Locking device for opening and closing lid

Abstract

A main body case is provided with an opening and closing lid supported in an openable and closable manner by a spindle at one end portion thereof as well as slidably attached in a direction orthogonal to a length direction of the spindle; a pair of unlocking knobs slidably arranged along a front surface of the opening and closing lid; and a locking portion formed on a main body case side that puts the opening and closing lid in a locked state by locking a step portion on a free end portion side of the opening and closing lid by sliding operating the opening and closing lid in one direction in a state where the opening and closing lid is closed.

Claims

1. A locking device comprising: a lid supported to be openable and closable by a spindle at one end portion thereof and slidably attached to one side surface of a main body case in a direction orthogonal to a length direction of the spindle; a pair of unlocking knobs slidably arranged along a front surface of the lid; and a locking portion formed on a main body case side and configured to set the lid in a locked state by locking a free end portion side of the lid by sliding the lid in one direction in a state where the lid is closed, wherein by sliding the pair of unlocking knobs in the locked state of the lid, a sliding operation of the lid in another direction is enabled to unlock the lid, on a back side of each of the pair of unlocking knobs in a state where the lid is closed, a knob guide provided with a prism-shaped protrusion is arranged on the main body case side, a projection pin is formed so as to project from a back surface of each of the pair of unlocking knobs, and a side surface of the projection pin of each of the pair of unlocking knobs is configured to position along any one of two orthogonal side surfaces of the prism-shaped protrusion formed in each of the knob guides, and the sliding operation of the lid is enabled when each of the projection pins is positioned along a first side surface of the prism-shaped protrusion, and the sliding operation is disabled when each of the projection pins is positioned along a second side surface of the prism-shaped protrusion.

2. The locking device according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the lid is closed, a tip portion of each of the projection pins projecting on each of the back surfaces of the pair of the unlocking knobs abuts a tip portion of the prism-shaped protrusion provided on each of the knob guides, and a tilted surface where the projection pin of the unlocking knob is dropped along the first side surface of the prism-shaped protrusion is formed in the tip portion of the prism-shaped protrusion provided on each of the knob guides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of an electronic device provided with a locking device for an opening and closing lid according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic device in a state where the opening and closing lid is opened;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic device in a state where the opening and closing lid is closed and lightly pushed;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the electronic device in a state where the opening and closing lid is slid upward in a state illustrated in FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the electronic device in a state where the opening and closing lid is locked.

(6) FIGS. 6A to 6C are sectional views illustrating a principal part in a first phase of locking the opening and closing lid viewed from three viewpoints;

(7) FIG. 7A to 7C is a sectional view illustrating the principal part in a second phase in the same way viewed from three viewpoints;

(8) FIG. 8A to 8C is a sectional view illustrating the principal part in a third phase in the same way viewed from three viewpoints;

(9) FIG. 9A to 9C is a sectional view illustrating the principal part in a state where the opening and closing lid is locked from three viewpoints;

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an electronic device illustrating another example of an unlocking knob; and

(11) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the electronic device illustrating still another example of the unlocking knob.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) A locking device for an opening and closing lid according to the present invention is described based on an example in which it is applied to a transmitter of a wireless microphone system.

(13) As illustrated in FIG. 1, a main body case 1 constituting a contour of the transmitter is formed into a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape entirely, and a transmission antenna 2 for a voice signal is attached to an upper end portion thereof. A display 3 is installed in a front surface top portion of the main body case 1, and an opening 4 is formed so as to occupy large part of a case front surface on a lower side of the display 3.

(14) Then, there is a housing chamber for a dry battery B in the opening 4, and an interior member 5 in which an operation button and the like are disposed is arranged.

(15) There is provided an opening and closing lid 6 capable of blocking the opening 4, which is formed on the front surface of the main body case 1. A pair of axis holes 7 is formed to this opening and closing lid 6 at both sides of a lower end portion thereof. By a spindle 8 inserted into the pair of the axis holes 7, the opening and closing lid 6 is turnably supported.

(16) Then, the spindle 8 is attached to the main body case 1 by being installed to a spindle holder 9 formed along a lower end portion of the main body case 1.

(17) Note that the pair of the axis holes 7 formed in the lower end portion of the opening and closing lid 6 is formed into a long hole shape in which the axis hole is spread in a groove shape along a vertical direction of the opening and closing lid 6. That is, each of the pair of the axis holes 7 is formed into the long hole shape, whereby the opening and closing lid 6 is attached to the spindle 8 so as to be vertically slidable along a front surface of opening and closing lid 6, or in a direction orthogonal to a length direction of the spindle.

(18) Then, a thin step portion 6a is linearly formed on a free end portion side, which is the upper end portion of the opening and closing lid 6. It is configured such that when the opening and closing lid 6 is slid upward in a state where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed, the thin step portion 6a enters into an inner surface 1a of a top portion opening edge formed on a side of them in body case 1.

