Locking mechanism and protector

Abstract

To provide a lock mechanism and a protector that can improve workability in assembly of a first member and a second member to each other.SOLUTION: An engagement groove part 51 provided in a first protector has a pair of guide rails 514 that extend along an engagement insertion / removal direction Y and are inclined upward from an opening 512 in the engagement insertion / removal direction Y to a wall part 513. An engagement projection part 52 provided in a second protector has a pair of guided members 524 that are guided by the pair of guide rails 514 when it is inserted into the engagement groove part 51. The pair of guided members 524 are each inclined upward from a rear end part 522 to a tip end part 521 of the engagement projection part 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking mechanism and a protector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as a technology relating to a locking mechanism for assembling and fixing a first member and a second member, a technology has been disclosed in which a first protector (first member) through which a first wiring material is inserted along the axial direction is assembled, and a second protector (second member) that is stacked relative to the first protector in a stacking direction that intersects with the axial direction and through which a second wiring material is inserted along the axial direction is assembled (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-15813 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 above leaves room for further improvement, for example, in terms of improving the workability of assembling the first protector and the second protector.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a locking mechanism and a protector that can further improve the workability of assembling a first member and a second member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the locking mechanism of the present invention comprises a locking groove portion recessed in one of a first member and a second member stacked on top of each other on one side in the stacking direction of the first member and the second member, the locking groove portion being open on one side in the locking insertion / removal direction that intersects the stacking direction and closed on the other side, and a locking protrusion portion protruding on one side in the stacking direction on the other of the first member and the second member, the locking groove portion having a pair of guide rails that extend along the locking insertion / removal direction and inclined toward one side in the stacking direction from one side to the other in the locking insertion / removal direction, and the locking protrusion portion has a pair of guided members that are respectively guided by the pair of guide rails when inserted into the locking groove portion, and the pair of guided members each inclined toward one side in the stacking direction from one side to the other in the locking insertion / removal direction.

[0007] The protector according to the present invention includes a first member through which a first wiring material is inserted along the axial direction, a second member that is stacked on the first member in a stacking direction that intersects the axial direction and through which a second wiring material is inserted along the axial direction, and a locking mechanism that connects the first member and the second member, the locking mechanism comprising: a locking groove portion that is recessed on one side of the stacking direction in one of the first and second members that are stacked on top of each other, the locking groove portion being open on one side in the locking insertion / removal direction that intersects the stacking direction and closed on the other side; and a locking protrusion provided to protrude to one side and inserted into the locking groove through the opening from one side in the locking insertion / removal direction to be locked in the locking groove, the locking groove having a pair of guide rails extending along the locking insertion / removal direction and inclined toward one side in the stacking direction from one side to the other in the locking insertion / removal direction, the locking protrusion having a pair of guided members that are respectively guided by the pair of guide rails when inserted into the locking groove, and the pair of guided members each inclined toward one side in the stacking direction from one side to the other in the locking insertion / removal direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The locking mechanism and protector according to the present invention can form a large amount of guide between the guide rail and the top wall on one side of the locking groove, which serves as the insertion port, making it easier to insert the locking protrusion into the locking groove. This makes it possible to suppress improper insertion of the locking protrusion into the locking groove when assembling the first and second members, and to prevent incomplete connection. As a result, the workability of assembling the first and second members can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness to which a protector according to this embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a locking groove portion provided in a first protector, which constitutes a part of the locking mechanism. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a locking protrusion provided on a second protector, which constitutes part of the locking mechanism. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view for explaining the operation when the locking protrusion is inserted into the locking groove. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the locking insertion / removal direction at the position of the guide rail of the locking groove, showing a state before the locking protrusion is inserted into the locking groove. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the locking insertion / removal direction at the position of the locking portion of the locking protrusion, showing a state after the locking protrusion has been inserted into the locking groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in these embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical. Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish between parts, members, portions, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire harness to which a protector according to this embodiment is applied. The protector 1 shown in FIG. 1 is incorporated into a wire harness WH to be installed in a vehicle or the like. Here, the wire harness WH is, for example, a composite component made up of multiple wiring materials W used for power supply and signal communication to connect various devices installed in a vehicle, and the multiple wiring materials W are connected to the devices using connectors or the like. The wire harness WH of this embodiment includes multiple conductive wiring materials W and a protector 1 attached to the multiple wiring materials W to protect the wiring materials W. The wire harness WH may further include various other components such as a corrugated tube, a grommet, an electrical junction box, a fixture, and a connector.

