Lock device for opening / closing body

Abstract

Provided is a lock device for an opening / closing body capable of simplifying a structure by reducing the number of components. This lock device 10 has a lock member 40 and an operation member 60. The lock member 40 has a pair of annular parts 41, 41, a connection part 42, and a pair of lock protrusions 55, 55. The pair of annular parts 41, 41 have a pair of first frames 45, 45, a pair of second frames 46, 46 extending in a direction away from each other from tip end sides of the first frames 45, and a pair of third frames 47, 47 having portions that obliquely extend from tip end sides of the second frames 46 toward base end sides of the first frames 45 in such a way that one of the third frames approaches the other of the third frames.

Description

Locking device for opening and closing body

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for an opening / closing body, which is attached to an opening of a fixed body so as to be able to open and close the opening, for locking the opening / closing body in a closed state.

[0002] For example, an opening formed in a fixed body such as a console box of an automobile is provided with an opening / closing body such as a lid that can be opened and closed. A locking device is often provided between the opening and the opening / closing body, which locks the opening / closing body when it is closed and unlocks the opening / closing body when it is opened.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 describes a locking device that is attached to an opening / closing body that is capable of opening and closing an opening of a fixed body, and that includes a base member, a lock bar member that is slidably supported on the base member, and a drive member that moves in response to user operation to slide the lock bar member, and the lock bar member has a locking portion that can be engaged and disengaged with a locking hole in the fixed body, a first bar portion that extends in the sliding direction of the lock bar member, and a second bar portion that extends in a direction intersecting the sliding direction and connects the first bar portion and the locking portion.

[0004] An operating member is rotatably mounted on the tip side of the base member, and a pair of spring members separate from the driving member are interposed between the base end of the driving member and the spring support portion on the base end side of the base member.

[0005] When the operating member is rotated, the drive member slides in a direction in which the base end of the drive member approaches the base end of the base member against the elastic force of the pair of spring members, and the locking portions of the pair of locking bar members are pulled a predetermined length into the insertion holes of the opening / closing body, making it possible to open and close the opening / closing body through the opening of the fixed body.

[0006] Furthermore, when operation of the operating member is completed, the elastic force of the pair of spring members causes the base end of the driving member to slide in a direction away from the base end of the base member, returning (reverting) to the state it was in before operation of the operating member.

[0007] WO2022 / 004532A1

[0008] The locking device of Patent Document 1 requires a pair of spring members separate from the driving member to return the driving member to the state before the operating member is operated, resulting in a large number of parts and a complex structure.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for an opening / closing body that can reduce the number of parts and simplify the structure.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a locking device for an opening / closing body that is openably and closably attached to an opening of a fixed body, the locking device for an opening / closing body that is openably and closably attached to an opening of a fixed body, the locking device comprising: a locking section provided on one of the fixed body or the opening / closing body; a locking member arranged on the other of the fixed body or the opening / closing body; and an operating member that is arranged on the other of the fixed body or the opening / closing body and has an operating section and a pressing section connected to the operating section, the locking member having a pair of annular sections, a connecting section that connects the pair of annular sections and has a pressed section that is pressed by the pressing section, and a pair of locking protrusions that protrude from the pair of annular sections and slide relative to the locking section to engage and disengage with the locking section, and the fixed body or the opening / closing body operates the operating member to cause the pressing section to press the pressed section. the locking projection has a restricting portion that restricts movement of the locking projection in the same direction as the pressing direction of the pressing portion against the pressed portion when the locking projection is pressed, the connecting portion is positioned offset in the pressing direction of the pressing portion with respect to the restricting portion, the pair of annular portions are positioned on both sides of the pressing portion and extend in the opposite direction to the pressing direction of the pressing portion, and the locking projection has a pair of elastically deformable first frames, a pair of elastically deformable second frames that extend in directions away from each other from the tip ends of the pair of first frames in the extension direction, and the pair of second frames have portions that extend obliquely from the tip ends of the pair of second frames in the extension direction to approach each other toward the base end side of the first frames in the extension direction, and the tip ends in the extension direction are connected to the base end side of the first frames in the extension direction, and the pair of elastically deformable third frames.

[0011] According to the locking device for an opening / closing body of the present invention, the locking member consists of a pair of annular portions including multiple frames, a connecting portion, and a pair of locking protrusions, and when the operating member is operated, each frame of the pair of annular portions elastically deforms, allowing the pair of locking protrusions and the operating member to return to the state they were in before the operating member was operated, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

[0012] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of a locking device for an opening-closing body according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a guide member is attached to a locking member constituting the locking device; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a guide member is attached to a locking member constituting the locking device; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a guide member is attached to a locking member constituting the locking device, as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a plan view of a locking member constituting the locking device; FIG. 6 is a front view of a locking member constituting the locking device; FIG. 7 is an explanatory plan view showing a state before the locking member is operated by an operation member in the locking device; FIG. 8 is an explanatory plan view showing a state after the locking member has been operated by the operation member in the locking device; FIG. 9 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state before the locking member is operated by the operation member in the locking device; FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state after the locking member has been operated by the operation member in the locking device; FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a second embodiment of a locking device for an opening-closing body according to the present invention; FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing a state after the locking member has been operated by the operation member in the locking device; 10A and 10B are perspective and plan views of a locking member constituting a third embodiment of the locking device for an opening / closing body according to the present invention;

[0013] (First Embodiment of Locking Device for Opening / Closing Body) Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a locking device for an opening / closing body according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] 10 and 11, a locking device 10 for an opening-closing body (hereinafter referred to as "locking device 10") in this embodiment locks an opening-closing body 20, such as a lid attached to an opening 3 of a fixed body 1, such as a console box of a vehicle, in a closed state relative to the opening 3 of the fixed body 1, and opens the opening-closing body in the locked state. Note that the opening-closing body 20 extends a predetermined length, but for convenience, only the tip end (one end) side in the extending direction is shown in the figure.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1, 4, 8, 10, etc., the locking device 10 of this embodiment is mainly composed of a pair of locking portions 5, 5 (see Figure 10) provided on the fixed body 1, a locking member 40 arranged on the opening / closing body 20 and having a pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 that engage and disengage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5, an operating member 60 arranged on the opening / closing body 20 and having an operating portion 61 and a pressing portion 63 connected to the operating portion 61, and operating the locking member 40, and a pair of guide members 70, 70 that guide the sliding movement of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55.

[0016] The operating member 60 slides along the extension direction of the opening / closing body 20, and its pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43 of the locking member 40. As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the pressing direction of the pressing portion 63 against the pressed portion 43 is referred to as "pressing direction F1."

[0017] The pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the opening / closing body 20 to engage with and disengage from the pair of locking portions 5, 5. As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the sliding direction of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 is referred to as "sliding direction F2."

