Cover for onboard electronic device

An onboard electronic device cover configured to be engageably secured to a base member, which is to be fixed to a window glass of a vehicle, to cover an electronic device which is to be held on an installation part, includes: a mutual engaging mechanism capable of mutually engaging the onboard electronic device cover with the base member. The mutual engaging mechanism includes: an engaging part provided to one of the base member and the cover; an engaged part provided to the other of the base member and the cover and capable of engaging with the engaging part; and an urging member configured to urge the engaging part toward the engaged part. When the cover is pushed toward the window glass, the engaging part engages with the engaged part with being urged in a direction following a surface of the window glass by the urging member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cover for onboard electronic device to be mounted in a vehicle interior, and particularly, to a cover configured to be engageably secured to a base member, which is to be fixed to a window glass (including a front glass, a side glass, a rear glass and the like; the same is applied hereunder), and to cover an electronic device such as a camera.

RELATED ART

In a vehicle interior of an automobile, an electronic device such as a front CCTV and a radio wave type radar is mounted as a safety system, and the electronic device is covered with a cover so as to keep an outward appearance thereof. For example,FIGS. 18A and 18Bdepict a camera cover disclosed in Patent Document 1, andFIG. 19depicts a camera cover disclosed in Patent Document 2.

In18A and18B, a camera cover1has a camera accommodation part2configured to accommodate therein a camera and a harness accommodation part3configured to accommodate therein a wire harness to be connected to the camera, and the camera accommodation part2has engaging parts2aato be engaged to pins P, which are parts to be engaged of a front glass FG-side, while being slid in an imaging direction of the camera. In addition, inFIGS. 18A and 18B, the harness accommodation part3has a length X, which is the same as an interval between the camera accommodation part2and a ceiling part RH of the vehicle, an end portion2bof the camera accommodation part2, which is opposite to the imaging direction and the wire harness is to be inserted therein, has a slide recess extending in a direction perpendicular to a glass and a hole portion formed in the perpendicular direction, and the harness accommodation part2has a claw portion that is to be slidably fitted to the slide recess and a convex portion that can be fitted to the hole portion.

InFIG. 19, a camera cover1has an accommodation part2aconfigured to accommodate therein a camera, a wall surface part located at both sides of the accommodation part2ain a vehicle width direction, and an elastic part3made of a material of which stiffness is less than a main body part2including the accommodation part2aand the wall surface parts, protruding rearward from the main body part2and contacting a ceiling part R in a vehicle. In addition, inFIG. 19, the camera cover has pins P protruding from a plurality of brackets BK, which are bonded to a front glass FG, protrude into a vehicle interior and are positioned at an inner side of the wall surface part in the vehicle width direction, toward the wall surface part, and the wall surface part has guides2cfitted to the pins by sliding the cover forward from the rear of the vehicle along the front glass FG.

CITATION LIST

Patent Documents

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In each of Patent Documents 1 and 2, as a structure of mounting the camera cover1(the camera accommodation part2, in Patent Document 1) to the front glass FG, a structure to be engageably secured by a mutual engaging means capable of mutually engaging with each other is adopted. In the mutual engaging means, an engaging part is the plurality of pins P provided to the brackets BK fixed to the front glass FG, and an engaged part is the substantially U-shaped guides2aaor2cprotruding from the inner wall of the camera cover1(the camera accommodation part2, in Patent Document 1) and to be fitted or engaged to the corresponding pins P by sliding the cover forward from the rear of the vehicle.

However, according to the above engaging structure, it is difficult to check a position thereof from an outside of the cover. In addition, since it is necessary to position the U-shaped guide of the cover with respect to the corresponding pin of the bracket, which is a fixed side, and to insert and engage the pin into the U-shaped guide by sliding the cover forward from the rear of the vehicle from the positioned state, the mounting operability is poor. Also, even when demounting the camera cover (the camera accommodation part, in Patent Document 1), the cover should be slide rearward from the front by a length of the U-shaped guide and the cover collides with the ceiling part due to the sliding. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the harness accommodation part should be demounted in advance, and in Patent Document 2, the cover should be strongly slid to elastically displace the rear end-side. Also, in each engaging structure, the pin is simply inserted in the U-shaped guide. Therefore, when vibrations are applied, the cover may slightly move or a friction sound may be caused in the engaging part.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situations. An object of the present invention is to provide a cover structure capable of being easily mounted and demounted, and stably keeping an engaged state and having no concerns that a friction sound will be caused in an engaging part, even when vibrations are applied. The other objects will be described later.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is defined with reference to a first aspect to a third aspect.

An onboard electronic device cover configured to be engageably secured to a base member, which is to be fixed to a window glass of a vehicle, to cover an electronic device which is to be held on an installation part which is one of the base member and the window glass, the onboard electronic device cover comprising:

a mutual engaging mechanism capable of mutually engaging the onboard electronic device cover with the base member,

wherein the mutual engaging mechanism includes:an engaging part provided to one of the base member and the cover;an engaged part provided to the other of the base member and the cover and capable of engaging with the engaging part; andan urging member configured to urge the engaging part toward the engaged part, and

wherein when the cover is pushed toward the window glass, the engaging part engages with the engaged part with being urged in a direction following a surface of the window glass by the urging member.

