Mounting structure for electrical equipment

Abstract

To suppress falling of an electric apparatus from a wall surface while facilitating attachment work of the electric apparatus to the wall surface.SOLUTION: A hot water supply controller 17 is mounted on a wall surface 12 of a bathroom through a base plate 24 fixed to the wall surface 12. A claw portion 43 protruding upward is formed in an upper portion of the back surface portion 35 of the housing 33, and a slit 67 into which the claw portion 43 is inserted from below is formed in the flange portion 66 formed in the upper frame portion 63 of the base plate 24. As claw portion 43 is caught in slit 67, movement of controller main body 21 toward the front side of wall surface 12 is restricted. A protruding portion 44 protruding rearward is formed in a lower portion of the back surface portion 35. In a state where controller main body 21 is disposed at a predetermined assembly position, protruding portion 44 abuts against lower frame portion 64 of base plate 24 from above, and displacement of controller main body 21 in a direction in which the engagement between claw portion 43 and slit 67 is released is restricted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting structure for mounting an electrical device on a wall surface. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some hot water supply systems applied to buildings such as houses are designed to improve user convenience by placing a controller indoors and allowing users to change the hot water temperature by operating the controller. In recent years, further improvements in convenience have been made by making this type of controller mountable on the wall of a bathroom or other wet area (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-250533 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When attaching the controller to a wall in a wet area, it is preferable to cover the boundary between the wall and the controller (especially the upper boundary) with a caulking agent or the like to prevent water from entering, in order to prevent controller malfunctions, etc. However, with such a configuration, every time the controller is removed from the wall for maintenance, repair, etc., the caulking must be removed and reapplied, which is a lot of work.

[0005] In light of these circumstances, the inventors of the present invention have devised a controller configuration comprising a controller main body (electrical device) with electronic components housed in a housing and a mounting base for mounting the controller main body to a wall surface. The controller main body is attached to the mounting base fixed to the wall surface from below. For example, a protrusion formed on the top of the controller main body is inserted into an insertion portion formed on the top of the mounting base to hook the controller main body onto the mounting base, and then the controller main body is fixed to the mounting base using a fastener or the like. In this mounting structure, for example, a cover portion is provided on the mounting base that covers the controller main body from above, and the boundary between the cover portion and the wall surface is covered with a caulking agent or the like, thereby preventing water from entering through the boundary and protecting the electronic components of the controller main body. Furthermore, during controller maintenance, the removal of the caulking or the like is not required, contributing to improved workability. However, this mounting structure may raise the following new concerns. In other words, if the fastener loosens, the controller body will fall down due to its own weight, releasing the engagement between the convex protrusion and the insertion part, which could cause the controller body to fall off the mounting base. As such, there is still room for improvement in the mounting structure for attaching a controller to a wall surface in order to prevent the controller body from falling off while taking into consideration workability.

[0006] The various problems described above can occur not only in controllers (electrical devices) placed in wet areas such as bathrooms, but also in other electrical devices placed in places where they may be exposed to water, such as on walls outdoors.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems exemplified above, and its main object is to facilitate the installation of electrical equipment on a wall surface while preventing the electrical equipment from falling off the wall surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The following describes means for solving the above problems.

[0009] First means: A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device having an electronic component and a housing for accommodating the electronic component on a wall surface via a mounting base fixed to the wall surface, The housing has a protruding portion that is protruding upward, and the mounting base has an insertion portion that is provided on the mounting base and into which the protruding portion is inserted from below, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, When the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion and the electrical equipment is placed in a predetermined mounting position, the housing has a regulating portion that abuts against a specific part of the housing from below to regulate separation between the convex portion and the insertion portion.

[0010] According to the mounting structure of this invention, the protrusion on the housing is inserted from below into the insertion portion on the mounting base, and the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion prevents the electrical device from tilting toward the front of the wall. When mounting an electrical device on a wall, the electrical device can be firmly attached by fastening the electrical device to the mounting base with fasteners such as screws, but the possibility of the fasteners loosening or coming off due to various factors such as vibration cannot be denied. While the use of the protrusion and insertion portion as described in this invention simplifies the mounting structure and installation process, particularly by reducing the number of fasteners required, there is a concern that the fasteners may loosen or come off, causing the electrical device to fall under its own weight and lose the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion. This falling off of the electrical device can lead to malfunctions. In particular, a configuration in which the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion from below is advantageous in that a waterproof cover (waterproof cover 23) that covers the electrical device from above is used in combination to minimize the gap between the top surface of the electrical device and the cover. However, as described above, this configuration increases the impact if the fastener becomes detached. In other words, when attempting to mount an electrical device on a wall in a location where water is likely to splash, such as a bathroom, this mounting structure is advantageous, but it may increase the possibility of the electrical device accidentally falling off. In this regard, according to this aspect, when the electrical device is placed in the specified mounting position, even if the fastener becomes detached, the restricting portion abuts a specific portion of the housing from below, preventing the protrusion from separating from the insertion portion. In other words, the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion can be maintained. For the above reasons, this mounting structure facilitates the installation of the electrical device on a wall while preventing the electrical device from falling off the wall.

[0011] Furthermore, since the separate cover described above can be left on the wall when the electrical equipment is removed, even if the boundary between the cover and the wall is sealed with caulking to improve waterproofing, there is no need to remove and reapply the caulking every time the electrical equipment is removed.

[0012] Second means: A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device having an electronic component and a housing for accommodating the electronic component on a wall surface via a mounting base fixed to the wall surface, The housing has a protruding portion that is protruding upward, and the mounting base has an insertion portion that is provided on the mounting base and into which the protruding portion is inserted from below, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, a fixing tool that fixes the electrical device to the mounting base when the protrusion is inserted into the insertion part, thereby preventing the electrical device from falling; a restricting portion that restricts separation of the protrusion and the insertion portion by contacting a specific portion of the housing from below when the fixing by the fixing device is released; It has the following characteristics.

[0013] According to the mounting structure of this aspect, the work of mounting the electrical equipment on the wall surface can be made easier, and the electrical equipment can be prevented from falling off the wall surface.

[0014] Third means: A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device having an electronic component and a housing for accommodating the electronic component on a wall surface via a mounting base fixed to the wall surface, The mounting base has a protruding portion that is protruding downward, and the housing has an insertion portion that is provided on the housing and into which the protruding portion is inserted from above, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, When the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion and the electrical equipment is placed in a predetermined mounting position, the housing has a regulating portion that abuts against a specific part of the housing from below to regulate separation between the convex portion and the insertion portion.

[0015] According to the mounting structure of this aspect, the work of mounting the electrical equipment on the wall surface can be made easier, and the electrical equipment can be prevented from falling off the wall surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a hot water supply system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hot water controller (a partial cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1). [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] Front view of the waterproof cover. [Figure 5] Front view of the base plate. [Figure 6] Rear view of the controller body. [Figure 7] (a) is a perspective view of the rear part of the controller body seen from above, and (b) is a perspective view of the rear part of the controller body seen from below. [Figure 8] Schematic diagram for explaining the problem. [Figure 9] Schematic diagram for explaining the problem. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the hot water supply controller showing the controller body and base plate combined together. [Figure 11] Schematic diagram showing the workflow for installing a hot water controller. [Figure 12] Schematic diagram showing behavior when a fixing tool comes off. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing how incorrect assembly of the controller body is avoided. [Figure 14] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is embodied in a hot water supply system applied to a building such as a house.

[0018] As shown in Figure 1, the hot water supply system 15 comprises a hot water heater 16 installed outdoors and a hot water controller 17 installed indoors and operated by the user to change the hot water temperature and fill the tub with water. Although some parts are not shown in the figure, the hot water controllers 17 are installed in the bathroom 11 and the kitchen of the building. Although the installation structures of the hot water controllers 17 differ slightly, the main configuration is the same for each. Below, the main configuration of the hot water controller 17 will first be explained.

