JP2001217041A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector having an insertion detection function which can be made at a low cost. SOLUTION: A lock arm 30, which is able to incline in seesaw from a support portion 31, is provided at the female housing 10 and at the bottom surface of the housing, a pair of energizing arm 35 is formed and can bend deformably to the right and left. At the male housing 20, a fixing projection piece 40 protrudes from the inner wall of a hood 22 and at the upper side of its top end a locking projection 41, which is able to insert and engage with a lock hole 33, is formed, and a locking wing 45 is formed protruding to both right and left walls. When the female housing 10 is inserted and engaged with the hood 22 of the male housing, the top end of the lock arm climbs on the locking projection 41 and inclines in upper direction and in line with it the energizing arm 35 also inclines in the same direction and corresponds to the locking wing 45 and bends deformably toward outside. When both housings 10, 20 stop engaging movement in half-engagement, the female housing is pushed back by the elastic force accumulated in both arms 30, 35.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a connector having a mechanical fitting detection function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of this type of connector, a coil spring is mounted on one of a pair of housings fitted to each other, and when a mating housing is fitted to this housing, the coil spring is mounted. Is compressed by being pressed by the mating housing, and when the mating operation is stopped before the two housings are properly mated and locked, when the mating operation is stopped by the restoring elastic force stored in the coil spring. It is known that the housing is pushed back to detect half-fitting. Such a connector is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-185859.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, it is necessary to separately prepare a metal coil spring as a fitting detection member and to assemble the coil spring into the housing. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the coil spring itself is high, which leads to an increase in the cost of the entire connector. The present invention has been completed based on the circumstances described above, and the purpose is to
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector with a fitting detection function that can be manufactured at low cost while enabling accurate fitting detection.

[0004]

As a means for achieving the above object, the present invention is directed to a first aspect of the present invention, in which a pair of connector housings which are fitted with each other are connected in a regular fitting state. A lock mechanism for locking the connector housing is provided, and one of the connector housings is elastically displaced by a synthetic resin which is elastically displaced by engaging with an engagement portion of the other connector housing during the fitting process of the two connector housings. Is provided, and a biasing force in a direction for separating the two connector housings from each other is accumulated by the elastic displacement of the elastic displacement portion. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the elastic displacement portion is engaged with the engaging portion when the connector housings are properly fitted and locked by the lock mechanism. The feature is that it is released and restored to its original shape.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the elastic displacement portion is formed integrally with a connector housing having the elastic displacement portion. Have. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects,
The lock mechanism includes a lock arm provided on one of the connector housings so as to be able to bend and deform, and a lock portion provided on the other connector housing. Portion is deformed by passing through the portion, and the lock arm is locked to the lock portion while being restored and deformed when both connector housings are properly fitted,
It is characterized in that the lock arm is provided as the elastic displacement portion, and the lock portion is provided also as the engagement portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the lock arm is provided with a sharpened claw portion, and the claw portion is engaged with a rear edge of the lock portion. And when the lock arm of the lock portion passes, the passing surface with which the claw portion slides,
It is characterized in that the lock portion has a tapered surface inclined to the passing direction of the lock arm up to the trailing edge. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the lock arm stores an urging force in a direction of elastically deforming the lock arm and restoring the lock arm as the lock arm flexes. This is characterized in that a spring member is mounted.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, a biasing arm made of synthetic resin is provided separately from the lock arm, and a sub-engagement portion is provided separately from the lock portion. When the urging arm engages with the sub-engaging portion and is bent and deformed during the fitting process of the two connector housings, the urging force in the direction of separating the two connector housings from each other is accumulated. It has a characteristic where it is. The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the device according to claim 7, the urging arm is capable of being bent and deformed in a direction intersecting a bending direction of the lock arm. The invention of claim 9 is the invention of claim 8
Wherein the urging arm is symmetrically disposed on both sides of the lock arm.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the eighth or ninth aspect, the urging arm is formed integrally with the lock arm. It is characterized in that it can be engaged with the sub-engaging portion by being tilted and displaced with the deformation by passing through the portion. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the device of the tenth aspect, the urging arm is locked to the lock portion while the two connector housings are properly fitted and the lock arm returns to its original shape. As a result, it is tilted and displaced from the sub-engagement portion to the original position, and returns to the original shape, dives inside the sub-engagement portion, and is locked to restrict the bending deformation of the lock arm. It has a characteristic where

