Locking structure

Abstract

The present invention provides a locking structure that can prevent stress concentration in a flexible engagement frame. [Solution] The lock structure 6 comprises an engaging projection 15 protruding from the outer surface of the side wall portion 13 of the case body 10, a cantilever-shaped flexible engaging frame 25 provided at the side end of the cover 20 fixed to the case body 10 and extending along the outer surface of the side wall portion 13 to engage with the engaging projection 15, and a reinforcing rib 26 provided at the tip engaging portion 28 of the flexible engaging frame 25 to make the tip engaging portion 28 less prone to bending.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a power supply circuit or the like, a conductive member that is connected to a power supply such as a battery and supplies electricity to electrical components or the like has been used. Some of this type of conductive member includes a strip-shaped flat conductor (bus bar) having a predetermined width. For such a conductive member, it is necessary to ensure the electrical insulation of the flat conductor. For example, a technique of covering the flat conductor with an insulating material or a technique of insulating the flat conductor with a protector made of insulating resin is known.

[0003] In addition, an assembled component including a case body having a box shape or a gutter shape such as an electrical connection box or a protector, and a cover covering an opening of the case body has a locking structure for fixing the cover to the case body (see Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[0004] For example, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the conductive member 501 includes a strip-shaped flat conductor (bus bar) 530, and a case body 510 and a cover 520 that are respectively arranged opposite to the front and back surfaces of the flat conductor 530 and cover the flat conductor 530 in the plate thickness direction.

[0005] The case body 510 has a bottom wall portion 511 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and both side wall portions 513 vertically provided on both side edges in the width direction of the bottom wall portion 511, and accommodates an intermediate portion of the flat conductor 530. Further, engaging protrusions 515 project from the outer surfaces of both side wall portions 513.

[0006] The cover 520 is fitted over the upper opening of the case body 510, sandwiching the flat conductor 530, and covers the flat conductor 530. The cover 520 has an upper wall portion 521 having a plan view shape substantially the same as the outer shape of the cover 520, and side wall portions 523 that hang down from both side edges of the upper wall portion 521. Furthermore, cantilever-shaped flexible engagement frames 525 are provided on both side edges of the upper wall portion 521, extending along the outer surface of the side wall portion 513 to engage with the engagement projections 515.

[0007] Furthermore, the flexible engagement frame 525 has a pair of hanging portions 525a extending downward from the upper wall portion 521 and a connecting portion 525b that connects the ends of both hanging portions 525a, and a substantially rectangular opening is partitioned by the upper wall portion 521, both hanging portions 525a, and the connecting portion 525b. The connecting portion 525b is the tip engagement portion 528 of the flexible engagement frame 525 that engages with the engagement projection 515.

[0008] When the cover 520 is attached to the case body 510, the tip engaging portion 528 of the flexible engaging frame 525 engages and locks with the engaging projection 515, as shown in Figure 13. In other words, the engaging projection 515 and the flexible engaging frame 525 constitute a locking structure 506 for fixing the cover 520 to the case body 510. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-178969 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-57459 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-29413 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] However, in the lock structure 506 described above, the cross-sectional area of ​​the tip engaging portion 528 that engages and locks with the engaging projection 515 is only equal to the thickness of the flexible engaging frame 525. Therefore, as shown in Figure 14, when the flexible engaging frame 525 engages and locks with the engaging projection 515, the tip engaging portion 528 of the flexible engaging frame 525 bends outward, and stress tends to concentrate around the joint portion 526 between the hanging portion 525a and the connecting portion 525b. As a result, conventional lock structures have the problem of insufficient strength of the flexible engaging frame 525.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a locking structure that can prevent stress concentration in a flexible engagement frame. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The above objective according to the present invention is achieved by the following configuration. An engaging projection is provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion of the first member, A cantilever-shaped flexible engagement frame is provided at the side end of the second member fixed to the first member, and extends along the outer surface of the side wall portion to engage with the engagement projection, A reinforcing rib is provided at the tip engagement portion of the flexible engagement frame to make the tip engagement portion less prone to bending, A locking structure equipped with this feature. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the locking structure of the present invention, stress concentration in the flexible engagement frame can be prevented.