[0019] Hot water supply controller 17 is mainly composed of controller main body 21, which is an electrical device (terminal device), and base unit 22, which is a mounting base (pedestal) for installing controller main body 21 on wall surface 12 of bathroom 11. As will be described in detail later, base unit 22 is fixed to wall surface 12, and controller main body 21 is assembled to this base unit 22, thereby installing hot water controller 17 on wall surface 12.

[0020] 2, the controller main body 21 includes a control board 31 that performs various controls related to hot water supply based on user operations, a display device 32 that is disposed over the control board 31 from the front and displays various information such as the hot water supply temperature, and a housing 33 that is a case that houses the control board 31 and the display device 32. The housing 33 is formed by combining a pair of front and rear housing components, and the screen of the display device 32 is covered by a front portion 34 of the housing 33 that is formed by the front housing component. In this embodiment, the control board 31 and the display device 32 correspond to "electronic components."

[0021] Front surface 34 of housing 33 has a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the front of hot water supply controller 17, and is provided with window 34a that allows the screen of display device 32 to be viewed, and operation section 34b that is operated when changing the hot water supply temperature, etc. (See FIG. 3.) Note that, in order to improve waterproofing, front surface 34 does not have any openings or gaps that would allow water to enter.

[0022] The rear portion 35 of the housing 33 is formed by a rear housing component and has a flat plate portion 40 that faces the front portion 34 across a gap, and a bulging portion 41 that is provided in the center of the flat plate portion 40 and bulges out rearward. The control board 31 and other components are disposed within this bulging portion 41. The bulging portion 41 is provided with a connector 41b for wired connection to the water heater 16 and the distribution board (power source), an operating portion 41c for performing reset operations and the like, and an opening / closing portion 41d for enabling access to the inside of the housing 33 for maintenance and the like (see FIG. 6).

[0023] At the installation location on wall surface 12 where hot water supply controller 17 is installed, a substantially rectangular opening 13c is formed so as to penetrate panel 13 constituting wall surface 12 from the inside to the outside, i.e., so as to communicate with front surface 13a and back surface 13b of panel 13. When hot water supply controller 17 is installed on wall surface 12, bulge 41 of housing 33 protrudes to the rear side through opening 13c. This configuration achieves a slimline configuration for the portion of hot water supply controller 17 located on the front surface 13a side.

[0024] A wiring box 25 is disposed on the back surface 13b of the face plate 13 so as to cover the opening 13c. The front surface 25a of the wiring box 25 abuts the back surface 13b, and an opening 25c is formed on the front surface 25a so as to communicate with the opening 13c. A portion of the bulge 41 described above is inserted into the wiring box 25 through the opening 25c. Wiring from the water heater 16 and the distribution board is introduced into the wiring box 25, and the connection points (connector 41b) between these wires and the hot water supply controller 17 are located within the wiring box 25. This protects the connection points from water and dust.

[0025] The base unit 22 is composed of a waterproof cover 23 made of synthetic resin that is placed so as to abut against the surface portion 13a of the face material 13, and a metal base plate 24 that is placed so as to overlap the waterproof cover 23 from the front. Here, a supplementary explanation of the base unit 22 will be given with reference to Figures 3 to 5.

[0026] The waterproof cover 23 has a substantially rectangular facing portion 51 that faces the surface portion 13a of the face material 13. The facing portion 51 is slightly larger than the controller main body 21 when viewed from the front of the wall surface 12, and has a substantially rectangular opening 52 formed in its center. The opening 52 is slightly smaller than the opening 13c of the face material 13, and a portion of the facing portion 51 covers the opening 13c. Peripheral wall portions 54 are formed on the upper edge and left and right edges of the facing portion 51 so as to rise forward. When the waterproof cover 23 and base plate 24 are combined, the base plate 24 is housed in the area surrounded by the peripheral wall portions 54. By surrounding the metal base plate 24 with the synthetic resin waterproof cover 23, a configuration is achieved that makes it difficult for water to get on the base plate 24.

[0027] The base plate 24 has a flat plate portion 61 that overlaps the opposing portion 51 of the waterproof cover 23 from front to back, and this flat plate portion 61 has a substantially rectangular opening 62 that is slightly smaller than the opening 52 of the waterproof cover 23. When the base unit 22 is fixed to the wall surface 12, the opening 13c of the face material 13, the opening 62 of the base plate 24, and the opening 52 of the waterproof cover 23 are connected, and these openings 13c etc. form an insertion portion into which the bulge portion 41 of the controller main body 21 (housing 33) is inserted.

[0028] To further explain the fixing structure of the base unit 22, a screw hole 25d is formed in a portion of the front surface 25a of the wiring box 25 facing the opening 13c, and an insertion portion 53 for inserting a screw 26, which serves as a fastener, is formed in a portion of the facing portion 51 of the waterproof cover 23 facing the screw hole 25d across the opening 13c (see FIG. 4). A through hole 65 is formed in the flat plate portion 61 of the base plate 24 so as to communicate with the insertion portion 53 (see FIG. 5). When fixing the base unit 22 to the wall surface 12, a screw 26 is inserted from the front of the wall surface 12 through the series of through hole 65, insertion portion 53, and opening 13c, and the screw 26 engages with the screw hole 25d of the wiring box 25. This fixes the base unit 22 with the surface material 13 sandwiched between the wiring box 25 and the base unit 22.

[0029] Here, the height dimension (amount of rise) of the peripheral wall portion 54 of the waterproof cover 23 is equal to the sum of the thickness dimension of the portion of the housing 33 of the controller main body 21 other than the bulging portion 41 and the thickness dimension of the flat plate portion 61 of the base plate 24, and when the controller main body 21 is attached to the base unit 22, the outer periphery (outer edge portion) of the controller main body 21 is covered by the peripheral wall portion 54. Specifically, the top surface portion 36 of the housing 33 of the controller main body 21 is covered from above by the top surface portion 55 of the peripheral wall portion 54 of the waterproof cover 23, and the left and right side surface portions 38, 39 of the housing 33 are covered from the sides by the left and right side surface portions 56, 57 of the peripheral wall portion 54 of the waterproof cover 23.

[0030] A caulking agent 28 is disposed at the boundary between the waterproof cover 23 and the surface portion 13a of the face material 13 so as to cover the boundary (see FIG. 2). The caulking agent 28 adheres to the waterproof cover 23 and the face material 13, thereby functioning as a water-stopping means that prevents water from entering through the boundary. For example, even if water flowing down along the wall surface 12 splashes onto the upper surface portion 55 of the waterproof cover 23, the caulking agent 28 prevents the water from entering the upper boundary. This prevents water from splashing onto the control board 31, connector 41b, and the like housed in the housing 33.

[0031] In the hot water controller 17 shown in this embodiment, the base unit 22 to be caulked is separate from the controller main body 21, and the controller main body 21 is assembled to the base unit 22. As a result, even when the controller main body 21 is removed for maintenance or the like, the base unit 22 can be left as is, and the trouble of re-applying the caulking agent 28 can be avoided. Below, a supplementary explanation of the assembly of the controller main body 21 to the base unit 22 will be provided with reference to Figures 2 to 3 and 5 to 7.

[0032] 5, the flat plate portion 61 of the base plate 24 has a rectangular frame shape with an opening 62 formed in the center. A flange portion 66 is provided in a forward-convex shape at a portion of the flat plate portion 61 located above the opening 62 (hereinafter referred to as an upper frame portion 63), more specifically, at the upper end of the upper frame portion 63. A horizontally long slit 67 is formed in this flange portion 66 and penetrates it vertically.

