Electrical Junction Box

Abstract

To prevent surrounding cables from being hooked to a locking portion and to prevent members provided around from interfering with the locking portion.SOLUTION: An electrical connection box includes a bus bar, a box main body provided with the bus bar, and a cover covering the box main body. The cover has an engaging portion, and the box main body has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion to unite the box main body and the cover. A recess portion for accommodating a locking portion configured by engaging the engaging portion and the engaged portion is formed in an outer peripheral wall of a unit formed by combining the box main body and the cover. The recess portion has a depth dimension that allows the locking portion to be positioned closer to the center of the unit than the end face of the outer peripheral wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electrical junction box. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, electrical junction boxes (also called "junction boxes") are used in industrial products such as automobiles. Electrical junction boxes are used to connect external devices, such as power supplies, on-board devices, or other electrical junction boxes, to supply power. For example, to supply power from a battery to each of a number of on-board devices, electric wires from the battery are first connected to the electric junction box, and then electric wires are connected from the electric junction box to each of the on-board devices. The electrical junction box includes a box body in which a bus bar is provided, and a cover (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-154412 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the electrical connection box, a box body on which a bus bar is provided is covered with a cover. To combine the cover and the box body, the cover has an engagement portion formed of a claw or the like at a predetermined position, and the box body has an engaged portion with which the engagement portion engages. The engagement portion is provided at a predetermined position on an outer peripheral wall of the cover.

[0005] Here, the electrical junction box is attached to, for example, a part of the body frame of an automobile. Therefore, other cables are wired around the electrical junction box, and other parts are provided. Therefore, it is desirable that some parts of the electrical junction box do not protrude outward even if they are small, and that the entire electrical junction box fits within the required space.

[0006] Conventionally, a locking portion formed by engaging an engaging portion with an engaged portion is provided so as to protrude outward from a part of the outer peripheral wall of the cover. Since vibrations occur when an automobile is traveling, the vibrations may cause cables or other components around the electrical connection box to interfere with the locking portion protruding outward. For example, if a cable comes into contact with the locking portion, the contact may cause the locking portion to disengage.

[0007] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide an electrical connection box that makes it difficult for surrounding cables to get caught in a locking portion formed by engagement between an engaging portion and an engaged portion, and that prevents components provided around it from interfering with the locking portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An electrical connection box according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a bus bar, a box body in which the bus bar is provided, and a cover covering the box body, wherein the cover has an engaging portion, the box body has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion to combine the box body and the cover, and a recess is formed in an outer wall of a unit formed by combining the box body and the cover to accommodate a locking portion formed by engagement of the engaging portion and the engaged portion, and the recess has a depth dimension that positions the locking portion toward the center of the unit relative to the end face of the outer wall. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, cables around the electrical junction box are less likely to get caught in the locking portion, and members provided around the box are less likely to interfere with the locking portion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the front side of the first block. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first engagement portion of the cover. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first engaged portion and its surroundings as viewed from behind. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover is attached to the box body at a specified position. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing the first locking portion housed in the recess. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first locking portion and its surroundings as viewed in the left-right direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] <Overview of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Below, an overview of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) The electrical connection box of this embodiment comprises a bus bar, a box body in which the bus bar is provided, and a cover covering the box body, wherein the cover has an engaging portion, the box body has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion to combine the box body and the cover, and a recess is formed in an outer wall of a unit formed by combining the box body and the cover to accommodate a locking portion formed by engagement of the engaging portion and the engaged portion, and the recess has a depth dimension that positions the locking portion toward the center of the unit relative to the end face of the outer wall.

[0012] According to the electrical junction box of this embodiment, a recess is formed in the outer wall of the unit formed by combining the box body and the cover, and the locking portion is housed in the recess and does not protrude from the end face of the outer wall. This makes it difficult for cables around the electrical junction box to get caught in the locking portion, and also makes it difficult for members provided around the box to interfere with the locking portion.

[0013] (2) Also, preferably, the locking portion is configured to displace the engaging portion toward the center of the unit in order to release the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion, and the recess has a depth dimension that is equal to or greater than the dimension by which the engaging portion is displaced in order to release the engagement. With this configuration, it is possible to perform the operation of releasing the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion within the range of the recess.

[0014] (3) Preferably, the recess has a width large enough to allow a person's finger to be inserted therein. With this configuration, it is possible to release the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion without using tools.

