Locking structure, electronic component unit and wire harness

A locking structure includes a locking recess that is formed in a recessed shape on one of a housing which houses an electronic component and a holding member to which the housing is assembled; and a locking protrusion that is formed in a protrusion shape capable of being fitted to the locking recess on the other of the housing or the holding member and capable of being locked to the locking recess. The locking recess has a recess side corner that is formed in a curved shape at an end of the recess side locking surface that is a locking surface with the locking protrusion, and the locking protrusion has a protrusion side corner formed in a curved shape and facing the recess side corner at an end of the protrusion side locking surface that is a locking surface with the locking recess.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-025673 filed in Japan on Feb. 12, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a locking structure, an electronic component unit and a wire harness.

2. Description of the Related Art

As an electronic component unit provided on a conventional wire harness mounted on a vehicle or the like, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-198347 discloses an electronic component module that has an electronic component substrate in which a plurality of bus bars is attached to an insulating plate and a plurality of electronic components is electrically connected to the plurality of bus bars, and a case that houses the electronic component substrate, and in which external terminal connections provided on each bus bar are collected to form a connector connecting portion. Since the electronic component module is configured so that the connector connecting portion is disposed between the plurality of electronic components, the size reduction of the unit is attained.

Incidentally, although the electronic component module described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-198347 described above, for example, is configured to be assembled to a holding member such as an electric connection box via a locking structure such as a locking unit provided on the case (housing), there is room for further improvement from the viewpoint of improvement in durability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a locking structure, an electronic component unit and a wire harness capable of improving the durability.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a locking structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes a locking recess that is formed in a recessed shape on one of a housing which houses an electronic component and a holding member to which the housing is assembled; and a locking protrusion that is formed in a protrusion shape capable of being fitted to the locking recess on the other of the housing or the holding member, and capable of being locked to the locking recess, wherein the locking recess has a recess side corner that is formed in a curved shape at an end of the recess side locking surface that is a locking surface with the locking protrusion, and the locking protrusion has a protrusion side corner that is formed in a curved shape and faces the recess side corner at an end of the protrusion side locking surface that is a locking surface with the locking recess.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure that a curvature of the protrusion side corner is equal to or less than a curvature of the recess side corner.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure that the recess side corners are formed at both ends of the recess side locking surface, and the protrusion side corners are formed at both ends of the protrusion side locking surface.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure that the recess side locking surface and the protrusion side locking surface are inclined with respect to a horizontal direction in a state in which the housing is assembled to the holding member.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to configure that the locking recess is divided by a locking shaft in which the recess side locking surface is formed, and a pair of arm portions which supports both ends of the locking shaft, and the recess side corner is formed in a connecting portion between the locking shaft and the arm portion.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, an electronic component unit according to still another aspect of the present invention includes an electronic component; and a housing that houses the electronic component and is assembled to a holding member via a locking structure, wherein the locking structure has a locking recess that is formed in a recessed shape on one of the housing and the holding member, and a locking protrusion that is formed in a protrusion shape capable of being fitted to the locking recess on the other of the housing or the holding member and capable of being locked to the locking recess, the locking recess has a recess side corner that is formed in a curved shape at an end of a locking surface with the locking protrusion, and the locking protrusion has a protrusion side corner that is formed in a curved shape at an end of a locking surface with the locking recess.

In order to achieve the above mentioned object, a wire harness according to still another aspect of the present invention includes an electric wire; and an electronic component unit that is electrically connected to the electric wire, wherein the electronic component unit includes an electronic component, and a housing that houses the electronic components and is assembled to the holding member via a locking structure, the locking structure has a locking recess that is formed in a recessed shape on one of the housing and the holding member, and a locking protrusion that is formed in a protrusion shape capable of being fitted to the locking recess on the other of the housing or the holding member and capable of being locked to the locking recess, the locking recess has a recess side corner that is formed in a curved shape at an end of a locking surface with the locking protrusion, and the locking protrusion has a protrusion side corner that is formed in a curved shape at an end of a locking surface with the locking recess.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Further, constituent elements in the embodiments include elements easily replaceable by those skilled in the art or substantially identical elements.