[0033] 6 and 7(a), a groove 42 is formed in the housing 33 of the controller main body 21, into which the flange 66 formed on the base plate 24 can be inserted. The groove 42 extends left and right along at least the top surface 36 of the housing 33, and its depth is greater than the length (amount of rise) of the flange 66 (see FIG. 2).

[0034] The vertical width dimension of the groove 42 (the distance between the lower surface 42a and the upper surface 42b) is sufficiently larger than the thickness dimension of the flange 66, and a plurality of (two in this embodiment) claws 43 (corresponding to "protrusions") are formed on the lower surface 42a of the groove 42 so as to protrude upward from the lower surface 42a. The height dimension of the claws 43 is larger than the thickness dimension of the flange 66, and when the claws 43 are inserted into the slits 67 from below, more specifically when the lower surface 42a abuts against the flange 66 from below, a portion of the claws 43 protrudes upward from the slits 67. When the claws 43 are inserted into the slits 67, they abut against the inner surface of the slits 67 from behind, thereby restricting movement of the controller main body 21 toward the front side of the wall surface 12, i.e., a change in the posture of the controller main body 21 such as tilting forward, at least at the upper part of the controller main body 21.

[0035] Note that the claws 43 are housed within the grooves 42, but the distance between the tips of the claws 43 and the upper surface 42b is greater than the thickness of the flange 66. When the flange 66 is inserted into the grooves 42, the gap between the claws 43 and the upper surface 42b serves as an insertion path for the flange 66. Incidentally, the slits 67 are formed so as to straddle the flange 66 and the upper frame 63 (flat plate portion 61). Therefore, when inserting the claws 43 into the slits 67, even if the controller main body 21 is pushed in while tilted backward, the movement is prevented from being impeded by the upper frame 63.

[0036] With controller main body 21 positioned in this manner, controller main body 21 and base unit 22 (more specifically, base plate 24) are fixed together using fasteners such as screws 27, thereby integrating base unit 22 and controller main body 21 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a portion of flat plate portion 61 of base plate 24 located below opening 62 (hereinafter referred to as lower frame portion 64), more specifically, a bent portion 68 that bends forward and convex is formed in the lower end of lower frame portion 64, and a screw hole 69 is provided in this bent portion 68.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7(b), a recess 48 into which the bent portion 68 of the base plate 24 is inserted is formed in a portion of the housing 33 (flat plate portion 40) of the controller main body 21 that is closer to the lower surface portion 37. A communication hole 49 that communicates with the recess 48 is formed in the lower surface portion 37 of the housing 33, and the screw 27 can be inserted from below through this communication hole 49. With the controller main body 21 placed on the base unit 22, the screw 27 is inserted into the communication hole 49 from below, and with the bent portion 68 inserted into the recess 48, the screw 27 is engaged with the screw hole 69, thereby preventing the controller main body 21 from falling off. In other words, the claw portion 43 is caught in the slit 67 (flange portion 66) at the upper part of the controller main body 21, and the screw 27 is engaged with the screw hole 69 at the lower part of the controller main body 21, preventing the controller main body 21 from falling off.

[0038] Incidentally, the vertical width of the recess 48 is greater than the thickness of the bent portion 68, and when the bent portion 68 and the upper surface of the recess 48 are in contact with each other, the engagement between the claw portion 43 and the slit 67 is released. In other words, when engaging the screw 27 with the screw hole 69, it is necessary to lift the controller main body 21 by hand to some extent. Then, by tightening the screw 27, the controller main body 21 rises to a predetermined height position, more specifically, to a position where the upper surface portion 36 of the housing 33 is in contact with or close to the upper surface portion 55 of the waterproof cover 23. In other words, by tightening the screw 27, an issue such as insufficient engagement between the claw portion 43 and the slit 67 when the controller main body 21 is fixed with the screw 27 is avoided.

[0039] As described above in detail, the following inconveniences may occur in a configuration in which the screw 27 is tightened with the claw portion 43 inserted into the slit 67 from below. These inconveniences will be explained below with reference to Fig. 8. For convenience, in Fig. 8, an "X" is added to each symbol to indicate the relationship with the various components related to the hot water supply controller 17 in this embodiment.

[0040] In the hot water controller 17X shown in FIG. 8, if the screw 27X for fastening the controller main body 21X to the base unit 22X loosens or comes off for some reason, the position of the controller main body 21X will drop due to its own weight. This will reduce the engagement between the claw 43X and the slit 67X, and eventually the claw 43X will come out of the slit 67X. As a result, the restriction on the position change (tilt or rotation) of the controller main body 21X due to the engagement between the claw 43X and the slit 67X will be released. As a result, the controller main body 21X will tilt forward due to its own weight and fall off the base unit 22X.

[0041] To prevent such inconveniences from occurring, it is possible to take measures such as devising a relationship between the claws and the slits when assembling the controller body. This devise will be explained below with reference to Fig. 9. For convenience, in Fig. 9, the letter "Y" is added to each symbol to indicate the relationship with the configuration of hot water supply controller 17 in this embodiment.

[0042] In the hot water controller 17Y shown in FIG. 9, the claws 43Y provided on the housing 33Y of the controller main body 21Y are convex downward and are configured to be inserted from above into slits 67Y formed in a flange portion 66Y of the base unit 22Y (base plate 24Y). With the claws 43Y inserted in this manner, the flange portion 66Y supports the controller main body 21Y, and the weight of the controller main body 21Y maintains the engagement between the claws 43Y and the slits 67Y. The controller main body 21Y and the base unit 22Y are integrated by fastening the lower part of the controller main body 21Y with screws 27Y. In this hot water controller 17Y, even if the screws 27Y loosen or come off for some reason, this alone does not release the engagement between the claws 43Y and the slits 67Y, preventing the controller main body 21Y from falling off. This effectively prevents the inconvenience shown in FIG. 8 from occurring. In other words, the hot water supply controller 17Y shown in FIG. 9 does not have the problem shown in FIG.

[0043] On the other hand, in the hot water supply controller 17Y shown in FIG. 9 , a gap for inserting the claw 43 must be secured between the upper surface 55Y of the base unit 22Y and the flange 66Y. When the controller main body 21Y and the base unit 22Y are integrated, a corresponding gap is created between the upper surface 55Y of the base unit 22Y (waterproof cover 23Y) and the upper surface 36Y of the controller main body 21Y (housing 33Y). Such a large gap is undesirable in terms of improving the waterproofness of the hot water supply controller 17Y. In other words, it is difficult to prevent the controller main body 21Y from falling off while maintaining the waterproofness of the hot water supply controller. Furthermore, because tightening the screw 27Y from below raises the controller main body 21Y, a certain amount of engagement between the claw 43Y and the slit 67Y is required, which exacerbates the above-mentioned concerns. For example, such concerns can be resolved by configuring the screws 27Y to be fastened from the front side of the controller main body 21Y, but this approach creates another problem in that the appearance of the hot water supply controller 17Y becomes poor.

[0044] In view of these circumstances, one of the features of this embodiment is that it is designed to improve waterproofing while preventing controller main body 21 from accidentally falling off. Hereinafter, this design will be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 10.

[0045] As already explained, the rear surface 35 of the controller main body 21 (housing 33) is provided with a flat plate portion 40 and a bulging portion 41 that bulges rearward from the flat plate portion 40. An opening 62 is formed in the center of the flat plate portion 61 of the base unit 22 (base plate 24), and this opening 62 is formed to be slightly larger than the bulging portion 41. When the controller main body 21 is placed in a predetermined assembly position, the bulging portion 41 is inserted into the opening 62, and the edge of the opening 62 faces the peripheral surface of the bulging portion 41 with a gap in between.

