KR100796028B1 - Connector locking structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector locking structure is provided to enable a user to previously confirm a combination state between the first connector and the second connector, without the necessity of checking whether the connectors are exactly connected to each other, by making a locking holder only operated when the first connector is completely coupled with the second connector. A connector locking structure is comprised of the first connector(10), the second connector(20) and a locking holder(30). The first housing(11), in which a terminal is installed, forms the external appearance of the first connector(10). The first connector(10) has a locking lever(15). The locking lever(15), capable of being elastically deformed so as to be extended toward the inside and outside of the first housing(11), has a finger slot. The second housing(21), in which a terminal is installed, forms the external appearance of the second connector(20). The second connector(20) comprises a coupling protrusion(23). The coupling protrusion(23), formed on the outer surface of the second housing(21), is selectively combined with the first housing(11). The locking holder(30) works between the first locking state and the second locking state. In the first locking state, the locking holder(30) is installed at the first connector(10) so that the front end of a holding finger(35) can be located at the finger slot of the first connector(10). In the second locking state, the locking holder(30) is inserted into the inside of the first housing(11) so as to prevent the locking lever(15) from being elastically deformed.

Description

Connector locking structure

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the connector locking structure according to the present invention.

Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the first connector constituting the embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2b is a plan view showing the configuration of a first connector constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

3A and 3B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a locking holder constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

5a to 5e is an operating state diagram showing the process of combining the first and second connectors in the embodiment of the present invention sequentially.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10; Connector 1: 1 Housing

12; Penetration 14; Guide lever

14 ': Hanging hook 15: Locking lever

16: Finger Slot 17: Guide Slope

18: hanger groove 19: control panel

20: 2nd connector 21: 2nd housing

23: fastening protrusion 24: guide inclination

30: locking holder 31: locking body

33: guide portion 34: locking ball

35: retaining finger 36: connection part

36 ': slope 37: slot seat

37 ': Hanger 38: Hanger

40: handle rib

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector locking structure for fastening the coupling state of the connector by fastening between the connectors coupled to each other.

The connectors are coupled to each other to make electrical connections. In general, the male and male connectors are coupled to each other so that the terminals inside thereof are electrically connected. As such, a separate holder may be used to prevent the connectors coupled to each other from being arbitrarily released.

Such a holder is inserted toward the front from the rear of any one connector serves to prevent the coupling between the connectors. To this end, the holder is generally in a preassembled state to the connector, and the fastening is performed after the mating connector is coupled to the connector.

However, the connector locking structure according to the prior art has the following problems.

The holder is in the primary locking state to the connector, and after the mating connector is coupled to the secondary locking state to perform the fastening. For reference, the primary locking state is a state in which the holder is assembled to the connector and does not interfere with the operation of the locking lever for engagement with the mating connector, and the secondary locking state is for the holder to block the elastic deformation of the locking lever. Say the status. However, the holder may be in the secondary locking state or in the secondary locking position before the mating connector is engaged. This makes the process of joining the connector very cumbersome. That is, when the holder to be in the primary locking state is in the secondary locking state or the secondary locking position, the operator has to make it in the primary locking state, and then engages the mating connector and makes the secondary locking state again.

In the prior art, it is not possible to immediately check whether the coupling between the connectors is made correctly in the process of coupling the connectors. Therefore, in the related art, it is inconvenient to confirm whether the coupling between the connectors is made correctly only after energizing the power source without checking whether the connectors are mechanically correctly coupled.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to provide a connector coupling structure capable of secondary locking of the locking holder only when the mating connector is coupled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector coupling structure that can confirm whether the coupling between the connectors in the process of mechanically coupling the connector is complete.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention is elastically deformable to extend the inside and outside of the first housing that constitutes the appearance and the terminal is installed therein, the finger slot is formed in the longitudinal direction A first connector provided with a locking lever; A second connector constituting the exterior and having a fastening protrusion selectively coupled to the first housing on an outer surface of the second housing having a terminal installed therein; The primary locking state installed in the first connector so that the tip of the retaining finger is located in the finger slot of the first connector and the secondary locking state inserted into the first housing to prevent the elastic deformation of the locking lever. A locking holder operated between; And the locking holder is movable only from the primary locking state to the secondary locking state after the second connector is coupled to the first connector.

