Resin structure
The resin structure addresses the issue of decreased waterproofness at boundaries by employing a concave-convex fitting structure between lids and a main body, enhancing waterproofing and preventing lid detachment, thus maintaining internal space and effective water discharge.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022080399
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-05-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-05-16
AI Technical Summary
Resin structures with multiple internal regions experience decreased waterproofness at the boundaries between adjacent regions, which is a common issue in electrical junction boxes and other resin structures.
A resin structure design featuring a concave-convex fitting structure between lids and a main body, utilizing first and second wall portions that extend along partition walls, with engagement aids to enhance waterproofing and prevent lid detachment, allowing for increased creepage distance and discharge of water through gaps.
The concave-convex fitting structure improves waterproofing between regions without additional sealing components, prevents lid detachment, and allows for expanded internal space without increasing external dimensions, while maintaining effective water discharge.
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Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a resin structure. [Background technology]
[0002] Resin structures formed by assembling a plurality of resin bodies have been proposed in the past, such as electrical connection boxes (e.g., relay boxes) mounted on vehicles, etc. For example, some conventional electrical connection boxes have a structure in which a lid body having a shape corresponding to an opening is attached to close the opening of a box-shaped main body that stores electronic components, etc. (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-150595 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-150596 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2021-044944 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-045019 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Depending on the specifications of an electrical junction box, the interior of the main body of the electrical junction box may be divided into multiple regions, and the openings of each region may be closed using multiple lids corresponding to each region. For example, to improve the maintainability of the electrical junction box, each region may be designed so that one region primarily houses relays and another region primarily houses fuses. However, when an electrical junction box is divided into multiple regions and each region is closed with a lid, the waterproofness of the boundary between adjacent regions generally decreases compared to when there are no such boundaries. This is not limited to electrical junction boxes, and in any resin structure having multiple internal regions, the waterproofness of the boundary between adjacent regions also decreases as described above. Therefore, when providing multiple regions in a resin structure as described above, it is desirable to improve the waterproofness, especially at the boundary.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a resin structure that is excellent in waterproofing between a plurality of regions provided in the resin structure. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the resin structure according to the present invention has the following features.
[0007] A resin structure comprising: a box-shaped main body divided into a plurality of regions; and a plurality of lid bodies attached to the main body so as to cover each of the plurality of regions, The body includes: a pair of partition walls extending to separate a pair of adjacent regions; and a gap provided between the pair of partition walls and communicating with the outside of the pair of regions, The lid covering one of the pair of regions is a first wall portion that stands from an edge portion of the lid toward the gap and extends along the pair of partition walls; The lid covering the other of the pair of regions is a second wall portion that stands from an edge portion of the lid toward the gap and extends along the pair of partition walls; When the main body and the plurality of lid bodies are assembled, The first concave-convex portion of the first wall portion and the second concave-convex portion of the second wall portion are directly engaged with each other or indirectly engaged with each other via an engagement aid, thereby forming a concave-convex fitting structure. It is a resin structure. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] According to the resin structure of the present invention, when the main body and multiple lids constituting the resin structure are assembled, a first wall portion provided on the edge of one of the lids and a second wall portion provided on the edge of the other lid are erected toward the gap between a pair of partition walls of the main body. Furthermore, the first uneven portion of the first wall portion and the second uneven portion of the second wall portion are directly engaged with each other or indirectly engaged via an engagement aid, thereby forming a concave-convex mating structure. This concave-convex mating structure increases the creepage distance compared to when the first wall portion and the second wall portion are simply butted against each other, thereby preventing water from entering the resin structure through the boundary between adjacent regions. Furthermore, even if water enters the resin structure through a small gap between the first uneven portion, the second uneven portion, and the engagement aid constituting the concave-convex mating structure, the water will be discharged to the outside through the gap between the pair of partition walls. In this way, the resin structure of the present configuration has excellent waterproofing properties between the multiple regions provided in the resin structure without using any waterproofing parts such as packings.