(19) That is, as described below, the inner surface 1a of the top portion opening edge formed on the main body case 1 functions as a locking portion that locks the free end portion side of the opening and closing lid 6 and makes the opening and closing lid 6 in a locked state (denoted with the same reference numeral as the inner surface 1a of the opening edge).

(20) There is formed a pair of quadrilateral-shaped recessed portions 11 to the right and left near the upper end portion of the opening and closing lid 6, and at a center of each of the pair of the recessed portions 11, a through hole 12 is formed. Then, an unlocking knob 13 formed into a substantially square shape is attached to each of the pair of the recessed portions 11 from a front surface side of the opening and closing lid 6.

(21) On a back surface side through the opening and closing lid 6 where the unlocking knob 13 is positioned, slide plates 14 formed into a substantially square shape is arranged. Then, each of the slide plates 14 is joined to the unlocking knob 13 by a screw 15 to be installed from the back surface side of each of the slide plates 14.

(22) In this configuration, the pair of the unlocking knobs 13 is attached to the opening and closing lid 6 so as to be slidable only in a width direction of the opening and closing lid 6 along the pair of the quadrilateral-shaped recessed portions 11. Thus, a sliding direction of the pair of the unlocking knobs 13 and a sliding direction of the opening and closing lid 6 are set to be in an orthogonal relationship.

(23) Subsequent to the pair of the through holes 12 formed between the unlocking knob 13 and the slide plate 14, toward a central part side of the opening and closing lid 6, a groove hole is each formed. To an edge portion of the groove hole, a small protrusion 16 is formed respectively. One end portion of a coil spring 17 is attached to the small protrusion 16, and it is housed in the groove hole. Then, the other end portion of each of the coil springs 17 abuts on apart of a back surface of each of the unlocking knobs 13 and gives to the pair of unlocking knobs 13 an energizing force toward both outsides of the opening and closing lid 6.

(24) Note that, among the pair of the unlocking knobs 13, on a surface of the unlocking knob positioned on the right side in a front view, by a first protrusion projecting in a vertical direction and a second protrusion projecting in a horizontal direction, a protrusion 13a projected in an L-shape for engaging a finger is formed, and on a surface of the unlocking knob positioned on the left side, the protrusion 13a projected in a reverse L-shape, in which the right and left are reversed, for engaging a finger is formed.

(25) In performing unlocking of the opening and closing lid 6 in the locked state, this can contribute to improving operability of sliding operation toward a central part side of the pair of the right and left unlocking knobs 13 and sliding operation toward a lower side of the opening and closing lid 6.

(26) On the other hand, on the both sides of the interior member 5 arranged within the opening 4 of the main body case 1, there is formed a pair of recessed portions 18 provided with a cutting groove from both outsides toward a central part thereof. Then, to the pair of the recessed portions 18, a knob guide 19 is attached being installed from the both sides of the interior member 5.

(27) The knob guide 19 is constituted of a prism-shaped protrusion 20 integrally formed to a front surface of a plate-like member. By the plate-like member being inserted into the cutting groove, the knob guide 19 is installed in and fixed to the recessed portions 18.

(28) Note that the knob guide 19 is configured to position on a back side of the unlocking knob 13 attached to the opening and closing lid 6 when the opening and closing lid 6 is closed with the spindle 8 as a rotation center.

(29) FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrates the locking device for the opening and closing lid configured as above illustrating a process from a state where the opening and closing lid 6 is open to a locked state where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed in order.

(30) Hereinafter, a function of the locking device for the opening and closing lid is described with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrating a principal part of the locking device.

(31) Note that in FIGS. 2 to 5 described below, only major members among members appearing in the drawing are denoted by the same reference numeral as in FIG. 1.

(32) Furthermore, FIG. 6A is a sectional view in a position just before the knob guide 19 on the back surface side of the opening and closing lid 6 in a state where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed. This is the sectional view in a state viewed in an arrow direction from line a-a in FIG. 6B. This is the same in FIGS. 7A, 8A, and 9A.

(33) Furthermore, FIG. 6B is a vertical sectional view illustrating the central part of the unlocking knob 13 in a state where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed. This is the sectional view in a state viewed in the arrow direction from line b-b in FIG. 6A. This is the same in FIGS. 7B, 8B, and 9B.

(34) Furthermore, FIG. 6C is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the central part of the unlocking knob 13 in a state where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed. This is the sectional view in a state viewed in the arrow direction from line c-c in FIG. 6A. This is the same in FIGS. 7C, 8C, and 9C.

(35) Note that FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, 7C, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, and 9C illustrate movement of the locking device implemented to the unlocking knob 13 arranged on the right side; however, the locking device implemented to the unlocking knob 13 arranged on the left side operates bilaterally symmetric to this, whereby illustration is omitted.

(36) First, in a case where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the free end portion side of the opening and closing lid 6 is rotated in a direction illustrated with a circular arc arrow mark. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the opening and closing lid 6 blocks the opening 4 formed on a front surface of the main body case 1.