[0046] Here, a protruding portion 44 that protrudes rearward is provided on the back surface 35 of the housing 33 at a portion of the flat plate portion 40 that is below the bulging portion 41. The protruding portion 44 serves as a kind of rib that connects the lower surface 41a of the bulging portion 41 and the flat plate portion 40, and contributes to reinforcing the back surface 35.

[0047] A tip 45 of the protrusion 44 has a surface facing rearward, and a bottom 46 of the protrusion 44 has a surface facing downward. The protrusion 44 is formed with an inclined portion 47 that connects the tip 45 and the bottom 46 and faces obliquely downward.

[0048] 10, to further explain the position of the protrusions 44, when the controller main body 21 and the base unit 22 (base plate 24) are combined, the protrusions 44 are located on both the left and right sides of a recess 48 provided in the lower center of the housing 33, more specifically, on the left and right sides of an area where two through holes 65 for the screws 26 are formed. The spacing between the protrusions 44 is greater than the spacing between the claws 43.

[0049] An upper end 71 of the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24 is provided with an abutment portion 72 that abuts against the bottom portion 46 of the protrusion 44 when the controller main body 21 is attached to the base unit 22. When the abutment portion 72 abuts against the bottom portion 46 from below, that is, when the bottom portion 46 is resting on the abutment portion 72, the base plate 24 restricts the descent of the controller main body 21 due to its own weight, and the hook portion 43 is maintained in engagement with the slit 67.

[0050] Here, the procedure for installing the hot water supply controller 17 on the wall surface 12 will be described with reference to Figures 2, 4, and 11. This installation work is carried out in the order of Figures 11(a) → Figure 11(b) → Figure 11(c) → Figure 11(d). For the sake of convenience, the wiring box 25 is not shown in Figure 11.

[0051] When installing hot water supply controller 17 on wall surface 12, first, base unit 22 is fixed to surface material 13. Specifically, the two are stacked with base plate 24 facing forward and waterproof cover 23 facing backward, and then fixed to surface material 13 using screws 26 (see FIG. 2). Next, the boundary (gap) between waterproof cover 23 and surface material 13 is sealed with caulking agent 28 (see FIG. 4).

[0052] After the base unit 22 is fixed to the surface material 13, the controller main body 21 is tilted diagonally with the top facing the back and the bottom facing the front, as shown in Figure 11(a), and the claw portion 43 is inserted into the slit 67 of the base unit 22, as shown in Figure 11(a) → Figure 11(b).

[0053] Here, when the controller main body 21 has been raised to a position where the underside 42a of the groove portion 42 of the controller main body 21 abuts the underside of the flange portion 66, the controller main body 21 is rotated around the catch point between the claw portion 43 and the slit 67 and pushed in, thereby completing placement in the specified assembly position.

[0054] On the other hand, if the hooking of the claw portion 43 into the slit 67 is insufficient, as shown in Figure 11(b) → Figure 11(c), by pushing the controller main body 21 in such a way that the controller main body 21 is rotated around the hooking point between the claw portion 43 and the slit 67, the protrusion 44 of the controller main body 21, more specifically the inclined portion 47, will come into contact with the upper end portion 71 of the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24, and by pushing the controller main body 21 further, the controller main body 21 will rise slightly and be guided to the specified assembly position.

[0055] 11(c), by placing controller main body 21 in a predetermined assembly position, controller main body 21 (protrusion 44) rests on lower frame portion 64 (upper end portion 71) of base plate 24, and controller main body 21 is supported by base plate 24. In this state, the lower frame portion 64 restricts the descent of controller main body 21 due to its own weight, and the hook portions 43 and slits 67 are maintained in engagement with each other.

[0056] 11(d), the screws 27 are tightened from below the controller main body 21 to integrate the controller main body 21 and the base unit 22. Tightening the screws 27 slightly lifts the controller main body 21, and the top surface 36 of the controller main body 21 (housing 33) comes into contact with the top surface 55 of the waterproof cover 23. This prevents water from entering through the gap between the top surface 36 of the controller main body 21 and the top surface 55 of the waterproof cover 23. Incidentally, in this embodiment, the top surface 36 and the top surface 55 are configured to come into contact with each other, but it is also possible to interpose a waterproof member such as a rubber packing between them, that is, to sandwich a waterproofing member between the top surface 36 and the top surface 55.

[0057] As described above in detail, the hot water supply controller 17 installed on the wall surface 12 of the bathroom 11 has a base unit 22 formed by the waterproof cover 23 and the base plate 24. In the hot water supply system 15 shown in this embodiment, the hot water supply controller 17 is installed in the kitchen in addition to the bathroom 11. The hot water supply controller 17 installed on the wall surface of the kitchen is intended to be installed on a wall away from water sources such as a sink, and is less likely to be splashed with water than the hot water supply controller 17 installed in the bathroom 11. The hot water supply controller 17 installed on the wall surface of the kitchen does not have the waterproof cover 23, and the base unit 22 is formed by the base plate 24. In other words, the base plate 24 is fixed to a surface material without the waterproof cover 23 interposed therebetween, and the controller main body 21 is assembled to the base plate 24. This assembly procedure is the same as the assembly procedure shown in FIG. 11 .

[0058] In the hot water supply controller 17 shown in this embodiment, even if the screw 27 loosens or comes off due to factors such as vibration, it is possible to prevent the controller main body 21 from falling off the base unit 22. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 , for example, when the screw 27 comes off, the controller main body 21 will slightly drop due to its own weight, but will rest on the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24. The upper end portion 71 (abutment portion 72) of the lower frame portion 64 abuts against the protrusion 44 (bottom portion 46) of the controller main body 21, thereby restricting further descent. With the descent restricted in this manner, the hooks 43 of the controller main body 21 remain engaged with the slits 67 of the base plate 24, restricting forward positional change (tilt) of the controller main body 21. Furthermore, the rear surface portion 35 (flat plate portion 40) of the controller main body 21 abuts against the flat plate portion 61 of the base plate 24, thereby restricting backward positional change (tilt) of the controller main body 21. For the above reasons, the controller body 21 can be suitably prevented from falling off.

[0059] Furthermore, with regard to hot water supply controller 17 shown in this embodiment, when claw portion 43 of controller main body 21 is not inserted into slit 67, for example, when controller main body 21 is abutting flange portion 66 from below as shown in FIG. 13 , even if an attempt is made to push (rotate) hot water supply controller 17 into the predetermined assembly position, protrusion 44 (tip 45) of controller main body 21 will hit the front surface of lower frame portion 64 of base plate 24, preventing placement in the predetermined assembly position. Furthermore, even if an attempt is made to tighten screw 27 when controller main body 21 is not placed in the predetermined assembly position, screw hole 69 will remain in a position offset from its original position, making it impossible to tighten screw 27. This configuration reduces operational errors and prevents hot water supply controller 17 from being left incompletely installed, i.e., prevents controller main body 21 from falling off.

[0060] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following excellent effects can be expected.

