KR102589863B1 - Connector and connector assembly using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connector and a connector assembly using the same. The connector 10 of the present invention has a housing 12 forming the exterior and framework, and a spacer 20 supporting the terminal is installed inside the housing 12. A lever operating unit 28 is formed on the spacer 20 and is entered and exited through a through slot 19 formed in the housing 12. The lever operating unit 28 operates the fastening lever 28 of the counterpart connector 30 to release the fastening state of the fastening lever 28 from the hook 16 formed on the housing 12. . That is, by pressing the spacer 20 into the spacer space 17 of the housing 12, the lever operating unit 28 protrudes through the through slot 19 to elastically deform the fastening lever 28. It is released from the hook (16). According to the present invention, there is an advantage that the connection between the connector 10 and the mating connector 30 can be easily released even within a narrow space.

Description

Connector and connector assembly using the same}

The present invention relates to a connector, and more specifically, to a connector in which a terminal is installed inside a housing to perform electrical connection, and a connector assembly using the same.

The exterior of the connector is formed by a housing made of insulating synthetic resin. A terminal made of metal is installed inside the housing to make an electrical connection to a counterpart connector. Here, the combination of the connector and the mating connector is called a connector assembly.

The terminal is supported by a lance so as not to be pushed back within the housing when coupled with a mating terminal, and is further supported within the housing by a spacer, holder, etc.

Meanwhile, the connector uses a cantilever-shaped fastening lever integrally formed in the housing for coupling with the counterpart connector. The fastening lever is fastened when it is hung on the hook of the mating connector, and when the operator moves the connector and the mating connector in a direction where they are separated from each other while pressing one end of the fastening lever to remove it from the hook of the mating connector, the coupling between the connectors occurs. separated.

However, depending on the environment in which the connector is used, it may be difficult for the operator to even hold the connector with his or her hand. For example, in some cases, there is only enough space for one finger to fit in, making it impossible to hold the connector with two fingers. In this case, there is a problem that it is very difficult to separate the connection between the connector and the mating connector.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0123865 Republic of Korea Registered Utility Model No. 20-0445633 Republic of Korea Public Utility Model No. 20-2018-0002027

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems described above, and to enable the connection between a connector and a mating connector to be released by pressing a spacer installed in the housing.

According to the features of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a housing having a terminal seating space penetrating the interior and forming a terminal seating space in which a terminal is seated, a hook provided in the housing and for coupling with a mating connector, and , a spacer formed inside the housing and seated in a spacer space open to one side of the housing to support the terminal, and a fastening lever of the mating connector provided integrally with the spacer and penetrating the housing and hanging on the hook. It includes a lever operation unit that pushes to release the combination of the hook and the fastening lever.

A through slot is formed in the housing at a position adjacent to the hanger with respect to the hanger, so that the lever operation unit enters and exits.

The hook portion is formed to protrude in the form of a protrusion on the outer surface of the housing.

The hook portion is formed in a groove shape on the outer surface of the housing.

First, second, and third locking protrusions are provided on both sides of the spacer body forming the skeleton of the spacer, and are selectively hooked to the spacer hook formed on the housing.

The lever operation unit is located at least one on both sides around the hook unit.

The lever operation part is adjacent to the hook part and is located on the free end side of the fastening lever.

According to another feature of the present invention, the present invention is a housing in which a terminal seating space in which a terminal is seated is formed penetrating the interior and a hook is formed on one side, and the terminal is seated in a spacer space formed inside the housing and open to one side of the housing. a spacer supporting the terminal, a connector provided integrally with the spacer and including a lever operating portion that enters and exits an inside and outside of a through slot formed through the housing; A mating housing having a terminal seating space penetrating through the interior and forming a terminal seating space in which the terminal is seated, and a fastening lever provided in the mating housing, fastened to the hook, and elastically deformed by the lever operating portion to release the fastening with the hook. Includes counterpart connector.

The through slot is formed adjacent to the hook.

The hook portion is formed to protrude in the form of a protrusion on the outer surface of the housing, and a hook hole through which the hook portion is hung is formed in the fastening lever.

The hook portion is formed in the shape of a groove on the outer surface of the housing, and the fastening lever is provided with a protrusion that engages the groove-shaped hook portion.

An insertion space into which the housing is inserted is formed inside the mating housing, and an open window is formed in the mating housing to communicate the insertion space with the outside of the mating housing.

First, second, and third locking protrusions are provided on both sides of the spacer body forming the skeleton of the spacer, and are selectively hooked to the spacer hook formed on the housing.

The lever operating unit is located at least one on both sides in the width direction of the fastening lever with the hook unit as the center.

The lever operation part is adjacent to the hook part and is located on the free end side of the fastening lever.

The following effects can be achieved with the connector according to the present invention and the connector assembly using the same.

