Panel instrument mounting structure

Abstract

To provide a mounting structure for a panel instrument that provides high workability on mounting and dismounting of a mounting apparatus.SOLUTION: The mounting structure for the panel instrument includes a case 5 of a panel instrument 1, a mounting apparatus 6 to which a screw member 22 is screwed, and an engagement part 7 that regulates the movement of the mounting apparatus 6 with respect to the case 5 in a vertical direction while determining a position in a right-left direction of the mounting apparatus 6. The engagement part 7 is composed of a first engagement part 29 on a front part and a second engagement part 44 on a rear end part. The first engagement part 29 consists of a first engagement piece 28, a hole 13a, and a slit 13b. The second engagement part 44 consists of a guide 16 formed on left and right sides of a rear end part of a case 51 so as to extend in a front-back direction, and a second engagement piece 41 provided on the mounting apparatus 6 to be detachably and movably engaged with the guide 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a panel instrument used for fixing a panel instrument inserted into a panel to the panel. [Background technology]

[0002] A panel instrument to be fixed to a panel is inserted into an opening in the panel from the front of the panel, and is fixed to the panel at the rear (backside) of the panel by a mounting device. Conventional mounting devices for general panel instruments, as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, are formed using a base member that overlaps the panel instrument and engages with it so that it cannot be moved back, and a screw member that is screwed into the base member so that its tip abuts against the backside of the panel. In this type of mounting device, the panel instrument is temporarily fixed using the base member, and then the screw member is tightened to push the panel instrument backward, thereby firmly fixing the panel instrument to the panel.

[0003] There are two main ways to remove the mounting fixture from the panel instrument. The first method is to loosen the screw member, then grasp the mounting fixture with your fingers and pull it backwards to recover it. The second method is to use a tool to lift the fixing claw of the base member that is engaged with the panel instrument to release the lock, and then pull the mounting fixture backwards to recover it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-14949 [Patent Document 2] JP 2010-121993 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional panel instrument mounting fixtures such as those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 have problems with workability when mounting the mounting fixture to the panel instrument or removing it from the panel instrument. The space behind the panel in which the panel instrument is housed may be narrow or dark, making it difficult to visually check the components. In such cases, it is difficult to identify the location where the mounting fixture should be attached. As a result, it may take time to mount the mounting fixture, or the mounting fixture may be mistakenly mounted in a position other than the correct position.

[0006] Even when removing the mounting fixture from the panel instrument, if the work environment is dark or narrow, it may be difficult to identify the location of the screw member, and the screw member must be loosened by feeling around. Also, if the mounting fixture is located in a narrow space due to the mounting position of the panel instrument, the worker's fingers may not be able to reach it, making removal extremely difficult.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a panel instrument which improves the workability of mounting and removing a mounting fixture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve this object, the mounting structure for a panel instrument according to the present invention comprises a case for a panel instrument inserted from the front of a panel into an opening formed in the panel for mounting the instrument, a mounting fixture into which a screw member that presses against the rear surface of the panel from behind is screwed and which is superimposed on an outer surface extending in the front-to-rear direction of the case and whose rearward movement relative to the case is restricted, and an engagement portion formed by a part of the case and a part of the mounting fixture, which determines the position of the mounting fixture relative to the case in a first direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and along the outer surface, and which restricts movement of the mounting fixture relative to the case in a second direction perpendicular to the outer surface, the engagement portion being provided on the front of the case and the mounting fixture. The mounting fixture is made up of a first engagement portion provided at the front end of the mounting fixture toward the case, a hole formed in the case to allow the first engagement piece to be inserted and removed, and a slit formed in the case extending forward from the hole and holding the first engagement piece movable in the front-rear direction so that it cannot come off the case, and the second engagement portion is made up of a guide formed at the rear end of the case to extend in the front-rear direction on both sides in the first direction, and a second engagement piece provided on the mounting fixture and removably and movably engaging with the guide.

[0009] In the mounting structure for the panel instrument of the present invention, the hole of the first engagement portion may be formed in a position where the first engagement piece can be inserted and removed when the second engagement piece is positioned at the rear end of the guide.