[0061] According to the installation structure (corresponding to the "mounting structure") shown in this embodiment, the tabs 43 on the controller main body 21 are inserted from below into the slits 67 on the base unit 22, and the tabs 43 and the slits 67 are engaged, thereby restricting the controller main body 21 from tilting toward the front or rear of the wall surface 12. When attaching the controller main body 21 to the wall surface 12, the hot water supply controller 17 can be firmly attached to the wall surface 12 by fastening the controller main body 21 to the base unit 22 with the screws 27. However, the possibility cannot be denied that the screws 27 may loosen or come off due to various factors such as vibration. While the use of the tabs 43 and the slits 67 as shown in this embodiment simplifies the installation structure and the installation process, and therefore reduces the number of screws 27 required, there is a concern that the fastening by the screws 27 may loosen or come off, causing the controller main body 21 to descend under its own weight, thereby releasing the engagement between the tabs 43 and the slits 67. The detachment of the controller main body 21 can lead to malfunctions and other problems. In particular, the configuration in which the claws 43 are inserted into the slits 67 from below is advantageous in that the waterproof cover 23 covering the controller main body 21 from above minimizes the gap between the top surface 36 of the controller main body 21 and the top surface 55 of the waterproof cover 23. However, as described above, this configuration increases the impact of the screws 27 coming loose. In other words, while this mounting structure is advantageous when attempting to mount the hot water supply controller 17 on a wall in a location where water is likely to splash, such as a bathroom, it can increase the possibility of the controller 17 accidentally falling off. In this regard, with the configuration shown in this embodiment, when the controller main body 21 is positioned in the predetermined assembly position, even if the screws 27 come loose, the lower frame 64 (more specifically, the abutment 72) of the base plate 24 abuts the protrusion 44 of the housing 33 from below, preventing the claws 43 from separating from the slits 67. In other words, the engagement between the claws 43 and the slits 67 can be maintained. For the reasons described above, the installation structure shown in this embodiment makes it possible to easily attach controller main body 21 to wall surface 12 while preventing controller main body 21 from falling off wall surface 12.

[0062] Furthermore, since the waterproof cover 23 can be left on the wall surface 12 side when the controller main body 21 is removed, even if the waterproof function is enhanced by sealing the boundary between the waterproof cover 23 and the wall surface 12 with caulking agent 28, there is no need to remove and re-apply the caulking agent 28 every time the controller main body 21 is removed.

[0063] According to the installation structure shown in this embodiment, controller main body 21 is supported by lower frame portion 64 (abutment portion 72) of base plate 24 with claw portions 43 inserted into slits 67, eliminating the need to support controller main body 21 with one hand when fixing controller main body 21 to base plate 24 with screws 27. This contributes to reducing the workload involved in installing controller main body 21.

[0064] According to the configuration shown in this embodiment, the controller main body 21 can be placed in a predetermined assembly position by rotating the controller main body 21 around the catch points between the claws 43 and the slits 67. In this case, the lower frame 64 (abutment portion 72) functioning as a restricting portion can abut against the protruding portion 44 as long as it is provided directly below the controller main body 21 (protruding portion 44) placed in the predetermined assembly position, eliminating the need for a mechanism that moves a configuration equivalent to the restricting portion to match the position of the controller main body 21. This is preferable in terms of simplifying the installation structure.

[0065] When controller main body 21 is rotated around the catch point between claw portion 43 and slit 67 and placed in a predetermined assembly position, inclined portion 47 of protrusion 44 comes into contact with upper end 71 (abutment portion 72) of lower frame portion 64, thereby guiding controller main body 21 so that the catch amount between claw portion 43 and slit 67 is large. With this configuration, when separation restriction between claw portion 43 and slit 67 is performed, a certain amount of catch amount between claw portion 43 and slit 67 can be ensured. This is advantageous in preventing the requirements for separation restriction from becoming excessively strict compared to when separation restriction is performed with a small catch amount.

[0066] In addition, in a configuration in which the controller main body 21 is lifted by fixing the screws 27, the load associated with the fixing operation can be reduced by using a configuration in which the controller main body 21 is lifted by pushing the controller main body 21 into a predetermined assembly position as described above.

[0067] A configuration in which the controller main body 21 is covered from above by the waterproof cover 23 is preferable in terms of protecting the controller main body 21 from water. However, if the gap between the upper surface 55 of this waterproof cover 23 and the upper surface 36 of the controller main body 21 (housing 33) becomes large, there is a concern that this gap will become a new path for water to enter, preventing the waterproof function from being properly performed. Here, in a configuration in which the controller main body 21 is rotated around the catch point between the claw 43 and the slit 67 to be positioned in a predetermined assembly position, it is advantageous in terms of reducing the gap to dispose the claw 43, which serves as the center of rotation, at the top of the housing 33, that is, to dispose the claw 43, which serves as the center of rotation, in a position close to the upper surface 55 of the waterproof cover 23.

[0068] When the screw 27 is fastened while the controller main body 21 is placed in a predetermined assembly position, the protruding portion 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 (abutment portion 72) of the base plate 24 are separated from each other. This configuration can prevent the protruding portion 44 and the lower frame portion 64 from being deformed or damaged by the weight of the controller main body 21 itself.

[0069] <Other embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be implemented as follows: Each of the following configurations may be applied individually to the above-described embodiments, or a combination of some or all of the following configurations may be applied to the above-described embodiments.

[0070] (1) In the above embodiment, an example was given of a configuration in which upwardly protruding claw portions 43 (corresponding to "protrusions") are provided on the controller main body 21 side, slits 67 (corresponding to "insertion portions") into which the claw portions 43 are inserted are provided on the base unit 22 side, and the claw portions 43 are inserted into the slits 67 from below, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient if the movement (posture change) of the controller main body 21 toward the front of the wall surface 12 can be restricted. It is also possible to provide a configuration in which a slit is provided on the controller main body 21 side and downwardly protruding claw portions are provided on the base unit 22 side, and the claw portions are inserted into the slits from above. Note that the portions into which the claw portions are inserted do not necessarily have to be slit-shaped (through-holes), and can also be recessed.

[0071] (2) In the above embodiment, the slits 67 into which the tabs 43 of the controller main body 21 are inserted are formed so as to straddle the upper frame portion 63 (flat plate portion 61) and the flange portion 66 of the base plate 24. However, this is not limited to this. The slits 67 may be formed only in the flange portion 66. However, in order to insert the tabs 43 into the slits by lifting the controller main body 21 from diagonally below, it is necessary to provide a certain amount of clearance in the front-to-rear width of the slits when only the flange portion 66 is provided. Such clearance can cause significant wobble when the controller main body 21 is placed in a predetermined assembly position. Given that the controller main body 21 is operated (touched) by the user, there is concern that significant wobble in the front-to-rear direction could reduce user satisfaction. In light of this, it is technically significant to form the slits 67 so as to straddle the upper frame portion 63 (flat plate portion 61) and minimize the width of the slit in the front-to-rear direction, as shown in the above embodiment.

[0072] (3) In the above embodiment, an example was given of a configuration in which the controller main body 21 is placed on the base plate 24 (contact portion 72 of the lower frame portion 64) of the waterproof cover 23 and base plate 24 that constitute the base unit 22, thereby maintaining the engagement between the claw portion 43 and the slit 67. However, this may be modified to provide the waterproof cover 23 with a configuration equivalent to the contact portion 72 of the lower frame portion 64.

[0073] (4) In the above embodiment, an example was given of the case where the claw portion 43 of the controller main body 21 is arranged within the groove portion 42 formed in the housing 33, but the arrangement of the claw portion 43 is arbitrary and it is not necessarily required to accommodate it in the groove portion 42.

[0074] (5) In the above embodiment, the front-to-rear positions of the protrusions 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24 are shifted so that the contact points between the protrusions 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24 are located behind the catch points between the claws 43 of the controller main body 21 and the slits 67 of the base plate 24. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the front-to-rear positions of the catch points between the claws 43 of the controller main body 21 and the slits 67 of the base plate 24 and the contact points between the protrusions 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24 may be aligned. Alternatively, the front-to-rear positions of the contact points between the protrusions 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24 may be shifted so that the contact points between the protrusions 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 of the base plate 24 are located forward of the catch points between the claws 43 of the controller main body 21 and the slits 67 of the base plate 24.

[0075] (6) In the above embodiment, when the controller main body 21 and the base plate 24 are fixed together with the screws 27, the protruding portions 44 of the controller main body 21 are configured to move upward away from the lower frame portion 64 (contact portions 72) of the base plate 24, but this is not limited to this. Even when the controller main body 21 and the base plate 24 are fixed together with the screws 27, it is also possible to configure the protruding portions 44 of the controller main body 21 and the lower frame portion 64 (contact portions 72) of the base plate 24 to remain in contact with each other.

