JP3365355B2 - Electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric connection box mounted on, for example, an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electric junction box having a case body composed of a pair of cases has been known. The lower case, which constitutes the case body, is provided with a mounting portion to which various electrical components such as relays and connectors can be mounted, and each mounting component is equipped with a corresponding electrical component. The upper case is fitted into the opening of the lower case. Then, by locking all of the plurality of locking mechanisms provided in each case, both cases are in a completely fitted state, and both cases are fixed in a non-separable manner.

In the case of such an electric connection box, it is sometimes desired to regulate the wire harness connected to the electric connection box by some means. Therefore, conventionally, an insertion hole is provided in the opening of the upper case, and a clamp member for regulating the wire harness is inserted and fixed therein.

[0004]

However, in the conventional structure, the clamp member can be fitted in the insertion hole even if the upper case is not completely fitted in the lower case. is there.

Therefore, it is necessary to visually check the locked state of the lock mechanism in order to judge whether the two cases are in the completely fitted state, and the assembling work is complicated.

In addition, the process of assembling such an electric connection box is as follows.
Usually, the process of fitting both cases (case fitting process), the process of mounting various electrical components (electric component mounting process),
Then, the steps of controlling the wire harness by the clamp member (wire harness restricting step) are performed in this order. Therefore, even if the two cases are once completely fitted in the case fitting step, the fitted state of the two cases may be released in the subsequent electrical component mounting step. Therefore, it is necessary to visually check the locked state of the lock mechanism again at the time when the mounting process of the electrical component is completed, and the work is more complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electric junction box which can easily detect an incompletely fitted state between cases.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 1, a case comprising a first case and a second case that can be fitted into the first case. An electric junction box having a main body provided with a fixing portion for fixing a clamp member for regulating a wire harness, wherein the fixing portion is provided on the first case, and
Wall provided in the case of the shape so as to surround the fixing portion at a position corresponding to the fixed portion, the fixed portion and the front
Make sure that both outer surfaces of the fixing part and the wall are flush with each other only when the two cases are in a completely fitted state.
Formed by projecting from one side of each case with a long projecting length
The outer surfaces of the fixing portion and the wall are in the same plane.
If there is an engagement part that can engage with the fixed part only
The ramp member, before Symbol non fixable out and disconnect the fixed part and
And summary that was.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the electric junction box according to the first aspect, the fixing portion is the fixing portion.
Engaging piece that can be engaged with the
Regulation that presses the wall to prevent rattling with the fixed part
That clamp member and a strip attached to the gist.

The "action" of the present invention will be described below. According to the invention of claim 1, the first case is provided with the fixing portion, and the second case is provided with a wall having a shape surrounding the fixing portion at a position corresponding to the fixing portion. There is. Then, the clamp member is fixed to the fixing portion through the wall so as not to be able to be pulled out, only when both cases are in the completely fitted state. Therefore, the clamp member cannot be fixed to the fixing portion when the two cases are in the incompletely fitted state. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect the fitting state between the cases depending on whether or not the clamp member can be fixed to the fixing portion.

Further , the clamp member has an engaging portion which can be engaged with the fixing portion only when the fixing portion and the outer surface of the wall are flush with each other. Also, the fixing part and the wall are formed so as to project from one side surface of each case, and the projecting lengths thereof are set so that both outer surfaces are flush with each other only when both cases are in a completely fitted state. Has been done. Therefore, the clamp member can be fixed to the fixing portion only when the two cases are completely fitted together. In other words, when the two cases are in the incompletely fitted state, the outer surface of the fixing portion and the wall are not flush with each other, so that the clamp member cannot be fixed to the fixing portion in the same state. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect the fitting state between the cases depending on whether or not the clamp member can be fixed to the fixing portion.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a vehicle electrical junction box 11 mounted in an automobile will be described below.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical junction box 1
1 is a lower case 12 as a first case, and a second case
And an upper case 13 as a case.
Each of the cases 12 and 13 is a box-shaped body having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is formed by injection molding a synthetic resin, respectively, and the cases 12 and 13 are assembled in a state of being vertically stacked. There is. Lower case 12
A mounting portion 12b, on which various electrical components such as a relay and a connector can be mounted, is provided on the back surface of, and the corresponding electrical components are mounted on the mounting portion 12b.