[0009] Furthermore, with the resin structure according to the present invention, the above-described concave-convex fitting structure functions to prevent the lids from unintentionally detaching from the main body, even without providing a locking structure or the like for engaging one lid with the other lid with the partition wall. This allows the size of the pair of regions sandwiching the partition wall to be expanded by the amount that such a locking structure is not required. Therefore, the resin structure of the present invention allows the space within the region (i.e., the space for accommodating electronic components such as relays) to be expanded without increasing the external dimensions of the resin structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a resin structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the resin structure shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the main body, the first lid body, the second lid body, and the engagement assisting member are separated. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1, illustrating the procedure for assembling the first and second lids to the main body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1, illustrating the procedure for assembling the engagement assisting tool to the main body to which the first and second lids are attached. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 4 around the recess-projection fitting structure. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing part B in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 5, illustrating a discharge path for water that has entered through a minute gap. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6, illustrating the procedure for assembling the first and second lids to the main body in the modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6, illustrating the resin structure according to the modified example shown in FIG. 8 after the first and second lids have been completely attached to the main body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a resin structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1 will be described. The resin structure 1 is typically a relay box (electrical junction box) that is mounted on a vehicle and houses electronic components such as relays.
[0012] 1 and 2, the resin structure 1 includes a main body 2 in which electronic components such as relays (and other components, not shown) will be housed, a first lid 3 attached to the upper end of the main body 2 so as to close the upper opening of a first region R1 (see FIG. 2) inside the main body 2, a second lid 4 attached to the upper end of the main body 2 so as to close the upper opening of a second region R2 (see FIG. 2) inside the main body 2, and an engagement assisting device 5. Each of the main body 2, the first lid 3, the second lid 4, and the engagement assisting device 5 is a resin molded body.
[0013] For ease of explanation, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" are defined below as shown in FIG. 1 and elsewhere. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are perpendicular to one another. When the resin structure 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the up-down direction corresponds to the up-down direction of the vehicle. The left-right direction corresponds to the extension direction (partition direction) of a pair of partition walls 12 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later. Each of the components constituting the resin structure 1 will be described below in order.
[0014] First, the main body 2 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the main body 2 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 11 that has a generally rectangular shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction when viewed from the top-to-bottom direction and extends in the vertical direction. The interior of the main body 2 surrounded by the peripheral wall 11 is divided into a first region R1 and a second region R2 by a pair of partition walls 12 that cross the central portion of the interior of the main body 2 in the front-to-rear direction in the left-to-right direction and extend in the vertical direction. In this example, electronic components such as relays are housed in the first region R1, and electronic components such as fuses are housed in the second region R2.
[0015] The pair of partition walls 12 face each other with a gap in the front-rear direction. A gap G (see also FIG. 5, etc.) between the pair of partition walls 12 communicates with the outside of the first region R1 and the second region R2. Hereinafter, of the peripheral wall 11, the U-shaped portion surrounding the first region R1 (as viewed from above) may be referred to as the first peripheral wall 13, and the U-shaped portion surrounding the second region R2 (as viewed from above) may be referred to as the second peripheral wall 14.
[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, a pair of left and right flat support walls 15 are provided on the peripheral wall 11 at a pair of left and right locations corresponding to both left and right ends of the pair of partition walls 12, so as to protrude upward from the peripheral wall 11 and face each other in the left-right direction. Each support wall 15 has a rectangular through-hole 16 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction (left-right direction). When assembling the resin structure 1, engagement aids 5 are inserted into the through-holes 16 of the pair of support walls 15 (see Figs. 3 and 4, etc.).
[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, the first peripheral wall 13 is provided with engagement portions 17 at a plurality of predetermined locations (three locations in this example) in the circumferential direction. The plurality of engagement portions 17 are to engage with a plurality of engagement portions 26 (described later) of the first cover 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the second peripheral wall 14 is provided with engagement portions 18 at a plurality of predetermined locations (three locations in this example) in the circumferential direction. The engagement portions 18 are to engage with engagement portions 36 (described later) of the second cover 4.
