MLchartDataset catalogue

Patent · US10608422B2 · B2 · US

Lock structure, electric connection box and wire harness

(11) Publication number
US10608422B2
(21) Application number
16/431,013
(22) Filing date
2019-06-04
(30) Priority date
2018-06-07
(43) Publication date
2020-03-31
(45) Date of grant
2020-03-31
(51) IPC
B60R 16/02; B60R 16/023; H01R 13/436; H02G 3/08; H02G 3/14; H02G 3/16; H05K 5/02
(52) CPC
  • B60R Vehicles, vehicle fittings, or vehicle parts, not otherwise provided for: 16/0239, 16/0207, 16/0238
  • H01R Electrically-conductive connections; structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements; coupling devices; current collectors: 13/4362
  • H02G Installation of electric cables or lines, or of combined optical and electric cables or lines: 3/081, 3/088, 3/14, 3/16
  • H05K Printed circuits; casings or constructional details of electric apparatus; manufacture of assemblages of electrical components: 5/02
(73) Assignee
Yazaki Corp
(72) Inventors
Yukihiro Kawamura
(54) Title
Lock structure, electric connection box and wire harness
(57) Abstract

A lock structure includes an engaged body; and an engaging body capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other. An engaged body has a drainage space surrounded by inner wall surfaces of first and second engaged walls and third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall. An engaging body has an accommodation space that is an internal space surrounded by inner wall surfaces of first and second engaging walls and third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval and in which the engaged body is accommodated.

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Claims (10)

  1. A lock structure comprising: an engaged body; and an engaging body capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other, and capable of locking the inserted engaged body in the insertion direction and the removal direction, respectively, wherein the engaged body includes first and second engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions, third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and an opposite arrangement direction of the first and second engaged walls, a drainage space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaged walls, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall, a first communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the engaged protrusion, and a second communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the removal direction side of the first communication port, and the engaging body includes first and second engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the opposite arrangement direction, third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and the opposite arrangement direction, an accommodation space that is an internal space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaging walls and in which the engaged body is accommodated, an insertion port through which the engaged body is inserted into the accommodation space from a tip of an end portion on the insertion direction side, a locking hole that is a penetration hole provided in the second engaging wall and into which the engaged protrusion is inserted when the engaged body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and a communication port through which the accommodation space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the locking hole.
  2. The lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the locking hole is a penetration hole connected to the communication port.
  3. The lock structure according to claim 2, wherein the first communication port and the second communication port are disposed opposite to each other in the insertion and removal directions.
  4. The lock structure according to claim 3, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.
  5. The lock structure according to claim 2, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.
  6. The lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the first communication port and the second communication port are disposed opposite to each other in the insertion and removal directions.
  7. The lock structure according to claim 6, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.
  8. The lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.
  9. An electric connection box comprising: a housing configured to accommodate electronic components in the housing, wherein the housing has at least first and second fitting members to be fitted to each other, and has a lock structure configured to hold a fitted state of the first and second fitting members, the lock structure includes an engaged body provided on the first fitting member, and an engaging body provided on the second fitting member, capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other, and capable of locking the inserted engaged body in the insertion direction and the removal direction, respectively, the engaged body includes first and second engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions, third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and an opposite arrangement direction of the first and second engaged walls, a drainage space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaged walls, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall, a first communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the engaged protrusion, and a second communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the removal direction side of the first communication port, and the engaging body includes first and second engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the opposite arrangement direction, third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and the opposite arrangement direction, an accommodation space which is an internal space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaging walls and in which the engaged body is accommodated, an insertion port through which the engaged body is inserted into the accommodation space from a tip of an end portion on the insertion direction side, a locking hole which is a penetration hole provided in the second engaging wall and into which the engaged protrusion is inserted when the engaged body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and a communication port through which the accommodation space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the locking hole.
  10. A wire harness comprising: an electronic component; an electric wire electrically connected to the electronic component; and a housing configured to accommodate the electronic component and the electric wire inside and draws the electric wire outward from inside, wherein the housing has at least first and second fitting members to be fitted to each other, and has a lock structure configured to hold a fitted state of the first and second fitting members, the lock structure includes an engaged body provided on the first fitting member, and an engaging body provided on the second fitting member, capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other, and capable of locking the inserted engaged body in the insertion direction and the removal direction, respectively, the engaged body includes first and second engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions, third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and an opposite arrangement direction of the first and second engaged walls, a drainage space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaged walls, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall, a first communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the engaged protrusion, and a second communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the removal direction side of the first communication port, and the engaging body includes first and second engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the opposite arrangement direction, third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and the opposite arrangement direction, an accommodation space that is an internal space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaging walls and in which the engaged body is accommodated, an insertion port through which the engaged body is inserted into the accommodation space from a tip of an end portion on the insertion direction side, a locking hole that is a penetration hole provided in the second engaging wall and into which the engaged protrusion is inserted when the engaged body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and a communication port through which the accommodation space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the locking hole.

