JP2019054089A - Housing connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a housing connection structure which prevents rattling from occurring in a connection direction and a direction perpendicular to the connection direction between two housings.SOLUTION: A connection structure includes connection members 10 for connecting two housings. Engagement claw parts 4 are provided at each housing. Claw receiving parts 14 which engage with the respective engagement claw parts 4 of the respective housings are provided at two portions of the connection member 10. Elastic arm parts 5 are provided at each housing, and arc grooves 15 are provided at the connection housing 10. The arc arm parts 5b of the elastic arm parts 5 are fitted in the arm grooves 15 in a state that the engagement claw parts 4 are engaged with the claw receiving parts 14 to prevent rattling in a connection direction and a direction perpendicular to the connection direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection structure that connects housings.

  A housing that stores electronic components, batteries, and the like may be connected to a plurality of housings for function expansion, battery capacity expansion, and the like. As a conventional case connecting structure, one disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. Patent Document 1 shows a structure in which two housings are directly connected and a structure in which the two housings are connected using a connecting member.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the connection structure using a connection member connects two housings 50A and 50B using two connection members 70A and 70B.

  A male side locking part 51 and a female side locking part 61 are provided on both side surfaces of the respective casings 50A, 50B.

  The male side locking part 51 protrudes from one side surface of each housing 50A, 50B. The male side locking part 51 has a pair of left and right slide guide walls 52 and a locking protrusion 53 provided between the pair of slide guide walls 52.

  The female side latching part 61 is protrudingly provided on the other side surface of each housing 50A, 50B. The female locking portion 61 includes a pair of left and right rail walls 62, an elastic deflection plate portion 63 provided between the pair of rail walls 62, and a claw portion 64 provided on the elastic deflection plate portion 63.

  Each of the connecting members 70A and 70B has a male side locking part 51 and a female side locking part 61 on the same surface. The male side locking part 51 and the female side locking part 61 of the connecting members 70A and 70B have the same configuration as that of the casings 50A and 50B. The same components in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the casings 50A and 50B, and description thereof is omitted.

  One connection procedure for connecting the two casings 50A and 50B with the connecting members 70A and 70B will be described.

  First, the two casings 50A and 50B are arranged so that the male side locking part 51 of one casing 50A and the female side locking part 61 of the other casing 50B are juxtaposed on the same side surface.

  Next, the connection between the male side locking part 51 and the female side locking part 61 on one surface side of the one connecting member 70A and the two casings 50A, 50B is locked. Moreover, between the other side connection member 70B and the male side latching | locking part 51 and the female side latching | locking part 61 of the other surface side of two housing | casing 50A, 50B is latched.

  In the locking operation between the male locking portion 51 and the female locking portion 61, the pair of left and right slide guide walls 52 are inserted into the pair of left and right rail walls 62. Then, the locking projection 53 interferes with the claw portion 64 during the slide insertion process, but the elastic deflection plate portion 63 is bent and deformed inward (in the recess direction), and insertion of the locking projection 53 is allowed. When the locking projection 53 gets over the claw portion 64, the elastic bending plate portion 63 is elastically restored and deformed, and the locking projection 53 and the claw portion 64 are locked.

JP 2003-257300 A

  By the way, in the locking structure of the locking projection 53 and the claw portion 64 in the conventional example, the locking projection 53 and the claw portion 64 are securely locked in consideration of the dimensional tolerance of each part. The protrusion 53 is designed to overstroke more than the position over the claw portion 64. However, in the locked state of the locking projection 53 and the claw portion 64, there is a problem that rattling occurs in the connecting direction M due to an overstroke.

  Further, in the sliding structure of the pair of slide guide walls 52 and the pair of rail walls 62 in the conventional example, in order to allow smooth sliding in consideration of the dimensional tolerance of each part, the pair of slide guide walls 52 and the pair of slide walls are provided. The rail wall 62 is designed so that a gap is generated in the direction N perpendicular to the sliding direction. However, when the pair of slide guide walls 52 and the pair of rail walls 62 are completely slid (in the connected state of the two casings 50A and 50B), the gap in the direction orthogonal to the slide direction is rattled in the orthogonal direction N of the connection direction. There is a problem that occurs.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a housing connection structure in which backlash in both the connecting direction and the vertical direction of the connecting direction does not occur between two housings. For the purpose.