[0018] 10, a cylindrical protrusion 25 having an internal space R protrudes from the opening / closing body 20. The cylindrical protrusion 25 and the guide member 70 are formed with insertion holes 30, 75 that communicate with the internal space R and through which the locking protrusion 55 is inserted and removed (see FIG. 10).

[0019] As shown in Figures 2, 5, 6, etc., the locking member 40 of this embodiment has a pair of annular portions 41, 41, a connecting portion 42 that connects the pair of annular portions 41, 41 to each other and has a pressed portion 43 that is pressed by a pressing portion 63 of the operating member 60, a pair of legs 50, 50 that extend from the pair of annular portions 41, 41 in a direction intersecting the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55 and are inserted into the internal space R of the cylindrical protrusion 25, and a pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 that protrude from the pair of legs 50, 50 in the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55.

[0020] 8, the opening / closing body 20 has restricting portions 7, 7 that receive the side portions of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 when the operating member 60 is operated and the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43, and restrict movement of the locking protrusions 55 in the same direction as the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 against the pressed portion 43. Each restricting portion 7 is arranged so as to be able to receive the side portion of the corresponding locking protrusion 55 that is located on the pressing direction F1 side of the pressing portion 63 (facing the F1 side).

[0021] As shown in Figure 10, a fixed body 1 such as a console box has stepped portions 4 formed on both widthwise sides of an opening 3 to support both widthwise sides of an opening / closing body 20, and a pair of locking portions 5, 5 are formed closer to the bottom of the fixed body 1 than these stepped portions 4.

[0022] The opening / closing body 20 of this embodiment is made up of a base portion 21 that is open at the top and a cover portion 27 that covers the upper opening of the base portion 21. For ease of explanation, only the base portion 21 is shown in Figures 1, 4, and 8 to 11.

[0023] The base portion 21 has a bottom wall 22 in the shape of a substantially long plate extending a predetermined length in one direction, and a peripheral wall 23 erected from the periphery of the bottom wall 22, and forms a bottomed frame shape with an open top. Note that a base end (other end) of the opening / closing body 20 in the extending direction (not shown) is rotatably supported by the opening 3 of the fixed body 1 to open and close the opening 3 of the fixed body 1.

[0024] A pair of generally rectangular openings 24, 24 are formed at the tip (one end) in the extension direction of the base portion 21, on both sides in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the extension direction) of the base portion 21. Furthermore, cylindrical protrusions 25, 25 protrude from the rear (outer) peripheral edges of the pair of openings 24, 24. A guide member 70 is housed and disposed in the internal space R of each cylindrical protrusion 25.

[0025] The above-mentioned "rear side" or "rear side" refers to the side or surface that is located in the direction in which the opening / closing body 20 closes. On the other hand, the "front side" or "front surface side" refers to the side opposite to the "rear side" or "rear surface side," i.e., the side or surface that is located in the direction in which the opening / closing body opens from the opening of a fixed body such as a vehicle. Furthermore, when the fixed body is provided in a vehicle, the side facing the interior space of the vehicle may be referred to as the "front side" or "front surface side," and the opposite side may be referred to as the "rear side" or "rear surface side."

[0026] The above terms "front side," "surface side," "back side," and "rear side" have the same meanings for other members (locking member, operating member, guide member, etc.) described below.

[0027] Each cylindrical protrusion 25 has a plurality of walls and is shaped like a substantially square cylinder with a bottom and an internal space R inside.

[0028] 10 , an engagement rib 26 extending along the protruding direction of the cylindrical protruding portion 25 is formed on the inner surface (the surface facing the internal space R) of the wall portion 25a of each cylindrical protruding portion 25 that is disposed opposite the mating cylindrical protruding portion 25. The engagement rib 26 is formed with an engagement groove 26a that engages with the second elastic engagement portion 81 of the guide member 70.

[0029] In addition, the wall portion 25b of each cylindrical protrusion 25 is positioned away from the opposing cylindrical protrusion 25, and at a position close to the bottom, an insertion hole 30 having an approximately square hole shape is formed to allow the locking protrusion 55 to be inserted and removed.

[0030] 1, a plurality of ribs 28 are formed on the inner surface of the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 21, on the outer (inner) periphery of the opening 24. Among these ribs, a pair of ribs 28a, 28a extend obliquely inward toward the bottom of the cylindrical protrusion 25 on the wall portion 25b side of the cylindrical protrusion 25 (see FIG. 10).

[0031] These pair of ribs 28a, 28a press against the inclined portion 57 of the locking protrusion 55, described later, when the pair of legs 50, 50 of the locking member 40 are inserted into the internal space R of the pair of cylindrical protrusions 25, 25, respectively, causing the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 to slide in a direction approaching each other.

[0032] 1, a protrusion hole 31 having an elongated shape extending in the width direction of the base portion 21 is formed in a portion of the peripheral wall 23 that constitutes the base portion 21, the portion being located at the tip end in the extension direction of the base portion 21. One end of the operating member 60 protrudes from this protrusion hole 31 (see FIG. 4).

[0033] Furthermore, a pair of side walls 32, 32 having a generally U-shaped frame shape extend parallel to each other from both widthwise sides of the protrusion hole 31 of the peripheral wall 23 toward the base end in the extension direction of the base portion 21. A spring arrangement projection 33 is provided between the pair of side walls 32, 32. Furthermore, a guide groove 34 extending in the extension direction of the base portion 21 is formed on the side of the pair of side walls 32, 32 on the side of the spring arrangement projection 33 side.

[0034] To describe this operating member 60 in more detail, the operating member 60 in this embodiment has an operating portion 61 that is approximately in the shape of a square plate, and a pressing portion 63 that is approximately in the shape of a square pillar and extends a predetermined length from the center of the width of the operating portion 61 at the other end of the operating portion 61.

[0035] A plurality of guide ridges 65 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the operating portion 61, on both the front and back surfaces. Of these, a pair of guide ridges 65, 65 on the back surface side of the operating portion 61 are inserted into a pair of guide grooves 34, 34 provided in the opening / closing body 20, thereby guiding the sliding movement of the operating member 60 along the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 relative to the pressed portion 43.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown by arrow F1 in Figure 8, when the tip of the pressing portion 63 in the extension direction slides toward the base end side of the opening / closing body 20 in the extension direction, the tip of the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43 of the locking member 40.

[0037] Furthermore, a spring arrangement hole 67 having a generally elongated hole shape is formed in the operating portion 61. The spring arrangement protrusion 33 provided on the base portion 21 is inserted into this spring arrangement hole 67 (see FIG. 4), and a coil spring (not shown) is interposed between the spring arrangement protrusion 33 and the spring arrangement hole 67. This coil spring allows the operating member 60 to be arranged at the tip end side in the extension direction of the base portion 21 while suppressing rattling.

