Housing body for on-vehicle equipment

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible to stably maintain a state in which a cover covers on-vehicle equipment, without depending on fitting property between the cover and a bracket.　A cover 3 is composed of: a first cover body 4 that is configured to be attachable to a bracket 2 by means of a first forward movement operation along a first direction x, and to be detachable by means of a first backward movement operation; and a second cover body 5 that is configured to be attachable to the first cover body 4 by means of a second forward movement operation along a second direction y crossing the first direction x, and to be detachable by means of a second backward movement operation. The first cover body 4 is provided with a receiving part 31 that receives and holds a to-be-received part 21, which is formed on the bracket 2, at the end position of the first forward movement operation. In a state where the second cover body 5 is attached to the first cover body 4, coming-off of the to-be-received part 21 from the receiving part 31 is prevented.

Description

Car equipment storage unit

[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement in a storage unit for vehicle-mounted equipment used to hold vehicle-mounted equipment such as a vehicle-mounted camera on the vehicle body side.

[0002] An example of a cover that has a cover body with an engaging portion for engaging with a receiving portion provided on a bracket that fixes the camera body to a vehicle, and a slide portion that is combined so as to be able to engage with this cover body, is shown in Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, the cover body is attached to the bracket by sliding the locking portion into the locked portion from a diagonally forward lower side to a diagonally rearward upper side (see paragraph 0045 of Patent Document 1). Furthermore, in Patent Document 1, the slide portion is then moved rearward to permanently fasten the slide portion to the cover body and engage with the bracket, thereby holding the cover in a position that covers the vehicle-mounted camera (see paragraphs 0045 and 0046 of Patent Document 1).

[0004] JP 2014-34235 A

[0005] In the case of Patent Document 1, both the cover body and the sliding portion are fitted to the bracket by moving rearward. In order to stably hold the cover in a position covering the vehicle-mounted camera, the fit of the fit must be enhanced. However, simply increasing the fit makes it easy for the force required to attach and remove the cover to be excessive, which reduces the ease of these operations. The main problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a new structure for this type of vehicle-mounted device storage unit that allows the cover constituting the storage unit to stably maintain the state in which the vehicle-mounted device is covered by the cover, without relying on the fit between the cover and the bracket that holds the vehicle-mounted device.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, from a first viewpoint, this invention provides an in-vehicle equipment storage body comprising: a bracket attached to the vehicle body side to hold the in-vehicle equipment; and a cover combined with the bracket to form a storage space for the in-vehicle equipment between the bracket and the cover, wherein the cover comprises: a first cover body configured to be attachable to the bracket by a first forward movement operation along a first direction and to be detachable from the bracket by a first return movement operation opposite to the first forward movement operation; and a second cover body configured to be attachable to the first cover body by a second forward movement operation along a second direction intersecting the first direction and to be detachable from the first cover body by a second return movement operation opposite to the second forward movement operation, wherein the first cover body is provided with a receiving portion that receives a receiving portion formed on the bracket by the first forward movement operation, and wherein the received portion is prevented from slipping out of the receiving portion when the second cover body is attached to the first cover body.

[0007] The first cover body is attached to the bracket by a first forward movement operation along a first direction and can be removed by a first return movement operation. The second cover body is attached to the first cover body by a second forward movement operation along a second direction intersecting the first direction and can be removed by a second return movement operation. Therefore, even if a force along the first direction is simply applied, the second cover body is unlikely to come off the first cover body. Therefore, the combined state of the first cover body and the bracket is stably maintained without increasing the fit at the points where the first cover body and the bracket body fit together so that they do not easily separate during attachment. To remove the cover from the bracket, the second cover body is removed from the first cover body by a second return movement operation, and then the first cover body is returned to the first position. Since there is no need to improve the fit at the point where the first cover body and the bracket body fit together during installation, there is no need to apply excessive force to the first return operation, and the cover can be removed from the bracket smoothly by removing the second cover body from the first cover body.

[0008] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, from a second viewpoint, the present invention provides an in-vehicle equipment storage body comprising: a bracket attached to the vehicle body side to hold the in-vehicle equipment; and a cover combined with the bracket to form a storage space for the in-vehicle equipment between the bracket and the cover, wherein the cover is composed of: a first cover body configured to be attachable to the bracket by a first forward movement operation along a first direction and to be detachable from the bracket by a first return movement operation opposite to the first forward movement operation; and a second cover body configured to be attachable to the first cover body by a second forward movement operation along a second direction intersecting the first direction and to be detachable from the first cover body by a second return movement operation opposite to the second forward movement operation, wherein the first cover body is provided with a receiving portion that receives a receiving portion formed on the bracket by the first forward movement operation, and the second cover body is provided with a regulating portion that clamps the received portion in the first direction between the first cover body and the receiving portion at an end position of the second forward movement operation.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention provided from the second aspect, the receiving portion has a head and a neck, and is configured so that the neck is received in the receiving portion.

