Latch

Abstract

To provide a latch capable of enhancing reliability when connecting a plate member, and improving workability and problems on management.SOLUTION: A latch 1 connects a first plate member B1 and a second plate member B2 by laminating the plate members in a plate thickness direction, and comprises a grommet part 2 comprising a plurality of engagement parts 21 to 23 that engage with engagement holes H1, H2 opened in both plate members B1, B2, and a plunger part 3 that can be moved relative to the grommet part 2 to two positions: a push-in position and a pull-out position. The plunger part 3 and the grommet part 2 are integrally connected at least before the plunger part 3 is pushed in. The plunger part 3 comprises engagement holding parts 31 to 33 that maintain the engagement of the plurality of engagement parts 21 to 23 when being in the push-in position, and release the engagement of the plurality of engagement parts 21 to 23 when being in the pull-out position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a latch for connecting two overlapping plate members, and more particularly to a push-pull type latch that connects and disconnects by pushing and pulling operations. [Background technology]

[0002] Latches have been proposed for joining plate members in a state where they are stacked in the thickness direction. Patent Document 1 proposes a latch that joins two plate members by fixing a first plate member to a head, which is one end of a support section, and engaging an engagement portion provided at the other end of the support section with a hole in a second plate member. Patent Document 2 also proposes a configuration that includes anchors that engage with engagement holes provided in each of the two plate members to join the two plate members, and maintains the engagement between the anchors and the engagement holes by inserting a push pin between the anchors. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-270628 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-360912 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The latch in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a first plate member is fixed to the head of the latch and then a second plate member is engaged with the latch's engagement portion, which requires two separate and distinct steps, posing a problem in terms of workability when connecting. Also, because there is no mechanism for maintaining the second plate member in an engaged state, the second plate member may become disengaged when subjected to a large external force, posing a problem in terms of connection reliability.

[0005] The anchor in Patent Document 2 is configured to simultaneously connect two plate members together, and to release the connection, the anchor is simultaneously removed from both plate members. Therefore, it is difficult to remove only one plate member from the anchor. Furthermore, when the connection is released, the anchor is detached from both plate members. Therefore, if the anchor is to be reused, it must be stored separately from the plate members until it can be reconnected, which poses management issues.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a latch that increases the reliability of the connection and improves workability and maintenance issues. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is a latch that connects a first plate member and a second plate member by overlapping them in the plate thickness direction, and includes a grommet portion having a plurality of engagement portions that engage with a first engagement hole opened in the first plate member and a second engagement hole opened in the second plate member, respectively, to clamp the first plate member and the second plate member, and a plunger portion that is operable to move to two positions, a pushed-in position and a pulled-out position, relative to the grommet portion. Furthermore, the plunger portion and the grommet portion are integrally connected at least before the plunger portion is pushed in, and the plunger portion includes an engagement holding portion that holds the engagement of the plurality of engagement portions when in the pushed-in position and releases the engagement of the plurality of engagement portions when in the pulled-out position.

[0008] For example, in the latch of the present invention, the grommet portion has a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion, and a third engagement portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with the first engagement hole to clamp the first plate member, and the third engagement portion engages with the second engagement hole to clamp the first plate member and the second plate member together with the first engagement portion. Also, the plunger portion has a first engagement holding portion, a second engagement holding portion, and a third engagement holding portion, and when in the pushed-in position, the first engagement holding portion, the second engagement portion, and the third engagement holding portion abut against the first engagement portion, the second engagement portion, and the third engagement portion, respectively, to maintain the engaged state of the engagement portions, and when in the pulled-out position, the engaged state of the engagement portions is released.

