Locking member and cowl cover

Abstract

To provide a locking member capable of reducing shock during removal from a cover body part, and a cowl cover comprising the locking member.SOLUTION: A locking member 1 comprises a body part, and a locking part 15 that is formed on the body part and is locked to a locked part 9 of a cover body part 3. The locking part 15 has: a protrusion part 20 protruding from the body part; and a claw part 26 that is formed on the protrusion part 20, and comprises a locking surface 28 erecting from the protrusion part 20 in an inclined manner in a second direction, which is a thickness direction intersecting a first direction along a protrusion direction of the protrusion part 20, and caught in an edge part 9a of the locked part 9. The locking surface 28 is formed so as to have a smaller inclination in the second direction on the other side than on one side in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking member having a locking portion that is locked to a locked portion, and a cowl cover provided with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been a locking member that uses a locking claw to lock onto an opening of a mating member. The locking claw has a locking surface that hooks onto the edge of the opening, and a chamfered portion is formed at the corner of the locking surface. When removing the locking member, the locking member is pulled so that the chamfered portion rotates toward the edge of the opening, and the locking point between the locking claw and the edge of the opening moves to the chamfered portion. The chamfered portion acts as a guide surface, and as the chamfered portion moves along the opening line of the opening, it elastically deflects the locking claw, and the edge of the opening passes over the apex of the locking surface, thereby releasing the lock, and the locking member can be easily removed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP-A-8-230515 (page 3, Figures 1-2) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above configuration, because the corners of the locking surface of the locking pawl are chamfered, the change in the surface angle of the locking surface is abrupt, and no consideration is given to the impact that may occur when removing the locking pawl.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and has as its object to provide a locking member that reduces the impact when removed from a workpiece, and a cowl cover equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The locking member described in claim 1 comprises a main body portion and a locking portion formed on the main body portion and locked to the locked portion of the attached member, the locking portion having a protruding portion protruding from the main body portion and a claw portion formed on the protruding portion and having a locking surface that rises at an angle from the protruding portion in a second direction, which is a thickness direction that intersects with a first direction along the protruding direction of the protruding portion, and that hooks onto the edge of the locked portion, the locking surface being formed so that the inclination in the second direction is smaller on one side than on the other side in a third direction that intersects with the first direction and the second direction.

[0007] The locking member according to claim 2 is the locking member according to claim 1, wherein the locking surface is formed so that the inclination gradually decreases from one side to the other side in the third direction.

[0008] The locking member of claim 3 is the locking member of claim 1, wherein the protruding portion comprises an elastic portion that can elastically deform in a second direction in response to engagement and disengagement of the locking portion with the locked portion, and a thin-walled portion formed in this elastic portion so as to be recessed in the second direction, and the thin-walled portion is formed on the other side of the elastic portion in a third direction.

[0009] The locking member described in claim 4 is the locking member described in claim 1, which is provided with an operating portion for removal operation formed on the main body portion, and the operating portion is located on the other side of the main body portion in the third direction.

[0010] The cowl cover described in claim 5 comprises a cover main body portion as an attachment member that has an engaging portion that is an opening and is arranged elongated in the vehicle width direction, and a locking member described in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the locking portion is engaged with the engaging portion and the main body portion covers at least a portion of the locking portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the locking member described in claim 1, when the locking portion is pulled out from the locked portion with the other side in the third direction as the starting side for removal, a load is first applied from the edge of the locked portion to the side of the locking surface of the claw portion with the smaller inclination in the second direction, making it easier to trigger removal.In addition, as removal from the attached member progresses, the removal load on the locking surface of the claw portion increases by progressing from the other side in the third direction to one side, toward the side of the locking surface with the larger inclination in the second direction, so the load is less likely to increase suddenly, and the impact caused by a sudden change in load when removing from the attached member can be mitigated.