The present invention is preferably implemented, as defined in following (2) to (8).

(2) The urging member is provided to one of the base member and the cover.

(3) The urging member is provided to one of the engaging part and the engaged part.

(4) The urging member has a bending-deformable elastic piece, and engagement between the engaging part and the engaged part can be released by moving the cover against an urging direction of the elastic piece.

(5) When defined as the first aspect, the engaging part includes a pair of holding pieces having a receiving space formed therebetween, and a deviation preventing claw provided to one holding piece and protruding into the receiving space, the engaged part includes an engaging projection capable of engaging with the deviation preventing claw, and the elastic piece, and when the cover is pushed toward the window glass of the vehicle, the engaged part enters the receiving space in association with displacement of the elastic piece in the urging direction, and the engaging projection can engage with the deviation preventing claw.

(6) When defined as the second aspect, the engaging part includes a pair of holding pieces having a receiving space formed therebetween, and a deviation preventing claw provided to one holding piece and protruding into the receiving space, the other of the holding pieces is formed as the elastic piece, the engaged part includes an engaging step capable of engaging with the deviation preventing claw, and when the cover is pushed toward the window glass of the vehicle, the engaged part enters the receiving space in association with displacement of the elastic piece in the urging direction, and the engaging step can engage with the deviation preventing claw.

(7) When defined as the third aspect, the engaging part includes a concave portion opening toward an upper side of the window glass, and the elastic piece, the engaged part includes an engaging projection (75a) configured to engage with the concave portion, and an abutting portion configured to contact the elastic piece, and when the cover is pushed toward the window glass of the vehicle, the engaging projection can engage with the concave portion in association with displacement of the elastic piece in the urging direction via the abutting portion.

(8) The cover further includes an engaging piece provided at a tip end portion of one of the base member and the cover in a front and back direction of the vehicle, and an engaging receiving portion provided at a tip end portion of the other of the base member and the cover in the front and back direction of the vehicle, and when the cover is rotated toward the window glass by using the engaging piece as a shaft at a state where the engaging piece engages with the engaging receiving portion, the engaging part and the engaged part engage with each other.

Effects of the Invention

In the invention (1), as a main operation for engageably securing the cover to the base member by the mutual engaging means, when the cover is pushed toward the window glass at a state where the cover is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the base member, as exemplified inFIGS. 7, 12 and 16, i.e., when the cover is pressed toward the window glass, which is an arrow direction in eachFIGS. 7A, 12A and 16A, with a hand or the like, the engaged part or the engaging part can engage with the other in association with displacement in a direction of accumulating an urging force in the urging means. Thereafter, when the pressing hand is separated, the cover is slid to a position, at which the engaging part and the engaged part engage with each other, by the urging force of the urging means, as shown in eachFIGS. 7A, 12A and 16A, and the engaged state is maintained in the urged state.

Therefore, in the above cover structure, as compared to Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, since the engageably securing operation to the base member is simple and easy and the cover is urged in a direction of maintaining the engaged state, i.e., in a direction in which the engagement is difficult to be released, even when the unintentional external force is applied to the engageably secured part, the engagement is not easily released, so that it is possible to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability.

In the invention (4), since the urging means has the bending-deformable elastic piece and the engagement between the engaging part and the engaged part can be released by moving the cover against the urging direction of the elastic piece, as exemplified in each (a) ofFIGS. 8, 13 and 17, the disengagement operation can also be easily performed when demounting the cover.

In the invention (5), in the first aspect, for example, the engaging part includes the pair of holding pieces and the deviation preventing claw provided to the base member, the engaged part is provided to the cover and includes the engaging projection and the elastic piece, and when the cover is pushed toward the window glass of the vehicle, the engaged part enters the receiving space between the holding pieces in association with displacement of the elastic piece in the urging direction, and the engaging projection can engage with the deviation preventing claw. Therefore, it is possible to implement the cover by the simple configuration, to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability and to easily perform the disengagement operation.

In the invention (6), in the second aspect, for example, the engaging part includes the pair of holding pieces, the deviation preventing claw and the elastic piece provided to the base member, the engaged part includes the engaging step provided to the cover, and when the cover is pushed toward the window glass of the vehicle, the engaged part enters the receiving space in association with displacement of the elastic piece in the urging direction, and the engaging step can engage with the deviation preventing claw. Therefore, also in this case, it is possible to implement the cover by the simple configuration, to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability and to easily perform the disengagement operation.

In the invention (7), for example, the engaging part includes the concave portion and the elastic piece provided to the base member, the engaged part includes the engaging projection and the abutting portion provided to the cover, and when the cover is pushed toward the window glass of the vehicle, the engaging projection can engage with the concave portion in association with displacement of the elastic piece in the urging direction via the abutting portion. Therefore, also in this case, it is possible to implement the cover by the simple configuration, to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability and to easily perform the disengagement operation.