Embodiment

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating a schematic structure of an electric connection box to which the electronic component unit according to an embodiment is applied.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 4is a perspective view illustrating a bus bar of the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 5is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an insert bus bar plate of the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view of a locking structure applied to the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 7is a top view of the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 8is a side view of a short-side wall surface side of the electronic component unit according to the embodiment.FIG. 9is an enlarged top view of an electronic component unit housing in which the electronic component unit according to the embodiment is housed.FIG. 10is a partially cutaway enlarged perspective view of the electronic component unit housing in which the electronic component unit according to the embodiment is housed.FIG. 11is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of an electric connection box to which an electronic component unit according to a modified example is applied. Further,FIGS. 1 and 11illustrate an upper cover of the electric connection box with alternate long and two short dashes line.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, an electronic component unit1according to this embodiment constitutes an electronic component module that is detachably assembled to an electric connection box100mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. Here, the electric connection box100is incorporated in a wire harness150, and is intended to aggregate and house electric components such as a connector, a fuse, a relay, a branch portion and an electronic control unit that make up connection processing components such as electric wires therein. The wire harness150includes an electric wire151, and an electric connection box100(the electronic component unit1) electrically connected with the electric wire151. The electric connection box100, for example, is installed in an engine room of the vehicle and a lower portion of a vehicle body, and is connected between a power supply such as a battery and various electronic devices mounted inside the vehicle. The electric connection box100distributes the power supplied from the power supply into the various electronic devices in the vehicle. Although the electric connection box100is referred to as a junction box, a fuse box, a relay box or the like in some cases, in this embodiment, they are collectively referred to as an electric connection box.

In the electric connection box100illustrated inFIG. 1, various electronic components102are housed in a housing space inside a box main body101as a holding member. The box main body101, for example, is configured to include a body103, an upper cover104, a lower cover105and the like. The box main body101has a three-layer division structure in which the body103, the upper cover104and the lower cover105are divided. The body103, the upper cover104and the lower cover105are formed of an insulating synthetic resin. The body103is a main member which forms the housing space in which the electronic components102are assembled. The body103is formed in a substantially square tubular shape, and in a state in which the electric connection box100is connected to the engine room or the like, an opening is located on a vertically upper side and a vertically lower side. The upper cover104is a lid-like member that closes the opening of the vertically upper side of the body103. The lower cover105is a dish-like (tray-like) member that closes the opening of the vertically lower side of the body103. In the box main body101, the upper cover104is assembled to the vertically upper side of the body103, and the lower cover105is assembled to the vertically lower side of the body103so that the opening of the vertically upper side of the body103faces the opening of the upper cover104, and the opening of the vertically lower side of the body103faces the opening of the lower cover105. In the box main body101, the upper cover104and the lower cover105are locked with respect to the body103via various types of locking mechanisms106. Further, a laminating direction of the body103, the upper cover104, and the lower cover105follows a vertical direction typically in a state in which the electric connection box100is connected to the engine room or the like. However, depending on the installation situations of the electric connection box100, the laminating direction may be installed to have a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction.

Further, as the various electronic components102assembled to the housing space inside the box main body101, the electronic component unit1of this embodiment is included, together with a connector, a fuse, a relay, a branch portion and an electronic control unit as described above. In the electric connection box100, the above-described various electronic components102are assembled inside a plurality of cavities formed by various shapes of partition walls107integrally formed with the body103, and various shapes of blocks108detachably assembled to the body103. In this case, the partition wall107, the block108and the like are also formed of an insulating synthetic resin, similarly to the body103or the like. Further, in the electric connection box100, terminals or the like of the electric wire151wired via an opening109or the like are fitted and are electrically connected to the cavity in which various electronic components102are assembled, from the vertically lower side.

Further, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 to 5, the electronic component unit1of this embodiment includes an insert bus bar plate2as a plate, a housing3and a connector4as a connecting portion with the electric wire151, and the insert bus bar plate2is assembled into the housing3.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the insert bus bar plate2is a substrate in which a metallic bus bar24is incorporated inside a resin material23and an electronic components22are mounted. The insert bus bar plate2is configured to include a substrate main body21and an electronic component22.

The substrate main body21is configured so that a plurality of electrically conductive bus bars24is incorporated inside the resin material23, in other words, the plurality of bus bars24is covered with the insulating resin material23to be insulated from each other. The substrate main body21is formed, for example, by insert-molding of injecting an insulating resin around the bus bars24disposed in a metal mold formed of a conductive metal to integrate the metal and resin.

A bus bar assembly24abefore molding illustrated inFIG. 4illustrates an assembly of the bus bar24before insert-molding in which a plurality of bus bars24is connected by a carrier24b. The bus bar assembly24abefore molding is formed by a conductive metal, and, for example, is formed in a substantially plate shape as a whole by press-machining or the like. The bus bar assembly24abefore molding is inserted into the insert molding metal mold in a state in which terminals24cof each bus bar24are bent. The substrate main body21is formed by injecting an insulating resin around the bus bar assembly24abefore molding inserted to the metal mold to integrally mold each of the bus bars24and the resin material23. Further, in the substrate main body21, the carrier24bis cut after integrally molding each of the bus bars24and the resin material23. The substrate main body21is formed in a rectangular plate shape as a whole.

