Engagement device

Abstract

To provide an engagement device which achieves good attachment workability.SOLUTION: An engagement device 1 includes: a hole part 5 provided at one component 2; and an insertion part 6 provided at an other component 3. The insertion part 6 has: a main part 11 extending in a predetermined first direction; and a plurality of elastic holding parts 12 which protrude from the main part 11 in a predetermined second direction intersecting with the first direction and hold an insertion state of the insertion part 6 into the hole part 5. The hole part 5 has: a hole part main part 31 which may receive the main part 11 in the first direction; and a plurality of holding hole parts 32 which are connected to the hole part main part 31 in a predetermined third direction and may receive the holding parts 12 in the first direction. Insertion assisting shapes 24, 34 are respectively set in the holding parts 12 and the holding hole parts 32. At least one of the insertion assisting shapes 24, 34 is a protruding part, and the insertion assisting shapes contact with each other to deform the holding parts 12 elastically so as to guide the holding parts in the third direction as the main part 11 is inserted into the hole part main part 31.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for locking one part to another part. [Background technology]

[0002] A locking device has been known in the past that locks one component to another by inserting an insertion portion protruding from one component into an opening in the other component and locking and holding the insertion portion. In this locking device, a plurality of guide shapes protrude from the insertion portion, and as the insertion portion is inserted into the opening, these guide shapes come into sliding contact with protrusions formed on the edge of the opening, causing the insertion portion to pass through the opening while twisting in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the insertion direction, and then to return to its original shape, thereby locking the insertion portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-115707 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the case of the above-described configuration, the entire surface of the guide shape is in sliding contact with the protrusion, which increases frictional resistance and may hinder smooth installation work.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to provide a locking device that is easy to install. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A locking device according to one aspect of the present invention is a locking device for locking one part to another part, comprising a hole portion provided in the one part and an insertion portion provided in the other part, wherein the insertion portion has a main body portion extending in a predetermined first direction and a plurality of elastic retaining portions that protrude from the main body portion in a predetermined second direction that intersects the first direction and maintain the insertion portion inserted into the hole portion, and the hole portion has a hole main body portion that can receive the main body portion in the first direction and a plurality of retaining hole portions that are connected to the hole main body portion in a predetermined third direction and can receive the retaining portion in the first direction, and the retaining portion and the retaining hole portions each have an insertion assist shape, at least one of the insertion assist shapes is a convex portion that abuts against each other as the main body part is inserted into the hole main body portion, thereby elastically deforming to guide the retaining portion in the third direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the installation workability is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1A shows a locking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a state in which one part is not assembled to another part, FIG. 1B is a front view showing the same in the not assembled state, and FIG. 1C is a side view showing the same in the not assembled state. [Figure 2] 10A to 10C are cross-sectional views showing the steps of inserting an insertion portion of another component of the same locking device into a hole of one component to lock it in order. [Figure 3] 1A is a front view showing an assembled state of one part and another part of the same locking device, and FIG. 1B is a side view thereof. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B show a locking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view showing an assembled state of one part and another part of the locking device, and (b) is a side view thereof. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B show a locking device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view showing an assembled state of one part of the locking device with another part, and (b) is a side view thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In Figures 3(a) and 3(b), 1 denotes a locking device. The locking device 1 locks a first component 2 and another component 3. The first component 2 and the other component 3 may be any components, but for example, the first component 2 and the other component 3 may be locked by the locking device 1 to form at least a part of a vehicle component, such as a vehicle exterior material, such as a cowl cover. In this case, the first component 2 is, for example, a cowl cover main body, and the other component 3 is, for example, a vertical wall body that is an attachment component for preventing foreign objects or snow. The first component 2 and the other component 3 may be separate components, or may be connected to each other via a connecting portion, such as a hinge portion, in a portion other than the locking device 1.

