in the restricting portion 23, the bent portion 23c is a portion for coping with the shape change of the clearance portion 22 that occurs when the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 bends toward the clearance portion 22 side.

[0022] The restricting portion 23 of the embodiment is formed as a belt-like portion bent at the bent portion 23c so as to be convex upward. That is, the restricting portion 23 is formed in an inverted V shape having the bent portion 23c as the top when viewed from the second width direction Z.

[0023] The restricting portion 23 has an inclined surface 23s inclined toward the insertion port 21a of the female lock portion 21. In the embodiment, the upper surface of the first straight portion 23a serves as the inclined surface 23s. In the embodiment, the inclined surface 23s and the insertion port 21a form a continuous inclined surface. As shown in FIG. 4, when the male lock portion 11 is to be inserted into the clearance portion 22, the restricting portion 23 abuts on the male lock portion 11 to restrict the insertion of the male lock portion 11 into the clearance portion 22. In this state, when the male lock portion 11 is further moved downward, the male lock portion 11 is guided to the opening of the female lock portion 21 by the inclined surface 23s as indicated by the arrow Y1.

[0024] In the embodiment, the length of the first straight portion 23a in the first width direction X is set to be longer than the length of the second straight portion 23b in the first width direction X. For example, the length of the second straight portion 23b in the first width direction X is set to a length such that the tip of the male lock portion 11 hardly enters between the wall portion on the side opposite to the female lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22 and the bent portion 23c. For example, by making the length of the first straight portion 23a in the first width direction X longer than the length of the second straight portion 23b in the first width direction X, the function of guiding the male lock portion 11 to the female lock portion 21 can be improved.

[0025] In an embodiment, the locking projection 11b of the male lock portion 11 has a substantially triangular cross-section in the first width direction X. The locking projection 11b projects toward the clearance portion 22 side in the first width direction X from the lower side toward the upper side. An inclined surface 11ba is formed on the lower side of the locking projection 11b, and a locking surface 11bb is formed on the upper side of the locking projection 11b. Further, the female lock portion 21 has a locked surface 21b that is locked to the locking surface 11bb of the male lock portion 11 at the lower end of the wall portion that separates the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22. In the male lock portion 11, the length of the locking projection 11b in the first width direction X is set to be slightly longer than the length of the female lock portion 21 in the first width direction X, and the length of the arm portion 11a in the first width direction X is formed to be slightly shorter than the length of the female lock portion 21 in the first width direction X.

[0026] The male lock portion 11 is inserted so as to widen the opening of the female lock portion 21 in the first width direction X by the locking projection 11b. The lower end surface (locked surface 21b) of the wall portion that separates the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 is formed to be located at a position above the locking surface 11bb at the insertion completion position of the male lock portion 11, and comes into contact with the locking surface 11bb when the male lock portion 11 reaches the insertion completion position. Here, the "insertion completion position" of the male lock portion 11 refers to the position of the male lock portion 11 when the male lock portion 11 and the female lock portion 21 are engaged. In the height direction Y, when the locking projection 11b passes through the wall portion that separates the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 and the male lock portion 11 reaches the insertion completion position, the deflection of the female lock portion 21 is eliminated, and the locking surface 11bb and the locked surface 21b come into contact with each other. With such a configuration, when the male lock portion 11 and the female lock portion 21 are engaged, the first structure 10 is locked to the second structure 20.

[0027] As described above, the locking structure 100 according to the embodiment includes a male locking portion 11 formed on the first structure 10, a female locking portion 21 formed on the second structure 20 into which the male locking portion 11 can be inserted, a clearance portion 22 formed adjacent to the female locking portion 21 in the second structure 20 and allowing the deflection generated in the female locking portion 21 when the male locking portion 11 is inserted into the female locking portion 21, and a restricting portion 23 formed on the second structure 20 and restricting the insertion of the male locking portion 11 into the clearance portion 22.

[0028] In the locking structure 100 according to the embodiment, when the first structure 10 and the second structure 20 are assembled, the restricting portion 23 can restrict the misinsertion of the male locking portion 11 into the clearance portion 22. With this configuration, for example, it becomes possible to smoothly perform the assembly work of the first structure 10 and the second structure 20.

[0029] Further, in the locking structure 100 according to the embodiment, the clearance portion 22 has an open end portion 22a adjacent to the insertion port 21a of the male locking portion 11 in the female locking portion 21, and the restricting portion 23 is formed so as to block the open end portion 22a and has an inclined surface 23s inclined toward the insertion port 21a.