As illustrated inFIG. 5or the like, in the insert-molded substrate main body21, terminals24cof the respective bus bars24are located at a substantially center of a short-side direction (a first width direction) side by side along a long-side direction (a second width direction perpendicular to the first width direction). Here, the terminals24care aligned in two rows along the long-side direction. Each terminal24cis erected substantially perpendicularly to a mounting surface25that is a surface on which the electronic component22is mounted on the substrate main body21. That is, the terminals24cprotrude and extend from the mounting surface25along a direction perpendicular to the short-side direction and the long-side direction. The respective terminals24care located between the plurality of electronic components22to be described later in the short-side direction. In other words, the plurality of terminals24cis concentrated at the center of the mounting surface25. Moreover, in the substrate main body21, the end of the side of the bus bar24connected to the carrier24bthat is cut after the insert-molding becomes an exposed end24dexposed from the resin material23at the end surface of the substrate main body21. That is, in the insert bus bar plate2, a plurality of exposed ends24dof the bus bar24is exposed to the end surface. The exposed ends24dare formed on each of a pair of long-side end surfaces facing each other in the substrate main body21. A plurality of exposed ends24dis exposed side by side in the long-side direction at each long-side end surface.

The electronic component22is mounted on the mounting surface25of the substrate main body21, and here, the electronic component22is an element which exhibits various functions. The respective terminals of the electronic component22are electrically connected to a predetermined bus bar24, and the electronic component22is fixed on the rear surface of the mounting surface25by soldering or the like. The electronic component22of the present embodiment, for example, is a relay. That is, the electronic component unit1of this embodiment is a relay unit module. In the insert bus bar plate2of this embodiment, total six relays as the electronic components22are provided so that three relays are provided side by side on each of both sides in the short-side direction of the respective terminals24calong the long-side direction. In other words, in the insert bus bar plate2, the electronic components22are arranged in two rows, and a plurality of terminals24cis disposed in two rows between the electronic components22of the two rows. The insert bus bar plate2of the present embodiment is basically in the form of a substantially linear symmetry with respect to the center line (that is, the center line in the short-side direction) along the long-side direction of the substrate main body21, and the placement of the terminal24cand the electronic component22is a substantially linear symmetry. Further, an element such as a relay resistance is also mounted on the insert bus bar plate2, in addition to the six relays as the electronic component22.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the housing3holds the assembled insert bus bar plate2. The housing3of the present embodiment has a base cover31as a base section, a top cover32as a lid and a connector fitting portion33as a connection fitting portion, and the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the inside partitioned by the base cover31and the top cover32. The insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31. The top cover32covers the insert bus bar plate2assembled to the base cover31from the opposite side of the base cover31. The connector4as a connecting portion between the terminal24cof the bus bar24and the electric wire151is fitted to the connector fitting portion33, and the connector fitting portion33is integrally formed on the base cover31. The base cover31, the top cover32and the connector fitting portion33are formed of an insulating synthetic resin.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the base cover31is a dish-like (tray-like) member. The base cover31is configured to include a rectangular frame-like section31aas a wall formed in a substantially square shape, and a bottom31bthat closes the rectangular frame-like section31a. The bottom31bis formed in a rectangular plate shape having the same shape as the substrate main body21of the insert bus bar plate2. The rectangular frame-like section31ais formed to surround the edge of the bottom31b. The bottom31bis formed integrally with the rectangular frame-like section31ain the middle of the rectangular frame-like section31a(seeFIG. 7or the like). In the rectangular frame-like section31a, notches31dare formed in each of a pair of long-side wall surfaces31calong the long-side direction of the bottom31b, and engaging claws31efor being engaged to the top cover32are formed. Further, in the rectangular frame-like section31a, locking claws31gfor being engaged to the box main body101of the electric connection box100as a holding member are formed in each of a pair of short-side wall surfaces31falong the short-side direction of the bottom31b. Further, the locking claw31gwill be described in detail later. The base cover31is formed in a rectangular tubular shape (partially cut by the notch31d) in which the middle of the rectangular frame-like section31ais blocked by the bottom31b. In the base cover31, a space surrounded by the rectangular frame-like section31aand the bottom31bis divided as a housing space31hthat houses the electronic components22of the insert bus bar plate2.