[0011] The locking device 1 comprises a hole 5 formed in one component 2 and an insertion portion 6 formed in another component 3. The insertion portion 6 is inserted into the hole 5 to maintain the assembled state of the one component 2 and the other component 3. The number of hole portions 5 and the number of insertion portions 6 are the same, and for example, a plurality of each is formed.

[0012] 1(b), 1(c), 3(a), and 3(b), the insertion portion 6 integrally includes a main body portion 11 that protrudes from another component main body portion 10, and a plurality of holding portions 12 that protrude from the main body portion 11. At least the holding portions 12 of the insertion portion 6 are formed from an elastic material such as rubber, but in this embodiment, for example, the entire insertion portion 6, together with the other component main body portion 10, is formed from an elastic material.

[0013] The other component body 10 may have any shape, but for example, the portion connected to the insertion portion 6 (body 11) is flat.

[0014] The main body portion 11 protrudes linearly relative to the other component main bodies 10 in a predetermined first direction (indicated by arrow D1), which is the thickness direction of the other component main bodies 10. The first direction corresponds to the insertion direction in which the insertion portion 6 is inserted into the hole 5 when the locking device 1 locks the component. The main body portion 11 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section. In the illustrated example, the main body portion 11 coaxially includes a first main body portion 15 forming a base end connected to the other component main bodies 10, a second main body portion 16 connected to the tip end of the first main body portion 15, and a third main body portion 17 connected to the tip end of the second main body portion 16. The first main body portion 15 is located inside the hole 5 and has a length slightly greater than the thickness of the first component 2. The second main body portion 16 is formed with a larger diameter than the first main body portion 15. For example, the second body portion 16 is formed in a truncated cone shape or a truncated cone shape, with the base end side projecting in a step relative to the first body portion 15 and the diameter gradually decreasing toward the tip end, i.e., the third body portion 17. The third body portion 17 has a diameter dimension that is equal to or approximately equal to that of the first body portion 15. The third body portion 17 extends from the tip end of the second body portion 16 longer than the first body portion 15 and the second body portion 16, and occupies more than half the length of the main body portion 11.

[0015] The retaining portion 12 is a wide portion that radially protrudes from the main body portion 11 in a predetermined second direction (indicated by arrow D2) that intersects or is perpendicular to the first direction. The retaining portion 12 is formed in a continuous manner from a position farther from the base end of the main body portion 11 toward the tip end, i.e., from the position of the second main body portion 16 in the illustrated example, to the tip end of the main body portion 11, i.e., the tip end of the third main body portion 17. That is, the retaining portion 12 extends in the first direction. The retaining portion 12 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness smaller than the diameter dimension of the main body portion 11. That is, the retaining portion 12 has one surface 20 that is one main surface in the thickness direction and another surface 21 that is the other main surface in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, the surfaces 20 and 21 are formed in a linear, planar shape that does not bend or curve in the first direction. The surfaces 20 and 21 are continuous between both ends of the retaining portion 12 in the first direction.

[0016] Furthermore, the length of the retaining portion 12 protruding from the main body portion 11 in the second direction is equal to or less than the diameter of the main body portion 11. In this embodiment, a pair of retaining portions 12 is provided on the main body portion 11. In the illustrated example, the retaining portions 12 are formed on opposite sides of the main body portion 11, i.e., on one side in the second direction and the other side in the second direction. These retaining portions 12 are positioned offset from each other with respect to an imaginary plane that passes through the central axis of the main body portion 11 and extends in the first and second directions. In the illustrated example, one surface 20 of one retaining portion 12 and the other surface 21 of the other retaining portion 12 are positioned on the same imaginary plane PL. This imaginary plane PL is set as a parting line (mating surface) between a cavity and a core in a mold for injection molding the other part 3. That is, in this embodiment, the parting line between the cavity and the core of the mold is planar and extends along the first direction.

[0017] 1(b), the holding portion 12 is inclined at the tip of the insertion portion 6, which is the end portion in the first direction, so that the amount of protrusion from the main body portion 11 gradually decreases toward the first direction, i.e., toward the tip of the insertion portion 6. Therefore, the insertion portion 6 has a tapered shape at the tip.