[0012] In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction will be referred to as the "axial direction X," the second direction will be referred to as the "locking / insertion direction Y," and the third direction will be referred to as the "stacking direction Z." Here, the axial direction X, the locking / insertion direction Y, and the stacking direction Z are approximately perpendicular to one another. The axial direction X typically corresponds to the insertion direction of the wiring material W into the protector 1 and the extension direction of the protector 1 and the wiring material W inserted through the protector 1. The stacking direction Z typically corresponds to the stacking direction of a first protector (first member) 2 and a second protector (second member) 3 (described later) in the protector 1, and is approximately parallel to the vehicle height direction. The locking / insertion direction Y typically corresponds to the direction in which the first protector 2 and the second protector 3 in the protector 1 are inserted into and removed from each other, and is approximately parallel to the width direction of the first protector 2 and the second protector 3. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description are directions when the wiring material W is assembled to the protector 1.

[0013] The wiring material W is composed of, for example, a metal rod, an electric wire, an electric wire bundle, etc. A metal rod is a conductive rod-shaped member whose outside is covered with an insulating covering. An electric wire is a conductor (core wire) made of multiple conductive metal wires whose outside is covered with an insulating covering. An electric wire bundle is a bundle of such electric wires. The wiring material W in this embodiment includes a first wiring material W1 and a second wiring material W2. Here, the first wiring material W1 and the second wiring material W2 are described as being formed into an approximately circular cross-sectional shape and having approximately the same outer diameter and shape, but this is not limited to this. The first wiring material W1 is, for example, a high-voltage wire, etc., and the second wiring material W2 is, for example, a low-voltage wire, etc.

[0014] The protector 1 includes a first protector 2, a second protector 3, and a locking mechanism 5 that connects and fixes the first protector 2 and the second protector 3 together.

[0015] The first protector 2 is generally cylindrical and is attached to a vehicle. The first protector 2 has an insertion space 2a extending along the axial direction X therein, and protects the first wiring material W1 inserted into the insertion space 2a and regulates the wiring path of the first wiring material W1.

[0016] The second protector 3 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape that is smaller overall than the first protector 2, and is attached to the first protector 2 via a locking mechanism 5. The second protector 3 has an insertion space 3a therein that extends along the axial direction X, and protects the second wiring material W2 that is inserted into the insertion space 3a, while also regulating the wiring path of the second wiring material W2.

[0017] The first protector 2 includes a base 10 and an upper cover 20 formed of, for example, a resin material, and is formed into a generally rectangular cylindrical shape by assembling the base 10 and the upper cover 20 together. The base 10 has a bottom wall 11 and a pair of side walls 12, and has a generally U-shaped cross section intersecting the axial direction X. The bottom wall 11 is formed, for example, in an arc shape along the first wiring material W1 and extends along the axial direction X. The pair of side walls 12 are formed to protrude from both ends of the bottom wall 11 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y to one side in the stacking direction Z (upward in FIG. 1 ) and extend along the axial direction X. The base 10 is formed such that the bottom wall 11 and the pair of side walls 12 are integrally formed, and a space surrounded by the bottom wall 11 and the pair of side walls 12 functions as the insertion space 2a described above.

[0018] The upper cover 20 is attached to the base 10 and covers (closes) the insertion space 2a in the base 10. The upper cover 20 has an upper wall 21 and a pair of side walls 22, and is formed with a substantially U-shaped cross section intersecting with the axial direction X. The upper wall 21 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape and extends along the axial direction X. The pair of side walls 22 are formed to protrude from both end portions of the upper wall 21 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y to the other side in the stacking direction Z (the downward side in FIG. 1 ), and extend along the axial direction X. The upper cover 20 has the upper wall 21 and the pair of side walls 22 integrally formed therewith and cooperates with the base 10 to separate the insertion space 2a from the outside.