  The present invention includes a connecting member for connecting two housings, each housing is provided with a locking portion, and the connecting member is locked to each locking portion of each housing. First backlash suppression that biases the mating locking portion in the locking direction in a state where the mating locking portions are provided at two locations and the locking portion is locked to the mating locking portion. A recess provided in one of the housings and the connecting member, and an elastic protrusion provided in the other of the housings and the connecting member, and having a width dimension reduced by elastic deformation. In the state where the locking portion is locked to the other-side locking portion, the second backlash suppression in which the elastic convex portion elastically deformed in the direction of reducing the width direction fits into the concave portion is provided. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing characterized by the part being provided.

  According to the present invention, since the counterpart locking portion is urged in the locking direction by the first backlash suppressing portion, no backlash occurs in the connecting direction between the two housings. In addition, since the gap is not generated between the elastic convex portion and the concave portion by the second backlash suppressing portion, the backlash in the direction perpendicular to the coupling direction does not occur between the two housings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the embodiment of the present invention and before the housing and the connecting member are connected. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a perspective view of a connecting member, (b) is a sectional view taken along line BB of (a). FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the configuration of the first backlash suppressing unit and the second backlash suppressing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. One Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a)-(d) is a perspective view which shows each connection process of two housing | casing. One Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a)-(c) is a perspective sectional view which shows each connection process of a connection member and a housing | casing. One Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a)-(c) is a front view which shows each connection process of a connection member and a housing | casing. It is a perspective view of the connection structure of a housing | casing which shows a prior art example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing connection structure according to this embodiment connects two housings 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B using a pair of connecting members 10. Each housing 1A, 1B accommodates electronic components, batteries, and the like.

  One housing 1A has an upper surface as a connection surface 2a and a lower surface as a surface 2b opposite to the connection surface 2a. The other housing 1B has a lower surface as a connecting surface 2a and an upper surface as a surface 2b opposite to the connecting surface 2a. An insertion hole 3 which is a pair of insertion portions is provided at the left and right symmetrical positions of the housings 1A and 1B. Each insertion hole 3 is a rectangular hole and opens to the connection surface 2a and the opposite surface 2b.

  As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, each insertion hole 3 is provided with a locking claw portion 4 that is a locking portion and an elastic arm portion 5. The locking claw portion 4 is supported in a cantilevered state on the inlet side of the insertion hole 3. The locking claw part 4 changes in the direction which makes the protrusion amount in the insertion hole 3 small by elastic deformation. The elastic arm portion 5 will be described in detail below.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 3, each connecting member 10 includes a back wall 11, a pair of side walls 12 protruding from the left and right ends of the back wall 11, and a center that connects the pair of side walls 12 at the center in the vertical direction. And a connecting wall 13. Each connecting member 10 is formed in a size that can be inserted into the insertion holes 3 of the housings 1A and 1B with almost no gap.

  The back wall 11 of the connecting member 10 is provided with a claw receiving portion 14 which is a mating side locking portion at two places in a vertically symmetrical position. Each claw receiving portion 14 has a tapered surface 14a (shown in FIG. 3B) that gradually increases from the lower end or the upper end of the connecting member 10 toward the center, and the rear end of the tapered surface 14a is a vertical surface 14b. (Shown in FIG. 3B).

  Each casing 1A, 1B and each connecting member 10 includes a first backlash suppressing portion A that suppresses backlash in the connecting direction M in the connected state of the two casings 1A, 1B, and a direction N orthogonal to the connecting direction. A second backlash suppressing portion B that suppresses the backlash is provided. This will be described below.