[0012] According to the locking member described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the locking member described in claim 1, as the removal from the attached member progresses, the load applied to the locking surface from the edge of the locked portion gradually increases as it progresses from the other side in the third direction to one side, and toward the side where the inclination of the locking surface in the second direction is greater, thereby enabling smooth removal from the attached member.

[0013] According to the locking member described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the locking member described in claim 1, the thin-walled portion allows the flexibility of the elastic portion to be set in a third direction, so that when removing from the attached member, the load applied from the edge of the locked portion to the locking surface of the claw portion can be controlled in a third direction, making it easier to remove from the attached member, and the fitting force required for the locked portion when attached to the locked portion can also be easily adjusted by the thin-walled portion, making it easier to obtain the desired performance.

[0014] According to the locking member described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the locking member described in claim 1, when an attempt is made to remove it from the workpiece by operating the operating part, the load applied from the edge of the workpiece to the locking surface of the claw part starts from the other side in the third direction where the inclination in the second direction is smaller, thereby guiding smooth removal from the workpiece.

[0015] According to the cowl cover described in claim 5, the locking member can be smoothly removed from the cover main body portion, giving it a high-quality feel, and since the locking member does not come off the cover main body portion all at once, it is possible to prevent the locking member from falling off the locked portion into the engine room, etc. when it comes off the cover main body portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a locking member according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in FIG. 1, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III in FIG. [Figure 3] 1A is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the cowl cover provided with the same locking member, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the removal of the locking member from the cover body of the same cowl cover. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a part of a locking member according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the cowl cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0018] In Fig. 1, 1 denotes a locking member. The locking member 1 is detachably attached to a workpiece and covers at least a portion of the workpiece when attached to the workpiece. In this embodiment, the locking member 1 is used for a cowl cover 2 as a vehicle part shown in Fig. 4, and is a lid member (cap) that covers a portion of a cover main body 3 as the workpiece.

[0019] The cowl cover 2, also called the cowl top cover, is positioned to cover the upper side of the front cowl, i.e., the cowl portion between the hood, which is the mating part that covers the engine compartment of the vehicle body, and the windshield, which is the windshield located at the front of the vehicle compartment, thereby improving the appearance.

[0020] The cover main body 3 is formed in a longitudinal shape from a material such as synthetic resin. The cover main body 3 is arranged longitudinally in the vehicle width direction. The cover main body 3 has a generally flat plate-shaped general portion 4. The general portion 4 is formed continuously in the longitudinal direction, inclined approximately parallel to the windshield. The general portion 4 is arranged in a state in which it is inclined downward from the rear to the front as a whole. A holding portion for receiving the front edge of the windshield is formed in the rear portion of the general portion 4 facing the windshield.

[0021] An air intake hole 5 is formed in the general portion 4. The air intake hole 5 is connected to the air intake portion. In this embodiment, the air intake hole 5 is formed near one end of the cover main body 3 in the longitudinal direction, that is, biased toward one side in the vehicle width direction.

[0022] Further, wiper pivot holes 6 are formed in the general portion 4. A shaft of a wiper device is inserted into the wiper pivot holes 6. In this embodiment, a plurality of wiper pivot holes 6 are formed near the other end of the cover main body 3 in the longitudinal direction, that is, biased toward the other side in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the cover main body 3 has a cover protrusion 7. The cover protrusion 7 is formed long and continuous in the longitudinal direction of the cover main body 3. The cover protrusion 7 protrudes forward and upward from the general portion 4 and supports the hood that closes the engine compartment from below via a hood seal located at the upper end. The hood seal fits liquid-tightly against the hood when it is closed, blocking out heat and odors from the engine compartment.

[0024] Furthermore, the cover main body 3 has a vertical wall 8. The vertical wall 8 is a partition wall interposed between the cowl portion and the engine compartment. The vertical wall 8 is formed long and continuous in the longitudinal direction of the cover main body 3. The vertical wall 8 extends downward in front of the general portion 4. In other words, the vertical wall 8 extends below the cover protrusion 7. The vertical wall 8 is inclined downward and forward. The lower end of the vertical wall 8 is supported by the upper part of the front cowl. Therefore, the vertical wall 8 is located between the front cowl and the hood.