[0038] Returning to the explanation of the opening / closing body 20, as shown in Figure 1, a support rib 35 in the form of a protrusion is provided extending from the center of the other end of the spring disposing protrusion 33 toward the base end side in the extension direction of the opening / closing body 20. This support rib 35 supports the back side of the pressing portion 63, and stabilizes the pressing action of the pressing portion 63 against the pressed portion 43.

[0039] In addition, a pair of protruding guide ribs 36, 36 extend parallel to each other closer to the base end of the opening / closing body 20 in the extension direction than the support rib 35, and a pair of protruding support ribs 37, 37 extend parallel to each other outside the pair of guide ribs 36, 36.

[0040] The guide protrusion 44a (see FIG. 5) of the locking member 40 is slidably inserted between the pair of guide ribs 36, 36, and guides the pressing action of the pressing portion 63 of the operating member 60 against the pressed portion 43. The pair of support ribs 37, 37 abut against the back side of the base end 45a in the extension direction of the first frame 45 of the locking member 40 and the back side of the base-end connecting portion 44, thereby supporting the locking member 40.

[0041] 3, the cover 27 that covers the upper opening of the base 21 has a ceiling wall 27a shaped to fit the bottom wall 22 of the base 21, and a peripheral wall 27b that stands upright from the periphery of the ceiling wall 27a and is positioned outside the peripheral wall 23 of the base 21. The peripheral wall 27b has a notch 27c formed at a position that aligns with the protrusion hole 31 of the base 21.

[0042] A pair of generally L-shaped restricting portions 7, 7 are provided on both sides of the ceiling wall 27a in the width direction at positions that fit the pair of openings 24, 24 provided in the base portion 21. A support rib 35a and a pair of support ribs 37a, 37a are provided on the ceiling wall 27a at positions that fit the support rib 35 and the pair of support ribs 37, 37 of the base portion 21, respectively.

[0043] The support rib 35a supports the surface side of the pressing portion 63 and, together with the support rib 35 of the base portion 21, stabilizes the pressing action of the pressing portion 63. Meanwhile, the pair of support ribs 37a, 37a abut on the surface side of the base end 45a in the extension direction of the first frame 45, and together with the pair of support ribs 37, 37 of the base portion 21, support the locking member 40 in a sandwiched state.

[0044] Next, the locking member 40 will be described in detail.

[0045] As described above, the locking member 40 has a pair of annular portions 41, 41, a connecting portion 42, a pair of leg portions 50, 50, and a pair of locking protrusions 55, 55.

[0046] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8, 9, etc., each annular portion 41 has a pair of first frames 45, 45, a pair of second frames 46, 46, and a pair of third frames 47, 47, each of which is elastically deformable, and these are connected to each other to form a continuous annular shape without any breaks or notches.

[0047] 6, the pair of first frames 45, 45 are disposed on both sides of the pressing portion 63 of the operating member 60, and extend in the direction opposite to the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63. Note that "on both sides of the pressing portion 63" means a direction that intersects with the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 and the arrangement direction of the pair of annular portions 41, 41.

[0048] The pair of first frames 45, 45 have a pair of first extending portions 48, 48 that extend diagonally inward in a straight line so as to gradually narrow in the direction opposite to the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63, and a pair of second extending portions 49, 49 that extend diagonally outward in a straight line from the tips of the extending direction of the pair of first extending portions 48, 48 so as to gradually widen in the direction opposite to the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63.

[0049] The base end of the first extending portion 48 in the extending direction corresponds to the base end 45a in the extending direction of the first frame 45. The tip of the second extending portion 49 in the extending direction has a rounded arc shape, and this portion corresponds to the tip 45b in the extending direction of the first frame 45.

[0050] In addition, in the first extension portion 48, the second extension portion, the second frame 46, and the third frame 47 that constitute the first frame 45, the base end in the extension direction means the starting end in the direction in which each frame extends, and the tip end in the extension direction means the end in the direction in which each frame extends.

[0051] The connecting portion 42 connecting the pair of annular portions 41, 41 is connected at two points at the ends of the pair of first frames 45, 45 on the pressing direction F1 side of the pressing portion 63, and the pressed portion 43 is arranged on the tip 45b, 45b side in the extension direction of the pair of first frames 45, 45.

[0052] That is, in this embodiment, the connecting portion 42 is composed of a pressed portion 43 arranged on the tip 45b side in the extension direction of the first frame 45, and a base-end connecting portion 44 arranged on the base end 45a side in the extension direction of the first frame 45. The base ends of the pair of second extending portions 49, 49 in the extension direction are connected to the pressed portion 43, and the base ends of the pair of first extending portions 48, 48 in the extension direction are connected to the base-end connecting portion 44.

[0053] The pair of second frames 46, 46 are linear and extend substantially straight from the ends 45b, 45b of the pair of first frames 45, 45 in the extension direction in directions away from each other.

[0054] The tip 46b of each second frame 46 in the extension direction is disposed at a position spaced apart from the tip 46b of the mating second frame 46 in the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the opening / closing body 20. The base end 46a of each second frame 46 in the extension direction is connected to the tip 45b side of the corresponding first frame 45 in the extension direction.

[0055] Furthermore, the pair of third frames 47, 47 have portions (hereinafter also referred to as "diagonal extending portions 47c") that extend diagonally and linearly so as to approach each other from the tip ends 46b, 46b of the pair of second frames 46, 46 in the extension direction toward the base ends 45a, 45a of the first frames 45, 45 in the extension direction.

[0056] At the base end side of the extension direction of these diagonal extension portions 47c, 47c, there are respectively provided bent portions that bend along the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 and extend linearly for a predetermined length, and these bent portions form the base ends 47a, 47a of the extension direction of the third frame 47.

[0057] The base end 47 a of each third frame 47 in the extension direction is connected to the tip 46 b of the corresponding second frame 46 in the extension direction. The tip 47 b of each third frame 47 in the extension direction is connected to the base end 45 a of the corresponding first frame 45.

[0058] In this embodiment, each annular portion 41 has an approximately pentagonal annular shape, consisting of a first frame 45 having two sides consisting of a first extension portion 48 and a second extension portion 49, a second frame 46 having one side extending in a straight line, and a third frame 47 having two sides consisting of an oblique extension portion 47c and a base end 47a which is a bent portion.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the thickness of the pair of first frames 45 is greater than the thickness of the pair of second frames 46 and the thickness of the pair of third frames 47 .

