JP5861078B2 - Connector storage case and bicycle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector housing case for housing a connector for joining cables and a bicycle including this case.

  Conventionally, in an electric bicycle or the like, a plurality of cables are attached along a frame. In Patent Document 1 below, as shown in FIG. 25, a down tube 110 of a frame 109 has a pipe portion 111 and a cable holding portion 112 integrally, and the cable holding portion 112 has a concave groove 113 for storing a cable. In addition, a configuration is disclosed in which a cap 114 is detachably engaged with an opening portion of the groove 113 and a plurality of cables 115 are housed in the groove 113.

  For example, a cable 115 connected to the brake switch side and a cable 115 connected to the battery side are joined by a connector 116, and the connector 116 is also accommodated in the concave groove 113.

  In Patent Document 2 below, as shown in FIG. 26, a hub motor 122 that drives a front wheel (not shown) is provided on the front hub 123, and a detent plate 124 is fixed to the front fork 125. A configuration in which the lead wire 126 and the extension cord 127 are joined by a connector 128 and a cover 129 for housing the lead wire 126 and the connector 128 is provided on the rotation stop plate 124 is disclosed.

JP2000-302074 JP2004-142631

  However, in the conventional type shown in FIG. 25, since the connector 116 is housed in the concave groove 113 of the down tube 110, the down tube 110 has a configuration in which the pipe portion 111 and the cable holding portion 112 are integrated. The cross-sectional shape of the down tube 110 becomes complicated, and it is necessary to manufacture the down tube 110 by extrusion processing, which causes a problem that the manufacturing method and material of the frame are greatly limited.

  In the conventional type shown in FIG. 26, since the cover 129 is positioned below the front fork 125, the cover 129 comes into contact with an obstacle or falls while the bicycle is running. Are liable to contact the ground and the cover 129 is easily damaged.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector housing case and a bicycle that can ease restrictions on the manufacturing method and material of the bicycle frame and are less susceptible to damage.

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present invention is a connector storage case provided in a bicycle provided with a basket in front of a handle and cables connected by a connector,
A case main body having a storage space for storing the connector therein, a fixing member for fixing the case main body to the basket, and positioning means for positioning the case main body with respect to the fixing member;
The case body is provided outside the basket,
The fixing member is provided inside the basket,
With the back part of the basket sandwiched between the case body and the fixing member, the case body can be attached to the back of the basket by being connected to the fixing member by a connector .
The positioning means has a positioning protrusion provided on the fixing member and a positioning hole formed in the case body,
The positioning protrusion can be inserted into the positioning hole in a state where the back surface portion of the basket is sandwiched between the case main body and the fixing member .

According to this, when the connector is stored in the storage space of the case body of the connector storage case, the fixing member is inside the basket, and the case body is outside the basket, the basket is placed between the fixing member and the case body. The connector housing case can be attached to the back surface of the basket by sandwiching the back surface portion and connecting the case main body to the fixing member by the connecting tool. This makes it difficult for the connector storage case to come into contact with other obstacles while the bicycle is running, and makes it difficult for the connector storage case to contact the ground when the bicycle falls. It becomes difficult to receive.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to store the connector in the bicycle frame, there is no need to form a groove or the like for storing the connector in the frame, and the cross-sectional shape of the frame can be simplified. Restrictions on manufacturing methods and materials can be relaxed.

In addition , when the back part of the basket is sandwiched between the fixing member and the case main body with the fixing member inside the basket and the case main body outside the basket, the case main body is fixed to the fixing member by the positioning means. Positioned. Thereby, the position of the case body does not shift with respect to the position of the fixing member, and the connecting tool can be reliably and accurately mounted when the case body is connected to the fixing member.

In the connector housing case according to the second aspect of the invention, the case body has a housing member having a housing space and having an opening formed on the front surface, and a lid for closing the opening of the housing member,
The lid is detachably attached to the storage member.

According to this, the connector is stored in the case body by inserting the connector into the storage space of the storage member and attaching the lid to the storage member.
The connector housing case according to the third aspect of the invention is provided with a biting prevention means for preventing the cable from biting between the lid and the housing member when the lid is attached to the housing member.

  According to this, by inserting the connector and a part of the cable into the storage space of the storage member and attaching the lid to the storage member, the connector and a part of the cable are stored in the case body. At this time, since the biting prevention means can prevent the cable from biting between the lid and the storage member, the lid can be easily and surely attached to the storage member.

