CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application (No. 2018-194887) filed on Oct. 16, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an engagement structure of a bottomed cylindrical cover which includes a substantially rectangular opening portion and a block member which is inserted into the opening portion of the cover. In particular, the present invention relates to the engagement structure of the cover and the block member, which further includes an engagement stabilization mechanism configured to stabilize an engagement state. The present invention also relates to an electronic component module in which the engagement structure is used, an electrical connection box including the electronic component module, and a wire harness.

2. Description of the Related Art

Techniques for an electronic component module and an electrical connection box are disclosed, for example, in JP-A-2017-103916. The electronic component module includes a cover, a substrate which is housed inside the cover from the outside, and a connector block (block member) which is engaged with an opening portion of the cover. The electrical connection box includes the electronic component module and a frame which is configured to house and lock the electronic component module inside the frame. The electrical connection box is mounted on a vehicle. Examples of the electronic component module include a relay module and the like.

The cover and the connector block are engaged by an engagement mechanism formed across the cover and the connector block. The engagement mechanism is disposed and formed so as to be aligned with a long side part of the opening portion of the cover. The connector block is formed with a protrusion (a portion denoted by a reference numeral 55 in JP-A-2017-103916 for stabilizing a state in which the cover and the connector block are engaged by the engagement mechanism. The protrusion is disposed and formed on a short side part of the connector block so as to restrict the long side part of the cover from moving away from an outer surface of the connector block (the long side part of the cover is bent in a direction in which the long side part of the cover is in close contact with the outer surface of the connector block by an action of the protrusion).

In a related art described above, when rattling occurs due to vibration, the protrusion may be worn out. If abrasion occurs, the state of engagement by the engagement mechanism becomes unstable. Therefore, in some cases, there is a problem that the connector block or a substrate may be detached from a case. Therefore, the inventors of the present application considered that a new mechanism which is not a protrusion, that is, a new mechanism which is configured to stabilize the engagement state, needs to be provided together with the engagement mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an aspect of the present invention is to provide an engagement structure of a cover and a block member, which can stabilize an engagement state by an engagement mechanism. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic component module, an electrical connection box, and a wire harness, which use the engagement structure.

The above-described object of the present disclosure is achieved by below-described structures.

(1) An engagement structure of a cover and a block member, the engagement structure including:

a cover having a bottomed cylindrical shape and which includes a substantially rectangular opening portion;

a block member configured to be inserted into the opening portion of the cover;

an engagement mechanism configured to engage the block member with the opening portion; and

an engagement stabilization mechanism configured to stabilize an engagement state of the engagement mechanism,

in which the engagement stabilization mechanism includes a first stabilization mechanism and a second stabilization mechanism,

in which the first stabilization mechanism is configured to permit excessive insertion due to backlash that occurs in the engagement mechanism when the block member is inserted into the opening portion and to restore the excessive insertion after the block member is engaged with the opening portion by the engagement mechanism, and

in which the second stabilization mechanism is configured to perform a slide engagement between the block member and the opening portion when the block member is inserted into the opening portion and to restrict a wall inner surface of the cover from moving away from an outer surface of a side portion of the block member after the slide engagement is completed.

According to the above configuration of the item (1), the first stabilization mechanism and the second stabilization mechanism are provided together with the engagement mechanism which is configured to engage the cover with the block member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent backlash in the engagement mechanism and restrict opening between the wall inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the side portion of the block member to prevent the engagement mechanism from being disengaged by the first stabilization mechanism and the second stabilization mechanism. That is, the engagement state by the engagement mechanism can be stabilized.

(2) For example, the second stabilization mechanism includes:

a concave portion provided on one of the outer surface of the side portion of the block member and the wall inner surface of the cover, and

a convex portion provided on the other of the outer surface of the side portion of the block member and the wall inner surface of the cover,

a T-shaped rib having a substantial T shape in cross section and a convex portion insertion opening which is an insertion part for the convex portion are formed in the concave portion, the T-shaped rib having a first longitudinal rib protruding toward a concave opening from substantially a center of a concave bottom surface of the concave portion and a first lateral rib being continuous with the first longitudinal rib at the concave opening,

the convex portion has a pair of L-shaped ribs which have a substantial L shape in cross section and include a pair of second longitudinal ribs and a pair of second lateral ribs, and

the pair of second longitudinal ribs are inserted into the concave portion via the convex portion insertion opening at both end positions of the first lateral rib in the concave opening and the pair of second lateral ribs are respectively continuous with the pair of second longitudinal ribs so as to be inserted between the concave bottom surface and the first lateral rib.