[0015] (4) Also, preferably, openings for passing the two cables are formed on both sides of the recess in the part of the outer wall in which the recess of the unit is formed, so that the two cables extend in a direction facing the part of the outer wall. In this case, when parts such as protectors are attached to the two cables, the parts are less likely to interfere with the locking part. Openings are formed on both sides of the recess to allow the two cables to pass through, making it possible to arrange the two cables and the recess efficiently in space.

[0016] (5) Preferably, the cover has a rib protruding from the outer peripheral wall in which the opening is formed and provided along the opening, and a tip surface of the rib is the end surface. In this case, the ribs increase the rigidity of the outer wall, and the ribs function as eaves, improving the water resistance of the cover. The depth of the recess is set so that the locking portion is located closer to the center of the unit than the tip end surface of the rib, that is, so that the locking portion does not protrude from the tip end surface of the rib.

[0017] (6) Preferably, at least a portion of the locking portion protrudes beyond the wall surface of the outer circumferential wall to the outside of the unit. In this case, when an operator removes the cover from the box body in an environment where the operator cannot see, the operator can easily touch the locking portion by running his / her finger along the surface of the outer peripheral wall, improving workability.

[0018] (7) Also, preferably, assuming that the cover covers the box body from above, the box body has a guide portion that guides the cover when the cover is brought close to the box body from above and attached, the engaging portion and the engaged portion are configured to displace relatively in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction in order to engage with each other, and the direction in which the guide portion guides the cover has a component perpendicular to the vertical direction. In this case, when the cover is placed over the box body while being guided by the guide portion, the engaging portion and the engaged portion engage with each other.

[0019] <Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure> Hereinafter, the details of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that at least some of the embodiments described below may be combined in any combination.

[0020] The electric junction box 10 (see FIG. 1) of this embodiment is mounted on, for example, an automobile, and is used in the middle of a path for supplying power from an on-board battery to each of a plurality of on-board devices (not shown). The electric junction box 10 of this embodiment can also be said to be an electric junction box for relaying. The electric junction box 10 is fixed to, for example, the body frame of the automobile.

[0021] [Overall configuration of electrical junction box 10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric junction box 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a wire harness (cable) 91 for connecting to an external device is shown by a virtual line (two-dot chain line). A protector 92 is provided on the wire harness 91, and the protector 92 is also shown by a virtual line (two-dot chain line) in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electric junction box 10 shown in FIG. 1. The electric junction box 10 includes a bus bar 11, a box body 12 on which the bus bar 11 is provided, and a cover 13 that covers the box body 12. The box body 12 and the cover 13 are combined together by engagement between engaging portions 21A, 21B, and 21C and engaged portions 22A, 22B, and 22C, which will be described later. A configuration obtained by combining the box body 12 and the cover 13 is called a "unit 70."

[0022] The electrical junction box 10 of the present disclosure is defined as being up-down, front-rear, and left-right. The electrical junction box 10 has a box shape that is flat overall, although it has some irregularities. The flat direction, that is, the direction in which the thickness decreases, is defined as being up-down. The electrical junction box 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a first block B1 whose longitudinal direction is a first direction, and a second block B2 whose longitudinal direction is a second direction intersecting (perpendicular to) the first direction, and is substantially L-shaped when viewed from above. In the present disclosure, the first direction is defined as being up-down, and the second direction is defined as being left-right.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, two wire harnesses 91 extend linearly from a first block B1, and the extending direction is the forward direction. The direction in which the two wire harnesses 91 are lined up is the left-right direction. The direction in which the second block B2 extends from the rear side of the first block B1 is the rightward direction. A cover 13 covers the box body 12 from above. Each figure shows an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. The Z direction is the bottom-to-top direction (vertical direction), the Y direction is the front-to-rear direction (rear-to-front direction), and the X direction is the left-to-right direction (left-to-right direction).

[0024] The box body 12 has a first case (upper case) 14 and a second case (lower case) 15. Fig. 2 shows the first case 14 and the second case 15 connected together. A main bus bar 11 is provided between the first case 14 and the cover 13. A sub bus bar (not shown) is provided between the first case 14 and the second case 15. The second case 15 covers the first case 14 from below. The cover 13 covers the first case 14 from above.