  In this embodiment, the first backlash suppressing portion A (shown in FIG. 4) and the second backlash suppressing portion B (shown in FIG. 4) are arc grooves 15 that are recesses provided at two locations of the connecting member 10, It is comprised from the elastic arm part 5 provided in the insertion hole 3 of each housing | casing 1A, 1B.

  The arc grooves 15 are respectively provided at the upper and lower end portions of the connecting member 10 in the connecting direction M. Each arcuate groove 15 is open in the connecting direction M to each housing 1A, 1B. Each arcuate groove 15 is provided so as to cut out a part of each claw receiving portion 14. Each arcuate groove 15 is a semicircular or more groove. A groove diameter (width dimension) R1 of each arc groove 15 is formed smaller than an outer diameter R2 of the arc arm portion 5b described below when no stress is applied.

  The elastic arm portion 5 is disposed on the insertion back side with respect to the locking claw portion 4 in the insertion hole 3 of each housing 1A, 1B. The elastic arm portion 5 includes a pair of linear arm portions 5a supported on the housings 1A and 1B, respectively, and an arcuate arm portion (convex arm portion) 5b that is an elastic convex portion connecting the tips of the pair of linear arm portions 5a. And is formed from. The pair of linear arm portions 5a are inclined so as to gradually narrow the distance toward the tip. The outer diameter (width dimension) R2 of the arc arm portion 5b is larger than the arc groove 15 in a no-stress state, and is dimensioned to fit into the arc groove 15 in a reduced diameter state.

  The elastic arm portion 5 is a double-supported arm, and the position of the arc arm portion 5b is changed by bending and deforming the pair of linear arm portions 5a and the like in the insertion process (connection process) of the connection member 10 into the insertion hole 3. It changes to the insertion back side. Further, the arc arm portion 5b is elastically deformed in the direction of diameter reduction by being displaced in a direction in which the distance between the tips of the pair of linear arm portions 5a is narrowed by the bending deformation of the pair of linear arm portions 5a.

  Next, one connection procedure for connecting the two casings 1A and 1B with the connecting member 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5A, the connecting members 10 are inserted into the respective insertion holes 3 opened in the connecting surface 2 of the one housing 1A.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 7 (a), the tip of the claw receiving portion 14 of the connecting member 10 first strikes the locking claw portion 4. When the connecting member 10 is further inserted into the insertion hole 3 from this state, the locking claw portion 4 is elastically deformed and insertion of the connecting member 10 is allowed. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, the lower end surface of the connecting member 10 (the lower end surface of the claw receiving portion 14) abuts against the arc arm portion 5 b of the elastic arm portion 5. When the connecting member 10 is further inserted into the insertion hole 3 from this state, the pair of linear arm portions 5a are bent and deformed, the arc arm portion 5b is gradually displaced downward, and the arc arm portion 5b is reduced in the diameter direction ( It is elastically deformed in the direction of decreasing the lateral width.

  Due to the downward displacement of the arc arm portion 5b, further insertion of the connecting member 10 into the insertion hole 3 is allowed. And if the nail | claw receiving part 14 of the connection member 10 gets over the latching claw part 4 by the side of the housing | casing 1A, the latching claw part 4 will bend and will return-deform. Further, when the diameter of the arc arm portion 5 b is gradually reduced and reduced to an outer diameter (horizontal width dimension) that can enter the arc groove 15, the arc arm portion 5 b is fitted into the arc groove 15.

  Thereafter, when the insertion of the connecting member 10 into the insertion hole 3 is stopped, the elastic arm portion 5 is elastically deformed. As shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C, the connecting member 10 is moved to a position where the claw receiving portion 14 is locked to the locking claw portion 4 by the elastic return deformation of the elastic arm portion 5 and the claw. The receiving portion 14 is locked to the locking claw portion 4 in a state where it receives the elastic restoring force of the elastic arm portion 5 in the locking direction. In other words, the claw receiving portion 14 is sandwiched between the locking claw portion 4 and the elastic arm portion 5. This prevents backlash in the connecting direction M between the housing 1 </ b> A and the connecting member 10.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C, the pair of linear arm portions 5a are displaced in the bending return direction when the arc arm portions 5b enter the arc grooves 15. Due to the deformation of the pair of linear arm portions 5a in the bending return direction, the arc arm portion 5b attempts to elastically return and deform in the diameter increasing direction, and the arc arm portion 5b is subjected to the reaction force S (FIG. 7C) due to the elastic return force. Is fitted to the inner surface of the arc groove 15. Thereby, the backlash of the orthogonal | vertical direction N of the connection direction between housing | casing 1A and the connection member 10 is prevented.