[0010] Furthermore, one aspect of the invention provided from the second perspective is to provide one or more engaging portions that engage with the engaging portion of the bracket at a position different from the position where the receiving portion is formed on the first cover body at the end position of the first forward operation.

[0011] Furthermore, one aspect of the invention provided from the second viewpoint is to provide one or more fitted portions at a position on the first cover body different from the position where the receiving portion is formed, which are received by the fitting portion of the bracket by elastic deformation of the fitting portion side during the first forward movement operation. In this case, one aspect of the invention provided from the second viewpoint is to further provide the fitting portion with a pressing piece that contacts one side of the fitted portion during the first forward movement operation and an elastic piece that contacts the other side of the fitted portion opposite to the one side, so that the fitted portion is received during the first forward movement operation by elastic deformation of the elastic piece.

[0012] Furthermore, one aspect of the invention provided from the second perspective is to form an engaging portion on the mating portion that engages with the mating portion side so as to generate a predetermined resistance to the first return operation by the elastic return of the mating portion at the end position of the first forward operation.

[0013] Furthermore, one aspect of the invention provided from the second perspective is to form a suppression portion on the bracket, located to the side of the engaging portion, that suppresses elastic deformation of the engaging portion in a direction that causes the engaged portion to come out of the engaging portion at the end position of the first forward operation.

[0014] Furthermore, one aspect of the invention provided from a second perspective is to provide the receiving portion on each side of a virtual center line along the first direction that divides the cover body in two in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0015] Furthermore, one aspect of the invention provided from the second viewpoint is to form in the second cover body a passage for the stay in a rearview mirror that is supported by a stay that is fixed at one end to the bracket and hangs down, and is positioned under the cover.

[0016] According to this invention, by configuring the cover from a first cover body and a second cover body, the state in which the cover covers the in-vehicle device can be stably maintained without depending on the fit between the first cover body and the bracket that holds the in-vehicle device. Therefore, when the second cover body is detached from the first cover body, excessive force is not required to attach and detach the first cover body to and from the bracket, making these operations possible to be performed smoothly.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an in-vehicle device storage unit according to one embodiment of the present invention in use. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the storage unit. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the storage unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bracket constituting the storage unit, with its underside facing up. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bracket constituting the storage unit, with its underside facing up. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover constituting the storage unit. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cover constituting the storage unit. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main portion of a first cover body constituting the cover. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second cover body constituting the cover. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second cover body constituting the cover. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. FIG. 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 2. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first cover body is in the middle of a first forward movement operation or a first return movement operation. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the second cover body is in the middle of a second forward movement operation or a second return movement operation when the first cover body is attached to the bracket. Fig. 16 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first cover body is attached to the bracket and the second cover body is attached. Figs. 17A and 17B are a cross-sectional view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part showing the state of the received portion and the receiving portion in the state of Fig. 14. Figs. 18A and 18B are a cross-sectional view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part showing the state of the received portion, the receiving portion, and the restricting portion in the state of Fig. 15. Figs. 19A and 19B are a cross-sectional view and a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a main part showing the state of the received portion, the receiving portion, and the restricting portion in the state of Fig. 16. Fig. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state of the fitted portion and the fitting portion in the state of Fig. 14. Fig. 21 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the fitted portion and the fitting portion in the state of Fig. 15, showing the state before the second cover body is attached. Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a partially modified example of the bracket configuration.

[0018] 1 to 22, a typical embodiment of the present invention will be described. A housing 1 for in-vehicle equipment according to this embodiment is typically used to hold in-vehicle equipment S, such as an in-vehicle camera that captures and senses images outside the vehicle through the vehicle's window glass W, on the vehicle body side. The housing 1 comprises a bracket 2 that is attached to the vehicle body side to hold the in-vehicle equipment S, and a cover 3 that is combined with the bracket 2 to form a storage space 1a for the in-vehicle equipment S between the bracket 2 and the cover 3.

[0019] Typically, the bracket 2 is fixed to the inner surface of the front or rear window. In the illustrated example, the bracket 2 is plate-shaped, and one surface serving as a mounting surface, in the illustrated example, the upper surface 2a, is fixed by adhesive to the inner surface of the window glass W (see FIG. 1). In the illustrated example, the on-vehicle device S is attached to the lower surface 2b of the bracket 2, and is attached to the inner surface of the window glass W, i.e., to the vehicle body, via the bracket 2.

[0020] In the illustrated example, as shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 2 has two first sides 2c along a first direction x and two second sides 2d that intersect with the first direction x, or are perpendicular to the first direction x in the illustrated example, and has a rectangular plate shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the upper surface 2a and the lower surface 2b. In the illustrated example, the first direction x is substantially the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and a second direction y, described below, is substantially the up-down direction of the vehicle. Depending on the part of the vehicle body to which the bracket 2 is attached, the first direction x may be substantially the left-to-right direction of the vehicle or substantially the up-down direction of the vehicle.

