Cover structure

Abstract

To suppress degradation in appearance.SOLUTION: A cover structure comprises: a storage body 10; a cover 20 which covers a working space 10a at a closing position with respect to the storage body together with an electric connection part and exposes the working space 10a at an opening position with respect to the storage body; a first ribbing hinge 30 which connects the storage body and the cover and opens / closes the cover with respect to the storage body between the closing position and the opening position; and a second ribbing hinge 40 which connects the storage body and the cover and hides the first ribbing hinge from the outside while opening / closing the cover with respect to the storage body between the closing position and the opening position. The second ribbing hinge includes a first connection part 41 connected to the storage body, a second connection part 42 connected to the cover, and a hinge main body 43 coupling the first connection part and the second connection part. The hinge main body is formed in a parabolic shape at the opening position and formed in a shape so as to suppress input of overload from the storage body and the cover when opening / closing the cover.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with various electrically connected objects housed in a housing. The housing is provided with a housing body that houses the electrical connection portions of the multiple electrically connected objects. In this housing, the interior space of the housing body is used as a working space, and work related to the electrical connection portions (such as attaching and detaching the electrical connection portions and connecting the electrical connection portions) is performed in this working space. Therefore, the housing is provided with a cover that covers the working space together with the electrical connection portions, while exposing the working space when work is performed. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a cover structure in which a cover is composed of a first cover and a second cover, and the first cover and the second cover are connected by a living hinge. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-081913 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional cover structures, repeated opening and closing of the cover can cause the living hinges to whiten, which can lead to a poor appearance.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cover structure that can prevent deterioration in appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a housing having a work space provided therein where work related to the housed electrical connection parts can be performed; a cover that covers the work space together with the electrical connection parts when in a closed position relative to the housing and exposes the work space when in an open position relative to the housing; a first living hinge that connects the housing and the cover and opens and closes the cover relative to the housing between the closed position and the open position; and a second living hinge that connects the housing and the cover and opens and closes the cover relative to the housing between the closed position and the open position while covering and concealing the first living hinge from the outside, wherein the second living hinge has a first connecting part that connects to the housing, a second connecting part that connects to the cover, and a hinge main body that connects the first connecting part and the second connecting part, and is formed in a parabolic shape when in the open position and in a shape that can prevent the input of overload from the housing and the cover when the cover is opened or closed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The cover structure according to the present invention prevents the second living hinge from whitening, and even if the first living hinge does whiten, it is possible to prevent deterioration in the external appearance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cover structure of an embodiment in a closed position. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cover structure of the embodiment in an open position. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the double hinge structure of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction of arrow A. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged side view of the double hinge structure of the embodiment with the cover halfway open or closed. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of the double hinge structure of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction of arrow A. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified cover structure in a closed position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified cover structure in an open position, showing the state before the second living hinge is assembled to the cover. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a modified cover structure in an open position, illustrating the state after the second living hinge has been assembled to the cover. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged side view of the modified double hinge structure with the cover halfway open or closed. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating another form of the second living hinge of the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

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

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 5 indicates a cover structure of this embodiment. This cover structure 1 is provided as a part of a housing that houses, for example, multiple electrical connection objects, and is used to protect the connection points between the electrical connection portions of the multiple electrical connection objects. The electrical connection objects include electrical components such as relays and fuses, terminal fittings for terminal-equipped electric wires, bus bars, and battery terminals. The housing includes, for example, the box body of an electrical connection box, a housing member such as a bus bar in a bus bar module, and a cover part that houses and covers a battery terminal therein. This housing is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The electrical connection portions include, for example, terminal connection portions of electrical components, terminal connection portions of terminal fittings for terminal-equipped electric wires, electrical connection portions such as male tabs on a bus bar, and terminal connection portions of battery terminals.

[0012] The cover structure 1 has a housing 10 having a work space 10a formed therein where work related to the housed electrical connection parts (not shown) can be carried out, and a cover 20 that covers the work space 10a together with the electrical connection parts when in a closed position relative to the housing 10, and exposes the work space 10a when in an open position relative to the housing 10 (Figures 1 and 2).