[0009] In addition, in the latch of the present invention, the plunger portion and the grommet portion are connected by a connecting portion that is cut and released when the grommet is pushed in. Alternatively, the plunger portion and the grommet portion are connected by a connecting piece that is elastically deformed to follow the grommet portion when the grommet is pushed in. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the latch of the present invention, the first and second plate members are coupled together by the engagement portions of the grommet portion engaging with the respective engagement holes of the first and second plate members, and the plunger portion maintains the engagement state in the respective engagement holes, thereby enabling a highly reliable coupling. Furthermore, the first and second plate members can be coupled by sequentially engaging them, and can be released in the reverse order, so the latch can be held integrally with the first plate member even when released. Furthermore, because the grommet portion and plunger portion are integrally formed, the plate members can be coupled using a single part. This improves workability, reduces the number of parts, and makes handling and management easier. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the latch according to the first embodiment; [Figure 2] 1A is a front view, FIG. 1B is a right side view, and FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the latch of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the plate members are joined by the latch. [Figure 4] Part 2 of a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the plate members are connected by the latch. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the plate members are held together by the latch. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of the plate members in a coupled state by the latch. [Figure 7]10A is a front view of the latch of embodiment 2 in a state before the plunger portion is pushed in, and FIG. 10B is a front view of the latch of embodiment 2 in a state after the plunger portion is pushed in. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a usage form of the latch of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] (Embodiment 1) Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a latch 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) are a front view, a right side view, and a bottom view thereof. The latch 1 is configured to connect a first plate member B1 and a second plate member B2 in the thickness direction, and includes a grommet portion 2 and a plunger portion 3. The latch 1 is integrally molded from an elastic resin material. Hereinafter, the mold is configured to be released from the mold from the left and right directions in FIG. 2(b). Furthermore, the grommet portion 2 and the plunger portion 3 are integrally connected when molded, but are separated from each other when the two plate members B1 and B2 are connected using the latch 1 and the connected state is maintained, as described below. Hereinafter, the left-right direction of FIG. 2(a) when the latch 1 is viewed from the front is referred to as the latch horizontal direction.

[0013] The grommet portion 2 has a pair of side edges 20 formed in the shape of a plate having a required width and arranged opposite each other in the latch lateral direction. Identical or symmetrical components are designated by the same reference numerals. These side edges 20 are connected to each other at one end by a connecting edge 24 to form a generally U-shape, and the elasticity of the resin material allows both side edges 20 to deform in the latch lateral direction. While both side edges 20 have a required width in the latch longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 2( b ) perpendicular to the latch lateral direction; hereinafter referred to as the latch longitudinal direction), the connecting edge 24 has a smaller width in the latch longitudinal direction than the width of both side edges 20 and is curved. This facilitates elastic deformation of the connecting edge 24, facilitating deformation of both side edges 20 in the latch lateral direction.

[0014] On each side portion 20, a first engagement portion 21, a second engagement portion 22, and a third engagement portion 23 are formed at a required interval in a direction from the other end opposite the connecting side portion 24 toward the connecting side portion 24 (hereinafter referred to as the latch length direction). The distance between the first engagement portion 21 and the second engagement portion 22 is equal to the plate thickness of the first plate member B1, and the distance between the second engagement portion 22 and the third engagement portion 23 is equal to the plate thickness of the second plate member B2. Here, since it is assumed that the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 have the same thickness, these distances are equal.

[0015] Each of the engaging portions 21 to 23 has outer protrusions 21o, 22o, and 23o that protrude outward from the outer surfaces of both side portions 20, and inner protrusions 21i, 22i, and 23i that protrude inward from the inner surfaces. The outer protrusion 21o of the first engaging portion 21 has a surface facing the second engaging portion 22 that is approximately perpendicular to the outer surface. The outer protrusion 22o of the second engaging portion 22 has a sawtooth shape with a surface facing the first engaging portion 21 that is approximately perpendicular to the outer surface. The outer protrusion 23o of the third engaging portion 23 has a pedestal shape with a surface facing the second engaging portion 22 that is inclined at a gentle angle with respect to the outer surface.

[0016] Here, the protruding dimension of the outer convex portion 21o of the first engagement portion 21 in the latch engagement direction is set to be larger than the protruding dimensions of the outer convex portions 22o, 23o of the second engagement portion 22 and the third engagement portion 23. Furthermore, the outer convex portions 21o, 23o of the first engagement portion 21 and the third engagement portion 23 are formed across the entire width of the side edge portion 20, but the outer convex portion 22o of the second engagement portion 22 is formed only in a central portion of the side edge portion 20 in the width direction.

