CN112952450A

CN112952450A - Connector with a locking member

Info

Publication number: CN112952450A
Application number: CN202011407819.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 重森启志; 南光勇一
Original assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2019-12-11
Filing date: 2020-12-04
Publication date: 2021-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-04
Also published as: CN112952450B; JP2021093311A

Abstract

Provided is a connector capable of ensuring the strength of a lock arm and suppressing the height dimension. The connector includes: a counterpart housing (60) fitted to the housing (10); a lock arm (20) which is provided so as to be capable of flexing and deforming toward the opposing wall surface (15) of the housing (10) and which holds the housing (10) and the opposing housing (60) in a fitted state; and a plurality of cavities (11) that are provided in parallel in the housing (10) and that house the terminal components (40). The lock arm (20) has a rib (24) on the surface facing the opposite wall surface (15). The case (10) has a groove (32), and the groove (32) is open to the opposing wall surface (15) and can have a rib (24) disposed therein. The groove (32) is disposed between the parallel chambers (11) in the housing (10).

Description

Connector with a locking member

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to connectors.

Background

The connector of patent document 1 includes a female connector housing in which female terminals are housed and a male connector housing in which male terminals are housed. The female connector housing includes a flexible piece (lock arm) that is rotatable in a seesaw manner on the female connector housing, is flexible in the width direction, and has a locking projection at an end portion. The male connector housing includes a locking projection having a locking projection receiving portion that locks with the locking projection when the male connector housing is fitted to the female connector housing. Similarly, the connector of patent document 2 is configured to include a lock arm that is bent and deformed in the housing and is locked to the other housing.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2008-71530

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-59130

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the case of the connector of patent document 1, since the lock arm is provided on the upper wall of the housing, there is a problem that the dimension in the height direction (the flexing direction of the lock arm) becomes larger than that of a structure in which the lock arm is provided inside the housing. Further, the lock arm may be reduced in thickness or the like in order to achieve a reduction in size, thereby also impairing durability. Therefore, the connector is required to have a structure capable of securing the strength of the lock arm and suppressing the height dimension.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of ensuring the strength of a lock arm and suppressing a height dimension.

Means for solving the problems

The disclosed connector is provided with:

a housing;

a counterpart housing fitted to the housing;

a lock arm which is provided so as to be capable of flexing and deforming toward the opposite wall surface of the housing and which holds the housing and the counterpart housing in a fitted state; and

a plurality of cavities arranged in parallel in the housing for receiving the terminal parts,

the lock arm has a rib on a face facing the opposite wall face,

the housing has a groove portion that opens to the opposing wall surface and in which the rib can be disposed inside,

the groove portion is disposed between the chambers arranged in parallel in the housing.

Effects of the invention

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of securing the strength of the lock arm and suppressing the height dimension.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a housing of embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the housing.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the housing.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view a-a of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view B-B of fig. 4 in a state where the lock arm is flexed.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the counterpart housing.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the counter housing.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view C-C of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side sectional view of the connector in a normal fitting state.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 9.

Detailed Description

[ description of embodiments of the present disclosure ]

First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.

The connector of the present disclosure is provided with a connector,

(1) the disclosed device is provided with: a housing;

a counterpart housing fitted to the housing;

the lock arm has a rib on a face facing the opposite wall face,

The locking arm is enhanced in rigidity by the rib, and strength can be ensured. The lock arm enters the groove of the housing through the rib when the lock arm is deflected, thereby avoiding interference with the opposing wall surface. The groove portion in which the rib can be arranged inside is arranged between the chambers arranged in parallel in the housing, and therefore the groove portion and the chambers overlap in the height direction. Therefore, the dimension in the height direction of the connector (the flexing direction of the lock arm) can be reduced. Therefore, the connector can secure the strength of the lock arm and suppress the height dimension.

(2) Preferably, the lock arm has a free end portion at a position away from the flexure fulcrum, and the rib is provided at the free end portion.

According to this configuration, the rigidity of the free end portion of the lock arm can be increased, and the free end portion can be prevented from being bent when the free end portion is pressed when the lock arm is released.

(3) Preferably, the counter housing has a cover portion, the housing is disposed inside the cover portion, a counter terminal part and a protrusion portion are provided in the cover portion so as to protrude, a tip end of the protrusion portion is disposed forward of a tip end of the counter terminal part, the housing has the groove portion opened in a front surface facing the counter housing, and the groove portion is capable of disposing the protrusion portion inside when the housing and the counter housing are fitted.