[0025] The first case 14, the second case 15, and the cover 13 are made of synthetic resin and are each formed by injection molding. The first case 14 has a bottom plate portion 19 on which the bus bar 11 and the like are placed. The bottom plate portion 19 has a stepped shape with different heights in the vertical direction. The bus bar 11 is disposed on a first region 19a of the bottom plate portion 19, and an end portion of a wire harness 91 (see FIG. 1) to be connected to the bus bar 11 is provided on a second region 19b of the bottom plate portion 19.

[0026] Each portion of the first case 14 is provided with a side plate portion 16 extending upward from a bottom plate portion 19, and the first case 14 is generally open upward. A bus bar 11 (first bus bar 11) is provided between a pair of opposing side plate portions 16, 16. In this embodiment, in addition to the first bus bar 11, a second bus bar 18 shown by a two-dot chain line is provided. The first bus bar 11 is substantially L-shaped when viewed from above in accordance with the shape of the box main body 12. The shapes of the electrical connection box 10 (box main body 12) and the bus bar 11 can be freely changed and may be other than an L-shape.

[0027] The first bus bar 11 and the second bus bar 18 are attached to the box body 12 by bolts 17. A terminal of one wire harness 91 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to an end of the first bus bar 11. A terminal of the other wire harness 91 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to an end of the second bus bar 18. The terminal of the wire harness 91 and the bus bar 11 (18) are fastened together by the bolts 17.

[0028] The cover 13 is detachably attached to the box body 12. To attach the cover 13 to the box body 12, the cover 13 has a plurality of engaging portions, and the box body 12 has engaged portions that engage with the engaging portions. In this embodiment, the cover 13 has three engaging portions 21A, 21B, and 21C, and the box body 12 has engaged portions 22A, 22B, and 22C, the same number as the engaging portions (three).

[0029] A first engaging portion 21A and a first engaged portion 22A are provided on the front side of the first block B1. The first engaging portion 21A and the first engaged portion 22A engage with each other to form a "first locking portion 23A" (see FIG. 1). A second engaging portion 21B and a second engaged portion 22B are provided on the rear side of the first block B1. The second engaging portion 21B and the second engaged portion 22B engage with each other to form a "second locking portion 23B". A third engaging portion 21C and a third engaged portion 22C are provided on the front side of the second block B2. The third engaging portion 21C and the third engaged portion 22C engage with each other to form a "third locking portion 23C".

[0030] The three engaging portions 21A, 21B, and 21C engage with the three engaged portions 22A, 22B, and 22C, respectively, so that the box body 12 and the cover 13 are combined and cannot be separated. The box body 12 and the cover 13 are separated from each other by releasing all of the engagements.

[0031] The cover 13 has a cover main body 31 that covers the box main body 12 from above, and an outer peripheral wall 30 that covers the bus bars 11, 18 of the box main body 12 from the left and right or the front and rear. The outer peripheral wall 30 has a cover side wall 32 and a cover front wall 33. The cover side wall 32 has a first side wall portion 36 and a second side wall portion 37 on both the left and right sides included in the first block B1, and has a third side wall portion 48 on the front side and a fourth side wall portion 49 on the rear side included in the second block B2. The cover front wall 33 is continuous with the front end portion of the cover main body 31, and is provided between the first side wall portion 36 and the second side wall portion 37.

[0032] A recess 25 is formed in the cover front wall 33. The recess 25 is open forward and has a groove shape with the groove longitudinal direction being the up-down direction. The cover front wall 33 is divided into left and right by the recess 25. An opening 38 is formed in the cover front wall 33 so that two wire harnesses 91, 91 extend from the cover front wall 33 in the direction in which the cover front wall 33 faces, i.e., forward. The openings 38 are formed on both the left and right sides of the recess 25 and allow the two wire harnesses 91, 91 (see FIG. 1) to pass through.

[0033] The cover 13 has wall-shaped extensions 65 extending downward from the first side wall 36 and the second side wall 37 in the first block B1. 3 is a perspective view showing the front side of the first block B1. The cover front wall 33 has a rib 39 provided along the opening 38. The rib 39 is provided on both the left and right sides of the recess 25. The rib 39 is provided from the cover front wall 33 to each of the left and right extensions 65. The rib 39 protrudes forward from the front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33. The front wall surface 33a has a shape along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The forward protrusion height of the rib 39 from the front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33 is constant along the rib 39.