[0018] Next, the first cover 3 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the first cover 3 integrally includes a peripheral wall 21 that extends in the vertical direction and has a shape corresponding to the first peripheral wall 13 of the main body 2 when viewed from the vertical direction, a first wall portion 22 that extends in the left-right direction and also in the vertical direction corresponding to the rear partition wall 12 so as to connect both circumferential end portions of the peripheral wall 21, and a top wall portion 23 that closes the upper end opening surrounded by the peripheral wall 21 and the first wall portion 22.
[0019] A convex rib portion 24 is provided at the upper end of the front end surface of the first wall portion 22 so as to protrude forward continuously from the front end edge extending in the left-right direction of the top wall portion 23 and to extend in the left-right direction except for both left-right end portions of the first wall portion 22 (see Figures 2 and 5, etc.). Furthermore, a convex rib portion 25 is provided at a position below the convex rib portion 24 on the front end surface of the first wall portion 22, facing the convex rib portion 24 with a gap therebetween in the up-down direction, so as to protrude forward and extend in the left-right direction (see Figure 5, etc.).
[0020] The protruding height of the ridge portion 24 is greater than the protruding height of the ridge portion 25. That is, the protruding end (front end) of the ridge portion 24 is located forward of the protruding end (front end) of the ridge portion 25 (see also FIG. 6). Here, the ridge portions 24, 25 and the concave grooves extending in the left-right direction adjacent to the top and bottom of the ridge portions 24, 25, which are provided on the front end surface of the first wall portion 22, constitute the "first uneven portion" of the present invention. In addition, the peripheral wall 21 is provided with engaging portions 26 that can engage with the engaging portions 17 at locations (three locations) in the circumferential direction that correspond to the engaging portions 17 of the main body 2 (see FIG. 2, etc.).
[0021] Next, the second cover 4 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the second cover 4 integrally includes a peripheral wall 31 that extends in the vertical direction and has a shape corresponding to the second peripheral wall 14 of the main body 2 when viewed from the vertical direction, a second wall portion 32 that extends in the left-right direction and also in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the front partition wall 12 so as to connect both circumferential ends of the peripheral wall 31, and a top wall portion 33 that closes the upper end opening surrounded by the peripheral wall 31 and the second wall portion 32.
[0022] A convex striated portion 34 is provided at the upper end of the rear end surface of the second wall portion 32, corresponding to the convex striated portion 24 of the first cover 3, so as to protrude rearward continuously from the rear end edge extending in the left-right direction of the top wall portion 33 and extend in the left-right direction except for both left-right end portions of the second wall portion 32 (see Figures 2 and 5, etc.). Furthermore, a convex striated portion 35 is provided at a position below the convex striated portion 34 on the rear end surface of the second wall portion 32, corresponding to the convex striated portion 25 of the first cover 3, facing the convex striated portion 34 with a gap in the up-down direction, so as to protrude rearward and extend in the left-right direction.
[0023] The protruding height of the ridge portion 34 is greater than the protruding height of the ridge portion 35. That is, the protruding end (rear end) of the ridge portion 34 is located rearward of the protruding end (rear end) of the ridge portion 35 (see also FIG. 6). Here, the ridge portions 34, 35 and the concave grooves extending in the left-right direction adjacent to the top and bottom of the ridge portions 34, 35, which are provided on the rear end surface of the second wall portion 32, constitute the "second concave-convex portion" of the present invention. In addition, the peripheral wall 31 is provided with engaging portions 36 that can engage with the engaging portions 18 at locations (three locations) in the circumferential direction that correspond to the engaging portions 18 of the main body 2 (see FIG. 2, etc.).
[0024] Next, the engagement assisting device 5 will be described. The engagement assisting device 5 is also referred to as an attachment. When assembling the resin structure 1, the engagement assisting device 5 is interposed between the "first concave-convex portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second concave-convex portion" of the second wall portion 32 to form a "convex-convex fitting structure." As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the engagement assisting device 5 is a rod-shaped member with a generally rectangular cross section that extends in the left-right direction. The cross-sectional shape of the engagement assisting device 5 corresponds to the shape of the through-holes 16 in the pair of support walls 15 of the main body 2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the rear end surface of the engagement assisting device 5 is formed with a concave groove 41 that is recessed forward and extends in the left-right direction, corresponding to the convex rib portion 25 of the first cover 3. The front end surface of the engagement assisting device 5 is formed with a concave groove 42 that is recessed rearward and extends in the left-right direction, corresponding to the convex rib portion 35 of the second cover 4. The components that make up the resin structure 1 have been described above.