[0017] On the other hand, the inner protrusions 21i, 22i of the first engaging portion 21 and the second engaging portion 22 are each formed in an arc shape or a curved shape close to an arc with respect to the inner surface of the side portion 20 when viewed from the front. The inner protrusion 23i of the third engaging portion 23 is formed in a tapered shape, with a step portion 23a formed in part thereof. The inner protrusions 21i-23i forming pairs of the respective engaging portions 21-23 are arranged opposite each other at a predetermined interval in the lateral direction of the latch.

[0018] The plunger portion 3 is provided with a columnar portion 30 that is disposed in an intermediate position between both side portions 20 of the grommet portion 2 and extends in the length direction of the latch. One end of this columnar portion 30 is disposed at a position with a required distance from the connecting side portion 24 of the grommet portion 2, and the other end protrudes beyond the other end of the side portion 20 of the grommet portion 2. A plate-shaped operating portion 34 for pushing and pulling the plunger portion 3 is integrally formed with this other end.

[0019] The other end of the columnar portion 30 is disposed opposite the side portion 20, and is temporarily connected to the side portion 20 at this portion by a plurality of connecting portions, in this case connecting pins 25. Each connecting pin 25 has a small diameter at the connecting portion with the columnar portion 30, and is sheared when subjected to an external force, thereby dissolving the connection between the side portion 20 and the columnar portion 30.

[0020] On both sides of the columnar portion 30, a first engagement retaining portion 31, a second engagement retaining portion 32, and a third engagement retaining portion 33 are formed at a required interval in the latch length direction from a position near the connecting pin 25 toward one end, and this required interval is the same as the required intervals between the first to third engagement portions 21 to 23 of the plunger portion 2. The first to third engagement retaining portions 31 to 33 are each formed as a convex portion protruding laterally from both sides of the columnar portion 30 in the latch. The first engagement retaining portion 31 protrudes in an arc shape, the second engagement retaining portion 32 protrudes in an almost L-shape, and the third engagement retaining portion 33 protrudes in the shape of a substantially perpendicular piece from both sides of the columnar portion. In addition, a convex portion 33a is provided on the outer surface of the third engagement retaining portion 33, which is capable of engaging with a step portion 23a provided on an inner convex portion 23i of the third engagement portion 23.

[0021] An engagement piece 26 is formed on one of the front and back surfaces of one end of the columnar portion 30, in this case the front surface. This engagement piece 26 is tapered in the latch length direction from one end to the other so that it can elastically deform in the latch vertical direction, and an engagement step 26a is formed at one end. This engagement step 26a is formed at approximately the same position as the grommet portion 2 in the latch length direction.

[0022] The operation of joining the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 using the latch 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. Note that FIGS. 3 to 5 are cross-sectional views of a portion taken along line AA in FIG. 2(c). As shown in FIG. 1, the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 each have engagement holes H1 and H2 that penetrate in the plate thickness direction. That is, the first plate member B1 has a first engagement hole H1 that is rectangular (oblong) and has approximately the same external shape as the outer shape formed by both side portions 20 of the grommet portion 2 when viewed from above. The second plate member B2 has a second engagement hole H2 that is rectangular, the same as the first engagement hole H1, and has horizontal recesses h1 on both long sides thereof through which the engagement pieces 26 of the plunger portion 3 can be inserted, and vertical recesses h2 on both short sides thereof through which the second engagement portion 32 can be inserted.

[0023] First, as shown in FIG. 3 , the latch 1 is engaged with the first engagement hole H1 of the first plate member B1. As one end of the latch 1 is inserted into the first engagement hole H1 from the front surface side of the first plate member B1, both side portions 20 of the grommet portion 2 are elastically deformed inward in the lateral direction of the latch (in the direction of arrow X1) and contract in width, allowing the third engagement portion 23 and the second engagement portion 22 to pass through. When the outer convex portion 21o of the first engagement portion 21 abuts against the inner edge of the first engagement hole H1 on the front surface side of the first plate member B1, the both side portions 20 elastically return to their original state and expand in width, and the outer convex portion 22o of the second engagement portion 22 engages with the inner edge of the first engagement hole H1 on the back surface side of the first plate member B1. As a result, the first plate member B1 is sandwiched in the plate thickness direction between the outer convex portions 21o, 22o of the first engagement portion 21 and the second engagement portion 22. The outer protrusions 21o, 22o of the first engaging portion 21 and the second engaging portion 22 are formed nearly vertically, resulting in an engaged state that is difficult to disengage. As a result, the latch 1 is integrated with the first plate member B1 in a stable state.