[0014] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by referring to the attached drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments"). [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conductive member having a locking structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive member shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the locking structure shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of the locking structure shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state immediately before an engagement lock of the locking structure shown in FIG. 5 is engaged. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in the middle of the engagement of the engagement lock of the locking structure shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of an electrical connection box having a locking structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view of the locking structure shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 9 as viewed in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a state in the middle of the engagement of the engagement lock of the locking structure shown in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing a conventional locking structure. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the conventional locking structure shown in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of the engagement of the engagement lock of the locking structure shown in FIG. 12.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) The conductive member 1 equipped with the lock structure 6 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is, for example, an inter-stack wiring module used for electrical connection between multiple battery stacks. Of course, the lock structure 6 of the present invention is not limited to the protector 5 used in the conductive member 1 of this embodiment, but can be applied to various assembly parts consisting of a first member and a second member fixed to the first member, such as an electrical connection box or wire harness protector, which consists of a box-shaped or trough-shaped case body and a cover that covers the opening of the case body.

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conductive member 1 equipped with a locking structure 6 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive member 1 shown in Figure 1. In this first embodiment, the up, down, front, back, left, and right directions of the conductive member 1 follow the directions of the up, down, front, back, left, and right arrows shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conductive member 1 according to this first embodiment mainly comprises a strip-shaped flat conductor (busbar) 30, a case body (first member) 10 that houses the intermediate portion of the flat conductor 30, and a cover (second member) 20 attached to the case body 10 to cover the upper opening of the case body 10 and hold the flat conductor 30. These case body 10 and cover 20, which are integrally molded by injection molding or the like, constitute a protector 5 made of insulating resin and are integrally held by a plurality (four in this embodiment) of locking structures 6.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the flat conductor 30 is made of a substantially elongated flat conductive metal plate that has been press-formed into a predetermined shape, and bolt through holes 33 are formed at both ends that are exposed from the case body 10 and the cover 20. Various conductive metal materials can be used for the conductive metal plate, such as copper or copper alloys, or aluminum or aluminum alloys.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the case body 10, which is the first component of this first embodiment, has a bottom wall portion 11 that is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and a pair of side wall portions 13 that are vertically attached to both side edges in the left-right width direction of the bottom wall portion 11. As shown in Figure 2, the cover 20, which is the second component of this first embodiment, has an upper wall portion 21 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, which is substantially the same as the outer shape of the case body 10, and a pair of side wall portions 23 hanging down from both side edges of the upper wall portion 21.

[0021] Furthermore, each of the pair of side walls 13 of the case body 10 is provided with four case-side locking portions 19. In addition, each of the cover 20 is provided with four cover-side locking portions 29 that hang down from both side edges in the left-right width direction of the upper wall portion 21. As shown in Figure 3, the case-side locking portion 19 and the cover-side locking portion 29 form a locking structure 6 that holds the case body 10 and the cover 20 together.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the cover-side locking portion 29 of this first embodiment includes a cantilever-shaped flexible engagement frame 25 that extends along the outer surface of the side wall portion 13 of the case body 10, and a reinforcing rib 26 provided on the tip engagement portion 28 of the flexible engagement frame 25 to make the tip engagement portion 28 less prone to bending.

[0023] The flexible engagement frame 25 has a pair of hanging portions 25a extending downward from the upper wall portion 21 and a connecting portion 25b that connects the ends of both hanging portions 25a. The upper wall portion 21, the two hanging portions 25a, and the connecting portion 25b form a substantially rectangular opening. The connecting portion 25b is the tip engagement portion 28 of the flexible engagement frame 25 that engages with the engagement projection 15 of the case-side locking portion 19.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the tip engagement portion 28 of the flexible engagement frame 25 has a locking surface 28a that engages with the lower end locking portion 15a of the engagement projection 15. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the reinforcing rib 26 is a protrusion with a rectangular cross-section that extends along the front-rear engaging portion 28 of the conductive member 1 to the outer surface of the connecting portion 25b.

[0025] Furthermore, the reinforcing rib 26 has a rib locking side surface 26a that is flush with and continuous with the locking surface 28a of the tip engagement portion 28 into which the engaging projection 15 engages. The rib locking side surface 26a, together with the locking surface 28a of the tip engagement portion 28, can abut against the lower end locking portion 15a of the engaging projection 15.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the case-side locking portion 19 of this first embodiment is equipped with an engaging projection 15 that protrudes from the outer surface of the side wall portion 13. The engaging projection 15 has a lower end locking portion 15a that locks the tip engaging portion 28 (connecting portion 25b) of the flexible engaging frame 25 by bringing into contact with the tip of the side wall portion 13 of the case body 10 and both side edges of the upper wall portion 21 of the cover 20, while the upper wall portion 21 covers the upper opening of the case body 10. Furthermore, the engaging projection 15 has an inclined surface 15b that is formed to move away from the outer surface of the side wall portion 13 from top to bottom, causing the flexible engaging frame 25 to bend outward.