[0034] The ribs 39 can increase the rigidity of the cover front wall 33. The ribs 39 also function as eaves. The ribs 39 are provided along the opening 38, at the top and left and right side portions of the opening 38. Therefore, water droplets dripping from the upper surface of the cover 13 onto the cover front wall 33 flow along the ribs 39 and are less likely to enter the opening 38. The cover 13 having the ribs 39 can improve the water resistance of the electrical junction box 10.

[0035] [Regarding the first engagement portion 21A of the cover 13] 3, the recess 25 has a bottom surface 41 located rearward of the cover front wall 33, and left and right side surfaces 42, 42 extending forward from the left and right sides of the bottom surface 41. The side surfaces 42 are connected to a front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33.

[0036] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first engagement portion 21A of the cover 13. The cover 13 has, as the first engagement portion 21A, a connecting piece portion 51 provided so as to protrude forward from the bottom surface 41 of the recess 25, and an engagement piece portion 52 provided so as to extend upward from the front end of the connecting piece portion 51. The connecting piece portion 51 and the engagement piece portion 52 are not in contact with the side surface 42 of the recess 25, and the connecting piece portion 51 is elastically deformable toward the bottom surface 41 at the rear.

[0037] The engagement piece 52 has an operation portion 52a at its tip (upper end). The operation portion 52a has a stepped operation surface 52c at its front side that approaches the tip (upper end) of the engagement piece 52. The frontmost end surface 52d of the operation surface 52c is located forward of the wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33. The engagement piece 52 has a hole 55 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The hole 55 is located below the operation portion 52a.

[0038] [Regarding the first engaged portion 22A of the box body 12] As shown in Fig. 2, the first case 14 of the box main body 12 has a pillar portion 60 as the first engaged portion 22A. The pillar portion 60 is provided at the front end portion of the first block B1. The pillar portion 60 is provided between the left and right side plate portions 16, 16 and extends upward from the bottom plate portion 19 (second region 19b) of the first case 14. A central wall portion 20 is further provided on the front side of the first block B1, between the left and right side plate portions 16, 16. The central wall portion 20 and the pillar portion 60 are connected to each other.

[0039] An accommodation space in which an end of one wire harness 91 (see FIG. 1) is located is defined between the left side plate 16 and the central wall 20. An accommodation space in which an end of the other wire harness 91 (see FIG. 1) is located is defined between the right side plate 16 and the central wall 20. These accommodation spaces are covered by the cover 13.

[0040] 5 is a perspective view of the first engaged portion 22A (pillar portion 60) and its surroundings, as viewed from the rear. The pillar portion 60 has a flat front portion 61 extending upward from the bottom plate portion 19, a flat side portion 62a extending rearward from the left end portion of the front portion 61, and a flat side portion 62b extending rearward from the right end portion of the front portion 61.

[0041] The front portion 61 has a protrusion 63 that protrudes rearward at its tip (upper end). The side portions 62a, 62b function as members that increase the rigidity of the front portion 61, and the pillar portion 60 including the front portion 61 is restricted in deformation in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions. As shown in FIG. 2, the front portion 61 has a protrusion 64 that extends in the up-down direction on its front surface. The protrusion 64 can increase the rigidity of the front portion 61, and the pillar portion 60 including the front portion 61 is less likely to deform, particularly in the front-rear direction.

[0042] 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover 13 is attached to the box body 12 at a specified position (hereinafter, referred to as the "attached state"). In the attached state, a protrusion 63 of a column portion 60 serving as the first engaged portion 22A fits into a hole 55 of an engagement piece portion 52 included in the first engagement portion 21A. With the protrusion 63 fitted into the hole 55, a lower surface 63a of the protrusion 63 faces an inner surface 56 of the hole 55 in the up-down direction. When the cover 13 in the attached state tries to displace upward, the protrusion 63 comes into contact with the inner surface 56 of the hole 55, and the upward displacement of the cover 13 is restricted. In other words, the engagement between the protrusion 63 and the hole 55 prevents the cover 13 from falling off the box body 12.

[0043] To release the engagement between the projection 63 and the hole 55, the engagement piece 52 is displaced rearward (toward the center of the unit 70) with elastic deformation. When displacing the engagement piece 52, the worker performing the work pushes the operation part 52a rearward with his / her finger.