Description

The present invention relates to a lock structure, an electric connection box and a wire harness.

In the related art, there is known a lock structure for keeping two components to be assembled in an assembled state (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2016-25802 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-108038). The lock structure is applied to, for example, an electric connection box which accommodates electronic components, and an electric connection box which accommodates the electronic components and electric wires and forms a wire harness together with the electric wires drawn outward. In the electric connection box, two fitting members for fitting the peripheral edge portions of an opening are provided as constituent components of a housing. In the electric connection box, a lock structure is used to keep the two fitting members in a fitted state. The lock structure includes an engaged body provided on one of the two fitting members, and an engaging body provided on the other thereof. The lock structure holds the two fitting members in the fitted state by engaging the engaged body and the engaging body with each other when the two fitting members are fitted together.

Incidentally, in the electric connection box, various measures have been taken to suppress entry of liquid such as water to the inside of the housing. The measures should be taken not only in the fitting parts of the two fitting members, but also in the lock structure if a gap or the like between the engaged body and the engaging body is continuous with the inside of the housing.

Citations (16)

  • US20120043104A1
  • EP2448076A2
  • US20140083732A1
  • US20140083733A1
  • JP2013090407A
  • WO2013129132A1
  • US20150029686A1
  • US20140131061A1
  • JP2014108038A
  • US20140151112A1
  • JP2016025802A
  • US20170201079A1
  • US20170207614A1
  • US20170070040A1
  • US20190288419A1
  • US20190202381A1
Record as JSON
{
  "publication_number": "US10608422B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Lock structure, electric connection box and wire harness",
  "abstract": "A lock structure includes an engaged body; and an engaging body capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other. An engaged body has a drainage space surrounded by inner wall surfaces of first and second engaged walls and third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall. An engaging body has an accommodation space that is an internal space surrounded by inner wall surfaces of first and second engaging walls and third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval and in which the engaged body is accommodated.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A lock structure comprising: an engaged body; and an engaging body capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other, and capable of locking the inserted engaged body in the insertion direction and the removal direction, respectively, wherein the engaged body includes first and second engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions, third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and an opposite arrangement direction of the first and second engaged walls, a drainage space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaged walls, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall, a first communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the engaged protrusion, and a second communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the removal direction side of the first communication port, and the engaging body includes first and second engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the opposite arrangement direction, third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and the opposite arrangement direction, an accommodation space that is an internal space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaging walls and in which the engaged body is accommodated, an insertion port through which the engaged body is inserted into the accommodation space from a tip of an end portion on the insertion direction side, a locking hole that is a penetration hole provided in the second engaging wall and into which the engaged protrusion is inserted when the engaged body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and a communication port through which the accommodation space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the locking hole.",
    "2. The lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the locking hole is a penetration hole connected to the communication port.",
    "3. The lock structure according to claim 2, wherein the first communication port and the second communication port are disposed opposite to each other in the insertion and removal directions.",
    "4. The lock structure according to claim 3, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.",
    "5. The lock structure according to claim 2, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.",
    "6. The lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the first communication port and the second communication port are disposed opposite to each other in the insertion and removal directions.",
    "7. The lock structure according to claim 6, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.",
    "8. The lock structure according to claim 1, wherein the engaged body is provided on an outer wall surface side of a peripheral wall body of a first fitting member, and forms the first engaged wall, using a part of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, and the engaging body is provided on a first peripheral wall body and a second peripheral wall body of a second fitting member sandwiching an opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body of the first fitting member, forms the first engaging wall, using a part of the first peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the inner wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body, and forms the second engaging wall, using a part of the second peripheral wall body having an opening peripheral edge portion disposed opposite to the outer wall surface of the opening peripheral edge portion of the peripheral wall body.",