[0025] The cover main body 3 is formed with a locking portion 9. In this embodiment, the locking portion 9 is an opening to which the locking member 1 is detachably attached. In the case of the cowl cover 2, the locking portion is used, for example, as an opening for viewing the vehicle identification number marking or for maintenance of the parts below, and is normally covered and closed by the locking member 1. In this embodiment, the locking portion 9 is formed at both longitudinal ends of the cover main body 3. In the illustrated example, the locking portion 9 is formed by cutting out a part of the cover protrusion 7 and opening in the vertical wall 8. The locking portion 9 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The locking member 1, which is detachably attached to the locked portion 9, is a resin part made of synthetic resin. The locking member 1 has a main body 11 that covers the locked portion 9. The main body 11 is formed in a plate shape. The outer shape of the main body 11 may be any shape, but in this embodiment, it has a protruding main body 12 that is positioned integrally with the cover protruding portion 7 when attached to the locked portion 9, and a vertical wall main body 13 that is positioned integrally with the vertical wall 8. For clarity of explanation, the shapes of the cover main body 3, main body 11, and locked portion 9 are shown simplified in Figures 1 to 3, with the cover main body 3 shown as a flat plate, the main body 11 shown as a rectangular flat plate, and the locked portion 9 shown as a square.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the locking member 1 has a locking portion 15 that is locked to the locked portion 9. The locking portion 15 is provided on the back side of the locking member 1, i.e., on the side facing the locked portion 9, and is inserted into the locked portion 9. The locking portion 15 protrudes from the main body portion 11 in the thickness direction of the main body portion 11. Preferably, a plurality of locking portions 15 are formed on the main body portion 11. In the example shown in the figure, the locking portions 15 are located along each long side of the main body portion 11 and are formed spaced apart in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the locking portion 15 has a tongue-shaped protruding portion 20 that protrudes from the main body portion 11 (FIG. 3(a)). In this embodiment, the protruding portion 20 is formed in a plate shape and is arranged so as to have a thickness in the short direction, which is the width direction of the main body portion 11. The protruding portion 20 has a base end that is connected to the main body portion 11 (FIG. 3(a)), and a tip end that is a free end. Hereinafter, the direction along the protruding direction of the protruding portion 20 from the main body portion 11 (FIG. 3(a)) is defined as a first direction, and is indicated by arrows D1a and D1b in the figure. The arrow D1a side is one side of the first direction, which is the protruding direction of the protruding portion 20, and the arrow D1b side is the other side of the first direction, which is the opposite direction.

[0029] In this embodiment, the protrusion 20 has a frame-shaped protrusion main body 23 having a hole 22 formed therethrough in the thickness direction, and an elastic portion 24 connected to the protrusion main body 23 and located within the hole 20.

[0030] The protrusion main body 23 is formed in a plate shape, and both sides are formed to be inclined so that the width gradually narrows from the base end to the tip end.

[0031] The elastic portion 24 is formed in a plate shape that is flush or approximately flush with the protrusion main body 23. In the illustrated example, the elastic portion 24 is positioned so as to protrude from the tip end side of the protrusion main body 23 into the hole 22 toward the main body 11 ( FIG. 3( a) ) side, i.e., the base end side of the protrusion 20. In other words, the base end of the elastic portion 24 is continuous with the tip end of the protrusion main body 23. In addition, the tip end of the elastic portion 24 is a free end that is separated from the base end of the protrusion main body 23. Therefore, the elastic portion 24 is elastically deformable in the thickness direction within the hole 22. In other words, at least a portion of the protrusion 20 is elastically deformable in the second direction.

