JP2000091034A - Inertial lock connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance an inertial force when connectors are fit together, by substantially expanding an engaging portion of one connector housing engaging with an internal lock portion of another connector housing. SOLUTION: In an inertial lock connector, an internal lock portion 6 is provided on one connector housing 5, and a tapered guide surface is provided at least on a front end periphery of the other connector housing 4. The inertial lock connector obtains an inertial force in a connector fitting direction by abutting a front end surface 13 of the other connector housing against the inertial lock portion. The inertial lock member has a tapered guide surface 8, smaller than the tapered guide surface 10, at a front end of the other connector housing 4 opposing the inertial lock portion 6. Thereby an engaging portion L2 engaging with the inertial lock portion is increased. Then, the larger tapered guide surface 10 is continuously provided on both sides of the smaller tapered guide surface 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inertial lock connector in which the amount of engagement of the other connector housing with respect to the inertial lock portion of one connector housing is increased to increase the inertia force at the time of connector fitting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 10 to 12 show a conventional inertial lock connector. As shown in FIG. 10, the inertial lock connector 31 (FIG. 12) includes a female connector 3 having an inertial lock claw 6 and a male connector 32 which abuts on the inertial lock claw 6 and is fitted to the female connector 3 with a high inertia force. It consists of. Each of the connectors 3 and 32 includes a connector housing 5 and 33 made of synthetic resin, and terminals 34 and 35 (FIG. 12) housed in the connector housings 5 and 33.

The inertial lock pawl 6 is a flexible lock arm 7
The lock arm 7 is cut out in the wall 36 of the female connector housing 5 made of synthetic resin, and the inertia lock claw 6 projects into the connector fitting chamber 14. The female connector housing 5 projects from a joint box (not shown).

The male connector housing 33 is provided with a lock arm 38 having a lock projection 37 which engages with an engagement hole (not shown) of the female connector housing 5.
Tapered guide surfaces 3 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the distal end of the male connector housing 33 and the inner peripheral portion of the distal end of the female connector housing 5, respectively.
9, 40 are formed. FIG. 11 shows the tapered guide surface 39 at the tip of the male connector housing 33 and the front opening 41 of the terminal accommodating chamber. Double taper guide surface 3
The initial fitting of the connectors 3 and 32 is smoothly performed by the connectors 9 and 40.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
When the connector 2 is fitted to the female connector 3, the tip of the male connector housing 33 comes into contact with the inertial lock claw 6 on the female connector housing 5 side. In this position, the male terminal 34 of the female connector 3
Starts fitting into the female terminal 35 of the male connector 32. When the operator presses the male connector 32 with a force in the fitting direction, the lock arm 7 is bent, and the inertia lock claw 6 is separated from the front end of the male connector housing 33. Thereby, the male connector 32 is fitted to the female connector 3 with a large inertial force,
Both terminals 34, 35 of both connectors 3, 32 are connected.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the conventional inertial lock connector 31, as shown in FIG.
A tapered guide surface 39 is provided at the end of the male connector housing 33.
Is formed, a substantial contact with the inertial lock claw 6 is achieved.
Charge L_FourAnd the inertia force when mating the connector is small.
There was a problem of getting smaller. Low inertial force
Then, the connector fitting is likely to be incomplete.
If the taper guide surface 39 is not provided, the connector
The initial mating cannot be performed smoothly.
I will. Further, the protrusion length L of the inertial lock claw 6_FiveLengthened
In this case, in the front opening 41 of the terminal accommodating chamber in FIG.
The inertia lock claw 6 is engaged (overlapping) and the front part is opened.
It interferes with the male terminal 34 of the female connector 3 inserted into the mouth 41
Would. Therefore, the charge L _FourIs taper guide surface 39
L to the front opening 41₆Must be smaller than
If you want to make the inertial lock claw 6 longer,
The size of the male connector housing 33 itself must be increased
Did not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides an inertial lock connector capable of exerting a large inertial force at the time of connector mating without impairing the initial mating properties of the connectors and without enlarging the connector housing. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an inertial lock portion provided on one connector housing, and a tapered guide surface provided on at least a front end peripheral portion of the other connector housing. In the inertial lock connector in which the front end surface of the other connector housing is brought into contact with the lock portion to obtain an inertial force in the connector fitting direction, the tapered guide is provided on the front end of the other connector housing facing the inertial lock portion. The present invention is characterized in that a taper guide surface smaller than the surface is provided to increase the engagement margin with respect to the inertial lock portion (claim 1). It is also effective to connect the large tapered guide surface to both sides of the small tapered guide surface (claim 2).