[0021] In the illustrated example, the bracket 2 has a rectangular through-hole 2e formed at a position slightly closer to one of two second sides 2d than the center of the bracket 2, where a virtual center line L1 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that is a line segment along the first direction x and bisects the bracket 2 and a cover 3 (described later) in an orientation perpendicular to the first direction x intersects with a straight line L2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ) that is a line segment perpendicular to the center line L1 and bisects the bracket 2 and a cover 3 (described later) in the first direction x. An isosceles triangular recess 2f is formed in the upper surface 2a of the bracket 2, with one of the two second sides 2d as its base and the center side as its apex opposite the base. The through-hole 2e is formed at the apex of the recess 2f thus formed (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In the following description, for convenience, the location of the bracket 2 and the cover 3 where one of the two second sides 2d constituting the bottom of the recess 2f is located will be referred to as the front FR, and the location of the bracket 2 and the cover 3 where the other of the two second sides 2d is located will be referred to as the rear RE. In the illustrated example, the window glass is positioned obliquely so that the levels of both the inner and outer surfaces gradually increase from the front FR to the rear RE, and the level of the rear RE portion of the bracket 2 and the cover 3 is higher than the front FR portion of the bracket 2 and the cover 3 (see FIG. 1).

[0022] On the other side of the bracket 2 opposite the mounting surface facing the vehicle body, i.e., on the bottom surface 2b in the illustrated example, an on-vehicle device S, such as a light receiving unit of an on-vehicle camera, is mounted so that a portion of the on-vehicle device S faces the through-hole 2e. In the illustrated example, the on-vehicle device S can be detachably mounted to the bottom surface 2b of the bracket 2 using an equipment fitting portion 2g that protrudes downward from the bottom surface 2b of the bracket 2 and is configured to fit into a fitting portion Sa formed on the on-vehicle device S. Reference numeral 2h in the figure denotes a leaf spring of the equipment fitting portion 2g that fits into the fitting portion Sa formed on the rear side of the on-vehicle device S. In the illustrated example, the on-vehicle device S is supported in a suspended state on the bracket 2 in the region between the second side 2d of the front FR and the straight line L2.

[0023] The underside 2b of the bracket 2 is formed with one hooking portion 20, two receiving portions 21, and four mating portions 22, as described below, protruding downward. The hooking portion 20 is formed in a position midway along the length of the second side 2d of the front FR. The receiving portions 21 are formed in an area between the straight line L2 and the second side 2d of the rear RE, with one receiving portion 21 on each side of the center line L1. The mating portions 22 are formed near the two first sides 2c, in an area between the straight line L2 and the second side 2d of the front FR, and in an area between the straight line L2 and the second side 2d of the rear RE. The four mating portions 22 have substantially the same configuration. The number and positions of the mating portions 22 can be determined as needed.

[0024] Meanwhile, the cover 3 is composed of a first cover body 4 and a second cover body 5. The cover 3 has a front edge 3a, a rear edge 3b, and left and right side edges 3c. The area surrounded by these elements forms a bottom 3d facing the underside 2b of the bracket 2 with a gap between it and the bottom 3d. When the cover 3 is cross-sectionally taken along the center line L1 and when cross-sectionally taken along the line L2, the cover 3 has a flat, bowl-like shape with an open top. When the cover 3 is attached to the bracket 2 as described below, the front edge 3a is aligned with the second edge 2d of the front side FR, the rear edge 3b is aligned with the second edge 2d of the rear side RE, and the left and right side edges 3c are aligned with the corresponding first edges 2c, forming a storage space 1a for the in-vehicle equipment S between the bottom 3d and the underside 2b of the bracket 2.

[0025] The first cover body 4 is configured to be attachable to the bracket 2 by a first forward movement operation along the first direction x, and to be detachable from the bracket 2 by a first return movement operation in the opposite direction to the first forward movement operation. In the illustrated example, the first cover body 4 has hooked portions 30 corresponding to the hooking portions 20 formed on the bracket 2, receiving portions 31 corresponding to the received portions 21, and engaged portions 32 corresponding to the engaging portions 22. The four engaged portions 32 have substantially the same configuration. The number and positions of the engaged portions 32 are set according to the number and positions of the engaging portions 22. Then, from a state in which the caught portion 30 is located slightly forward FR of the catching portion 20 on the bracket 2 attached to the vehicle body side, the receiving portion 31 is located slightly forward FR of each of the two received portions 21, and the engaged portion 32 is located slightly forward FR of each of the four engaging portions 22, the first cover body 4 is slid rearward RE substantially along the underside 2b of the bracket 2, whereby the caught portion 30 is hooked onto the catching portion 20, the received portion 21 is received in the receiving portion 31, and the engaged portion 32 is engaged with the engaging portion 22. In the illustrated example, this sliding movement of the first cover body 4 rearward RE is the first forward operation. In the illustrated example, the distance between the two first edge portions 2c of the bracket 2 is slightly smaller than the distance between the left and right side edge portions 3c of the first cover body 4, so that the sliding movement of the first cover body 4 can be performed using the first edge portions 2c of the bracket 2 as a guide.