[0076] (7) It is also possible to configure the controller main body 21 so that it is locked when it is placed in a predetermined assembly position, thereby restricting forward movement of the controller main body 21. For example, as shown in FIG. 14 , a downwardly protruding snap portion 46aA (snap) may be formed on the bottom 46A of the protrusion 44A provided on the controller main body 21A (housing 33A), and when the controller main body 21A is pushed into the predetermined assembly position, this snap portion 46aA may hook from behind onto the lower frame portion 64 (upper end portion 71), thereby restricting forward movement of the controller main body 21. In such a configuration, it is preferable that lifting the controller main body 21 releases the hook between the snap portion 46aA and the lower frame portion 64, allowing the controller main body 21 to be pulled out.

[0077] (8) In the above embodiment, the protrusion 44 is formed to connect the flat plate portion 40 and the bulge portion 41 of the housing 33, thereby improving the strength of the protrusion 44 and, ultimately, the housing 33. However, the location of the structure corresponding to the protrusion 44 is arbitrary. For example, the structure corresponding to the protrusion may be located away from the flat plate portion 40 or away from the bulge portion 41. However, if the protrusion 44 is given the function of guiding the controller main body 21 to a predetermined assembly position for the purpose of simplifying the configuration of the hot water supply controller 17, a large load may be applied to the protrusion 44 when the controller main body 21 is pushed into the predetermined assembly position. If the protrusion 44 is deformed or damaged by such a load, it is likely that the function of maintaining the engagement between the claw portion 43 and the slit 67 will not be properly performed. In light of this situation, there is technical significance in forming the protrusion 44 to connect the flat plate portion 40 and the bulge portion 41 to improve the strength of the protrusion 44.

[0078] (9) In the above embodiment, the fixing points for screws 27 are provided on the lower part of controller main body 21, specifically on underside 37 of housing 33. However, the positions of the fixing points for screws 27 may be changed as desired. For example, the fixing points for screws 27 may be provided on side surfaces 38, 39 or front surface 34 of housing 33. However, in consideration of the appearance, operability, water resistance, etc. of hot water supply controller 17, it is technically significant to provide the fixing points for screws 27 on underside 37 of controller main body 21.

[0079] (10) In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the rear surface portion 35 (specifically, the flat plate portion 40) of the controller main body 21 and the flat plate portion 61 (specifically, the upper frame portion 63) of the base plate 24 abut against each other when the controller main body 21 is disposed in a predetermined assembly position. That is, a configuration has been described in which the flat plate portion 61 of the base plate 24 restricts rearward positional changes of the controller main body 21. To achieve this restricting function, the rear surface portion 35 (specifically, the flat plate portion 40) of the controller main body 21 and the flat plate portion 61 (specifically, the upper frame portion 63) of the base plate 24 do not necessarily need to abut against each other, and a configuration in which a gap is formed between them is not denied.

[0080] Furthermore, as shown in the above modified example (2), when slits 67 are formed only in flange portion 66, a configuration may be adopted in which claw portions 43 and slits 67 perform the function of restricting rearward movement (attitude change) of controller main body 21. However, considering that hot water supply controller 17 is pressed by the user, it is undesirable for claw portions 43 to be deformed or otherwise affected by the load when hot water supply controller 17 is pressed. Therefore, as shown in the above embodiment, in order to protect claw portions 43, it is preferable to configure back surface portion 35 (more specifically, flat plate portion 40) of controller main body 21 and flat plate portion 61 (more specifically, upper frame portion 63) of base plate 24 to perform the function of restricting rearward movement (attitude change) of controller main body 21.

[0081] (11) In the above embodiment, the waterproof cover 23 constituting the base unit 22 is made of synthetic resin, and the base plate 24 is made of metal, but the materials of the waterproof cover 23 and the base plate 24 may be changed as desired. However, in order to make the hot water supply controller 17 thinner and to take into consideration both water resistance and strength, it is technically significant to make the waterproof cover 23 out of synthetic resin and the base plate 24 out of metal.

[0082] (12) The hot water supply controller installation structure shown in the above embodiment can also be applied to other electrical devices installed on a wall (for example, an air conditioning controller or a bathroom television). Furthermore, the application of the above installation structure is not limited to electrical devices installed on an indoor wall, but can also be applied to electrical devices installed on an outdoor wall (for example, an intercom or a surveillance camera).

[0083] <Inventions extracted from the above embodiments> The following describes the features of the inventions extracted from the above embodiments, while indicating, as necessary, their effects, etc. Note that, for ease of understanding, the corresponding configurations in the above embodiments are indicated in parentheses as appropriate, but the invention is not limited to the specific configurations indicated in parentheses.

[0084] The following features are related to the background art of "For example, some hot water supply systems applied to buildings such as houses have a controller placed indoors, and by operating the controller, the hot water temperature and the like can be changed, thereby improving user convenience. In recent years, further improvements in convenience have been made by making this type of controller mountable on the wall of a wet area such as a bathroom (see, for example, Patent Document 1: JP 2009-250533 A)." The following features are related to the background art of "When mounting a controller on a wet area wall, it is preferable to prevent water from entering by covering the boundary between the wall and the controller (especially the upper boundary) with a caulking agent or the like to prevent the controller from malfunctioning. However, with such a configuration, every time the controller is removed from the wall for maintenance, repair, or the like, the caulking must be removed and re-applied, which is a lot of work. In light of this situation, the inventor of the present application has proposed a controller that is made up of a controller main body (electrical equipment) that has electronic components housed in a housing, and a mounting base for mounting the controller main body on a wall, and the mounting base fixed to the wall We have devised a configuration in which the controller body is assembled from below, for example, by inserting a protrusion formed on the top of the controller body into an insertion portion formed on the top of the mounting base to hook the controller body onto the mounting base, and then fastening the controller body to the mounting base using a fastener or the like. In this mounting structure, for example, a cover portion that covers the controller body from above is provided on the mounting base, and the boundary between the cover portion and the wall surface is covered with a caulking agent or the like, thereby preventing water from entering through the boundary and protecting the electronic components of the controller body. Furthermore, removing the caulking or the like is not required during controller maintenance, contributing to improved workability. However, this mounting structure may raise the following new concern. Specifically, if the fastener loosens, the controller body may descend under its own weight, releasing the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion, causing the controller body to fall off the mounting base. Thus, there is still room for improvement in mounting structures for attaching controllers to wall surfaces in order to prevent the controller body from falling off while taking workability into consideration.The above-mentioned various problems can occur not only in controllers (electrical devices) placed in wet areas such as bathrooms, but also in other electrical devices placed in places where they may be exposed to water, such as on walls outdoors." This was made in consideration of the following background and problems.

[0085] Feature 1 (cover and fixture not shown): An electrical device (controller body 21) having electronic components (control board 31 and display device 32) and a housing (housing 33) for accommodating the electronic components is mounted on a wall surface (wall surface 12) via a mounting base (base unit 22) fixed to the wall surface (wall surface 12). The housing has a protrusion (claw portion 43) that is protruding upward, and the mounting base has an insertion portion (slit 67) into which the protrusion is inserted from below, and the insertion portion and the protrusion inserted into the insertion portion are caught, thereby restricting the change in posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface. An electrical equipment mounting structure characterized by having a regulating portion (abutment portion 72 of a lower frame portion 64) that abuts against a specific portion of the housing (bottom 46 of protrusion 44) from below when the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion and the electrical equipment is positioned in a predetermined mounting position (predetermined assembly position), thereby regulating separation between the convex portion and the insertion portion.