[0027] When the cover 20 is attached to the case body 10, the flexible engaging frame 25 of the cover-side locking portion 29 engages with the engaging projection 15 of the case-side locking portion 19, and the case-side locking portion 19 and the cover-side locking portion 29 engage and lock with each other.

[0028] Next, the assembly procedure for conductive member 1 will be explained. First, the middle section of the flat conductor 30 is placed on the bottom wall 11 of the case body 10, overlapping it. The flat conductor 30 placed on the bottom wall 11 is covered on both sides by a pair of side walls 13.

[0029] Next, the upper wall portion 21 of the cover 20 is placed on top of the case body 10 so as to cover the upper opening of the case body 10 and hold the flat conductor 30. At this time, the flexible engagement frame 25 of the cover-side locking portion 29 is engaged with the engagement projection 15 of the case-side locking portion 19. That is, the tip engagement portion 28 (connecting portion 25b) of the flexible engagement frame 25 is engaged with the lower end locking portion 15a of the engagement projection 15.

[0030] The protector 5, consisting of a case body 10 and a cover 20, is positioned opposite the front and back surfaces of the flat conductor 30 and covers the flat conductor 30 from the thickness direction. The protector 5 is held together by a locking structure 6 consisting of a locking portion 29 on the cover side and a locking portion 19 on the case side.

[0031] Next, the operation of the configuration relating to the lock structure 6 of the first embodiment described above will be explained. In the lock structure 6 according to this first embodiment, when the upper wall portion 21 of the cover 20 is placed on top of the case body 10 to cover the upper opening of the case body 10 and hold the flat conductor 30, as shown in Figure 6, the flexible engagement frame 25 moves downward along the outer surface of the side wall portion 13 of the case body 10, and the tip engagement portion 28 reaches the engagement projection 15.

[0032] As the flexible engagement frame 25 moves further downward, the tip engagement portion 28 rides up onto the inclined surface 15b of the engagement projection 15. At this time, the tip engagement portion 28, on which the reinforcing rib 26 extending in the front-rear direction of the conductive member 1 is provided on the outer surface of the connecting portion 25b, has an increased cross-sectional area, improving its bending rigidity and making it less likely to bend outward.

[0033] Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the flexible engaging frame 25 that rides onto the engaging projection 15 does not have its tip engaging portion 28 bend outward, but the hanging portion 25a bends outward as a whole, thus preventing stress concentration. Therefore, according to the lock structure 6 of this first embodiment, stress concentration on the flexible engagement frame 25 is prevented, and the strength of the flexible engagement frame 25 can be improved.

[0034] Furthermore, in the lock structure 6 according to this first embodiment, the reinforcing rib 26 has a rib locking side surface 26a that is flush with and continuous with the locking surface 28a of the tip engagement portion 28. Therefore, the rib locking side surface 26a can come into contact with the lower end locking portion 15a of the engagement projection 15 together with the locking surface 28a of the tip engagement portion 28. Therefore, according to the lock structure 6 of this first embodiment, the provision of the reinforcing rib 26 increases the substantial engagement area of ​​the tip engaging portion 28 with respect to the lower end locking portion 15a of the engaging projection 15, thereby increasing the engagement holding force and preventing accidental unlocking.

[0035] (Second Embodiment) Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of an electrical junction box 1A equipped with a locking structure 6A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a front view of the locking structure 6A shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the XX arrow in Figure 9. In this second embodiment, the up, down, front, back, left, and right directions in the electrical junction box 1A follow the directions of the up, down, front, back, left, and right arrows shown in Figure 8.

[0036] As shown in Figure 8, the electrical junction box 1A equipped with a locking structure 6A according to the second embodiment of the present invention mainly consists of a box-shaped case body 40 and a cover 50 that covers the opening of the case body 40. Electronic components such as busbars, relays, and fuses (not shown) are built into the electrical junction box 1A, and circuits connected to them are also housed therein. The case body 40 and cover 50, which are integrally molded by injection molding or the like, are held together by a plurality (four in this embodiment) of locking structures 6A.

[0037] As shown in Figure 8, the case body 40, which is the first component of this second embodiment, has a bottom wall portion 41 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, a pair of front and rear side wall portions 43 that are perpendicular to both longitudinal edges of the bottom wall portion 41, and a pair of left and right side wall portions 45 that are perpendicular to both short longitudinal edges of the bottom wall portion 41.

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, the cover 50, which is the second component of this second embodiment, has an upper wall portion 51 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, which is substantially the same as the outer shape of the case body 40, a pair of front and rear side wall portions 53 hanging down from both longitudinal edges of the upper wall portion 51, and a pair of left and right side wall portions 55 hanging down from both short longitudinal edges of the upper wall portion 51.