In the bicycle according to the fourth invention, the connector housing case described in any one of the first to third inventions is attached to the back of a basket provided in front of the handle.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the connector storage case is attached to the back surface of the basket, the connector storage case is hardly damaged. Further, since there is no need to house the connector in the bicycle frame, the cross-sectional shape of the frame can be simplified, thereby relaxing the frame manufacturing method and material restrictions.

The figure of the bicycle in the 1st embodiment of the present invention Figure of bicycle cable and connector Same side view of the bicycle basket The perspective view of the connector storage case attached to the basket Front view of the connector storage case attached to the basket Side view of the connector storage case attached to the basket XX arrow view in FIG. YY arrow view in FIG. ZZ arrow view in FIG. The exploded perspective view of the connector storage case Same as above, front view of storage member of connector storage case Side view of the storage member of the connector storage case Same as above, front view of cover for connector storage case Same as above, rear view of the fixed base of the connector storage case Same as above, top view of the fixed base of the connector storage case Side view showing the procedure for attaching the connector storage case Side view of connector housing case according to second embodiment of present invention The exploded perspective view of the connector storage case Top view of the connector storage case The bottom view of the connector storage case Same as above, rear view of the connector storage case XX arrow view in FIG. XX arrow view in FIG. Side view showing the procedure for attaching the connector storage case Cross-sectional view of a conventional down tube containing a connector Figure of conventional connector storage cover

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric bicycle, which includes a frame 2, a front wheel 3, a rear wheel 4, a handle 5, and a hub motor 6 that applies auxiliary rotational force to the front wheel 3, A battery 7 for supplying power to the hub motor 6, a display device 8, a basket 9 provided in front of the handle 5, left and right brake levers 10 a and 10 b, and the like are provided.

  The frame 2 has a head pipe 12 at the front, and a lower pipe 38 connected to the head pipe 12. A head component 19 is provided on the top of the head pipe 12. The display device 8 displays travel data such as the remaining amount of the battery 7, the assist rate by the hub motor 6, the travel speed, and the travel distance on the display screen, and is attached to the handle 5.

  The basket 9 is formed by forming a plurality of wire rods 13 in a lattice shape or a net shape intersecting vertically and horizontally (or diagonally), and has a box-like structure with an open upper surface. An attachment member 14 is provided on the back surface of the basket 9, and the attachment member 14 is connected to a connection fitting 15 (for example, a lamp hook) fixed to the head component 19. For the material of the mounting member 14, for example, a resin such as plastic or a metal such as stainless steel is used.

  Brake switches 11a and 11b are provided at the mounting portions of both brake levers 10a and 10b. The brake switches 11a and 11b are turned on when the brake levers 10a and 10b are operated, and are turned off when the operation of the brake levers 10a and 10b is released. One cable 16a, 16b is connected to each of the left and right brake switches 11a, 11b.

  The other cables 17a and 17b are connected to the battery 7 side. The cables 16a, 16b, 17a, and 17b include power supply cables, power lines, communication cables, and the like, including electric wires, wiring, cords, wires, and the like.

  One cable 16a and the other cable 17a are joined by a first connector 18a, and one cable 16b and the other cable 17b are joined by a second connector 18b. The first and second connectors 18 a and 18 b are housed in a connector housing case 20, and the connector housing case 20 is detachably attached to the back surface of the basket 9.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the connector storage case 20 includes a case main body 22 having a storage space 21 (see FIGS. 7 to 9) inside, and a fixing member for fixing the case main body 22 to the back surface of the basket 9. 24. The case body 22 is provided on the rear outer side of the basket 9, the fixing member 24 is provided on the inner side of the basket 9, and a plurality of wire rods 13 (hereinafter referred to as the wire rods 13 on the back surface) constituting the back surface of the basket 9. The case main body 22 is connected to the fixing member 24 by a plurality of screws 25 (an example of a connecting tool) in a state of being sandwiched between the fixing member 24 and the fixing member 24.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the case main body 22 includes a rectangular box-shaped storage member 28 having a storage space 21 therein and having an opening 27 formed on the front surface, and an opening 27 of the storage member 28. A closing lid 29 is provided. A plurality of protrusions 32 having screw holes 31 are provided in the storage member 28, that is, in the storage space 21. The tip of the protrusion 32 protrudes slightly forward from the opening 27 of the storage member 28. The first and second connectors 18a and 18b and a part of each of the cables 16a, 16b, 17a and 17b are accommodated in the accommodation space 21.