In the base cover31, a central wall-shaped section31iis formed at the center of the bottom31b. The central wall-shaped section31iis formed so that the bottom31bprotrudes into the housing space31hside. The central wall-shaped section31iis formed along the long-side direction at the substantially center in the short-side direction of the bottom31b. The central wall-shaped section31iextends from one short-side wall surface31fto the other short-side wall surface31falong the long-side direction. On the leading end surface of the central wall-shaped section31i, a plurality of terminal fitting holes31jand a pair of screw holes31kare formed. The terminal fitting holes31jare holes to which the terminals24cof the respective bus bars24described above are fitted, when the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31, and the terminal fitting holes are formed by the number and at the positions corresponding to the respective terminals24c. Here, the terminal fitting holes31jare aligned in two rows along the long-side direction. Screw holes31kare holes to which screws26for fastening the insert bus bar plate2to the base cover31are screwed, when the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31.

Furthermore, in the base cover31, the rear surface side of the central wall-shaped section31i, that is, the opposite side to the housing space31hhas a hollow shape, and the hollow section is formed as a connector fitting portion33to which the connector4serving as a connecting portion with the electric wire151is fitted. The terminal24cof the above-described bus bars24is exposed into the connector fitting portion33via the respective terminal fitting holes31jin a state in which the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31. Here, the connector fitting portions33are formed at two locations, and total two connectors4are fitted so that each connector is fitted to each of the two connector fitting portions33. That is, in the electronic component unit1of this embodiment, the two connectors4are connected to the terminals24cof the plurality of bus bars24.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the top cover32is a lid-like member. The top cover32is configured to include a rectangular frame-like section32aas the wall body formed in the substantially square shape, and a ceiling32bthat closes one opening of the rectangular frame-like section32a. The ceiling32bis formed in a rectangular plate shape having the same shape as the substrate main body21of the insert bus bar plate2, and the bottom31bof the base cover31. The rectangular frame-like section32ais formed so as to be erected at the edge of the ceiling32b. In the rectangular frame-like section32a, engaging recesses32dfor being locked to the base cover31are formed on a pair of long-side wall surfaces32calong the long-side direction of the ceiling32b. Further, in the rectangular frame-like section32a, notches32fare formed on each of a pair of short-side wall surfaces32ealong the short-side direction of the ceiling32b. The top cover32is formed in a rectangular tubular shape (partially cut by the notch32f) in which one end is open and the other end is closed by the rectangular frame-like section32aand the ceiling32b.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, the electronic component unit1configured as described above constitutes a single module by the connector4fitted to the connector fitting portion33in a state in which the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31, and the opposite side of the insert bus bar plate2to the base cover31is covered with the top cover32.

More specifically, in the electronic component unit1, in a positional relation in which the electronic component22of the insert bus bar plate2is housed in the housing space31hof the base cover31, that is, in a positional relation in which the mounting surface25(seeFIG. 5) on which the electronic component22is mounted faces the bottom31bof the base cover31, the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31. In the electronic component unit1, in a state in which the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31, the terminals24cof the plurality of bus bars24of the insert bus bar plate2are fitted to the respective terminal fitting holes31jof the base cover31, and the terminals24care exposed to the interior of the connector fitting portion33in a direction perpendicular to the short-side direction and the long-side direction. In the electronic component unit1, when the screw26is inserted into a screw hole27of the insert bus bar plate2and is screwed with the screw hole31kof the base cover31, the insert bus bar plate2and the base cover31are fastened. In the electronic component unit1, in a state in which the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the base cover31, each of the three electronic components22is located on both sides in the short-side direction of the central wall-shaped section31i.

In the electronic component unit1, in a positional relation in which the insert bus bar plate2assembled to the base cover31is covered with the top cover32from the opposite side of the base cover31, the top cover32is mounted on the base cover31or the like. In the electronic component unit1, in a state in which the top cover32is attached at an appropriate position, when the respective engaging recesses32dof the top cover32side are engaged with the respective engaging claw31eof the base cover31side, the top cover32is assembled to the base cover31. As illustrated inFIG. 3or the like, in the electronic component unit1, in a state in which the top cover32is assembled to the base cover31, the rectangular frame-like section32aof the top cover32is located to overlap the outside of the rectangular frame-like section31aof the base cover31, and the locking claw31gis exposed from the notch32fof the top cover32. Further, in the electronic component unit1, when the connector4is fitted to the connector fitting portion33along a direction perpendicular to the short-side direction and the long-side direction, the connector4is connected to the terminals24cof the plurality of bus bars24and is assembled at a predetermined position inside the box main body101of the electric connection box100via the respective locking claws31g.

Further, the laminating direction of the base cover31, the insert bus bar plate2and the top cover32follows the vertical direction in a state in which the electric connection box100is connected to the engine room or the like similarly to the above-described electric connection box100. However, in some cases, depending on the installation situations of the electric connection box100, the electric connection box may be installed so that the laminating direction has a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction.