[0025] 3, 4, etc., an assembly procedure for the resin structure 1 will be described. First, the first lid 3 and the second lid 4 are assembled to the main body 2. To this end, the first lid 3 and the second lid 4 are first arranged relative to the main body 2 so that the first lid 3 is positioned above the first region R1 of the main body 2 and the second lid 4 is positioned above the second region R2 of the main body 2. Next, as shown by the white arrows in Figure 3, the first cover body 3 and the second cover body 4 are lowered toward the main body 2, and the first cover body 3 and the second cover body 4 are assembled to the main body 2 so that the peripheral wall 21 of the first cover body 3 is positioned outside the first peripheral wall 13 of the main body 2 and the first wall portion 22 of the first cover body 3 is positioned outside (front side) of the rear partition wall 12 of the main body 2, and so that the peripheral wall 31 of the second cover body 4 is positioned outside the second peripheral wall 14 of the main body 2 and the second wall portion 32 of the second cover body 4 is positioned outside (rear side) of the front partition wall 12 of the main body 2.
[0026] When the first cover body 3 and the second cover body 4 have been assembled to the main body 2, the engagement portion 17 of the main body 2 engages with the engagement portion 26 of the first cover body 3 (see Figure 3), preventing the first cover body 3 from separating from the main body 2 in the vertical direction, and the engagement portion 18 of the main body 2 engages with the engagement portion 36 of the second cover body 4 (see Figure 3), preventing the second cover body 4 from separating from the main body 2 in the vertical direction.
[0027] 5, both the first wall portion 22 of the first cover 3 and the second wall portion 32 of the second cover 4 are erected downward toward the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12 of the main body 2. Furthermore, the lower ends (standing ends) of both the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32 are located below the upper ends of the pair of partition walls 12, and are thereby located within the gap G. Furthermore, the convex rib portion 25 of the first wall portion 22 and the convex rib portion 35 of the second wall portion 32 are arranged opposite each other with a gap in the front-rear direction, and the convex rib portion 24 of the first wall portion 22 and the convex rib portion 34 of the second wall portion 32 are arranged opposite each other with a small gap g in the front-rear direction (see also FIG. 6). Furthermore, the through holes 16 of the pair of support walls 15 of the main body 2 and the space extending in the left-right direction defined between the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 are arranged so as to be aligned in a straight line in the left-right direction.
[0028] Once the first cover 3 and the second cover 4 are attached to the main body 2, the engagement assisting device 5 is then attached to the main body 2. For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the engagement assisting device 5 extending in the left-right direction is inserted from right to left into the through-hole 16 of the right support wall 15, the space between the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32, and the through-hole 16 of the left support wall 15, in that order. Note that the engagement assisting device 5 may also be inserted from left to right. Once the attachment of the engagement assisting device 5 to the main body 2 is complete, the assembly of the resin structure 1 is complete.
[0029] 6, when the resin structure 1 is in an assembled state, the convex rib portion 25 of the first wall portion 22 is fitted into the concave groove 41 of the engagement assisting device 5, and the convex rib portion 35 of the second wall portion 32 is fitted into the concave groove 42 of the engagement assisting device 5. As a result, a “concave-convex fitting structure” extending in the left-right direction is formed by the “first concave-convex portion” of the first wall portion 22, the “second concave-convex portion” of the second wall portion 32, and the engagement assisting device 5 located between the “first concave-convex portion” and the “second concave-convex portion.”
[0030] By configuring such a "convex-concave fitting structure," it is possible to prevent the first lid 3 and the second lid 4 from unintentionally detaching from the main body 2 without providing a locking structure or the like for engaging the first lid 3 and the second lid 4 with the main body 2. Furthermore, the creepage distance is longer than when the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32 are simply butted against each other (see the dashed arrows in FIG. 6 ). This makes it possible to prevent water from entering the resin structure 1 through the minute gap g extending in the left-right direction. Furthermore, as shown by the dashed arrows in FIG. 7 , some of the water that has entered through the minute gap g can travel along the engagement assisting member 5 extending in the left-right direction and be discharged to the outside of the resin structure 1 from the left-right ends of the engagement assisting member 5. This also makes it possible to prevent water from entering the resin structure 1 through the minute gap g.