In the present invention, the state in which the connector is fastened to the mating connector, the hook, and the fastening lever is released by manipulating the spacer. That is, when the worker presses the spacer, the lever operating unit provided on the spacer is configured to release the fastening lever from the hook unit. According to this configuration, if the operator only manipulates the spacer with his or her finger on the connector installed in a narrow space, the connector and the mating connector are disengaged, which has the effect of making it easy to separate the connector from the mating connector.

1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a connector according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the configuration of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 from another direction.
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the configuration of important parts of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a connector assembly using the connector of an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is an operational state diagram showing a state in which two connectors are coupled in the connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is an operating state showing a state in which the spacer of the connector is pressed in the state of Figure 6 and the fastening lever of the mating connector is separated from the hook.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail through illustrative drawings. When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that identical components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. Additionally, when describing embodiments of the present invention, if detailed descriptions of related known configurations or functions are judged to impede understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the detailed descriptions will be omitted.

Additionally, in describing the components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the nature, sequence, or order of the component is not limited by the term. When a component is described as being "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, that component may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but there is no need for another component between each component. It should be understood that may be “connected,” “combined,” or “connected.”

1 to 4 show connectors according to embodiments of the present invention. According to this, the housing 12 forms the exterior and framework of the connector 10. The housing 12 is made of insulating synthetic resin. A terminal seating space 14 is formed by penetrating the housing 12 back and forth. A terminal (not shown) is installed in the terminal seating space 14. The terminal is made of conductive metal material.

There is a hook 16 on one side of the outer surface of the housing 12. In this embodiment, the hook 16 is in the form of a protruding protrusion. The hook 16 has a guide surface 16' and a fastening surface 16". The guide surface 16' is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the outer surface of the housing 12, and the fastening surface ( 16") is made perpendicular to the outer surface of the housing 12 opposite the guide surface 16'. The guide surface 16' guides the fastening lever 32 of the mating connector 30 to achieve elastic deformation. The fastening surface 16" is a part that hangs on one side of the fastening lever 32 of the mating connector 30. In this embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the fastening surface 16" is fastened. It is hung on the inside of the hanging hole (33) of the lever (32).

A spacer space 17 is formed in the housing 12 to be open on one side. A spacer 20, which will be described below, is located in the spacer space 17. The spacer space 17 is formed to share a large area with the terminal seating space 14. A spacer hanger 18 is formed on one inner surface of the spacer space 17. The spacer hanger 18 is a part that hangs the spacer 20, which will be described below, at a specific position. In this embodiment, the spacer hook 18 is formed to protrude from both inner surfaces of the housing 12 where the spacer space 17 is formed.

In this embodiment, a penetrating portion 18' is formed at the location where the spacer hanger 18 is formed. The penetrating portion 18' allows the terminal seating space 14 and the spacer space 17 of the housing 12 to communicate with the outside of the housing 12. However, as in this embodiment, the penetrating portion 18' does not necessarily have to be formed, and only a hole into which a tool for moving the position of the spacer 20 is inserted may be formed.

A through slot 19 is formed on one outer surface of the housing 12 to communicate with the spacer space 18 and the outside of the housing 12. The through slot 19 is formed adjacent to the hanging portion 16. In this embodiment, two through slots 19 are formed on both sides with the hook 16 in between. The lever operating unit 28 of the spacer 20, which will be described below, is entered and exited through the through slot 19. The through slot 19 is formed on the side opposite to the open side of the spacer space 17.

The spacer 20 is located in the spacer space 17 of the housing 12 and supports the terminal installed in the terminal seating space 14. The spacer 20 supports the terminal so that it does not slide back during the process of combining the terminal with the terminal of the mating connector 30. The spacer body 22 forms the skeleton of the spacer 20. The shape of the spacer body 22 may vary. In this embodiment, the terminal seating spaces 14 are formed in a row, so the configuration of the spacer body 22 is relatively simple. However, if there are two or more rows of terminal seating spaces 14, the spacer body ( 22), a grid-shaped configuration is adopted.

A first locking protrusion 24, a second locking protrusion 25, and a third locking protrusion 26 are sequentially formed on both sides of the spacer body 22. Here, the first to third locking protrusions 24, 25, and 26 are selectively hung on the spacer hook 18 of the housing 12 to determine the position of the spacer 20 within the spacer space 17. Decide.

When the first locking protrusion 24 is hung on the spacer hanger 18, the spacer 20 forms part of the terminal seating space 14 so that the terminal can be inserted into the terminal seating space 14. Don't block it. When the second locking protrusion 25 is hung on the spacer hook 18, the spacer 20 supports the terminal so that it is not pushed back. This state is shown in Figure 4.