According to this configuration, the tip of the protrusion is disposed forward of the tip of the counterpart terminal component, and when the two housings are fitted to each other, the protrusion enters the groove portion before the counterpart terminal component comes into contact with the housings. This prevents the two housings from being fitted tightly. Therefore, the groove portion has both the function of preventing the caulking and the function of suppressing the height dimension of the connector, and therefore, the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the functions are separately provided.

[ details of embodiments of the present disclosure ]

[ example 1]

Embodiment 1 embodying the connector of the present disclosure is explained with reference to fig. 1 to 10. In the following description of each housing, the front side is a side facing the mating connector in the front-rear direction. For example, the left side in fig. 1 and 4 is referred to as the front side, and the right side is referred to as the rear side. In fig. 8, the left side is referred to as the rear side and the right side is referred to as the front side. The vertical direction is defined as upward and downward as the directions shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6, and 8 to 10. The left-right direction is defined as the left and right directions as shown in fig. 1, 2, 5, and 6.

As shown in fig. 9, the connector of embodiment 1 includes a housing 10 and a mating housing 60 that are fitted to each other. The

housings

10 and 60 respectively accommodate a female-type terminal fitting 40 and a male-type terminal fitting 80. The terminal fitting 40 and the terminal fitting 80 are connected by fitting the

housings

10 and 60 to each other.

The housing 10 shown in fig. 1 to 5 is made of synthetic resin, and is a so-called female housing. As shown in fig. 3, the housing 10 has a plurality of cavities 11 into which the terminal fittings 30 can be inserted. The chamber 11 is divided into upper and lower layers, and a plurality of chambers are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. As shown in fig. 4, the chamber 11 penetrates the housing 10 in the front-rear direction. The housing 10 has a plurality of insertion ports 12 in a front wall portion, which communicate with the respective chambers 11. When the housing 10 is fitted to the mating housing 60, the protruding pieces of the terminal fittings 80 housed in the mating housing 60 enter the corresponding cavities 11 through the respective insertion openings 12.

As shown in fig. 3, the terminal fitting 40 is a so-called female type terminal fitting. The terminal fitting 40 is integrally formed by punching out a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending the punched plate. The terminal fitting 40 has a square cylindrical body portion 41. The main body portion 41 has a lance portion 42, and the lance portion 42 is locked to a step portion 13 provided in the cavity 11.

As shown in fig. 4, the case 10 has a retainer fitting groove 14 formed on the lower side of the cavity 11. The holding body fitting groove 14 is open downward at a position near the rear end side in the front-rear direction of the case 10. The holding body fitting groove 14 penetrates the bottom wall portion of the case 10 in the vertical direction so as to communicate with the cavity 11. The retainer 50 is fitted into the retainer fitting groove 14. As shown in fig. 4, the holding body 50 has a rectangular block shape. As shown in fig. 5, the holding body 50 has a plurality of through holes 51. The through-holes 51 are provided in parallel in the left-right direction corresponding to the lower chamber 11 in the housing 10. Rib-shaped locking portions 52 are provided at the front end of the upper surface of the holder 50 and the front end of the lower surface of the through-hole 51. The holding body 50 is temporarily held by the casing 10 in a temporarily locked state in which it is locked shallowly to the holding body fitting groove 14. The locking portion 52 locks the terminal fitting 40 in a final locking state in which the holding body 50 is locked deeply in the holding body fitting groove 14.