One side of the locking holder is positioned on the finger slot formed in the locking lever of the first housing, and a fastening protrusion of the second connector is selectively walked, and a guide inclination for interlocking with the fastening protrusion is at the tip of the locking lever. It is provided.

The first housing is provided with guide levers so as to extend in parallel with both ends of the locking lever so that the locking holder is installed and guides the movement of the locking holder.

A hook protrusion is formed on the guide lever, and a locking hole is formed on the locking holder to maintain a coupling state between the guide lever and the locking holder in the secondary locking state.

The locking holder extends from the locking body at a position corresponding to the locking body, a guide portion extending from both ends of the locking body and movably connected to the guide lever of the first housing, and a guide portion. And a retaining finger having a slot seating portion positioned side by side with the guide portion and selectively seated at a finger slot of the locking lever at a tip end thereof.

The retaining finger is configured such that the height of the connecting portion connected to the locking body and the slot seating portion of the front end thereof by the inclined portion is selectively positioned in the finger slot of the locking lever and the space between the locking lever and the first housing.

The slot seating portion of the retaining finger is selectively pulled out from the finger slot of the locking lever by the fastening protrusion of the second connector.

The front end of the retaining finger is further formed with a hook projection that is selectively seated in the hook groove formed in one end of the finger slot of the locking lever.

The locking body of the locking holder is further provided with a hand-held rib for the operator to apply a force to the locking holder by hand.

According to the present invention having such a configuration, the coupling work between the connectors having the secondary locking structure can be made more easily, and the coupling accuracy between the connectors is confirmed by the locking holder being in the secondary locking state. The advantage is that there is no need to check for accuracy.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the connector locking structure according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the connector locking structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 2A shows the internal configuration of the first connector constituting the embodiment of the present invention in a cross-sectional view. The configuration of the first connector constituting the embodiment of the invention is shown in a plan view, and the configuration of the locking holder constituting the embodiment of the present invention is shown in a plan view and a cross-sectional view in Figs. The configuration of the embodiment is shown in cross section.

As shown in these figures, the first housing 11 forms the appearance and skeleton of the first connector 10. The first housing 11 is generally made of a synthetic resin material. A through portion 12 (see FIG. 2A) is formed inside the first housing 11 by penetrating the first housing 11 back and forth. The through part 12 is provided with a terminal (not shown). The through part 12 is provided with a lance 13 for fixing the terminal. The through part 12 is formed so that the terminal is installed as shown in Figure 1 in the interior of the first housing 11, the shape of the interior of the first connector 20 to be described below It is configured to be inserted into.

A guide lever 14 is provided to protrude to the rear of the first housing 11 to extend. Two guide levers 14 extend in parallel to the rear of the first housing 11 at predetermined intervals. Hook portions 14 'protrude from the tip portions of the guide levers 14, respectively. The hooking protrusions 14 'are formed such that the guide levers 14 at both ends protrude in opposite directions. The guide lever 14 guides the movement of the locking holder 30 to be described below, and the hook protrusion 14 'is provided in the second locking state of the locking holder 30 with respect to the first housing 11. It does not flow arbitrarily.

The locking lever 15 is provided to protrude to the rear of the first housing 11 to extend. The locking lever 15 is located between the guide levers 14. Of course, the leading end of the locking king lever 15 extends into the interior of the first housing 11. Such a configuration is shown well in FIG. 2A. The locking lever 15 has an intermediate portion thereof integrally connected to the first housing 11, and both ends of the locking lever 15 in the longitudinal direction thereof are connected to the first housing 11, respectively. The locking lever 15 has a predetermined elastic deformation in view of its shape and material properties.