In the invention (8), when positioning and arranging the cover with respect to the base member, one engaging piece is engaged to the other engaging receiving portion, so that it is possible to simply perform the corresponding operation. In addition, the cover is rotated toward the window glass by using the engaging piece as a shaft at the positioned state, thereby causing the engaging part and the engaged part to engage with each other. Therefore, it is possible to favorably perform the engaging operation, too.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, each aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the below, a first aspect shown inFIGS. 1A to 8B, a second aspect shown inFIGS. 9A to 13B, a third aspect shown inFIGS. 14 to 17B, and a fourth aspect shown inFIG. 20will be sequentially described.

The invention target of each aspect is a onboard electronic device cover3,5,7configured to be engageably secured to a base member1,4,6, which is to be fixed to a window glass WG of a vehicle and to cover an electronic device, which is to be held on an installation part such as the window glass and the base member. In this case, as the installation part for holding the electronic device, a holder2coupled to the base member1is used in the first aspect, and a part of the window glass WG is used in the second aspect and the third aspect. The base member1,4,6, the cover3,5,7, and the holder2are all resin molded products. However, materials other than the resin can also be used.

InFIGS. 1A to 8B, the cover3is engageably secured to the base member1by a mutual engaging means capable of mutually engaging with each other. This mutual engaging means includes an engaging part15provided to one of the base member1and the cover3, an engaged part35provided to the other of the base member and the cover and configured to engage with the engaging part15, and an elastic piece38, which is an urging means provided to one of the engaging part15and the engaged part35and urging the engaged part35in a direction of engaging with the engaging part15. When the cover3is pushed toward the window glass WG of the vehicle, the engaged part35engages with the engaging part15with being urged in a direction following a surface of the window glass by the elastic piece38. The engagement can be released by moving the cover3against the urging direction of the elastic piece38. In the below, the configurations are described in detail.

First, as shown inFIGS. 1A to 2B, the base member1has a rectangular shape that is long in a vehicle width direction. The base member1has mounting surfaces1a,1ato the window glass WG provided at right and left sides of an outer surface, a depression part1bprovided at an intermediate part in a right and left direction, i.e., between both the mounting surfaces1aand defined by a reversed concave shape part10, through-holes11,11formed at right and left sides of an outer front side and penetrating from an inside to an outside, engaging receiving portions13,13having a step shape and provided at an intermediate part of the outer front side in the right and left direction, a cover positioning convex portion13aprovided between both the engaging receiving portions13, holder positioning projections12,12located at an inner rear side and provided at both sides of a thinned rear part of the reversed concave shape part10, and engaging holes14, regulation portions14a, engaging parts15and positioning parts19for the cover provided at both side surfaces in the width direction.

Among them, each mounting surface1ais formed planar and is fixed to a predetermined position of the window glass WG, which is the installation part, by a double-sided adhesive tape T, an adhesive or the like, as shown inFIG. 4B. The depression part1bis formed wider at a front side than at a rear side. As shown inFIG. 4A, at a state where a sensor module9, which is an electronic device, is held on the holder2coupled to the base member1, a camera8configuring the sensor module9can capture or monitor the front through the window glass WG from the depression part1b.

In the meantime, the sensor module9is one of sensors for safe driving assistance such as a front CCTV, and is configured by mounting the camera8, an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), a CPU, a memory and the like on a substrate, for example. Also, the sensor module9has projections9a,9aprotruding from both side surfaces, projections9b,9bprotruding from a front edge, and the like, as a mounting structure. The electronic device may be any forward-looking device, for example, a camera, a radio wave type radar, and a device having a similar configuration.

The engaging part15includes a pair of holding pieces16,17forming a receiving space18therebetween, and a deviation preventing claw17aprovided at a tip end portion of one holding piece17and protruding into the receiving space18. A reference numeral15aindicates a convex portion protruding from an inner bottom surface of the receiving space18and configured to receive a corresponding piece portion37forming the engaged part35. A reference numeral15bindicates a piece portion for guide for easily inserting the engaged part35into the receiving space18, and an upper end-side thereof is formed as an inclined surface for guide that becomes lower toward the upper. Also, as shown inFIG. 1A, the positioning part19is formed so that a section to be arranged on an inner surface of the cover3is planar and wide.

As shown inFIGS. 3A to 4B, the holder2forms a substantially rectangular plate shape, and has a notched part20provided at an intermediate part of a front side in the right and left direction and configured to receive the reversed concave shape part10, insertion parts21,21protruding from front tip ends of right and left parts dividing the notched part20and configured to be fitted in the corresponding through-holes11, upright walls22,22provided at both sides and configured to be gradually lower from a rear side toward a front side, an upright wall23provided in parallel with each upright wall22and forming a vertical hole between the upright wall23and a rear end face of the upright wall22, an elastic engaging piece26provided to protrude out from an inner bottom surface of the vertical hole and forming an engaging space25between the elastic engaging piece and the rear end face of the upright wall22, a pair of claws24a,24bprotruding from an outer surface of each upright wall22, and the like.