[0010] The present invention may provide a mounting structure for a panel instrument, in which the screw member is positioned in the center of the mounting tool in the first direction, and a handle portion protruding in the second direction is provided at the rear end of the mounting tool rearward of the screw member, and a hole for inserting a tool is formed in the handle portion at a position overlapping with the screw member in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0011] In the mounting structure for the panel instrument of the present invention, the case may have a pair of other outer surfaces adjacent to the outer surface of the case on which the mounting device is stacked in the first direction, and the guide may be constituted by a groove formed in each of the pair of other outer surfaces.

[0012] In the panel instrument mounting structure of the present invention, the guide may be formed by a slit that opens into the outer surface of the case on which the mounting fixture is placed and extends in the front-rear direction. Effect of the Invention

[0013] In the present invention, when installing the mounting fixture, the second engagement piece located at the rear end can be used to determine the installation position, and when removing the mounting fixture, the second engagement piece can be used as a guide to identify the position of the mounting fixture. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mounting structure for a panel instrument that improves the workability of installing and removing the mounting fixture. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure for a panel instrument according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of a panel instrument. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the mounting structure of the panel instrument. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a panel instrument and a portion of the panel. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the case. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting fixture. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mounting fixture. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the mounting fixture. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the mounting fixture. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting structure for a panel instrument. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the first engagement portion. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the second engagement portion. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the second engagement portion. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a plan view showing the mounting structure of the panel instrument. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a side view for explaining the procedure for attaching the mounting fixture to the case. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a side view for explaining a procedure for fixing the case to the panel with the mounting fixture. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a side view for explaining the procedure for removing the mounting fixture from the case. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the case. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the case. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the second engagement portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a panel instrument mounting structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 can be used as, for example, a temperature regulator, and is inserted into an opening 3 in a panel 2 for mounting an instrument from the front of the panel 2, and is fixed to the panel 2 from the rear by a mounting structure 4 according to the present invention. The mounting structure 4, which will be described in detail later, is made up of a case 5 for the panel instrument 1, a mounting fixture 6 superimposed on the case 5, and an engagement portion 7 formed by a part of the case 5 and a part of the mounting fixture 6 and which limits the position and movement of the mounting fixture 6 relative to the case 5. The mounting fixture 6 is attached with the panel instrument 1 inserted into an opening 3 formed in the panel 2. The panel instrument 1 has a case 5 that is inserted into the opening 3 of the panel 2. The mounting structure 4 according to this embodiment is a structure in which the case 5 is attached to the panel 2 at two points in the upper and lower directions by the mounting fixtures 6.

[0016] The case 5 is formed in a bottomed rectangular tube shape that opens toward the front of the panel 2, and is inserted into the opening 3 of the panel 2 from the front of the panel 2. The front of the panel 2 is a direction that faces the upper left in FIG. 1. In the following, for the sake of convenience, when describing the configuration of each part, the direction parallel to the direction in which the panel instrument 1 is inserted into the opening 3 of the panel 2 is referred to as the front-rear direction. That is, the direction in which the front surface 2a (see FIG. 3) of the panel 2 faces is referred to as the front, the direction in which the back surface 2b (see FIG. 3) of the panel 2 faces is referred to as the rear, and the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the up-down direction of the panel instrument 1. In addition, the right side when the panel 2 is viewed from the front is referred to as the right side of the panel instrument 1 and the mounting fixture 6, and the left side when the panel 2 is viewed from the front is referred to as the left side of the panel instrument 1 and the mounting fixture 6.

[0017] A flange 11 (see FIG. 3) is provided at the front end of the case 5 and is formed to be larger than the opening 3 of the panel 2. The case 5 is attached to the panel 2 with the flange 11 in contact with the front surface 2a of the panel 2. The upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b of the case 5 are formed to have the same configuration. In this embodiment, the upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b correspond to the "outer surface on which the mounting device is placed" according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b are formed with a number of ventilation holes 12, engagement holes 13 for combining the mounting fixtures 6, and a retreat restriction portion 14 for restricting the rearward movement of the mounting fixtures 6 when the mounting fixtures 6 are stacked.