  The other connecting member 10 is similarly connected to the lower housing 1A. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5B, the lower housing 1A and the two connecting members 10 are connected.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the two connecting members 10 fixed to the lower casing 1A are inserted into the insertion holes 3 of the upper casing 1B, respectively. Then, the locking claw portion 4 is locked to the claw receiving portion 14 of each connecting member 10 by the same operation as described above. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5D, the upper housing 1B and the two connecting members 10 are connected. As described above, the lower casing 1 </ b> A and the upper casing 1 </ b> B are connected via the pair of connecting members 10.

  As described above, the connecting structure of the casings 1A and 1B includes the connecting member 10 that connects the two casings 1A and 1B, and each casing 1A and 1B has a locking claw portion that is a locking portion. 4 is provided, and the coupling member 10 is provided with two claw receiving portions 14 which are mating locking portions that are locked to the locking claw portions 4 of the housings 1A and 1B. In the state where the portion 4 is locked to the claw receiving portion 14, a first backlash suppressing portion A that urges the claw receiving portion 14 in a connection releasing direction that is a locking direction is provided, and a recess provided in the connecting member 10 And an arcuate arm portion 5b that is an elastic convex portion (convex arm portion) that is provided in each housing 1A, 1B and reduces the width dimension by elastic deformation. In a state where 4 is locked to the claw receiving portion 14, the arc arm portion 5b elastically deformed in the direction of reducing the width direction is provided. Second play suppression unit B is provided which fits into the Komizo 15.

  Therefore, since the claw receiving portion 14 is urged in the locking direction by the first backlash suppressing portion A, backlash in the connecting direction M does not occur between the two housings 1A and 1B. Further, since the arc arm portion 5b is fitted into the arc groove 15 by the second backlash suppressing portion B and no gap is generated between the two, the two casings 1A and 1B have an N direction orthogonal to the connecting direction. There is no backlash.

  The first backlash suppressing portion A and the second backlash suppressing portion B are provided in the connecting member 10 and are provided in the arc groove 15 that is a recess opening in the connecting direction, and in each of the housings 1A and 1B. A pair of linear arm portions 5a that are displaced in the direction of narrowing the distance between the tips in the connecting process, and an arc arm portion that is an elastic convex portion (convex arm portion) that connects the tips of the pair of linear arm portions 5a And a pair of linear arm portions 5a that are elastically deformed in a direction of narrowing the distance between the distal ends in the connecting process of the connecting member 10, and elastic deformation of the pair of linear arm portions 5a. As a result, the arc arm portion 5b is elastically bent and deformed in the direction of diameter reduction, and the arc claw portion 4 is engaged with the claw receiving portion 14, and the arc arm portion 5b is fitted into the arc groove 15, so that the arc arm portion 5b is Elastic flexure of a pair of straight arm portions 5a The return force urges the claw receiving portion 14 in the connecting direction M, which is the locking direction, and the elastic bending force in the diameter expanding direction of the arc arm portion 5b urges the arc groove 15 in the direction N perpendicular to the connecting direction. To do.

  Accordingly, the first backlash suppressing portion A and the second backlash suppressing portion B can be configured by the concave portion 15 and the elastic arm portion 5, which simplifies the configuration. You may comprise the 1st backlash suppression part A and the 2nd backlash suppression part B by a separate component.

