JP4523868B2 - Locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a locking mechanism, and more particularly to a locking mechanism for a lid component provided in a memory card insertion slot or a battery pack insertion slot of an electronic device.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of an electronic apparatus having a conventional locking mechanism. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the locking mechanism of the electronic device shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the electronic device 100 has a memory card insertion slot, and a cover 101 is provided at the memory card insertion slot to ensure the dustproof and splashproof performance of the device. The cover 101 is provided with a lock knob 102, and the cover 101 is locked and unlocked by sliding the lock knob 102. When the lock knob 102 is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the lock knob 102 is locked. At this time, the lock claw 103 is engaged with the claw receiving portion 104 of the electronic device 100, so that the cover 101 does not open. . When the user slides the lock knob 102 and is in the position shown in FIG. 7, the lock claw 103 is unlocked. At this time, the lock claw 103 is detached from the claw receiving portion 104 of the electronic device 100. The cover 101 can be opened in the direction of the arrow 106 around the hinge 105. The lock claw 103 is made of a metal material for a leaf spring, and the click portion 103a gets over the convex portion 101a provided on the cover 101, thereby generating a click feeling at the time of locking and unlocking, vibration, etc. The lock knob 102 is held so as not to slide by the action of the external force.

In addition, a power switch structure of a camera-integrated VTR has been introduced in which an operation knob that is slid or rotated is provided with a lock button for preventing an erroneous operation (see Patent Document 1). In such a structure, the lock button portion is always exposed from the operation knob regardless of locking and unlocking.
JP-A-8-22746

  However, the above locking mechanism has the following problems.

  When the electronic device 100 is carried or put in a bag, the lock knob 102 may be hooked, and the lock knob 102 may unintentionally slide to the unlocking side.

  In addition, since the slide amount of the lock knob 102 cannot be increased due to the downsizing of the device, there is no great difference in the position of the lock knob 102 during locking and unlocking, and it is visually confirmed whether it is locked or unlocked. Difficult to distinguish.

  The objective of this invention is providing the locking mechanism which can prevent that an operation knob member slides to the unlocking side unintentionally, and can visually recognize easily in a locked state or an unlocked state.

  In order to achieve the above object, the locking mechanism according to claim 1 is provided with a first position and a second position on a lid member attached to the outside of the main body so as to be openable and closable so as to close the opening of the main body. An operation knob member that is movably mounted between the operation member and the operation member for locking the lid member at the first position and unlocking the lid member at the second position. A push button that is movably accommodated in the operation knob member between the hole provided in the operation member, a recess provided on the back side of the operation knob member on the first position side with respect to the hole, and the lid member A member, and a push-down operation member that is elastically deformed to the push button member and protrudes from the hole when the operation knob member is in the first position, and the push-down operation member and the recess are Wherein the pressing operating member is configured to fit into the recess when the operating knob member is moved to said second position from said first position.

  According to the present invention, when the pressing operation member of the push button member is in the first position, the pressing operation member protrudes from the hole provided in the operation knob member, and the operation knob member is moved from the first position to the second position. Since the push-down operation member provided on the back side of the operation knob member fits into the recess when moving to the position, the operation knob member can be prevented from unintentionally sliding to the unlocking side, and the locked state can be released. The lock state can be easily visually confirmed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The locking mechanism according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied not only to an electronic device but also to a locking mechanism that requires an erroneous operation prevention function, such as a tool box.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic device including a locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the main body of the electronic device 10 has a memory card insertion slot, and a cover 20 (lid member) for ensuring the dustproof and drip-proof performance of the device is provided in the memory card insertion slot. The cover 20 is attached to the main body of the electronic device 10 so as to be rotatable by a hinge on the back side of the main body of the electronic device 10. The cover 20 is provided with a lock knob 30 (operation knob member), and the cover 20 is locked and unlocked by operating the lock knob 30. The cover 20 is provided with two ridges 21 on both sides of the lock knob 30 with respect to the width direction of the cover 20 and having the same height as the lock knob 30 and extending in the direction perpendicular to the width direction of the cover 20. This prevents inadvertent external force from being applied to the lock knob 30 during non-operation.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lock knob 30 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the cover 20 includes a lock button built-in portion 22 provided between two ridges 21, and a pair of rails 23 provided on both edges of the lock button built-in portion 22.

