JPH0973953A - Fitting structure of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent connectors installed in a panel from being damaged at the time when panels are assembled mutually. SOLUTION: An installation panel side connector 5 is installed in a connector installation plate 2 to be attached to the back side of an installation panel 1. On the other hand, a body side connector 6 is fixed in a body 7 side. In the condition that the installation panel 1 provided with the connector installation plate 2 is built in the body 7, the installation panel side connector 5 and the body side connector 6 are made possible to be fitted each other. The installation panel side connector 5 is constantly forced to be positioned at a waiting position by a spring member 25 and when the installation panel 1 is built in the body 7, the connector 5 is evacuated at a position where no interference occurs between the body side connector 6 and the connector 6 and the connector 5. After both panels 1, 7 are assembled, a bolt 11 is screwed while the spring member 25 being contracted, so that both connectors 5, 6 are put in a regular fitting state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for fitting a pair of male and female connectors to each other, and more particularly to a fitting structure when these connectors are mounted on a panel to be assembled with each other. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, when various electrical components such as meters and switches mounted on an instrument panel of an automobile (hereinafter simply referred to as instrument panel) are connected to a wire harness, a so-called so-called "working efficiency" is used. A method called a plug-in has been adopted.
The plug-in system is a system in which a plurality of connectors corresponding to the connectors of each electrical component are collectively arranged on a connector mounting plate and the connector mounting plate is mounted on the instrument panel. With this configuration, when the electrical component mounting work is performed, each connector of the connector mounting plate is in a standby state without pulling out each connector to the front side of the instrument panel. The connectors can be fitted to each other only by pressing and fitting them into the predetermined openings, so that the connection work can be performed easily and quickly.

In the plug-in system as described above, the connector mounting plate is provided with a connector (called an instrument panel side connector) for collecting wirings from the respective connectors mounted therein, and correspondingly to the body side. A connector for supplying power (also called body side connector)
Is fixed, and after fitting the instrument panel with the connector mounting plate mounted to the body side, the fitting of these two connectors is properly performed. However, since both connectors are usually multi-pole connectors and a large force is required for fitting them, a bolt tightening type is often used.

[0004]

When the instrument panel is assembled to the body, the instrument panel side and body side connectors may be misaligned. For this,
At least one of the connectors is required to be supported so as to be movable in the three-dimensional directions so as to absorb the misalignment between the two. However, merely making it a movable type is still insufficient. That is, if both connectors interfere with each other when the instrument panel is assembled to the body, the connector may be damaged by an impact during assembly.

The present invention has been developed and devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent connectors attached to panels from being damaged when the panels are assembled to each other. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fitting structure for the connector.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is the first one mounted on one panel.
A structure in which a second connector, which is provided at a position substantially coaxial with the first connector on the other panel assembled to the one panel, is fitted to the connector of FIG. On the other hand, when assembling the other panel, the second connector is held at the standby position such that interference with the first connector is avoided and a predetermined gap is held between the second connector and the first connector. It is characterized in that it is supported so as to be displaceable in the axial direction with respect to the second panel so that it can be pushed into a regular fitting position with respect to the first connector when pushed in toward.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the other panel is provided with a biasing member for biasing the second connector to the standby position. It is characterized by that.

Further, the invention of claim 3 is the same as that of claim 1 or 2, wherein the other panel and the second panel are provided.
At least one of the connectors is provided with guide means for guiding the axial displacement of the second connector.

[0009]

According to the invention of claim 1,
After attaching the connector of 1 to one panel and the second connector to the other panel, one panel is assembled to the other panel. In this case, since the second connector is held at the standby position, it does not interfere with the first connector during assembly, and if the second connector is then pushed and moved to the fitting position. , Both connectors can be brought into a proper fitting state.