[0018] The holding portion 12 has an insertion assist shape 24 that assists in inserting the insertion portion 6 into the hole portion 5. In this embodiment, the insertion assist shape 24 is a convex portion. The insertion assist shape 24 protrudes from the surfaces 20, 21 in a thickness direction of the holding portion 12 that intersects or is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The insertion assist shape 24 is formed so that its width in the second direction is narrower than that of the surfaces 20, 21. The insertion assist shape 24 is located away from the main body portion 11 in the second direction and closer to the tip end of the holding portion 12 in the second direction. As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(c), the amount of protrusion of the insertion assist shape 24 from the surfaces 20, 21 is set to be smaller than, for example, the thickness of the general portion of the holding portion 12.

[0019] In the illustrated example, the insertion assist shapes 24 protrude in opposite directions. For example, the insertion assist shapes 24 are formed on one surface 20 of one holding portion 12 and one surface 20 of the other holding portion 12. Therefore, the one insertion assist shape 24 and the other insertion assist shape 24 are positioned point-symmetrically or approximately point-symmetrically with respect to each other with respect to the central axis of the main body 11.

[0020] Furthermore, the insertion assist shape 24 is formed linearly along the first direction in the holding portion 12. In this embodiment, the insertion assist shape 24 is formed as a continuous linear shape extending across both ends of the holding portion 12. The insertion assist shape 24 has a constant or approximately constant width in the second direction throughout its entirety.

[0021] 1(a), 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c), in this embodiment, the hole 5 that receives the insertion portion 6 is an opening formed by penetrating one component main body 30. The hole 5 has a hole main body 31 and a plurality of holding holes 32 formed in communication with the hole main body 31.

[0022] The one component main body 30 may have any shape, but for example, the portion where the hole 5 is formed is flat and has a thickness in the first direction, and is stacked in the first direction with the other component main body 10 while the one component 2 and the other component 3 are locked together by the locking device 1.

[0023] Hole main body 31 is formed so as to be able to receive main body 11 of insertion portion 6 in the first direction. In other words, hole main body 31 is formed in a shape larger than the outer shape of main body 11 of insertion portion 6, allowing main body 11 of insertion portion 6 to pass through in the first direction. In this embodiment, hole main body 31 is formed as a circular hole.

[0024] The retaining hole 32 is formed to be able to receive the retaining portion 12, including the insertion assist shape 24, of the insertion portion 6 in the first direction. In other words, the retaining hole 32 is formed to be larger than the outer shape of the retaining portion 12 of the insertion portion 6, allowing the retaining portion 12 of the insertion portion 6 to pass through in the first direction. The retaining hole 32 is a notch formed in communication with the outer edge of the hole main body 31. The retaining hole 32 is formed to extend in a predetermined third direction (indicated by arrow D3) relative to the hole main body 31. The third direction is a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the first direction, which is the insertion direction of the insertion portion 6 into the hole 5, and is a direction different from the second direction in the assembled state of the locking device 1. Preferably, the third direction is inclined at an angle of less than 90°, more preferably less than 45°, relative to the second direction. In this embodiment, the retaining hole 32 is formed as a rectangular hole that is elongated in the third direction.

[0025] The retaining hole 32 has an insertion assist shape 34 that cooperates with the insertion assist shape 24 of the insertion portion 6 to assist the insertion of the insertion portion 6 into the hole 5. In this embodiment, the insertion assist shape 34 is a guide shape in the form of a slope (slope surface). The insertion assist shape 34 is a slope that protrudes inward from an edge that forms one of the long sides of the retaining hole 32. In other words, the insertion assist shape 34 is formed to gradually protrude inward of the retaining hole 32 toward the insertion direction, i.e., in a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the third direction.

