JP2000173738A - Rotating connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of part items so as to lower cost by engaging a stopper in a rotating connector with a canceling cam in a turn signal switch. SOLUTION: A flat cable 5 is spirally inserted into a space 1b, a terminal 5a is installed on the lower face of the space 1b, and a connection part 5e is connected to the flat cable 5. A terminal 5b is inserted into an engaging hole 6b from lower side of a cancel cam rotor 6, while a locking hole 6c is engaged with a locking projection part 5b for fixing the terminal 5b of the flat cable 5 to the rotor 6, and a terminal 5d is arranged inside a connector housing 6a. A shaft cylindrical part 6d of the rotor 6 is pushed into the inside of a cylinder part 1a, and an elastic locking piece 6e is locked in a locked part 1g freely turnably. A housing covering the flat cable 5 is used as a base 1 for a column switch 8, while a lower case is used as a rotor 6, and the number of parts and assembling man-hours can be lowered, and a required space can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotary connector for making an electrical connection between a steering wheel and a steering column of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of technique, there is a technique disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 5,593,310. In the prior art, a vehicle rotary connector having a spiral flat cable for electrical connection between a vehicle steering wheel and a steering column, and a column switch including an operation lever of a direction indicator and the like are formed separately. ing. In the rotary connector, a lower case is fixed on a base of a column switch, and an upper case is fixed on a lower surface of a handle. Before the rotary connector is mounted on a steering wheel portion of an automobile, the upper rotary case and the lower fixed case are fixed to a neutral position by a stopper.

[0003] Further, the flat cable of the rotary connector has one connector at each end. One of the two connectors is disposed on a rotating case on the handle side that rotates, and the other is disposed on a fixed case on the non-rotating body side.

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional rotary connector requires a stopper and a member to be engaged with the stopper, and has a problem that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are increased. Further, the conventional flat cable of the rotary connector described above has a structure in which only one connector is provided on each of the rotary case side and the fixed case side, so that a large number of switches, complicated electric circuit devices, and the like cannot be installed on the handle. There is a problem.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of parts and cost by engaging a stopper of a rotary connector with a cancel cam of a turn signal switch.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first aspect of the present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and uses a flexible flat cable housed in a spiral shape in a housing. A rotating connector for electrically connecting the steering wheel side and the vehicle body side, and the housing is arranged on a column switch including a rotor having a cancel cam on an upper side and a base on a lower side of a column switch; The column switch is
A stopper for engaging the cancel cam and preventing rotation of the rotor is provided on the base of the column switch.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the stopper comprises a space formed on the upper surface of the base and constituting a fixed side case of the rotary connector, a rotor and an arc-shaped portion inserted into the gap. And a resilient locking piece inserted into a space adjacent to the cancel claw of the turn signal switch formed on the base.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the stopper has a cutout portion with which the cancel claw engages in the arcuate portion.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the stopper is inserted through a through hole formed in an outer peripheral portion of the base, and a concave portion at the tip is provided on the peripheral wall of the rotor. This is due to the engagement with the cancel cam.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the stopper is inserted into a notch groove formed in an outer inner wall of a space of a base into which the rotor is rotatably inserted, and This is because a concave portion with which the cancel cam is engaged is formed on the surface of the rotor facing the cancel cam formed on the outer peripheral surface.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5.
In the invention described above, the stopper is formed integrally with an elastic locking piece having a claw that locks to an edge of a through hole that penetrates into the space from the outer peripheral portion of the base.

The invention of claim 7 is the invention of claim 4 or 5.
In the invention described above, the concave portion is formed by an engagement piece having a length along the outer peripheral surface of the rotor with which the distal end surface of the stopper is opposed.

[0013] The invention according to claim 8 is a rotary connector for electrically connecting the handle side and the vehicle body side by a flexible flat cable housed in a spiral shape in a housing.
The rotating connector has a plurality of connectors formed on at least one of the rotating case side and the fixed case side.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect of the present invention, the fixed case is a base of a column switch having a space into which the rotary connector is rotatably fitted.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth or ninth aspect of the present invention, the flat cable has a first peeling portion for connecting a lead wire at one end to a terminal in the first connector, an arbitrary intermediate position. A second peeling portion connected to the terminal in the second connector, and a third peeling portion connected to the terminal in the third connector at the other end.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect of the present invention, the rotating case or the fixed case has a connector insertion hole into which a plurality of connectors are fitted.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG.
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). 1 is a column switch 8 having a cylindrical portion 1a in the center of which the steering shaft 2 is inserted.
Is the base. As shown in FIG. 1, the base 1 is fixed by fitting mounting portions 1c formed at a plurality of locations near an outer peripheral portion to a steering column (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base 1 is provided with sliding sheets 3 and 4, a flat cable 5 and a rotor 6 inserted around the cylindrical portion 1a, and a ring for accommodating these components. A space 1b consisting of a groove is formed. The base 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a body 9b such as a turn signal switch 9 is provided on the right side, and a wiper washer switch 7 is provided on the left side.
The recesses 1e and 1f for fitting with the body 7b are formed.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the cylindrical portion 1a has a step-like locked portion 1g formed on the inner side of the elastic portion 6e formed on the inner wall of the rotor 6 for locking. I have.
As shown in FIG. 1, the space 1b has cutouts 1i, 1h connected to the recesses 1e, 1f at the left and right opening ends, and the cancel claw 9a of the turn signal switch 9 is disposed in the cutout 1h so as to be freely retractable. Is done. When the rotor 6 is inserted into the space 1b, there is a gap t between the outer inner wall of the annular groove constituting the space 1b and the rotor 6, as shown in FIG.