    "9. An electric connection box comprising: a housing configured to accommodate electronic components in the housing, wherein the housing has at least first and second fitting members to be fitted to each other, and has a lock structure configured to hold a fitted state of the first and second fitting members, the lock structure includes an engaged body provided on the first fitting member, and an engaging body provided on the second fitting member, capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other, and capable of locking the inserted engaged body in the insertion direction and the removal direction, respectively, the engaged body includes first and second engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions, third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and an opposite arrangement direction of the first and second engaged walls, a drainage space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaged walls, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall, a first communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the engaged protrusion, and a second communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the removal direction side of the first communication port, and the engaging body includes first and second engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the opposite arrangement direction, third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and the opposite arrangement direction, an accommodation space which is an internal space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaging walls and in which the engaged body is accommodated, an insertion port through which the engaged body is inserted into the accommodation space from a tip of an end portion on the insertion direction side, a locking hole which is a penetration hole provided in the second engaging wall and into which the engaged protrusion is inserted when the engaged body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and a communication port through which the accommodation space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the locking hole.",
    "10. A wire harness comprising: an electronic component; an electric wire electrically connected to the electronic component; and a housing configured to accommodate the electronic component and the electric wire inside and draws the electric wire outward from inside, wherein the housing has at least first and second fitting members to be fitted to each other, and has a lock structure configured to hold a fitted state of the first and second fitting members, the lock structure includes an engaged body provided on the first fitting member, and an engaging body provided on the second fitting member, capable of inserting and removing the engaged body along insertion and removal directions opposite to each other, and capable of locking the inserted engaged body in the insertion direction and the removal direction, respectively, the engaged body includes first and second engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions, third and fourth engaged walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in an orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and an opposite arrangement direction of the first and second engaged walls, a drainage space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaged walls, an engaged protrusion protruding from an outer wall surface of the second engaged wall, a first communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the engaged protrusion, and a second communication port through which the drainage space communicates with the outside on the removal direction side of the first communication port, and the engaging body includes first and second engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the opposite arrangement direction, third and fourth engaging walls disposed opposite to each other at an interval in the orthogonal direction to the insertion and removal directions and the opposite arrangement direction, an accommodation space that is an internal space surrounded by respective inner wall surfaces of the first to fourth engaging walls and in which the engaged body is accommodated, an insertion port through which the engaged body is inserted into the accommodation space from a tip of an end portion on the insertion direction side, a locking hole that is a penetration hole provided in the second engaging wall and into which the engaged protrusion is inserted when the engaged body is accommodated in the accommodation space, and a communication port through which the accommodation space communicates with the outside on the insertion direction side of the locking hole."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a lock structure, an electric connection box and a wire harness.\n\nIn the related art, there is known a lock structure for keeping two components to be assembled in an assembled state (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2016-25802 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-108038). The lock structure is applied to, for example, an electric connection box which accommodates electronic components, and an electric connection box which accommodates the electronic components and electric wires and forms a wire harness together with the electric wires drawn outward. In the electric connection box, two fitting members for fitting the peripheral edge portions of an opening are provided as constituent components of a housing. In the electric connection box, a lock structure is used to keep the two fitting members in a fitted state. The lock structure includes an engaged body provided on one of the two fitting members, and an engaging body provided on the other thereof. The lock structure holds the two fitting members in the fitted state by engaging the engaged body and the engaging body with each other when the two fitting members are fitted together.\n\nIncidentally, in the electric connection box, various measures have been taken to suppress entry of liquid such as water to the inside of the housing. The measures should be taken not only in the fitting parts of the two fitting members, but also in the lock structure if a gap or the like between the engaged body and the engaging body is continuous with the inside of the housing.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60R 16/0239",
    "B60R 16/0207",
    "B60R 16/0238",
    "H01R 13/4362",
    "H02G 3/081",
    "H02G 3/088",
    "H02G 3/14",
    "H02G 3/16",
    "H05K 5/02"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60R 16/02",
    "B60R 16/023",
    "H01R 13/436",
    "H02G 3/08",
    "H02G 3/14",
    "H02G 3/16",
    "H05K 5/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Yazaki Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Yukihiro Kawamura"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-06-04",
  "publication_date": "2020-03-31",
  "grant_date": "2020-03-31",
  "priority_date": "2018-06-07",
  "application_number": "US-201916431013-A",
  "family_id": "66751980",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
  "citations": [
    "US20120043104A1",
    "EP2448076A2",
    "US20140083732A1",
    "US20140083733A1",
    "JP2013090407A",
    "WO2013129132A1",
    "US20150029686A1",
    "US20140131061A1",
    "JP2014108038A",
    "US20140151112A1",
    "JP2016025802A",
    "US20170201079A1",
    "US20170207614A1",
    "US20170070040A1",
    "US20190288419A1",
    "US20190202381A1"
  ]
}

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