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the outline of an inertial lock connector according to the present invention. The same parts as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

The inertial lock connector 1 (FIG. 2) is composed of a male connector 2 and a female connector 3 (FIG. 2). A female connector housing (one connector housing) 5 made of synthetic resin for the female connector 3 is a conventional connector. A flexible lock arm 7 having a similar inertial lock claw (inertial lock portion) 6 is provided, and a synthetic resin male connector housing (the other connector housing) 4 of the male connector 2 is provided for the inertial lock claw 6. A contact portion 9 having a small taper guide surface 8 is formed, and a large taper guide surface 1 is formed on both sides of the contact portion 9.
0, 10, that is, taper guide surfaces of the same size as the conventional one are continuously formed.

The large tapered guide surface 10 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the front end of the male connector housing 4 excluding the contact portion 9. The contact portion 9 corresponds to the position of the inertial lock claw 6 (FIG. 2), and corresponds to the flexible lock arm 1 of the male connector housing 4.
1 (FIG. 1) is formed at the center of the front end of the wall 12 on the side opposite by 180 °. The contact portion 9 projects obliquely forward, that is, toward the tip of the corner, from the large tapered guide surfaces 10 on both sides, and has a contact surface 9a flush with the front end surface 13 of the male connector housing 4 within a range of the width S ₁ (FIG. 1). have.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inertia lock claw 6 is a rectangular projection without chamfer, protrudes at right angles from the lock arm 7, and is a contact surface 9a which is a part of the front end surface 13 of the male connector housing 4. abutment surface 6a has a conventional similar fixed in the connector fitting chamber 14 of the female connector housing 5 projects by the length L ₁ against. The inertia lock claw 6 is located at an intermediate portion of the female connector housing 5 in the connector fitting direction.

Abutment 9 having a small tapered guide surface 8
Is formed to have a width S ₁ (FIG. 1) that is the same as or slightly larger than the width of the inertial lock claw 6 (S ₂ in FIG. 10 of the conventional example). The large taper guide surface 10 is located on both sides of the inertial lock claw 6, so that the large taper guide surface 10 does not contact the inertial lock claw 6.

In FIG. 2, the male connector 2 is easily inserted (initial fitting) into the female connector 3 with a small force until the male connector 2 comes into contact with the inertial lock claw 6. The female connector housing 5 may be directly attached to a joint box (not shown), or may be a wire harness 1 like the male connector 2.
5 may be connected.

The engagement allowance L ₂ of the inertial locking claw 6 at the contact portion 9 by a small tapered guide surface 8 of the male connector housing 4 has become substantially larger. L ₃ is a large tapered guide surface 10 and forms the distance between the inertial locking pawl 6, is identical to the conventional engagement allowance. By engagement allowance L ₂ is increased, and the inertia force during the connector fitting is increased, the connection of terminals mutually connector fitting i.e. both connectors 2, 3 is ensured.

Since the small tapered guide surface 8 is provided at the center of the front end of the male connector housing 4, the large tapered guide surfaces 10 on both sides of the small tapered guide surface 8 can be connected to the female connector housing 5 at the time of initial fitting. The male connector housing 4 is guided smoothly, and the initial fitting is performed smoothly as in the conventional case. Also, a small taper guide surface 8
Since good constant remains protruding length L ₁ of the inertial locking pawl 6 is conventional by adding any hand female connector housing 5 (design changes) need not, with it is economical,
It is not necessary to increase the size of the male connector housing 4, and the two connector housings 4, 5 are maintained at the same size as the conventional one.