[0024] At this time, the engagement piece 26 is elastically deformed and inserted through the first engagement hole H1, and then elastically returns to its original position so that the engagement step 26a engages with the inner edge of the first engagement hole H1 on the back surface side of the first plate member B1. This provides a slight clicking sensation when the first plate member B1 is clamped by the latch 1, and the engagement between the engagement step 26a and the first engagement hole H1 promotes a stable clamping state of the first plate member B1.

[0025] Next, to couple the first plate member B1 to the second plate member B2, one end of the latch 1 is inserted into the second engagement hole H2 of the second plate member B2, as shown in Fig. 4. As one end of the latch 1 is inserted into the second engagement hole H2 from the front surface side of the second plate member B2, the side edges 20 of the grommet portion 2 are elastically deformed inward in the X1 direction in the lateral direction of the latch and contract in width, allowing the third engagement portion 23 and the second engagement portion 22 to pass through. Then, when the outer convex portion 22o of the second engagement portion 22 comes into abutment with the inner edge of the second engagement hole H2 on the front surface side of the second plate member B2, the side edges 20 elastically return to their original state and expand in width, and the outer convex portion 23o of the third engagement portion 23 engages with the inner edge of the second engagement hole H2 on the back surface side of the second plate member B2. As a result, the second plate member B2 is sandwiched in the plate thickness direction between the third engagement portion 23 and the outer convex portions 23o, 21o of the first engagement portion 22. The outer convex portion 22o and the engagement piece 26 of the second engagement portion 22 are inserted through the vertical and horizontal recesses h1, h2 formed in the second engagement hole H2 to the back surface side of the second plate member B2, and therefore do not interfere with the sandwiching of the second plate member B2.

[0026] As a result, the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 are connected by the latch 1. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the latch 1, the first plate member B1, and the second plate member B2 in the connected state. Furthermore, to reliably lock this connected state, the plunger portion 3 is operated. That is, the operating portion 34 of the plunger portion 3 is pushed in. When pushed with a predetermined strength or greater, as shown in FIG. 5, the connecting pin 25 is sheared, and the plunger portion 3 is separated from the grommet portion 2 and pushed toward one end. When pushed to its maximum position, the first engagement holding portion 31, the second engagement holding portion 32, and the third engagement holding portion 33 of the plunger portion 3 are moved to the positions of the inner protrusions 21i, 22i, and 23i of the first engagement portion 21, the second engagement portion 22, and the third engagement portion 23 of the grommet portion 2, respectively.

[0027] The first to third engagement retaining portions 31-33 are press-fitted and abut between the inner protrusions 21i, 22i, and 23i of the opposing first to third engagement portions 21-23, respectively. Therefore, the inner protrusions 21i, 22i, and 23i are subsequently blocked by the engagement retaining portions 31-3, respectively, and are prevented from moving toward each other. Furthermore, the abutment of the engagement retaining portions 31, 32, and 33 with the inner protrusions 21i, 22i, and 23i prevents the plunger portion 3 from moving in the direction opposite to the direction in which it was pushed in. In particular, the protrusion 33a of the third engagement retaining portion 33 engages with the step 23a of the third engagement portion 23, reliably preventing the plunger portion 3 from moving. This maintains the elastic deformation of both side portions 20 so that they approach each other in the lateral direction of the latch. Therefore, the first to third engaging portions 21 to 23 are kept engaged with the first and second engaging holes H1, H2, and the coupled state of the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 is maintained.