[0044] As described above, the first locking portion 23A is constituted by the first engaging portion 21A having the hole 55 and the first engaged portion 22A having the protrusion 63. The first locking portion 23A in a state in which the first engaging portion 21A and the first engaged portion 22A are engaged is housed in the recess 25. As shown in Fig. 6, in the attached state, the protrusion 63 is engaged with the hole 55, and the connecting piece portion 51 of the first engaging portion 21A contacts the central wall portion 20 of the box body 12 from above. As a result, the cover 13 is positioned in the up-down direction with respect to the box body 12.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 3, in the recess 25, plate-shaped portions 53 protruding forward from the bottom surface 41 are provided on both the left and right sides of the first engagement portion 21A. In the attached state (see Fig. 7), each of the side portions 62a, 62b of the pillar portion 60 is located between the plate-shaped portions 53 and the side surface 42 of the recess 25. The plate-shaped portions 53 function as lock protection and positioning, and as finger guides when unlocking.

[0046] [Guide function of cover 13 of box body 12] 2, the cover 13 approaches the box body 12 from above, and is attached to the box body 12. The box body 12 has a guide portion that guides the cover 13 during this attachment. The guide portion is constituted by a protruding rib 66 provided so as to protrude from a part of the side plate portion 16 of the box body 12. The protruding rib 66 is provided on each of the left and right side plate portions 16. The cover 13 has an extension 65 as a guided portion that is guided by the protrusion 66. In the attached state (see FIG. 1), the extension 65 partially covers the side plate portions 16, 16 of the box body 12 from both the left and right sides.

[0047] When the cover 13 approaches the box body 12 from above, the extension 65 comes into contact with the ridge 66, and the cover 13 covers the box body 12 while being guided along the shape of the ridge 66. The ridge 66 has a first portion 67 that extends linearly in the vertical direction, and a second portion 68 that is continuous with the first portion 67 and extends forward as it heads downward. Due to this ridge 66, the cover 13 is first guided linearly downward by the first portion 67, and then guided downward and forward by the second portion 68.

[0048] As the extension portion 65 is guided along the first portion 67, the first engaging portion 21A of the cover 13 is positioned rearward of the first engaged portion 22A (pillar portion 60) of the box main body 12, with a gap maintained in the front-to-rear direction, and the cover 13 gradually approaches the box main body 12. Thereafter, the extension 65 is guided by the second portion 68, and the first engaging portion 21A moves forward while descending. Then, the hole 55 of the first engaging portion 21A approaches the protrusion 63 of the first engaged portion 22A from behind, and eventually the hole 55 and the protrusion 63 engage with each other (see FIG. 6). When the hole 55 and the protrusion 63 engage with each other, the extension 65 is provided along the first portion 67 and the second portion 68 of the ridge 66 (see FIG. 1).

[0049] In the electric junction box 10 of this embodiment, the first engaging portion 21A (hole 55) and the first engaged portion 22A (protrusion 63) are configured to be displaced relatively in the front-rear direction in order to be engaged with each other. The direction in which the ridges 66 (second portions 68) serving as guide portions guide the extensions 65 of the cover 13 has a front-rear component. According to this configuration, when the cover 13 is placed over the box body 12 from above while being guided by the ridges 66, the first engaging portion 21A engages with the first engaged portion 22A.

[0050] [Regarding the recess 25] The shape of the recess 25 will be further described. Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view showing the first locking portion 23A housed in the recess 25. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first locking portion 23A and its surroundings as viewed in the left-right direction.

[0051] Here, the electric junction box 10 (see FIG. 1) is attached to a vehicle body frame or the like within a predetermined required space. For this reason, the first block B1 of the electric junction box 10 is configured so as not to exceed the product boundary surface Q (see FIGS. 7 and 8) even in a small portion. The product boundary surface Q is an imaginary plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction and passing through the front end surface of the first block B1 of the electric junction box 10. In the electric junction box 10 of this embodiment, as described above, the cover front wall 33 has a rib 39. The front end surface 40 of the rib 39 is the end surface that defines the product boundary surface Q. In other words, the imaginary plane that extends in the left-right and up-down directions and passes through the end surface 40 of the rib 39 becomes the product boundary surface Q in this embodiment.

[0052] In order to configure the first block B1 so that even a small portion does not extend beyond the product boundary surface Q, the first locking portion 23A is provided in a state of being housed in the recess 25. That is, the first locking portion 23A is housed in the recess 25 so that the entire first locking portion 23A is located closer to the center of the unit 70 than the product boundary surface Q, that is, rearward of the product boundary surface Q.