[0086] According to this mounting structure, the protrusion on the housing is inserted from below into the insertion portion on the mounting base, and the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion prevents the electrical device from tilting toward the front of the wall. When mounting an electrical device on a wall, the electrical device can be securely attached by fastening the electrical device to the mounting base with fasteners such as screws. However, the possibility of the fasteners loosening or coming off due to various factors such as vibration cannot be ruled out. While the use of the protrusion and the insertion portion as described above simplifies the mounting structure and installation process, particularly in reducing the number of fasteners required, there is a concern that the fasteners may loosen or come off, causing the electrical device to fall under its own weight, thereby releasing the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion. This falling off of the electrical device can lead to malfunctions. In particular, a configuration in which the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion from below is advantageous in that a waterproof cover (waterproof cover 23) that covers the electrical device from above is used in combination to minimize the gap between the top surface of the electrical device and the cover. However, as described above, this configuration increases the impact if the fastener becomes detached. In other words, when attempting to mount an electrical device on a wall in a location where water is likely to splash, such as a bathroom, this mounting structure is advantageous, but it may increase the possibility of the electrical device accidentally falling off. In this regard, with this configuration, when the electrical device is placed in the specified mounting position, even if the fastener becomes detached, the restricting portion abuts a specific portion of the housing from below, preventing the protrusion from separating from the insertion portion. In other words, the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion can be maintained. For these reasons, the mounting structure described above facilitates the installation of the electrical device on a wall while preventing the electrical device from falling off the wall.

[0087] Furthermore, since the separate cover described above can be left on the wall when the electrical equipment is removed, even if the boundary between the cover and the wall is sealed with caulking to improve waterproofing, there is no need to remove and reapply the caulking every time the electrical equipment is removed.

[0088] Feature 2: The restricting portion can support the electrical device by contacting a specific portion of the housing from below, The mounting structure for electrical equipment described in Feature 1 is characterized in that, when the electrical equipment is supported by the regulating portion, the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion regulates the posture change (rotation) of the electrical equipment around the specific part.

[0089] According to this characteristic configuration, the restricting portion supports the electrical device with the protrusion inserted into the insertion portion, eliminating the need to support the electrical device with one hand when fixing the electrical device to the mounting base using fasteners such as screws or bolts, thereby contributing to reducing the workload involved in installing the electrical device.

[0090] Feature 3. The mounting structure for electrical equipment according to Feature 2, characterized in that the electrical equipment cannot be placed in the predetermined mounting position unless the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion.

[0091] In a configuration in which the restricting portion can support the electrical device as described in Feature 2, the following inconvenience may occur if the specific portion comes into contact with the restricting portion and the electrical device is supported even though the protruding portion is not inserted into the insertion portion due to an operational error. That is, when the worker releases the electrical device, the electrical device may change its posture and fall off the mounting base. In this regard, with the configuration described in this feature, if the protruding portion is not inserted into the insertion portion, the electrical device cannot be placed in the specified mounting position, i.e., the restricting portion cannot support the electrical device. This makes it less likely that the worker will release the electrical device by mistake. This contributes to reducing operational errors.

[0092] Feature 4: The mounting structure for an electrical device according to any one of Features 1 to 3, wherein the electrical device can be placed in the predetermined mounting position by rotating the electrical device around a catch point between the protrusion and the insertion portion while the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion. According to this characteristic configuration, the electrical device can be placed in a predetermined mounting position by rotating the electrical device around the hooking point between the protrusion and the insertion part. In this case, the restricting part can abut against the specific part of the electrical device placed in the predetermined mounting position as long as it is provided directly below the specific part, eliminating the need for a mechanism to move the restricting part according to the position of the electrical device. This is preferable in terms of simplifying the mounting structure.

[0093] Feature 5: The mounting structure for electrical equipment described in Feature 4, characterized in that when the electrical equipment is rotated around the hooking point between the convex portion and the insertion portion and placed in the specified mounting position, a guide portion (inclined portion 47) is provided to guide the electrical equipment so that the hooking amount between the convex portion and the insertion portion is increased.

[0094] According to this characteristic configuration, a certain amount of engagement margin can be secured when the restriction by the restriction portion is in effect, which is advantageous in preventing excessively strict requirements from being imposed on the restriction portion compared to when the restriction by the restriction portion is in effect when the engagement margin is small.

[0095] In addition, in a configuration in which an electrical device is lifted by the fixing operation of a fixing device (see Feature 10, etc.) described later, by using a configuration in which the above-mentioned guidance is performed by pushing the electrical device into a predetermined mounting position as shown in this feature, it is possible to contribute to reducing the load associated with the fixing operation.

[0096] Feature 6: The mounting structure for electrical equipment described in Feature 4 or Feature 5, characterized in that the specific portion is provided with a protrusion (return portion 46aA) that, when the electrical equipment is placed in the predetermined mounting position, is caught on the regulating portion from the back side, preventing the electrical equipment from rotating toward the front side of the wall surface around the catch point between the convex portion and the insertion portion.

[0097] According to this characteristic configuration, it is possible to easily prevent the electrical device from unintentionally rotating around the hooking point between the protrusion and the insertion portion, which would cause the hooking between the protrusion and the insertion portion to be released.

[0098] Feature 7: The mounting structure for an electrical device according to Feature 6, wherein the engagement between the protrusion and the restricting portion is released by lifting the electrical device so that the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion becomes larger. This configuration makes it possible to easily prevent the protrusion from interfering with the removal of the electrical device according to the correct procedure. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the movement to release the engagement between the protrusion and the restricting portion from simultaneously releasing the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion, thereby making it less likely that the position of the electrical device will change unexpectedly when being removed.

[0099] Feature 8: The mounting base has a cover portion (upper surface portion 55 of waterproof cover 23) that covers from above the electrical device placed at the predetermined mounting position, The mounting structure for an electrical device described in any one of Features 4 to 7, characterized in that the convex portion is arranged on the upper part of the housing and the specific portion is arranged on the lower part of the housing.

[0100] Providing a cover that covers the electrical device from above is preferable in terms of protecting the electrical device from water, etc. However, if the gap between this cover and the housing of the electrical device becomes large, there is a concern that the gap will become a new route for water to enter, and the waterproof function will not be properly performed. Here, in a configuration in which the electrical device is rotated around the hooking point between the protrusion and the insertion part to be placed in a predetermined installation position as described in Feature 4, it is advantageous in terms of reducing the above gap to arrange the protrusion that serves as the center of rotation at the top of the housing, that is, to arrange the protrusion that serves as the center of rotation in a position close to the cover.

[0101] Feature 9: When the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion, the electrical device can be placed in the predetermined mounting position, a fastener (screw 27 or the like) for fastening the electrical device to the mounting base; The mounting structure for an electrical device according to any one of Features 1 to 8, characterized in that when the electrical device is placed at the predetermined mounting position, the electrical device and the mounting base can be fixed by the fixing device. According to this feature, if at least the protrusion is not inserted into the insertion portion, the electrical device cannot be fixed to the mounting base by the fixing device, which makes it less likely that the electrical device will be imperfectly fixed when the fixing device is used without the protrusion and the insertion portion being hooked together.

[0102] Feature 10: A fastener (screw 27 or the like) is provided to fasten the electrical device to the mounting base when a fastening operation is performed while the electrical device is disposed in the predetermined mounting position, The mounting structure for electrical equipment described in any one of Features 1 to 9 is characterized in that the specific portion and the regulating portion are spaced apart by fixing the electrical equipment and the mounting base with the fixing device.

[0103] According to the configuration of this feature, deformation or damage to the specific portion or the restricting portion due to the weight of the electric device can be suppressed, which is preferable for appropriately achieving the effect of feature 1.

