JP2592652Y2 - Lock structure of lever type connector - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for a lever-type connector, and more particularly, to a locking mechanism for locking a lever at a position where a connector is fitted with a small amount of protrusion from an outer surface of a housing. Thus, the connector can be suitably used for a wire harness for an automobile having a small space for installing a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when connecting a multi-pole connector having 20 or more poles, a large coupling force is required. Therefore, a relatively small force is applied by using a lever utilizing the leverage principle. There is provided a lever-type connector adapted to be connected to a connector.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lever-type connector normally has a lever 3 rotatably supported on the outer wall of one male connector 1 by supporting shafts 4, 4 and a female connector 2 on the other side. The pins 5, 5 which are engaged with the guide grooves 3a, 3a of the lever 3 are protruded, and the pins 5, 5 are guided to the insertion side by the guide grooves 3a, 3a by the turning operation of the lever 3, The female connector 2 is connected to the male connector 1 with a small operation force.

[0004]

The above-mentioned lever-type connector requires a lock mechanism for locking the lever at a position where the connector has been fitted by rotating the lever.
Conventionally, the lock mechanism locks the lever by locking a locking projection provided on the outer surface of the housing and a locking recess formed on the lever. However, when the projection of the locking projection is small, the locking mechanism is locked. Since the force is weak, it is necessary to increase the protrusion amount in order to obtain a strong locking force, and in that case, the outer shape of the housing becomes large.

[0005] In recent automobiles, there is not much space for installing a connector, and it is required that the connector be as small as possible. On the other hand, a stronger locking force than the current one is required. It is difficult to meet the above-mentioned demands with a locking mechanism using a projection and a locking recess.

Further, when a strong locking force is obtained by a method of increasing the projection amount of the locking projection, a large operating force is required at the time of locking, and a large load is applied to the lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. In order to meet the demand for downsizing the connector by reducing the amount of protrusion of the lock mechanism from the outer surface of the housing, the lock mechanism for locking the lever is provided. It is possible to swing and reduce the operating force at the time of locking.

[0008]

That is, the present invention provides a first connector and a second connector which are fitted with each other.
While the lever is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the housing of the first connector, a pin is fitted on the second connector so as to fit into the guide groove of the lever, and the lever is rotated to operate the first connector and the second connector. In the lever-type connector, a lock claw is formed at an end opposite to the operating portion of the lever with respect to a fulcrum, and on a rotation locus of the lock claw on the outer surface of the housing to which the lever is attached, A locking arm having a central support protruding from the housing is integrally formed, and the locking claw at the end of the lever swings the locking arm at a position where the first connector and the second connector have been fitted by rotation of the lever. The present invention provides a locking structure for a lever-type connector which is configured to move and lock with a lock claw formed at one end of the locking arm to lock a lever. .

More specifically, the housing of the first connector to which the lever is attached has a hood having a fitting hole formed therein for inserting a second connector made of a female connector, and a male housing projecting from the rear end of the hood. The U-shaped lever is rotatably supported on both outer surfaces of the hood, and a locking claw is formed along the leading edge of the lever, while the locking arms are formed on both outer surfaces of the male housing. Is formed parallel to the outer surface of the male housing so as not to protrude from the outer surface of the hood portion, and a locking claw is formed on the locking arm to be locked with the locking claw of the lever. When the locking is performed, the locking arm swings to lock the lever. It is configured to engage with a nail.

[0010] It is preferable that a protective wall protrudes from the outer surface of the housing at intervals on the upper and lower sides or on the left and right sides of the locking arm.

[0011]

In the lever-type connector having the above-described structure, when the connector is fitted by rotating the lever, at the end of the fitting, the end of the lever supporting side is close to the tip side of the locking arm, and the lever is closed. The locking claw is inserted into the inside of the locking claw of the locking arm while pushing up the locking arm, and the locking claw is locked to each other.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment. First
The connector 10 is formed integrally with a hood 11 at a front portion and a male housing 12 at a rear portion. The hood 11 is set to be slightly larger than the male housing 12, and a female connector of the second connector is inserted into a fitting hole 13 therein. A connector (not shown) is inserted. The housing of the female connector and the male housing 12 are multi-pole connectors having a terminal accommodating chamber into which a large number of terminals such as 20 or more are inserted. The terminals inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber are connected to each other when the connector is fitted. You.

A U-shaped lever 15 is attached to the hood 11 of the first connector 10. Support pins 11 b projecting from both outer surfaces 11 a of the hood 11 are connected to the lever 15.
The lever 15 is rotatably supported by being inserted into a shaft hole 15b formed on both sides 15a of the lever. A guide groove 15c is formed on both sides of the lever 15 so that the guide groove 15c is formed.
By rotating the lever 15 in the direction of the arrow X1 with the pins protruding from the female connector inserted therein, the female connector is drawn into the hood 11 and fitted therein.

A lock claw 15d projecting outward is formed at an end opposite to the operation portion of the lever 15 with respect to the fulcrum. The end position of the lock claw 15d on the rotation locus is located on the male housing 12 side.
At the position of the central support 1 from the male housing outer surface 12a.
The locking arm 18 is installed with the projection 8a protruding.