[0031] In addition, even if water infiltrates the resin structure from the minute gap g through the small gaps between the “first uneven portion” of the first wall portion 22, the “second uneven portion” of the second wall portion 32, and the engagement assisting device 5, which constitute the “uneven fitting structure” (see the arrows indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 6 ), the water will flow along the front end surface below the “first uneven portion” of the first wall portion 22 and the rear end surface below the “second uneven portion” of the second wall portion 32, and fall into the gap G, which communicates with the outside of the first region R1 and the second region R2, and will be discharged to the outside of the resin structure 1. Here, as described above, the lower ends (standing ends) of both the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32 are located within the gap G (see FIG. 5 ). Therefore, the water flowing along the front end surface of the first wall portion 22 and the rear end surface of the second wall portion 32 can be reliably guided to fall into the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12.
[0032] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the resin structure 1 of this embodiment, when the main body 2 and the first and second lid bodies 3 and 4 that constitute the resin structure 1 are assembled, the first wall portion 22 provided on the first lid body 3 and the second wall portion 32 provided on the second lid body 4 are erected toward the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12 of the main body 2. Furthermore, the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 are indirectly engaged via the engagement assisting device 5, thereby forming a "convex-concave fitting structure." Such a "concave-convex fitting structure" can prevent the first and second lid bodies 3 and 4 from unintentionally detaching from the main body 2 without providing a locking structure or the like for engaging the first and second lid bodies 3 and 4 with the main body 2. Furthermore, compared to when the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32 are simply butted against each other, the increased creepage distance can prevent water from penetrating into the resin structure 1 from the boundary between the adjacent regions R1, R2. In addition, even if water were to enter the resin structure through the "first concave-convex portion" of the first wall portion 22, the "second concave-convex portion" of the second wall portion 32 that constitute the "convex-convex fitting structure," and a small gap between the engagement aid 5, the water would be discharged to the outside through the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12. Therefore, the resin structure 1 according to this embodiment has excellent waterproofing properties between the multiple regions R1, R2 provided in the resin structure 1, even without using a waterproofing component such as a packing.
[0033] Furthermore, the convex ridges 25, 35 of the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 are fitted into the concave grooves 41, 42 of the engagement assisting tool 5, respectively, thereby increasing the creeping distance and firmly engaging the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32. Furthermore, by inserting the engagement assisting tool 5 between the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 along the pair of partition walls 12, the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 can be engaged with the engagement assisting tool 5, thereby improving the workability of assembling the first and second lid bodies 3, 4 to the main body 2.
[0034] Furthermore, by disposing the upstanding end portions (lower end portions) of both the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32 in the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12, water that has entered through the "first concave-convex portion" of the first wall portion 22, the "second concave-convex portion" of the second wall portion 32, and a small gap between the engagement aid 5, which constitute the "convex-convex fitting structure," can be guided into the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12. This further improves the waterproofness between the multiple regions R1, R2 provided in the resin structure 1. Note that only one of the upstanding end portions (lower end portions) of the first wall portion 22 and the second wall portion 32 may be disposed in the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12.
[0035] <Other forms> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. In addition, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary and not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.
[0036] In the above embodiment, the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 are indirectly engaged with each other via the engagement assisting tool 5, thereby forming a "convex-concave fitting structure." In contrast, as in the modified example shown in Figures 8 and 9, the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 and the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32 may be directly engaged with each other without using the engagement assisting tool 5, thereby forming a "concave-convex fitting structure."