  The lock knob 30 has a rail fitting portion (not shown) that is slidably fitted to the pair of rails 23 on the lower surface, a square hole 30a in the center portion, and a pin 30b on the back surface (FIG. 3). Have Assemble between the cover 20 and the lock knob 30 from the cover 20 side so as to cover the lock button 1 with a lock button 1 (push button member) having a push-down operation portion 1a at the tip and a square hole 5a. The lock claw 6 fitted on the back surface of the blindfold sheet 5 (shielding member) and the lock knob 30 is disposed.

  The lock button 1 is formed by molding a material suitable for resin spring parts such as POM (polyoxymethylene). The blindfold sheet 5 is formed, for example, by stamping a sheet material of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and is assembled so that the pressing operation portion 1a having a substantially semicircular convex cross section is fitted into the square hole 5a so as to cover the lock button 1. . The lock claw 6 has an attachment hole 6a (FIG. 2), and is assembled by press-fitting the attachment hole 6a into a pin 30b provided on the lock knob 30 (FIG. 3).

  When the lock button 1, the blindfold sheet 5, the lock claw 6, and the lock knob 30 are all assembled to the cover 20, the operation unit 1 a for pressing the lock button 1 from the square hole 30 a of the lock knob 30 is for the user. It is exposed so that it can be pressed (FIG. 3). The exposed height of the pressing operation unit 1a is about 1.5 mm as a suitable dimension for the pressing operation.

  The color of the lock button 1 is desirably a high contrast color with respect to the colors of the lock knob 30 and the blindfold sheet 5. For example, when the lock knob 30 and the blindfold sheet 5 are black and the lock button 1 is yellow, high contrast can be obtained and sufficient visibility of the lock button 1 can be secured.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lock knob 30 in FIG. 1 and shows a locked state.

  In FIG. 3, the engaging portion 6 b of the lock claw 6 is engaged with a claw receiving portion 24 provided in the electronic device 10. Further, the lock button 1 and the cover 20 are set to have correlation dimensions such that the clearance A is generated on the hinge side of the cover 20 as shown in the figure.

  When the user slides the lock knob 30 in the tip direction (y direction in the drawing) of the cover 20 while pressing the pressing operation portion 1a of the lock button 1 in the x direction in the drawing, the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lock knob 30 in FIG. 1 and shows the unlocked state.

  In FIG. 4, the engagement portion 6 b of the lock claw 6 is disengaged from the claw receiving portion 24 provided in the main body of the electronic device 10. Further, the lock button 1 is in a deformed state as shown in the figure, the clearance A moves to the tip side of the cover 20, and the pressing operation portion 1 a having a substantially semicircular cross section is provided on the inner wall of the lock knob 30. The engagement portion 30c having a substantially semicircular concave shape in cross section is engaged. That is, the pressing operation portion 1a and the engaging portion 30c have a substantially semicircular convex shape and a semicircular concave shape, respectively, so that the lock knob 30 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position in the y direction in the figure. As it slides, the lock button 1 moves in the -y direction in the figure so that both are engaged. Therefore, even when the slide stroke of the lock knob 30 cannot be ensured due to the downsizing of the electronic device 10, it is possible to provide a locking mechanism with excellent operability without reducing the size of the pressing operation unit 1a. it can.

  The pressing operation portion 1a and the engaging recess 30c have a substantially semicircular convex shape and a semicircular concave shape in cross section, respectively, thereby generating a force for urging the lock knob 30 in the + y direction in the figure when unlocked. Therefore, it is possible to realize a locking mechanism that is excellent in operation feeling during unlocking. Further, when the lock knob 30 is in the unlocked state (FIG. 4), the lock button 1 is hidden from the square hole 30a of the lock knob 30 by the blindfold sheet 5 so that the user cannot see the lock button 1. As a result, the lock button 1 can be visually recognized at the time of locking, but cannot be visually recognized at the time of unlocking, and the locked state or the unlocked state can be visually recognized easily.

  In this state, when the user slides the lock knob 30 in the -y direction in the figure, the engagement between the push-down operation unit 1a and the engagement recess 30c is released, and the state shifts to the locked state (FIG. 3). The portion 1a is exposed from the square hole 30a of the lock knob 30 by about 1.5 mm.