  Only when the connecting member 10 is inserted until the arc arm portion 5b completely enters the arc groove 15, the claw receiving portion 14 gets over the locking claw portion 4, and the locking claw portion 4 is elastically deformed and deformed. In other words, when the connecting member 10 is not inserted until the arc arm portion 5b completely enters the arc groove 15 (see FIGS. 6B and 7B), the claw receiving portion 14 is engaged with the locking claw portion 4. Therefore, when the insertion of the connecting member 10 is stopped at this point, the linear arm portion 5 returns to elastic deformation and the connecting member 10 is displaced in the connection release direction. Therefore, half-fitting of the connecting member 10 does not occur.

  A dimensional error between the housings 1A and 1B and the connecting member 10 is absorbed by the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic arm portion 5.

  The pair of linear arm portions 5a are arranged to be inclined so as to gradually narrow the distance toward the tip. Therefore, when the elastic arm portion 5 is pressed by the connecting member 10, it is elastically deformed so as to reliably narrow the distance between the tips.

  The concave portion is an arc-shaped arc groove 15, and the convex arm portion is an arc-shaped arc arm portion 5 b having a larger outer diameter than the arc groove 15. Accordingly, since the arc arm portion 5b fitted into the arc groove 15 is in close contact with the entire inner surface of the arc groove 15, and a reaction force S (elastic restoring force) S that is equal to the left and right is applied, the rattling in the orthogonal direction N of the coupling direction is prevented. This can be prevented by a reaction force S that is equal to the left and right.

  The connecting structure of the housings includes a connecting member 10 that connects the two housings 1A and 1B, and the housings 1A and 1B are disposed in the insertion holes 3 and 3 where the connecting members 10 are inserted. The claw receiving portion 4 is provided, and is inserted into the insertion hole 3 of each casing 1A, 1B in the connecting member 10 and locked to the locking claw portion 4 of each casing 1A, 1B. The part 14 is provided in two places.

  As described above, the insertion holes 3 are provided in the two casings 1A and 1B, and the locking claws 4 are disposed in the insertion holes 3, so that the locking claws 4 are formed from the outer surfaces of the casings 1A and 1B. Does not protrude. Therefore, the size of each housing is reduced accordingly. Housing 1A. In the state where 1B is connected, the connecting member 10 can be inserted into the insertion hole 3 of each case 1A, 1B as in this embodiment, so that the combined case size is reduced. Since each case size can be reduced, when manufacturing each case 1A, 1B as a metal mold, the size of the case 1A, 1B can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost of each case 1A, 1B can be reduced.

  Each insertion hole 3 is an insertion hole 3 that opens to the connecting surface 2a of each housing 1A, 1B. Therefore, when the two casings 1A and 1B are connected, the insertion hole 3 is not exposed to the outside, and the connecting member 10 is not visible from the outside.

  The locking part is an elastically deformable locking claw part 4, and each counterpart locking part is allowed to be inserted into the insertion hole 3 due to the elastic deformation of the locking claw part 4. It is the nail | claw receiving part 14 which the latching claw part 4 latches by elastic return deformation | transformation.

(Modification)
In the embodiment, the elastic convex portion is the arc arm portion 5b having an arc frame shape. However, the elastic convex portion is a reaction force (divided in the orthogonal direction N of the connecting direction) while being fitted in the circular arc groove 15 that is a concave portion. It is sufficient if it is a convex arm portion that can act). For example, the convex arm portion may be a quadrilateral or more polygon. If it is a polygon more than a quadrangle, a reaction force (including a component force) can be applied in the orthogonal direction N of the connecting direction while being fitted in the arc groove 15 that is a recess.

  In the above embodiment, the connecting member 10 is provided with the arc groove (recessed portion) 15 and the housings 1A and 1B are provided with the elastic arm portion 5. However, the connecting member 10 is provided with the elastic arm portion 5 and the housings 1A and 1B. An arc groove (concave portion) 15 may be provided in 1B.