[0026] A large portion of the cover 3 is formed by the first cover body 4. In the illustrated example, the front edge 3a and the left and right side edge portions 3c are each located on the first cover body 4. In addition, a large portion of the bottom portion 3d is also formed by the first cover body 4.

[0027] The second cover body 5 can be attached to the first cover body 4 by a second forward operation along a second direction y that intersects with the first direction x, and can be removed from the first cover body 4 by a second return operation that is opposite to the second forward operation.

[0028] In the illustrated example, a cutout portion 4a (blank) is formed in the first cover body 4 in an area surrounded by: an imaginary straight line L3 between the center line L1 and one of the left and right side edge portions 3c of the cover 3 and parallel to the center line L1; an imaginary straight line L4 between the center line L1 and the other of the left and right side edge portions 3c and parallel to the center line L1; an imaginary straight line L5 between the line L2 and the rear edge portion 3b and parallel to the line L2; and the rear edge portion 3b.

[0029] By attaching the second cover body 5 to the first cover body 4 as described above, the cutout portion 4a of the first cover body 4 is substantially blocked by the plate-shaped second cover body 5, except for the portion that becomes the hole 3e through which the stay Ma described below passes.

[0030] That is, the notch 4a has an innermost portion 4b located toward the center of the first cover body 4, an open portion 4c opposite the innermost portion 4b, and left and right edges 4d extending between the innermost portion 4b and the open portion 4c. The innermost portion 4b is bordered by a rising wall 4e that protrudes upward toward the open portion 4c. The rising wall 4e has a curved central portion 4g between left and right side portions 4f that follow the straight line L5. The central portion 4g is curved so that the front (FR) side is the outward curve in plan view. The upward protrusion of the central portion 4g is greater than the upward protrusion of the side portions 4f. The left and right side portions 4f each have an insertion hole 4h that receives the inserted portion 5a of the second cover body 5 from the rear (RE) side.

[0031] The upper ends of the side portions 4f are provided with tongues 4i whose front ends are integral with the upper ends and protrude toward the rear RE. Gaps are formed between the right tongue 4i and the right edge 4d of the notch 4a, and between the left tongue 4i and the left edge 4d of the notch 4a, respectively, and these gaps function as receiving portions 31, which will be described later (see FIG. 8).

[0032] When attached to the first cover body 4, the second cover body 5 has side edges 5b that align with the left and right edges 4d of the cutout 4a, a rear edge 5c that fills the open area 4c of the cutout 4a of the first cover body 4 and becomes part of the rear edge 3b of the cover 3, and a front edge 5d that faces the rear edge 5c. The front edge 5d has a curved central portion 5f between left and right side portions 5e that follow the straight line L5. The central portion 5f is curved so that the rear RE side is the outward curve in plan view. Each of the left and right side portions 5e is formed with an arm-shaped insertion portion 5a that protrudes toward the front FR side. Furthermore, near the left and right side edges 5b, easily deformable portions 5g are formed at positions slightly rearward RE due to the midpoint of the second cover body 5 in the fore-and-aft direction. The elastically deformable portions 5g are shaped like protrusions that protrude upward from the upper surface of the second cover body 5. Claws 5h are formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right elastically deformable portions 5g opposite to the inner surfaces facing the center line L1. The distance between the claws 5h of the left and right elastically deformable portions 5g is slightly larger than the distance between the flanges 4j formed at the left and right edge portions 4d of the cutout portion 4a at positions that are rearward RE of the receiving portion 31.

[0033] In the illustrated example, the inserted portion 5a of the second cover body 5 is first inserted from the rear RE into the insertion hole 4h of the first cover body 4 attached to the bracket 2, thereby aligning the front edge 5d of the second cover body 5 with the innermost portion 4b of the cutout portion 4a (see FIG. 15). Next, the rear portion of the second cover body 5 can be moved upward using the insertion portion as a fulcrum until the side edges 5b of the second cover body 5 are aligned with the left and right edges 4d of the cutout portion 4a (see FIGS. 15 and 16). In the illustrated example, this upward movement is the second forward movement. Specifically, during this second forward movement operation, the claws 5h of the easily elastically deformable portions 5g come into contact with the flange 4j, the easily elastically deformable portions 5g elastically deform in a direction approaching the center line L1, and movement of the second cover body 5 is permitted to cause the claws 5h to enter above the flange 4j. When the second cover body 5 is moved to a position where the claws 5h enter above the flange 4j, a state is created in which the flange 4j is sandwiched from above and below between the upper surface of the second cover body 5 and the claws 5h, and the second cover body 5 is attached to the first cover body 4 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0034] With the second cover body 5 attached to the first cover body 4 in this manner, a central portion 5g of the innermost portion 4b of the cutout portion 4a and a central portion 5f of the front edge portion 5d of the second cover body 5 are aligned, forming a hole 3e that is substantially circular when viewed up (see FIGS. 2, 6, and 7). In the illustrated example, one end of a rearview mirror M, which is supported by a stay Ma that is suspended and one end of which is fixed to the bracket 2 and is positioned below the cover 3, is fixed to an area of ​​the underside 2b of the bracket 2 located above this hole 3e. That is, in this embodiment, a passage portion 5i for the stay Ma is formed in the second cover body 5.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, the first cover body 4 is provided with a receiving portion 31 that receives and holds the receiving portion 21 formed on the bracket 2 at the end position of the first forward operation.