Next, when the third locking protrusion 26 is hung on the spacer hanger 18, the lever operating unit 28, which will be described below, protrudes out of the housing 12 through the through slot 19. do. In this way, the lever operating unit 28 protruding to the outside of the housing 12 pushes up the fastening lever 32 of the mating connector 30, which will be described below, so that it is separated from the hook 16 of the housing 12. .

A lever operating unit 28 is formed on the spacer body 22. The lever operating unit 28 is formed to protrude from the spacer body 22 and is moved in and out of the through slot 19 of the housing 12. When the lever operating unit 28 is within the through slot 19, the fastening lever 32 of the mating connector 30 is not hindered from being hung on the hanging unit 16. However, when the lever operating unit 28 protrudes out of the through slot 19, the fastening lever 32 of the counterpart connector 30 is elastically deformed to prevent the coupling of the hook 16 and the fastening lever 32. It will be released.

The configuration of the mating connector 30 coupled to the connector 10 will be described. The mating housing 31 forms the exterior and framework of the mating connector 30. The counter housing 31 is also made of an insulating synthetic resin material. A terminal seating space (not shown) is also formed inside the counterpart housing 31, and a terminal (not shown) is installed therein.

On one side of the counterpart housing 31, there is a fastening lever 32 fastened to the hook 16 of the connector 10. The fastening lever 32 generally has an external beam shape capable of elastic deformation. The fastening lever 32 has a hanging hole 33. The hanging portion 16 is hung on the hanging hole 33. In this embodiment, the hanging hole 33 is formed to penetrate the fastening lever 32, but it may also be made in the shape of a groove.

Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the hook 16 is formed to protrude from the housing 12 and the hook hole 33 is formed on the fastening lever 32, but this configuration may be reversed. That is, a hook 16 may be formed in the housing 12 in the form of a groove or hole, and a protrusion may be formed on the fastening lever 32 instead of the hook hole 33 so that it can be hung on the groove or hole.

Inside the counter housing 31, there is an insertion space 34. The housing 12 of the connector 10 is inserted into the insertion space 34. An open window 36 may be formed to communicate the insertion space 34 with the outside of the counterpart housing 31. The spacer 20 in the housing 12 of the connector 10 is exposed to the outside through the open window 36. An operator can manipulate the spacer 20 through the open window 36. Of course, instead of forming the open window 36 in the counter housing 31, a part of the counter housing 31 may be removed to expose the spacer 20 to the outside.

Hereinafter, the use of a connector according to the present invention having the above-described configuration and a connector assembly using the same will be described in detail.

The process of assembling the connector 10 will first be described. The spacer 20 is installed in the housing 12 of the connector 10. The first locking protrusion 24 is hung on the spacer hook 18. Generally, this is expressed as the spacer 20 being in a primary state. In this state, the terminal is inserted into the terminal seating space 14.

After insertion of the terminal is completed, the spacer (20) is pressed so that the first locking protrusion (24) passes through the spacer hook (18) and the second locking protrusion (25) is hung on the spacer hook (18). make it into a state. In this state, the spacer 20 supports the terminal to prevent it from being pushed back.

A terminal is also installed inside the mating connector 30, and this also has a spacer to support the terminal. When the mating connector 30 and each connector are assembled, the housing 12 is inserted into the insertion space 34 of the mating housing 31 of the mating connector 30. In this process, the terminal of the connector 10 and the terminal of the counterpart connector 30 are coupled to each other, thereby establishing an electrical connection. At this time, the spacer 20 serves to support the terminal so that it is not pushed.

In this way, in the process of coupling the connector 10 and the mating connector 30 to each other, the fastening lever 32 is elastically deformed while being guided along the guide surface 16' of the hook 16. That is, when the tip of the fastening lever 32 is elastically deformed while being guided along the guide surface 16', and the hook portion 16 meets the hook hole 33 of the fastening lever 32, the fastening lever 32 ), the elastic deformation is restored and the hanging part 16 is located and hung within the hanging hole 33.

When the hook portion 16 is located in the hook hole 33 of the fastener lever 32, the fastener lever 32 cannot arbitrarily escape from the hook portion 16. That is, the connector 10 and the mating connector 30 are maintained in a fastened state.

In order to separate the connector 10 and the mating connector 30, an operator presses the spacer 20 so that the second locking protrusion 25 leaves the spacer hanger 18 and the third locking protrusion 26 It is hung on the spacer hook 18, that is, in the state shown in FIG. 7. In this way, when the spacer 20 is moved within the spacer space 17, the lever operating unit 28 protrudes from the through slot 19.

When the lever operating unit 28 protrudes from the through slot 19, the fastening lever 32 is pushed and elastically deformed. When the fastening lever 32 is elastically deformed by being pushed by the lever operating unit 28, the hook 16 comes out of the hook hole 33. That is, the fastening between the fastening lever 32 and the hook 16 is released. In this state, the connector 10 and the mating connector 30 can be uncoupled and separated. Therefore, just pull the connector 10 or the mating connector 30 in the direction in which it is separated.