[0026] In the illustrated example, the insertion assist shapes 34 are located on opposite sides of the hole main body 31. For example, one insertion assist shape 34 is formed on an edge portion forming one long side of one retaining hole 32, and the other insertion assist shape 34 is formed on an edge portion forming the other long side of the other retaining hole 32. Therefore, the one insertion assist shape 34 and the other insertion assist shape 34 are located in point-symmetric or approximately point-symmetric positions with respect to each other with respect to the central axis of the hole main body 31.

[0027] Then, as shown in Figure 2(a), the locking device 1 aligns the main body 11 of the insertion portion 6 with the hole main body 31 of the hole 5, and inserts the insertion portion 6 into the hole 5 by pushing one part 2 into the other part 3 in a first direction (towards the paper surface).

[0028] As main body 11 of insertion portion 6 is inserted into hole main body 31 in the first direction, insertion assist shape 24 formed on retaining portion 12 and insertion assist shape 34 formed on retaining hole 32 come into contact in the first direction. When main body 11 is further inserted into hole main body 31, insertion assist shape 24 comes into sliding contact with insertion assist shape 34, generating frictional resistance, and as shown in Figure 2(b), insertion assist shape 24 is guided inward into retaining hole 32 along the slope of insertion assist shape 34, causing insertion portion 6 to elastically deform and twist so that retaining portion 12 gradually aligns with the third direction, the same as retaining hole 32, and when retaining portion 12 slopes in approximately the same direction as retaining hole 32, retaining portion 12 passes through retaining hole 32 in the first direction. After passing through the retaining hole portion 32, the retaining portion 12 undergoes a return deformation as shown in Figure 2(c), thereby eliminating the twist in the insertion portion 6 and extending in a second direction that is different from the direction of the retaining hole portion 32, so that the retaining portion 12 catches on the back side of one of the component main body portions 30 and maintains the inserted state of the insertion portion 6 in the hole portion 5.

[0029] In this way, at least one of the insertion assist shapes 24 formed in the retaining portion 12 and the insertion assist shapes 34 formed in the retaining hole 32 is made convex, and the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 come into contact with each other as the main body 11 is inserted into the hole main body 32, thereby elastically deforming the retaining portion 12 to guide it in the third direction. This reduces the contact area of the insertion assist shapes 24, 34, and reduces frictional resistance between the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 during installation compared to when the retaining portion 12 is in contact entirely with the retaining hole 32. This allows the insertion portion 6 to be smoothly inserted into the hole 5, improving the ease of installation of the first component 2 and the second component 3 in the locking device 1.

[0030] In this embodiment, the insertion assist shape 24 formed in the holding portion 12 is a convex portion, and the insertion assist shape 34 formed in the holding hole portion 32 is a guide shape that slopes inward from the edge, making it less likely that an inclined portion will be formed in the holding portion 12, simplifying the parting line of the molding die that forms the holding portion 12, and suppressing the occurrence of burrs due to slight misalignment of the molding die.

[0031] In particular, by having at least a portion of the retaining portion 12 have surfaces 20, 21 that are planar in the first direction and extend to both ends in the first direction, in the molding die that forms the retaining portion 12, the thickness direction of the retaining portion 12, i.e., the normal direction of surfaces 20, 21, can be set in the same direction as the demolding direction in which the molding die is released, so that the parting line of the molding die can be set in a position that is not affected by the insertion assist shape 24 that protrudes from surfaces 20, 21 in the thickness direction of the retaining portion 12, and in a planar shape that is less likely to produce burrs, thereby reducing the occurrence of molding defects in the retaining portion 12 (other parts 3).

[0032] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the same components and functions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0033] The insertion assist shape 24 in this embodiment is formed in a planar shape (slope) that is inclined with respect to the first direction. In this example, the insertion assist shape 24 is inclined so that the amount of protrusion from the surfaces 20, 21 of the holding part 12 gradually decreases toward the first direction, i.e., toward the tip end of the insertion part 6.