[0028] To release the connection between the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2, the operating portion 34 is grasped and the plunger portion 3 is moved in the pulling direction from the grommet portion 2 to a predetermined pulling position so as to return to the state shown in Fig. 4. When the plunger portion 3 is moved, the first to third engagement holding portions 31 to 33 are released from contact with the inner protrusions 21i to 23I of the first to third engagement portions 21 to 23, and both side portions 20 of the grommet portion 2 can be deformed in directions approaching each other. In other words, the engagement state is released.

[0029] When the engagement is released, the side edges 20 of the grommet portion 2 can elastically deform toward each other. Furthermore, because the outer convex portion 23o of the third engagement portion 23 is formed like a gently sloping pedestal, moving the second plate member B2 toward one end of the latch 1 allows the inner edge of the second engagement hole H2 to easily clear the outer convex portion 23o of the third engagement portion 23, thereby disengaging the outer convex portion 23o of the third engagement portion 23 from the second engagement hole H2. In other words, the latch 1 can be removed together with the first plate member B1 from the second engagement hole H2 of the second plate member B1. At this time, because the engagement piece 26 is engaged with the first engagement hole H1 of the first plate member B1 at the step portion 26a, the latch 1 can be reliably removed from the second engagement hole H2, and the latch 1 and the first plate member B1 can be removed from the second plate member B2.

[0030] It is also possible to remove the latch 1 from the first plate member B1. Because the outer convex portion 22o of the second engagement portion 22 that fits into the first engagement hole H1 has a sawtooth shape, it is difficult to remove the latch 1 by simply pulling out the plate member, as is the case when releasing the engagement of the third engagement portion 23 in the second engagement hole H2. In this case, the side edges 20 of the grommet portion 2 are grasped from both sides by hand or with a tool, forcibly elastically deforming the side edges 20 so that they approach each other, thereby releasing the engagement between the outer convex portion 22o of the second engagement portion 22 and the first engagement hole H1. At the same time, the engagement piece 26 is forcibly deformed inward, releasing the engagement with the first engagement hole H1. This allows the latch 1 to be pulled out of the first engagement hole H1, and the first plate member B1 to be removed.

[0031] When the plunger portion 3 is moved to the withdrawn position, i.e., when it returns to the state shown in Figure 4, the sheared connecting pin 25 remains in the grommet portion 2, and this connecting pin 25 holds the plunger portion 3 inside the grommet portion 2, preventing it from coming off the grommet portion 2. Therefore, in this state, the plunger portion 3 can be pushed again, and the latch 1 can be reused.

[0032] Furthermore, when the first plate member B1 is rejoined to the second plate member B2 after the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 have been released from their connection, the latch 1 is engaged with the first engagement hole H1 of the first plate member B1 in the same manner as described above, and the first plate member B1 is joined to the second plate member B2 with the latch 1 still engaged in the first engagement hole H1. This state is similar to the state shown in FIG. 3 , except that the plunger portion 3 is detached from the grommet portion 2. Even in this case, the plunger portion 3 is held within the grommet portion 2, and in particular, the second engagement holding portion 32 of the plunger portion 3 abuts against the inner protrusion 22i of the second engagement portion 22. This prevents the third engagement holding portion 33 of the plunger portion 3 from moving to a position where it abuts against the third engagement portion 23, and allows elastic deformation of the third engagement portion 23 in the latch width direction.

[0033] Then, after aligning the latch 1 with the second engagement hole H2, the first plate member B1 is pressed against the second plate member B2. Because the latch 1 is in a state in which the first plate member B1 is sandwiched between the first engagement portion 21 and the second engagement portion 22 of the grommet portion 2, when the first plate member B1 is pressed against the second plate member B2, the third engagement portion 23 of the grommet portion 2 is elastically deformed and inserted into and engaged with the second engagement hole B2, thereby joining the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 as shown in Figure 4. The subsequent pressing of the plunger portion 3 is the same as that shown in Figure 5.

