Patent ID: 8471145

Claim:
A terminal box for installing on a rear surface of a solar cell module and for outputting power generated by the solar cell module, the terminal box comprising: a box body having an opening on one surface, has a body-side hinge structure on an end thereof, and the box body for accommodating therein an output-cable connecting unit; and a cover that has a cover-side hinge structure forming a hinge with the body-side hinge structure, and that is pivotally supported by the hinge on an end thereof so as to pivotally open or close the opening of the box body, wherein one of the cover-side hinge structure and the body-side hinge structure has a hinge axis acting as a pivot center of the cover, and a pair of hinge axis legs that supports both ends of the hinge axis, the other of the cover-side hinge structure and the body-side hinge structure having a bearing that has a pair of first pawls, each having a first bearing surface and provided with a predetermined distance spaced therebetween, and a second pawl having a second bearing surface facing in a direction opposite to the bearing surfaces of the pair of first pawls, the bearing pivotally supporting the hinge axis by sandwiching the hinge axis between the bearing surfaces of the pair of first pawls and the second pawl, the pair of first pawls has outer side surfaces on outer sides of the respective first pawls, the pair of hinge axis legs has inner side surfaces, each of which faces with the outer side surface of a respective first pawl, on an inner side thereof, and the outer side surfaces of the pair of the first pawls and the inner side surfaces of the hinge axis legs are brought into contact with each other at opening and closing operation of the cover.