Therefore, since neither connector interferes with each other when the two panels are assembled, damage to the connector is avoided.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, the second connector is held at the standby position by the urging force of the urging member, so that the second connector is prevented from being inadvertently moved during the assembling work. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the guide means is formed, the movement of the second connector between the standby position and the fitting position is guided. Therefore, the fitting operation of both connectors can be smoothly performed.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
It will be described with reference to FIG. First, the instrument panel 1 and the connector mounting plate 2 (corresponding to the panel of the present invention) mounted on the back side of the instrument panel 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The instrument panel 1 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and the front side thereof is formed. A plurality of mounting openings 3 are opened, and various electrical components 4 can be inserted from the front side and mounted.

The connector mounting plate 2 is a hollow panel obtained by stacking two panels, a front panel 2A and a back panel 2B. Further, here, a plurality of connectors (not shown) that can be fitted with the corresponding connectors (not shown) of the electrical components 4 are arranged. Further, at the end of the connector mounting plate 2, a connector (instrument panel side connector 5) in which wires from the respective connectors mounted on the connector mounting plate 2 are collected is arranged. On the other hand, the instrument panel 1 is mounted on the body panel 7 side (which also corresponds to the panel of the present invention). In this case, the body side connector 6 is located at a position corresponding to the instrument panel side connector 5.
Are fixed by a fixing means such as a stay 8. The body-side connector 6 is a collection of wires from the roof, floor, engine room, and the like.

Each of the body side connector 6 and the instrument panel side connector 5 has a connector housing formed of a synthetic resin material, and a plurality of cavities (not shown) are formed therein, and terminal fittings are inserted into the respective cavities. It is housed in a locked state. These terminal fittings are connected in an electrically conductive state when both housings are properly fitted.

The body side connector 6 is formed in a square shape as a whole, and the peripheral surface thereof is removed on the surface facing the instrument panel side connector 5, leaving a central portion, and a fitting space 9 is formed. The remaining central portion becomes the connection base portion 10. A central hole 10A penetrates the connecting base 10 coaxially and a nut 12 for the bolt 11 of the instrument panel side connector 5 is embedded and fixed to the tip side of the connecting base 10 in the central hole 10A. There is. Further, a locking edge 13 that can be engaged with the instrument panel side connector 5 at the temporary fitting position is formed on the tip end side of the connection base 10. The body-side connector 6 formed as described above is arranged so as to fit into the mounting hole 14 that opens at a predetermined position of the body panel 7 (panel that separates the engine room from the vehicle interior). It has been fixed using. The wiring from the body side connector 6 is routed through the mounting hole 14.

On the other hand, the instrument panel-side connector 5 has a board 15, and a fitting protrusion capable of being fitted into the fitting space 9 is provided at the center of the surface of the board 15 facing the body-side connector 6. 16 are formed. A recess 17 capable of receiving the connection base 10 is formed in the center of the fitting protrusion 16, and a locking claw 18 capable of engaging with the locking edge 13 is formed at the opening edge thereof.
Are formed at least one pair at opposing positions. However,
The outer peripheral edge of the fitting protrusion 16 and the opening edge of the recess 17 are chamfered respectively, and the fitting operation of both connectors in cooperation with the chamfering similarly formed at the corresponding position of the body-side connector 6 is performed. So that it can be done smoothly.

A bolt receiving portion 19 is erected in a cylindrical shape along a shaft center at a central portion of a surface of the substrate 15 opposite to the above, and a shaft hole is concentrically pierced through the bolt receiving portion 19 to the instrument panel 1 side. The bolt 11 inserted from above is projected into the recess 17. The bolt 11 is located coaxially with the nut 12 of the body-side connector 6 in a state where the instrument panel-side connector 5 is aligned with the body-side connector 6, and its shaft end is a recess 17.
It does not protrude from the opening surface of the. Further, in a state before the instrument panel side connector 5 is brought into a temporary fitting state described later with respect to the body side connector 6 (state of FIG. 1), the bolt receiving portion 19 projects from the through hole 26 of the back panel 2B. In addition, only the head of the bolt 11 slightly protrudes from the back panel 2B even in the temporary fitting state (state of FIG. 2). However, connector mounting plate 2
In the state in which is attached to the instrument panel 1, the bolt 11 can be tightened through the work hole 20 opened in the instrument panel 1.

