Locking structure between member to be supported and supporting body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9686877-B2
Application number	US-201514691820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2015
Priority date	Apr 21, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body includes an electronic component unit as a member to be supported, an electronic component unit housing part of an electrical connection box as a supporting body, a lock mechanism for upper insertion fitting (an engagement claw and a lock arm) that, when the electronic component unit is fitted to the electronic component unit housing part from an upper-side opening, locks the electronic component unit to the electronic component unit housing part to prevent the electronic component unit from escaping toward the upper-side opening, and a lock mechanism for lower insertion fitting (an engagement claw and a lock arm) that, when the electronic component unit is fitted to the electronic component unit housing part from a lower-side opening, locks the electronic component unit to the electronic component unit housing part to prevent from escaping toward the lower-side opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body, the locking structure comprising:
a member to be supported;
a supporting body with a first opening and a second opening provided on opposite sides of the supporting body in a predetermined fitting direction, and configured to be able to fit the member to be supported along the fitting direction from the first opening and the second opening;
a first lock mechanism configured to lock the member to be supported to the supporting body to prevent the member to be supported from escaping toward the first opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the first opening; and
a second lock mechanism configured to lock the member to be supported to the supporting body to prevent the member to be supported from escaping toward the second opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the second opening, wherein
the first lock mechanism is configured to function as a guide part that guides the member to be supported to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the second opening, and
the second lock mechanism is configured to function as a guide part that guides the member to be supported to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the first opening.

2. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 1 , wherein
the member to be supported has a plurality of outer peripheral faces,
the supporting body has a plurality of inner peripheral faces arranged facing the outer peripheral faces when the member to be supported is fitted,
the first lock mechanism is provided in between a first outer peripheral face of the plurality of outer peripheral faces of the member to be supported, and an inner peripheral face facing the first outer peripheral face, and
the second lock mechanism is provided in between a second outer peripheral face of the plurality of outer peripheral faces of the member to be supported, and an inner peripheral face facing the second outer peripheral face.

3. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 2 , wherein
the first lock mechanism is oriented in a first direction, and the second lock mechanism is oriented in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body.

4. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 3 , wherein
another second lock mechanism different from the second lock mechanism is provided in between the first outer peripheral face and the inner peripheral face in between which the first lock mechanism is provided, and
another first lock mechanism different from the first lock mechanism is provided in between the second outer peripheral face and the inner peripheral face in between which the second lock mechanism is provided.

5. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 4 , wherein
the first lock mechanism includes
a first engagement claw provided on one of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and
a first lock arm that is provided on the other of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and locks the first engagement claw to prevent the first engagement claw from escaping toward the first opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body,
the second lock mechanism includes
a second engagement claw provided on one of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and
a second lock arm that is provided on the other of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and locks the second engagement claw to prevent the second engagement claw from escaping toward the second opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body,
the first lock arm is configured to function as a guide part that guides the first engagement claw to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the second opening, and
the second lock arm is configured to function as a guide part that guides the second engagement claw to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the first opening.

6. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 3 , wherein
the first lock mechanism includes
a first engagement claw provided on one of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and
a first lock arm that is provided on the other of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and locks the first engagement claw to prevent the first engagement claw from escaping toward the first opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body,
the second lock mechanism includes
a second engagement claw provided on one of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and
a second lock arm that is provided on the other of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and locks the second engagement claw to prevent the second engagement claw from escaping toward the second opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body,
the first lock arm is configured to function as a guide part that guides the first engagement claw to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the second opening, and
the second lock arm is configured to function as a guide part that guides the second engagement claw to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the first opening.

7. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 2 , wherein
the first lock mechanism includes
a first engagement claw provided on one of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and
a first lock arm that is provided on the other of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and locks the first engagement claw to prevent the first engagement claw from escaping toward the first opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body,
the second lock mechanism includes
a second engagement claw provided on one of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and
a second lock arm that is provided on the other of the member to be supported and the supporting body, and locks the second engagement claw to prevent the second engagement claw from escaping toward the second opening, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body,
the first lock arm is configured to function as a guide part that guides the first engagement claw to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the second opening, and
the second lock arm is configured to function as a guide part that guides the second engagement claw to the fitting direction, when the member to be supported is fitted to the supporting body from the first opening.

8. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 1 , wherein
the member to be supported has a plurality of outer peripheral faces,
the supporting body has a plurality of inner peripheral faces arranged facing the outer peripheral faces when the member to be supported is fitted, and
the first lock mechanism and the second lock mechanism are provided in between one outer peripheral face of the outer peripheral faces of the member to be supported and an inner peripheral face facing the one o

Assignees

• Yazaki Corp

Inventors

• Tokumasu Yasuhiro
• Shiraiwa Hiroki
• Kiyosue Kazuomi
• Akanitsuk Pharima

Classifications

• H05K5/0052

  characterized by joining features of the housing parts · CPC title

• H05K5/0221 Primary

  Locks; Latches · CPC title