IP Library Granted Patent US 9,686,877
Granted Patent B2
US 9,686,877 · App. 14/691,820 · Granted Jun 20, 2017

Locking structure between member to be supported and supporting body

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,686,877
App. No.
14/691,820
Granted
Jun 20, 2017
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (73)

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 outer peripheral face.

9. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 8 , 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.

10. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 1 , 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.

11. The locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body according to claim 10 , wherein

the first lock arm includes

a first shaft, and

a pair of first arms that are connected to both ends of the first shaft and extend from the first shaft toward the second opening, and

the second lock arm includes

a second shaft, and

a pair of second arms that are connected to both ends of the second shaft and extend from the second shaft toward the first opening.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: YAZAKI CORPORATION
To: YAZAKI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063845/0802 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2015
From: TOKUMASU, YASUHIRO; SHIRAIWA, HIROKI; KIYOSUE, KAZUOMI; AKANITSUK, PHARIMA
To: YAZAKI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035712/0559 →