In the middle portion of the locking lever 15, the finger slot 16 is formed long in the longitudinal direction. The finger slot 16 is formed by penetrating the locking lever 15 up and down with reference to Figure 2a. In the finger slot 16, a part of the retaining finger 35 of the locking holder 30 to be described below is movably positioned.

Guide inclination 17 is formed at the leading end of the locking lever 15, that is, at the end located inside the first housing 11. The guide inclination 17 is such that the locking protrusion 23 and the locking lever 15 of the first connector 20 to be described below are interlocked.

A hook groove 18 is formed at one end of the finger slot 16 of the locking lever 15, more precisely, at the end of the finger slot 16 corresponding to the end side of the guide inclination 17. The hanger groove 18 is selectively hooked with a hanger 34 of the locking holder 30 to be described below.

An end portion of the locking lever 15 protruding to the outside of the first housing 11 is an operation unit 19. The operation unit 19 is a part for the operator to press the elastic release of the locking lever 15 to release the coupling with the second connector 20 to be described below. The operation unit 19 is formed to be inclined relatively high toward the end.

The second housing 20 has an outer appearance and a skeleton formed by the second housing 21. The second housing 21 is made of an insulating material, and has a shape that can be inserted into the first housing 11.

A fastening protrusion 23 is formed at one side of the outer surface of the second housing 21. The fastening protrusion 23 serves to couple the first and second connectors 10 and 20 to each other by being engaged by the finger slot 16 of the first connector 10. Of course, the fastening protrusion 23 also serves to allow the retaining finger 35 of the locking holder 30 to be described below to be separated from the locking lever 15. To this end, the guide protrusion 24 is formed in the fastening protrusion 23 to be inclined downward toward the tip of the second housing 21.

On the outer surface of the second housing 21, insertion guide ribs 25 are formed on both sides of the fastening protrusion 23, respectively. The insertion guide rib 25 serves to guide insertion of the first housing 11 and the second housing 21 to each other. Reference numeral 26 serves as a spacer rib when the first housing 11 and the second housing 21 are coupled to each other, thereby guiding the insertion and the absence of a gap therebetween.

The locking body 31 forms the skeleton of the locking holder 30. The entire locking holder 30 including the locking body 31 is preferably made of a synthetic resin material. Guide portions 33 are formed at both ends of the locking body 31. The guide part 33 is guided along the guide lever 14 of the first housing 11, and the guide lever 14 is inserted into the guide part 33 to perform relative movement therebetween. It serves as a guide. The guide portion 33 is configured to be relatively movable in a state surrounding the three surfaces of the guide lever 14.

The retaining finger 35 is formed to extend between the guide parts 33 so as to extend in parallel with the guide parts 33. The retaining finger 35 has a cantilever shape having one end integrally formed with the locking body 31. The retaining finger 35 has a rectangular pillar shape whose cross section is rectangular.

The retaining finger 35 is elongated at the tip of the inclined portion 36 'and the inclined portion 36' extending inclined from the tip of the connecting portion 36 and the connecting portion 36 connected to the locking body 31. It consists of an extended slot seating portion 37. The slot seating part 37 and the connection part 36 are height difference by the inclination part 36 '. At the front end of the slot seating portion 37, a hook protrusion 37 'is formed to protrude. The hook protrusion 37 'is a part that is selectively seated in the hook groove 18.

The portion where the slot seating portion 37 and the inclined portion 36 'are connected forms a hook end 38. The hook end 38 serves to prevent the locking holder 30 from being arbitrarily removed from the first housing 11.

The locking body 31 of the locking holder 30 is further provided with a hand-held rib 40 for the operator to apply a force to the locking holder 30 by hand. The hand-held rib 40 is formed upright on the locking body 31 at the rear end of the locking holder 30.

Hereinafter, the operation of the connector locking structure according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described in detail.