FIGS. 3 to 6 show detailed views of a male connector housing as a more specific embodiment of the inertial lock connector. The same components as described above will be described with reference numerals with dashes.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the male connector housing 4 ', and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the male connector housing 4'. A small tapered guide surface 8 'is formed at the front end of the wall 12', and a small tapered guide surface 8 '. Large taper guide surface 1 on both sides of
0 'is subsequently formed. A step 16 is provided at the boundary between the small taper guide surface 8 'and the large taper guide surface 10'.
Is formed, and a contact portion 9 ′ is formed between the step portions 16. The contact surface 9 a ′ for the inertial lock claw 6 (FIG. 2) is located on the front end surface 13 ′ of the male connector housing 4 ′. I have.

The large tapered guide surface 10 'continues through the corners 17, 17 of the male connector housing 4' to the tapered guide surface 19 of the orthogonal side wall 18. The size of the tapered guide surface 19 is the same as the large tapered guide surface 10 '. Large tapered guide surfaces 10 'each length S ₃ of the small tapered guide surface 8' which is about 1/3 of the length S ₁ 'of. With this length, the large tapered guide surfaces 10 'on both sides can be smoothly and initially fitted to the mating female connector housing 5 (FIG. 2). An operation collar portion 20 protrudes from the rear end side of the wall portion 12 ', and a guide rib 22 protrudes from the wall portion 21 on the lock arm 11' side. Wall 1
2 'is provided with a cavity 23 as a stealer.

In FIG. 3, a plurality of front openings 24 are provided vertically and horizontally on the front end face 13 'of the male connector housing 4'. The front opening 24 continues to the terminal accommodating chamber 25 in FIG. 5 (a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3). A terminal locking lance 26 is provided in the terminal receiving chamber 25. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
FIG. 4B is a sectional view showing a large tapered guide surface 10 ′. As an example, the large tapered guide surface 10 'of FIG.
Is about 0.5C, and the size of the small tapered guide surface 8 'in FIG. 5 is, for example, about 0.3C or less.

7 to 9 show specific examples of the female connector housing. FIG. 7 is a front view of the female connector housing, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 7, and FIG. -D
It is sectional drawing.

The female connector housing 44 has a peripheral wall 4
6, an inertial lock claw (inertial lock portion) 5 for abutting the front end face 13 'of the male connector housing 4' (FIG. 3).
7 and a lock wall 45 for slidingly contacting the locking projection 11a 'of the lock arm 11' of the male connector housing 4 '(FIG. 3) on the other side of the peripheral wall 46.

The locking arm 58 of the female connector housing 44 is one configured by notches in a substantially concave shape in a portion of one wall portion 46 ₂ slits 59 (FIG. 8), the connector fitting chamber 47 It extends toward the bottom wall 54, which is resiliently deformable in the thickness direction of the wall portion 46 _2. The inertia lock claw 57 is perpendicular to the connector fitting chamber 47 at the lower end of the lock arm 58.
Inside, it is formed to protrude with a length L ₈ (FIG. 7), and has a rectangular longitudinal section and is located near the bottom wall 54 of the connector fitting chamber 47.

The wall portion 46 ₂ is followed folded wall 61 (FIG. 9) via the open side of the end wall 60 of the connector fitting chamber 47, between the wall portion 46 ₂ and the folded wall 61 forming the double wall A flexure space 62 (FIG. 9) for the lock arm 58 is formed in the lock arm 58. When the connector is fitted, the lock arm 58
It bends outward as shown by the dashed line and enters the bending space 62,
The tip of the inertial locking pawl 57 is retracted to the flush position and the wall portion 46 _2.

On the other hand, the locking wall 45 is projected at a right angle by the length L ₇ toward the other wall portion 46 ₁ of the connector at the upper end fitting chamber 47 of the female connector housing 44. Under the lock wall 45, an empty space 4 following the connector fitting chamber 47 is provided.
8 is formed, and the locking projection 11a 'of the lock arm 11' of the male connector housing 4 '(FIG. 3) is formed in the space 48.
Engage.

The inertial lock pawl 57 is located near the bottom of the female connector housing 44 corresponding to the front end face 13 '(the portion having the small tapered guide surface 8') of the male connector housing 4 '(FIG. 3). The lock wall 45 is located closer to the upper portion of the female connector housing 44, corresponding to the locking projection 11a 'located at the longitudinally intermediate portion of the lock arm 11' of the male connector housing 4 '(FIG. 5). .