[0032] The protruding portion 20 is formed with a claw portion 26. The claw portion 26 is a portion that is engaged with the edge portion 9a of the locked portion 9. In this embodiment, the edge portion 9a of the locked portion 9 is formed as a wall portion that rises toward the back side of the opening. The claw portion 26 protrudes in a second direction, which is a thickness direction (plate thickness direction) that intersects or is perpendicular to the first direction relative to the protruding portion 20. Hereinafter, the second direction is indicated by arrows D2a and D2b in the drawings. The arrow D2a side is one side of the second direction, which is the protruding direction of the claw portion 26 relative to the protruding portion 20, and the arrow D2b side is the other side of the second direction, which is the opposite direction. In this embodiment, the claw portion 26 rises from the protruding portion 20 toward the outside of the main body portion 11. In the illustrated example, the claw portion 26 is formed at the tip end of the elastic portion 24 of the protruding portion 20, i.e., on the free end side away from the protruding portion main body portion 23, and is located in the hole portion 22.

[0033] The claw portion 26 includes a locking surface 28, which is a contact surface that engages with the edge 9a of the locked portion 9. The locking surface 28 is located on the other side of the claw portion 26 in the direction in which the locking portion 15 is pulled out of the locked portion 9, i.e., the first direction. The locking surface 28 rises in an inclined manner from the protruding portion 20 toward one side in the second direction and extends toward both sides in a third direction, which is the width direction of the protruding portion 20 that intersects or is perpendicular to the first and second directions. Hereinafter, the third direction is indicated by arrows D3a and D3b in the drawings. The arrow D3a side is one side in the third direction, and the arrow D3b side is the opposite side in the third direction. The locking surface 28 extends across the entire width of the claw portion 26. The locking surface 28 is formed so that its inclination in the second direction is smaller on the other side in the third direction than on the other side in the third direction, i.e., the second direction component of the inclination is smaller. Therefore, the inclination of the claw portion 26 is gentler on the other side in the third direction than on one side in the third direction. 1, the inclination of the claw portion 26 is smaller on the right side of the figure than on the left side. For example, it is preferable that the inclination of the locking surface 28 in the second direction is smaller than the general inclination on the other side in the third direction and larger than the general inclination on one side in the third direction. In other words, it is preferable that the average inclination of the locking surface 28 in the third direction is equivalent to the inclination of a general locking surface.

[0034] Preferably, the locking surface 28 is formed so that the inclination in the second direction gradually decreases from one side to the other side in the third direction, i.e., so that the inclination is gradually gentler. For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2(a) to 2(c), the locking surface 28 is formed so that the inclination angle θ in the second direction relative to the first direction changes continuously from one side to the other side in the third direction. In the example shown in Figure 2(a), the inclination angle θ is, for example, 75°; in the example shown in Figure 2(b), the inclination angle θ is, for example, 60°; and in the example shown in Figure 2(c), the inclination angle θ is, for example, 45°.

[0035] The claw portion 26 includes an inclined surface 29 that is continuous with the locking surface 28. The inclined surface 29 is located on one side of the claw portion 26 in the first direction. The inclined surface 29 is continuous from the tip of the locking surface 28 toward the tip side of the protrusion 20. In this embodiment, the inclined surface 29 is formed in an inclined shape that slopes from the tip of the locking surface 28 toward the base end side of the elastic portion 24. Therefore, the claw portion 26 is formed in a mountain shape with its apex located at the position where the locking surface 28 and the inclined surface 29 are continuous.

[0036] 3(a) and 3(b), the locking member 1 preferably has an operating portion 31. The operating portion 31 is for use in a removal operation when removing the locking member 1 from the locked portion 9. In other words, the operating portion 31 is configured to enable the locking member 1 to be removed from the locked portion 9 of the cover main body 3 by being operated by an operator such as a passenger. In this embodiment, the operating portion 31 is located on the other side of the third direction on the side of the main body 11 opposite the protruding portion 20, i.e., on the surface not facing the locked portion 9.