[0009]

<Operation and effect of the invention><Invention of claim 1> If the fitting operation is stopped before the two connector housings reach regular fitting, the two connector housings are detached by the biasing force accumulated in the elastic displacement portion. As a result, it is detected that the half-fitted state is maintained. Since the member for storing the urging force in the detaching direction is provided with the elastic displacement portion made of synthetic resin, it can be manufactured at low cost. <Invention of Claim 2> After the two connector housings are properly fitted, the elastic displacement portion is restored to its original shape and no urging force is applied, so that an extra load is prevented from being applied to the lock portion and the like. At the same time, sagging of the elastic displacement portion is prevented, so that the elastic displacement portion can be used again. <Invention of claim 3> Since the elastic displacement portion is provided integrally with the connector housing, the number of parts is reduced, and the handling becomes convenient. <Invention of Claim 4> Since the lock mechanism part and the fitting detection mechanism part are also used, the structure can be easily summarized.

<Fifth Invention> The lock arm flexes and deforms while sliding the sharp tip of the claw portion on the tapered surface of the lock portion, passes through the lock portion, and immediately after the claw portion leaves the tapered surface. At the rear edge of the lock portion. Until the lock arm is properly locked, the claw part is always on the tapered surface, and the component force in the direction of detaching both connector housings from the lock arm is reliably obtained, and half-fit detection is more reliable Done in <Invention of Claim 6> The restoring deformation force of the lock arm can be increased, and the half-fitting detection can be performed more reliably even with a multi-pole connector.

<Seventh Invention> Since the urging force in the detaching direction is accumulated in the urging arm in addition to the lock arm, the detaching operation of the two connector housings can be performed more reliably, and the half-fitting is detected. Can be performed more accurately. <Invention of claim 8> Since the bending directions of the two arms intersect with each other, it is possible to reduce the space for the bending deformation, and to further reduce the size of the connector housing, such as a reduction in height. it can.

<Invention of claim 9> Both connector housings can be detached straight with good balance. <Invention of claim 10> As the lock arm is flexed and deformed, the biasing arm is tilted and displaced, and can be engaged with the sub-engaging portion. In addition to both arms, a lock portion and a sub-engagement portion can also be installed at adjacent locations, which can reduce installation space and contribute to downsizing of the connector. <Invention of Claim 11> When the two connector housings are properly fitted and locked, the biasing arm returns to the original position and returns to the original shape, and is sunk into the sub-engaging portion to be locked. This prevents the lock arm from being unintentionally flexed and deformed and unlocking.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
0 (hereinafter referred to as a female housing) and a male connector housing 20 (hereinafter referred to as a male housing). In the following, the respective housings 10, 20
In the following description, the fitting surface side will be described as the front surface.

The female housing 10 is made of a synthetic resin material.
It is formed in a shape as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 and FIG. Roughly, a pair of protection walls 12 are provided upright on both left and right edges of the upper surface of the short terminal housing portion 11. Three cavities 13 are formed in the terminal accommodating portion 11 in a row in the lateral direction, and a female terminal fitting (not shown) fixed to a terminal of an electric wire is inserted into each cavity 13 from behind. Will be accommodated. Female housing 10
A retainer 14 that is engaged with the female terminal fitting housed in the cavity 13 is inserted and mounted from the bottom surface.

One male housing 20 is also formed of a synthetic resin material into a shape as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 and FIG. Roughly, there is a short terminal accommodating portion 21, and a hood portion 22 to which the above-described female housing 10 can be fitted is formed in front of a portion extending from the terminal accommodating portion 21 to a region above the terminal accommodating portion 21. Terminal housing 2
1, three cavities 23 are shown in the female housing 1.
A male terminal fitting (not shown) formed corresponding to the 0-side cavity 13 and fixed to the end of the electric wire is inserted into each cavity 23 from the rear, and the tab projects into the hood portion 22. Will be accommodated. Also, a retainer 24 that is engaged with the male terminal fitting in the cavity 13 is inserted and mounted from the bottom surface of the male housing 20.

Next, the structure of the lock mechanism between the two housings 10, 20 and the structure of the fitting detection mechanism will be described. On the upper surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11 of the female housing 10, a lock arm 30 facing the front-rear direction is provided at a central portion in the width direction thereof, and a fulcrum standing from a position near the front end on the upper surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11. The fulcrum 31 is connected to the fulcrum 31 in a seesaw shape. The position of the rear end of the lock arm 30 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the rear surface substantially coincides with the rear surface of the female housing 10, and an operation portion 32 is provided at the rear end. The front end of the lock arm 30 protrudes from the front surface of the female housing 10 by a predetermined dimension, and a lock hole 33 is opened at the front end.