[0013] The interior space of the housing 10 is used as a work space 10a, and work related to electrical connections (for example, attaching and detaching electrical connections, connecting electrical connections to each other, etc.) is performed in this work space 10a. When performing such work, the cover 20 is moved from the closed position to the open position relative to the housing 10, exposing the work space 10a. Furthermore, after the work is completed, or when no work related to the electrical connections is to be performed, the cover 20 is moved from the open position to the closed position relative to the housing 10, and the cover 20 covers the work space 10a.

[0014] The cover structure 1 has a living hinge (hereinafter referred to as the "first living hinge") 30 that connects the housing 10 and the cover 20 and opens and closes the cover 20 relative to the housing 10 between a closed position and an open position (Figures 1 to 5).

[0015] This first living hinge 30 connects one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20, and is flexible by bending itself around a rotation axis, allowing the cover 20 to rotate around the rotation axis between a closed position and an open position relative to the housing 10 (FIGS. 1 to 5). This first living hinge 30 is formed in the shape of a double-supported beam, with one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 as fixed ends.

[0016] In this example, the open position is the state in which the other end 12 of the housing 10 and the other end 22 of the cover 20 are furthest apart in the relative rotational trajectory of the housing 10 and the cover 20 between the closed position and the open position (FIGS. 2 and 3). In this example, the closed position is the state in which one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 are adjacent to each other, and the other end 12 of the housing 10 and the other end 22 of the cover 20 are adjacent to each other (FIGS. 1 and 5).

[0017] The first living hinge 30 deforms in response to the opening and closing movement of the cover 20. In the open position, the first living hinge 30 unfolds like a rectangular flat plate (FIGS. 2 and 3), and is bent into an arc as it deforms around the rotation axis from the open position to the closed position (FIGS. 1, 4, and 5). The first living hinge 30 shown here is shaped so that the wall surface on the outside of the bend in the closed position is flat in the open position, and the wall surface on the inside of the bend in the closed position is an arc-shaped surface that is most concave at the midpoint between one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 in the open position. Therefore, the first living hinge 30 begins to deform from the open position to the closed position around the thinnest part in the middle as the rotation axis, and as the deformation progresses, the rotation axis is displaced toward the inside of the arc.

[0018] Here, in this cover structure 1, for example, by shortening the distance between one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 in the open position (i.e., the length of the first living hinge 30 in the open position), the size of the cover structure 1 in the open position can be reduced. Also, in this cover structure 1, for example, by reducing the amount by which the first living hinge 30 protrudes from one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 in the closed position, the size of the cover structure 1 in the closed position can be reduced. Therefore, in this cover structure 1, it is desirable to shorten the length between one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 of the first living hinge 30 in the open position, thereby reducing the amount by which the first living hinge 30 protrudes from one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 in the closed position, thereby reducing the size of the cover structure 1 in both the closed and open positions.

[0019] On the other hand, in this cover structure 1, by shortening the length of the first living hinge 30 in the open position, when the first living hinge 30 deforms around the axis of rotation from the open position to the closed position, the load (e.g., tensile load) applied to the first living hinge 30 from the housing 10 and the cover 20 increases. Furthermore, in the first living hinge 30, repeated opening and closing of the cover 20 may cause the bent portion to become fixed in one position. For example, in this example, the middle portion of the first living hinge 30, which has the thinnest plate thickness, becomes the axis of rotation when the hinge begins to deform from the open position to the closed position, and therefore this middle portion is repeatedly bent and stretched. Due to these factors, in the cover structure 1, repeated opening and closing of the cover 20 may cause the first living hinge 30 to whiten, deteriorating its appearance.

[0020] Therefore, this cover structure 1 has a living hinge (hereinafter referred to as "second living hinge") 40 that connects the housing body 10 and the cover 20 and covers and conceals the first living hinge 30 from the outside while opening and closing the cover 20 relative to the housing body 10 between the closed position and the open position (FIGS. 1 to 5). This second living hinge 40 covers and conceals from the outside the wall surface that is on the outside of the bend in the first living hinge 30 when the cover 20 is in the closed position (FIGS. 1 and 5).