[0034] As described above, the latch 1 of the first embodiment can couple the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 simply by inserting one end of the latch 1 sequentially through the first engagement hole H1 of the first plate member B1 and the second engagement hole H2 of the second plate member B2. Furthermore, the engaged state, i.e., the coupled state, can be maintained by pushing the plunger portion 3. Furthermore, the second plate member B2 can be easily removed from the latch 1 by pulling the plunger portion 3, thereby disengaging the two plate members B1 and B2. Therefore, operability is improved compared to the configuration of Patent Document 1, in which the first and second plate members are coupled to the latch by performing separate operations. Also, operability is improved compared to the configuration of Patent Document 1, in which the latch and the first plate member are detached integrally from the second plate member. Furthermore, operability is improved compared to the configuration of Patent Document 2, in which the first and second plate members are simultaneously engaged and disengaged, and further, maintenance due to the latch being detached from the plate members is not required.

[0035] The latch of embodiment 1 does not necessarily need to be coupled simultaneously with the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 stacked on top of each other, but can be engaged sequentially with the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2, which improves workability compared to a configuration in which coupling work is performed with two plate members aligned, as in Patent Document 2. Furthermore, when the coupling is released, the latch 1 is maintained in a state engaged with the first plate member B1, so there is no need to store the latch 1 separately until it is recoupled, improving handleability.

[0036] (Embodiment 2) The latch 1 of the first embodiment is configured so that when the plunger portion 3 is pushed, the connecting pin 25 that connects the grommet portion 2 and the plunger portion 3 together is sheared, and the plunger portion 3 is separated from the grommet portion 2, but this does not necessarily have to be the case. For example, as shown in FIG. 7(a), instead of the connecting pin 25 of the first embodiment, the grommet portion 2 and the plunger portion 3 may be integrally formed in a connected state by a pair of ribbon-shaped connecting pieces 25A that are bent in a serpentine shape. The other configuration of the latch 1A of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, so only the reference numerals of the main parts are used.

[0037] In the latch of embodiment 2, when the plunger portion is pushed, the connecting piece 25A is elastically deformed in a direction contracting in the latch length direction, as shown in Fig. 7(b). When the plunger portion 3 is pulled from this state, the connecting piece 25A is elastically restored in the latch length direction, as shown in Fig. 7(a). As in embodiment 1, the first plate member B1 and the second plate member B2 are coupled and uncoupled by the pushing and pulling of the plunger portion 3.

[0038] In the second embodiment, the plunger portion 3 and the grommet portion 2 are not separated, so even when the latch 1A is removed from the first plate member B1, the latch 1A is maintained in its initial state before use. This makes it easy to manage the removed latch 1A and also makes it possible to reuse the latch 1A.

[0039] In the present invention, in both latches 1 and 1A of embodiments 1 and 2, the plunger portion 3 and grommet portion 2 are integrated before use, so they can be manufactured and handled as a single component. This allows the latch to be constructed at low cost, and makes it easier to handle and maintain the latch when connecting plate members compared to latches in which the plunger portion and grommet portion are constructed separately.

[0040] 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of application of the latch 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention. This is applied to a configuration in which a circuit board 110, on which a required circuit is constructed, is disposed on a device housing plate 120 provided inside a game device GD. The circuit board 110 is the first plate member B1 in the present invention, and the device housing plate 120 is the second plate member B2. The circuit board 110 is then coupled to the device housing plate 120 by the latch 1 of the present invention.

[0041] The circuit board 110 has first engagement holes H1 at multiple locations, and the device housing plate 120 has second engagement holes H2 at multiple locations corresponding to the first engagement holes H1. The shapes of the first engagement holes H1 and the second engagement holes H2 are the same as those shown in embodiment 1. Then, latches 1 are attached to the first engagement holes H1 of the circuit board 110 as shown in FIG. 3. Next, the latches 1 attached to the circuit board 110 are inserted into the second engagement holes H2 of the device housing plate 120, thereby engaging the latches 1 with the second engagement holes H2 as shown in FIG. 4. This allows the circuit board 110 to be coupled to the device housing plate 120. Then, by pushing the plunger portion 3 of each latch 1, the engaged state by the latches 1 can be maintained as shown in FIG. 6, i.e., the coupled state of the circuit board 110 and the device housing plate 120 can be maintained, and the circuit board 110 can be stably disposed in the game device GD.

