Interlocking structure

Abstract

To provide a mating structure that can be manufactured more simply and inexpensively. [Solution] The fitting structure comprises a main body 12 and a cap 24 fitted to the main body 12 and having a fitting projection 26 formed on its inner surface, wherein the main body 12 has a hole 22 or recess formed to ensure design or function, and the fitting projection 26 engages with the edge of the hole 22 or recess to prevent the cap 24 from detaching from the main body 12.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present specification discloses a fitting structure for fitting a cap to a main body. [Background Art]

[0002] Fitting structures for fitting a cap to a main body are widely known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure for attaching a cap to a bottle container (corresponding to the main body). In Patent Document 1, a plurality of ribs are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap, and spherical bulging portions that fit into gaps between the ribs are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bottle container. According to this technique, detachment of the cap from the main body can be appropriately prevented. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-153963 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, in the case of conventional techniques such as that of Patent Document 1, it was necessary to form dedicated shapes for fitting (the ribs and the spherical bulging portions in the case of Patent Document 1) on both the cap and the main body. When such fitting shapes are provided, the cost of molds for molding the cap and the main body increases, and a dedicated process is required for demolding the product.

[0005] Accordingly, the present specification discloses a fitting structure that can be manufactured more simply and inexpensively. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0006] The fitting structure disclosed herein comprises a body and a cap fitted to the body and having a fitting projection formed on its inner surface, wherein the body has a hole or recess formed to ensure design or function, and the fitting projection engages with the edge of the hole or recess to prevent the cap from detaching from the body. In this case, the body may be a cartridge that can be attached to a fragrance generator mounted in a vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] By using holes or recesses formed to ensure design or functionality for fitting, the main body does not need a special shape for fitting. As a result, the main body can be manufactured inexpensively and simply. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the disassembled cartridge. [Figure 2] This is a vertical cross-section of the cartridge. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The fitting structure for fitting the cap 24 to the main body 12 will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an exploded front view of the cartridge 10 to which the fitting structure is applied. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 10.

[0010] This cartridge 10 is distributed with the cap 24 attached, and is installed in a fragrance generator (not shown) with the cap 24 removed. The fragrance generator is installed, for example, in a vehicle. The fragrance generator generates fragrance by blowing air onto the cartridge 10, and the fragrance is diffused into the vehicle interior by a blower. It is possible to install multiple cartridges 10 in the fragrance generator. If multiple cartridges 10 are installed, the cartridge 10 that blows air may be switched according to the user's instructions.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the cartridge 10 is broadly divided into the main body 12 and the cap 24. In the following, the direction of movement of the cap 24 as seen from the main body 12 when attaching the cap 24 to the main body 12 will be called the "attachment direction," and the direction of movement of the cap 24 as seen from the main body 12 when detaching the cap 24 from the main body 12 will be called the "detachment direction." In this example, the attachment direction is from the tip to the base of the main body 12, and the detachment direction is from the base to the tip of the main body 12.

[0012] The main body 12 comprises a carrying block 16, a head portion 14, a block case 18, and an IC chip 20. The carrying block 16 is a block that carries fragrance. In this example, the carrying block 16 is made of porous ceramic. The carrying block 16 is pre-impregnated with liquid fragrance and carries the liquid fragrance in its numerous pores. By blowing air onto the carrying block 16, fragrance containing the fragrance is generated. The carrying block 16 has an elongated, roughly rectangular prism shape.

[0013] One end of the support block 16 is fixed to the head portion 14. When the cap 24 is removed from the main body 12, the user grasps the head portion 14. The head portion 14 is roughly prism-shaped.

[0014] A block case 18 is also fixed to the head unit 14. The block case 18 is a roughly rectangular cylindrical member that houses the supported block 16 inside. One end of the block case 18 is fixed to the head unit 14. An IC chip 20 is fixed to the other end of the block case 18. The IC chip 20 stores information about the cartridge 10, such as the type of fragrance and the remaining amount of fragrance. The fragrance generator reads information from the IC chip 20 and writes information to the IC chip 20. The cartridge 10 may be made asymmetrical in order to prevent incorrect orientation when inserting it into the fragrance generator.