[0039] Furthermore, each of the pair of front and rear side walls 43 of the case body 40 is provided with four case-side locking portions 19A. Similarly, each of the pair of front and rear side walls 53 of the cover 50 is provided with four cover-side locking portions 29A. As shown in Figure 8, the case-side locking portion 19A and the cover-side locking portion 29A form a locking structure 6A that holds the case body 40 and the cover 50 together.

[0040] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the cover-side locking portion 29A of this second embodiment includes a cantilever-shaped flexible engagement frame 25A provided on the front and rear side wall portions 53 that extend along the outer surface of the side wall portion 43 of the case body 40, and a reinforcing rib 26A provided on the tip engagement portion 28A of the flexible engagement frame 25A to make the tip engagement portion 28A less prone to bending.

[0041] The flexible engagement frame 25A has a pair of hanging portions 25a extending downward from the upper wall portion 51 and a connecting portion 25b that connects the ends of both hanging portions 25a, and a substantially rectangular opening is partitioned by the upper wall portion 51, both hanging portions 25a and the connecting portion 25b. The connecting portion 25b is the tip engagement portion 28A of the flexible engagement frame 25A that engages with the engagement projection 15 of the cover-side locking portion 29A.

[0042] As shown in Figure 10, the tip engaging portion 28A of the flexible engaging frame 25A has a locking surface 28a that engages with the lower end locking portion 15a of the engaging projection 15. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the reinforcing rib 26A is a protrusion with a rectangular cross-section that extends along the tip engagement portion 28A extending in the left-right direction of the electrical connection box 1A to the outer surface of the connecting portion 25b.

[0043] Furthermore, the reinforcing rib 26A has a rib locking side surface 26a that is flush with and continuous with the locking surface 28a of the tip engaging portion 28A into which the engaging projection 15 engages, and rib receiving portions 27 provided at the inner corners of both longitudinal ends of the rib side surface 26b opposite to the rib locking side surface 26a. The rib locking side surface 26a, together with the locking surface 28a of the tip engaging portion 28A, can abut against the lower end locking portion 15a of the engaging projection 15. The flexible engaging frame 25A, with rib receiving portions 27 provided at both longitudinal ends of the reinforcing rib 26A, can further improve bending rigidity.

[0044] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the case-side locking portion 19A of this second embodiment is provided with an engaging projection 15 that protrudes from the outer surface of the side wall portion 43. The engaging projection 15 has a lower end locking portion 15a that contacts the tip of the side wall portion 43 of the case body 40 with both side edges of the upper wall portion 51 of the cover 50, thereby locking the tip engaging portion 28A (connecting portion 25b) of the flexible engaging frame 25A while the upper wall portion 51 covers the upper opening of the case body 40. Furthermore, the engaging projection 15 has an inclined surface 15b that is formed to move away from the outer surface of the side wall portion 43 from top to bottom, causing the flexible engaging frame 25A to bend outward.

[0045] When the cover 50 is attached to the case body 40, the flexible engaging frame 25A of the cover-side locking portion 29A engages with the engaging projection 15 of the case-side locking portion 19A, and the case-side locking portion 19A and the cover-side locking portion 29A engage and lock with each other. Therefore, the electrical connection box 1A is held integrally from the case body 40 and the cover 50 by a locking structure 6A consisting of a case-side locking portion 19A and a cover-side locking portion 29A.

[0046] Next, the operation of the configuration relating to the lock structure 6A of the second embodiment described above will be explained. In the lock structure 6A according to this second embodiment, when the upper wall portion 51 of the cover 50 is placed on top of the case body 40 to cover the upper opening of the case body 40, the flexible engaging frame 25A moves downward along the outer surface of the side wall portion 43 of the case body 40, and the tip engaging portion 28A reaches the engaging projection 15.

[0047] As the flexible engagement frame 25A moves further downward, the tip engagement portion 28A rides onto the inclined surface 15b of the engagement projection 15. At this time, the tip engagement portion 28A, which has a reinforcing rib 26A extending in the left-right direction of the electrical connection box 1A and provided on the outer surface of the connecting portion 25b, has improved bending rigidity due to the increased cross-sectional area, making it less likely to bend outward. Furthermore, since rib receiving portions 27 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the reinforcing rib 26A, the tip engagement portion 28A is also less likely to bend downward.

[0048] Therefore, as shown in Figure 11, the flexible engaging frame 25A that rides onto the engaging projection 15 does not have its tip engaging portion 28A bend outward, but the hanging portion 25a bends outward as a whole, thus preventing stress concentration. Therefore, according to the lock structure 6A of this second embodiment, stress concentration on the flexible engagement frame 25A is prevented, and the strength of the flexible engagement frame 25A can be improved.