In this gap t, a stopper 10 is detachably locked, and cancel cams 6j and 6k are rotatably arranged. The cancel cams 6j and 6k projecting from the peripheral wall of the rotor 6 are made smaller than the gap t so as to be able to rotate within the gap t. The mounting portion 1c is a through hole in which an elastic locking piece 1d for locking to a bracket (not shown) formed on the steering column is provided.
Are formed in three or four places around the periphery.

The base 1 is formed with the two notches 1h and 1i so that it can be used in a right-hand drive vehicle and a left-hand drive vehicle. In the case of a right-hand drive car, the turn signal switch 9 is inserted into the recess 1e and used, and by operating the operation lever 9c, the cancel claw 9a is moved from the notch 1h to the position of the cancel cams 6j and 6k in the space 1b. Appears in the rotational movement locus S.
In the case of a left-hand drive car, the turn signal switch 9 is inserted into the recess 1f and used, and the operation lever 9c is operated, whereby the cancel claw 9a protrudes into and out of the space 1b from the notch 1i. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fitting hole 1j for inserting a terminal 5a formed on the outer end of the flat cable 5 is formed in the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 1a.

The steering shaft 2 is rotatably inserted into a steering column, and is fixed to a steering wheel via the cylindrical portion 1a and the shaft tube portion 6d. The steering shaft 2 always rotates the same as the rotor 6. The sliding sheets 3 and 4 are made of a highly lubricating oil-impregnated resin or the like and formed in a thin ring shape. The sliding sheet 3 is disposed on the lower surface of the flat cable 5 and has a hole formed in the center thereof so as to fit into the cylindrical portion 1a. The sliding sheet 4 is arranged on the upper surface of the flat cable 5, and has a hole formed in the center thereof so as to fit into the cylindrical portion 1a.

The flat cable 5 has terminals 5c and 5
The thin strip-shaped conductor (not shown) connected to d is formed by insert-molding a highly slidable resin. As shown in FIG. 4, the flat cable 5 has a connection 5e of a terminal 5a formed at one inner end and a connection 5f of a terminal 5b formed at the other end. The flat cable 5 is spirally accommodated in the space 1 b via the sliding sheet 3 and closed in the space 1 b by the rotor 6 via the sliding sheet 4.

The terminal 5a is connected to an upper end connecting portion 5e.
Are arranged inside the cylindrical portion 1a, and the connector portion 5g at the lower end is arranged on the lower surface of the space 1b. Terminal 5a
Is fitted to the non-rotatable base 1 by, for example, being locked to a locking hole 1k formed in the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 1a and to the locking projection 5i. In the terminal 5a, the connection part 5e, the connector part 5g, and the conductive terminal 5c of the flat cable 5 are integrally insert-molded with resin.

The terminal 5b is connected to a connecting portion 5f at the lower end.
Is arranged inside the outer inner wall of the fitting hole 1j, and the connector housing 6a at the upper end is arranged on the upper surface of the rotor 6. For example, the terminal 5b is fitted into an engagement hole 6b formed on the lower side of the connector housing 6a of the rotor 6, and is engaged with an engagement protrusion 6h in an engagement hole 6c formed in an outer wall of the rotor 6. Is fitted to the rotor 6 which rotates. Terminal 5
b, the connection portion 5f, a terminal 5d which conducts the flat cable 5 and is provided inside the connector housing 6a;
Is integrally formed by insert molding with resin. The conductive wires in the flat cable 5 have one end connected to the terminal 5c and the other end connected to the terminal 5d, and have the same number.

The rotor 6 constitutes a rotating housing of a so-called rotary connector, which comprises a rotating body electrically connected to the rotating handle and a fixed body electrically connected to the non-rotating body. The space 1b of the base 1 described above forms the fixed body side of the rotary connector.

The rotor 6 is a donut-shaped case-shaped rotating body which is fitted with a mating connector (not shown) formed on a lower surface of a handle with a connector housing 6a projecting from the upper surface and rotating with the handle. It is. The rotor 6
By fitting the connector housing 6a into the mating connector on the lower surface of the handle, the rotor 6 is positioned on the handle.