Incidentally, in the electronic component unit1of this embodiment, the housing3is assembled to the box main body101as a holding member via a locking structure40configured to include respective locking claws31g. Here, the electronic component unit1is formed on the inner wall surface of the body103(seeFIG. 1) that forms the box main body101as a holding member. Further, since the locking structure40of this embodiment is formed in a predetermined shape, improvement in durability is achieved.

Specifically, as illustrated inFIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, the locking structure40includes a locking recess41and a locking claw31gas a locking protrusion. The locking recess41is formed in a recessed shape in one of the housing3and the body103, here, in the body103. The locking claw31gcan be locked to the locking recess41formed in a protruding shape engageable with the locking recess41on the other of the housing3and the body103, here, in the base cover31of the housing3.

In the electronic component unit1of this embodiment, a pair of locking claws31gand locking recesses41are defined as a set, and four sets of locking structures40are provided. Here, each of the two sets of locking structure40is provided on the short-side wall surface31fof the base cover31. Further, one of the locking structures40provided by two sets on each short-side wall surface31fforms a first locking structure40A, and the other thereof forms a second locking structure40B. The first locking structure40A is a locking structure40that locks the housing3to the body103when assembling the housing3to the body103in the first direction, here, from vertically upper side, and prevents the housing3from escaping vertically upward from the body103. Meanwhile, the second locking structure40B is a locking structure40that locks the housing3to the body103when assembling the housing3to the body103in the second direction opposite to the first direction, here, from the vertically lower side, and prevents the housing3from escaping vertically downward from the body103. Further, in the following description, when there is no need to particularly distinguish the first locking structure40A and the second locking structure40B, they are simply referred to as the locking structure40, and the common description will be provided.

As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the locking claws31gof each locking structure40are provided on each surface of the short-side wall surface31fof the base cover31. The locking claws31gare formed to protrude in an outward direction (for example, a normal direction of the short-side wall surface31f) from the top of the surface of the short-side wall surface31f. The locking claws31gof the first locking structure40A and the locking claws31gof the second locking structure40B are arranged side by side along the short-side direction in each of the short-side wall surfaces31f, and when the short-side wall surface31fis viewed from outside, the locking claws31gof the first locking structure40A are disposed on the left side in the short-side direction, and the locking claws31gof the second locking structure40B are disposed on the right side in the short-side direction. In addition, the locking claws31gof the first locking structure40A and the locking claws31gof the second locking structure40B are provided so that the respective vertical positions are different from each other, and the vertical position of the locking claws31gof the first locking structure40A is disposed above the locking claws31gof the second locking structure40B.

As illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, the locking recesses41of each locking structure40are formed as recess-shaped sections on an inner wall surface of an electronic component unit housing110provided on the body103.

Here, the electronic component unit housing110is a section that houses the electronic component unit1and that constitutes a cavity formed in a part of the body103. The electronic component unit housing110is formed in the housing space of the body103by a partition wall107, and is formed in a rectangular shape that is substantially the same shape as the electronic component unit1in a plan view (as viewed in the vertical direction) to allow the electronic component unit1to be fitted onto the inner circumferential side. The electronic component unit housing110has a pair of the short-side inner circumferential surfaces110cand a pair of long-side inner circumferential surfaces110d, as a plurality of inner circumferential surfaces disposed on the outer circumferential side of the outer circumferential surface of the electronic component unit1, when fitting the electronic component unit1. The short-side inner circumferential surface110cfaces the short-side wall surface31fand the short-side wall surface32ein a state in which the electronic component unit1is housed in the electronic component unit housing110. The long-side inner circumferential surface110dfaces the long-side wall surface32cin a state in which the electronic component unit1is housed in the electronic component unit housing110. The electronic component unit housing110is open on both the vertically upper and lower sides. The electronic component unit1is configured so that it can be fitted to the electronic component unit housing110from the vertically upper side and can also be fitted to the electronic component unit housing110from the vertically lower side. That is, the electronic component unit1is attachable to and detachable from the body103of the electric connection box100from both the vertically upper and lower sides.

Further, in the electronic component unit housing110, on the short-side inner circumferential surfaces110c, total four lock arms111are provided so that each lock arm is provided at the position facing the respective locking claws31g. The lock arm111is arranged side by side along the short-side direction, and when the short-side inner circumferential surface110cis viewed from the inside, the lock arm111facing the locking claw31gof the first locking structure40A (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “lock arm111of the first locking structure40A”, in some cases) is disposed on the right side in the short-side direction, and the lock arm111facing the locking claw31gof the second locking structure40B (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “lock arm111of the second locking structure40B”, in some cases) is disposed on the left side in the short-side direction. Further, although the lock arm111of the first locking structure40A and the lock arm111of the second locking structure40B are made up of the same constituent, each constituent is disposed by being inverted in the vertical direction.