A plurality of (six in this embodiment) claw portions 14 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower case 12. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the upper case 13, each claw portion 14
An engaging portion 15 is formed at a position corresponding to. Therefore, when the lower case 12 and the upper case 13 are vertically stacked, each claw portion 14 and each engaging portion 15
And are engaged. Then, both cases 12 and 13 are in a state of being inseparably assembled. That is, each claw 1
4 and each engaging part 15 function as a lock mechanism which locks and fixes both cases 12 and 13 mutually.

On the outer surface 12a of the lower case 12, a fixing portion 16 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is projected. As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing portion 16 is formed near the claw portion 14. In the present embodiment, the claws 14 to 20 to
The fixing portion 16 is formed at a position separated by 50 mm. Steps 17 are provided on both side edges of the outer wall 16 a of the fixed portion 16. Therefore, a protrusion 18 is formed at the center of the fixed portion 16. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing portion 16 has a substantially “convex” shape in a plan view. The step h of the step portion 17 is set to be substantially equal to the thickness of the side wall 13a of the upper case 13. A space portion 19 is provided inside the fixed portion 16. An elongated hole-shaped communication hole 20 that communicates the outside and the space 19 is provided at a substantially central portion of the outer wall 16a.

A wall portion 21 is formed on the side wall 13a of the upper case 13 at a position corresponding to the fixed portion 16. A part of the side wall 13a of the wall portion 21 projects outward, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In addition, the wall portion 21
As shown in FIG. 2, each has a box shape that opens downward and can surround the fixing portion 16. That is, the wall portion 21
Can accommodate the fixed portion 16. Also, the wall 2
A cutout 22 extending in the up-down direction is provided in the central portion of the outer wall 21a of No. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the width W1 of the notch 22 is set to be substantially equal to the width of the protruding portion 18 of the fixed portion 16. And both cases 12,
When the 13 parts are assembled together, the outer peripheral surface of the fixed part 16 is covered with the wall part 21. Further, the protruding portion 18 is inserted into the notch 22 and is exposed. The surface of the protrusion 18 (the outer surface of the fixed portion 16) and the surface of the outer wall 21a of the wall portion 21 (the outer surface of the wall portion 21) are flush with each other. That is, the protruding length of the fixed portion 16 from the lower case 12 and the protruding length of the wall portion 21 from the upper case 13 are such that both outer surfaces are flush with each other when both cases 12 and 13 are in a completely fitted state. Is set to.

A clamper 31 as a clamp member is inserted into the communication hole 20. The clamper 31 is formed by injection molding a synthetic resin. At the base end of the clamper 31, two elastically deformable engaging pieces 32 are formed at opposite positions. Each engaging piece 32
Is elastically deformed when the insertion into the communication hole 20 is started, and returns to the original shape when the insertion is completed. For this reason,
Each engagement piece 32 engages with the protrusion 18. As a result, the clamper 31 is fixed to the fixing portion 16 so that it cannot be pulled out. That is, each engagement piece 32 functions as an engagement part.

At the tip of the clamper 31, a binding band 3 capable of binding a wire harness 33 consisting of a plurality of electric wire bundles.
4 are formed. Further, four elastically deformable restriction pieces 35 are formed between the base end portion and the tip end portion. Each restriction piece 35 is elastically deformed when the insertion of the base end into the communication hole 20 is completed, and presses the outer walls 16a, 21a of the fixed portion 16 and the wall portion 21.

The assembling process of the electrical junction box 11 constructed as described above is usually performed by fitting the two cases 12, 13 together.
The process of mounting various electrical components and the process of restricting the wire harness 33 by the clamper 31 are performed in this order.