[0060] The thickness of each frame 45, 46, 47 means the size in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of each frame 45, 46, 47 and also perpendicular to the width direction perpendicular to the extension direction (the direction of each frame 45, 46, 47 toward the bottom wall 22 of the base portion 21 of the opening / closing body 20 and the ceiling wall 27a of the cover portion 27).

[0061] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the pair of first frames 45, 45, the pair of second frames 46, 46, and the pair of third frames 47, 47 are each formed in a plate-like elongated shape.

[0062] As shown in Figures 2 and 5, slits 51a, 51b, 51c extending in the extension direction of each plate-shaped frame 45, 46, 47 are formed in the middle of the width direction of each plate-shaped frame 45, 46, 47, which intersects (here, perpendicular to) the extension direction.

[0063] The first slit 51a extends from the tip 45b side in the extension direction of the first frame 45 to a position just before the location of the pressed portion 43. The second slit 51b extends from the base end 46a side to the tip 46b side in the extension direction of the second frame 46.

[0064] Furthermore, the third slit 51c extends from the base end 47a side of the third frame 47 in the extension direction to the tip 47b, and branches off from the tip 47b into two, one of which extends to a range reaching the base end connecting portion 44, and the other passes through the base end 45a in the extension direction of the first frame 45 and extends to a range just before the location where the pressed portion 43 is located.

[0065] Furthermore, before the pressing portion 63 presses against the pressed portion 43, it is preferable that the inclination angle θ of the diagonally extending portion of the third frame 47 is 20 to 55° with respect to the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55.

[0066] Figure 6 shows a line segment L parallel to the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55, and the inclination angle θ of the diagonal extension portion 47c of the third frame 47 relative to this line segment L is preferably 20 to 55 degrees, and more preferably 30 to 45 degrees.

[0067] Furthermore, this locking device 10 has a guide mechanism that guides the connecting portion 42 so that it does not shift in a direction intersecting the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 when the operating member 60 is operated and the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43.

[0068] 5, a guide protrusion 44a protrudes from the center in the width direction on the back surface side of the base-end connecting portion 44 that constitutes the connecting portion 42. This guide protrusion 44a is slidably inserted between a pair of guide ribs 36, 36 provided on the base portion 21, and thereby guides the connecting portion 42 so that it does not shift in a direction intersecting the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 when the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43.

[0069] That is, in this embodiment, the guide protrusion 44a of the locking member 40 and the pair of guide ribs 36, 36 of the base portion 21 form the "guide mechanism" of the present invention.

[0070] Furthermore, the pair of legs 50, 50 of the locking member 40 have their base ends 52 connected to the connecting portion between the tip 46b of the second frame 46 and the base end 47a of the third frame 47, and have extensions 53 extending a predetermined length from the base ends 52 that are bent so as to be perpendicular to the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusions 55 and spaced apart from the annular portion 41, forming a generally crank-like shape as a whole. The extensions 53 of the legs 50 and the annular portion 41 are at different height positions.

[0071] Furthermore, a locking protrusion 55 protrudes in the sliding direction F2 from the tip of the extending portion 53 of each leg 50 in the extending direction. A pair of guide ribs 56 protrude from both sides in the width direction perpendicular to the sliding direction F2 at the base end of the locking protrusion 55. The pair of guide ribs 56 are inserted into a pair of guide grooves 77 (see FIG. 5) of the guide member 70 to guide the sliding movement of the locking protrusion 55.

[0072] Further, on the outer surface of the tip end of the locking protrusion 55 facing the insertion direction of the leg 50 into the internal space R of the cylindrical protrusion 25, an inclined portion 57 that gradually thins the locking protrusion 55 toward the tip of the locking protrusion 55 is formed. This inclined portion 57 is the portion that is pressed by the ribs 28 a, 28 a provided on the base portion 21 when the leg 50 is inserted into the internal space R of the cylindrical protrusion 25.

[0073] The locking member 40 described above is integrally formed with a pair of annular portions 41, 41 including all of the frames (first frame 45, second frame 46, third frame 47), a connecting portion 42, a pair of leg portions 50, 50, and a pair of locking protrusions 55, 55.

[0074] 8 shows a state before the operating member 60 is operated, i.e., a state before the pressing portion 63 of the operating member 60 is pressed against the pressed portion 43. Before the pressing portion 63 presses against the pressed portion 43, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are arranged in the opening / closing body 20 in a bent state so as to be spaced apart from each other.

[0075] As described above, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are arranged in a bent state so as to be spaced apart from each other relative to the opening / closing body 20, and thus the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 are biased in the direction of being inserted or removed from the insertion holes 30, 75 so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 engage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5.

[0076] In addition, it can also be said that the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are structured to urge the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 in the direction of insertion from the insertion holes 30, 75 so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 engage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5.

[0077] The locking member 40 having the above structure operates as follows.

[0078] That is, when the operating member 60 is operated from the state shown in FIG. 8, the pressing portion 63 slides in the pressing direction F1 and presses the pressed portion 43 of the locking member 40, as shown in FIG. 11, the movement of the locking protrusions 55, 55 in the pressing direction F1 is restricted by the restricting portions 7, 7, and the pair of first frames 45, 45 elastically deform via the connecting portion 42, and following this, the pair of second frames 46, 46 and the pair of third frames 47, 47 elastically deform.

[0079] Specifically, when a pressing force is input from the pressing portion 63 of the operating member 60 to the pressed portion 43, the pressing force is transmitted from the pressed portion 43 to the second extension portion 49 of each first frame 45 and each second frame 46, and also transmitted from the pressed portion 43 to the first extension portion 48 of each first frame 45 and each third frame 47.

[0080] As a result, a diagonal tensile force G1 (see Figure 8) is applied to each third frame 47 toward its tip 47b, causing the third frame 47 to elastically deform (see Figure 9), and a pressing force G2 (see Figure 8) toward the pressing direction F1 acts on each locking protrusion 55 via the third frame 47.

[0081] Furthermore, the restricting portion 7 receiving the pressing force G2 generates a component force G3 (see FIG. 8) of the pulling force G1 and the pressing force G2. This component force G3 acts on a predetermined locking protrusion 55, and the locking protrusion 55 is pressed in a direction approaching the mating locking protrusion 55.

[0082] Furthermore, a tensile force G4 (see Figure 8) is applied to each first frame 45 and each second frame 46 from the pressed portion 43, so that the first extension portion 48 of the first frame 45 and the second frame 46 elastically deform (see Figure 9), and the tensile force G4 acts on each locking protrusion 55.

[0083] As described above, the component force G3 resulting from the pulling force G1 and the pressing force G2 from the third frame 47, and the pulling force G4 from the first frame 45 and the second frame 46, cause a predetermined locking protrusion 55 to slide (slide and move) in a direction approaching the opposing locking protrusion 55.

