Mounting structure and functional unit

• US 8,992,112 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Matsui, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P
• Assistant Examiner(s): MASINICK, JONATHAN PETER
• Application Number:
  US13/299,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20120163907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 403/348, 403/375, 403/381, 403/349, 403/350, 439/546
• US Class Current: 403/348
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/1619 Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/168 for the transfer unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7005 Lugged member, rotary engagement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7009 Rotary binding cam or wedge

Abstract

The mounting structure includes a pair of first shape portions, a pair of second shape portions, and a pair of third shape portions. The pair of first shape portions are opposed to each other to define therebetween a passage which allows the component to be inserted into and withdrawn from the mounting structure therethrough. The pair of second shape portions are opposed to each other to define therebetween a space which allows the component inserted through the passage between the pair of first shape portions to rotate therein. The pair of third shape portions come into engagement with the engagement arms when the component positioned between the pair of second shape portions is rotated through a predetermined angle. The pair of third shape portions are opposed to each other and incorporated in the pair of second shape portions.

Claims

1. A functional unit comprising:

a component having opposite sides formed on a downstream end section with respective engagement arms having elasticity that project outward from the opposite sides of the downstream end section, and a housing provided with a mounting structure for mounting the component thereon,

the mounting structure comprising;

a pair of first shape sections opposed to each other to define therebetween a passage which allows the component to be inserted into and withdrawn from the mounting structure therethrough; and

a pair of second shape sections opposed to each other to define therebetween a space which allows the component inserted through the passage between the pair of first shape sections to rotate therein, wherein;

the pair of second shape sections include a pair of third shape sections which are opposed to each other;

the pair of third shape sections, on a downstream side in a predetermined first direction, have a section in which a spacing between the third shape sections is narrower than a spacing between other sections and are configured to come into engagement with the engagement arms by an increase of frictional force between the pair of third shape sections and the engagement arms by being pressed against the engagement arms by the elasticity of the engagement arms when the component positioned between the pair of second shape sections is rotated through a predetermined angle in the first direction;

the pair of first shape sections are configured to allow the component to pass through the passage only when the engagement arms are positioned to project from the component in an insertion/withdrawal direction with respect to the pair of first shape sections;

the pair of second shape sections are configured to prevent the component from coming off the mounting structure through any other way than the passage defined between the pair of first shape sections;

the pair of third shape sections are configured to stop the rotation of the component at a predetermined position in the first direction as a direction of the rotation during engagement of the component and to release the engagement with the engagement arms when the component is rotated in a second direction as a direction opposite to the first direction;

a pair of fourth shape sections which are respectively continuous to the pair of third shape sections in a direction along the first direction; and

a fifth shape section which comes into contact, in the direction of the insertion of the component, with the downstream end section of the component inserted through the passage between the pair of first shape sections in the insertion/withdrawal direction, the fifth shape section being incorporated in the pair of second shape sections;

wherein when the fifth shape section comes into contact with the downstream end section during insertion of the component, the engagement arms project into a groove defined by the fourth shape sections.

2. The functional unit according to claim 1, wherein the fourth shape sections guide the engagement arms during a period in which the component inserted through the passage between the pair of first shape sections is rotated through the predetermined angle in the first direction and during a period in which the component is rotated in the second direction from a position in which the engagement arms are in engagement with the pair of third shape sections up to a position in which the engagement arms are positioned in the insertion/withdrawal direction with respect to the component, the pair of fourth shape sections being opposed to each other and incorporated in the pair of second shape sections.

3. The functional unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the component is a coupler pair comprising first and second couplers which are detachably coupled to each other; and

the mounting structure further comprises a space in which the coupler pair is free to be positioned downstream of the pair of first shape sections in a direction in which the coupler pair is withdrawn from the mounting structure.

4. The functional unit according to claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical part;

wherein;

the housing supports the electrical part.