Each lock arm111has a locking shaft111aextending in the short-side direction, and a pair of arm portions111bthat connect the both ends of the locking shaft111aand the short-side inner circumferential surface110c. The locking shaft111ais a section formed in a rectangular plate shape. A pair of arm portions111bextends parallel to each other along a direction in which the electronic component unit housing110is open (a fitting direction of the electronic component unit1), one end is connected to the short-side inner circumferential surface110cto constitute a proximal end, and the other end constitutes a leading end to support both ends of the locking shaft111a. Gaps of each pair of arm portions111bis taken larger than the length in the short-side direction of the locking claw31gso that the locking claw31gcan be fitted between the pair of arm portions111b. The locking shaft111aextends along a direction that intersects with the extending direction of the arm portion111b(a direction intersecting with the fitting direction of the electronic component unit1). Here, in the lock arm111of the first locking structure40A, the leading ends of the pair of arm portions111bare oriented to the vertically upper side, and the locking shaft111ais located on the vertically upper side. Meanwhile, in the lock arm111of the second locking structure40B, the leading ends of the pair of arm portions111bare oriented in the vertically lower side, and the locking shaft111ais located on the vertically lower side.

The locking recesses41of each locking structure40are divided by the locking shaft111aand a pair of arm portions111bconstituting each lock arm111. That is, the locking recess41is a space section that is surrounded in a substantially U shape by the locking shaft111aand the pair of arm portions111b. That is, the locking recess41of the first locking structure40A is formed by the lock arm111of the first locking structure40A, is open vertically downward, and is configured to be able to insert the locking claw31ginto the gap of the pair of arm portions111bfrom the vertically lower side. The locking recess41of the second locking structure40B is formed by the lock arm111of the second locking structure40B, is open vertically upward, and is configured to be able to insert the locking claw31ginto the gap of the pair of arm portions111bfrom the vertically upper side. Here, in other words, the locking recess41is formed as a recess-shaped section by a through-hole passing through the respective lock arms111. However, the locking recess may not penetrate, that is, the locking recess may be formed as a bottomed hole-like recess, without being limited thereto.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 8, in each locking structure40configured as described above, a predetermined surface of the locking claw31gconstitutes a protrusion side locking surface31lthat is a locking surface (a lock surface) with the locking recess41. The locking claw31gof the first locking structure40A constitutes a protrusion side locking surface31lin which the vertically upper surface is locked by abutting against the locking shaft111athat divides the locking recess41. The locking claw31gof the second locking structure40B constitutes protrusion side locking surface31lin which the vertically lower side surface is locked by abutting against the locking shaft111athat divides the locking recess41. Moreover, as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 10, each locking structure40constitutes a recess side locking surface41ain which a predetermined surface of the locking recess41is a locking surface (lock surface) with the locking claw31g. The locking recess41of the first locking structure40A constitutes a recess side locking surface41ain which the vertically lower side surface of the locking shaft111aabuts against the protrusion side locking surface31lof the locking claw31g. The locking recess41of the second locking structure40B constitutes a recess side locking surface41ain which the vertically upper surface of the locking shaft111aabuts against the protrusion side locking surface31lof the locking claw31g. In each locking structure40, when each locking claw31gof the electronic component unit1side is inserted into the locking recess41formed by the lock arm111of the body103side, and a contact state between the protrusion side locking surface31land the recess side locking surface41ais maintained, the locking claw31gis locked to each locking recess41. As a result, each locking structure40can lock and assemble the housing3of the electronic component unit1to the body103. Thus, the electronic component unit1can be prevented from escaping from the body103. More specifically, in a state in which the electronic component unit1is fitted to the electronic component unit housing110, when the locking claw31gof the first locking structure40A is locked to the locking recess41, the electronic component unit1is prevented from escaping vertically upward from the body103. Meanwhile, in a state in which the electronic component unit1is fitted to the electronic component unit housing110, when the locking claw31gof the second locking structure40B is locked to the locking recess41, the electronic component unit1is prevented from escaping vertically downward from the body103.