Next, the structure for supporting the instrument panel-side connector 5 having the above-described structure on the connector mounting plate 2 will be described. The instrument panel-side connector 5 is inside the mounting portion 21 formed in the front panel 2A of the connector mounting plate 2 by recessing. It is designed to be stored in. A mounting window 22 that faces the front surface of the fitting projection 16 is opened on the bottom surface of the mounting portion 21, that is, the surface facing the body-side connector 6, and between the opening edge and the fitting projection 16. A clearance is secured to the extent that the body side connector 6 is fitted.

Elastic support pieces 23 are provided on all four sides of the opening edge of the mounting portion 21 on the side facing the back panel 2B. The elastic support piece 23 is for supporting the instrument panel-side connector 5 in a state where the instrument panel-side connector 5 is allowed to move in the three-dimensional direction. That is, on the side surface of the board 15 of the instrument panel-side connector 5, locking step edges 31 are projected on all sides thereof, and these can be locked to the elastic supporting pieces 23, respectively. A guide piece 24 is formed in a frame shape in the axial direction along the entire circumference at the peripheral edge of the rear surface of the substrate 15 (the surface on the side where the bolt receiving portion 19 is provided). As a result, even if the instrument panel side connector 5 moves in the axial direction, the length range in which the instrument panel side connector 5 is provided holds the entire connector.

Further, for example, four spring members 25 are interposed between the substrate 15 and the bottom surface of the mounting portion 21 at intervals of approximately 90 °, and urge the entire instrument panel side connector 5 away from the body side connector 6. are doing. by this,
The instrument panel-side connector 5 is provided at a position such that the instrument panel 1 with the connector attachment plate 2 is mounted on the body panel 7 side with a space that does not interfere with the body-side connector 6.
That is, it is held at the standby position. As shown in FIG. 4, each spring member 25 is integrally molded of a synthetic resin material, and as shown in FIG. 4, a mounting plate 25A fixed to a bottom surface of the mounting portion 21 and a mounting plate 25A symmetrically from the center to the left and right directions. And a pair of spring pieces 2 that flexibly extend
5B.

Next, the function and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be specifically described. First, the instrument panel side connector 5 is mounted on the connector mounting plate 2. At this time, the instrument panel-side connector 5 is attached to the mounting portion 21 of the front panel 2A.
The spring pieces 25B of the spring members 25 are pushed in while being compressed and deformed, and the elastic support pieces 23 are engaged with the locking step edges 31 to be held as a whole. Then, the back panel 2B is put on the front panel 2A while passing the bolt receiving portion 19 through the through hole 26. The connector mounting plate 2 thus manufactured is mounted on the instrument panel 1. After this, the instrument panel 1 is attached to the body panel 7 side.

As described above, since the instrument panel side connector 5 is biased to the standby position by the spring force of each spring member 25, when the instrument panel 1 is mounted on the body panel 7 side, the instrument panel side connector 5 is A predetermined gap is held with the body side connector 6 so that the two do not interfere with each other. Therefore, the situation where the connector is damaged when the instrument panel 1 is assembled is surely avoided.

Next, the instrument panel side connector 5 is brought close to the body side connector 6 by pushing the head of the bolt. During this time, the instrument panel-side connector 5 moves to the right in the drawing as the spring pieces 25B of the spring members 25 are compressed, but the movement of the elastic support pieces 23 continues to be received along the guide pieces 24. , Stable.