[0037] 3(a), a separately molded locking member 1 is aligned with the locked portion 9 of the molded cover main body 3, and the locking member 1 is pushed toward the cover main body 3 so that the locking portion 15 is inserted into the locked portion 9. As the inclined surface 29 of the claw portion 26 of the locking portion 15 shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) abuts against the edge portion 9a of the locked portion 9, the elastic portion 24 elastically deforms at the base end position, causing the inclined surface 29 to slide over the edge portion 9a, and the elastic portion 24 returns to its original shape when the apex of the inclined surface 29 overcomes the edge portion 9a, causing the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 to abut against and catch on the edge portion 9a of the locked portion 9, thereby locking and holding the locking member 1 to the cover main body 3. In this state, the main body 11 of the locking member 1 covers the locked portion 9, closing the opening. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking member 1 is disposed so that the operating portions 31 are located at both ends of the cowl cover 2, that is, at both sides in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] For example, when visually checking the vehicle identification number marking or when performing maintenance on the lower components, the worker uses the operating unit 31 to remove the locking member 1 from the cover main body 3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the worker removes the locking member 1 from the cover main body 3 by pulling it from the operating unit 31 in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the main body 11, i.e., upward in the figure. At this time, because the position of the operating unit 31 is biased to the other side of the third direction, i.e., to the left side in the figure, when the operating unit 31 is lifted, the locking member 1 is removed by rotating from the other side of the third direction to one side, i.e., from the left side to the right side in the figure. In other words, the other side of the third direction is the side from which removal of the locking member 1 begins, and the one side of the third direction is the side from which removal of the locking member 1 ends.

[0039] According to this embodiment, the inclination in the second direction of the locking surface 28 of the locking portion 15 that has been hooked onto the edge 9a of the locked portion 9 is smaller on the other side in the third direction than on one side in the third direction. Therefore, when the locking portion 15 is pulled out from the locked portion 9 starting from the other side in the third direction as removal begins, a load is first applied from the edge 9a of the locked portion 9 to the side of the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 that has the smaller inclination in the second direction. This makes it easier for the protrusion 20 (elastic portion 24) to bend, making it easier to trigger removal. The removal load on the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 gradually increases as removal of the locking member 1 from the cover main body 3 progresses, progressing from the other side in the third direction to one side, i.e., toward the side of the locking surface 28 with the greater inclination in the second direction. This makes it difficult for the load to increase suddenly, thereby mitigating the impact caused by a sudden change in load when removing the locking member 1 from the cover main body 3.

[0040] Furthermore, since the locking surface 28 is formed so that the inclination gradually decreases from one side to the other side in the third direction, as the locking member 1 is removed from the cover main body 3, the load applied to the locking surface 28 from the edge 9a of the locked portion 9 gradually increases as it progresses from the other side to one side in the third direction, that is, toward the side where the inclination of the locking surface 28 in the second direction is greater, so that the locking member 1 can be smoothly removed from the cover main body 3.

[0041] Since the operating portion 31 for the removal operation of the locking member 1 is located on the other side of the third direction on the main body portion 11, when an attempt is made to remove the locking member 1 from the cover main body portion 3 by operating the operating portion 31, the load applied from the edge portion 9a of the locked portion 9 to the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 starts from the other side of the third direction where the inclination in the second direction is smaller, thereby guiding the locking member 1 to be smoothly removed from the cover main body portion 3.

[0042] Furthermore, with regard to the mating force with respect to the mating portion 9, which is mainly in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the main body 11, required of the locking member 1 when attached to the mating portion 9, which is an opening, even if the mating force is weak on the other side of the third direction of the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 because the inclination in the second direction is small, this is offset on one side of the third direction by the large inclination in the second direction, so performance can be satisfied.