The lock wall 45 is a female connector housing 44
A recess 50 is cut out above the lock wall 45 at a position lower than the front end surface 49 of the lock wall 45. The upper end surface 45 a of the lock wall 45 is located facing the recess 50. On both sides of the lock wall 45, guide ribs 51 for the lock arm 11 '(FIG. 3) are formed so as to project toward the connector fitting chamber 47. In FIG. 7, 52 is a taper guide surface for the male connector housing 4 '(FIG. 3), and 53 is a bottom wall 54.
Are shown (FIG. 9). An insertion hole 55 for allowing a male terminal (not shown) to project into the connector fitting chamber 47 is formed in the bottom wall 54. The lower part of the peripheral wall 46 of the female connector housing 44 is integrated with the upper wall 56 of the joint box.

In an initial fitting state in which the male connector housing 4 '(FIG. 3) is fitted to the female connector housing 44, the front end face 13' (the portion having the small tapered guide surface 8 ') of the male connector housing 4' is female. The lock arm 58 of the connector housing 44 comes into contact with the inertial lock claw 57. At the same time, the inclined surface (FIG. 5) of the locking projection 11a 'of the lock arm 11' of the male connector housing 4 'comes into contact with the lock wall 45.

When the operator presses the male connector housing 4 'in the connector fitting direction with force, the lock arm 58 of the female connector housing 44 bends outward and the lock arm 11' of the male connector housing 4 '. (FIG. 5) is bent inward, so that the male connector housing 4 '(more precisely, a male connector having female terminals) is securely fitted into the female connector housing 44 (more precisely, a female connector having male terminals) by inertia force. I do. The locking projection 11a 'of the lock arm 11' gets over the lock wall 45 and enters the space 48, and engages with the inner surface 45b (FIG. 9) of the lock wall 45.

In this embodiment, the lock wall 45 abuts on the locking projection 11a 'to generate an auxiliary inertia force.
The inertial lock claw 57 and the lock wall 45 exert a strong inertial force when the connector is fitted. Since the inertia lock claw 57 is disposed on the opposite side of the lock wall 45 by 180 °, the stability when pressing the connector is good, and the inertia force is exerted in a well-balanced manner. Of course, the front end surface 13 '(the portion on the small tapered guide surface 8) of the male connector housing 4' (FIG. 3) is brought into contact with the inertial lock claw 57 first, and the inertia of the male connector housing 4 'by the inertial lock claw 57. Both connectors can be securely fitted together while the engagement between the locking projection 11a 'of the lock arm 11' and the empty portion 48 is easily performed by force.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the tapered guide surface of the other connector housing is formed to be smaller than the inertial lock portion of one connector housing, and the interference with the inertial lock portion is provided. Is substantially larger, so you can change the shape of the inertial lock,
Without increasing the size of the other connector housing, the inertial force at the time of fitting the connector can be reliably increased. Thereby, the reliability of connector fitting is improved. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the initial fitting of both connector housings is smoothly performed by the large taper guide surfaces on both sides of the small taper guide surface, and the initial fit of the connectors is ensured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a male connector in an inertial lock connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where a male connector is initially fitted to a female connector.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a detailed example of a male connector housing.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the male connector housing.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a detailed example of a female connector housing.

8 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional inertial lock connector.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the male connector housing.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state where the male connector is initially fitted to the female connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Inertial lock connector 5,44 Female connector housing (one connector housing) 4,4 'Male connector housing (other connector housing) 6,45 Inertial lock claw (inertial lock portion) 8,8' Small taper guide surface 10, 10 'large tapered guide surface 13, 13' front end surface L ₂ engagement allowance

Claims (2)

[Claims] An inertial lock is provided on one connector housing, a tapered guide surface is provided on at least a front end peripheral portion of the other connector housing, and a front end surface of the other connector housing is brought into contact with the inertial lock. In an inertial lock connector for obtaining an inertial force in a connector fitting direction, a taper guide surface smaller than the taper guide surface is provided at a front end of the other connector housing facing the inertial lock portion, and the inertial lock portion is provided. An inertial lock connector characterized by increased engagement. 2. The inertial lock connector according to claim 1, wherein the large tapered guide surface is continuous on both sides of the small tapered guide surface.