[0034] Even with this configuration, the contact area of the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 is small, and the frictional resistance between the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 during installation can be reduced, making it possible to smoothly insert the insertion portion 6 into the hole portion 5, improving the ease of installation between one component 2 and another component 3 in the locking device 1, and achieving the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0035] Furthermore, since the amount of protrusion of the insertion assist shape 24 becomes smaller toward the tip end of the insertion portion 6, as the main body portion 11 of the insertion portion 6 is inserted into the hole main body portion 31 of the hole portion 5 in the first direction, the contact between the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 gradually increases and the frictional resistance gradually increases, so that the insertion portion 6 can be inserted more smoothly into the hole portion 5, further improving the ease of installation work between one component 2 and another component 3 in the locking device 1.

[0036] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Note that the same components and functions as those in the respective embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0037] In this embodiment, the insertion assist shapes 24 are formed intermittently in the first direction. For example, a plurality of the insertion assist shapes 24 are arranged at equal or approximately equal intervals in the first direction, and in the illustrated example, they are positioned linearly in the first direction. In this example, the insertion assist shapes 24 are semicircular, i.e., dimple-shaped, protruding from the holding portion 12 in its thickness direction. That is, the insertion assist shapes 24 are formed in a shape that tapers toward the tip end that contacts the insertion assist shape 34. However, the insertion assist shapes 24 may be planar, parallel or approximately parallel to the surfaces 20 and 21.

[0038] In addition, the example given shows that each insertion assist shape 24 has the same or approximately the same amount of protrusion from the surfaces 20, 21 of the holding portion 12, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the insertion assist shape 24 closer to the tip of the insertion portion 6 may be set so that the amount of protrusion from the surfaces 20, 21 is smaller.

[0039] Even with this configuration, the contact area of the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 is small, and the frictional resistance between the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 during installation can be reduced, making it possible to smoothly insert the insertion portion 6 into the hole portion 5, improving the ease of installation between one component 2 and another component 3 in the locking device 1, and achieving the same effects as those of each embodiment.

[0040] Furthermore, since the insertion assist shape 24 is formed intermittently in the first direction, frictional resistance of the insertion assist shapes 24, 34 does not occur continuously when the insertion portion 6 is inserted into the hole portion 5, so the insertion portion 6 can be inserted more smoothly into the hole portion 5, further improving the ease of installation of one component 2 and another component 3 in the locking device 1.

[0041] In each embodiment, a convex portion may be formed as the insertion assist shape 34 on the edge of the holding hole portion 32 of the hole portion 5, or both of the insertion assist shapes 24, 24 may be convex portions. [Industrial Applicability]

[0042] The present invention can be suitably used as a locking structure for vehicle parts, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 Locking device 2. One part 3 Other parts 5 Hole 6 Insertion section 11 Main body 12 Holding part 20,21 sides 24,34 Insertion assist shape 31 Hole body 32 Holding hole

Claims

1. A locking device for locking one part to another part, a hole provided in the one component; an insertion portion provided in the other component, The insertion portion is a main body portion extending in a predetermined first direction; a plurality of elastic holding portions that protrude from the main body portion in a predetermined second direction that intersects with the first direction and that hold the insertion portion inserted into the hole portion; The hole portion is a hole body portion capable of receiving the body portion in the first direction; a plurality of holding holes that are connected to the hole body in a predetermined third direction and are capable of receiving the holding portion in the first direction; The holding portion and the holding hole portion are each provided with an insertion assist shape, At least one of the insertion assist shapes is a convex portion, and the insertion assist shapes abut against each other as the main body portion is inserted into the hole main body portion, thereby elastically deforming the holding portion so as to guide the holding portion in the third direction. A locking device characterized by:

2. The holding portion has a protrusion that is an insertion assist shape, The holding hole has a guide shape that is an insertion assist shape that slopes inward from the edge.

2. The locking device according to claim 1.

3. The holding portion has at least a portion having a surface that is planar in the first direction and continues to both ends in the first direction.

3. The locking device according to claim 2.

Images