[0019] The second protector 3 includes a lower case 30 and an upper case 40 made of, for example, a resin material. The lower case 30 and the upper case 40 are assembled together to form a generally rectangular tubular shape. The lower case 30 has a bottom wall 31 and a pair of side walls 32, and has a generally U-shaped cross section intersecting with the axial direction X. The bottom wall 31 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape and extends along the axial direction X. The pair of side walls 32 are formed to protrude from both ends of the bottom wall 31 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y to one side in the stacking direction Z and extend along the axial direction X. The lower case 30 has the bottom wall 31 and the pair of side walls 32 integrally formed, and a space surrounded by the bottom wall 31 and the pair of side walls 32 functions as the above-mentioned insertion space 3a.

[0020] The upper case 40 is assembled to the lower case 30 and covers (blocks) the insertion space 3a in the lower case 30. The upper case 40 has a top wall 41 and a pair of side walls 42, and is formed with a substantially U-shaped cross section intersecting the axial direction X. The top wall 41 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape and extends along the axial direction X. The pair of side walls 42 are formed to protrude from both end portions of the top wall 41 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y to the other side in the stacking direction Z, and extend along the axial direction X. The top wall 41 and the pair of side walls 42 of the upper case 40 are integrally formed, and cooperate with the lower case 30 to separate the insertion space 3a from the outside.

[0021] Next, the locking mechanism 5 will be described. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a locking groove provided in the first protector, which constitutes part of the locking mechanism. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a locking protrusion provided in the second protector, which constitutes part of the locking mechanism. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view for explaining the operation when the locking protrusion is inserted into the locking groove. FIG. 5 is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the locking insertion / removal direction at the position of the guide rail of the locking groove, showing a state before the locking protrusion is inserted into the locking groove. FIG. 6 is a partially cross-sectional view taken along the locking insertion / removal direction at the position of the locking portion of the locking protrusion, showing a state after the locking protrusion has been inserted into the locking groove. The locking mechanism 5 is a part that connects and fixes the first protector 2 and the second protector 3, and is composed of a locking groove 51 and a locking protrusion 52, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the locking groove 51 is provided on the bottom wall 11 of the base 10 of the first protector 2, and the locking protrusion 52 is provided on the top wall 41 of the upper case 40 of the second protector 3. Note that the locking mechanism 5 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and the locking groove 51 may be provided on the top wall 41, and the locking protrusion 52 may be provided on the bottom wall 11.

[0022] The locking groove 51 is a portion into which the above-mentioned locking protrusion 52 is inserted and fixed when the first protector 2 and the second protector 3 are assembled. As shown in FIG. 2, the locking groove 51 is formed by recessing the bottom wall 11 of the base 10 of the first protector 2 toward one side in the stacking direction Z (the upper side in the example of FIG. 2). The locking groove 51 includes a top wall 510 located on one side of the bottom wall 11 in the stacking direction Z, and a pair of side wall portions 511 located on both sides in the axial direction X and connecting the top wall 510 and the bottom wall 11. The top wall 510 and the side wall portions 511 each extend along the locking insertion / removal direction Y, so that the locking groove 51 is formed as a groove extending along the locking insertion / removal direction Y. The locking groove 51 has an opening 512 that opens toward one side in the locking insertion / removal direction Y (the front side in the example of FIG. 2), and a wall 513 that closes the other side in the locking insertion / removal direction Y (the back side in the example of FIG. 2). When the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51, the wall 513 faces a tip 521 (described later) of the locking protrusion 52 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y.

[0023] The locking groove 51 also includes a pair of guide rails 514 that protrude from the pair of side wall portions 511, respectively, facing each other in the axial direction X. The guide rails 514 are members that support and guide a guided member 524 (described later) of the locking protrusion 52 when the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51. The guide rails 514 extend along the locking insertion / removal direction Y and are provided so as to be inclined toward one side of the stacking direction from one side to the other side of the locking insertion / removal direction Y. Specifically, the guide rails 514 are formed so as to be inclined upward from the opening 512 of the locking groove 51 toward the wall portion 513. With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , a large gap (guiding amount) L can be formed between the guide rails 514 and the top wall 510 at the opening 512, which serves as an insertion port, making it easier to insert the locking protrusion 52 into the locking groove 51.