[0043] Therefore, the cowl cover 2 allows the locking member 1 to be smoothly removed from the cover main body 3, giving it a high-quality feel, and since the locking member 1 does not come off the cover main body 3 all at once, when the locking member 1 comes off the cover main body 3, the locking member 1 is prevented from falling off the locked part 9 into the engine room, etc. due to the locking member 1 coming off the cover main body 3 with too much force and being separated from the worker's hand or tool.

[0044] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Note that the same components and functions as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0045] In the locking member 1 of this embodiment, a thin-walled portion 35 is formed in the elastic portion 24. The thin-walled portion 35 is recessed in the elastic portion 24 in the second direction, i.e., in the thickness direction of the protruding portion 20. The thin-walled portion 35 is formed on the other side of the elastic portion 24 in the third direction. In other words, the thin-walled portion 35 is formed on the side of the base end portion, which is the starting point of deflection of the elastic portion 24, where the inclination in the second direction of the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 is smaller. The thin-walled portion 35 is formed in a straight line at the base end portion of the elastic portion 24, extending in the third direction and continuing across the hole portion 22.

[0046] In this configuration, the thin-walled portion 35 allows the flexibility of the elastic portion 24 to be set in a third direction, so that when the locking member 1 is removed from the cover main body portion 3, the load applied from the edge portion 9a of the locked portion 9 to the locking surface 28 of the claw portion 26 can be controlled in a third direction, making it easier to remove the locking member 1 from the cover main body portion 3.In addition, the fitting force against the locked portion 9, mainly in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the main body portion 11, which is required of the locking member 1 when attached to the locked portion 9, which is an opening, can also be easily adjusted by the thin-walled portion 35, making it easier to obtain the desired performance.

[0047] In each of the above embodiments, the protrusion 20 is not limited to a configuration in which the elastic portion 24 is formed on the protrusion main body 23 having the hole portion 22, but may simply be formed in the shape of a plate that protrudes from the main body 11 and is elastically deformable.

[0048] In addition, instead of or in addition to the operating unit 31, the locking member 1 may be provided with a display unit such as an arrow or letters to inform the worker of the preferred direction for removal from the cover main body 3. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The present invention can be applied to, for example, a cowl cover disposed between the windshield and bonnet hood of an automobile, and a cap that is attached and detached to the cover body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Locking member 2 Cowl cover 3 Cover body as the mounting member 9 Locked part 9a Edge 11 Main body 15 Locking part 20 Protrusion 24 Elastic part 26 Claw 28 Locking surface 31 Operation section 35 Thin-walled section

Claims

1. a main body; a locking portion formed on the main body portion and adapted to be locked to a locked portion of a workpiece; The locking portion is a protrusion protruding from the main body; a claw portion formed on the protruding portion, rising obliquely from the protruding portion in a second direction, which is a thickness direction intersecting with a first direction along the protruding direction of the protruding portion, and having an engaging surface that engages with an edge of the engaged portion; The locking surface is formed so that the inclination in the second direction is smaller on one side than on the other side in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. A locking member characterized by:

2. The locking surface is formed so that the inclination gradually decreases from one side to the other side in the third direction.

2. The locking member according to claim 1.

3. The protrusion is an elastic portion that is elastically deformable in a second direction in response to engagement and disengagement of the locking portion with respect to the locked portion; a thin-walled portion formed in the elastic portion and recessed in the second direction, The thin portion is formed on the other side of the elastic portion in the third direction.

2. The locking member according to claim 1.

4. An operating portion for a removal operation formed on the main body portion is provided, The operation unit is located on the other side of the main body in the third direction.

2. The locking member according to claim 1.

5. a cover body portion as a mounting member having an engaging portion as an opening and disposed elongated in the vehicle width direction; a locking member according to claim 1 , wherein a locking portion is locked to the locked portion, and a main body portion covers at least a portion of the locked portion; A cowl cover comprising:

Images