[0084] As a result, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide away from the pair of locking portions 5, 5, and as shown in Figure 11, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 disengage from the pair of locking portions 5, 5, thereby releasing the lock of the opening / closing body 20 from the closed state relative to the opening 3.

[0085] Furthermore, when operation of the operating member 60 is completed, the elastically deformed frames 45, 46, 47 in each annular portion 41 each elastically return to their original state as shown by arrow G5 in Figure 9, so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide toward each other relative to the pair of locking portions 5, 5, and the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 engage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5, thereby locking the opening / closing body 20 in a closed state relative to the opening 3.

[0086] Here, as each third frame 47 elastically returns, the pressed portion 43 moves in the opposite direction to the pressing direction F1 via the first extension portion 48 of each first frame 45, pressing the pressing portion 63, and the operating member 60 is returned to the state it was in before the pressing portion 63 pressed against the pressed portion 43.

[0087] In addition, the second extension portion 49 of each first frame 45 and each second frame 46 elastically return to their original position, so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide in a direction approaching the pair of locking portions 5, 5, i.e., so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 return to the state before the pressing portion 63 pressed against the pressed portion 43.

[0088] Furthermore, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are arranged in the opening / closing body 20 in the following manner when (1) the pressing portion 63 is pressed against the pressed portion 43, or (2) the pressing portion 63 is pressed against the pressed portion 43, causing each frame 45, 46, 47 to elastically deform and then elastically recover, returning to the state before the pressing portion 63 was pressed against the pressed portion 43.

[0089] That is, in the above state, as shown in Figure 8, the locking member 40 is arranged on the opening / closing body 20 so that the tip ends 45b, 45b of the pair of first frames 45, 45 are spaced apart, the tip ends 46b, 46b and base ends 46a, 46a of the pair of second frames 46, 46 are spaced apart, and the base ends 47a, 47a of the pair of third frames 47, 47 are spaced apart.

[0090] When the pressing portion 63 is pressed against the pressed portion 43 and each frame 45, 46, 47 is elastically deformed, as shown in Figure 9, the tip ends 45b, 45b of the pair of first frames 45, 45 move close to each other, the tip ends 46b, 46b and base ends 46a, 46a of the pair of second frames 46, 46 move close to each other, and the base ends 47a, 47a of the pair of third frames 47, 47 move close to each other.

[0091] In addition, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 of the locking member 40 are structured to bias the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 in the direction of insertion from the insertion holes 30, 75 so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 engage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5.

[0092] That is, as shown in Figure 10, after the operating member 60 is pressed, when the pressing operation is terminated, the frames 45, 46, 47 of the pair of annular portions 41, 41 elastically return to their original position as described above, and the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 are pushed (or may be urged) in the direction in which they engage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5.

[0093] As a result, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 are biased to be inserted through the insertion holes 75, 75 of the pair of guide members 70, 70, respectively, and also through the insertion holes 30, 30 of the pair of cylindrical protrusions 25, 25, respectively (see Figure 10).

[0094] As shown in Figure 9, even if the operating member 60 is not pressed deeply into the pressed portion 43, by pressing the operating member 60 to an extent that each frame 45, 46, 47 can be elastically deformed, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 will be urged in the direction of being inserted or removed from the insertion holes 30, 75 so that the locking protrusions 55, 55 engage with the locking portions 5, 5 when the pressing operation of the operating member 60 is completed.

[0095] That is, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 in this embodiment function similarly to a spring member or the like that biases the locking projection to engage with the locking portion in a conventional locking device for an opening / closing body.

[0096] Next, the guide member 70 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5. FIG.

[0097] The guide member 70 in this embodiment is arranged on both sides of the leg 50 perpendicular to the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55 and the extension direction of the leg 50, and has a pair of side wall portions 71, 71 forming a guide portion, and a front wall portion 73 arranged in the direction in which the locking protrusion 55 protrudes relative to the locking portion 5, connecting the pair of side wall portions 71, 71, and having an insertion hole 75 formed therein, and is frame-shaped with one side (opposite the bottom wall portion 74 described below) opening in the extension direction of the leg 50 and the opposite side of the front wall portion 73 opening.

[0098] Furthermore, height-wise ends of the pair of side walls 71, 71 and the front wall 73 (ends facing the distal ends of the legs 50 in the extension direction) are connected to each other by a bottom wall 74 (see FIG. 5). Note that the "height direction" of the side walls 71, the front wall 73, etc. means the direction along the extension direction of the legs 50.

[0099] In addition, an insertion hole 75 for inserting and ejecting the locking protrusion 55 is formed between one end side of the pair of side wall portions 71, 71 in the height direction, one end side of the front wall portion 73 in the height direction, and the bottom wall portion 74.

[0100] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, on the inner surfaces (opposing surfaces) of the pair of side wall portions 71, 71 near one end in the height direction, concave groove-shaped guide grooves 77, 77 extending along the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55 are formed over the entire area from one end of the extension direction of the side wall portion 71 to the other end.

[0101] The pair of guide ribs 56 of the locking projection 55 are slidably inserted into the pair of guide grooves 77, and the sliding movement of the locking projection 55 along the sliding direction F2 is guided.

[0102] Furthermore, a first elastic engagement portion 79 that is elastically deformable (flexibly deformable) is formed via a pair of slits 79a, 79a in the front wall portion 73. This first elastic engagement portion 79 engages with the rear peripheral edge portion of the insertion hole 30 on the side opposite to the bottom wall 25d, thereby preventing the guide member 70 from slipping out of the internal space R of the cylindrical protrusion 25 (see FIG. 10).

[0103] Furthermore, an elastically deformable second elastic engagement portion 81 is formed via a pair of notches 81 a, 81 a on the side of the bottom wall portion 74 opposite the front wall portion 73. This second elastic engagement portion 81 engages with the engagement groove 26 a of the engagement rib 26 formed on the base portion 21, thereby preventing the guide member 70 from slipping out of the internal space R of the cylindrical protrusion 25 (see FIG. 10 ).

[0104] Furthermore, an elastically deformable fall-off prevention portion 83 is formed via a pair of slits 83 a, 83 a on the side of each side wall portion 71 opposite the bottom wall portion 74. When the guide member 70 is pushed in a direction approaching the rear surface side of the leg portion 50, for example, each fall-off prevention portion 83 engages with both sides in the width direction on the rear surface side of the leg portion 50, thereby preventing the guide member 70 from falling off the leg portion 50.