As shown in fig. 1 and 4, a lock arm 20 is cantilevered rearward from a central portion in the width direction at a front end of an upper surface (a surface opposite to a surface where the holding body fitting groove 14 opens) of the housing 10. As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the housing 10 has an opposing wall surface 15 on the upper surface, which faces the lock arm 20. The lock arm 20 is deformed in a vertical direction (a direction in which it is in a height direction and approaches or separates from the opposing wall surface 15 of the housing 10). As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a pair of locking projections 21 projecting upward are provided at the longitudinal center portion of the upper surface of the lock arm 20. The pair of locking projections 21 are provided at positions sandwiching the opening 22 of the lock arm 20. The opening 22 extends rearward from the front end in the extending direction of the lock arm 20 at the center in the lateral direction of the lock arm 20, and opens at the front end. The opening 22 is formed in an elongated slit shape and extends vertically through the lock arm 20 except for a free end portion thereof. The locking projection 21 is rectangular in plan view. As shown in fig. 4, the rear surface of the locking projection 21 extends in the up-down direction when the lock arm 20 is in the natural state. An operating portion 23 is provided at a free end portion (rear end portion) of the lock arm 20. The operation portion 23 is used to perform a pressing operation for unlocking the lock arm 20.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the lock arm 20 is provided with a rib 24 on a lower surface (a surface facing the opposing wall surface 15). The rib 24 is a reinforcing protrusion for improving the bending strength of the lock arm 20. The ribs 24 project in a direction toward the facing wall surface 15 of the housing 10. The rib 24 extends from the rear end of the lock arm 20 to the front side of the covering wall 25 in the front-rear direction. The lower ends of the ribs 24 are in the front-rear direction. The rib 24 is reduced toward the rear by the plate thickness of the main body portion of the lock arm 20, so that the height dimension is increased. The width dimension of the rib 24 is the same as or smaller than the width of the opening 22. As shown in fig. 5, the rib 24 can be disposed inside a groove 32 of the housing 10 described later when the lock arm 20 is flexurally deformed toward the facing wall surface 15. Fig. 5 shows a part of the housing 10 in a state where the lock arm is deflected. The double-dot chain line of fig. 5 shows the counterpart housing 60.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the housing 10 has a covering wall 25 on the upper side of the free end (rear end) so as to cover the operating portion 23 of the lock arm 20. The cover wall 25 restricts an unnecessary releasing operation force applied to the lock arm 20.

As shown in fig. 1, a groove portion 32 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 10. The groove 32 is provided in an upper wall portion of the housing 10 (a wall portion facing the lock arm 20). As shown in fig. 3, the groove portion 32 is open to the opposing wall surface 15 and is disposed between the pair of chambers 11 (between the pair of chambers 11 positioned at the center in the left-right direction of the upper layer). The bottom of the groove 32 is disposed at a position overlapping the upper chamber 11 in the height direction. The groove 32 is provided over the entire front-rear direction of the housing 10. The front end of the groove 32 communicates with the front end of the opening 22 of the lock arm 20 in the vertical direction. The groove portion 32 is open at a front surface facing the counterpart housing 60. The groove portion 32 can dispose the protrusion 72 inside when the housing 10 and the counterpart housing 60 are fitted.

As shown in fig. 1, the case 10 is provided with 1 st recesses 33 and 34 on the outer surface thereof. As shown in fig. 1, the pair of 1 st recesses 33 are provided in the upper wall portion of the housing 10. The pair of 1 st recesses 33 are provided at positions sandwiching the lock arm 20 from both the left and right sides, respectively. The 1 st recess 33 extends from the opposing wall surface 15 to a position between the pair of chambers 11 (between the pair of chambers 11 located on the upper layer) in the up-down direction. The 1 st recess 33 extends from the front end of the housing 10 to a position near the rear end in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 1 and 10, the pair of 1 st recesses 34 are provided in a wall portion on the lower side of the housing 10. The pair of 1 st recesses 34 are provided between the lock arm 20 and each of the pair of 1 st recesses 33 in the left-right direction. The 1 st recess 34 extends in the vertical direction from a wall portion on the lower side of the housing 10 to a position between the pair of chambers 11 (between the pair of chambers 11 located on the lower stage). The 1 st recess 34 is provided on the front end side of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, rib-like 1

st projections

35, 36, and 37 are provided on the outer surface of the housing 10. The pair of 1 st projections 35 are provided on the upper wall of the housing 10. The pair of 1 st projections 35 are provided between the lock arm 20 and each of the pair of 1 st recesses 33 in the left-right direction. The 1 st projection 35 extends from the front end of the housing 10 to the base end of the covering wall 25 in the front-rear direction. The pair of 1

st projections

36 and 37 are provided on the upper wall of the housing 10. The pair of 1 st

convex portions

36 and 37 are provided further outward than the 1 st concave portion 33 in the left-right direction. The 1

st projections

36, 37 extend from the front end to the rear end of the housing 10 in the front-rear direction.