[0037] In the modification shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , convex ribs 27 and concave grooves 28 extending in the left-right direction are alternately provided in the up-down direction on the front end surface of the first wall portion 22 of the first cover 3. As a result, a "first concave-convex portion" consisting of the convex ribs 27 and the concave grooves 28 is formed on the front end surface of the first wall portion 22. Similarly, concave grooves 38 extending in the left-right direction and convex ribs 37 are alternately provided in the up-down direction on the rear end surface of the second wall portion 32 of the second cover 4, corresponding to the convex ribs 27 and the concave grooves 28. As a result, a "second concave-convex portion" consisting of the convex ribs 37 and the concave grooves 38 is formed on the rear end surface of the second wall portion 32. Furthermore, the upper end of the rear partition wall 12 is located lower than the upper end of the front partition wall 12, and the vertical length of the first wall portion 22 is shorter than the vertical length of the second wall portion 32.
[0038] In the modified example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first lid 3 and the second lid 4 are assembled to the main body 2 as follows. First, the second lid 4 is assembled to the main body 2 (see FIG. 8). The assembly operation of the second lid 4 to the main body 2 is the same as in the above embodiment. Next, the first lid 3 is assembled to the main body 2 (see FIG. 8). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, first, with the first lid 3 tilted so that its front end is positioned lower than its rear end, the "first concave-convex portion" of the first wall portion 22 of the first lid 3 is engaged with the "second concave-convex portion" of the second wall portion 32 of the second lid 4 (see FIG. 8). Next, as shown by the white arrow in Figure 8, the first cover body 3 is assembled to the main body 2 while rotating the first cover body 3 in a direction in which the rear end portion of the first cover body 3 moves downward (in a direction in which the first cover body 3 is returned to horizontal) around the "first uneven portion" of the first wall portion 22 that engages with the "second uneven portion" of the second wall portion 32.
[0039] When the first cover 3 and the second cover 4 are completely assembled to the main body 2, as shown in FIG. 9 , the “first concave-convex portion” of the first wall 22 and the “second concave-convex portion” of the second wall 32 directly engage with each other, forming a “convex-convex fitting structure.” Furthermore, both the first wall 22 of the first cover 3 and the second wall 32 of the second cover 4 are erected downward toward the gap G between the pair of partition walls 12 of the main body 2. The lower end (standing end) of the second wall 32 is located below the upper end of the rear partition wall 12, the upper end of which is located relatively lower, and is thereby positioned within the gap G. Meanwhile, the lower end (standing end) of the first wall 22 is located above the upper end of the rear partition wall 12, and is therefore not positioned within the gap G. The modified example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can also achieve the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment.
[0040] Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the resin structure 1 according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].
[0041] [1] A resin structure (1) comprising: a box-shaped main body (2) divided into a plurality of regions (R1, R2); and a plurality of lid bodies (3, 4) assembled to the main body (2) so as to cover each of the plurality of regions (R1, R2), The main body (2) is a pair of partition walls (12) extending to separate a pair of adjacent regions (R1, R2); and a gap (G) provided between the pair of partition walls (12) and communicating with the outside of the pair of regions (R1, R2), The cover (3) covering one of the pair of regions (R1) is a first wall portion (22) that stands from the edge of the lid body (3) toward the gap (G) and extends along the pair of partition walls (12); The cover (4) covering the other of the pair of regions (R2) is a second wall portion (32) that stands from the edge of the lid body (4) toward the gap (G) and extends along the pair of partition walls (12); When the main body (2) and the plurality of lid bodies (3, 4) are assembled, The first concave-convex portions (24, 25) of the first wall portion (22) and the second concave-convex portions (34, 35) of the second wall portion (32) are directly engaged with each other or indirectly engaged with each other via an engagement aid (5), thereby forming a concave-convex fitting structure. Resin structure (1).
[0042] According to the resin structure having the configuration [1] above, when the main body and the plurality of lids constituting the resin structure are assembled, a first wall portion provided on the edge of one of the lids and a second wall portion provided on the edge of the other lid are erected toward the gap between a pair of partition walls of the main body. Furthermore, the first uneven portion of the first wall portion and the second uneven portion of the second wall portion are directly engaged with each other or indirectly engaged via an engagement aid, thereby forming a concave-convex mating structure. This concave-convex mating structure increases the creepage distance compared to when the first wall portion and the second wall portion are simply butted against each other, thereby preventing water from entering the resin structure through the boundary between adjacent regions. Furthermore, even if water enters the resin structure through a small gap between the first uneven portion, the second uneven portion, and the engagement aid constituting the concave-convex mating structure, the water will be discharged to the outside through the gap between the pair of partition walls. In this way, the resin structure of the present configuration has excellent waterproofing properties between the multiple regions provided in the resin structure without using any waterproofing parts such as packings.