First, as shown in FIG. 5A, in the fitting step, all the claw portions 14 of the lower case 12 and the respective engagement portions 15 of the upper case 13 are engaged with each other so that both cases 1
Assemble 2 and 13 together.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, in the mounting step, electrical components are mounted on the mounting portion of the lower case 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 5C, in the restricting step, the wire harness 33 is bound by the binding band 34 of the clamper 31 and the clamper 31 is fixed to the fixing portion 16.

Therefore, the clamper 31 is fixed to the fixing portion 16 at the end of the assembly process of the electric junction box 11. By the way, in the restricting step, the claw portions 14 and the engagement portions 15 are not completely engaged, that is, the cases 12,
In the incompletely fitted state of 13 members, the clamper 31 cannot engage with the fixed portion 16. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, unless the claw portions 14 and the engagement portions 15 are completely engaged with each other, the outer surface of the fixed portion 16 and the outer surface of the wall portion 21 are not flush with each other. . The distance between the inner surface of the protruding portion 18 and the surface of the outer wall 21a of the wall portion 21 is determined by
The distance is longer than the same distance when the 2 and 13 are completely fitted together.
Therefore, the restriction pieces 35 of the clamper 31 are attached to the outer wall 21a.
Even if is pressed, the engagement pieces 32 cannot be completely inserted into the communication holes 20. Therefore, the clamper 31 cannot be fixed to the fixing portion 16 so that it cannot be pulled out.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) When the lower case 12 and the upper case 13 are in a completely fitted state, the outer surface of the fixed portion 16 and the outer surface of the wall portion 21 are flush with each other, and the clamper 31 can be fixed to the fixed portion. However, when the cases 12 and 13 are in an incompletely fitted state, the outer surface of the fixing portion 16 and the outer surface of the wall portion 21 do not become flush with each other, and the clamper 31 is fixed to the fixing portion 16. I can't. Therefore, the fitting state between the cases 12 and 13 can be easily detected depending on whether or not the clamper 31 can be fixed to the fixing portion 16.

In addition, since the existing clamper 31 can be used to detect the fitted state between the cases 12 and 13, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts and a rise in manufacturing cost.

(2) When fixing the clamper 31 to the fixed portion 16, the engaging piece 32 of the clamper 31 may be inserted into the communication hole 20 of the fixed portion 16. Therefore, the clamper 31 can be easily fixed to the fixing portion 16.

(3) The fixing portion 16 is formed near the claw portion 14. Therefore, only when the claw portion 14 and the engaging portion 15 of the upper case 13 are securely engaged with each other.
The clamper 31 can be fixed to the fixing portion 16. Therefore, the incompletely fitted state between the cases 12 and 13 can be detected more reliably.

(4) When the clamper 31 is attached to the fixed portion 16, the engagement piece 32 engages with the fixed portion 16 and the regulating piece 35 presses the wall portion 21.
Therefore, the adhesion between the cases 12 and 13 is improved, and the engagement between the claw portions 14 and the engagement portions 15 is less likely to be released. Therefore, by fixing the clamper 31 to the fixing portion 16, the separation between the cases 12 and 13 can be regulated.

The embodiment of the present invention may be modified as follows. The upper case 13 may be provided with the fixing portion 16 and the lower case 12 may be provided with the wall portion 21.

In the above-described embodiment, the communication hole 2 having a long hole shape.
0 is the insertion hole. However, the insertion hole is not limited to this, and may have a round hole shape or a square hole shape. The point is that it may correspond to the shape of the base end of the clamper 31.

The clamper 31 is not limited to the one including the restriction piece 35. In short, each engaging piece 32 is attached to the protruding portion 18
It suffices to have a portion that comes into contact with the outer side surface 21a of the wall portion 21 when engaged with.

The fixing portion 16 and the wall portion 21 are the claw portions 14.
It does not necessarily have to be formed in the vicinity of the engaging portion 15. -The fixed part 16 and the wall part 21 do not need to be rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, and may have a shape including the outer side walls 16a and 21a.