On the other hand, in the male housing 20, the hood 2
A fixed protruding piece 40 protrudes forward from the back wall of the second. The fixing projection 40 is sufficiently rigid so as not to be deformed.
When it is fitted inside, it takes a height position corresponding to the position directly below the lock arm 30 provided on the female housing 10. On the upper surface of the front end of the fixed protrusion 40, a lock protrusion 41 that can be fitted into the lock hole 33 of the lock arm 30 is formed. The front surface is a guide surface 42 that is inclined upward toward the rear.

A pair of urging arms 35 are provided on the lower surface of the lock arm 30 provided on the female housing 10. More specifically, the support legs 3 from the left and right side edges near the fulcrum 31 on the lower surface of the lock arm 30.
11, the urging arm 35 extends forward from each support leg 36 along the left and right side edges of the lock arm 30, and the distal end is It has reached the tip of 30. These urging arms 35 are capable of bending and deforming at their distal ends in the left-right direction. On the other hand, on the male housing 20 side, engaging wings 45 are formed so as to protrude from both left and right side surfaces of the front end of the above-mentioned fixed protruding piece 40, as shown in FIG. This engaging wing 45
Are formed in a tapered shape that becomes wider toward the rear.

This embodiment has the above-described structure,
Subsequently, the operation will be described. Male and female housings 10,2
After the terminal fittings are accommodated in the housings 0 and locked by the retainers 14 and 24, the female housing 10 is fitted into the hood portion 22 of the male housing 20, as shown by arrows in FIGS. As the fitting progresses, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the distal end of the lock arm 30 of the female housing 10 comes into contact with a guide surface 42 of a lock projection 41 provided on the fixed projection 40 of the male housing 20 and is there. When the rider rides, the lock arm 30 is elastically tilted upward at the tip. Along with this, the pair of urging arms 35 also tilt in the same direction, and the tip of the urging arm 35 rises to the height of the engaging wing 45 and approaches the front end of the engaging wing 45.

When the female housing 10 is further pushed in, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and FIGS. 16 and 17, the distal end of the lock arm 30 further elastically tilts while riding on the lock projection 41. The pair of urging arms 35 are guided by the engaging wings 45 and elastically deform so as to spread outward. During this time, the lock arm 30 and the pair of biasing arms 35 store an elastic force in the direction of pushing the female housing 10 back. Therefore, both housings 1
If the fitting operation is interrupted before 0 and 20 are properly fitted, the female housing 10 is pushed back by the elastic force accumulated in the lock arm 30 and the urging arm 35. As a result, it is detected that the two housings 10 and 20 are left in a half-fitted state, so that the female housing 10
May be pushed into the hood portion 22 of the male housing 20 again.

On the other hand, when the female housing 10 is continuously pushed and reaches the proper fitting, the lock hole 33 of the lock arm 30 goes over the lock projection 41, so that as shown in FIGS. The lock projections 41 are fitted into the lock holes 33 while the lock arm 30 is tilted to the original horizontal position, and the housings 10 and 20 are locked in the proper fitting state. In addition, the urging arm 35 also tilts in a horizontal position with the tilting of the lock arm 30, and is disengaged by lowering below the engagement wing 45, thereby returning to the original straight posture. At this time, the inner side edges at the distal ends of the both urging arms 35 sink into the lower surfaces of the corresponding engaging wings 45 and are locked.

As described above, in a state where the two housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted and locked, the lock arm 3 is locked.
0, since both of the urging arms 35 return to the original natural state, no force is applied to the female housing 10 in the direction of pushing back. Therefore, an excessive load does not act on the fitting portion between the lock hole 33 and the lock protrusion 41. Further, in the locked state, the inner edges on the distal end sides of the both urging arms 35 are pressed by the engaging wings 45, so that the lock arm 30 is tilted even if the operation part 32 is pressed against the intention. Is prevented from being inadvertently released. On the other hand, if the operating portion 32 is pressed with a predetermined force or more, the pair of biasing arms 35 spread outward while being guided by the inclined edges of the engaging wings 45, and fall out of the engaging wings 45 while locking the arm 30. Can be tilted, whereby the lock is released. Therefore, by subsequently pulling out the female housing 10, the fitting between the two housings 10, 20 can be released.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
A number of advantages can be obtained, such as: Since the lock arm 30 and the urging arm 35 made of synthetic resin are provided as members for accumulating the urging force of the female housing 10 in the returning direction, it can be manufactured at a lower cost as compared with a conventional one using a metal coil spring. . In addition, since both arms 30 and 35 are formed integrally with the female housing 10, the number of parts is reduced, which facilitates handling such as management, and is advantageous in terms of cost.