[0021] The second living hinge 40 of this embodiment is formed in the shape of a double-supported beam with one end 11 of the housing 10 and one end 21 of the cover 20 as fixed ends (FIGS. 1 to 5). The second living hinge 40 has a first connecting portion 41 connected to the housing 10, a second connecting portion 42 connected to the cover 20, and a hinge main body 43 connecting the first connecting portion 41 and the second connecting portion 42 (FIGS. 1 to 5). In the second living hinge 40, mainly the hinge main body 43 deforms in response to the opening and closing movement of the cover 20. The second living hinge 40 deforms while moving around the rotation axis of the first living hinge 30 when the cover 20 is opened or closed.

[0022] The hinge main body 43 is formed in a parabolic shape in the open position, and is formed in a shape that can prevent the input of excessive load from the housing body 10 and the cover 20 when the cover 20 is opened or closed (FIGS. 2 and 3). The hinge main body 43 in the open position has a parabolic shape that is convex in the direction away from the first living hinge 30. Therefore, the second living hinge 40 can keep low the load (e.g., tensile load) applied from the housing body 10 and the cover 20 when it transforms from the open position to the closed position. Furthermore, the second living hinge 40 can keep low the load (e.g., compressive load) applied from the housing body 10 and the cover 20 when it transforms from the closed position to the open position.

[0023] Therefore, this cover structure 1 can prevent whitening of the second living hinge 40 when the cover 20 is repeatedly opened and closed. Therefore, even if the first living hinge 30 whitens, this cover structure 1 can prevent deterioration of the external appearance because the first living hinge 30 is covered and hidden from the outside by the second living hinge 40. Furthermore, by preventing whitening of the second living hinge 40, this cover structure 1 can improve the durability of the second living hinge 40, so that even if the first living hinge 30 breaks, the second living hinge 40 can keep the cover 20 connected to the housing 10.

[0024] Here, the second living hinge 40 is desirably formed so that the hinge main body 43 forms a parabolic shape in the closed position (FIG. 5). The hinge main body 43 in the closed position forms a parabolic shape that is convex in the direction away from the first living hinge 30, just like in the open position. This allows the second living hinge 40 to keep low the load (e.g., tensile load) applied from the housing body 10 and the cover 20 when it is deforming toward the closed position. Furthermore, the second living hinge 40 can keep low the load (e.g., compressive load) applied from the housing body 10 and the cover 20 when it is deforming from the closed position to the open position.

[0025] For example, the second living hinge 40 is formed so that the parabolic shape of the hinge main body 43 in the open position is the same as the parabolic shape of the hinge main body 43 in the closed position. Specifically, the parabolic shape is, for example, a semi-elliptical shape. The semi-elliptical hinge main body 43 is formed so that the length of the minor axis in the open position is the same as the length of the minor axis in the closed position.

[0026] The cover structure 1 includes a locking mechanism 50 that keeps the cover 20 in the closed position (FIGS. 1 and 2). The locking mechanism 50 includes a first engagement portion 51 provided at the other end 12 of the housing 10 and a second engagement portion 52 provided at the other end 22 of the cover 20 (FIG. 2). The locking mechanism 50 keeps the cover 20 in the closed position by engaging the first engagement portion 51 with the second engagement portion 52 when the cover 20 is in the closed position. For example, in the locking mechanism 50, the first engagement portion 51 is formed in a claw shape, and the first engagement portion 51 is hooked onto the second engagement portion 52, thereby engaging them with each other. The second engagement portion 52 has, for example, a cantilever-shaped flexible piece 52a and a through hole 52b provided in the flexible piece 52a, and the first engagement portion 51 is hooked onto and engaged with the peripheral edge of the through hole 52b in the flexible piece 52a.

[0027] As described above, the cover structure 1 of this embodiment prevents the second living hinge 40 from whitening, and can prevent deterioration in appearance even if the first living hinge 30 whitens. Furthermore, the cover structure 1 of this embodiment improves the durability of the second living hinge 40, and even if the first living hinge 30 breaks, the second living hinge 40 can connect the cover 20 to the housing 10.