[0018] The ventilation hole 12 is formed so as to penetrate each of the upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b. The engagement holes 13 are formed in pairs in the left-right direction in the front parts of the upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b, and are composed of a rectangular hole 13a in a plan view and a slit 13b extending forward from the hole 13a, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The rectangular hole 13a in a plan view located at the rear end of the engagement holes 13 is formed so that its opening width in the left-right direction is larger than that of the slit 13b. The hole 13a of the right engagement hole 13 opens so as to widen to the right from the slit 13b, and the hole 13a of the left engagement hole 13 opens so as to widen to the left from the slit 13b.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 11, the retraction restricting portion 14 is composed of a plurality of ridges 15 having a sawtooth cross section. The cut position in FIG. 11 is the position indicated by line XI-XI in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, these ridges 15 are provided in the center of the upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b in the left-right direction, and are arranged at a predetermined interval in the front-rear direction while extending in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the front surface 15a of the ridges 15 is formed perpendicular to the upper wall 5a and the lower wall 5b. The rear surface 15b of the ridges 15 is inclined so as to be gradually positioned forward as it approaches the tip of the ridges 15.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the case 5 has a right side wall 5c and a left side wall 5d. A guide 16 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on both the left and right sides of the rear end of the case 5. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the guide 16 according to this embodiment is composed of recesses 17 formed in the upper and lower ends (only the upper end is shown in Figures 5 and 6) of the right side wall 5c and the left side wall (not shown in Figure 6) of the case 5, respectively, and a groove 16a as a guide body formed in the bottom of the recess 17. The groove 16a is formed on the surfaces of the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d so as to open outward in the left-right direction.

[0021] The recess 17 is formed by partially recessing the surfaces of the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d. The recess 17 is formed so as to be open outward in the left-right direction and upward. The groove 16a opens at the bottom of the recess 17. The rear end of the guide 16 shown in Fig. 6 is provided with an upper extension 16b consisting of a groove that extends upward and opens into the upper wall 5a. The rear end of the guide 16 provided at the lower ends of the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d is provided with a lower extension 16c (see Figs. 1 and 2) consisting of a groove that extends downward and opens into the lower wall 5b. As shown in Fig. 6, the upper extension 16b and the lower extension 16c consisting of a groove are formed to be shallower than the groove 16a that constitutes the guide 16.

[0022] 7 and 8, the mounting device 6 is composed of a main body 21 extending in the front-rear and left-right directions, and a screw member 22 screwed into the front end of the main body 21. This mounting device 6 is used with the main body 21 placed on the upper wall 5a or the lower wall 5b of the case 5. The mounting device 6 attached to the upper wall 5a and the mounting device 6 attached to the lower wall 5b are the same. For this reason, in this embodiment, the mounting device 6 attached to the upper wall 5a will be described, and the mounting device 6 attached to the lower wall 5b will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

[0023] 9 and 10, the main body 21 of the mounting device 6 has a front frame portion 24 having a boss 23 into which the screw member 22 screws, a lock portion 25 extending rearward from the front frame portion 24, and arm portions 26 formed in a triangular frame shape in a plan view surrounding the lock portion 25 and extending on both left and right sides from the lock portion 25. The front frame portion 24, the lock portion 25, and the arm portions 26 are integrally formed by integral molding using plastic as a material. The boss 23 is provided in the left-right center of the front frame portion 24 so that the screw member 22 extends in the front-rear direction.

[0024] A pair of arms 27 extending in the left-right direction are provided at the front end of the front frame portion 24. The tip of the arm 27 is formed in a shape that is bent forward. When the front end of the arm 27 is pressed against the panel 2, the arm 27 is elastically deformed and bent as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 9, and the spring force of the arm 27 acts on the main body 21 in a direction away from the panel 2 (rearward).

[0025] A pair of left and right first engagement pieces 28 protruding downward is provided on the lower surface of the front end of the front frame part 24. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the first engagement piece 28 is formed in an L-shaped cross section with the lower end directed to both sides in the left-right direction, and is provided on the front frame part 24 protruding toward the case 5. The broken position in FIG. 12 is the position indicated by the line XII-XII in FIG. 3. The rectangular hole 13a in plan view of the above-mentioned engagement hole 13 is formed to a size that allows the first engagement piece 28 to be inserted therethrough. In addition, the position of the rectangular hole 13a in plan view is positioned at a position corresponding to the first engagement piece 28 when the mounting device 6 is located at the rear side of the case 5 and is positioned at an engagement start position described later as shown in FIG. 15. Therefore, when the mounting device 6 is positioned at the engagement start position, the first engagement piece 28 can be inserted into and removed from the rectangular hole 13a in plan view of the engagement hole 13.

