IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,589,468
Granted Patent B2
US 11,589,468 · App. 17/089,935 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

Liquid discharge structure

Inventors: Satoshi Yokoyama (Toyota, JP); Yusuke Nagai (Toyota, JP); Makoto Goto (Toyota, JP)
Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
H05K5/0217B60R16/0239
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,589,468
App. No.
17/089,935
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An objective of the present invention is to improve the discharge capacity for liquid collected within a casing while suppressing liquid entering a discharge opening from the outside. A liquid discharge structure includes a plate-shaped bottom wall with a discharge opening for liquid, the liquid being collected inside a casing 1 which is configured to be installed in a vehicle, a blocking wall outside the bottom wall, wherein the blocking wall is overlapped with the discharge opening in a plan view on the bottom wall and opposed to the bottom wall with a gap between the blocking wall and the bottom wall, and a fixing mechanism which is disposed not to be overlapped with the discharge opening in the plan view, wherein the fixing mechanism is configured to fix the blocking wall relative to the bottom wall in an attachable and detachable manner.

Claims (39)

1. A liquid discharge structure comprising:

a plate-shaped bottom wall with a discharge opening for liquid, the liquid being collected inside a casing which is configured to be installed in a vehicle;

a blocking wall outside the bottom wall, wherein the blocking wall is overlapped with the discharge opening in a plan view on the bottom wall and opposed to the bottom wall with a gap between the blocking wall and the bottom wall; and

a fixing mechanism which is disposed not to be overlapped with the discharge opening in the plan view, wherein the fixing mechanism is configured to fix the blocking wall relative to the bottom wall in an attachable and detachable manner,

wherein the fixing mechanism comprises:

a hinge section configured to couple the blocking wall to the bottom wall so as to allow the blocking wall to be rotated between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the blocking wall is opposed to the bottom wall, and in the second state, the blocking wall is separated away from the bottom wall around a predetermined rotation axis;

an engaged hole in the bottom wall; and

an engaging section arranged vertically on the blocking wall so that in the first state, a tip portion of the engaging section enters the engaged hole in the bottom wall, wherein an engaging claw projects from the tip portion, the engaging claw being configured to be engaged with and locked to an edge of the engaged hole.

2. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 1 , comprising:

a rib wall which is provided on one of an inner surface or an outer surface of the bottom wall so as to surround the discharge opening at least partially.

3. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 2 , comprising:

a recess in the rib wall which is configured to allow liquid to pass therethrough, the liquid flowing on a side of the inner surface of the bottom wall towards the discharge opening or exiting the discharge opening on a side of the outer surface of the bottom wall.

4. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 1 , comprising:

a through-hole which is provided in the blocking wall adjacent to a root of the engaging section so that the engaging claw is visible when viewing the blocking wall from an opposite side to the engaging section.

5. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein two engaged holes are provided in the bottom wall so as to be arranged in a direction extending along the rotation axis with the discharge opening interposed between the engaged holes, and

wherein two engaging sections are arranged vertically on the blocking wall for the two engaged holes.

6. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein the bottom wall, the blocking wall and the fixing mechanism are integrally moulded from resin, and

wherein the hinge section is a bendable section with a smaller thickness than the blocking wall and the bottom wall.

7. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 1 ,

wherein the casing is a casing for an electrical junction box to be installed in the vehicle.

8. A liquid discharge structure comprising:

a plate-shaped bottom wall with a discharge opening for liquid, the liquid being collected inside a casing which is configured to be installed in a vehicle;

a blocking wall outside the bottom wall, wherein the blocking wall is overlapped with the discharge opening in a plan view on the bottom wall and opposed to the bottom wall with a gap between the blocking wall and the bottom wall; and

a fixing mechanism which is disposed not to be overlapped with the discharge opening in the plan view, wherein the fixing mechanism is configured to fix the blocking wall relative to the bottom wall in an attachable and detachable manner,

wherein the fixing mechanism comprises:

a rail section at the bottom wall, wherein the rail section is configured to support the blocking wall in a slidingly attachable and detachable manner in a predetermined sliding direction along an outer surface of the bottom wall;

a stopper section at at least one of the bottom wall or the blocking wall, wherein the stopper section is configured to limit sliding the blocking wall so as not to slide beyond a blocking position at which the blocking wall is overlapped with the discharge opening;

an engaged section at the outer surface of the bottom wall; and

an engaging section at the blocking wall, wherein the engaging section is configured to be engaged with and locked to the engaged section with the stopper section being limiting sliding.

9. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 8 ,

wherein the engaging section is configured with a cantilever extending in the sliding direction, the engaging section having one end as a fixed end and another end as a free end, wherein an engaging claw is provided at the free end,

wherein when the blocking wall is slid to the blocking position, the engaging claw is configured to pass across the engaged section by utilizing deflection of the cantilever, and the engaging claw is engaged with and locked to the engaged section when the blocking wall reaches the blocking position.

10. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 8 ,

wherein the rail section is configured to be disposed extending in a front-rear direction of a vehicle and to support the blocking wall in a slidable manner in the front-rear direction as the sliding direction.

11. The liquid discharge structure according to claim 8 ,

wherein the bottom wall, the rail section, the stopper section in case of being provided in the bottom wall, and the engaged section are integrally moulded from resin as a first moulded component, and

wherein the blocking wall, the stopper section in case of being provided in the blocking wall, and the engaging section are integrally moulded from resin as a second moulded component which is separate from the first moulded component.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: YAZAKI CORPORATION
To: YAZAKI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063845/0802 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2023
From: GOTO, MAKOTO
To: YAZAKI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 062424/0605 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2020
From: YOKOYAMA, SATOSHI; NAGAI, YUSUKE
To: YAZAKI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054286/0474 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-207701 · Nov 18, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210153370A1 · May 20, 2021