[0053] For this reason, recess 25 has a predetermined depth dimension D in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 7). In other words, recess 25 has depth dimension D that positions first lock portion 23A closer to the center of unit 70 than tip surface 40 of rib 39, that is, rearward of tip surface 40 of rib 39. Depth dimension D is the dimension in the front-rear direction from front wall surface 33a of cover front wall 33 to bottom surface 41 of recess 25.

[0054] The entire first locking portion 23A is configured to be located rearward of the tip surface 40 of the rib 39, but a part of the first locking portion 23A is located forward of the front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33. The part located forward of the wall surface 33a is the operation portion 52a of the engagement piece portion 52 of the first engagement portion 21A (see Figs. 7 and 8). To be more specific, as described above, the operation portion 52a (see Fig. 8) has, on its front side, an operation surface 52c in a stepped shape that approaches the upper end of the engagement piece portion 52. Of the operation surface 52c, the frontmost end surface 52d is located forward of the wall surface 33a. Therefore, the operation portion 52a, which is a part of the first locking portion 23A, protrudes forward of the wall surface 33a.

[0055] The depth dimension D of the recess 25 will be further explained. In this embodiment, as described above, in the attached state, the protrusion 63 of the column portion 60 as the first engaged portion 22A engages with the hole 55 of the engaging piece portion 52 included in the first engaging portion 21A. To release this engagement, the operating portion 52a of the first engaging portion 21A is pushed backward to elastically deform the engaging piece portion 52 backward. The depth dimension D of the recess 25 is set to be equal to or larger than the dimension by which the engaging piece portion 52 is displaced to release the engagement in this manner. As a result, the operation of releasing the engagement between the first engaging portion 21A and the first engaged portion 22A is performed within the range of the recess 25.

[0056] The width dimension W of the recess 25 (see FIG. 7) will be described. The width dimension W of the recess 25 is the distance between the left and right side surfaces 42, 42. The recess 25 has a width dimension W that allows a person's fingertip (the tip of the index finger) to be inserted. The lower limit of the width dimension W of such recess 25 is, for example, 20.1 mm. The upper limit of the width dimension W of the recess 25 is, for example, 21.1 mm. Since recess 25 has this width dimension W, it becomes possible for an operator to release the engagement between first engaging portion 21A and first engaged portion 22A using his / her fingertips without using a tool.

[0057] [Regarding the second lock portion 23B and the third lock portion 23C] As described above (see FIG. 1), the electric connection box 10 includes the first locking portion 23A, as well as the second locking portion 23B provided on the rear side of the first block B1 and the third locking portion 23C provided on the front side of the second block B2. The first engaging portion 21A constituting the first locking portion 23A engages with the first engaged portion 22A, the second engaging portion 21B constituting the second locking portion 23B engages with the second engaged portion 22B, and the third engaging portion 21C constituting the third locking portion 23C engages with the third engaged portion 22C, whereby the cover 13 is fixed to the box body 12.

[0058] The third locking portion 23C will be described. The third engaging portion 21C has an engaging piece portion 78 that elastically deforms in the front-rear direction. The engaging piece portion 78 has the same configuration as the engaging piece portion 52 of the first engaging portion 21A of the first locking portion 23A. The third engaged portion 22C (see FIG. 2) has a protrusion 77 that engages with a hole 79 of the engaging piece portion 78. The protrusion 77 is provided on a front portion 76 of the third engaged portion 22C. The front portion 76 and the protrusion 77 have the same configuration as the front portion 61 and the protrusion 63 of the first engaged portion 22A (see FIG. 5) of the first locking portion 23A.

[0059] In this embodiment (see FIG. 1), a second recess 80 is formed in the third side wall portion 48 of the outer peripheral wall 30 of the cover 13, and the third locking portion 23C is housed in the second recess 80. However, a part of the third locking portion 23C protrudes forward from the front end face of the third side wall portion 48. This is because no wire harness or the like is provided closely around the third locking portion 23C, and there is no risk of interference with other items.

[0060] The second recess 80 has a width dimension that allows a person's fingertip to be inserted, and is larger in width than the recess 25 (first recess 25) provided in the cover front wall 33. Since it is necessary to provide two wire harnesses 91, 91 on both the left and right sides of the first recess 25 in a space-saving manner in the left-right direction, the width dimension of the first recess 25 is set to the minimum width dimension that allows a person's fingertip to be inserted. In contrast, the second recess 80 has no wire harness on either side. For this reason, the third locking portion 23C is larger in the left-right direction than the first locking portion 23A in order to improve the operability of the engagement piece portion 78 and to increase the reliability of engagement, and accordingly, the second recess 80 is larger in width than the first recess 25.