The counter housing 60 shown in fig. 6 to 8 is made of synthetic resin, and is a so-called male housing. The counter housing 60 has a square tubular cover 61 opening forward. As shown in fig. 6 and 8, the cover 61 has a rear wall 62 extending in the vertical direction. As shown in fig. 8, a plurality of holes 63 are provided in the rear wall 62 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction. The terminal fitting 80 is mounted in the hole 63. The terminal fitting 80 is made of conductive metal and is elongated in a pin shape or a tab shape. The terminal fitting 80 is bent at a plurality of positions in the extending direction, and includes a front portion and a rear portion extending in the front-rear direction, and an intermediate portion connecting these portions and extending in the vertical direction. The tip ends of the terminal fittings 80 are divided into two stages, i.e., upper and lower stages, and are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, and protrude forward from the rear wall 62. The front side portion of the terminal fitting 80 is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 40 attached to the housing 10 when the

housings

10 and 60 are fitted. As shown in fig. 8, the rear portion of the terminal component 80 is disposed along the plate surface of the circuit board 81, and soldered to the wiring of the circuit board 81 to be electrically connected thereto.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, a pair of lock receiving portions 64 are provided on the upper surface of the cover portion 61. The pair of lock receiving portions 64 is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the upper surface of the cover portion 61. A pair of lock receiving portions 64 is provided on the front side of the hood 61 in the front-rear direction. The lock receiving portion 64 is a hole that penetrates through the upper wall portion of the cover portion 61 in the thickness direction. The lock receiving portion 64 is trapezoidal in a plan view.

As shown in fig. 6, a rib-like protrusion 72 is provided on the inner surface of the cover 61. The projection 72 is provided on the inner surface of the upper wall of the cover 61. The projection 72 extends in the up-down direction to a position between the pair of terminal fittings 80 (between the pair of terminal fittings 80 located at the center in the left-right direction of the upper layer). As shown in fig. 8, the tip of the projection 72 is disposed forward of the tip of the terminal member 80. The protrusion 72 is provided from the rear wall 62 to the vicinity of the tip of the hood 61. The protrusion 72 can be disposed inside the groove 32.

As shown in fig. 6, rib-shaped 2 nd

convex portions

73 and 74 are provided on the inner surface of the cover portion 61. As shown in fig. 6, the 2 nd convex portion 73 is provided on the inner surface of the upper wall portion of the hood portion 61. The pair of 2 nd convex portions 73 are provided at positions sandwiching the protruding portions 72 from both the left and right sides, respectively. The 2 nd projecting portion 73 extends in the up-down direction to a position between the pair of terminal fittings 80 (between the pair of terminal fittings 80 located at the upper layer).

As shown in fig. 6, the 2 nd convex portion 74 is provided on the inner surface of the lower wall portion of the cover portion 61. The pair of 2 nd convex portions 74 are provided on both sides of the 2 nd convex portion 73 in the left-right direction, respectively. The 2 nd convex portion 74 extends in the up-down direction from the wall portion on the lower side of the hood portion 61 to a position between the pair of terminal fittings 80 (between the pair of terminal fittings 80 located on the lower stage). The 2 nd convex portion 74 is provided on the rear end side of the hood portion 61.

As shown in fig. 6, the cover 61 is provided with 2 nd recesses 75, 76, 77 on its inner surface. The 2 nd recessed

portions

75, 76, 77 are provided on the inner surface of the upper side of the cover portion 61. The 2 nd recesses 75, 76, 77 are provided from the rear wall 62 in the hood 61 to the front end. The pair of 2 nd recessed portions 75 are provided on both sides of the protruding portion 72 in the left-right direction. The pair of 2 nd concave portions 76 are provided on both sides of the 2 nd convex portion 73 in the left-right direction. The pair of 2 nd concave portions 77 are provided on both sides of the 2 nd concave portion 76 in the left-right direction.

Next, an assembling method and an operation of the connector of embodiment 1 will be described.

In the process of fitting the housing 10 and the mating housing 60, first, the 1 st

convex portions

35, 36, 37 enter the 2 nd

concave portions

75, 76, 77, and the 2 nd convex portion 73 enters the 1 st concave portion 33. Next, when the mating of the housing 10 and the counterpart housing 60 advances, the protrusion 72 enters the groove portion 32. Since the tip of the projection 72 is disposed forward of the tip of the terminal fitting 80, the projection 72 enters the groove 32 before the terminal fitting 80 touches the housing 10. This prevents tight fitting of the

housings

10 and 60.

