Waterproof cover structure of electric distribution box

Electricity: conductors and insulators – Covers or face plates

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C174S067000, C220S241000, C439S139000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06797884

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a waterproof cover structure of an electric distribution box in which water, applied from the upper side, is prevented from intruding through a joined portion of two covers.
FIGS. 6 and 7
show a first related waterproof cover structure of an electric distribution box (See Pages 3 to 5, FIGS. 2 and 3 of JP-UM-55-129479).
This electric distribution box
41
includes main cover
42
made of a synthetic resin, and base cover
43
. Electrical parts (such as relays) and a circuit board (not shown) for connecting the electrical parts, and so on are received within the two covers. A wire
45
, extending from the circuit board, is extended outwardly through a mouth portion
44
formed at lower sides of the two covers
42
and
43
.
The main cover
42
includes a frame-like peripheral wall
46
formed at a peripheral edge of an opening thereof through a stepped portion
48
. The base cover
43
includes a frame-like wall portion
47
(
FIG. 7
) for fitting into the peripheral wall
46
. As shown in
FIG. 7
, an upper wall portion
46
a
of the main cover
42
has a downwardly-slanting wall
49
, and a lower end
49
a
of the slanting wall
49
is disposed in proximity to an outer surface of an upper wall portion
50
of base cover
43
, thereby preventing the intrusion of water applied from the upper side.
The electric distribution box
41
is mounted within an engine room of a vehicle. When water is applied to an upper portion of the main cover
42
, for example, during the travel of the vehicle, the water flows along the slanting wall
49
to the wall portion
50
of base cover
43
. Even when the water intrudes into the inside of the wall portion
46
a
through a gap between the slanting wall
49
and the wall portion
50
, the frame-like peripheral wall
47
of base cover
43
prevents the water from intruding to a surface (area)
51
of joining of the two covers
42
and
43
.
In the above related structure, however, waterdrops remained on the inner surfaces of the slanting wall
49
and frame-like peripheral wall
47
for a long period of time, and the waterdrops are formed into vapor, and there is a fear that this moisture intruded through the joining area
51
into the inside of the covers, and adversely affected the electrical parts and the circuit board within the covers. There is also a fear that the upper wall portion
50
of the cover
43
is deteriorated by waterdrops, and is lowered in strength.
FIG. 8
shows a second related electric distribution box mounted within an instrument panel of a vehicle.
This electric distribution box
61
includes main cover
62
, and base cover (ECU cover)
63
. A wiring board
8
, an ECU (electronic control unit)
7
and so on are received within the two covers
62
and
63
.
A peripheral wall
64
of the ECU cover
63
is joined to an outer surface of a peripheral wall
65
of the main cover
62
, and the two covers are fixed to each other by retaining member (not shown) including retaining projections and engagement holes. The electric distribution box
61
is mounted in a vertical posture within the instrument panel.
The scattering of a large amount of waterdrops as within the engine room will not occur within the instrument panel. However, in some cases, there occurs the intrusion of a small amount of water, such as dew condensation on an air duct and water intruding through a welded portion of a body, and in such a case there is a fear that the water intruded into the inside of the covers through a gap between the upper wall
65
of the main cover
62
and the upper cover
64
of the ECU cover
63
as indicated by arrow D.
And besides, when the retaining projections (not shown) are formed on the inner surface of each vertical side wall of the ECU cover
63
while the engagement holes (not shown) are formed in each vertical side wall of the main cover
62
, there is a fear that water, passed through the gap between the upper walls
64
and
65
of the two covers
62
and
63
, is liable to intrude into the inside of the covers through the engagement holes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof cover structure of an electric distribution box in which waterdrops, resulting from water applied from the upper side, can be rapidly removed, thereby positively preventing the intrusion of the water into the electric distribution box.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a waterproof cover structure of an electric distribution box, comprising:
a first cover member, including:
a covering wall;
a first side wall, formed on the covering wall; and
an inner wall, formed on the covering wall with a gap between the first side wall and the inner wall, and having a straight wall and a slanting wall; and
a second cover member, having a second side wall to be inserted into the gap,
wherein the covering wall has an opening communicating the gap with an exterior; and
wherein an end portion of the second side wall is disposed above the slanting wall when the second side wall is inserted into the gap.
With this construction, when attaching the two covers to each other, the second side wall of the second cover member is inserted into the gap between the side wall of the first cover member and the inner wall, and the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member moves over the inner wall, and is disposed in overlying relation to the slanting wall. The slanting wall is disposed beneath the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member. Water, applied onto the second side wall of the second cover member, flows through the gap between the first side wall of the first cover member and the inner wall, and drops from the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member onto the surface of the slanting wall, and is smoothly led to the exterior along the slanting wall. Therefore, waterdrops, resulting from water applied from the upper side, can be rapidly removed, thereby positively preventing the intrusion of the water into the electric distribution box. Therefore, the quality of the circuit parts and so on within the electric distribution box is maintained, and besides the strength of the synthetic resin-molded covers will not be deteriorated, and the discoloring of the covers is prevented.
Preferably, the straight wall is continuous with the slanting wall. The slanting wall is continuous with the cover wall.
Preferably, the end portion of the second side wall is disposed outwardly of the straight wall in a direction of inserting of the second side wall of the second cover member.
With this constructions, when attaching the two covers to each other, the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member moves over the inner wall, and is disposed above the slanting wall in opposed relation thereto. The slanting wall is disposed beneath the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member in opposed relation thereto. The edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member and the inner wall are disposed in horizontally-spaced relation to each other, and the inner wall is disposed close to the inner side of the electric distribution box, while the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member is disposed adjacent to the outer side of the electric distribution box. Water, applied onto the second side wall of the second cover member, positively drops from the edge portion of the second side wall of the second cover member onto the surface of the slanting wall without flowing back to the inner wall, and is more smoothly led to the exterior along the slanting wall. Therefore, the intrusion of water into the electric distribution box is more positively prevented.
Preferably, a notch is formed on a vicinity of the second side wall of the second cover member. The inner wall is inserted into the notch when the second side wall is inserted into the gap.
With this construction, when attaching the two cove

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