  In the embodiment, the locking claw portion 4 of each housing 1A, 1B is formed so as to be elastically deformed, and the claw receiving portion 14 of the connecting member 10 is formed so as not to be elastically deformed. The part 4 may be formed so as to be elastically deformed, and the claw receiving part 14 may be formed so as not to be elastically deformed. Moreover, you may form so that both the latching claw part 4 and the nail | claw receiving part 14 may elastically deform together. Further, the locking portion and the other-side locking portion do not have to have a claw shape, and may be any structure that is locked to each other by insertion of the connecting member 10 into the insertion hole 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, the backlash suppressing portion is provided on each housing 1A, 1B side, but the backlash suppressing portion may be provided on the connecting member 10 side. If the backlash suppressing portion is provided on the connecting member 10 side, each mold structure of each housing 1A, 1B is simplified, and each housing 1A, 1B itself is simplified.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where two casings 1A and 1B are connected has been described. However, the connection structure of the present invention can also be applied to a case where three or more casings are connected.

  In the embodiment, the insertion portion is the insertion hole 3 that opens to the connection surface 2a, but may be a groove portion that opens to the connection surface 2a.

1A, 1B Housing 2a Connecting surface 3 Insertion hole (insertion part)
4 Locking claw (locking part)
5 Elastic arm part (first and second backlash suppressing part)
5a Linear arm part 5b Arc arm part (elastic convex part, convex arm part)
10 Connecting member 14 Claw receiving part (mating side locking part)
15 Arc groove (concave part) (first and second backlash suppressing part)

Claims (7)

A connecting member for connecting two housings;
Each casing is provided with a locking portion,
The connection member is provided with two opposite-side locking portions that are locked to the locking portions of the casings at two positions by the respective connections to the casings.
In a state where the locking portion is locked to the mating locking portion, a first backlash suppressing portion that biases the mating locking portion in the locking direction is provided,
A concave portion provided in one of the housings and the connecting member, and an elastic convex portion provided in the other of the housings and the connecting member, and having a width dimension reduced by elastic deformation. In the state where the locking portion is locked to the counterpart locking portion, a second backlash suppressing portion is provided in which the elastic convex portion that is elastically deformed in the direction of reducing the width direction is fitted into the concave portion. A connecting structure for a housing, characterized by that. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing of Claim 1, Comprising:
In addition to the recess, the first backlash suppressing portion and the second backlash suppressing portion include a pair of linear arm portions that are displaced in a direction of narrowing the tip end distance in the connecting process of the connecting member, and a pair of the straight lines An elastic arm portion having a convex arm portion that is the elastic convex portion connecting the tips of the arm portions;
In the connecting process of the connecting member, the pair of linear arm portions are elastically deformed in a direction to reduce the distance between the tips, and the convex arm portions are narrowed by the elastic deformation of the pair of linear arm portions. Elastic deformation in the direction,
In a state where the locking portion is locked to the counterpart locking portion, the convex arm portion is fitted into the concave portion, and the convex arm portion is caused by the elastic bending return force of the pair of linear arm portions. The casing is characterized in that the other-side latching portion is urged in the latching direction, and the convex arm portion presses the inner surface of the concave portion with an elastic bending return force in a direction in which the width of the convex arm portion increases. Connected structure. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing of Claim 2, Comprising:
A pair of said linear arm parts are inclined and arranged so that a space | interval may be gradually narrowed toward a front-end | tip, The connection structure of the housing | casing characterized by the above-mentioned. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing in any one of Claims 1-3,
The recess is an arc-shaped arc groove,
The connecting structure for a casing, wherein the convex arm portion is an arc frame-shaped arc arm portion having a larger outer diameter than the arc groove. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing in any one of Claims 1-4,
Each case is provided with an insertion portion into which the connecting member is inserted, and the insertion portion is provided with the locking portion. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing of Claim 5, Comprising:
Each said insertion part is an insertion hole opened to the connection surface of each said housing | casing, The connection structure of the housing | casing characterized by the above-mentioned. It is the connection structure of the housing | casing in any one of Claims 1-6,
The locking part is an elastically deformable locking claw part,
Each of the mating locking portions is a claw receiving portion that is locked by the locking claw portion by elastic return deformation of the locking claw portion.

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