[0030] In the locking structure 100 according to the embodiment, since the restricting portion 23 has an inclined surface 23s inclined toward the insertion port 21a of the female locking portion 21, when the male locking portion 11 abuts against the inclined surface 23s, the male locking portion 11 can be guided to the insertion port 21a of the female locking portion 21. With this configuration, for example, the insertion of the male locking portion 11 into the female locking portion 21 becomes easy.

[0031] Further, in the locking structure 100 according to the embodiment, the clearance portion 22 has an open end portion 22a adjacent to the insertion port 21a of the male locking portion 11 in the female locking portion 21, and the restricting portion 23 is partially formed so as to block the central portion of the open end portion 22a.

[0032] In the lock structure 100 according to the embodiment, since the restricting portion 23 is partially formed so as to block the central portion of the open end portion 22a, for example, compared with the case where the restricting portion 23 is formed so as to block the entire open end portion 22a, while maintaining well the function of allowing the deflection of the female lock portion 21 by the clearance portion 22, the restricting portion 23 can restrict the misinsertion of the male lock portion 11 into the clearance portion 22.

[0033] [First Modification Example] Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a first modification example of the embodiment will be described. The first modification example of the embodiment relates to a lock structure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a female lock portion in the lock structure according to the first modification example of the embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the first direction of the lock structure according to the first modification example of the embodiment.

[0034] In the lock structure 100 according to the first modification example, the difference from the lock structure 100 according to the above-described embodiment is that the restricting portion 23 is formed in a cantilever shape. Other configurations of the lock structure 100 according to the first modification example are the same as those of the lock structure 100 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0035] In the first modification example, as shown in FIG. 5, the restricting portion 23 projects from the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 so as to block the open end portion 22a of the clearance portion 22. An inclined surface 23s is formed on the upper surface of the restricting portion 23, and the inclined surface 23s and the insertion port 21a of the female lock portion 21 form a continuous inclined surface.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 6, the restricting portion 23 of the first modification example has a thickness in the height direction Y that increases as it goes toward the side opposite to the female lock portion 21 side, and is formed in a triangular prism shape with a substantially triangular cross-section in the first width direction X. For example, in the first width direction X, the length between the wall portion on the side opposite to the male lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22 and the restricting portion 23 is set to a length that can restrict the insertion of the male lock portion 11 into the clearance portion 22 by the restricting portion 23. For example, in the first width direction X, the length between the wall portion on the side opposite to the male lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22 and the restricting portion 23 is set to be shorter than the length of the locking projection 11b in the first width direction X.

[0037] In the locking structure 100 according to the first modification example, by forming the restricting portion 23 in a cantilever shape, it is possible to suppress the restricting portion 23 from interfering with the shape change of the clearance portion 22 when allowing the deflection of the female lock portion 21 in the clearance portion 22. Therefore, while maintaining the function of allowing the deflection of the female lock portion 21 in the clearance portion 22 well, the restricting portion 23 can restrict the misinsertion of the male lock portion 11 into the clearance portion 22. Further, by forming the restricting portion 23 in a triangular prism shape, for example, the rigidity of the restricting portion 23 can be increased as compared with the case where the restricting portion 23 is in a plate shape. With this configuration, for example, when the locking projection 11b abuts against the restricting portion 23, the free end side of the restricting portion 23 deflects downward, and it is possible to suppress the locking projection 11b from fitting between the wall portion on the side opposite to the female lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22 and the free end of the restricting portion 23. Further, by forming the restricting portion 23 in a triangular prism shape, the strength of the restricting portion 23 can be improved.

[0038] [Second Modification Example] Next, with reference to Figs. 7 and 8, a second modification example of the embodiment will be described. The second modification example of the embodiment relates to a locking structure. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the female lock portion in the locking structure according to the second modification example of the embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the first direction of the locking structure according to the second modification example of the embodiment.

[0039] In the locking structure 100 according to the second modification, the difference from the locking structure 100 according to the above-described embodiment is that the plate-shaped restricting portion 23 is formed in a cantilever shape. Other configurations of the locking structure 100 according to the second modification are the same as those of the locking structure 100 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0040] In the second modification, as shown in FIG. 7, the restricting portion 23 protrudes from the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 so as to block the open end portion 22a of the clearance portion 22. The restricting portion 23 protrudes from the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22, with the free end side inclined upward. An inclined surface 23s is formed on the upper surface of the restricting portion 23, and the inclined surface 23s and the insertion port 21a of the female lock portion 21 form a continuous inclined surface.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 8, the restricting portion 23 is formed with a gap between the wall portion on the side of the clearance portion 22 opposite to the male lock portion 21 side and the free end of the restricting portion 23. The gap is set to such an interval that, for example, when the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 bends when the male lock portion 11 is inserted, the restricting portion 23 does not contact the wall portion on the side of the clearance portion 22 opposite to the male lock portion 21 side. Further, the gap is set to such an interval that, for example, the male lock portion 11 cannot pass between the wall portion on the side of the clearance portion 22 opposite to the male lock portion 21 side and the restricting portion 23.

