Housing lid opening / closing structure
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024561522
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing lid opening/closing structures for housings tend to detach from the housing when opened, making it difficult to maintain the lid in a stable open position.
A lid opening/closing structure featuring a hinge shaft portion with a root, intermediate, and free end, formed into a U-shape, which is inserted into a bearing hole and locked, allowing the lid to be stably held in an open position by minimizing interference with internal structures and providing a locking mechanism to prevent detachment.
The structure ensures the lid can be reliably held open at approximately 90 degrees, facilitating easy access for external connections and minimizing interference with internal components, thus enhancing usability and stability.
Abstract
Description
Housing lid opening and closing structure
[0001] The present invention relates to a cover opening and closing structure for a housing.
[0002] As described in Patent Document 1, a lid opening / closing structure for a housing of an electronic device includes a terminal cover that covers an opening of the housing and a tongue portion extending from the main body of the terminal cover. A recessed fitting portion is formed at the tip of the tongue portion. The lid opening / closing structure for the housing is assembled by fitting the tip of the tongue portion into a recess formed in the housing and fitting the fitting portion at the tip of the tongue portion onto the tip of a mounting screw that protrudes into the recess.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-51398
[0004] In the conventional housing lid opening and closing structure, the tip of the tongue is fitted into a recess formed in the housing, and the fitting part of the tip of the tongue is fitted into the tip of the mounting screw protruding into the recess. Therefore, when the main body of the terminal cover is pinched with fingers to open the opening of the housing, the terminal cover easily comes off the housing.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a lid opening and closing structure for a housing that can stably hold the lid when the lid is open.
[0006] This embodiment provides a lid opening and closing structure for a housing, which includes a housing having an opening and a bearing hole, a lid portion that can be positioned in a closed position that covers the opening and an open position that exposes the opening, and a lid body having an elastic hinge shaft that is inserted into the bearing hole and engaged with the bearing hole, wherein the hinge shaft has a root portion, a free end portion, and an intermediate portion formed between the root portion and the free end portion.
[0007] According to the lid opening and closing structure for a housing of this embodiment, the lid can be stably held when the lid is open.
[0008] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lid portion of the lid body is positioned in a closed position in the lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side view of a lid body used in the lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lid portion of the lid body is positioned in an open position in the lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to this embodiment. Fig. 4A is a perspective view of essential parts of the lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to this embodiment, showing a state before the tip of the hinge shaft of the lid body is inserted into the bearing hole of the housing. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to this embodiment, showing a state before the tip of the hinge shaft of the lid body is inserted into the bearing hole of the housing. Fig. 4C is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of the lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to this embodiment, showing a state in which the tip of the hinge shaft of the lid body is inserted into the bearing hole of the housing and then the tip of the hinge shaft is pulled out into the interior of the housing. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a key part of the housing lid opening / closing structure according to this embodiment, showing the positional relationship between the tip of the hinge shaft of the lid body and the substrate when the tip of the hinge shaft of the lid body is inserted into the bearing hole of the housing and then pulled out into the interior of the housing.
[0009] A housing lid opening / closing structure 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the housing lid opening / closing structure 1 includes a housing 10 and a lid (cover) 20.
[0010] The X direction shown in Figures 1 and 2 corresponds to the horizontal direction (longitudinal direction) of the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20. The Z direction shown in Figures 1 and 2 corresponds to the vertical direction (thickness direction) of the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20, and is perpendicular to the X direction. The +X side and -X side shown in Figures 1 and 2 correspond to the left and right sides of the lid portion 21, respectively. The +Z side and -Z side shown in Figures 1 and 2 correspond to the upper and lower sides of the lid portion 21, respectively.
[0011] 1 and 3, the housing 10 has an opening 12 and a bearing hole 14. The lid body 20 has a lid portion 21 that covers the opening 12 of the housing 10, and a hinge shaft portion 24 that is inserted into and engaged with the bearing hole 14. The lid portion 21 can be positioned in a closed position (see FIG. 1) that covers the opening 12 of the housing 10, and an open position (see FIG. 3) that exposes the opening 12 of the housing 10.
[0012] 1, 3, and 4A, the housing 10 is a case made of synthetic resin. The opening 12 is formed in a horizontally long rectangle in the wall 11 of the housing 10. The bearing hole 14 has a vertical width H1 that is the same as the vertical width of the opening 12, and is formed in a rectangular shape in the wall 11 of the housing 10. The opening 12 corresponds to the top opening of a recess 13 formed inside the housing 10. An external connection terminal (not shown) is housed in the recess 13.
[0013] 1 to 3, the lid body 20 is a cover made of silicone rubber (soft material). The lid portion 21 and the hinge shaft portion 24 are integrally formed of silicone rubber, which is a soft material, and each has elasticity (flexibility).