In the present invention, when the operator presses the spacer 20, the connection between the connector 10 and the mating connector 20 is released and can be separated, so the spacer 20 can be held with one finger in a narrow space. By manipulating it, the connector 10 and the mating connector 30 can be disconnected.

In the above, even though all the components constituting the embodiment of the present invention have been described as being combined or operated in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. That is, as long as it is within the scope of the purpose of the present invention, all of the components may be operated by selectively combining one or more of them. In addition, terms such as “include,” “comprise,” or “have” described above mean that the corresponding component may be present, unless specifically stated to the contrary, and thus do not exclude other components. Rather, it should be interpreted as being able to include other components. All terms, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, should be interpreted as consistent with the contextual meaning of the related technology, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the present invention.

The above description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications and variations will be possible to those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but rather to explain it, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these examples. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted in accordance with the claims below, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the scope of rights of the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fastening lever 32 has a cantilever shape with one end extending from the counterpart housing 31, but the fastening lever 32 can also be applied in a form that uses the principle of a lever. That is, even when the fastening lever 32 is in a 'T' shape, the fastening lever 32 and the hook 16 can be released by applying the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment, there are two lever operation units 28, but there may be one or three or more lever operation units 28.

In the illustrated embodiment, there is one lever operating unit 28 on both sides in the width direction of the fastening lever 32 with the hook unit 16 as the center, but there may be at least one on both sides in the width direction. Additionally, the lever operating unit 28 may be adjacent to the hanging unit 16 and located at the free end of the fastening lever 32.

10: Connector 12: Housing
14: terminal seating space 16: hanging part
16': Guide surface 16": Fastening surface
17: Spacer space 18: Spacer hanger
19: Through slot 20: Spacer
22: Spacer body 24: First locking jaw
25: 2nd locking jaw 26: 3rd locking jaw
28: Lever operation unit 30: Relative connector
31: Counter housing 32: Fastening lever
33: Hang hole 34: Insertion space
36: Open window

Claims (15)

A housing with a terminal seating space formed through the interior into which the terminal is seated,
A hook provided in the housing and for coupling with a mating connector,
a spacer formed inside the housing and seated in a spacer space open to one side of the housing to support the terminal;
A connector including a lever operating unit that is integrally provided with the spacer and penetrates the housing to push a fastening lever of a mating connector that is hung on the hanging part to release the coupling between the hanging part and the fastening lever.
The connector according to claim 1, wherein a through slot is formed in the housing at a position adjacent to the hook with respect to the hook, so that the lever operation part enters and exits.
The connector according to claim 2, wherein the hook portion is formed to protrude in the form of a protrusion on an outer surface of the housing.
The connector according to claim 2, wherein the hook portion is formed in a groove shape on an outer surface of the housing.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein both sides of the spacer body forming the skeleton of the spacer are provided with first, second, and third locking protrusions that are selectively hooked to the spacer hook formed on the housing. connector.
The connector according to claim 5, wherein the lever operation unit is located at least one on both sides of the hook unit.
The connector according to claim 5, wherein the lever operation unit is adjacent to the hook unit and located at a free end of the fastening lever.
A housing having a terminal seating space penetrating through the interior and having a hook formed on one side, a spacer formed inside the housing and seated in a spacer space open to one side of the housing to support the terminal, and integrated with the spacer. a connector provided with and including a lever operation part that enters and exits the inside and outside of a through slot formed through the housing;
A mating housing having a terminal seating space penetrating through the interior and forming a terminal seating space in which the terminal is seated, and a fastening lever provided in the mating housing, fastened to the hook, and elastically deformed by the lever operating portion to release the fastening with the hook. A connector assembly including a mating connector.
The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the through slot is formed adjacent to the hook.
The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the hook portion protrudes in the form of a protrusion on an outer surface of the housing, and a hook hole through which the hook portion is hung is formed on the fastening lever.
The connector assembly according to claim 9, wherein the hook is formed in a groove shape on an outer surface of the housing, and the fastening lever is provided with a protrusion that engages the groove-shaped hook.
The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein an insertion space into which the housing is inserted is formed inside the mating housing, and an open window is formed in the mating housing to communicate the insertion space with the outside of the mating housing.
The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein both sides of the spacer body forming the skeleton of the spacer are provided with first, second, and third locking protrusions that are selectively hooked to the spacer hook formed on the housing. connector assembly.
The connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the lever operating unit is located at least one on both sides of the fastening lever in the width direction with the hook unit as the center.
The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the lever operating unit is adjacent to the hook unit and is located at a free end of the fastening lever.

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