[0026] When the first engagement piece 28 is inserted into the rectangular hole 13a in plan view, the mounting device 6 can be moved forward relative to the case 5. At this time, as the mounting device 6 advances forward, the base 28a (see FIG. 12) of the first engagement piece 28 moves in the slit 13b. When the base 28a is positioned in the slit 13b, the mounting device 6 cannot be moved left and right relative to the case 5. That is, the position of the mounting device 6 relative to the case 5 is determined in the left and right direction. In this embodiment, the left and right direction corresponds to the "first direction perpendicular to the front and back direction and along the outer surface" in the present invention. Also, in this embodiment, the up and down direction corresponds to the "second direction perpendicular to the outer surface" in the present invention.

[0027] In this state, even if the mounting device 6 is lifted upward relative to the case 5, the first engagement pieces 28 engage with the upper wall 5a, and therefore the mounting device 6 cannot be removed from the case 5. That is, the slits 13b hold the first engagement pieces 28 in a manner that allows them to move forward and backward so that they cannot be removed from the case 5. In this embodiment, the first engagement pieces 28 and the engagement hole 13 having the rectangular hole 13a and the slits 13b in a plan view constitute the first engagement portion 29 (see FIG. 12) of the present invention.

[0028] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the locking portion 25 of the main body 21 is formed in a cantilever shape that projects rearward from the front frame portion 24. On the underside of the locking portion 25, as shown in Figure 8, a single protrusion 31 that protrudes downward is formed so as to extend in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 11, this protrusion 31 has a substantially triangular cross section and is formed in a shape that engages with the above-mentioned retreat restriction portion 14 of the case 5.

[0029] More specifically, the protrusion 31 of the locking portion 25 is formed in a shape that fits from above into a valley formed between two adjacent protrusions 15, 15 of the retraction restricting portion 14. When the protrusion 31 of the locking portion 25 is engaged with the retraction restricting portion 14, the protrusion 15 and the protrusion 31 mesh with each other, so that the mounting device 6 cannot be moved backward relative to the case 5. On the other hand, the rear surface 15b of the protrusion 15 of the retraction restricting portion 14 is inclined so as to be gradually positioned forward as it goes upward, so that when the mounting device 6 is pushed forward relative to the case 5, the cantilever-shaped locking portion 25 bends upward and the protrusion 31 of the locking portion 25 rides over the protrusion 15 of the retraction restricting portion 14. Therefore, the mounting device 6 can be moved forward relative to the case 5.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 7, a handle portion 32 that protrudes upward (in the second direction) is provided at the rear end of the lock portion 25 and behind the screw member 22. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the handle portion 32 according to this embodiment is formed in a box shape that opens downward, and is formed by a pair of vertical plates 32a, 32a extending in the up-down direction at both left-right ends, an upper plate 32b connecting the upper ends of the vertical plates 32a, a front plate 32c connecting the front ends of the vertical plates 32a, and a rear plate 32d connecting the rear ends of the vertical plates 32a.

[0031] The front portion of the vertical plate 32a constitutes a reinforcing rib 32e extending forward. Both left and right ends of the upper plate 32b protrude outward in the left and right direction beyond the vertical plate 32a so as to function as protruding pieces 33 for hanging fingers. A tool insertion hole 34 is formed in the front plate 32c, and a tool insertion notch 35 is formed in the rear plate 32d. These tool insertion hole 34 and tool insertion notch 35 are formed at positions overlapping with the screw member 22 in the front-rear direction, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

[0032] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the arms 26 of the main body 21 are formed in a triangular shape that faces forward in a plan view. At the rear ends of the arms 26, which are both ends in the left-right direction, second engagement pieces 41 that protrude downward are provided, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The right second engagement piece 41 and the left second engagement piece 41 are connected to each other by a connecting piece 42 that extends in the left-right direction and forms the rear ends of the arms 26. A semi-spherical projection 43 is formed on the lower end of the inner surfaces of the two second engagement pieces 41 facing each other.

[0033] The two second engagement pieces 41 are formed at positions where they can sandwich the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d of the case 5 from both sides in the left-right direction, as shown in Fig. 13. More specifically, the second engagement pieces 41 are formed at positions where they overlap recesses 17 formed at the rear ends and upper ends of the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d, and the protrusions 43 are inserted into the guide 16. In order to engage the protrusions 43 with the guide 16, first, the second engagement pieces 41 are placed over the recesses 17 of the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d from above, as shown in Fig. 14(A).