[0061] The second locking portion 23B will be described. The second engaging portion 21B and the second engaged portion 22B are oriented in the opposite direction to the third engaging portion 21C and the third engaged portion 22C of the third locking portion 23C in the front-rear direction, but have the same shape. The second locking portion 23B is not housed in a recess formed in a part of the outer peripheral wall 30 of the cover 13, and protrudes rearward from a part of the outer peripheral wall 30. This is because no wire harness or the like is provided close to the periphery of the second locking portion 23B, and there is no risk of interference with other items.

[0062] As such, the electrical connection box 10 of this embodiment has multiple (three) locking portions 23A, 23B, 23C, but only the first locking portion 23A is housed in the recess 25 so as to be positioned toward the center (rear) of the unit 70 relative to the end face (product boundary surface Q) of the outer wall 30.

[0063] [Regarding the Electrical Junction Box 10 of the Present Embodiment] The electric connection box 10 of this embodiment includes a box body 12 on which a bus bar 11 is provided, and a cover 13 that covers the box body 12. The cover 13 has a first engaging portion 21A, and the box body 12 has a first engaged portion 22A that engages with the first engaging portion 21A to combine the box body 12 and the cover 13. A recess 25 is formed in a part of an outer peripheral wall 30 of a unit 70 formed by combining the box body 12 and the cover 13. The recess 25 accommodates a first locking portion 23A that is formed by engaging the first engaging portion 21A with the first engaged portion 22A. The recess 25 has a depth dimension D (see FIG. 7) that positions the first locking portion 23A closer to the center of the unit 70 (i.e., rearward) than the end face of the outer peripheral wall 30 (the tip face 40 of the rib 39).

[0064] According to the electrical junction box 10 having the above-described configuration, the first locking portion 23A is housed in the recess 25 of the outer peripheral wall 30 of the unit 70, and furthermore, the first locking portion 23A does not protrude from the end face of the outer peripheral wall 30. In this embodiment, as described above, the end face of the outer peripheral wall 30 is the tip face 40 of the rib 39, and an imaginary plane including this tip face 40 is the product boundary face Q (see FIGS. 7 and 8), and the first locking portion 23A does not protrude from the product boundary face Q.

[0065] In this embodiment, two wire harnesses 91 extend from the cover front wall 33, which is a part of the outer peripheral wall 30, and openings 38 through which the two wire harnesses 91 pass are formed on both the left and right sides of the recess 25 in the cover front wall 33. Therefore, a member that may interfere with the first lock portion 23A is a protector 92 provided on the wire harness 91. The protector 92 cannot be attached at a fixed position. However, according to the electrical junction box 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to suppress such interference with the protector 92.

[0066] In this embodiment, openings 38 through which the two wire harnesses 91, 91 pass are formed on both sides of the recess 25. This makes it possible to arrange the two wire harnesses 91, 91 and the recess 25 with high spatial efficiency.

[0067] As described above, the first locking portion 23A does not protrude from the end face (tip surface 40 of the rib 39) of the outer circumferential wall 30 to the outside (front side) of the unit 70. In other words, the entire first locking portion 23A does not protrude from the product boundary surface Q to the outside (front side) of the unit 70. 8, however, a part of the first locking portion 23A protrudes outside (to the front side) of the unit 70 beyond the front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33. The part protruding from the wall surface 33a is the front end portion of the operating portion 52a of the engagement piece portion 52 of the first engagement portion 21A.

[0068] That is, the front end of the operating portion 52a is located between the front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33 and the tip surface 40 of the rib 39 in the front-rear direction. In this way, since the front end portion of the operating portion 52a protrudes forward from the front wall surface 33a of the cover front wall 33, when an operator is removing the cover 13 from the box body 12 in an environment where the operator cannot see, for example, the operator can easily touch the operating portion 52a by running his / her finger along the wall surface 33a, improving workability.

[0069] 〔others〕 In the embodiment, the number of locking portions for attaching the cover 13 to the box body 12 is three, but the number can be changed. Even in this case, it is sufficient that the first locking portion 23A adjacent to the wire harness 91 is configured as described above.