[0042] When removing the circuit board 110 from the game device GD for maintenance or the like, the plunger portion of the latch 1 is pulled, thereby releasing the engagement held by the latch 1. Then, by applying a force to pull the circuit board 110 away from the device housing plate 120, the latch 1 is released from engagement with the second engagement hole H1 of the device housing plate 120, as shown in FIG. 4, and the circuit board 110 can be removed from the device housing plate 120 together with the latch 1. At this time, the latch 1 remains engaged with the circuit board 110, so it will not be lost.

[0043] When the circuit board 110 is reinstalled in the game device GD after maintenance is completed, the latch 1 is already engaged with the circuit board 110, and the plunger portion 3 is held inside the grommet portion 2, so that the circuit board 110 can be joined to the device housing plate 120 by inserting and engaging the latch 1 into the second engaging hole H2 of the device housing plate 120 in the same manner as described above. Furthermore, by pushing the plunger portion 3 of the latch 1, a stable engagement can be maintained.

[0044] In this way, when the circuit board 110 is installed in or removed from the game device GD, if the latch 1 is attached to the first engagement hole H1 of the circuit board 110, the installation and removal of the circuit board 110 from the device housing plate 120, i.e., the coupling and release of the circuit board 110 and the device housing plate 120, can be performed with a simple operation, improving workability. Another advantage is that the latch 1 can be reused when replacing the circuit board 110.

[0045] The latch of the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the first and second embodiments, and the configurations of the plunger and grommet can be modified as appropriate. For example, the engagement piece provided on the plunger is not necessarily required and may be omitted. Furthermore, by appropriately modifying the shape of the latch, for example, the planar shape, it is possible to modify the shapes of the first and second engagement holes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 latch 2 Grommet part 3 Plunger part 20 Side part 21 to 23: First engagement portion to third engagement portion 25 Connecting pin (connecting part) 25A connection piece (connection part) 26 Engagement piece 30 Columnar part 31~33 First engagement holding part~Third engagement holding part B1 1st plate member B2 2nd plate member H1 First System He-Sea Point H2, the second system of confluence point

Claims

1. a grommet portion having a plurality of engaging portions that engage with a first engaging hole opened in the first plate member and a second engaging hole opened in the second plate member, respectively, thereby clamping the first plate member and the second plate member together; and a plunger portion that can be moved relative to the grommet portion to two positions, a pushed-in position and a pulled-out position, wherein the plunger portion and the grommet portion are integrally connected at least before the plunger portion is pushed in, and the plunger portion has an engagement holding portion that holds the engaged state of the plurality of engaging portions when in the pushed-in position and releases the held engaged state of the plurality of engaging portions when in the pulled-out position.

2. 2. The latch of claim 1, wherein the grommet portion comprises a first engagement portion, a second engagement portion, and a third engagement portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with the first engagement hole to clamp the first plate member, the third engagement portion engages with the second engagement hole to clamp the first plate member and the second plate member together with the first engagement portion, and the plunger portion comprises a first engagement retaining portion, a second engagement retaining portion, and a third engagement retaining portion, and when in a pushed-in position, the first engagement retaining portion, the second engagement retaining portion, and the third engagement retaining portion abut against the first engagement portion, the second engagement portion, and the third engagement retaining portion, respectively, to maintain the engaged state of each engagement portion, and when in a pulled-out position, the engaged state of each engagement portion is released.

3. 3. The latch according to claim 2, wherein the engagement between the third engagement portion and the second engagement hole is configured such that the grommet portion can be pulled out of the second engagement hole when the plunger portion is in the pulled-out position.

4. 3. The latch of claim 2, wherein the engagement between the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion and the first engagement hole is configured such that when the plunger portion is in the withdrawal position, the grommet portion can be forcibly deformed and pulled out of the first engagement hole.

5. 2. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the plunger portion and the grommet portion are connected by a connecting piece, and the connecting piece is cut when the grommet is pushed in, thereby releasing the connection.

6. 2. The latch according to claim 1, wherein the plunger portion and the grommet portion are connected by a connecting piece, and the connecting piece is elastically deformed to follow the grommet portion when the grommet is pushed in.

Images