  The left and right side plate portions 40 of the storage member 28 are respectively formed with outlets 41 through which the cables 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are drawn from the storage space 21 to the outside of the case body 22. The two outlets 41 are long in the front-rear direction, and the front end portion 41a is opened.

  The upper plate portion 33 and the lower plate portion 34 of the storage member 28 are provided with a plurality of locking claws 35 that protrude upward and downward, respectively. Also, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, a plurality of locking holes 36 are formed in the upper and lower portions of the lid 29. The lid 29 is detachably attached to the storage member 28. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the lid 29 is attached to the storage member 28 by fitting the respective locking claws 35 into the respective locking holes 36. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, the lid 29 is removed from the storage member 28 by removing each locking claw 35 from each locking hole 36.

  When the lid 29 is attached to the storage member 28, the cable 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, 17 b pulled out from the outlet 41 is prevented from being caught between the lid 29 and the storage member 28. An example of the jam prevention means is provided on the side plate portion 40 of the storage member 28. As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the biting prevention piece 42 has an L shape and is located on the outer side of the front end portion 41 a where the outlet 41 is opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, the lid 29 is formed with a plurality of openings 37 that open to the outside and the storage space 21. In a state where the lid 29 is attached to the storage member 28, the tip end of the protrusion 32 is inserted into the opening 37 and the screw hole 31 is exposed in the opening 37, as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 13. As the material of the storage member 28 and the lid 29, for example, a resin such as plastic or a metal such as stainless steel is used.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 14, and 15, the fixing member 24 includes a fixing base 45 and a fixing plate 46. The fixed base 45 is formed with a plurality of screw insertion holes 49 penetrating in the front-rear direction. The fixed plate 46 is formed with a plurality of long hole portions 50 that are open on both the front and back surfaces and that are long in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the connector housing case 20 has the case body 22 in a state where the wire 13 on the back surface of the basket 9 is sandwiched between the lid 29 of the case body 22 and the fixing plate 46 of the fixing member 24. Positioning means 53 for positioning with respect to the fixing member 24 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 8, 10, and 13 to 15, the positioning means 53 includes a plurality of positioning protrusions 54 that are provided on the fixed base 45 and protrude rearward, and a plurality of positioning holes 55 formed in the lid 29. And have. Each positioning projection 54 can be inserted into and removed from the long hole portion 50 of the fixing plate 46 and the positioning hole 55 of the lid 29. The positioning hole 55 communicates with the upper and lower portions of the opening 37.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
First, the attachment procedure of the connector storage case 20 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first and second connectors 18a, 18b and a part of each cable 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are inserted into the storage space 21 of the storage member 28, and each cable 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b is pulled out from the outlet 41 to the outside.

  Next, the lid 29 is fitted on the storage member 28 to close the opening 27. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the respective locking claws 35 are fitted into the respective locking holes 36, whereby the lid 29 is attached to the storage member 28, and the case body 22 is assembled as shown in FIG. The connectors 18a and 18b and a part of the cables 16a, 16b, 17a and 17b are accommodated in the accommodating space 21.

  When the lid 29 is attached to the storage member 28, the cables 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, and 17 b are prevented from biting even if they try to inadvertently move in one direction D toward the open front end 41 a of the outlet 41. By abutting 42, movement in one direction D is prevented. Accordingly, the cables 16a, 16b, 17a, and 17b drawn from the outlet 41 can be prevented from being caught between the lid 29 and the storage member 28, so that the lid 29 can be easily and reliably attached to the storage member 28. Can be attached to.

  The positioning projection 54 of the fixed base 45 is inserted into the long hole portion 50 of the fixing plate 46, and as shown in FIG. 16, the fixing member 24 is assembled, the fixing member 24 is placed inside the basket 9, and the positioning projection 54 is inserted into the basket. 9 is inserted between the wire rods 13 on the back surface from the inner side of 9 and protrudes to the rear outer side. Further, the case main body 22 is applied to the rear surface of the basket 9 from the rear outer side of the basket 9, and the rear surface of the basket 9 is interposed between the fixing plate 46 of the fixing member 24 and the lid 29 of the case main body 22 as shown in FIG. The wire 13 is inserted.

  At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the case main body 22 is inserted by inserting the positioning protrusion 54 into the long hole portion 50 of the fixing plate 46, between the wire 13 on the back surface of the basket 9 and the positioning hole 55 of the lid 29. Is positioned with respect to the fixing member 24. Thereby, the position of the case main body 22 does not shift with respect to the position of the fixing member 24, and the positions of the screw insertion hole 49, the long hole portion 50, the opening portion 37, and the screw hole 31 are matched without shifting.