  Hereinafter, the erroneous operation preventing function of the lock knob 30 in the locked state will be described in detail.

  In FIG. 3, the lock button 1 is formed of an arc-shaped member that protrudes downward on the pressing operation portion 1 a side and protrudes upward (complementary to each other) on the support portion 1 c side. For this reason, when an external force F of an erroneous operation that slides the lock knob 30 in the unlocking direction (y direction in the figure) acts, the side surface 1b of the pressing operation portion 1a is caused by the side surface 30d of the square hole 30a provided in the lock knob 30. It will be pushed in the y direction in the figure. At this time, as described above, since the lock button 1 has a circular arc shape with the pressing operation portion 1a side protruding downward and the instruction portion 1c side protruding upward, the pressing operation portion 1a and the support portion are caused by the action of the external force F. 1c tends to be deformed in a direction away from each other (± x direction in the figure). That is, since the amount of exposure of the pressing operation portion 1a from the square hole 30a is deformed, the action of restraining the lock knob 30 against the external force F increases as the erroneous operation direction external force F increases.

  The lock button 1 is provided with stopper shapes 1d on both sides, and the position of the stopper shape 1d and the inner wall 30e of the lock knob 30 abuts when the pressing operation portion 1a is deformed in the -x direction in the figure. The pressing operation unit 1a is not exposed from the square hole 30a. Therefore, the lock button 1 has a structure that can prevent breakage due to excessive deformation by the external force F.

  Since the lock button 1 is configured as a resin spring, if it is left in an unlocked state with a deformation load as shown in FIG. 4 for a long period of time, it will recover to some extent even if the load is released. It is known that the deformation does not recover until the initial state, and a sag phenomenon occurs. In the configuration of the present invention, as described above, when the external force F is applied in the unlocking direction in the locked state, the pressing operation portion 1a and the support portion 1c are deformed in the direction away from each other (± x direction in the figure). Therefore, even if the sag phenomenon occurs, the sag can be corrected by returning to the locked state and applying the external force F, and the reliability of the locking mechanism can be ensured for a long period of time. In addition, also during the sag correction, the action of the stopper shape 1d can prevent the lock button 1 from being damaged due to excessive deformation.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of sliding movement with respect to the movement of the lock knob has been described as an example, but it is also possible to configure to rotate (see Patent Document 1).

It is a perspective view of an electronic device provided with the locking mechanism concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the lock knob in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the lock knob in FIG. 1, and shows the case in a locked state. It is sectional drawing of the lock knob in FIG. 1, and shows the case where it exists in an unlocking state. It is a perspective view of an electronic device provided with the conventional locking mechanism. It is sectional drawing of the lock knob in FIG. 5, and shows the case in a locked state. It is sectional drawing of the lock knob in FIG. 5, and shows the case where it exists in an unlocking state.

Explanation of symbols

1 Lock Button 5 Blindfold Sheet 6 Lock Claw 10 Electronic Device 20 Cover 23 Rail 30 Lock Knob

Claims (6)

A lid member attached to the outside of the main body so as to be openable and closable so as to close an opening of the main body is movably attached between a first position and a second position, and the lid member is disposed at the first position. In a locking mechanism comprising: an operation knob member that performs the locking of and unlocks the lid member in the second position;
The operation knob member is movably accommodated between the hole provided in the operation knob member, the recess provided on the back side of the operation knob member on the first position side with respect to the hole, and the lid member. A push button member, and a push operation member provided in the push button member so as to be elastically deformable and projecting from the hole when the operation knob member is in the first position. The locking mechanism is configured such that the pressing operation member is fitted into the recess when the operation knob member moves from the first position to the second position.   The locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the operation knob member and the recess are complementary to each other.   The locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the operation knob member has a substantially semicircular convex shape in cross section, and the concave portion has a substantially semicircular concave shape in cross section.   The operation knob member is configured to accommodate the push button member with play in a moving direction between the first position and the second position of the operation knob member. The locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The push button member is configured such that when the pressing operation member receives a force in the unlocking direction from the operation knob member during locking, the pressing operation member is further fitted in the hole. The locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   A shielding member configured to shield and close the hole when the pressing operation member is fitted into the recess is disposed between the operation knob member and the push button member. The locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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