[0036] In the illustrated example, the receiving portion 21 has a head 21a and a neck 21b, and is configured so that the neck 21b is received in the receiving portion 31. In the illustrated example, a rectangular pillar-shaped base 21c is formed on the underside 2b of the bracket 2, and the neck 21b is formed to protrude downward from the underside of the base 21c, with the head 21a being integrated with the lower end of the neck 21b. The left-right dimension of the head 21a is larger than that of the neck 21b. The neck 21b is integrated with the center of the head 21a configured in this way, and the receiving portion 21 is T-shaped (see FIG. 13).

[0037] Meanwhile, the receiving portion 31 is located near the corner where the innermost portion 4b of the notch 4a meets the edge 4d, and is formed as a groove extending along the first direction x between the tongue 4i and the edge 4d of the notch 4a. The rear end 31a of the receiving portion 31 is open, and the front end 31b is closed (see FIG. 8 ). The width of the receiving portion 31 is substantially equal to the lateral dimension of the neck 21b from the front end 31b to its midpoint in the fore-and-aft direction, and gradually increases between the midpoint in the fore-and-aft direction and the rear end 31a as it approaches the rear end 31a. This allows the neck 21b of the receiving portion 21 to be smoothly introduced (received) into the receiving portion 31 when the first cover body 4 slides rearward RE (first forward movement operation). On the other hand, at the end of the sliding movement, the neck 21b of the received portion 21 enters the front end 31b of the receiving portion 31, whereby the receiving portion 31 side is held by the bracket 2 side without rattling in the left-right direction. In the illustrated example, a convex portion 21d is formed on the upper surface of the base 21c so as to create a distance between the head 21a and the tongue 4i and the thickness of the edge 4d of the notch 4a (see FIGS. 4 and 5), and at the end of the sliding movement, the receiving portion 31 side is held by the bracket 2 side without rattling in the up-down direction.

[0038] In this embodiment, the second cover body 5 is attached to the first cover body 4, and the received portion 21 is prevented from slipping out of the receiving portion 31. In this embodiment, the second cover body 5 is provided with a restricting portion 50 that clamps the received portion 21 in the first direction x between the second cover body 5 and the receiving portion 31 at the end position of the second forward movement operation. In the illustrated example, the restricting portion 50 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the second cover body 5, at a position between a side portion 5e of the front edge 5d and the elastically deformable portion 5g. In the illustrated example, the restricting portion 50 has a rear plate portion 50a with a plate surface aligned in the left-right direction and a front plate portion 50b with a plate surface aligned in the front-rear direction, with the rear end of the front plate portion 50b integrated at a position approximately midway in the left-right direction on the front surface of the rear plate portion 50a, and has a T-shaped horizontal cross section (see FIGS. 19A and 19B ).

[0039] In the illustrated example, during the process of attaching the second cover body 5 to the first cover body 4 as described above, the restricting portion 50 is inserted from below toward the rear end 31a of the receiving portion 31. When the first cover body 4 is attached to the bracket 2, the receiving portion 21 is positioned in a position approximately midway between the receiving portion 31 in the front-to-rear direction (see FIGS. 18A and 18B). Then, when the first cover body 4 is attached to the bracket 2, the restricting portion 50 is positioned rearward (RE) from the position of the receiving portion 21 in the receiving portion 31. In the illustrated example, the restricting portion 50 is positioned on the rear end 31a side, which is rearward RE due to the midway position in the front-to-rear direction of the receiving portion 31. The neck portion 21b of the receiving portion 21 is sandwiched between the restricting portion 50 and the front end 31b, which is the innermost portion of the receiving portion 31 (see FIGS. 19A and 19B). As a result, in the illustrated example, the cover 3 is held without play in the first direction x (substantially the front-to-rear direction in the illustrated example).