  Then, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 16, the screw 25 is inserted from the screw insertion hole 49 into the long hole portion 50 and the opening portion 37, screwed into the screw hole 31 and tightened. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 to 8, the case main body 22 and the fixing member 24 are connected to assemble the connector housing case 20 and attach it to the back surface of the basket 9.

  By attaching the connector storage case 20 to the back of the basket 9 in this way, the connector storage case 20 is less likely to come into contact with other obstacles while the bicycle 1 is running, and when the bicycle 1 falls, the connector Since the storage case 20 is less likely to contact the ground, the connector storage case 20 is less likely to be damaged.

  Further, since it is not necessary to store the connectors 18a and 18b in the lower pipe 38 of the frame 2, there is no need to form a concave groove or the like for storing the connector in the lower pipe 38. The shape of the ellipse can be simplified, and restrictions on the manufacturing method and material of the frame 2 can be relaxed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3, 17, and 18, the connection fitting 15 (lamp hanging) has a connection plate 15 a erected upward at the tip. Further, as shown in FIG. 24A, the wire rod 13 on the back surface of the basket 9 is provided with a thin flat plate mounting bracket 65, and the mounting bracket 65 has a plurality of mounting holes 64 penetrating into and out of the basket 9. Is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 17, a connector housing case 66 is attached to the back surface of the basket 9, and the connecting plate 15 a (tip portion) of the connecting metal 15 is connected to the back surface of the basket 9 together with the connector housing case 66. Yes. The connector housing case 66 serves as the connector housing case 20 and the mounting member 14 shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the connector housing case 66 includes a case body 70 having first and second housing spaces 68 and 69 inside, and the case body 70 on the back surface of the mounting bracket 65 of the basket 9. And a fixing member 71 to be fixed.

  The case main body 70 is provided on the rear outer side of the basket 9, the fixing member 71 is provided on the inner side of the basket 9, and the mounting bracket 65 on the back surface of the basket 9 is sandwiched between the case main body 70 and the fixing member 71. The case body 70 is coupled to the fixing member 71 by a plurality of bolts 73 and nuts 74 (an example of a coupling tool).

  The case body 70 includes an outer storage member 76, an inner storage member 77 (an example of a lid) that is inserted into the outer storage member 76, and a backing member 78. As shown in FIGS. 18, 20, and 23, the outer storage member 76 is a square box type member having a front opening 75 at the front and a bottom opening 79 at the bottom.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the inner storage member 77 is a square box type member having an open front portion, and can be inserted into and removed from the front opening portion 75 in the outer storage member 76. 1 storage space 68 is provided. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, a second storage space 69 is formed inside the outer storage member 76 and outside the rear of the inner storage member 77.

  The first and second connectors 18a, 18b and a part of each of the cables 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are stored in the second storage space 69. As shown in FIGS. 20 to 23, the bottom plate portion 83 of the outer storage member 76 has a plurality of outlets for drawing the cables 16 a, 16 b, 17 a, 17 b from the second storage space 69 to the outside of the case body 70. 84 is formed. Each outlet 84 communicates with the bottom opening 79.

  The backing member 78 is in contact with the front opening end (front end) of the outer storage member 76 as shown in FIGS. 17, 22, and 23, and as shown in FIG. It has a plurality of claws 86 protruding rearward. In addition, a plurality of holding portions 88 having insertion holes 87 are provided on the outer edge portion of the front opening end portion of the outer storage member 76. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, the pawls 86 are inserted into the insertion holes 87 of the holding portions 88, whereby the backing member 78 is attached to the front opening end of the outer storage member 76. As shown in FIG. 18, the backing member 78 is formed with a plurality of openings 85 that are long in the vertical direction and open to both the front and back surfaces and open to the lower end.

The material of the fixing member 71, the storage members 76 and 77, and the backing member 78 is made of a resin such as plastic or a metal such as stainless steel.
As shown in FIGS. 18, 22, and 23, the connection plate 15 a of the connection fitting 15 is inserted and sandwiched between the backing member 78 and the opening end of the inner storage member 77. A plurality of bolt insertion holes 90 are formed in the connecting plate 15a.

  The fixing member 71 is a flat plate member, and a plurality of bolts 73 are inserted through the fixing member 71 and are integrally attached and fixed to the fixing member 71 by caulking, welding, or the like. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, each bolt 73 is inserted into the mounting hole 64 of the mounting bracket 65, the opening 85 of the backing member 78, and the bolt insertion hole 90 of the connecting plate 15a. Further, the nut 74 is screwed into the front end portion of the bolt 73, and the nut 74 and the front end portion of the bolt 73 are stored in the first storage space 68.