[0024] Further, the locking groove 51 has a protruding portion 515 that protrudes from one side of the top wall 510 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y to the other side in the stacking direction Z. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , the locking groove 51 has a protruding portion 515 that protrudes downward toward the opening 512 of the top wall 510. This protruding portion 515 is a portion that engages with a locking portion 526 (described later) of the locking protrusion 52 when the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51. The locking portion 526 of the locking protrusion 52 engages with the protruding portion 515 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y, thereby fixing the locking protrusion 52 in the locking groove 51.

[0025] On the other hand, the locking protrusion 52 is a portion that is inserted into and fixed to the above-described locking groove 51 on the first protector 2 side. As shown in Fig. 3, the locking protrusion 52 has a base 520 that is formed to protrude from the top wall 41 of the upper case 40 of the second protector 3 to one side (upward) in the stacking direction Z, and this base 520 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape and extends along the locking insertion / removal direction Y. The locking protrusion 52 has a front end 521 located on the other side of the base 520 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y, a rear end 522 located on one side of the locking insertion / removal direction Y, and a pair of side wall portions 523 that are located on both sides of the base 520 in the axial direction X and connect the front end 521 and the rear end 522.

[0026] The tip portion 521 is a portion that becomes a tip when the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51 along the locking insertion / removal direction Y, and faces the wall portion 513 of the locking groove 51. The pair of side wall portions 523 are portions that face the pair of side wall portions 511, respectively, when the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51.

[0027] The locking projection 52 includes a pair of guided members 524 that protrude from the pair of side wall portions 523 and are spaced apart in the axial direction X. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the guided members 524 are guided by the guide rails 514 of the locking grooves 51 when the locking projection 52 is inserted into the locking grooves 51, and face the guide rails 514 on one side in the stacking direction Z. That is, the guided members 524 are located above the guide rails 514 and face the guide rails 514.

[0028] The guided member 524 extends along the locking insertion / removal direction Y and is provided so as to be inclined toward one side of the stacking direction from one side to the other side of the locking insertion / removal direction Y. Specifically, the guided member 524 is formed so as to be inclined upward from the rear end 522 toward the front end 521 of the locking protrusion 52. The inclination angles of the guided member 524 and the guide rail 514 are formed to be approximately the same, and the guided member 524 slides on the guide rail 514, so that the locking protrusion 52 can be easily attached / detached (inserted / removed) along the locking groove 51.

[0029] Furthermore, the locking protrusion 52 includes a locking portion 526 that abuts against a protrusion 515 provided on a top wall 510 of the locking groove 51 when the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51 and that locks in the locking insertion / removal direction Y. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , the locking protrusion 52 has an arm 525 that is provided facing the top wall 510 of the locking groove 51 when the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51. The arm 525 is provided such that a tip end 521 side (the other side in the locking insertion / removal direction Y) of the locking protrusion 52 serves as a fixed end and a rear end 522 side (one side in the locking insertion / removal direction Y) serves as a free end. The locking portion 526 is provided on the free end side of the arm 525 so as to protrude toward one side (upward) in the stacking direction Z. When the locking protrusion 52 is inserted into the locking groove 51, the locking portion 526 comes into contact with the protrusion 515 provided on the top wall 510 of the locking groove 51, and the arm 525 is bent to the other side (downward) in the stacking direction Z, thereby pressing the guided member 524 against the guide rail 514. Then, when the locking protrusion 52 is further inserted, the locking portion 526 climbs over the protrusion 515, and the locking portion 526 and the protrusion 515 are locked together in the locking insertion / removal direction Y, as shown in FIG.

[0030] In the locking mechanism 5 configured as described above, the locking protrusion 52 is locked into the locking groove 51 from one side in the locking insertion / removal direction Y. At this time, the pair of guide rails 514 of the locking groove 51 are formed to incline upward from the opening 512 of the locking groove 51 toward the wall 513, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . Therefore, at the opening 512 serving as the insertion port, a large gap L (amount of guide) can be formed between the guide rails 514 and the top wall, making it easier to insert the locking protrusion 52 into the locking groove 51. Therefore, when connecting the first protector 2 and the second protector 3, it is possible to suppress improper insertion of the locking protrusion 52 into the locking groove 51, and to prevent incomplete connection (failed fitting). As a result, in the protector 1, the workability of assembling the first protector 2 and the second protector 3 can be further improved, and for example, the first protector 2 and the second protector 3 can be easily assembled without the worker having to visually check the locking mechanism 5.