[0040] The first cover body 4 is attached to the bracket 2 by a first forward movement (substantially a rearward sliding movement in the illustrated example) along the first direction x, and can be removed by a first return movement (substantially a forward sliding movement in the illustrated example). Meanwhile, the second cover body 5 is attached to the first cover body 4 by a second forward movement (substantially an upward movement (pivoting) movement in the illustrated example) along a second direction y intersecting the first direction x, and can be removed by a second return movement (substantially a downward movement (pivoting) movement in the illustrated example). Therefore, even if a force is simply applied along the first direction x, the second cover body 5 is unlikely to come off the first cover body 4. Therefore, the combined state of the first cover body 4 and the bracket 2 is stably maintained without improving the fit at the fitting points (the fitting portion 22 and the fitted portion 32, described below) where the first cover body 4 and the bracket 2 fit together to prevent easy separation during attachment. When removing the cover 3 from the bracket 2, the second cover body 5 is removed from the first cover body 4 by the second return operation, and then the first cover body 4 is returned to its original position by the first return operation. Since there is no need to increase the fit between the first cover body 4 and the bracket 2 at the points where they fit together (the fitting portion 22 and the fitted portion 32 described below) during installation, there is no need to apply excessive force to the first return operation, and removal of the cover 3 from the bracket 2 can be performed smoothly, triggered by removing the second cover body 5 from the first cover body 4. Since there is no need to increase the fit, repeated installation and removal can be performed without placing a large burden on the fitting portion 22 and the fitted portion 32 described below.

[0041] In the illustrated example, the second cover body 5 can be removed from the first cover body 4 (second return operation) by hooking a finger or part of a tool on the rear edge 5c of the second cover body 5 and applying a downward force to the second cover body 5 that is large enough to deform the easily deformable portion 5g in a direction that disengages the easily deformable portion 5g from the flange 4j. When the engagement between the easily deformable portion 5g and the flange 4j is disengaged, the second cover body 5 rotates downward about the inserted portion 5a as a fulcrum, causing the restricting portion 50 to come out of the receiving portion 31 and enabling the first return operation of the first cover body 4 to come out of the receiving portion 31 to the rear RE.

[0042] Furthermore, at a position on the first cover body 4 different from the position where the receiving portion 31 is formed, one or more fitted portions 32 are provided that are fitted into the fitting portion 22 of the bracket 2 at the end position of the first forward movement operation. In the illustrated example, the first cover body 4 is provided with one or more fitted portions 32 that are received by the fitting portion 22 of the bracket 2 by elastic deformation of the fitting portion 22 side (in the illustrated example, elastic deformation of an elastic piece 22d described below) during the first forward movement operation, and are fitted and held at the end position of the first forward movement operation so that return movement in the direction opposite to the direction of the first forward movement operation does not easily occur. In the illustrated example, as described above, four fitting portions 22 are formed on the lower surface 2b of the bracket 2, and correspondingly, four fitted portions 32 are also formed on the first cover body 4. Although not shown in the figures, the fitting may be achieved by elastic deformation of the fitted portion 32, or may be achieved by elastic deformation of both the fitting portion 22 and the fitted portion 32.

[0043] In the illustrated example, all four mating portions 32 are plate-shaped and extend rearward RE with their front ends integrated into a base formed on the top surface of the first cover body 4 so as to protrude upward.

[0044] Meanwhile, each of the four mating portions 22 includes a guide wall 22a, a stop wall 22b, a pressing piece 22c, and an elastic piece 22d. The guide wall 22a is formed so that its wall surface is aligned with the first direction x. The guide wall 22a guides the plate edge of the mated portion 32 on the center line L1 side during the first forward movement operation. The stop wall 22b is formed so as to continue from the rear end of the guide wall 22a in a direction away from the center line L1. The stop wall 22b is configured to abut against the rear end of the mated portion 32 at the end position of the first forward movement operation. The pressing piece 22c is formed so as to protrude forward FR from the lower end of the stop wall 22b. During the first forward movement operation, the pressing piece 22c contacts the lower surface of the mated portion 32 as one side portion along the first direction x. The elastic piece 22d is located between the guide wall 22a and the first edge 2c. Its front end is integral with a seat portion formed on the underside 2b of the bracket 2 so as to protrude downward, and it has a plate-like shape extending toward the rear RE. The rear end of the elastic piece 22d is a free end 22e. The elastic piece 22d is bent between the free end 22e and its front end so that the downward bend faces outward, has a downward-facing apex, and forms a sloped portion 22f between the apex and the front end. During the first forward movement operation, the elastic piece 22d contacts the upper surface of the mated portion 32, which is the other side opposite the one side along the first direction x. In the illustrated example, when looking up at the underside 2b of the bracket 2, the pressing piece 22c is located close to the center line L1, and the elastic piece 22d is located close to the first edge 2c. The elastic piece 22d is offset from the pressing piece 22c so that the pressing piece 22c and the elastic piece 22d do not overlap vertically. During the first forward movement, when the fitted portion 32 is divided into two halves along the first direction x, the inner portion 32a located on the center line L1 side contacts the pressing piece 22c, and the opposite outer portion 32b contacts the elastic piece 22d. The vertical distance between the pressing piece 22c and the top of the elastic piece 22d is slightly smaller than the plate thickness of the fitted portion 32.