The wire 13 on the back surface of the basket 9 is sandwiched between the fixing member 71 and the backing member 78 together with the mounting bracket 65.
Hereinafter, the operation of the above configuration will be described.

First, a procedure for attaching the connector housing case 66 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 24A, the first and second connectors 18a, 18b and a part of each cable 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are inserted into the second storage space 69 in the outer storage member 76. Then, each cable 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b is pulled out from each outlet 84 to the outside. Thereafter, the inner storage member 77 is inserted into the outer storage member 76 and the front opening 75 of the outer storage member 76 is closed.

  Next, the backing member 78 is inserted between the mounting bracket 65 of the basket 9 and the coupling plate 15a of the coupling bracket 15 from above, and the opening 85 of the backing member 78 is connected to the mounting hole 64 of the mounting bracket 65 and the coupling plate. It is made to correspond to the bolt insertion hole 90 of 15a.

  Then, the fixing member 71 is inserted into the basket 9 integrally with the bolt 73, and the bolt 73 is inserted from the inside of the basket 9 into the attachment hole 64, the opening 85, and the bolt insertion hole 90. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 24 (b), a nut 74 is tightened on each bolt 73. Thereby, the back surface of the basket 9 is connected to the connection fitting 15, and the backing member 78 is sandwiched and fixed between the wire 13 on the back surface of the basket 9 and the connection plate 15 a.

  Thereafter, the front opening end portion of the outer storage member 76 including the inner storage member 77 is brought into contact with the backing member 78 from the rear outer side of the basket 9, and the claws 86 of the backing member 78 are attached to the holding portions 88. Insert into the insertion hole 87. Thus, as shown in FIG. 23, each nut 74 and the tip of the bolt 73 are housed in the first housing space 68, and the outer housing member 76 is attached to the backing member 78 for housing the connector. A case 66 is assembled and attached to the back of the basket 9.

  The connector housing case 66 in the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment because the connector housing case 20 and the mounting member 14 shown in FIG. It is not necessary to separately provide the connector housing case 20 and the mounting member 14, thereby reducing the number of components.

  In each of the above embodiments, the connector housing cases 20 and 66 are attached to the basket 9 of the electric bicycle 1. However, the present invention is not limited to the electric bicycle 1 and includes auxiliary drive devices such as a hub motor 6 and a battery 7. The connector storing cases 20 and 66 may be attached to the basket 9 of the general-purpose type bicycle that is not provided.

  The present invention has exemplified a basket having a lattice structure or a net structure made of a plurality of wire rods of a bicycle, but can also be applied to a basket made of a plate material such as resin.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric bicycle 2 Frame 5 Handle 9 Basket 12 Head pipe 15 Connection metal fittings 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b Cable 18a, 18b Connector 19 Head component 20 Connector storage case 21 Storage space 22 Case main body 24 Fixing member 25 Screw (connector)
27 Opening portion 28 Storage member 29 Lid 42 Biting prevention piece (biting prevention means)
53 Positioning means 66 Connector housing case 69 Second housing space 70 Case body 71 Fixing member 73 Bolt (connector)
74 Nut (Connector)
76 Outer storage member (storage member)
77 Inside storage member (lid)

Claims (4)

A connector storage case provided in a bicycle provided with a basket in front of a handle and cables connected by a connector,
A case main body having a storage space for storing the connector therein, a fixing member for fixing the case main body to the basket, and positioning means for positioning the case main body with respect to the fixing member;
The case body is provided outside the basket,
The fixing member is provided inside the basket,
With the back part of the basket sandwiched between the case body and the fixing member, the case body can be attached to the back of the basket by being connected to the fixing member by a connector .
The positioning means has a positioning protrusion provided on the fixing member and a positioning hole formed in the case body,
A connector housing case , wherein the positioning protrusion can be inserted into the positioning hole in a state where the back portion of the basket is sandwiched between the case body and the fixing member . The case body includes a storage member having a storage space and having an opening formed on the front surface, and a lid for closing the opening of the storage member.
2. The connector housing case according to claim 1, wherein the lid is detachably attached to the housing member . 3. The connector housing case according to claim 2, further comprising a biting prevention means for preventing the cable from being caught between the lid and the housing member when the lid is attached to the housing member . A bicycle, wherein the connector housing case according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is attached to a back surface of a basket provided in front of the handle.

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