As shown inFIGS. 3A to 4B, each insertion part21is formed to have a longitudinal section of a substantially reversed L-shape, and has an inner space21aand an opening21bin communication with the upper and lower. The rear end face of each upright wall22is provided with a deviation preventing claw22aprotruding from the upper into the engaging space25. The elastic engaging piece26has a guide surface26aprovided at an upper end and positioned at an outermore side of the engaging space25from the lower toward the upper. Also, a holding part for placing thereon the sensor module9is provided with piece portions27,28aconfigured to elastically hold a bottom surface-side of the sensor module9, an engaging piece28to be press-contacted and engaged to a rear surface of the sensor module9, a concave portion29configured to receive the camera8of the sensor module9, and the like.

The holder2is coupled to the base member1with each insertion part21being fitted to the corresponding through-hole11and each of the claws24a,24bbeing engaged to the corresponding engaging hole14and regulation portion14a. In this coupling structure, in order to maintain the stable coupled state, it is preferably to interpose a buffer material such as a felt (not shown) at a place at which the holder2and the base member1overlap with each other.

At a state where the projections9aon both side surfaces of the sensor module9are engaged with the corresponding engaging spaces25and the projections9bon the front edge are engaged with the inner spaces21a, the rear surface of the sensor module is elastically engaged to the holder2by the engaging piece28, so that the sensor module is coupled and maintained. The holder2is set to have an optimal shape in correspondence to the target electronic device. Also, the holder2can be omitted when the electronic device is fixed to the window glass WG by the double-sided adhesive tape or the like.

Meanwhile, as shown inFIGS. 5A to 5C, the cover3has an outer surface30, which is a design surface, and an internal part31, which is configured as an accommodation part capable of arranging therein the base member1and the holder2coupled to each other. A rear end3bis a side spaced from the window glass WG, and has a width size slightly smaller than a front end3a. The cover3has engaging pieces33,33protruding from an inner surface at an intermediate part of the front end3ain the right and left direction and configured to engage with the engaging receiving portions13,13, a concave portion33aprovided between both the engaging pieces33and configured to be fitted with the convex portion13a, contact walls34protruding from a planar surface of the internal part31and configured to contact the positioning parts19, and the parts to be engaged35protruding from inner surfaces of both side ends3cand configured to releasably engage with the engaging parts15. A reference numeral32indicates a plurality of lateral recesses provided to a main part of the cover3.

Each engaging piece33has a flat inner surface with protruding from a raised inner surface of the front end3aof the cover. When the cover is rotated and pushed toward the window glass WG by using the engaging pieces33as a shaft at a state where each engaging piece33is contacted, i.e., engaged to a step of the engaging receiving portion13, the parts to be engaged35enter the receiving spaces18of the engaging parts15while the contact walls34collide with the positioning parts19and slide along the positioning parts, so that the cover3is engaged with the base member1.

The respective parts to be engaged35face each other in the width direction with protruding from raised inner surfaces of both the side ends3cof the cover. Each engaged part35has a substantially rectangular cylinder shape, and has piece portions36,37facing each other and other piece portions38,39facing each other. Among them, the piece portion39has an engaging projection39a, which is formed by protruding outward a portion positioned between the piece portion39and the piece portion37and can engage with the claw17a, and a restraint piece portion39bprotruding in an opposite side to the engaging projection39a, i.e., into the cylinder shape. A part of the piece portion37and the engaging projection39ais provided with a collar portion37aprotruding outward from a tip end. The collar portion37acollides with the inclined surface of the tip end of the piece portion for guide15bof the receiving space-side and slides from the collision portion to the inner bottom surface of the receiving space18along the piece portion15bwhen the engaged part35enters the receiving space18of the engaging part. At this state, a part of the piece portion37is in contact with the convex portion15a.

The piece portion38is separated at both sides from the piece portions37,36by vertical slits S, so that it is formed as a bending-deformable elastic piece. In the below, the corresponding piece portion is referred to as ‘elastic piece38’. The elastic piece38has a collar portion38aprotruding outward from a tip end thereof, and is configured to be swingably displaced into the cylinder shape via the collar portion38a. In this case, at a stage before the engaged part35enters the receiving space18, the elastic piece38is at an initial position at which it does not exhibit an urging force, as shown inFIG. 6A, and when the engaging projection39acollides with the claw17aand then overrides the claw17awhile the engaged part35is entering the receiving space18, the elastic piece is elastically displaced into the cylinder shape by a reactive force applied from the holding piece16until it collides with the restraint piece portion39b, and accumulates the maximum urging force, as shown inFIG. 6B. After the engaging projection39aoverrides the claw17a, as shown inFIG. 6C, the engaged part35is slightly moved in an engaging direction of the engaging projection39aand the claw17aby the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece38. The elastic piece38urges the engaged part35in a direction of maintaining the engaged state.

FIGS. 7A and 7Bdepicts an operation example, which is performed when fixing the base member1to the determined installation part of the window glass WG of the vehicle by the double-sided adhesive tape T or the like at a state where the holder2is engageably coupled to the base member1and the sensor module9is held at the holder2and engageably securing the cover3to the base member1from the attached state.FIGS. 8A and 8Bdepicts an operation example, which is performed when demounting the cover3again due to maintenance or the like.