[0015] Output openings 22 are formed on two opposing sides of the block case 18. The output openings 22 are elongated holes in the axial direction, and are openings that expose the supported block 16 to the outside. By providing such output openings 22, air can be blown onto the supported block 16, and the fragrance generated from the supported block 16 is released to the outside of the block case 18. Therefore, the output openings 22 are holes that are absolutely necessary for the function of the cartridge 10.

[0016] The support block 16, head portion 14, and block case 18 are assembled in a way that makes them inseparable from each other, forming the main body 12. The cap 24 is configured to be detachably attached to this main body 12. The cap 24 is a roughly rectangular cylindrical member into which the block case 18 is inserted. Here, the outer cross-sectional shape of the block case 18 is slightly smaller than the outer cross-sectional shape of the head portion 14. Therefore, a slight step is created between the block case 18 and the head portion 14. When the cap 24 is attached to the main body 12, the base end of the cap 24 abuts against this step between the block case 18 and the head portion 14.

[0017] Furthermore, a fitting projection 26 is formed on the inner surface of the cap 24. As shown in Figure 2, the fitting projection 26 engages with the edge of the output opening 22 on the tip side. By engaging the fitting projection 26 with the edge of the output opening 22, the cap 24 fits onto the body 12, effectively preventing the cap 24 from unintentionally detaching from the body 12. Naturally, both the cap 24 and the body 12 will elastically deform when force is applied. Therefore, if you want to intentionally remove the cap 24 from the body 12, pulling the cap 24 in the detachment direction with sufficient force will cause the fitting projection 26 to move over the edge of the output opening 22, releasing the fitting between the cap 24 and the body 12. To facilitate this release, in this example, the fitting projection 26 has a roughly semicircular cross-section, and the edge of the output opening 22 has a sloping cross-section.

[0018] As is clear from the explanation above, in this example, the fitting projection 26 of the cap 24 is fitted onto the edge of the output opening 22 of the main body 12. Of these, the fitting projection 26 has a shape specifically designed for fitting, while the output opening 22 has a shape designed to ensure the functionality of the cartridge 10. Therefore, according to this example, a dedicated shape for fitting only needs to be provided on the cap 24, and a dedicated shape for fitting is not necessary on the main body 12. As a result, compared to the case where both the main body 12 and the cap 24 have dedicated shapes for fitting, the manufacturing cost of the mold can be reduced, or the process of removing the product from the mold can be simplified. Consequently, the main body 12 and the cap 24, which fit together, can be manufactured more simply and inexpensively.

[0019] In this specification, a fragrance cartridge 10 has been used as an example for explanation. However, the fitting structure disclosed herein may be applied to other products as long as they have a body 12 and a cap 24 that fit together. For example, the fitting structure disclosed herein may be applied to various types of products such as cosmetics (e.g., lipstick, etc.) and writing instruments (e.g., ballpoint pens, etc.). Furthermore, as long as the configuration of claim 1 is achieved, other configurations may be modified as appropriate. For example, in the above example, the fitting projection 26 is fitted into the output opening 22 which is functionally necessary. However, the fitting projection 26 may be fitted into other locations on the body 12, such as holes or recesses necessary to ensure functionality or aesthetics. Therefore, the location where the fitting projection 26 fits may be a hole provided for aesthetic reasons, or the fitting projection 26 may be fitted into a recess (groove) instead of a hole. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0020] 10 Cartridge, 12 Main unit, 14 Head unit, 16 Support block, 18 Block case, 19 Plug, 20 IC chip, 22 Output opening, 24 Cap, 26 Mating projection.

Claims

1. The main unit and A cap fitted onto the main body and having a fitting projection formed on its inner surface, The main body has holes or recesses formed to ensure design or function, The fitting projection engages with the edge of the hole or recess in order to prevent the cap from detaching from the body. A fitting structure characterized by the following:

2. The fitting structure according to claim 1, The fitting structure is characterized in that the main body is a cartridge that can be attached to a fragrance generator mounted in a vehicle.

Images