Next, in addition to the technical ideas described in the claims, the technical ideas grasped by the above-described embodiments will be listed below. (1) In the electrical junction box according to claim 1, the clamp member has an engaging portion that can engage with the fixing portion only when the fixing portion and the outer surface of the wall are flush with each other. However, the fixing portion and the wall are formed so as to project from one side surface of each of the cases, and the projecting lengths thereof are such that the two outer surfaces become non-coplanar when the cases are imperfectly fitted to each other. Be set to. According to the invention described in this technical idea (1), when the two cases are incompletely fitted to each other, the outer surface of the fixing part and the wall become non-coplanar, so that the clamp member is fixed to the fixing part in the same state. I can't let you do it. Therefore, it is possible to easily detect the fitting state between the cases depending on whether or not the clamp member can be fixed to the fixing portion.

(2) Claims 1 and 2, technical idea (1)
In the electrical junction box according to any one of items 1 to 3, the fixing portion has an insertion hole through which the base end side of the clamp member can be inserted. According to the invention described in this technical idea (2), when the clamp member is fixed to the fixing portion, the base end side of the clamp member may be inserted into the insertion hole. Therefore, the clamp member can be easily fixed to the fixing portion.

(3) In the electrical junction box according to any one of claims 1 and 2 and technical ideas (1) and (2), the fixing portion and the wall lock the cases with each other. Be provided near the lock mechanism for fixing the According to the invention described in this technical idea (3), the clamp member is provided with:
That is, only when both cases are completely fitted,
It can be fixed to the fixed part. Therefore, the incompletely fitted state between both cases can be detected more reliably.

(4) Claims 1 and 2, technical idea (1)
~ In the electrical junction box according to any one of (3),
The first case may be a lower case and the second case may be an upper case.

(5) Claims 1 and 2, technical idea (1)
~ In the electrical junction box according to any one of (4),
The fixing portion is formed so as to project from one side surface of the first case, and includes a space portion that allows a base end portion of the clamp member to enter.

(6) Claims 1 and 2, technical idea (1)
~ In the electrical junction box according to any one of (5),
A clamp member having an engaging piece that can be engaged with the fixing portion and a restricting piece that presses the wall in a state of being fixed to the fixing portion and restricts rattling with the fixing portion is attached to the fixing portion. Being done. According to the invention described in this technical idea (6), it is possible to reliably prevent rattling between the fixed portion and the clamp member.

[0038]

As described in detail above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the fitting state of both cases is determined depending on whether or not the clamp member can be fixed to the fixing portion. Can be easily detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical junction box according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged back view showing a part of the electrical junction box of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged back view showing a part of the electrical junction box of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an assembling procedure of the electrical junction box of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Electrical junction box, 12 ... Lower case as first case, 13 ... Upper case as second case,
14 ... Claw portion, 15 ... Engaging portion, 16 ... Fixed portion, 19 ... Space portion, 20 ... Communication hole, 21 ... Wall portion as wall, 22 ... Notch, 31 ... Clamper as clamp member, 33 ... Wire Harness.

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electrical connection in which a case body composed of a first case and a second case that can be fitted into the first case is provided with a fixing portion for fixing a clamp member for regulating a wire harness. In the box, the fixing portion is provided in the first case, and a wall having a shape surrounding the fixing portion is provided at a location corresponding to the fixing portion in the second case, and the fixing portion and the wall are provided. , The outer side surfaces of the fixing part and the wall are the same only when the two cases are in the completely fitted state.
One side of each of the above cases with a protruding length that becomes one plane
Formed so as to project from the outer surface of the fixed portion and the outer surface of the wall.
A clan having an engaging portion that can engage with the fixed portion only when
Electrical connection box, characterized in that the flop member was impossible fixable out and disconnect before Symbol fixing unit. 2. The fixed portion can be engaged with the fixed portion.
The engaging piece and the wall in the state of being fixed to the fixing portion.
Equipped with a restricting piece that presses to prevent rattling with the fixed part
Electrical connection box according to claim 1, characterized that you clamp member is attached that.