In the present invention, a process in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are coupled and locked by the locking holder 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E.

First, FIG. 5A shows a state in which the locking holder 30 is first locked to the first housing 11. At this time, the guide lever 14 of the first housing 11 is inserted into the guide portion 33 of the locking holder 30, and the slot seating portion 37 of the retaining finger 35 is the locking lever. Is located in the finger slot 16 of (15). The locking holder 30 is prevented from being pulled backward of the first housing 11 by the hook end 38 of the retaining finger 35 being hooked to the rear end of the finger slot 16. Here, the locking holder 30 may allow some longitudinal flow in the gap between the slot seating portion 37 and the finger slot 16 of the retaining finger 35.

In general, the locking holder 30 is provided in a work for coupling the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 in a state of being assembled to the first housing 11. In this state, even if a force is applied to further insert the locking holder 30 into the inside of the first housing 11, the locking holder 30 may not advance more than a predetermined time. That is, as shown in Figure 5a, the holding finger 35 of the locking holder 30, the hook projection 37 'of the front end thereof is engaged with the hook groove 18 of the locking lever 15 When no longer can be inserted into the interior of the first housing (11). Such a state may be referred to as a primary locking state.

Now, the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10. This state is shown in FIG. 5B. In the state of FIG. 5B, the guide inclination 24 of the fastening protrusion 23 of the second connector 20 is in contact with the guide inclination 17 at the tip of the locking lever 15.

In this state, when the second connector 20 is further inserted into the first connector 10, the fastening protrusion 23 is guided by the guide inclinations 17 and 24 to the locking lever 15. ) Will lift the tip. This state is shown in FIG. 5C. As the tip of the locking lever 15 is lifted up, the hook protrusion 37 ′ of the tip of the retaining finger 35 is removed from the hook groove 18.

Subsequently, when the second connector 20 is inserted into the first connector 10, the slot seating portion 37 at the tip of the retaining finger 35 is connected to the fastening protrusion 23 of the second connector 20. Lifted by

A state in which the second connector 20 is completely inserted into the first connector 10, that is, a state in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are completely combined is illustrated in FIG. 5D. . At this time, the fastening protrusion 23 of the second connector 20 is engaged with the finger slot 16 of the locking lever 15. That is, the fastening protrusion 23 is in a state of being engaged to the inner surface of the finger slot 16 in which the hook groove 18 is formed.

At this time, the tip of the retaining finger 35 of the locking holder 30 is in a lifted state by the fastening protrusion 23 of the second connector 20. That is, the hook projection 37 'at the tip of the retaining finger 35 is out of the hook groove 18. In other words, at least the tip of the slot seating portion 37 of the retaining finger 35 is out of the finger slot 16. In this state, the locking holder 30 may be further moved into the first housing 11.

Accordingly, when the operator pushes the locking holder 30 into the first housing 11, the locking holder 30 enters the first housing 11. At this time, the locking holder 30 is inserted until the hook projection 14 'of the guide lever 14 is engaged with the locking hole 34 of the guide portion 33. In this case, the locking holder 30 is not in a state of being arbitrarily flown with respect to the first housing 11.

When the locking holder 30 is completely inserted into the first housing 11, as shown in FIG. 5E, the inner surface of the first housing 11 and the locking lever 15 The locking lever 15 is not elastically deformed even when the slot seating portion 37 of the retaining finger 35 is pressed while pressing the operation portion 19 of the locking lever 15. In other words, the coupling between the locking lever 15 and the fastening protrusion 23 is not released. This state is called a secondary locking state.

Next, in order to release the coupling of the first connector 10 and the second connector 20, the locking holder 30 is first moved to the outside of the first housing 11. That is, an operator applies a force to the locking holder 30 so that the hooking protrusion 14 ′ is removed from the locking hole 34. In this case, the state of FIG. 5D is obtained.