[0105] (Variant) The shape, structure, layout, etc. of the locking portion that constitutes the locking device of the opening / closing body in the present invention, the opening / closing body, the locking member, the operating member, the guide member, and each part that constitutes each member (for example, the annular portion of the locking member, each frame, leg portion, locking protrusion, etc., and further the side wall portion, front wall portion, elastic engagement portion, etc. of the guide member) are not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0106] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as described above, the present invention is applied to a structure in which an opening / closing body such as a lid is attached to the opening of a console box in an openable / closable manner, but it may also be applied to a structure in which a box-shaped glove box is attached to the opening of an instrument panel in an openable / closable manner (in this case, the instrument panel constitutes the "fixed body" and the glove box constitutes the "opening / closing body"), or to a structure in which a lid is attached to the opening of an instrument panel in an openable / closable manner (in this case, the instrument panel constitutes the "fixed body" and the lid constitutes the "opening / closing body"), and can be widely used in opening / closing structures for various opening / closing bodies that open and close the opening of a fixed body.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the locking portion 5 is provided on the fixed body 1 side, the locking member 40, operating member 60, and guide member 70 are arranged on the opening / closing body 20 side, and the cylindrical protrusion 25 protrudes from the opening / closing body 20, but for example, the locking portion may be provided on the opening / closing body side, and the locking member, operating member, and guide member may be arranged on the fixed body side, and the cylindrical protrusion may protrude from the fixed body.

[0108] In the case of a structure in which the locking portion 5 is provided on the fixed body 1 side and the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 are biased in a direction away from each other by the biasing force of the pair of annular portions 41, 41, as in this embodiment, when the operating member 60 is operated, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide in a direction toward each other against the biasing force of the pair of annular portions 41, 41 (see Figures 9 and 11).

[0109] However, the pair of locking protrusions may be configured to be biased toward each other by the biasing force of the pair of annular portions, and when the operating member is operated, the pair of locking protrusions may slide away from each other against the biasing force of the pair of annular portions (this will be described in detail in the second embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 14).

[0110] It is also conceivable that the locking portion is provided on the opening / closing body side (for example, a pair of concave locking portions is provided on both sides of the opening / closing body in the width direction), and the pair of locking protrusions are biased toward each other by the biasing force of the pair of annular portions. In such a structure, when the operating member is operated, the pair of locking protrusions slide in directions away from each other against the biasing force of the pair of annular portions.

[0111] Furthermore, although the locking portion 5 in this embodiment is hole-shaped, the locking portion may not be hole-shaped, but may be recessed, protruding, frame-shaped, etc. Furthermore, the locking portion may be provided in the opening / closing body rather than in an opening in the fixed body.

[0112] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the structure is such that the frames 45, 46, 47 of the pair of annular portions 41, 41 of the locking member 40 are elastically deformed by sliding the operating member 60 in the pressing direction F1, but for example, the operating member may be structured to be rotatable, so that the frames of the annular portions of the locking member are elastically deformed, as long as it is possible to slide the locking protrusion in the direction of engaging and disengaging with the locking portion.

[0113] In this embodiment, each annular portion 41 is a substantially pentagonal ring in which the components of each frame 45, 46, 46 are substantially linear. However, the annular portion may be, for example, a ring formed only of curved frames such as arc-shaped or curved frames, or a ring formed by combining such curved frames with linear frames. Furthermore, the annular portion may be a substantially triangular, substantially rectangular, substantially hexagonal, or polygonal ring with more than one corner, in addition to a substantially pentagonal ring.

[0114] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the thickness of the pair of first frames 45, 45 is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the pair of second frames 46, 46 and the pair of third frames 47, 47, but the thickness of the first frame may be formed to be thinner than the thickness of the second frame or the third frame, or may be formed to be the same thickness as the thickness of the second frame or the third frame.

[0115] In this embodiment, the frames 45, 46, and 47 are each formed in a plate shape, but the frames 45, 46, and 47 do not have to be formed in a plate shape. However, it is preferable that at least one of the frames 45, 46, and 47 has a shape that extends like a plate.

[0116] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the slits 51a, 51b, 51c are formed in the frames 45, 46, 47, respectively, but the slits may not be formed in all or part of the frames.

[0117] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connecting portion 42 consists of a pressed portion 43 and a base end connecting portion 44, but the connecting portion may be configured to connect a pair of frames at only one point, as long as it is capable of connecting a pair of first frames arranged opposite each other.

[0118] Furthermore, in this embodiment, before the operating member 60 is pressed against the pressed portion 43, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are arranged on the opening / closing body 20 in a bent state so as to be spaced apart from each other, but the pair of annular portions may also be configured to be arranged on the fixed body in a bent state so as to be close to each other before the operating member is operated (this aspect will be described in the second embodiment below).

[0119] (Operation and Effect) Next, the operation and effect of the locking device 10 configured as described above will be described.

[0120] 10 shows a state in which the opening 3 of the fixed body 1 is closed by the opening / closing body 20. From this state, when the operating member 60 is operated to slide the pressing portion 63 in the pressing direction F1 in FIG. 8, the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43 of the locking member 40.

[0121] Then, as explained in paragraphs 0078 to 0083, the movement of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 in the pressing direction F1 is restricted by the pair of restricting portions 7, 7, and the pair of first frames 45, 45 elastically deform via the connecting portion 42, and following this, the pair of second frames 46, 46 and the pair of third frames 47, 47 elastically deform (see Figure 9).

[0122] As a result, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide away from the pair of locking sections 5, 5, and as shown in Figure 11, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 disengage from the pair of locking sections 5, 5, thereby releasing the lock on the closed state of the opening / closing body 20 relative to the opening 3 and allowing the opening / closing body 20 to be opened from the opening 3 of the fixed body 1.

[0123] Furthermore, when the operation of the operating member 60 is completed, the elastically deformed frames 45, 46, 47 each elastically return to their original position as indicated by arrow G5 in Fig. 9. Then, with the opening / closing body 20 open from the opening 3 of the fixed body 1, as described in paragraphs 0086 and 0087, the operating member 60 and the pair of locking protrusions 55 return to the state they were in before the pressing portion 63 pressed against the pressed portion 43, respectively.

[0124] Thereafter, when the opening / closing body 20 is closed against the opening 3 of the fixed body 1, the inclined portions 57, 57 of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 are pressed against the widthwise inner peripheral edge of the opening 3, causing the pair of annular portions 41, 41 to slightly elastically deform while the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide slightly in the direction approaching each other.

[0125] When the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 pass the inner peripheral edge of the opening 3 in the width direction, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 elastically return to their original position, and the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide toward the pair of locking portions 5, 5, and the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 engage with the pair of locking portions 5, 5. As a result, the opening / closing body 20 can be locked in a closed state relative to the opening 3.

[0126] In this embodiment, the locking member 40 is integrally formed with a pair of annular portions 41, 41 each including a plurality of elastically deformable frames 45, 46, 47, a connecting portion 42, and a locking protrusion 55. When the operating member 60 is operated, the frames 45, 46, 47 of each annular portion 41 elastically deform, returning the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 and the operating member 60 to the state they were in before the operating member 60 was operated, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the structure.