(A) In a main operation that is performed when engageably securing the cover3to the base member1, as shown with the dashed-dotted line inFIG. 7A, when the cover3is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the base member1, i.e., when the concave portion33aof the cover is fitted to the convex portion13aof the base member, the engaging piece33of the cover is engaged to the engaging receiving portion13of the base member. At this positioned state, the cover3is rotated or pushed toward the window glass WG. That is, when the cover3is pressed toward the window glass WG, which is an arrow direction ofFIG. 7A, by a hand or the like, the elastic piece38is displaced in the direction of accumulating the urging force, as shown inFIG. 6B, so that the claw17aand the engaging projection39acan engage with each other, as described above. Thereafter, when the pressing hand is separated, the cover3is moved by a slight amount in an arrow direction ofFIG. 7Bby a part of the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece38, as shown inFIGS. 7B and 6C, so that the engaging projection39aengages with the claw17aand the engaged state is maintained in the state urged by the elastic piece38.

(B) In the above cover structure, the operation of engageably securing the cover3to the base member1is simply to push the cover toward the window glass WG, and it is possible to implement one touch operation, as compared to the configuration of sliding the cover along the surface of the window glass, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2. Also, at the state where the cover3is engageably secured to the base member1, the engaged part35is urged in the receiving space18in the direction of maintaining the engaged state, i.e., in the direction in which the engagement is difficult to be released by a part of the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece38, as shown inFIG. 6C. For this reason, in the above structure, even when the unintentional external force is applied to the engageably secured part, the engagement is not easily released, so that it is possible to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability.

(C) In a main operation that is performed when demounting the cover3due to the maintenance or the like, when the cover3is slightly slid in an arrow direction ofFIG. 8A, i.e., in a direction of separating from the window glass WG, the elastic piece38is retreated into the cylinder shape until it collides with the restraint piece portion39b, as shown inFIG. 6B, and the engaging projection39ais disengaged from the claw17a. From this state, the cover3is demounted by rotating or pulling the same in an arrow direction ofFIG. 8B, i.e., from the window glass WG toward the inside of the vehicle interior. In other words, in the above structure, since the engagement between the engaging part15and the engaged part35, i.e., the engaging projection39aengaged to the claw17acan be released by sliding the cover3against the urging direction of the elastic piece38, as shown inFIGS. 8A and 6B, the disengaging operation can also be easily performed when demounting the cover3.

A second aspect is different from the first aspect, in that the electronic device such as the camera (not shown) is fixed to the window glass WG by the double-sided adhesive tape or the like, and a base member4and a cover5are held or covered, including the wire harness connected to the electronic device. That is, inFIGS. 9 to 13, the base member4includes a main body part40having a substantially rectangular shape and provided to escape the electronic device fixed to the window glass WG, and a harness holding part41configured to hold the wire harness. The cover5includes a main part50configured to cover the main body part40and an extension part51configured to cover the harness holding part41.

The main part50is engageably secured to the main body part40by a mutual engaging means capable of mutually engaging with each other. This mutual engaging means includes an engaging part45provided to one of the main body part40and the main part50, an engaged part55provided to the other of the main body part40and the main part50and configured to engage with the engaging part45, and an elastic piece48, which is an urging means provided to one of the engaging part45and the engaged part55and urging the engaged part55in a direction of engaging with the engaging part45. In the meantime, the extension part51is engageably secured to the harness holding part41by a mutual engaging means capable of mutually engaging with each other. This mutual engaging means includes a swinging piece43, which is an engaging part provided to one of the harness holding part41and the extension part51, and a projection57provided to the other of the harness holding part41and the extension part51and configured to engage with the swinging piece43. When the cover5is pushed toward the window glass WG of the vehicle, the engaged part55engages with the engaging part45with being urged in the direction following the surface of the window glass by the elastic piece38, and the projection57engages with the corresponding swinging piece43. This engagement can be released by moving the cover5against the urging of the elastic piece38. In the below, the configurations are described in detail.

First, as shown inFIGS. 9 to 11B, the base member4has the main body part40, which has a substantially rectangular frame shape for escaping the electronic device by a hole portion40ain the frame, and the harness holding part41, which integrally protrudes rearward from one corner of a rear side of the frame shape of the main body part40. The main body part40and the harness holding part41have flat lower surfaces, respectively, and are fixed to predetermined positions of the window glass WG, which are the installation part, by the double-sided adhesive tape T, the adhesive, or the like, as shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B.

The main body part40has an engaging receiving portion42aprovided at an intermediate part of a front side in the right and left direction and having a lateral hole shape, engaging parts45provided to face each other at right and left sides of the rear side, and positioning parts49provided to face each other at front portions of both sides and configured to position the cover5. Among them, the engaging receiving portion42ais formed by removing rearward a thickness of a small block part42, which is provided at an intermediate part of a front side of an upper surface of the main body part40, from the front side of the small block42, as shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B. The positioning part49is a part for positioning a height direction of the cover5with respect to the main body part40.

As shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B, a U-shaped wall part provided at each of both sides of the rear side of the upper surface of the main body part40and having an opened outer side is used as the engaging part45. The U-shaped front piece portion is configured as one holding piece47, an intermediate piece portion protruding into the U shape and facing the holding piece47is configured as the other holding piece48, and a receiving space46is defined between both the holding pieces47,48. The holding piece47has a deviation preventing claw47aprovided at a tip end and protruding into the receiving space46. The holding piece48is formed as an elastic piece protruding from the U-shaped intermediate piece portion and configured to be swingably displaceable. In the below, this holding piece is referred to as ‘elastic piece48’. The elastic piece48has a claw48aprovided at a tip end thereof and protruding into the receiving space46, and is configured to be swingably displaced by a load to be applied to the claw48a. The claw48ahas an inclined surface that is provided at an upper side and becomes lower toward the tip end. A reference numeral45aindicates a rib protruding from an inner bottom surface of the receiving space46and configured to receive the engaged part55. A reference numeral45bindicates a piece portion for guide for easily inserting the engaged part55into the receiving space46, which has an inclined surface that is provided at an upper side and more protrudes toward the lower.

The elastic piece48operates in the similar manner to the elastic piece38of the first aspect. That is, at a stage before the engaged part55enters the receiving space46, the elastic piece48is at an initial position at which it does not exhibit an urging force, as shown inFIG. 11B, and when the elastic piece collides with the claw47aand then overrides the claw47awhile the engaged part55is entering the receiving space46, the elastic piece is elastically displaced to the outside of the receiving space46by a reactive force applied from the holding piece47, and accumulates the maximum urging force, as shown inFIG. 12A. After the engaged part55overrides the claw47a, as shown inFIG. 12B, the engaged part55engages with the claw47a. That is, the cover5is slightly moved by the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece47in the direction in which the engaged part55engages with the claw47a. The elastic piece48urges the engaged part55in the direction of maintaining the engaged state.

The harness holding part41is a part configured to hold the wire harness connected to the electronic device, and has a plurality of restraint portions44a,44b,44c,44d, and a pair of swinging pieces43provided between the restraint portions44cand44dand configured to be swingably displaceable in the width direction. The restraint portions44a,44b,44c,44dare configured by holding pieces facing each other and configured to restrain the wire harness therebetween. The swinging pieces43provided at both sides protrude from end faces of both the holding pieces configuring the restraint portions44c, as shown inFIG. 11B, and extend up to the front of the corresponding holding pieces configuring the restraint portions44d. Also, each swinging piece43has a claw43aprovided at a tip end and protruding outward, and maintains a predetermined interval between the claw43aand the corresponding holding piece configuring the restraint portion44d.

In the meantime, the main part50of the cover5has an internal part52, which is configured as an accommodation part having a size capable of covering the electronic device to be fixed to the window glass WG, as shown inFIG. 9. A front end50ahas a width size slightly smaller than a rear end50a. The main part50has an engaging piece53, which protrudes from an intermediate inner surface of the front end50ain the right and left direction and is to be fitted to the engaging receiving portion42a, contact walls54, which protrude from inner front sides of both side ends50cand are to contact the positioning parts19, and a pair of parts to be engaged55, which protrude from inner rear sides of both the side ends50cand are to releasably engage with the engaging parts45. Each of the parts to be engaged55has a shaft shape, which has a diameter greater than an interval between the claw47aand the claw48aat the initial position of the elastic piece48, and is provided with an engaging step55aprovided at a front upper side and configured to engage with the claw47a, as shown inFIG. 11B. A reference numeral56indicates a plurality of lateral recesses provided to the main part50.

The extension part51has regulation ribs58provided on an inner surface thereof and piece portions57configured to releasably engage with the respective swinging pieces43. The regulation rib58is configured to restrain the wire harness held in the harness holding part41from above. The piece portion57has a substantial L-shape, and is configured by a laterally rib-shaped engaging projection57aconfigured to engage with a lower surface of the claw43a, and a vertically rib-shaped pressing projection57bconfigured to collide with the claw43aand to cause the swinging piece43to be elastically displaced inward.

FIGS. 12A and 12Bdepicts an operation example, which is performed when fixing the base member4to the determined position of the window glass WG of the vehicle by the double-sided adhesive tape T or the like and engageably securing the cover5to the base member4from the attached state.FIGS. 13A and 13Bdepicts an operation example, which is performed when demounting the cover5again due to the maintenance or the like.

(A) In a main operation that is performed when engageably securing the cover5to the base member4, as shown with the dashed-dotted line inFIG. 12A, the cover5is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the base member4, i.e., the engaging piece53of the cover is fitted to the engaging receiving portion42aof the base member. At this positioned state, the cover5is rotated or pushed toward the window glass WG. That is, the cover5is pressed toward the window glass WG, which is an arrow direction ofFIG. 12A, by a hand or the like. Then, as described above, the elastic piece48of the engaging part45of the main part is pushed to the engaged part55and is displaced in the outward direction of accumulating the urging force, as shown inFIG. 12A. The engaged part55enters the receiving space46from between the claw47aand the claw48aby the displacement of the elastic piece48, so that the claw47aand the engaging step55acan engage with each other. At the same time, the pressing projection57bof the piece portion57of the extension part collides with the claw43a, so that the swinging piece43is swingably displaced inward. Thereafter, when the pressing hand is separated, the cover5is slightly (about 2 mm, in this example) moved in an arrow direction ofFIG. 12Bby a part of the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece48. As a result, the engaging step55ais engaged with the claw47aand the engaged state is maintained in the state urged by the elastic piece48. At the same time, the swinging piece43is elastically returned to its initial position as the pressing projection57bis disengaged from the claw43a. At this time, the engaging projection57ais engaged to the lower surface of the claw43a, as shown inFIG. 10B.