[0014] The lid 21 has a front surface 21a that faces the outside of the housing 10 and a back surface 21b that faces the inside of the housing 10 when the lid body 20 is closed, i.e., when the lid 21 is positioned in the closed position. The lid 21 is formed in a rectangular plate shape and is large enough to cover the opening 12 and bearing hole 14 of the housing 10. The lid 21 has a tab 22 for opening and closing on the front surface 21a of the side surface at one end (-X side) of the lid 21. The lid 21 has a protrusion 23 on the back surface 21b in the center of the lid 21 that fits into the recess 13 of the housing 10. Press-fitting ribs 23a, 23a are respectively protruded from both side surfaces of the protrusion 23.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 2 , the hinge shaft 24 is formed in a generally U-shape and has a root portion 25, an intermediate portion 26, and a free end portion 28. The root portion 25 is fitted into the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10 when the lid 20 is closed, i.e., when the lid 21 is positioned in the closed position. The root portion 25 extends downward (toward the -Z side) of the lid 21 from a back surface 21b of the other end (+X side) of the lid 21, which is located opposite the one end (-X side) of the lid 21. The intermediate portion 26 extends from a terminal end 25a (the end on the -Z side) of the root portion 25 in a direction bent 90 degrees toward the left (+X side) of the lid 21. Specifically, intermediate portion 26 has a curved portion 261 bent 90 degrees from end 25a (end on the -Z side) of root portion 25 toward the left (+X side) of lid portion 21, and an extending portion 262 connected to curved portion 261 and extending toward the left (+X side) of lid portion 21. Free end portion 28 extends from end 26a (end on the +X side) of intermediate portion 26 in a direction bent 90 degrees toward the upper part (+Z side) of lid portion 21. Specifically, free end portion 28 has a curved portion 281 bent 90 degrees from end 26a (end on the +X side) of intermediate portion 26 toward the upper part (+Z side) of lid portion 21, and an extending portion 282 connected to curved portion 281 and extending toward the upper part (+Z side) of lid portion 21. In this way, the hinge shaft 24 is formed so that the root portion 25, the intermediate portion 26, and the free end portion 28 form a substantially U-shape. Note that the angle at which the intermediate portion 26 is bent from the terminal end 25 a of the root portion 25 and the angle at which the free end portion 28 is bent from the terminal end 26 a of the intermediate portion 26 are not limited to 90 degrees. For example, the angle at which the intermediate portion 26 is bent from the terminal end 25 a of the root portion 25 and the angle at which the free end portion 28 is bent from the terminal end 26 a of the intermediate portion 26 may be substantially 90 degrees.
[0016] Using the terms "horizontal direction" and "vertical direction" described above, the hinge shaft 24 is formed of a root portion 25 that extends vertically from the back surface 21b of the lid portion 21 and is fitted into the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10 when the lid portion 21 is placed in the closed position, an intermediate portion 26 that is bent horizontally from the root portion 25, and a free end portion 28 that is bent in the opposite direction (+Z side) from the intermediate portion 26 to the direction in which the root portion 25 extends (-Z side). Therefore, in a side view, the hinge shaft 24 is formed so as to be substantially U-shaped by the root portion 25, the intermediate portion 26, and the free end portion 28. Note that the direction in which the root portion 25 extends from the back surface 21b of the lid portion 21 does not need to be completely vertical, and may have a certain angle.
[0017] With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C , after the free end 28 of the hinge shaft 24 is inserted into the bearing hole 14 from the front surface 11a of the wall 11 of the housing 10, the free end 28 can be easily grasped with fingers from the back surface 11b of the wall 11 and pulled into the housing 10. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 , the tip of the free end 28 is configured to minimize interference with structures such as the board 15 arranged inside the housing 10. That is, because the hinge shaft 24 is formed in a substantially U-shape, interference of the tip of the free end 28 with structures such as the board 15 arranged inside the housing 10 can be minimized when the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20 is moved between the closed position and the open position. It is desirable that the tip of the free end 28 not interfere with structures such as the board 15 arranged inside the housing 10.
[0018] 4A , the vertical width L1 and horizontal width L2 of the base portion 25 of the hinge shaft 24 may be formed wider (thicker) than the vertical width H1 and horizontal width H2 of the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10, respectively, to form a thick wall. As a result, when the cover 20 is assembled to the housing 10, the base portion 25 of the hinge shaft 24 is press-fitted into the bearing hole 14 and fitted into the bearing hole 14.
[0019] A locking protrusion 27 that is locked into the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10 when the cover 21 is placed in the open position may be provided on the upper side (+Z side) of the intermediate portion 26 of the hinge shaft 24. Specifically, the locking protrusion 27 is formed so as to protrude from the upper side (+Z side) of the intermediate portion 26 in the direction opposite (+Z side) to the direction in which the base portion 25 extends (-Z side). The locking protrusion 27 is also referred to as a locking portion.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , when the tab 22 of the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20 is pinched and the lid portion 21 is placed in the open position, the upper and lower edges around the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10 are sandwiched between the base portion 25 of the hinge shaft 24 and the locking protrusion 27. As a result, the hinge shaft 24 is locked in the bearing hole 14, and the lid portion 21 is opened 90 degrees relative to the opening 12. That is, when the lid portion 21 is placed in the open position, the locking protrusion 27 is locked to the lower (−Z side) edge 14b of the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10. In this way, the hinge shaft 24 functions as a hinge, and is configured to minimize interference of the tip side of the free end 28 with structures such as the board 15 placed inside the housing 10 when the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20 is moved between the closed position and the open position, thereby enabling the lid portion 21 to be stably held in the open position. When the lid 21 is placed in the open position, if the tip side of the free end 28 does not interfere with structures such as the substrate 15 arranged inside the housing 10, the lid 21 can be stably maintained in a state where it is opened at approximately 90 degrees relative to the opening 12. Note that even if the lid body 20 does not have the locking protrusion 27 and only has the middle portion 26, the lid 21 can be maintained in a state where it is opened at 90 degrees relative to the opening 12 to some extent.