The locking arm 18 has a central support 18a.
A swinging plate portion 18b is provided so as to protrude forward and backward on both sides. A lock claw 18c protruding inward is formed at the tip edge of the swing plate portion 18b on the hood 11 side. An outwardly projecting portion 18 is provided at a tip opposite to the lock claw 18c.
The lock is easily released by pressing the protruding portion 18d at the time of releasing the lock. The distal end surface of the protruding portion 18d is set so as not to protrude from the outer surface of the hood 11 as described above.

The locking claw 18 of the locking arm 18
c and the lock claw 15d of the lever 15 both include the rocking plate portion 18b and inclined surfaces 18c-1 and 15d-1 protruding from the tip of the lever 15, and these inclined surfaces 18c-
Locking surface 18c-2,1 perpendicular to the tip of 1,15d-1
5d-2 is provided.

Protective walls 19A, 19B project from the male housing outer surface 12a at intervals on the upper and lower sides of the locking arm 18, and other members come into contact with the locking arm 18 to deform or damage the locking arm 18. Try to prevent.

In the lever-type connector, when the lever 15 is rotated to perform connector connection, the lever 15
The lock claw 15d formed at the tip of the lock arm 15d rotates in the direction of arrow X2, and one end of the lock claw 15d contacts the lock claw 18c at the tip of the locking arm 18 immediately before the end of the fitting. Further, as the lever 15 rotates, the inclined surface 15d-1 of the lock claw 15d of the lever 15 pushes up the inclined surface 18c-1 of the lock claw 18c of the locking arm 18 without difficulty, and the locking arm 18 pushes the central support portion 18a. Swing as a fulcrum, the lock claw 15d is inserted into the inside of 18c.

At the end of the mating of the connector, the lock claw 15d of the lever 15 rotates 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the locking surface 18c-2 of the locking claw 18c is attached to the locking surface 1c of the locking claw 15d.
5d-2 abuts exactly. Therefore, the lever 15 is locked by the locking arm 18 with a strong locking force at the fitting end position.

To release the lever from the locked state, when the protrusion 18d on the opposite side of the lock claw 18c is pressed, the lock claw 18c swings outward, and the lever 15 is locked with the lock claw 15d. Can be easily solved.

In the above embodiment, the locking claws 15d are formed on both sides of the lever 15, and the locking arms 18 are formed on both outer surfaces of the male housing 12, so that the lever 15 is locked at two places. With this configuration, a strong locking force can be obtained. However, without being provided on both sides,
It goes without saying that a lever locking mechanism may be provided only on one side.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a thin portion 15f 'is provided by cutting off the outer surface of the end of the lever 15' on the pivot side, and a locking claw 15 is provided on the thin portion 15f '.
d 'is projected. This lock claw 15d 'is formed in the vertical direction in the figure, and the lock claw is oriented nine times as compared with the lock claw 15d of the first embodiment formed in the horizontal direction in FIG.
Changed 0 degrees.

Accordingly, the direction of the locking arm 18 'formed on the outer surface of the male housing 12' of the first connector 10 'is also changed by 90 degrees from that of the first embodiment, and the central support portion 18a' is By projecting, the rocking plate portion 18b 'is rocked vertically in the figure, and a lock claw (not shown) for locking with the lock claw 15d' is provided on the lower inner surface.

Also in the second embodiment, the lever 15 '
When the connection of the connector is completed by rotating the
d 'is locked with the lock claw of the locking arm 18', and the lever 15 'can be securely locked.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the locking arm for locking the lever at the mating end position is provided on the rotation locus of the lock claw formed at the end of the lever. By simply rotating the lever, the locking arm can be rocked and locked with a light operating force. Also, when releasing the lock, the lock can be easily released by pushing the other end of the locking arm.

Further, since the locking arm is formed so as not to protrude from the outer surface of the hood, the outer shape of the connector can be made as small as possible, so that the lever-type connector can be installed in a small space. Furthermore, since it does not protrude from the hood, moldability can be improved, and in this regard, cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a locked state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second embodiment with a lever removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional lever-type connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st connector 11 Hood 12 Male housing 13 Fitting hole 15 Lever 15c Guide groove 15d Lock claw 18 Locking arm 18a Central support portion 18b Swing plate portion 18c Lock claw 19A, 19B Protective wall

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A lever rotatably supported on an outer surface of a housing of a first connector of a pair of a first connector and a second connector fitted to each other, and fitted in a guide groove of the lever in a second connector. A lever-type connector in which a mating pin is protruded and a lever is rotated to fit the first connector and the second connector, wherein a lock claw is provided at an end opposite to a fulcrum with respect to the operating portion of the lever. On the outer surface of the housing to which the lever is attached, a locking arm having a central support protruding from the housing is integrally formed on the rotation trajectory of the lock claw, and the first connector and the second connector are operated by rotating the lever. At the position where the connector has been fitted, the locking claw at the tip of the lever swings the locking arm and locks with the locking claw formed at one end of the locking arm, and the lever is moved. Lock structure of the lever-type connector that is to click to configure.