When the instrument panel side connector 5 approaches the body side connector 6, a misalignment may occur between the connectors 5 and 6. However, since the instrument panel-side connector 5 is supported by each elastic support piece 23 so as to be movable in the three-dimensional direction, the fitting protrusion 16 moves into the fitting space 9 while correcting the positional deviation of the connectors 5 and 6. Further, the connection bases 10 can be fitted into the recesses 17, respectively. Then, when the engagement edge 13 and the engagement claw 18 are pushed to a depth at which the engagement edge 13 and the engagement claw 18 are engaged, the instrument panel side connector 5 is held in a temporary fitting state with the body side connector 6, and the shaft end of the bolt 11 is Face the tip of the nut 12 in an aligned state.

In the case of the temporary fitting state, the head of the bolt 11 slightly protrudes from the back panel 2B, and if the operator recognizes the change from the state of FIG. It can be clearly determined whether or not the fitting state is achieved.

After that, when the bolt 11 is tightened into the nut 12 using the impact wrench T or the like, the instrument panel side connector 5 moves in the fitting progressing direction while further compressing each spring member 25. When both connectors 5 and 6 are properly fitted, that is, when the fitting position is reached, the male and female terminal fittings (not shown) are also connected in an electrically conducting state (state of FIG. 3).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the instrument panel side connector 5 is held at the standby position before the instrument panel 1 with the connector attaching plate 2 is attached to the body panel 7 side. , Body side connector 6
Interference with can be avoided and the connector is protected from damage.
Further, since the instrument panel-side connector 5 is biased to the standby position by each spring member 25, the above-mentioned interference avoidance is automatically performed, and it is not necessary to pay special attention for avoiding interference. Furthermore, since the operation while the instrument panel side connector 5 moves from the standby position to the regular fitting position is guided by the guide piece 24 formed along the axial direction, the fitting operation can be smoothly performed.

The present invention can be variously modified.
The following modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the instrument panel side connector 5
An example of the biasing member for holding the No. 1 at the standby position is the spring force of the resin spring member 25, but a rubber biasing member 27 as shown in FIG. 5 may be used.
This is the instrument panel side connector 5 on one end side of the shaft portion 28.
Has an umbrella-shaped resilient part 29 that urges the instrument panel to the standby position, and allows compression instrument deformation to displace the instrument panel-side connector 5 to the regular fitting position. The other end of the shaft portion 28 is formed as a retaining portion bulge 30. The entire portion is retained by being inserted into a hole formed in the bottom surface of the recess 17 and elastically engaged. .

Further, the biasing member may be a coil spring or the like.

In this embodiment, the purpose of avoiding damage to the connectors when mounting the instrument panel 1 and the body panel 7 is shown, but the place of use is not particularly limited and can be widely used. .

In the present invention, one connector (instrument panel side connector) is held at the standby position prior to the connector fitting work. Instead of the spring member, for example, the connector is normally held at the standby position. It may have a function as a spacer, and may be broken when the bolt is tightened to allow the connector to move to the fitting position. Further, it may be of a type that normally functions as a spacer as described above and is removed before tightening the bolt.

The fitting of both connectors does not necessarily have to be performed by bolts, but may be performed simply by a push-fitting operation by an operator or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which an instrument panel is attached to a body side.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the instrument panel side connector is then pushed to the temporary fitting position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a properly fitted state.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a spring member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a connector mounting plate and an instrument panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Instrument panel 2 ... Connector mounting plate 5 ... Instrument panel side connector 6 ... Body side connector 7 ... Body panel 11 ... Bolt 24 ... Guide piece 25 ... Spring member (biasing member)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A second connector provided in a position opposed to a first connector mounted on one panel on the other panel assembled on the one panel substantially coaxially with the first connector. When the other panel is assembled to the one panel, the second connector avoids interference with the first connector and has a predetermined gap therebetween. Is held in the standby position as described above and is supported so as to be displaceable in the axial direction with respect to the second panel so that when it is pushed toward the first connector, it can be pushed into the regular fitting position with respect to the first connector. The connector fitting structure is characterized in that 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the other panel is provided with a biasing member for biasing the second connector to the standby position. Mating structure. 3. The guide according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the other panel and the second connector guides a displacement of the second connector in the axial direction. A connector fitting structure, characterized in that means are provided.