[0127] That is, while the locking device described in Patent Document 1 requires a spring member separate from the drive member to return the lock bar member to the state before the operating member was operated, this locking device 10 does not require such a spring member. As a result, the number of parts in the entire locking device can be reduced, and the structure of the locking device 10 can be simplified.

[0128] In this embodiment, before the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are arranged in the opening / closing body 20 in a bent state so as to be spaced apart from each other.

[0129] According to the above aspect, before the pressing portion 63 presses against the pressed portion 43, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 are arranged on the opening / closing body 20 in a state in which they are bent so as to move away from each other. Therefore, when the opening / closing body 20 is opened from the opening 3 of the fixed body 1, after the operation of the operating member 60 is completed, or when the opening 3 of the fixed body 1 is closed by the opening / closing body 20, after the operation of the operating member 60 is completed, the pair of annular portions 41, 41 will bend so as to move away from each other.

[0130] As a result, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 can be reliably returned to the state before the pair of locking portions 5, 5 was pressed by the pressing portion 63 (effect of claim 2). Note that the same effect can be obtained even when the pair of annular portions are arranged on the fixed body or the opening / closing body in a bent state so as to be close to each other before the pressing portion presses the pressed portion.

[0131] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the operating member 60 is operated so that the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43, a guide mechanism is provided (the guide protrusion 44 a of the locking member 40 and the pair of guide ribs 36, 36 of the base portion 21) that guides the connecting portion 42 to prevent it from shifting in a direction intersecting the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63.

[0132] According to the above aspect, when the operating member 60 is operated and the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43, the guide mechanism having the above configuration guides the connecting portion 42 so that it does not shift in a direction intersecting the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63. This makes it possible to make the amount of retraction of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 relative to the pair of locking portions 5, 5 the same, and allows the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 to be reliably released from the pair of locking portions 5, 5.

[0133] In addition, in this embodiment, the connecting portion 42 connecting the pair of annular portions 41, 41 is connected at two points at the end portions of the pair of first frames 45, 45 on the pressing direction F1 side of the pressing portion 63, and the pressed portion 43 is arranged on the side of the tip ends 45b, 45b in the extension direction of the pair of first frames 45, 45.

[0134] According to the above aspect, since the connecting portion 42 has the above-mentioned configuration, when the operating member 60 is operated and the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43, the pair of first frames 45, 45 will elastically deform mainly from the connecting portion with the pressed portion 43 as the starting point (here, the base end in the extension direction of the second extension portion 49 that constitutes the first frame 45), which will be different from the deformation starting point during elastic deformation of the pair of third frames 47, 47 (here, the tip 47b in the extension direction of the third frame 47).

[0135] As a result, the starting points of deformation during elastic deformation of the pair of first frames 45, 45 and the pair of third frames 47, 47 can be made separate, so that the desired elastic force can be obtained for the pair of first frames 45, 45 and the pair of third frames 47, 47, and the elastic restoring force can be increased.

[0136] The elastic force (ease of elastic deformation, or elastic deformability) and elastic restoring force of each of the frames 45, 46, and 47 can be adjusted by appropriately changing the thickness of each of the frames 45, 46, and 47. However, there is a limit to how much the elastic force and elastic restoring force of each of the frames 45, 46, and 47 can be adjusted by changing the thickness.

[0137] In contrast, in the locking device 10 of this embodiment, at least one of the pair of first frames 45, 45, the pair of second frames 46, 46, and the pair of third frames 47, 47 has a plate-like extending shape, and a slit extending in the extending direction of the plate-shaped frame is formed in the middle part of the plate-shaped frame in the width direction that intersects with the extending direction.

[0138] In this embodiment, the frames 45, 46, 47 are all plate-shaped, and slits 51a, 51b, 51c are formed in the frames 45, 46, 47, respectively.

[0139] According to the above aspect, it is possible to easily adjust the elastic force and elastic restoring force of the plate-shaped frames in which the slits are provided (here, the frames 45, 46, and 47).

[0140] As a result, it becomes easier to obtain the desired elastic restoring force for the plate-shaped frame (here, each of frames 45, 46, 47), so that the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 can be slid so as to stably return to the state before the pressing portion 63 pressed against the pressed portion 43.

[0141] Furthermore, the plate-shaped frames (here, each of the frames 45, 46, and 47) can be made wider, and twisting deformation of the plate-shaped frames can be suppressed when the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43 by operating the operating member 60. This makes it easier to smoothly and elastically return the plate-shaped frames to the state before the pressing portion 63 pressed the pressed portion 43.

[0142] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the thickness of the pair of first frames 45, 45 is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the pair of second frames 46, 46 and the pair of third frames 47, 47 (see FIG. 5).

[0143] According to the above aspect, since the pair of first frames 45, 45 have the above configuration, the pair of first frames 45, 45 improve the return performance of the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55, returning them to the state before the pressing portion 63 pressed against the pressed portion 43, while the second frame 46 and third frame 47, which are thinner than the first frame 45, make it easier to elastically deform the second frame 46 and third frame 47, thereby reducing the pushing operating force of the operating member 60.

[0144] In addition, in this embodiment, before the pressing portion 63 presses against the pressed portion 43, the inclination angle θ of the diagonally extending portion of the third frame 47 with respect to the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55 is set to 20 to 55 degrees.

[0145] According to the above aspect, before the pressing portion 63 presses against the pressed portion 43, the inclination angle θ of the third frame 47 with respect to the sliding direction F2 of the locking protrusion 55 is set to 20 to 55°, so that the sliding movement amount of the locking protrusion 55 is ensured while preventing the operating force (operating load) of the operating member 60 from becoming excessive.

[0146] 12 to 14 show a second embodiment of the locking device for an opening / closing body according to the present invention. Note that parts that are essentially the same as those in the previous embodiment are given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0147] 12, in the case of the locking device for an opening / closing body of this second embodiment, the fixed body 1 has a raised portion 2 disposed between a pair of legs 50, 50 of the locking member 40A. A pair of locking portions 5, 5 are provided on both sides of the raised portion 2 in the width direction.

[0148] The locking member 40A is structured so that the pair of locking protrusions 55 are biased toward each other by the biasing force of the pair of annular portions 41. That is, the pair of locking protrusions 55 are pushed out (biased) in the direction of engaging with the pair of locking portions 5.

[0149] 13, the pressed portion 43 constituting the connecting portion 42 of the locking member 40A is disposed on the base end 45a side in the extension direction of the pair of first frames 45, 45. A pressing portion 63 of the operating member 60 is disposed adjacent to this pressed portion 43. In addition to the pressed portion 43, the connecting portion 42 has a tip-side connecting portion 44b that connects the tips 45b, 45b of the pair of first frames 45, 45 in the extension direction.