Further, as illustrated inFIGS. 6, 7 and 8, in the electronic component unit1of this embodiment, a pair of guide members31mis provided on the short-side wall surface31fon both end sides in the short-side direction of the two locking claws31g. In addition, as illustrated inFIGS. 9 and 10, in the electronic component unit housing110, a guide receiving section110eis provided on the short-side inner circumferential surface110c. The guide receiving section is fitted to the guide member31mto guide the guide member31m, when the electronic component unit1is fitted to the electronic component unit housing110. The guide member31mis provided to extend to the positions of the upper and lower sides of the vertical positions of the two locking claws31gprovided on the same surface. Thus, when the electronic component unit1is fitted to the electronic component unit housing110from one of the top and bottom in the vertical direction, before the locking claw31gis locked to the locking recess41, since the guide member31mis fitted to the guide receiving section110e, it is possible to easily perform positioning of the electronic component unit1to the electronic component unit housing110.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6, 8 and 10, in each locking structure40of this embodiment, the locking recess41has a recess side corner41bof a predetermined shape, and the locking claw31ghas a protrusion side corner31nof a predetermined shape.

The recess side corner41bis formed in a curved shape at the end of the recess side locking surface41a, and the protrusion side corner31nis formed in a curved shape at the end of the protrusion side locking surface31l. Here, the recess side corners41bare formed at both ends of the recess side locking surface41a, and similarly, the protrusion side corners31nare formed at both ends of the protrusion side locking surface31l. More specifically, the recess side locking surface41ais formed in a curved shape in the connecting portion between the locking shaft111aof the lock arm111and the arm portion111b. The protrusion side corner31nis formed at the position facing the recess side locking surface41ain a state in which the locking claw31gis locked to the recess side locking surface41a, that is, on both shoulders of the locking claw31g. Further, typically, a curvature of the protrusion side corner31nis set to be equal to or less than a curvature of the recess side corner41b.

According to the above-described locking structure40, it includes the locking recess41formed in a recessed shape in one of the housing3that houses the electronic component22, and the body103to which the housing3is assembled; and the locking claw31gformed in a protrusion shape fittable to the locking recess41on the other of the housing3or the body103and lockable to the locking recess41. The locking recess41has a recess side corner41bformed in a curved shape at an end of the recess side locking surface41athat is a locking surface with the locking claw31g, and the locking claw31ghas a protrusion side corner31nthat is formed in a curved surface shape at the end of the protrusion side locking surface31las the locking surface with the locking recess41and faces the recess side corner41b. According to the electronic component unit1as described above, it includes the electronic component22, and the housing3that houses the electronic component22and is assembled to the body103via the locking structure40. According to the wire harness150as described above, it includes the electric wire151, and the electronic component unit1that is electrically connected to the electric wire151.

Therefore, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150can lock and assemble the housing3in which electronic components22are housed to the body103, when the locking claw31gis locked to the locking recess41. Further, according to the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150, since the recess side corner41bof the end of the recess side locking surface41aof the locking recess41, and the protrusion side corner31nof the end of the protrusion side locking surface31lof the locking claw31gare both formed in a curved shape, it is possible to bring the recess side corner41band the protrusion side corner31ninto surface-contact with each other, in other words, it is possible to avoid the point contact. Thus, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150can relax the stress concentration on the recess side corner41band the protrusion side corner31n. As a result, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150can improve the durability.

Furthermore, according to the locking structure40as described above, the curvature of the protrusion side corner31nis equal to or less than the curvature of the recess side corner41b. Therefore, according to the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150, since the curved surface of the protrusion side corner31ncan be the same as or can be relax than the curved surface of the recess side corner41b, it is possible to allow the protrusion side corner31nto reliably abut against the recess side corner41b, thereby relaxing the stress concentration.

Here, according to the locking structure40as described above, as described above, depending on the installation situations of the electric connection box100, in a state in which the housing3is assembled to the body103, in some cases, the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lmay be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction (for example, seeFIG. 6). In the locking structure40, when the laminating direction of the base cover31, the insert bus bar plate2and the top cover32has a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction, and the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lare inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, in a state in which the electric connection box100is mounted on the vehicle, for example, there is a tendency that the recess side corner41band the protrusion side corner31nare likely to collide with each other with the vertical movement depending on the vehicle vibration or the like. Also, in this case, in the locking structure40, the vertical clearance is likely to relatively increase under the influence of the clearance or the like which is set between the locking recess41(the lock arm111) and the locking claw31g, and as compared to a case where the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lare horizontally installed, a relatively movable distance between the protrusion side corner31nand the recess side corner41btends to relatively increase. Thus, in the locking structure40, in a state in which the electric connection box100is mounted on the vehicle, for example, an amount of stroke at the time of collision of the protrusion side corner31nand the recess side corner41bwith the vertical movement depending on the vehicle vibration or the like relatively increases, and as a result, collision energy tends to relatively increase in the collision.