When both the housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted and locked, both the lock arm 30 and the urging arm 35 return to their original natural state, and hence are pushed back to the female housing 10. Does not work. Therefore, an excessive load does not act on the fitting portion between the lock hole 33 and the lock projection 41 and the like.
It is also possible to prevent the backlash from occurring and to provide for the refit detection again.

When the lock arm 30 is in the vertical direction,
5 has a structure that bends and deforms in a direction that intersects the horizontal direction and the horizontal direction. Of the connector can be reduced, and the height of the connector can be reduced. Further, since the pair of biasing arms 35 are provided symmetrically with the lock arm 30 interposed therebetween, the female housing 10
Can be pushed straight back in a well-balanced manner. Further, the pair of biasing arms 35 is configured to engage with the engaging wing 45 after tilting with the lock arm 30, in other words, the engaging wing 45 may be provided substantially close to the lock protrusion 41. Therefore, this also contributes to reducing the installation space and downsizing the connector.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the structure of the engagement portion between the lock arm 30A and the lock projection 41A is mainly changed from the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the changed portion will be mainly described. Parts having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. In the second embodiment, in the lock projection 41A provided on the male housing 20 side, the tapered guide surface 42A provided on the front surface continues to be tapered until reaching the rear surface of the lock projection 41A. That is, the lock projection 41
A flat surface is not provided on the upper surface of A. On the other hand, on the lock arm 30A side, the lower surface of the portion in front of the lock hole 33 has the guide surface 4A of the lock protrusion 41A facing the front edge.
The tapered surface 50 has an upward slope steeper than 2A. As a result, a claw 51 having a downward and sharp tip is formed at the front end of the lock arm 30A. In the second embodiment, the urging arm 35 provided in the first embodiment, the engaging wing 45 engaged with the urging arm 35, and the like are removed.

The operation of the second embodiment is as follows.
When the male and female housings 10 and 20 are fitted from the state of FIG. 20, the downward end of the claw portion 51 of the lock arm 30 hits the guide surface 42A of the lock protrusion 41A and is there as shown in FIG. Ride, lock arm 30A
Is elastically tilted upward. When the female housing 10 is further pushed in and the two housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted, the claw 51 of the lock arm 30A passes through the guide surface 42A as shown in FIG. 22, so that as shown in FIG. Then, while the lock arm 30 is tilted to the original horizontal posture, the claw portion 51 is locked on the rear surface of the lock protrusion 41A, and the housings 10, 20 are locked in a proper fitting state.

On the other hand, until the lock arm 30A moves backward and is locked, the female housing 10 is moved relative to the lock arm 30A due to the tilting deformation of the lock arm 30A.
The elastic force in the direction of pushing back is accumulated. Therefore, if the fitting operation is interrupted before the two housings 10 and 20 are properly fitted, the claw portion 51 slides down the guide surface 42A by the elastic force accumulated in the lock arm 30A, and the female housing is slid down. 10 is pushed back. As a result, it is detected that the two housings 10 and 20 are kept in the half-fitted state, so that the female housing 10 is replaced with the male housing 2 again.
0 hood section 22.

In particular, the guide surface 42A of the lock projection 41A
Of the lock arm 30A is formed on the guide surface 42A.
The pointed end of the claw portion 51 is always on the tapered guide surface 42A until the lock arm 30A is properly locked. As a result, a component force in the direction in which the female housing 10 is pushed back to the lock arm 30A is reliably obtained, and the half-fitting detection can be reliably performed.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 24 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the lower surface of the operation portion 32 of the lock arm 30A and the bending space 53 of the lock arm 30A opposed thereto are different from the second embodiment.
A compression coil spring 54 is interposed between the compression coil spring 54 and the bottom surface. With this structure, when the lock arm 30A passes through the lock protrusion 41A, in addition to elastically deforming the fulcrum 31, the compression coil spring 54 is tilted and deformed while being elastically compressed. That is, since a larger elastic force is accumulated as the elastic force in the direction of pushing back the female housing 10, even if the female housing 10 is large, such as a multi-pole connector, the pushing back is reliably performed. Match detection can be performed more reliably.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the first embodiment, if the urging force for detaching the two housings is accumulated only by the elastic deformation of the lock arm, the urging arm may be removed. Included in the target range. (2) Conversely, a structure may be employed in which only the urging arm stores the urging force for separating the two housings.