[0045] As a result, in this embodiment, the first forward movement operation is permitted by the elastic deformation of the elastic piece 22d, and the fitted portion 32 is sandwiched between the pressing piece 22c and the elastic piece 22d at the end position of the first forward movement operation, so that the first cover body 4 can be fitted to the bracket 2 at each of the four fitting portions 22. In addition, the elastic piece 22d holds the cover 3 without any play in the vertical direction. Specifically, when the first forward movement operation is started, during that process, the rear end of the fitted portion 32 abuts against the inclined portion 22f of the elastic piece 22d, and the elastic piece 22d is elastically deformed in a direction that increases the distance from the pressing piece 22c, thereby permitting the first forward movement operation toward that point. The first forward movement operation ends when the rear end of the mated portion 32 hits the abutment wall 22b, and the mated portion 32 is clamped between the pressing piece 22c and the elastic piece 22d at each of the four mating portions 22.

[0046] In this embodiment, the fitted portion 32 is formed with an engaging portion 32c that engages with the fitted portion 22 side so as to generate a predetermined resistance to the first return operation by the elastic return of the fitting portion 22 at the end position of the first forward operation, in the illustrated example, by the elastic return of the elastic piece 22d. In the illustrated example, of the four fitted portions 32, downwardly protruding claw-shaped engaging portions 32c are formed at the rear ends of two fitted portions 32 located at the rear RE. Meanwhile, upwardly protruding ridge portions 22g are formed between the front and rear ends of the pressing piece 22c as engaged portions. When the engaging portion 32c enters the rear RE of the peak 22g by the first forward movement operation, the elastic piece 22d moves slightly downward by elastic return in a direction that narrows the distance between the elastic piece 22d and the pressing piece 22c, and at the end position of the first forward movement operation, the engaging portion 32c is caught on the peak 22g, and this caught state is maintained by the elastic piece 22d (see FIG. 21). Thus, in this embodiment, when removing the first cover body 4 from the bracket 2 by the first forward movement operation, it is necessary to perform the first forward movement operation while pressing the first cover body 4 in a direction that releases the caught state. 21 , a portion of the first cover body 4 directly below the fitted portion 32 is pushed upward in the second direction y intersecting the first direction x so that an external force is applied by the fitted portion 32 to the elastic piece 22d to deform the elastic piece 22d in a direction increasing the distance between the elastic piece 22d and the pressing piece 22c, thereby releasing the engagement between the ridge portion 22g and the engaging portion 32c and allowing the first return operation. In this embodiment, when the first cover body 4 is pushed in the above manner, at least the pushed portion is elastically deformed in a direction decreasing the distance from the bracket 2. Here, in a housing 1 that houses this type of on-vehicle equipment S, there is a demand for restricting free access to the on-vehicle equipment S that is important for safety.When the fitting portions 22 and the fitted portions 32 are configured as in this embodiment, even if the first cover body 4 constituting at least a part of the cover 3 can be attached to the bracket 2 by fitting through the first forward movement operation, it is possible to make it difficult to remove the first cover body 4 through the first return movement operation, making it difficult for anyone other than an automobile mechanic to access the on-vehicle equipment S. Although not shown in the drawings, if the engaging portions 32c are formed on all four fitted portions 32, it is possible to make it impossible to perform the first return movement operation unless the entire first cover body 4 is pressed upward.

[0047] 22 , the bracket 2 may be formed with a suppressing portion 23 on the side of the fitting portion 22 that suppresses elastic deformation of the fitting portion 22 (in the illustrated example, elastic deformation of the elastic piece 22d) in a direction that causes the fitted portion 32 to come out of the fitting portion 22 at the end position of the first forward movement operation. In the illustrated example, the suppressing portion 23 is formed above the elastic piece 22d, so that the elastic piece 22d cannot bend upward beyond the position where it abuts against the suppressing portion 23. In this manner, the fitting portion 22 and the fitted portion 32 can be adjusted to fit together with a desired fitting force.

[0048] In addition, in this embodiment, at the end position of the first forward operation, the catch portion 30 formed on the front edge 3a of the cover 3 enters the catch portion 20 formed on the second edge 2d on the front side of the bracket 2 from the front FR, thereby holding the front edge 3a of the cover 3.

[0049] The provision of elastic deformation characteristics to the parts of the bracket 2, first cover body 4, and second cover body 5 described above that should have such characteristics can be easily achieved by making all or part of these parts out of plastic molded parts.

[0050] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all embodiments that can achieve the object of the present invention.