[0034] In this state, the mounting device 6 is pushed downward to bend the second engagement piece 41 so that the protrusion 43 overlaps with the recess 17 as shown in FIG. 14(B). In this state, the mounting device 6 is pushed further downward, so that the protrusion 43 engages with the guide 16 as shown in FIG. 13. In the state in which the protrusion 43 engages with the guide 16, the protrusion 43 is movable relative to the guide 16. In addition, when the mounting device 6 is lifted upward relative to the case 5 with the protrusion 43 engaged with the guide 16, the second engagement piece 41 is bent and rides on the recess 17 from the guide 16, and is disengaged upward through the recess 17. In other words, the second engagement piece 41 is configured to be engaged with the guide 16 in a detachable and movably manner.

[0035] 15, when the projection 43 of the second engagement piece 41 is positioned adjacent to the upper extension portion 16b of the guide 16, the first engagement piece 28 of the mounting device 6 can enter the rectangular hole 13a in plan view of the engagement hole 13 of the case 5. That is, the hole 13a of the first engagement portion 29 is formed at a position where the first engagement piece 28 can be inserted and removed when the second engagement piece 41 is positioned at the rear end of the guide 16. The position in the front-rear direction of the mounting device 6 where the second engagement piece 41 is positioned at the rear end of the guide 16 in this manner is referred to as the "engagement start position."

[0036] In this embodiment, the guide 16 of the case 5 and the second engagement piece 41 of the mounting fixture 6 constitute a second engagement portion 44 according to the present invention. A first engagement portion 29 consisting of this second engagement portion 44, the first engagement piece 28 of the mounting fixture 6, and the engagement hole 13 of the case 5 constitutes the engagement portion 7 that determines the position of the mounting fixture 6 relative to the case 5 in the left-right direction and limits the upward movement of the mounting fixture 6 relative to the case 5.

[0037] To fix the panel instrument 1 to the panel 2 using the mounting structure 4 for the panel instrument 1 configured in this way, first, insert the case 5 into the opening 3 of the panel 2 from the front as shown in Fig. 16(A), and then engage the second engagement pieces 41 of the mounting fixture 6 with the guide 16 of the case 5 as shown in Fig. 16(B). At this time, first, place the mounting fixture 6 on the rear end of the case 5 so that the two second engagement pieces 41 sandwich the case 5 from both the left and right sides. Then, push the mounting fixture 6 downward so that the protrusion 43 enters the guide 16 from the recess 17 of the case 5 as shown in Fig. 14(A) and (B).

[0038] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 17(A), the mounting device 6 is moved backward relative to the case 5, and the second engagement piece 41 is positioned at the rear end of the guide 16. Next, the mounting device 6 is rotated forward about the projection 43 of the second engagement piece 41, and the mounting device 6 is placed on the upper wall 5a from above, as shown in Fig. 17(B). This operation causes the first engagement piece 28 to be inserted into the engagement hole 13 of the case 5 from above. Therefore, even if the rear of the panel 2 is dark or narrow and the hole 13a of the case 5, into which the first engagement piece 28 of the mounting device 6 is to be inserted, cannot be seen, by using the second engagement piece 41, the mounting device 6 can be easily attached to the case 5.

[0039] By overlapping the mounting fixture 6 from above on the upper wall 5a of the case 5 in this manner, the protrusion 31 of the mounting fixture 6 engages with the retraction restriction portion 14, and thereafter, the mounting fixture 6 cannot be moved backward relative to the case 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 17(C), the mounting fixture 6 is pushed forward, and the arm 27 at the tip is pressed against the panel 2 from behind, causing elastic deformation. At this time, the arm 27 bends and pushes the mounting fixture 6 backward, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, so that the mounting fixture 6 is temporarily held by the case 5, and the case 5 is temporarily held by the panel 2. Thereafter, the screw member 22 is tightened to press it against the rear surface 2b of the panel 2. When tightening the screw member 22, a tool is inserted into the tool insertion hole 34 and the notch 35 of the handle portion 32 from the rear. Mounting devices 6 are attached to the upper wall 5a and lower wall 5b of the case 5, and screw members 22 are tightened in both mounting devices 6, whereby the panel 2 is sandwiched between the flange of the case 5 and the screw members 22, and the panel instrument 1 is fixed to the panel 2.