(3) The lock arm and the urging arm may be formed separately and provided on the housing by retrofitting. (4) Contrary to the first embodiment, the lock arm and the urging arm may be provided on the male housing side, and the lock projection and the engaging wing may be provided on the female housing side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a housing before fitting according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a female housing.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a male housing.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of both housings before fitting.

11 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of an initial state of fitting of both housings.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the two housings in the middle of fitting.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where both housings are slightly closer to regular fitting.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where both housings are properly fitted.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before fitting of both housings according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fitting process.

FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view at the moment when regular fitting is achieved.

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a state in which it is properly fitted and locked.

FIG. 24 is a vertical cross-sectional view at the moment when both housings according to the third embodiment have been properly fitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... female housing 20 ... male housing 22 ... hood part 30 ... lock arm 31 ... fulcrum part 33 ... lock hole 35 ... urging arm 36 ... support leg 40 ... fixed protrusion 41 ... lock protrusion 42 ... guide surface 45 ... engagement Synthetic blade (sub-engagement part) 30A: lock arm 41A: lock projection 42A: guide surface (passing surface) 51: claw 54: compression coil spring (spring member)

Claims (11)

[Claims] A locking mechanism is provided between a pair of connector housings to be fitted to each other to lock the two connector housings in a proper fitting state. An elastically displaceable portion made of synthetic resin, which is elastically displaced by engaging with the engagement portion of the other connector housing in the fitting process, is provided in a direction in which the two connector housings are separated from each other by the elastic displacement of the elastically displaceable portion. A connector characterized in that an urging force is accumulated. 2. When the two connector housings are properly fitted and locked by the lock mechanism, the elastic displacement portion is disengaged from the engagement portion and returns to its original shape. The connector according to claim 1, wherein 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic displacement portion is formed integrally with a connector housing having the elastic displacement portion. 4. The lock mechanism includes a lock arm provided on one connector housing so as to be able to bend and deform, and a lock portion provided on the other connector housing. Then, the lock arm is bent and deformed by passing through the lock portion, and when the two connector housings are properly fitted, the lock arm is locked by the lock portion while being restored and deformed. The elastic displacement portion,
The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lock portion is provided also as the engagement portion. 5. The lock arm is provided with a sharpened claw portion, the claw portion is to be locked to a rear edge of the lock portion, and the lock arm in the lock portion is provided. 5. A passage surface with which the claw portion slides when the plate member passes is a tapered surface inclined to a passage direction of the lock arm up to the trailing edge of the lock portion. The connector described. 6. The lock arm is provided with a spring member that stores an urging force in a direction in which the lock arm is elastically deformed as the lock arm is flexibly deformed to restore and deform the lock arm. The connector according to claim 5, wherein 7. A biasing arm made of synthetic resin is provided separately from the lock arm, and a sub-engagement portion is provided separately from the lock portion, and the biasing arm is provided during the fitting process of the two connector housings. 5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein a biasing force in a direction of separating the two connector housings from each other is accumulated by engaging with the sub-engaging portion and deforming. 8. The connector according to claim 7, wherein the urging arm is capable of being bent and deformed in a direction intersecting with a bending direction of the lock arm. 9. The connector according to claim 8, wherein the urging arms are symmetrically disposed on both sides of the lock arm. 10. The urging arm is formed integrally with the lock arm, and the urging arm is tilted and displaced as the lock arm passes through the lock portion to bend and deform. The connector according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the connector can be engaged with the joint. 11. The urging arm is tilted and displaced to its original position as the two connector housings are properly fitted and the lock arm is locked to the lock portion while returning to the original shape. The lock member is detached from the sub-engagement portion, returns to its original shape, dive inside the sub-engagement portion, and is locked to restrict bending deformation of the lock arm. 10. The connector according to 10.