(B) in the above cover structure, the operation of engageably securing the cover5to the base member4is simply to push the cover toward the window glass WG, and it is possible to implement one touch operation, as compared to the configuration of sliding the cover along the surface of the window glass, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2. Also, at the state where the cover5is engageably secured to the base member4, the engaged part55is urged in the receiving space46in the direction of maintaining the engaged state, i.e., in the direction in which the engagement is difficult to be released by a part of the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece48, as shown inFIG. 12B. For this reason, in the above structure, even when the unintentional external force is applied to the engageably secured part, the engagement is not easily released, so that it is possible to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability.

(C) In a main operation that is performed when demounting the cover5due to the maintenance or the like, when the cover5is slightly (about 2 mm, in this example) slid in an arrow direction ofFIG. 13A, i.e., in a rearward direction, the elastic piece48is elastically displaced outward and the engaging step55ais disengaged from the claw47a, at the main part50. At the same time, at the extension part51, as the claw43ais pressed by the pressing projection57b, the swinging piece43is elastically displaced inward, so that the engaging projection57ais disengaged from the claw43a. From this state, the cover5is demounted by rotating or pulling the same in an arrow direction ofFIG. 13B, i.e., from the window glass WG toward the inside of the vehicle interior. In other words, in the above structure, since the engagement of the engaging step55ato the claw47aand the engagement of the engaging projection57ato the claw43acan be released by sliding the cover5against the urging direction of the elastic piece48, the disengaging operation can also be easily performed when demounting the cover5.

A third aspect is different from the first aspect, in that the electronic device such as the camera (not shown) is fixed to the window glass WG by the double-sided adhesive tape or the like, and is also different from the second aspect, in that a cover7has an extension part71but a base member6is not provided with the harness holding part.

That is, inFIGS. 14 to 17B, the cover7has an extension part71integrally protruding from a rear end. The cover7is engageably secured to the base member6by a mutual engaging means capable of mutually engaging with each other. This mutual engaging means includes an engaging part65provided to one of the base member6and the cover7, an engaged part75provided to the other and configured to engage with the engaging part65, and an elastic piece68, which is an urging means provided to one of the engaging part65and the engaged part75and urging the engaged part75in a direction of engaging with the engaging part65. When the cover7is pushed toward the window glass WG of the vehicle, the engaged part75engages with the engaging part65with being urged in a direction following the surface of the window glass by the elastic piece68. The engagement can be released by moving the cover7against the urging of the elastic piece68. In the below, the configurations are described in detail.

First, the base member6has a substantially rectangular frame shape defined by front and rear side parts61,62and both side parts63, is configured to escape the electronic device by a hole portion60in the frame, has a flat lower surface, and is fixed to a predetermined position of the window glass WG, which is the installation part, by the double-sided adhesive tape T, the adhesive or the like, as shown inFIG. 15.

Both the side parts63are provided with front blocks64,64having a substantially rectangular shape and facing each other in the right and left direction at the front side, rear blocks66,66facing each other in the right and left direction at the rear side, and guide parts63ahaving a convex shape and provided in front of the rear blocks66. An outer surface of each front block64is provided with an engaging receiving portion64ahaving a lateral recess shape and an opened front side. An upper surface of each guide part63ais formed as a flat slide surface. Each rear block66is provided with an engaging part65of the present invention. The engaging part65has a concave portion67for engaging positioned at a block rear end-side, defined between the rear block and the rear side part62and opening rearward, and an elastic piece68positioned at a block front end-side and provided with an interval from a block upper side.

In the meantime, the cover7has a main part70having a size capable of covering the electronic device to be fixed to the window glass WG, and a gutter-shaped extension part71. The extension part71is a part configured to cover the wire harness connected to the electronic device, for example. The main part70has a front end70ahaving a width size slightly smaller than a rear end70b, and a step portion73formed by notching an edge portion. As shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, an internal part72is provided with a pair of engaging pieces74capable of engaging with the respective engaging receiving portions64a, and parts to be engaged75capable of engaging with the engaging parts65. Each engaging piece74has a reversed L shape, and a tip end of a horizontal portion of the L shape is configured to slidably engage with the engaging receiving portion64a. The engaged part75has a pair of engaging projections75aconfigured to engage with the respective concave portions67, and a pair of abutting portions76capable of contacting the respective elastic pieces68. A reference numeral77indicates a plurality of lateral recesses provided to the main part70. A reference numeral78is an indication mark of a release direction in which the cover7is to be moved when demounting the cover7from the base member6. The indication mark78may be omitted. On the other hand, the indication mark may be added to the cover3of the first aspect or the cover5of the second aspect, as required.