In the fitting process of the housing 10 and the counterpart housing 60, the pair of locking projections 21 of the lock arm 20 interfere with the hood 61, and therefore, as shown in fig. 5, the lock arm 20 is depressed. The lock arm 20 approaches the opposite wall surface 15 side of the housing 10. In the most depressed state of the lock arm 20, the rib 24 of the lock arm 20 enters the groove portion 32. This can avoid interference between the lock arm 20 and the opposing wall surface 15. As shown in fig. 9 and 10, at a position where the locking projection 21 and the locking receiving portion 64 are overlapped in the vertical direction, the lock arm 20 is elastically restored, and the locking projection 21 enters the locking receiving portion 64 and is locked thereto. Thereby, the

housings

10 and 60 are kept in the fitted state. At the final stage of fitting the housing 10 and the counterpart housing 60, the 2 nd convex portion 74 enters the 1 st concave portion 34.

As described above, in the connector of the present disclosure, the lock arm 20 is increased in rigidity by the rib 24, and strength can be ensured. The lock arm 20 can avoid interference with the opposing wall surface 15 by the rib 24 entering the groove 32 of the housing 10 at the time of flexural deformation. The groove portions 32 in which the ribs 24 can be arranged inside are arranged between the chambers 11 arranged in parallel in the housing 10, and therefore the groove portions 32 and the chambers 11 overlap in the height direction. Therefore, the dimension in the height direction of the connector (the flexing direction of the lock arm 20) can be reduced. Therefore, the connector can secure the strength of the lock arm 20 and suppress the height dimension.

In the connector of the present disclosure, the rib 24 is provided at the free end portion (the operating portion 23) of the lock arm 20. This can increase the rigidity of the free end portion of the lock arm 20, and prevent the free end portion from being bent when the free end portion is pressed when the lock arm 20 is released.

In the connector of the present disclosure, the tip of the projection 72 is disposed forward of the tip of the terminal fitting 80, and when the

housings

10 and 60 are fitted to each other, the projection 72 enters the groove 32 before the terminal fitting 80 touches the housing 10. This prevents tight fitting of the

housings

10 and 60. Therefore, the groove portion 32 has both the function of preventing the seizing and the function of suppressing the height of the connector, and therefore, the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the functions are separately provided.

[ other examples ]

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment 1 described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is shown by the claims. The present invention includes all modifications equivalent in meaning to the claims and within the scope of the claims, and also includes the following embodiments.

In embodiment 1, the cavity 11 is divided into two upper and lower layers in the case 10, but may be one layer or three or more upper and lower layers.

In the above embodiment 1, the lock arm 20 is shown to be formed in a cantilever shape having a pivot at one end, but may be of a type having a pivot at a central portion and pivoting in a seesaw shape.

Description of the reference numerals

10: shell body

11: chamber

12: insertion port

13: step part

14: holding body engaging groove

15: opposed walls

20: locking arm

21: locking projection

22: opening part

23: operation part

24: ribs

25: covering wall

30: terminal fitting

32: trough part

33. 34: 1 st concave part

35. 36, 37: 1 st projection

40: terminal fitting

41: main body part

42: lance-shaped part

50: holding body

51: through hole

52: stop part

60: opposite side shell

61: cover part

62: rear wall

63: hole(s)

64: lock receiving part

72: projection part

73. 74: 2 nd convex part

75. 76, 77: 2 nd recess

80: terminal parts (opposite terminal parts)

81: a circuit board is provided.

Claims

1. A connector is provided with:

a housing;

a counterpart housing fitted to the housing;

the lock arm has a rib on a face facing the opposite wall face,

2. The connector of claim 1,

the locking arm has a free end at a position away from the flexure pivot,

the rib is provided to the free end portion.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or claim 2,

the counterpart housing has a cover portion, the housing is disposed inside the cover portion,

the cover part is provided with a counterpart terminal part and a protrusion part in a protruding manner,

the tip of the projection is arranged at a position forward of the tip of the counterpart terminal fitting,

the housing has an opening in the groove portion on a front surface facing the counterpart housing,

the groove portion may be configured to allow the protrusion to be disposed inside when the housing and the mating housing are fitted.