[0028] [Variations] Incidentally, the cover structure 1 of this embodiment is molded, for example, with the cover 20 in the open position. Therefore, during molding, the first living hinge 30 is formed in an extended, flat plate-like shape, and the second living hinge 40 is formed in a parabolic shape (semi-elliptical shape). However, in this cover structure 1, the first living hinge 30 and the second living hinge 40 form a double hinge structure, so the second living hinge 40 needs to be formed using a slide mold. In this cover structure 1, the structure of the slide mold becomes complicated. In this modified example, moldability is improved as follows.

[0029] 6 to 12, reference numeral 2 indicates the cover structure of this modified example. Like the cover structure 1 of the embodiment, the cover structure 2 of this modified example has a housing 110, a cover 120, a first living hinge 130, a second living hinge 140, and a locking mechanism 150 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Like the cover structure 1 of the embodiment, the cover structure 2 of this modified example is formed with the cover 120 in the open position.

[0030] In the cover structure 2 of this modification, the housing 110, the first living hinge 130, and the locking mechanism 150 are equivalent to the housing 10, the first living hinge 30, and the locking mechanism 50 of the embodiment, respectively. Meanwhile, in the cover structure 2 of this modification, the cover 120 and the second living hinge 140 are modified as follows with respect to the cover 20 and the second living hinge 40 of the embodiment, respectively.

[0031] In the cover structure 2 of this modified example, the second living hinge 140 has a cantilevered beam shape, whereas the second living hinge 40 of the embodiment has a doubly supported beam shape between the housing 10 and the cover 20. Like the second living hinge 40 of the embodiment, the second living hinge 140 of this modified example has a first connecting portion 141 connected to the housing 110, a second connecting portion 142 connected to the cover 120, and a hinge main body 143 connecting the first connecting portion 141 and the second connecting portion 142 (FIGS. 6 to 12).

[0032] The second living hinge 140 of this modified example is formed in a cantilever shape with one of the first connecting portion 141 and the second connecting portion 142 as a fixed end and the other as a free end (FIGS. 7 and 8). The second living hinge 140 has a protrusion 144 at its free end (FIGS. 8, 10, and 12). One of the housing 110 and cover 120 where the free ends are connected has a locking portion that hooks onto and locks the protrusion 144.

[0033] The second living hinge 140 shown here has a cantilever shape with the first connecting portion 141 as a fixed end and the second connecting portion 142 as a free end, and the second connecting portion 142 has a protrusion portion 144.

[0034] When the cover structure 2 is formed, the second living hinge 140 is formed as a rectangular flat plate having one side located on one end 111 side of the housing 110 as a first connecting portion 141, and having a second connecting portion 142 protruding from the other side on the free end side of the first connecting portion 141 (FIGS. 7 and 8). That is, the second living hinge 140 has a rectangular flat hinge main body 143 and a rectangular flat first connecting portion 141 connected to one side of the hinge main body 143 on the housing 110 side, and has a rectangular flat portion made up of the first connecting portion 141 and the hinge main body 143. The second living hinge 140 has the second connecting portion 142 protruding from the other side on the free end side of the hinge main body 143 (FIGS. 7 and 8). This second living hinge 140 has a plurality of protruding second connecting portions 142. Here, three second connecting portions 142 protrude at equal intervals along the other side of the hinge main body 143. The second connecting portion 142 shown here is provided with a claw-shaped protrusion 144.

[0035] The second living hinge 140 assembles the second connecting portion 142 to the cover 120 in the open position by bending the rectangular flat plate portion into a parabolic shape (semi-elliptical shape) ( FIGS. 7 to 10 ). Therefore, one end 121 of the cover 120 is provided with a locking portion 123 that hooks onto the protrusion 144 of the second connecting portion 142 ( FIGS. 7 , 8 , 10 , and 12 ). This locking portion 123 is provided for each second connecting portion 142. Here, one end 121 of the cover 120 is provided with a through hole 124 for each second connecting portion 142, and the protrusion serving as the locking portion 123 protrudes from the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 124 within the through hole 124 ( FIGS. 7 , 8 , 10 , and 12 ). In cover structure 2 of this modified example, while the rectangular flat plate portion of second living hinge 140 is bent into a parabolic shape (semi-elliptical shape), second connecting portion 142 is inserted into through hole 124 of cover 120 in the open position, and protrusion portion 144 is hooked onto and locked by locking portion 123 inside through hole 124. As a result, when cover 120 is in the open position, second living hinge 140 forms a parabolic shape (semi-elliptical shape) similar to second living hinge 40 of the embodiment. Therefore, cover structure 2 of this modified example can obtain the same effects as cover structure 1 of the embodiment.

