Abstract:
The locking structure includes a locking part configured to lock with mating members defining locking holes. The locking part includes at least two insertion parts. The insertion parts include pairs of guide walls defining insertion channels extending in respective directions for inserting and supporting mating members. The insertion parts include locking protrusions between guide walls for engaging with the locking holes of the mating members.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a locking structure and, more specifically, to a wire-harness component employing one, such as a connector, a protector, an electric junction box, an electric control unit or a clip.  
           [0002]    A locking structure is described in, for example, Japanese Patent NO. 3039313. The locking structure is provided to a bracket holder formed on an outer side of a tubular housing. The locking structure allows the housing to be fixed to a bracket of a vehicle body.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The locking structure, however, easily results in a vertical or transverse looseness between the bracket and the bracket holder. The looseness causes slanting or twisting in an insertion direction of the bracket. This deteriorates the stability of engagement of a bracket.  
           [0004]    The present invention is directed to a locking structure which improves the stability of engagement of a bracket.  
           [0005]    From a first aspect, the invention provides a locking structure. The locking structure includes a locking part configured to lock with mating members defining locking holes. The locking part includes at least two insertion parts. The insertion parts include pairs of guide walls defining insertion channels extending in respective directions for inserting and supporting mating members. The insertion parts include locking protrusions between guide walls for engaging with the locking holes of the mating members.  
           [0006]    Preferably, the insertion parts include a common locking protrusion disposed at a crossing of center lines of the insertion channels for insertion and engagement.  
           [0007]    Preferably, a respective locking protrusion is provided to a respective insertion channel.  
           [0008]    Preferably, one of the insertion parts includes a stopper wall for abutting an end of a mating member.  
           [0009]    From a second aspect, the invention provides a wire-harness component. The wire-harness component includes a casing. The wire-harness component includes a first locking part fixed to the casing for guiding a mating member to be locked. The wire-harness component includes a second locking part fixed to the casing for guiding another mating member to be locked. The second locking member crosses the first locking part. The wire-harness component includes an engagement member disposed at a crossing of the first locking part and the second locking part for engaging with a respective mating member.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the engagement member stops a respective mating member from abutting.  
           [0011]    Preferably, the engagement member locks with a respective mating member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    These and other features, aspects, and advantage of the present invention will become better under stood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment according to the connector of invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the locking structure in FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the locking structure in FIG. 2; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the locking structure in the second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to drawings.  
         [0018]    [First embodiment] 
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 1, connector  10  includes housing  11 . The housing  11  houses terminals connected to wires  12 . The housing  11  has a side  11   a  integral with locking part  50 . Housing  11  and locking part  50  are molded together. The side  11   a  may be welded, adhered or to the locking part  50 . Housing  11 , as shown in FIG. 2, is locked with flat plate-shaped bracket  40  mounted on a vehicle body panel.  
         [0020]    Locking part  50  is formed of a flexible material such as a synthetic resin, with wholly a T-shape. The locking part includes three-directional insertion channels  51 ,  52 ,  53  for the insertion of brackets  40 .  
         [0021]    Channels  51  and  52  align and face each other. Channel  53  is at right angles relative to channels  51 ,  52 . Each channel  51 ,  52 ,  53  has an identical depth. The crossing part of channels  51 ,  52 ,  53  constitutes common part  54 .  
         [0022]    Each channel  51 ,  52 ,  53  has transversely both side walls, which include a pair of guide walls  51   a  and  51   b ,  52   a  and  52   b ,  53   a  and  53   b  for the support of the both sides  40   a ,  40   b  of bracket  40 .  
         [0023]    Formed insertion-entrance side ends between walls  51   a  and  51   b ,  52   a  and  52   b ,  53   a  and  53   b  of channels  51 ,  52 ,  53  are wedge-shaped locking protrusions  55 ,  56 ,  57  which each protrude upward.  
         [0024]    Protrusions  55 ,  56 ,  57  include oblique faces  55   a ,  56   a ,  57   a  relative to bottom face  51   c ,  52   c ,  53   c , respectively. The faces each face the entrance of bracket  40 . The protrusions include walls  55   b ,  56   b ,  57   b  at right angles relative to bottom faces  51   c ,  52   c ,  53   c  or the insertion directions and in opposite to the oblique faces  55   a ,  56   a ,  57   a , respectively.  
         [0025]    Disposed between protrusions  55 ,  56 ,  57  is T-shaped cut-out or recess  58  from bottom faces  51   c ,  52   c ,  53   c . Disposed at the center of protrusions  55 ,  56 ,  57  is guide protrusion  60  which protrudes upward from recess  58  via support piece  59 . The protrusion  60  is positioned at the crossing of channels  51  or  52  and  53  , further specifically, at the crossing of center lines of channels  51 ,  52 ,  53 .  
         [0026]    The both sides of respective channels  51 ,  52 ,  53  include respective pair of slits along guide walls  51   a ,  51   b ,  52   a ,  52   b ,  53   a ,  53   c  in the insertion directions. The insertion of the respective ends of brackets  40  into respective channels  51 ,  52 ,  53  allows respective protrusions  55 ,  56 ,  57  to be flexed downwardly.  
         [0027]    The rear end of each bracket  40  includes locking hole  41  for the insertion and engagement of each protrusion  55 ,  56 ,  57 . The front end thereof includes guide groove or cut-out  42  which opens at the end thereof.  
         [0028]    When protrusion  60  against rear end wall  42   a  of each cut-out  41 , each protrusion  55 ,  56 ,  57  inserted in hole  41  for engagement. Hole  41  and end wall  42   a  have a distance therebetween identical to one between guide protrusion  60  and each locking protrusion  55 ,  56 ,  57 .  