[0150] 13, in this embodiment, the pair of restricting portions 7, 7 are configured to receive the side portions of the pair of legs 50, 50 of the locking member 40A. Specifically, each restricting portion 7 is arranged so as to be able to receive the side portion of the corresponding leg portion 50 that is located on the pressing direction F1 side of the pressing portion 63 (facing the F1 side).

[0151] 13, when the operating member 60 is operated to slide the pressing portion 63 in the pressing direction F1 in Fig. 13, the pressing portion 63 presses the pressed portion 43 of the locking member 40. Then, while the movement of the pair of legs 50 in the pressing direction F1 is restricted by the pair of restricting portions 7, the pair of first frames 45 elastically deform via the connecting portion 42, and following this, the pair of second frames 46 and the pair of third frames 47 elastically deform (see Fig. 14).

[0152] As a result, the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 slide away from the pair of locking sections 5, 5, causing the pair of locking protrusions 55, 55 to disengage from the pair of locking sections 5, 5, releasing the lock on the opening / closing body 20 in the closed state relative to the opening 3, and allowing the opening / closing body 20 to be opened from the opening 3 of the fixed body 1.

[0153] (Third embodiment of the locking device for an opening / closing body) Figures 15 and 16 show a third embodiment of the locking device for an opening / closing body according to the present invention. Note that parts that are essentially the same as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0154] In the locking device for an opening / closing body of the third embodiment, the shape of a locking member 40B is different from the shape of the locking member 40 of the first embodiment.

[0155] In other words, the second extension portions 49, 49 that constitute a pair of first frames 45, 45 are arranged so that the distance between the tips of the extension portions 49, 49 is larger (wider) than the distance between the tips of the second extension portions 49, 49 in the extension direction in the first embodiment.

[0156] The pair of second frames 46 extend obliquely from the distal ends 45b of the pair of first frames 45 in the extension direction thereof toward the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63 so as to be spaced apart from each other.

[0157] Furthermore, the pair of third frames 47, 47 extend obliquely from the tip ends 46b, 46b of the pair of second frames 46, 46 in the extension direction toward the base ends 45a, 45a of the first frames 45, 45 in the extension direction so as to approach each other.

[0158] Each third frame 47 extends in an almost straight line from the tip 47b in the extension direction to the base end 47a (i.e., it does not have a bent portion bent along the pressing direction F1 of the pressing portion 63, like the base end 47a of the third frame 47 in the first embodiment), and the base end 47a is connected to the tip 46b in the extension direction of the corresponding second frame 46.

[0159] As a result, each annular portion 41 of the third embodiment has an approximately rectangular angular annular shape, consisting of a first frame 45 having two sides consisting of a first extension portion 48 and a second extension portion 49, a second frame 46 having one side extending in a straight line, and a third frame 47 having one side extending in a straight line.

[0160] Furthermore, a locking protrusion-forming portion 54 is provided adjacent to the connecting portion between the tip 46b of a given second frame 46 and the base end 47a of the corresponding third frame 47. Locking protrusions 55 protrude from the locking protrusion-forming portion 54. In other words, the locking member 40B of this embodiment does not have the generally crank-shaped legs 50 of the locking members 40, 40A of the first and second embodiments.

[0161] The locking device having the above configuration can also achieve the same effects as the locking devices of Embodiments 1 and 2. Furthermore, because the locking member 40B in this third embodiment does not have legs 50, the overall height of the locking member 40B can be reduced to make it compact in the height direction, and the space required for installing the locking member 40B in the opening / closing body and the fixed body can be reduced, allowing for a thinner opening / closing body and a more space-saving fixed body.

[0162] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modified embodiments are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and such embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0163] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Fixed body 3 Opening 5 Locking portion 7 Restricting portion 10 Locking device for opening / closing body (locking device) 20 Opening / closing body 40, 40A, 40B Locking member 41 Annular portion 42 Connecting portion 43 Pressed portion 45 First frame 46 Second frame 47 Third frame 51 Slit 55 Locking protrusion 60 Operating member 63 Pressing portion 70 Guide member

Claims

1. A locking device for an opening / closing body that is attached to an opening of a fixed body in an openable and closable manner, comprising: a locking section provided on one of the fixed body or the opening / closing body; a locking member arranged on the other of the fixed body or the opening / closing body; and an operating member arranged on the other of the fixed body or the opening / closing body and having an operating section and a pressing section connected to the operating section, wherein the locking member has a pair of annular sections, a connecting section that connects the pair of annular sections to each other and has a pressed section that is pressed by the pressing section, and a pair of locking protrusions that protrude from the pair of annular sections and slide relative to the locking section to engage and disengage with the locking section, wherein the fixed body or the opening / closing body has a regulating section that regulates the movement of the locking protrusions in the same direction as the pressing direction of the pressing section against the pressed section when the operating member is operated and the pressing section presses the pressed section, and the connecting section is arranged offset in the pressing direction of the pressing section relative to the regulating section, the pair of annular portions are arranged on either side of the pressing portion, extend in a direction opposite to the pressing direction of the pressing portion, and comprise a pair of elastically deformable first frames; a pair of elastically deformable second frames extend in directions away from each other from tip sides in the extension direction of the pair of first frames, and comprise a pair of elastically deformable second frames; and the pair of elastically deformable third frames have portions extending obliquely from the tip sides in the extension direction of the pair of second frames toward a base end side in the extension direction of the first frames so as to approach each other, and the tip sides in the extension direction are connected to the base end side in the extension direction of the first frames, and are elastically deformable.

2. A locking device for an opening / closing body as described in claim 1, wherein, before the pressing portion is pressed against the pressed portion, the pair of annular portions are arranged on the fixed body or the opening / closing body in a bent state so as to be separated or approached from each other.

3. A locking device for an opening / closing body as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a guide mechanism that guides the connecting portion so as not to shift in a direction intersecting the pressing direction of the pressing portion when the operating member is operated so that the pressing portion presses the pressed portion.

4. A locking device for an opening / closing body as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion is connected at two points at the ends of the pair of first frames on the pressing direction side of the pressing portion, and the pressed portion is disposed at the tip side of the pair of first frames in the extension direction.

5. A locking device for an opening / closing body as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the pair of first frames, the pair of second frames and the pair of third frames has a shape extending like a plate, and a slit extending in the extension direction of the plate-shaped frame is formed in the middle part of the plate-shaped frame in the width direction intersecting the extension direction.

6. A locking device for an opening / closing body according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of the pair of first frames is greater than the thickness of the pair of second frames and the thickness of the pair of third frames.

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