[0036] In the cover structure 2 of this modification, when the cover 120 is in the closed position, the locking mechanism 150 (a first engagement portion 151 provided at the other end 112 of the housing 110 and a second engagement portion 152 provided at the other end 122 of the cover 120) keeps the cover 120 covering the working space 110a in the closed position (FIGS. 6 and 7). Similar to the second engagement portion 52 of the embodiment, the second engagement portion 152 has a cantilever-shaped flexible piece 152a and a through-hole 152b provided in this flexible piece 152a, and the first engagement portion 151 is hooked onto and engaged with the periphery of the through-hole 152b in the flexible piece 152a.

[0037] In this modified example, similar to the second living hinge 40 of the embodiment, the second living hinge 140 is desirably formed so that the hinge main body 143 forms a parabolic shape (e.g., a semi-elliptical shape) in the closed position. This allows the cover structure 2 of this modified example to achieve the same effect as the cover structure 1 of the embodiment. For example, in FIG. 13 , the second living hinge 140 is formed so that the hinge main body 143 is divided into two parts with the first living hinge 130 at the center in the closed position, and one and the other of the hinge main body 143 each form a parabolic shape (e.g., a semi-elliptical shape). The respective parabolic shapes (e.g., semi-elliptical shapes) may be the same shape as each other, or may be different shapes.

[0038] Furthermore, in this modified example, similar to the second living hinge 40 of the embodiment, it is desirable that the parabolic shape (e.g., semi-elliptical shape) of the hinge main body 143 in the open position is equivalent to the parabolic shape (e.g., semi-elliptical shape) of the hinge main body 143 in the closed position (not shown).

[0039] As described above, the cover structure 2 of this modified example prevents the second living hinge 140 from whitening, and even if the first living hinge 130 does whiten, it is possible to prevent deterioration in the external appearance. Furthermore, the cover structure 2 of this modified example improves the durability of the second living hinge 140, and even if the first living hinge 130 should break, the second living hinge 140 can connect the cover 120 to the housing 110. Furthermore, the cover structure 2 of this modified example can form the second living hinge 140 without using a slide mold, thereby improving moldability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1,2 Cover structure 10,110 containment units 10a,110a work space 20,120 covers 30,130 1st living hinge 40,140 Second living hinge 41,141 1st connection part 42,142 2nd connection part 43,143 Hinge body 123 Locking part 144 Protrusion

Claims

1. a housing having an internal working space for performing work related to the housed electrical connection portion; a cover that covers the working space together with the electrical connection portion when in a closed position relative to the housing, and exposes the working space when in an open position relative to the housing; a first living hinge connecting the housing and the cover and allowing the cover to open and close relative to the housing between the closed position and the open position; a second living hinge that connects the housing and the cover, opens and closes the cover relative to the housing between the closed position and the open position, and covers and conceals the first living hinge from the outside; and the second living hinge has a first connecting portion connected to the housing, a second connecting portion connected to the cover, and a hinge main body connecting the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, A cover structure characterized in that the hinge main body is formed in a parabolic shape in the open position and is formed in a shape that can prevent the input of excessive load from the container and the cover when the cover is opened or closed.

2. The cover structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second living hinge is formed so that the hinge main body forms a parabolic shape in the closed position.

3. 3. The cover structure according to claim 2, wherein the second living hinge is formed so that the parabolic shape of the hinge in the open position is equivalent to the parabolic shape of the hinge in the closed position.

4. The parabolic shape refers to a semi-elliptical shape, 4. The cover structure according to claim 3, wherein the hinge main body is formed so that the length of the minor axis in the open position is the same as the length of the minor axis in the closed position.

5. the second living hinge is formed in a cantilever shape with one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion as a fixed end and the other as a free end, A protrusion is provided on the free end, 5. The cover structure according to claim 1, wherein one of the free ends of the container and the cover is provided with a locking portion for hooking and locking the protrusion.

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