[0021] 2, the hinge shaft 24 may have an inclined surface 29 on the tip side of the free end 28. The inclined surface 29 on the free end 28 can minimize interference of the tip side of the free end 28 with structures such as the board 15 arranged inside the housing 10 when the lid 21 is placed in the closed position, as shown in FIG.
[0022] Next, the procedure for assembling the cover 20 to the housing 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C and 5. FIG.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the tip of the free end 28 of the hinge shaft 24 is inserted into the bearing hole 14 from the surface 11 a of the wall 11 of the housing 10 .
[0024] As shown in FIG. 4C , by inserting the tip of the free end 28 of the hinge shaft 24 into the bearing hole 14 , the tip of the free end 28 is exposed at the rear surface 11 b of the wall 11 of the housing 10 .
[0025] 4C and 5, the tip of the free end 28 of the hinge shaft 24 is grasped with fingers and pulled into the housing 10. Alternatively, the tip of the free end 28 may be pushed into the bearing hole 14 from the surface 11a of the wall 11 of the housing 10. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the base portion 25 of the hinge shaft 24 is press-fitted into the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10 and fitted into the bearing hole 14, thereby assembling the cover 20 to the housing 10.
[0026] As described above, the lid opening / closing structure 1 for a housing allows the lid body 20 to be easily and reliably assembled to the housing 10 by the simple operation of inserting the free end 28 of the hinge shaft 24 of the lid body 20 from the surface 11a of the wall 11 of the housing 10 into the bearing hole 14 and pulling it out to the back surface 11b of the wall 11.
[0027] Furthermore, by forming the hinge shaft 24 of the lid body 20 into an approximately U-shape with a base portion 25, an intermediate portion 26, and a free end portion 28, and forming an inclined surface 29 on the tip side of the free end portion 28, it is possible to minimize interference of the hinge shaft 24 with structures such as the substrate 15 inside the housing 10 when assembling the lid opening / closing structure 1 for the housing.
[0028] 3, when the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20 is placed in the open position, the locking protrusion 27 of the hinge shaft 24 is locked with the lower (-Z side) edge 14b of the bearing hole 14 of the housing 10, thereby preventing the hinge shaft 24 of the lid body 20 from coming out of the bearing hole 14. This reliably prevents the lid body 20 from coming off the housing 10 when the lid body 20 is opened. Furthermore, because the lid portion 21 of the lid body 20 can be stably maintained in an open state up to approximately 90 degrees with respect to the opening 12 of the housing 10, work becomes easier, for example, after the lid body 20 is opened, connection to an external connection terminal can be made with one hand.
[0029] This embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, the lid body is made of silicone rubber (soft material), but the lid body may also be made of soft resin.
[0030] According to the lid opening and closing structure for a housing of this embodiment, the lid can be stably held when the lid is open.
Claims
1. a housing having an opening and a bearing hole; a cover body including a lid portion that can be positioned at a closed position that covers the opening and an open position that exposes the opening, and an elastic hinge shaft portion that is inserted into the bearing hole and engaged with the bearing hole; Equipped with the cover portion has a front surface facing the exterior of the housing and a back surface facing the interior of the housing when the cover portion is disposed in the closed position; the hinge shaft extends vertically from the rear surface of the lid, and is formed to have a substantially U-shape with a base portion that is fitted into a bearing hole of the housing when the lid is disposed at the closed position, an intermediate portion that is bent horizontally from the base portion, and a free end portion that is bent from the intermediate portion in a direction opposite to the direction in which the base portion extends, the intermediate portion has a locking portion formed in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the base portion, A lid opening and closing structure for a housing in which, when the lid portion is placed in the open position, the upper and lower edges of the bearing hole of the housing are clamped between the base portion and the locking portion, thereby locking the lid portion in a state where it is open 90 degrees relative to the bearing hole.
2. (delete)
3. 2. The lid opening and closing structure for a housing according to claim 1, wherein the length from the free end side of the locking portion in the intermediate portion to the tip of the free end is long enough to be grasped with fingers from the inside of the housing and pulled out when the hinge shaft portion is passed through a bearing hole of the housing from the outside of the housing toward the inside of the housing.
4. The lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge shaft portion has an inclined surface on the tip side of the free end portion.
5. The cover portion and the hinge shaft portion are integrally formed of a soft material, 2. The lid opening / closing structure for a housing according to claim 1, wherein a base portion of the hinge shaft is formed to be wider than a width of the bearing hole, and is press-fitted into the bearing hole when the lid is attached to the housing.