[0043] Furthermore, with the resin structure according to the present invention, the above-described concave-convex fitting structure functions to prevent the lids from unintentionally detaching from the main body, even without providing a locking structure or the like for engaging one lid with the other lid with the partition wall. This allows the size of the pair of regions sandwiching the partition wall to be expanded by the amount that such a locking structure is not required. Therefore, the resin structure of the present invention allows the space within the region (i.e., the space for accommodating electronic components such as relays) to be expanded without increasing the external dimensions of the resin structure.
[0044] [2] In the resin structure (1) described in [1] above, Each of the first uneven portion and the second uneven portion is The partition wall (12) has a pair of ridges (25, 35) extending along the pair of ridges (25, 35), The engagement aid (5) is the first uneven portion and the second uneven portion have grooves (41, 42) into which the protruding portions (25, 35) of the first uneven portion and the second uneven portion are fitted, the grooves (41, 42) extending along the pair of partition walls (12); Resin structure (1).
[0045] According to the resin structure having the configuration [2] above, the ridges of the first and second uneven portions are fitted into the recessed grooves of the engagement aid, thereby increasing the creeping distance and firmly engaging the first and second wall portions. Furthermore, by inserting the engagement aid between the first and second uneven portions along the pair of partition walls, the first and second uneven portions and the engagement aid can be engaged, resulting in excellent workability in assembling the lid to the main body.
[0046] [3] In the resin structure (1) described in [1] above, The upright end portion of at least one of the first wall portion (22) and the second wall portion (32) is Disposed in the gap (G), Resin structure (1).
[0047] According to the resin structure having the configuration [3] above, the erected end portion of at least one of the first and second wall portions is disposed in the gap between the pair of partition walls, so that water that has entered through the small gap between the first and second uneven portions and the engagement aid that constitute the uneven fitting structure can be guided into the gap between the pair of partition walls, thereby further improving the waterproofness between the multiple regions provided in the resin structure. [Explanation of symbols]
[0048] 1 Resin structure 2 Main unit 3 First lid (one of the lids) 4 Second lid (the other lid) 12 Pair of partition walls 22 1st wall 24 Convex portion (first uneven portion) 25 Convex portion (first uneven portion) 27 Convex portion (first uneven portion) 28 Concave groove (first concave and convex portion) 32 Second wall section 34 Convex part (second concave and convex part) 35 Convex part (second concave and convex part) 37 Convex part (second concave and convex part) 38 Concave groove (second concave and convex portion) 41 Concave groove 42 Concave groove G Gap R1 1st area R2 2nd area
Claims
1. A resin structure comprising: a box-shaped main body divided into a plurality of regions; and a plurality of lid bodies attached to the main body so as to cover each of the plurality of regions, The body includes: a pair of partition walls extending to separate a pair of adjacent regions; and a gap provided between the pair of partition walls and communicating with the outside of the pair of regions, The lid covering one of the pair of regions is a first wall portion that stands from an edge portion of the lid body toward the gap and extends along the pair of partition walls; The lid covering the other of the pair of regions is a second wall portion that stands from an edge portion of the lid body toward the gap and extends along the pair of partition walls; When the main body and the plurality of lid bodies are assembled, The first uneven portion of the first wall portion and the second uneven portion of the second wall portion are directly engaged with each other or indirectly engaged with each other via an engagement aid, thereby forming a recess-projection fitting structure. Resin structure.
2. The resin structure according to claim 1 , Each of the first uneven portion and the second uneven portion is a protruding portion extending along the pair of partition walls, The engagement aid is a groove into which the protruding portions of the first uneven portion and the second uneven portion are fitted, the groove extending along the pair of partition walls; Resin structure.
3. The resin structure according to claim 1 , The upstanding end portion of at least one of the first wall portion and the second wall portion is disposed within the gap; Resin structure.
Citation Information
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