[0104] Feature 11: The mounting base has a cover portion (upper surface portion 55 of waterproof cover 23) that covers from above the electrical device placed at the predetermined mounting position, The mounting structure for electrical equipment described in Feature 10 is characterized in that when the electrical equipment and the mounting base are fixed using the fixing device, the upper surface (upper surface 36) of the housing of the electrical equipment rises so as to approach the cover portion as the fixing device is fixed.

[0105] According to this feature, the fixing operation raises the electrical device (housing) closer to the cover, thereby reducing the gap between the top surface of the housing and the cover, which is preferable for preventing water from entering through the gap between the cover and the housing.

[0106] Feature 12 (Fixture) A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device (controller body 21) having electronic components (control board 31 and display device 32) and a housing (housing 33) for accommodating the electronic components, to a wall surface (wall surface 12) via a mounting base (base unit 22) fixed to the wall surface, The housing has a protrusion (claw portion 43) that is protruding upward, and the mounting base has an insertion portion (slit 67) into which the protrusion is inserted from below, and the insertion portion and the protrusion inserted into the insertion portion are caught, thereby restricting the change in posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface. a fixing device (screw 27) for fixing the electrical device to the mounting base when the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion, thereby preventing the electrical device from falling; a restricting portion (abutment portion 72 of the lower frame portion 64) that restricts separation of the protrusion and the insertion portion by abutting against a specific portion of the housing (the bottom portion 46 of the protrusion 44) from below when the fixation by the fixing device is released; An electrical equipment mounting structure comprising:

[0107] According to this mounting structure, the convex portion on the mounting base is inserted from above into the insertion portion on the housing, and the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion restricts the electrical device from tilting toward the front of the wall. When mounting an electrical device on a wall, the electrical device can be securely attached by fastening the electrical device to the mounting base with fasteners such as screws. However, the possibility of the fasteners loosening or coming off due to various factors such as vibration cannot be ruled out. While the use of the convex portion and the insertion portion as described in this feature simplifies the mounting structure and installation process, particularly by reducing the number of fasteners required, there is a concern that the fasteners may loosen or come off, causing the electrical device to fall under its own weight, thereby releasing the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion. This detachment of the electrical device can lead to malfunctions. In particular, a configuration in which the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion from below is advantageous in that a waterproof cover (waterproof cover 23) that covers the electrical device from above is used in combination to minimize the gap between the top surface of the electrical device and the cover. However, as described above, this configuration increases the impact if the fastener becomes detached. In other words, when attempting to mount an electrical device on a wall in a location where water is likely to splash, such as a bathroom, this mounting structure is advantageous, but it may increase the possibility of the electrical device accidentally falling off. In this regard, with this configuration, when the electrical device is placed in the specified mounting position, even if the fastener becomes detached, the restricting portion abuts a specific portion of the housing from below, preventing the protrusion from separating from the insertion portion. In other words, the engagement between the protrusion and the insertion portion can be maintained. For these reasons, the mounting structure described above facilitates the installation of the electrical device on a wall while preventing the electrical device from falling off the wall.

[0108] Furthermore, since the separate cover described above can be left on the wall when the electrical equipment is removed, even if the boundary between the cover and the wall is sealed with caulking to improve waterproofing, there is no need to remove and reapply the caulking every time the electrical equipment is removed.

[0109] Feature 13: A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device (controller body 21) having electronic components (control board 31 and display device 32) and a housing (housing 33) for accommodating the electronic components, on a wall surface (wall surface 12) via a mounting base (base unit 22) fixed to the wall surface, The mounting base has a protruding portion that is protruding downward, and the housing has an insertion portion that is provided on the housing and into which the protruding portion is inserted from above, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, An electrical equipment mounting structure characterized by having a regulating portion (abutment portion 72 of a lower frame portion 64) that abuts against a specific portion of the housing (bottom 46 of protrusion 44) from below when the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion and the electrical equipment is positioned in a predetermined mounting position (predetermined assembly position), thereby regulating separation between the convex portion and the insertion portion.

[0110] According to the mounting structure having this feature, it is possible to easily mount the electrical equipment on the wall surface and to prevent the electrical equipment from falling off the wall surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 11...bathroom, 12...wall, 13...surface material, 15...hot water supply system, 16...hot water heater, 17...hot water supply controller, 21...controller body as electrical equipment, 22...base unit as mounting base, 23...waterproof cover, 24...base plate, 26, 27...screws, 28...caulking agent, 31...control board, 32...display device, 33...housing, 35...rear portion, 36...upper surface portion, 37...lower surface portion, 40...flat portion, 41...bulge portion, 42...groove portion, 43...claw portion as convex portion, 44...protruding portion as specific portion, 45...tip portion, 46...bottom, 46aA...return portion as protrusion, 47...inclined portion as guide portion, 63...upper frame portion, 64...lower frame portion, 66...flange portion, 67...slit as insertion portion, 71...upper end portion, 72...abutment portion.

Claims

1. 1. A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device having an electronic component and a housing for accommodating the electronic component on a wall surface via a mounting base fixed to the wall surface, comprising: The housing has a protruding portion that is protruding upward, and the mounting base has an insertion portion that is provided on the mounting base and into which the protruding portion is inserted from below, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, An electrical equipment mounting structure characterized in that it has a regulating portion that regulates separation between the convex portion and the insertion portion by abutting against a specific portion of the housing from below when the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion and the electrical equipment is placed in a predetermined mounting position.

2. The restricting portion is capable of supporting the electrical device by contacting a specific portion of the housing from below, The mounting structure for electrical equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the electrical equipment is supported by the regulating portion, the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion regulates changes in the posture of the electrical equipment around the specific part.

3. The mounting structure for electrical equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrical equipment cannot be placed in the specified mounting position unless the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion.

4. The electrical device can be placed in the predetermined mounting position by rotating the electrical device around a catch point between the protrusion and the insertion portion while the protrusion is inserted into the insertion portion, 4. An electrical equipment mounting structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a guide portion is provided to guide the electrical equipment so that the engagement between the convex portion and the insertion portion becomes larger when the electrical equipment is rotated around the engagement point between the convex portion and the insertion portion and placed in the specified mounting position.

5. The mounting structure for electrical equipment as described in claim 4, characterized in that the specific portion has a protrusion that, when the electrical equipment is placed in the specified mounting position, gets caught on the regulating portion from the back side, preventing the electrical equipment from rotating toward the front side of the wall surface centered on the catch point between the convex portion and the insertion portion.

6. 1. A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device having an electronic component and a housing for accommodating the electronic component on a wall surface via a mounting base fixed to the wall surface, comprising: The housing has a protruding portion that is protruding upward, and the mounting base has an insertion portion that is provided on the mounting base and into which the protruding portion is inserted from below, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, a fixing tool that fixes the electrical device to the mounting base when the protrusion is inserted into the insertion part, thereby preventing the electrical device from falling; a restricting portion that restricts separation of the protrusion and the insertion portion by contacting a specific portion of the housing from below when the fixing by the fixing device is released; An electrical equipment mounting structure comprising:

7. 1. A mounting structure for mounting an electrical device having an electronic component and a housing for accommodating the electronic component on a wall surface via a mounting base fixed to the wall surface, comprising: The mounting base has a protruding portion that is protruding downward, and the housing has an insertion portion that is provided on the housing and into which the protruding portion is inserted from above, and the insertion portion and the protruding portion inserted into the insertion portion are caught together, thereby restricting a change in the posture of the electrical device that tilts at least toward the front side of the wall surface, An electrical equipment mounting structure characterized in that it has a regulating portion that regulates separation between the convex portion and the insertion portion by abutting against a specific portion of the housing from below when the convex portion is inserted into the insertion portion and the electrical equipment is placed in a predetermined mounting position.

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