According to the above configuration of the item (2), the second stabilizing mechanism is configured by the concave portion including the T-shaped rib and the convex portion including the pair of L-shaped ribs. Therefore, one of a better configuration and a better structure can be provided.

(3) For example, a pair of first backlash preventing ribs are provided on the concave portion and act in a direction in which the outer surface of the side portion of the block member and the wall inner surface of the cover move closer to each other, and the pair of first backlash preventing ribs are disposed at a position where the pair of second lateral ribs in the convex portion are in contact with the pair of first backlash preventing ribs.

According to the above configuration of the item (3), the first backlash preventing rib is formed in the concave portion including the T-shaped rib and is brought into contact with the pair of L-shaped ribs of the convex portion. Therefore, backlash between the concave portion and the convex portion can be prevented, thereby opening between the wall inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the side portion of the block member can be restricted.

(4) For example, a pair of second backlash preventing ribs are provided on a concave side surface of the concave portion, and the pair of second backlash preventing ribs are formed in a shape that restricts the pair of L-shaped ribs, which are the convex portion, from being deformed in a separation direction.

According to the above configuration of the item (4), the pair of second backlash preventing rib is formed in the concave portion including the T-shaped rib and is brought into contact with the pair of L-shaped ribs of the convex portion. Therefore, backlash between the concave portion and the convex portion can be prevented, thereby opening between the wall inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the side portion of the block member can be restricted.

(5) For example, the pair of second backlash preventing ribs serve as the first stabilization mechanism.

According to the above configuration of the item (5), the pair of second backlash preventing ribs has a function as the first stabilization mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to prevent backlash in the engagement mechanism at the same place as the opening restriction. According to the present invention, it is possible to integrate the first stabilization mechanism and the second stabilization mechanism.

(6) For example, the second stabilization mechanism is disposed at both sides of the engagement mechanism and/or disposed between the engagement mechanism and other engagement mechanism.

According to the above configuration of the item (6), one of the better disposing of the second stabilization mechanism for the engagement mechanism can be provided.

(7) For example, the first stabilization mechanism includes a cover side inclined surface formed on an edge inner surface of the opening and a block side inclined surface of the block member formed in a shape on which the cover side inclined surface slides.

According to the above configuration of the item (7), one of a better configuration and a better structure of the first stabilization mechanism can be provided.

(8) According to the present invention, there is also provided an electronic component module, including:

a substrate on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted;

a cover having a bottomed cylindrical shape and has an opening portion;

a block member configured to be inserted into the opening portion of the cover in a state that the substrate is held by the block member;

an engagement mechanism configured to engage the block member with the opening portion; and

an engagement stabilization mechanism configured to stabilize an engagement state of the engagement mechanism,

in which the engagement structure according to any one of the above items (1) to (7) is provided on the cover and the block member.

According to the above configuration of the item (8), the engagement state of the cover and the block member is stabilized, so that a better electronic component module can be provided.

(9) According to the present invention, there is also provided an electrical connection box, including:

the electronic component module according to the above item (8);

a frame to which the electronic component module is configured to be assembled; and

a lid member configured to cover a frame opening portion of the frame.

According to the above configuration of the item (9), the electronic component module having the effects described above is provided, so that a better electrical connection box can be provided.

(10) According to the present invention, there is also provided a wire harness, including:

a wire harness body; and

the electric connection box according to the above item (9) provided at an end portion of the wire harness body,

in which the wire harness body is wired in an automobile.

According to the above configuration of the item (10), the electronic component module and the electrical connection box having the effects described above are provided, so that a better wire harness can be provided.

(11) According to the present invention, there is also provided a wire harness, including:

a wire harness body; and

the electronic component module according to the above item (8) provided at an end portion of the wire harness body,

in which the wire harness body is wired in an automobile.

According to the above configuration of the item (11), the electronic component module having the effects described above is provided, so that a better wire harness can be provided.

(12) For example, a cover of the electronic component module is formed with a bracket attaching and detaching portion which is attachable to and detachable from a bracket provided in the automobile.

According to the above configuration of the item (12), attachment of the electronic component module to an automobile can be facilitated.

According to the engagement structure of a cover and a block member in the present invention, the first stabilization mechanism and the second stabilization mechanism are provided together with the engagement mechanism. Therefore, the engagement state by the engagement mechanism can be stabilized. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide better electronic component module, electrical connection box, and wire harness by using the structure having the above effects, that is, the engagement structure of the cover and the block member.