[0051] W Window glass S In-vehicle equipment Sa Engaged portion M Rearview mirror Ma Stay x First direction y Second direction L1 Center line L2 Straight line L3 Straight line L4 Straight line L5 Straight line FR Front RE Rear 1 Housing body 1a Storage space 2 Bracket 2a Upper surface 2b Lower surface 2c First side portion 2d Second side portion 2e Through hole 2f Recessed portion 2g Engaged portion for equipment 2h Leaf spring 20 Hook portion 21 Received portion 21a Head portion 21b Neck portion 21c Base 21d Convex portion 22 Engaged portion 22a Guide wall 22b Stop wall 22c Pressing piece 22d Elastic piece 22e Free end 22f Inclined portion 22g Mountain portion 23 Blocking part 3 Cover 3a Front part 3b Rear part 3c Side part 3d Bottom part 3e Hole 30 Caught part 31 Receiving part 31a Rear end 31b Front end 32 Fitted part 32a Inner part 32b Outer part 32c Engagement part 4 First cover body 4a Notch part 4b Inner deep part 4c Open area 4d Edge 4e Standing wall 4f Side part 4g Central part 4h Insertion hole 4i Tongue piece 4j Flange part 5 Second cover body 5a Inserted part 5b Lateral side part 5c Rear side part 5d Front side part 5e Side part 5f Central part 5g Easily elastically deformed part 5h Claw 5i Passing part 50 Regulating part 50a Rear plate portion 50b Front plate portion The entire contents of the specification, claims, drawings and abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-083062, filed on May 22, 2024, are hereby incorporated by reference as the disclosure of the specification of the present invention.

Claims

1. A storage unit for in-vehicle equipment, comprising: a bracket attached to the vehicle body to hold in-vehicle equipment; and a cover combined with the bracket to form a storage space for the in-vehicle equipment between the bracket and the cover, wherein the cover is composed of: a first cover body that can be attached to the bracket by a first forward movement operation along a first direction, and can be removed from the bracket by a first return movement operation in a direction opposite to the first forward movement operation; and a second cover body that can be attached to the first cover body by a second forward movement operation along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and can be removed from the first cover body by a second return movement operation in a direction opposite to the second forward movement operation, wherein the first cover body is provided with a receiving portion that receives a receiving portion formed on the bracket by the first forward movement operation, and wherein the receiving portion is prevented from slipping out of the receiving portion when the second cover body is attached to the first cover body.

2. A storage unit for in-vehicle equipment, comprising: a bracket attached to the vehicle body to hold in-vehicle equipment; and a cover combined with the bracket to form a storage space for the in-vehicle equipment between the bracket and the cover, wherein the cover is composed of: a first cover body that can be attached to the bracket by a first forward movement operation along a first direction and can be removed from the bracket by a first return movement operation opposite to the first forward movement operation; and a second cover body that can be attached to the first cover body by a second forward movement operation along a second direction intersecting the first direction and can be removed from the first cover body by a second return movement operation opposite to the second forward movement operation, wherein the first cover body is provided with a receiving portion that receives a receiving portion formed on the bracket by the first forward movement operation, and the second cover body is provided with a restricting portion that clamps the received portion in the first direction between the first cover body and the receiving portion at the end position of the second forward movement operation.

3. The storage container for in-vehicle equipment according to claim 2, wherein the receiving portion has a head and a neck portion, and the neck portion is configured to be received in the receiving portion.

4. A storage body for vehicle-mounted equipment as described in claim 2, which is provided with one or more mating portions that are mated with the mating portion of the bracket at the end position of the first forward operation, at a position different from the position where the receiving portion is formed on the first cover body.

5. A storage body for vehicle-mounted equipment as described in claim 2, which is provided with one or more mating portions at a position different from the position where the receiving portion is formed on the first cover body, which are received in the mating portion of the bracket by elastic deformation of the mating portion side during the first forward operation.

6. A storage body for vehicle-mounted equipment as described in claim 5, wherein the engaging portion is provided with a pressing piece that contacts one side of the engaged portion during the first forward movement operation, and an elastic piece that contacts the other side of the engaged portion opposite the one side, and is adapted to receive the engaged portion during the first forward movement operation by elastic deformation of the elastic piece.

7. A storage body for vehicle-mounted equipment as described in claim 5, wherein the mating portion is formed with an engaging portion that engages with the mating portion side so as to generate a predetermined resistance to the first return operation by the elastic return of the mating portion at the end position of the first forward operation.

8. A storage body for vehicle-mounted equipment as described in claim 5, wherein the bracket is formed with a suppression portion on the side of the engaging portion that suppresses elastic deformation of the engaging portion in a direction that causes the engaged portion to come out of the engaging portion at the end position of the first forward operation.

9. A storage unit for in-vehicle equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the receiving portion is provided on each side of an imaginary center line along the first direction that divides the cover body in two in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

10. A storage unit for vehicle-mounted equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second cover body forms a passage for a stay for a rearview mirror positioned below the cover, the stay being supported by a stay that is suspended and has one end fixed to the bracket.

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