         [0029]    Next, the operation of the first embodiment is described.  
         [0030]    The end of bracket  40  is inserted into, for example, channels  51 . The end flexes protrusion  55  downward, which is positioned at the end of insertion entrance. The both side walls  40   a ,  40   b  of bracket  40  are guided by the pair of guide walls  51   a ,  51   b  for insertion. Further inserting of bracket  40  allows protrusion  60  to be inserted into cut-out  42 . The insertion allows the rear end wall of cut-out  42  to be abutted against protrusion  60 . Protrusion  60  operates as a stopper for channel  51 , thus preventing further inserting of bracket  40 . At this time, flexed protrusion  55  faces hole  41  to restore. Protrusion  55  is inserted into hole  41  for engagement. The engagement allows the locking of bracket  40  with locking part  50 .  
         [0031]    Both sides  40   a ,  40   b  of bracket  40  are supported by the pair of walls  51   a ,  51   b  of channel  51 .  
         [0032]    Without the slant or twist of bracket  40 , bracket  40  is easily inserted into the locking part for locking. Thus, the bracket improves in stability during engagement.  
         [0033]    The protrusion  60  serves as a common stopper for channels  51 ,  52 ,  53 . The embodiment is employed for a wire component such as a protector, an electric junction box, an ECU (Electric Control Unit, or a clip.  
         [0034]    [Second Embodiment] 
         [0035]    Locking part  80 , shown in FIG. 4, is mounted to the housing  11  to fix to a flat plate-shaped bracket  70  mounted on a vehicle body panel.  
         [0036]    Locking part  80  is formed of a flexible material such as a synthetic resin. The locking part includes a pair of insertion parts  82 ,  83  connected by connection part  81 . The locking part includes three-directional insertion channels  84 ,  85 ,  86 .  
         [0037]    Channel  84  is formed between insertion parts  82 ,  83 . Channel  85  is formed to insertion part  82 . Channel  86  is formed to insertion part  83 .  
         [0038]    Channels  85 ,  86  align with each other at right angles to channel  84 , with facing each other. Channels  84 ,  85 ,  86  each have an identical depth.  
         [0039]    Respective channels  84 ,  85 ,  86  have both side walls or a pair of guide walls  84   a  and  84   b ,  85   a  and  85   b ,  86   a  and  86   b  for the support of both sides  70   a ,  70 b of bracket  70 .  
         [0040]    Connection part  81  is disposed between a pair of insertion parts  82 ,  83 . The connection part includes arm  87  extending longitudinally along the insertion parts  82 ,  83 .  
         [0041]    Arm  87  includes upwardly protruding locking protrusion  88  at the center of channels  84 ,  85 ,  86 , or at the crossing of the center lines of the channels. Protrusion  88  is positioned at the crossing of channels  82  or  83  and  84 . The protrusion is commonly locked with brackets  70  which are guided by channels  84 ,  85 ,  86 .  
         [0042]    Connection part  81  includes stopper wall  89  for abutting the end of bracket  70 .  
         [0043]    Bracket  70  includes locking hole  71  for the insertion and engagement of protrusion  88 .  
         [0044]    The rear end of bracket  70  includes stopper part  72 , which serves as a stopper during the insertion into each channel  84 ,  85 ,  86 .  
         [0045]    The locking hole  71  is inserted into protrusion  88  for locking, when the end of bracket  70  abuts against stopper wall  89  of connection part  81  or when stopper parts  72  abut against insertion part  82 ,  83 . Each outermost walls  82 a and  83 a,  82 b and  83 b of insertion parts  82 ,  83  and protrusion  88  are set at a distance therebetween identical to at one between hole  71  and stopper part  72  in the insertion direction.  
         [0046]    Next, the operation of the second embodiment is described.  
         [0047]    When being inserted into, for example, channel  84 , the end of bracket  70  flexes protrusion  88  downward. Both side walls  70   a ,  70   b  are guided by the pair of guide walls  84   a ,  84   b  for the insertion of bracket  70 . Further insertion of bracket  70  allows the end of bracket  70  to be abutted against stopper wall  89 . When bracket  70  is inserted into each channel  85 ,  86 , stopper part  72  abuts against the outermost wall  82   a ,  83   a  of each insertion part  82 ,  83 .  
         [0048]    At this time, the protrusion  88  faces the locking hole  71  of bracket  70 . Flexed protrusion  88  restores to be inserted into hole  71  for engagement. The engagement allows the locking of bracket  70 .  
         [0049]    The sides  70   a ,  70   b  of bracket  70  are supported by the pair of walls  84 a,  84 b. The insertion of protrusion  88  into hole  71  for engagement allows the locking of locking part  80 .  
         [0050]    Without slant or twist, the insertion and engagement of bracket  70  is facilitated. The engagement improves stability during the engagement of the bracket.  
         [0051]    The embodiment includes protrusion  88  at the center of the three directional channels  84 ,  85 ,  86 . The protrusion is commonly inserted into holes  71  of brackets  70  for engagement. Thus, the providing of a single protrusion  88  reduces in productive cost.  
         [0052]    The embodiment includes stopper wall  89  in channel  84  for abutting the end of bracket  70 . The insertion of bracket  70  into channel  84  and the abutting of its end against stopper wall  89  allow-the facing of protrusion  88  and hole  71  for insertion and engagement. Thus, the stability during the engagement of the bracket further improves.  
         [0053]    The entire content of Japanese Patent Application P2001-133186 (filed on Apr. 27, 2001) is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0054]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.