The elastic piece68operates in the similar manner to the elastic piece38of the first aspect. That is, at a stage before the engaging projection75aengages with the concave portion67of the engaging part, the elastic piece68is at an initial position at which it does not exhibit an urging force, as shown inFIG. 17B, and the elastic piece is elastically displaced by a reactive force applied from the abutting portion76and accumulates the maximum urging force while the engaging projection75ais entering the concave portion67, as shown inFIG. 16A. When the pressing state to the cover is released, as shown inFIG. 16B, the cover7is slightly moved by the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece68in the direction in which the engaging projection75aengages with the concave portion67. The elastic piece68urges the engaged part65in the direction of maintaining the engaged state.

FIG. 16depicts an operation example, which is performed when fixing the base member6to the determined position of the window glass WG of the vehicle by the double-sided adhesive tape T or the like and then engageably securing the cover7to the base member.6from the attached state.FIG. 17depicts an operation example, which is performed when demounting the cover7again due to the maintenance or the like.

(A) In a main operation that is performed when engageably securing the cover7to the base member6, as shown with the dashed-dotted line inFIG. 16A, the cover7is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the base member6, i.e., the engaging piece74of the cover is fitted to the engaging receiving portion64aof the base member. At this positioned state of the cover7, the elastic piece68is pushed by the abutting portion76and is thus displaced in the direction of accumulating the urging force, and the cover is rotated or pushed toward the window glass WG. That is, the cover7is pressed toward the window glass WG, which is an arrow direction ofFIG. 15A, by a hand or the like. Then, the engaged part75is in a state where the engaging projection75aand the concave portion67acan engage with each other. Thereafter, when the pressing hand is separated, the cover7is slightly (about 2 mm, in this example) moved in an arrow direction ofFIG. 16Bby a part of the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece68. As a result, the engaging projection75ais engaged with the concave portion67aand the engaged state is maintained in the state urged by the elastic piece68.

(B) In the above cover structure, the operation of engageably securing the cover7to the base member6is simply to push the cover toward the window glass WG, and it is possible to implement one touch operation, as compared to the configuration of sliding the cover along the surface of the window glass, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or 2. Also, at the state where the cover7is engageably secured to the base member6, the cover7is urged in the direction of maintaining the engaged state, i.e., in the direction in which the engagement is difficult to be released by a part of the urging force accumulated in the elastic piece48, as shown inFIG. 16B. For this reason, in the above structure, even when the unintentional external force is applied to the engageably secured part, the engagement is not easily released, so that it is possible to improve the mounting operability and the stable holding ability.

(C) In a main operation that is performed when demounting the cover7due to the maintenance or the like, when the cover7is slightly (about 2 mm, in this example) slid in an arrow direction ofFIG. 17S, i.e., in a rearward direction, the elastic piece48is pushed and elastically displaced by the abutting portion76to slide along the upper surface of the guide part63a, and the engaging projection75ais disengaged from the concave portion67a. From this state, the cover7is demounted by rotating or pulling the same in an arrow direction ofFIG. 17B, i.e., from the window glass WG toward the inside of the vehicle interior. In other words, in the above structure, since the engagement of the engaging projection75ato the concave portion67acan be released by sliding the cover7against the urging direction of the elastic piece68, the disengaging operation can also be easily performed when demounting the cover7.

A fourth aspect is different from the first aspect and the like, in that the elastic piece, which is the urging means, is not provided to any one of the engaging part and the engaged part but is provided to any one of the base member and the cover. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 20, a base member101has a pair of holding pieces116,117, as the engaging part. A tip end of one holding piece117has a substantial U shape, so that it is configured as a deviation preventing claw117a. A tip end piece of the substantially U-shaped deviation preventing claw117ais formed with an inclined surface for guide that is gradually enlarged toward the base member101. A cover103has an engaged part135and an elastic piece138. The engaged part135is provided with an engaging projection135athat can engage with the deviation preventing claw117a. A tip end face of the engaging projection135ais notched to have an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surface for guide of the deviation preventing claw117a.

When the cover103is pushed toward the base member101, the engaging projection135ais contacted to the inclined surface of the deviation preventing claw117aand is slid along the inclined surface. At this time, as shown inFIG. 20, the elastic piece138is contacted to one holding piece116, so that the pair of holding pieces116,117is applied with the urging force in an arrow direction ofFIG. 20. Thereby, the pair of holding pieces116,117is moved in the arrow direction ofFIG. 20, so that the engaging projection135aengages with the claw117a, and the engaged state is maintained in the state urged by the elastic piece138. Like this, according to the structure of the fourth aspect, it is possible to provide the cover structure capable of easily performing the mounting and demounting operations, and stably maintaining the engaged state and having no concerns that that a friction sound will be caused in the engaging part, even when the vibrations are applied.

The present invention can be appropriately changed except for the requirements defined in the claims. For example, the engaging receiving portion13,42a,64aand the engaging piece33,53,74are not limited with respect to the shapes thereof inasmuch as the cover is rotatably supported to the base member. Also, the engaging piece may be provided to the base member, and the engaging receiving portion may be provided to the cover.

The subject application is based on a Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-104239 filed on May 22, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.