(37) A state of the locking device at this time is illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C. Note that as illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, on the back surface of the unlocking knob 13, a cylindrical projection pin 13b having a tip portion formed into a hemispherical shape is integrally formed with the unlocking knob 13.

(38) Thus, by closing the opening and closing lid 6, the tip portion of the projection pin 13b formed on the back surface of the unlocking knob 13 abuts on an upper end portion of the prism-shaped protrusion 20 formed on the above-described knob guide 19.

(39) To the upper end portion of the prism-shaped protrusion 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, a tilted surface 20a is formed. The hemispherical tip portion of the projection pin 13b formed in the unlocking knob 13 is in a state of being abutted on the tilted surface 20a of the prism-shaped protrusion 20.

(40) In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 3, when the front surface of the closed opening and closing lid 6 is lightly pushed in, the tip portion of the projection pin 13b slips on the tilted surface 20a and drops along a first side surface 20b of the prism-shaped protrusion 20. This is illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7C with an arrow mark.

(41) Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the pair of unlocking knobs 13 attached on the front surface of the opening and closing lid 6 mutually slides inward.

(42) In this state, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the projection pin 13b of the unlocking knob 13 is abutted on the first side surface 20b of the prism-shaped protrusion 20, and the first side surface 20b of the prism-shaped protrusion 20 is also formed along a vertical direction of the main body case 1.

(43) Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the opening and closing lid 6 can be slid upward.

(44) As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the opening and closing lid 6 is slid upward, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the thin step portion 6a formed linearly on the upper end portion of the opening and closing lid 6 enters into an inner surface (locking portion) 1a of top portion opening edge formed on the main body case 1 side. Accordingly, release of the opening and closing lid 6 is blocked.

(45) At this time, the projection pin 13b of the unlocking knob 13 attached to the opening and closing lid 6 is also slid upward and is moved to a position denoted by an arrow mark in FIG. 8A.

(46) When the projection pin 13b of the unlocking knob 13 moves to a position illustrated in FIG. 8A, the above-described coil spring 17 that energizes the unlocking knob 13 outward tries to return to a steady state. Due to this function, the projection pin 13b of the unlocking knob 13, as denoted by an arrow mark in FIGS. 9A and 9C, is moved along a second side surface 20c formed in the prism-shaped protrusion 20.

(47) That is, the projection pin 13b formed on the back surface of the unlocking knob 13 moves along the first and the second side surfaces 20b to 20c, which are two orthogonal side surfaces of the prism-shaped protrusion 20.

(48) As a result, by a function of the coil spring 17, the pair of unlocking knobs 13 moves toward a position both outsides of the opening and closing lid 6 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

(49) Accordingly, the projection pin 13b formed on the back surface of the unlocking knob 13 positions facingly to the second side surface 20c of the prism-shaped protrusion 20.

(50) Accordingly, the opening and closing lid 6 cannot make sliding operation downward, whereby the opening and closing lid 6 is held in the locked state.

(51) As described above, in a case where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed and locked, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the opening and closing lid 6 is lightly pushed in a state where the opening and closing lid 6 is closed. In this state, by sliding the opening and closing lid 6 upward as illustrated in FIG. 4, the opening and closing lid 6 is in the locked state.

(52) To open the opening and closing lid 6 in the locked state, the pair of unlocking knobs 13 attached to the opening and closing lid 6 is slid mutually inward. By sliding the opening and closing lid 6 downward in this state, the locked state of the opening and closing lid 6 is released. Then, the opening and closing lid 6 can be released by rotating the free end portion side of the opening and closing lid 6 to front centering on the spindle 8.

(53) In this embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the protrusion 13a is arranged so as to form the L shape. However, the protrusion 13a is not limited to the L shape. For example, the protrusion 13a may also form the cross. Furthermore, two protrusions constituted a part to be a finger hook; however, as illustrated in FIG. 10, for example, the finger hook may also be constituted of one tilted linear protrusion that tilts outward from the center of the case 1, or in other words, that tilts outward in the sliding direction of the unlocking knob. The shape of the protrusion 13a may also be, in addition to the above-described one, a plurality of fine projected and recessed protrusions as illustrated in FIG. 11 may also be used. It may also be the L shape, the cross, or the tilted line, as described above, formed of fine projections and recesses.

(54) With the locking device for the opening and closing lid according to the present invention, relatively simple and good operability is provided to locking operation and unlocking operation of the opening and closing lid.

(55) Then, in releasing the locked state of the opening and closing lid, sliding operation in a transverse direction of the pair of unlocking knobs and sliding operation in a longitudinal direction of the opening and closing lid are accompanied, whereby such as the problem in that locking of the opening and closing lid is carelessly disengaged during use of an electronic device may be resolved, it is possible to obtain an act and effect as described in Advantageous Effects of Invention.