[0049] Furthermore, in the lock structure 6A according to this second embodiment, the reinforcing rib 26A has a rib locking side surface 26a that is flush with and continuous with the locking surface 28a of the tip engagement portion 28A, just as in the lock structure 6 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, the rib locking side surface 26a can come into contact with the lower end locking portion 15a of the engagement projection 15 together with the locking surface 28a of the tip engagement portion 28A. Therefore, according to the lock structure 6A of this second embodiment, the provision of the reinforcing rib 26A increases the substantial engagement area of ​​the tip engaging portion 28A with respect to the lower end locking portion 15a of the engaging projection 15, thereby increasing the engagement holding force and preventing unintentional unlocking.

[0050] Therefore, according to the lock structures 6 and 6A of this embodiment, stress concentration in the flexible engagement frames 25 and 25A can be prevented.

[0051] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited, as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0052] Here, the features of the embodiments of the lock structure according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3]. [1] An engaging projection (15) is provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion (13, 43) of the first member (case body 10, 40), A cantilever-shaped flexible engagement frame (25, 25A) is provided at the side end of the second member (cover 20, 50) which is fixed to the first member (case body 10, 40), and extends along the outer surface of the side wall portion (13, 43) to engage with the engagement projection (15), Reinforcing ribs (26, 26A) are provided on the tip engagement portion (28, 28A) of the flexible engagement frame (25, 25A) to make the tip engagement portion (28, 28A) less prone to bending, A locking structure (6,6A) is provided.

[0053] According to the lock structure (6,6A) described in [1] above, when the tip engaging portion (28,28A) of the flexible engaging frame (25,25A) rides up on the engaging projection (15), the tip engaging portion (28,28A) provided with the reinforcing rib 26 (26A) has increased cross-sectional area, improving its bending rigidity and making it less likely to bend outward. Therefore, when the flexible engaging frame (25,25A) rides up on the engaging projection (15), the tip engaging portion (28,28A) does not bend outward, and the hanging portion (25a) of the flexible engaging frame (25,25A) bends outward as a whole, thus preventing stress concentration. Therefore, the lock structure (6,6A) of this configuration prevents stress concentration on the flexible engagement frame (25,25A), and makes it possible to improve the strength of the flexible engagement frame (25,25A).

[0054] [2] The reinforcing ribs (26, 26A) have a rib locking side surface (26a) that is flush with and continuous with the locking surface (28a) of the tip engaging portion (28, 28A) into which the engaging projection (15) engages. The locking structure described in [1] above (6,6A).

[0055] According to the locking structure (6,6A) described in [2] above, the rib locking side surface (26a) can come into contact with the lower end locking portion (15a) of the engaging projection (15) together with the locking surface (28a) of the tip engaging portion (28,28A). Therefore, with the lock structure (6,6A) of this configuration, the provision of reinforcing ribs (26,26A) increases the effective engagement area of ​​the tip engaging portion (28,28A) with respect to the lower end locking portion (15a) of the engaging projection (15), thereby increasing the engagement holding force and preventing accidental unlocking.

[0056] [3] The reinforcing rib (26A) has rib receiving portions (27) provided at the inner corners of both longitudinal ends of the rib side surface (26b) opposite to the rib locking side surface (26a), The locking structure (6A) described in [2] above.

[0057] According to the lock structure (6A) described in [3] above, the flexible engagement frame (25A), which has rib receiving portions (27) at both longitudinal ends of the reinforcing rib (26A), can further improve its bending rigidity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 6… Locking mechanism 10…Case body (first component) 13... Side wall section 15…Engagement protrusion 20... Cover (second component) 25... Flexible engagement frame 26…Reinforcement ribs 28…Tip engagement part

Claims

1. An engaging projection is provided on the outer surface of the side wall portion of the first member, A cantilever-shaped flexible engagement frame is provided at the side end of the second member fixed to the first member, and extends along the outer surface of the side wall portion to engage with the engagement projection, A reinforcing rib is provided at the tip engagement portion of the flexible engagement frame to make the tip engagement portion less prone to bending, A locking structure equipped with this feature.

2. The reinforcing rib has a rib-locking side surface that is flush with and continuous with the locking surface of the tip engagement portion into which the engaging projection engages. The locking structure according to claim 1.

3. The reinforcing rib has rib receiving portions provided at the inner corners of both longitudinal ends on the rib side opposite to the rib locking side, The locking structure according to claim 2.

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