[0031] As described above, in the locking mechanism 5 and protector 1 of this embodiment, the locking groove 51 provided in the first protector 2 has a pair of guide rails 514 that extend along the locking insertion / removal direction Y and slope upward from the opening 512 to the wall 513 in the locking insertion / removal direction Y, and the locking protrusion 52 provided in the second protector 3 has a pair of guided members 524 that are guided by the pair of guide rails 514 when inserted into the locking groove 51, and the pair of guided members 524 slope upward from the rear end 522 to the front end 521 of the locking protrusion 52. Therefore, at the opening 512 that serves as the insertion port, a large gap L (guiding amount) can be formed between the guide rails 514 and the top wall, making it easier to insert the locking protrusion 52 into the locking groove 51. Therefore, when assembling the first protector 2 and the second protector 3, it is possible to suppress improper insertion of the locking protrusion 52 into the locking groove 51, and to prevent incomplete connection (failed fitting). As a result, in the protector 1, the workability of assembling the first protector 2 and the second protector 3 can be further improved.

[0032] While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, and the like (structure, type, direction, format, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate.

[0033] In addition, in the above embodiment, the first and second members to which the locking mechanism 5 is applied are described as the first protector 2 and the second protector 3, which respectively protect the wiring material W, but this is not limited to this. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Protector 2 First protector (first member) 3 Second protector (second member) 5 Locking mechanism 10 base 11 Bottom wall 20 Upper cover 30 Lower case 40 Upper Case 41 Upper Wall 51 Locking groove 52 Locking protrusion 512 Opening 514 Guide Rail 515 Protrusion 521 Tip 522 Rear end 524 Guided member 526 Locking part L Gap (introduction amount) W Routing material W1 1st wiring material W2 2nd wiring material WH Wire Harness X-axis direction Y Locking insertion / removal direction Z stacking direction

Claims

1. a locking groove portion recessed on one side of a stacking direction of the first member and the second member in one of the first and second members stacked on top of each other, the locking groove portion being open on one side and closed on the other side in a locking insertion / removal direction intersecting with the stacking direction; a locking protrusion provided on the other of the first member and the second member so as to protrude toward the one side in the stacking direction, the locking protrusion being inserted into the locking groove through the opening from the one side in the locking insertion / removal direction and locked in the locking groove, a locking mechanism characterized in that the locking groove portion has a pair of guide rails that extend along the locking insertion / removal direction and that incline toward one side of the stacking direction from one side to the other side of the locking insertion / removal direction, and the locking protrusion portion has a pair of guided members that are guided by the pair of guide rails when inserted into the locking groove portion, and the pair of guided members each incline toward one side of the stacking direction from one side to the other side of the locking insertion / removal direction.

2. a first member through which a first wiring material is inserted along the axial direction; a second member that is stacked on the first member in a stacking direction intersecting the axial direction and through which a second wiring material is inserted along the axial direction; a locking mechanism that connects the first member and the second member, The locking mechanism includes a locking groove portion recessed on one side of the stacking direction in one of the first member and the second member, the locking groove portion being open on one side in a locking insertion / removal direction that intersects with the stacking direction and closed on the other side; a locking protrusion provided on the other of the first member and the second member so as to protrude toward the one side in the stacking direction, the locking protrusion being inserted into the locking groove through the opening from the one side in the locking insertion / removal direction and locked in the locking groove, a pair of guide rails extending along the locking insertion / removal direction and inclined toward one side of the stacking direction from one side to the other side of the locking insertion / removal direction, and the locking protrusion has a pair of guided members that are respectively guided by the pair of guide rails when inserted into the locking groove, and the pair of guided members each inclined toward one side of the stacking direction from one side to the other side of the locking insertion / removal direction.

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