[0040] In order to remove the panel instrument 1 from the panel 2, the upper mounting fixture 6 and the lower mounting fixture 6 are removed from the case 5, and then the case 5 is pulled forward from the panel 2. In order to remove the upper mounting fixture 6, the handle portion 32 is first pushed upward. At this time, even if the space behind the panel 2 is dark and it is difficult to see the handle portion 32, the position of the handle portion 32 can be identified by using the second engagement piece 41 exposed at the rear end of the case 5 as a guide. The operation of pushing the handle portion 32 upward is performed by pushing the handle portion 32 upward with a rod-shaped tool 45 such as a screwdriver inserted into the tool insertion hole 34 and the notch 35 of the handle portion 32, as shown in FIG. 18, or by the operator pushing the handle portion 32 upward with his or her finger.

[0041] When the handle portion 32 is lifted upward, the locking portion 25 of the main body 21 of the mounting device 6 bends upward, and the protrusion 31 of the locking portion 25 disengages from the protrusion 15 on the case 5. At the moment this engagement is released, the spring force of the arm 27 moves the mounting device 6 backward relative to the case 5, causing the protrusion 31 to collide with the protrusion 15, generating a hitting sound. Therefore, it is possible to determine by sound whether the engagement has been released.

[0042] After the engagement between the retreat restriction portion 14 of the case 5 and the lock portion 25 has been released in this manner, the mounting device 6 can be removed from the case 5 by pulling the handle portion 32 rearward with the tool 45 or a finger, and then lifting it upward to disengage the second engagement piece 41 from the guide 16. At this time, by lifting the mounting device 6 upward with the second engagement piece 41 having moved to the rear end of the guide 16, the protrusion 43 passes through the upper extension portion 16b of the guide 16, and the mounting device 6 can be easily removed from the case 5. When removing the lower mounting device 6, the handle portion 32 is lowered and the same procedure as above is carried out.

[0043] Therefore, in the mounting structure 4 for the panel instrument 1 according to this embodiment, when performing the installation operation of the mounting fixture 6, the installation position can be determined using the second engagement piece 41 located at the rear end, and when performing the work of removing the mounting fixture 6, the position of the mounting fixture 6 can be specified using the second engagement piece 41 as a guide. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a mounting structure for a panel instrument that improves the workability of installing and removing the mounting fixture.

[0044] In this embodiment, the rectangular hole 13a in a plan view of the first engagement portion 29 is formed in a position where the first engagement piece 28 can be inserted and removed when the second engagement piece 41 is located at the rear end of the guide 16. This makes it possible to attach the mounting device 6 to the case 5 even more easily.

[0045] The screw member 22 in this embodiment is positioned at the center of the mounting tool 6 in the left-right direction (first direction). A handle portion 32 that protrudes upward (second direction) is provided at the rear end of the mounting tool 6, behind the screw member 22. A hole 34 for inserting a tool and a notch 35 are formed in the handle portion 32 at a position overlapping with the screw member 22 in the front-rear direction. This makes it easy to see the handle portion 32 from the rear of the case 5, and the position for inserting a tool is clear, so that the tool can be easily inserted in the correct position.

[0046] The case 5 according to this embodiment has, in the left-right direction (first direction), an upper wall 5a and a lower wall 5b (outer surfaces) of the case 5 on which the mounting device 6 is placed, and adjacent right side wall 5c and left side wall 5d (a pair of other outer surfaces). The guide 16 is constituted by grooves 16a formed in the right side wall 5c and the left side wall 5d, respectively. Therefore, when attaching the mounting fixture 6 to the case 5, the mounting position of the mounting fixture 6 can be determined using the outer edge of the case 5, so that the mounting fixture 6 can be easily attached to the case 5 even by feel.

[0047] (Guide Variation) The guide can be configured as shown in Figures 19 to 21. In Figures 19 to 21, members that are the same as or equivalent to those described with reference to Figures 1 to 18 are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 19 is formed so as to be larger in the left-right direction than the mounting fixture 6. The mounting fixture 6 according to this embodiment is disposed in the center in the left-right direction of the case 51. The mounting fixture 6 is the same as that shown in the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0048] In this embodiment, an engagement hole 13 and a retraction restricting portion 14 (see FIG. 20) are formed in an upper wall 51a and a lower wall 51b of a case 51, similar to the above-described embodiment. Unlike the above-described embodiment, a guide 16 at the rear end of the case 51 is formed by a slit 52. Similar to the ventilation hole 12, the slit 52 opens in the upper wall 51a and extends in the front-rear direction.