In contrast, by forming the recess side corner41band the protrusion side corner31nin a curved shape as described above, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150relax the stress concentration upon the collision between the protrusion side corner31nand the recess side corner41b. Therefore, according to the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150, even when the electronic component unit1is installed to be inclined and the collision energy between the recess side corner41band the protrusion side corner31nis relatively large, it is possible to appropriately improve the durability. In other words, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150can remarkably exhibit the effect of improving durability, by being applied to a case where the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lare inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

Also, according to the locking structure40as described above, the recess side corners41bare formed at both ends of the recess side locking surface41a, and the protrusion side corners31nare formed at both ends of the protrusion side locking surface31l. Therefore, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150can appropriately improve the durability, even when a position where a collision energy between the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lis likely to relatively increases and the position changes, depending on the state of the clearance between the locking recess41(lock arm111) and the locking claw31g, and the degree of the slope of the electronic component unit1, the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31l. That is, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150can easily improve durability, even when the electronic component unit1, the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lare installed at any slope angle, that is, it is possible to improve versatility.

Furthermore, according to the locking structure40as described above, the locking recess41is divided by the locking shaft111ain which the recess side locking surface41ais formed, and a pair of arm portions111bthat supports both ends of the locking shaft111a, and the recess side corner41bis formed in the connecting portion between the locking shaft111aand the arm portion111b. Therefore, the locking structure40, the electronic component unit1and the wire harness150form the locking recess41by the locking shaft111aand the arm portion111b, and can lock the locking claw31gto the locking recess41.

Further, the locking structure, the electronic component unit and the wire harness according to the embodiment of the present invention can be variously modified within the scope of the claims, without being limited to the above-described embodiments.

Although the description has been given of a case where the electronic component unit1constitutes an electronic component module detachably assembled to the electric connection box100, it is not limited thereto. The configuration of the electronic component unit of this embodiment, for example, may be applied to the electric connection box100itself.

The electronic component22described above is described as a relay, but it is not limited thereto, and may be a fuse or the like.

In the above description, although the description has been given of a case where the housing3has a base cover31(base section) and the top cover32(lid), and the insert bus bar plate2is assembled to the inside, it is not limited thereto. The housing3may be configured so that the insert bus bar plate2may be assembled to the top cover32, and each of the base cover31and the top cover32may not be separately configured.

In the above description, the locking structure40has been described such that the locking recess41is formed in the body103as a holding member, and the locking claw31gis formed in the housing3, but it is not limited thereto. The locking recess41may be formed in the housing3, and the locking claw31gmay be formed in the body103as a holding member. Further, in the above description, the electronic component unit1has been described such that a pair of the locking claws31gand locking recesses41are defined as a set, and four sets of locking structures40are provided, but it is not limited thereto. In the locking structure40, the first locking structure40A and the second locking structure40B may not be distinguished from each other.

In the above description, the description has been given of a case where each of the curved protrusion side corner31nand the recess side corner41bis formed at both ends of the protrusion side locking surface31land the recess side locking surface41a, it is not limited thereto. In the locking structure40, the curved protrusion side corners31nand the recess side corner41bmay be provided at the corner in which the collision energy between the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31lis likely to relatively increase, depending on the clearance state between the locking recess41(lock arm111) and the locking claw31g, and the degree of the slope of the electronic component unit1, the recess side locking surface41aand the protrusion side locking surface31l.

Further, as illustrated in an electronic component unit201according to the modified example ofFIG. 11, when unlocking the respective locking claws31gof the locking structures40using an unlocking jig such as a driver to extract the electronic component unit201from the electronic component unit housing110of the body103(seeFIG. 9or the like), a grasping recess50for grasping the electronic component unit201by a pulling jig such as longnose pliers may be provided. The grasping recess50is formed, for example, in a corner of the connecting portion between the rectangular frame-like section32aand the ceiling32bof the top cover32. Thus, when the wall surface of the electronic component unit housing110is set to be high to protect the electronic component unit201, for example, even when the electronic component unit201is not extracted only by the unlocking jig, the electronic component unit201can be appropriately raised by grasping the grasping recess50using the pulling jig, and it is possible to improve the removal of the electronic component unit201.

In the locking structure, the electronic component unit and the wire harness according to the present invention, when a locking protrusion is locked to a locking recess, a housing that houses the electronic component can be locked and assembled to the holding member. Further, according to the locking structure, the electronic component unit and the wire harness, since a recess side corner of an end of a recess side locking surface of the locking recess, and a protrusion side corner of an end of a protrusion side locking surface of a locking protrusion are both formed in a curved shape, the recess side corner and the protrusion side corner can be brought into surface-contact with each other. Thus, it is possible to relax the stress concentration on the recess side corner and the protrusion side corner. As a result, the locking structure, the electronic component unit and the wire harness exhibit an effect capable of improving the durability.