[0070] The above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims rather than the above-described embodiment, and includes all modifications within the scope equivalent to the configurations described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10 Electrical junction box 11 Bus bar 12 Box body 13 Cover 14 First Case 15 Second Case 16 Side plate part 17 Volts 18 Second bus bar 19 Bottom plate part 19a The First Region 19b The Second Region 20 Central wall 21A First engaging part 21B Second engaging part 21C Third engaging part 22A First engaged part 22B Second engaged part 22C Third engaged part 23A First lock part 23B Second lock part 23C Third lock section 25 Recess 30 Outer wall 31 Cover body 32 Cover side wall 33 Cover front wall 33a wall 36 First side wall part 37 Second side wall part 38 Aperture 39 Ribs 40 Tip surface 41 Bottom 42 Side 48 Third side wall section 49 Fourth side wall part 51 Connecting piece 52 Engagement piece 52a Operation section 52c Operation surface 52d end face 53 Plate-shaped part 55 holes 56 Inside 60 Column section 61 Front 62a, 62b Side 63 Protrusion 63a Bottom side 64 Convex 65 Extension 66 Convex strip 67 First part 68 Second part 70 units 76 Front 77 Protrusion 78 Engagement piece 79 holes 80 Second Recess 91 Wire harness 92 Protector B1 First Block B2 Second Block

Claims

1. a bus bar; a box body in which the bus bar is provided; and a cover that covers the box body, The cover has an engagement portion, the box body has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion to combine the box body and the cover, a recess for accommodating a locking portion formed by engaging the engaging portion with the engaged portion is formed on an outer peripheral wall of a unit formed by combining the box body and the cover, the recess has a depth dimension that positions the locking portion closer to the center of the unit than an end surface of the outer circumferential wall, The unit has a portion of the outer wall on which the recess is formed, and the openings for passing the two cables are formed on both sides of the recess in the portion of the outer wall such that the two cables extend in a direction facing the portion of the outer wall. Electrical junction box.

2. the locking portion is configured to displace the engaging portion toward a center of the unit in order to release the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion, The electrical junction box according to claim 1 , wherein the recess has a depth dimension equal to or greater than a dimension by which the engaging portion is displaced to release the engagement.

3. 3. The electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the recess has a width large enough to allow a person's finger to be inserted therein.

4. 4. The electrical junction box according to claim 3, wherein the cover has a rib protruding from the outer peripheral wall in which the opening is formed and provided along the opening, a tip surface of the rib being the end surface.

5. The electrical junction box according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the locking portion protrudes beyond a surface of the outer peripheral wall to an outside of the unit.

6. Assuming that the cover covers the box body from above, The box body has a guide portion that guides the cover when the cover is attached to the box body by bringing the cover close to the box body from above, The engaging portion and the engaged portion are configured to be displaced relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in order to engage with each other, The electrical junction box according to claim 1 , wherein a direction in which the guide portion guides the cover has a component in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.

7. A box including a bus bar, a box body in which the bus bar is provided, and a cover that covers the box body, The cover has an engagement portion, the box body has an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion to combine the box body and the cover, a recess for accommodating a locking portion formed by engaging the engaging portion with the engaged portion is formed on an outer peripheral wall of a unit formed by combining the box body and the cover, the recess has a depth dimension that positions the locking portion closer to the center of the unit than an end surface of the outer circumferential wall, Assuming that the cover covers the box body from above, The box body has a guide portion that guides the cover when the cover is attached to the box body by bringing the cover close to the box body from above, The engaging portion and the engaged portion are configured to be displaced relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in order to engage with each other, The direction in which the guide portion guides the cover has a component in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. Electrical junction box.

8. The locking portion is configured to displace the engaging portion toward the center of the unit in order to release the engagement between the engaging portion and the engaged portion, 8. The electrical junction box according to claim 7, wherein the recess has a depth dimension equal to or greater than a dimension by which the engaging portion is displaced to release the engagement.

9. An electrical connection box as described in claim 7 or 8, wherein the recess has a width dimension that allows a person's fingertip to be inserted.

10. An electrical connection box as described in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein openings for passing two cables are formed on both sides of the recess in a part of the outer wall in which the recess of the unit is formed, so that the two cables extend in a direction facing the part of the outer wall.

11. An electrical connection box as described in Claim 10, wherein the cover has a rib protruding from the outer peripheral wall in which the opening is formed and arranged along the opening, and the tip surface of the rib is the end surface.

12. An electrical connection box as described in Claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the locking portion protrudes outside the unit beyond the wall surface of the outer peripheral wall.

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