[0049] 21, the opening width of the slit 52 in the left-right direction is a width that allows the second engagement piece 41 to be inserted. Moreover, the distance between the right-side slit 52 and the left-side slit 52 is wider than the distance between the protrusion 43 of the right-side second engagement piece 41 and the protrusion 43 of the left-side second engagement piece 41. Since the slit 52 is formed in this manner, the second engagement piece 41 engages with the guide 16 consisting of the slit 52 by pressing the mounting device 6 from above against the case 51 with the second engagement piece 41 overlapping the slit 52 from above. Therefore, also in this embodiment, when installing the mounting fixture 6, the installation position can be determined using the second engagement piece 41 located at the rear end, and when removing the mounting fixture 6, the position of the mounting fixture 6 can be identified using the second engagement piece 41 as a guide. Therefore, also in this embodiment, it is possible to provide a mounting structure for a panel instrument that improves the workability of installing and removing the mounting fixture.

[0050] In the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the mounting fixture 6 is attached to the upper walls 5a, 51a and the lower wall 5b of the case 5, 51. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and the mounting fixture 6 can also be attached to the right side walls 5c, 51c (see FIG. 19) and the left side walls 5d, 51d of the case 5, 51, respectively. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1...panel instrument, 2...panel, 3...opening, 4...mounting structure, 5, 51...case, 5a, 51a...upper wall, 5b, 51b...lower wall, 5c...right side wall, 5d...left side wall, 6...mounting device, 7...engagement portion, 13a...hole, 13b...slit, 16...guide, 16a...groove, 22...screw member, 28...first engagement piece, 29...first engagement portion, 32...handle portion, 34...hole for tool insertion, 35...notch for tool insertion, 41...second engagement piece, 44...second engagement portion, 52...slit.

Claims

1. a panel instrument case inserted into an opening formed in a panel for mounting an instrument from the front of the panel; a mounting device into which a screw member that pushes the rear surface of the panel from behind is screwed and which is superimposed on an outer surface extending in the front-rear direction of the case and restricts rearward movement of the panel relative to the case; an engagement portion that is formed by a part of the case and a part of the mounting device, and that determines a position of the mounting device relative to the case in a first direction that is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and along the outer surface, and limits movement of the mounting device relative to the case in a second direction that is perpendicular to the outer surface, the engaging portion includes a first engaging portion provided at a front portion of the case and the mounting device, and a second engaging portion provided at a rear end portion of the case and the mounting device, The first engagement portion includes: a first engagement piece provided at a front portion of the mounting device and protruding toward the case; a hole formed in the case so that the first engagement piece can be inserted and removed; a slit formed in the case so as to extend forward from the hole, the slit holding the first engagement piece so as to be movable in the front-rear direction so as not to be removed from the case, The second engagement portion is a guide formed at a rear end of the case on both sides in the first direction so as to extend in the front-rear direction; a second engaging piece provided on the mounting fixture and adapted to detachably and movably engage with the guide.

2. The panel instrument mounting structure according to claim 1, a hole in the first engagement portion that is formed in a position such that the first engagement piece can be inserted and removed when the second engagement piece is positioned at the rear end of the guide.

3. The panel instrument mounting structure according to claim 1 or 2, the screw member is positioned at a center portion of the mounting device in the first direction; a handle portion protruding in the second direction is provided at a rear end of the mounting device and rearward of the screw member; a hole for inserting a tool is formed in the handle portion at a position overlapping with the screw member in the front-rear direction.

4. In the panel instrument mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the case has a pair of other outer surfaces adjacent to the outer surface of the case on which the mounting device is superimposed in the first direction, 13. A panel instrument mounting structure, comprising: a panel instrument mounting member, the panel instrument mounting member being configured with a plurality of guides, each of which is formed with a groove formed on each of the other outer surfaces of the pair of panels.

5. In the panel instrument mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 13. A mounting structure for a panel instrument, comprising: a mounting device for mounting a panel instrument on a panel of a vehicle; a mounting device for mounting a panel instrument on the panel instrument;

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