In this state, when the operator presses the operation unit 19 of the locking lever 15, the tip of the locking lever 15 is lifted and the second connector 20 is connected to the finger slot 16 of the locking lever 15. The fastening protrusion 23 of the) will be missing. Thus, the second connector 20 is in a state where it can be pulled out of the first connector 10 (state of FIG. 5C).

In the state of FIG. 5C, when the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are applied in a direction in which the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are separated from each other, the connectors 10 and 20 are separated, and the locking holder 30 is held by the holding finger 35. The hook protrusion 37 'at the tip end is engaged with the hook groove 18 of the locking lever 15 so as to no longer enter the inside of the first housing 11.

The rights of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, but are defined by the claims, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. It is self-evident.

In the connector locking structure according to the present invention as described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.

First, in the present invention, when the first and second connectors are coupled, the locking holder is selectively assembled to the locking lever of the first connector, and the coupling between the locking holder and the locking lever of the first connector is coupled to the second connector. Is released in the process of being coupled to the first connector so that the locking holder can block the operation of the locking lever. In the present invention as described above, the second connector can be locked only when the mating connector is coupled, so that the locking holder cannot be arbitrarily switched to the second locking state by external force while the locking holder is coupled to the first connector. As such, since the primary locking state between the first connector and the locking holder is not arbitrarily changed, the coupling workability between the connectors is very high since the locking holder does not need to be checked or changed when the second connector is coupled. There is.

In the present invention, the locking holder can be operated only after the coupling between the first connector and the second connector is made. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to confirm whether the locking holder is coupled between the first and second connectors according to whether the second locking operation is possible, and thus it is not necessary to separately check the accuracy of the connector coupling.

Claims (9)

A first connector comprising a locking lever configured to be elastically deformable to extend in and out of the first housing having a terminal installed therein and having a finger slot formed in a longitudinal direction; A second connector constituting the exterior and having a fastening protrusion selectively coupled to the first housing on an outer surface of the second housing having a terminal installed therein; The primary locking state installed in the first connector so that the tip of the retaining finger is located in the finger slot of the first connector and the secondary locking state inserted into the first housing to prevent the elastic deformation of the locking lever. A locking holder operated between; Is configured to include, And the locking holder is movable only from the first locking state to the second locking state after the second connector is coupled to the first connector. According to claim 1, wherein the finger slot formed in the locking lever of the first housing is located on one side of the locking holder and the engaging projection of the second connector is selectively walked, the front end of the locking lever with the engaging projection Connector locking structure characterized in that the guide inclination is provided for interlocking. The connector locking structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first housing is provided with guide levers to extend in parallel to both ends of the locking lever so that the locking holder is installed and guides the movement of the locking holder. . 4. The connector locking structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein a hooking protrusion is formed on the guide lever, and a locking hole is formed on the locking holder to maintain a coupling state between the guide lever and the locking holder in the secondary locking state. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking holder, Locking Body, A guide part extended from both ends of the locking body and protruding from the locking body and movably connected to the guide lever of the first housing; And a retaining finger having a slot seating portion extending from the locking body at a position corresponding to the guide portion, positioned side by side with the guide portion, and selectively seated at a finger slot of the locking lever at a distal end thereof. Connector locking structure. According to claim 5, wherein the retaining finger is configured such that the height of the connecting portion connected to the locking body and the slot seating portion of the tip of the locking lever by the inclined portion between the finger slot of the locking lever and the space between the locking lever and the first housing A connector locking structure, characterized in that it is selectively positioned. 7. The connector locking structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slot seating portion of the retaining finger is selectively drawn in and out of the finger slot of the locking lever by a fastening protrusion of the second connector. 8. The connector locking structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein a front end of the retaining finger is further provided with a hook protrusion selectively seated in a hook groove formed at one end of a finger slot of the locking lever. 6. The connector locking structure according to claim 5, wherein the locking body of the locking holder is further provided with a hand-held rib for applying a force by hand to the locking holder.

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