[0042] In the locking structure 100 according to the second modification, by forming the restricting portion 23 in a cantilever shape, it is possible to suppress the restricting portion 23 from interfering with the shape change of the clearance portion 22 when allowing the deflection of the female lock portion 21 in the clearance portion 22. Therefore, while maintaining well the function of allowing the deflection of the female lock portion 21 in the clearance portion 22, the restricting portion 23 can regulate the misinsertion of the male lock portion 11 into the clearance portion 22.

[0043] [Third Modification] Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a third modification of the embodiment will be described. The third modification of the embodiment relates to a lock structure. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a female lock portion in the lock structure according to the third modification of the embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section along the first direction of the lock structure according to the third modification of the embodiment.

[0044] In the lock structure 100 according to the third modification, the difference from the lock structure 100 according to the above-described embodiment is that the first straight portion 23a of the restricting portion 23 extends from the upper end of the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22, and the second straight portion 23b of the restricting portion 23 extends from the upper end of the wall portion on the side opposite to the female lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, in the height direction Y, the position of the upper end portion of the female lock portion 21 and the position of the upper end portion of the clearance portion 22 are provided at substantially the same position, and the upper end portion of the female lock portion 21 and the upper end portion of the clearance portion 22 are inclined downward from one side to the other side in the second width direction Z, which is also different. Other configurations of the lock structure 100 according to the third modification are the same as those of the lock structure 100 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0045] In the third modification, as shown in FIG. 9, the restricting portion 23 is formed so as to connect the upper end of the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 and the upper end of the wall portion on the side opposite to the female lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22. As shown in FIG. 10, the first straight portion 23a is inclined upward in the height direction Y and extends from the upper end of the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22, and has an inclined surface 23s on the upper surface. The second straight portion 23b extends upward along the height direction Y from the upper end of the wall portion on the side opposite to the female lock portion 21 side in the clearance portion 22. The bent portion 23c is a bent portion provided between the first straight portion 23a and the second straight portion 23b, and is formed to bend when the wall portion separating the opening of the female lock portion 21 and the opening of the clearance portion 22 is bent toward the clearance portion 22 side, so as to reduce the stress applied to the restricting portion 23.

[0046] In the locking structure 100 according to the third modification example, by forming the first straight portion 23a to be inclined and forming the second straight portion 23b along the height direction, the function of guiding the male locking portion 11 that has come into contact with the restricting portion 23 to the female locking portion 21 can be improved.

[0047] In addition, in the above-described embodiments and each modification example, although the locking structure 100 has been described as being applied to a protector, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the locking structure 100 can also be applied to a housing of an electrical connection box or the like. Here, the electrical connection box is a box that houses a circuit board or the like on which electronic components such as relays and fuses are mounted inside the housing, and is a so-called relay box, junction box, or the like.

[0048] The contents disclosed in the above-described embodiments and each modification example can be executed in appropriate combination.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 10: First structure 11: Male locking portion 11a: Arm portion 11b: Locking projection 11ba: Inclined surface 11bb: Locking surface 20: Second structure 21: Female locking portion 21a: Insertion port 21b: Surface to be locked 22: Clearance portion 22a: Open end 23: Restricting portion 23a: First straight portion 23b: Second straight portion 23c: Bent portion

Claims

1. A male locking portion formed on the first structure, A female locking portion formed on the second structure and into which the male locking portion can be inserted, A clearance portion formed adjacent to the female locking portion in the second structure and allowing deflection generated in the female locking portion when the male locking portion is inserted into the female locking portion, A restricting portion formed on the second structure and restricting insertion of the male locking portion into the clearance portion, A locking structure comprising the above.

2. The clearance portion has an open end adjacent to an insertion opening of the male locking portion in the female locking portion, The restricting portion is formed so as to close the open end and has an inclined surface inclined toward the insertion opening, The locking structure according to Claim 1.

3. The clearance portion has an open end adjacent to an insertion opening of the male locking portion in the female locking portion, The restricting portion is partially formed so as to close a central portion of the open end, The locking structure according to Claim 1 or 2.

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