The rotor 6 has a storage portion 6f for storing the flat cable 5 so as to cover the flat cable 5 from above, and is rotatably inserted into the space 1b. The rotor 6 has a shaft cylinder 6d in the center of which the steering shaft 2 is inserted. The shaft cylinder portion 6d is formed with a plurality of elastic locking pieces 6e rotatably inserted into the inside of the cylindrical portion 1a and rotatably locked with locked portions 1g formed on the cylindrical portion 1a. ing. As shown in FIG. 1, the rotor 6 has cancel cams 6j and 6k formed on an outer peripheral portion thereof, which abut against a cancel claw 9a of the turn signal switch 9.

The number, installation position, shape and the like of the cancel cams 6j and 6k are not particularly limited. The number of the cancel cams 6j and 6k has been described in detail in the case of two.
For example, one substantially column-shaped cancel cam may be installed on the operation lever 7a side of the rotor 6 which is 180 ° different from the cancel claw 9a. In addition, one cancel fan having a substantially fan shape may be provided on the cancel claw 9a side of the rotor 6. The cancel cams 6j and 6k may be fan-shaped or arc-shaped plates.

Further, the rotor 6 may be assembled such that a coil spring is interposed between the rotor 6 and the base 1 so that the rotor 6 always presses the lower surface of the handle. Further, the elastic locking piece 6e of the rotor 6 and the locked portion 1g of the base 1
They are relative to each other and may be formed opposite to each other. That is, the locked portion 1g may be formed on the shaft cylinder 6d, and the elastic locking piece 6e may be formed on the cylindrical portion 1a.

The column switch 8 is, for example, a base 1
The turn signal switch 9 and the bodies 7b, 9b of the wiper washer switch 7 are fitted into the left and right recesses 1e, 1f. The column switch 8 may be one in which the turn signal switch 9, the wiper washer switch 7, and the like are integrally provided on the base 1. The wiper washer switch 7 is provided with a swinging operation lever 7a to the body 7
b, and the body 7b is fitted into the recess 1f of the base 1.

The turn signal switch 9 has an operation lever 9c that swings up, down, left and right on a body 9b. When the operation lever 9c is swung to the left and right direction instruction position, the cancel claw 9a is
When the user moves into the rotational movement locus S of j and 6k and turns the handle, the cancel cams 6j and 6k strike the cancel claw 9a.

The rotor 6 rotates two times in the left-right direction from the neutral position together with the handle. The rotor 6 and the flat cable 5 before being mounted on the vehicle are held by a stopper 10 at a neutral position where the vehicle travels straight. The rotor 6 in the neutral state is assembled with the connector housing 6a engaged with the lower surface of the handle at the handle position where the vehicle travels straight.

The stopper 10 is shown in FIGS.
(B) As shown in FIG.
b, an engaging portion 10c, and a grip portion 10d. The stopper 10 interposes the arcuate portion 10a in the space 1b of the gap between the rotor 6 and the outer outer wall of the annular groove of the base 1 and locks the locking portion 10c to the base 1.
Is locked.

The arc-shaped portion 10a is an arc-shaped plate member inserted into a gap between the rotor 6 and the space 1b between the cancel cam 6j and the cancel cam 6k, as shown in FIG. The thickness of the arc-shaped portion 10a is not particularly limited as long as it is formed to be thinner than the gap t so as to be inserted into the gap t. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the cancel cam 6j and the cancel cam 6k of the rotor 6 are at 90 ° from the axis of the steering shaft 2 with respect to the cancel claw 9a as shown in FIG. I do. That is, both ends 10g and 10h of the stopper 10 abut on the arcuate portion 10a between the two cancel cams 6j and 6k on the cancel claw 9a side in accordance with the positions of the cancel cams 6j and 6k formed on the rotor 6. Intervene as follows.

The cut-out portion 10b is formed as shown in FIGS.
As shown in (b), it is a U-shaped groove formed at the lower center of the arcuate portion 10a. When the operation lever 9c is swung to the right-turning position or the left-turning position while the stopper 10 is attached to the base 1, the cancel claw 9a enters the inside of the notch 10b.

The engaging portion 10c includes, for example, two L-shaped elastic engaging pieces 10e and 10f with claws. The elastic engaging pieces 10e and 10f with claws are inserted into both sides of the cancel claw 9a. Thus, the stopper 10 is prevented from rotating.
The cancel claw 9a has spaces 9g on both sides of the cancel claw 9a so that the integrally formed shaft portion 9d can be rotated around a long hole 9f formed in the cover 9e of the body 9b as a fulcrum. The nails at the tips of the elastic locking pieces 10e and 10f are inserted into the space 9g. The grip portion 10d is a portion that is gripped when the stopper 10 is attached to and detached from the base 1, and protrudes upward from the arc-shaped portion 10a.

The first embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and the operation will be described in detail together with the assembling procedure. The turn signal switch 9 and the bodies 7b, 9b of the wiper washer switch 7 are fitted into the recesses 1e, 1f of the base 1. The sliding sheet 3 is inserted and arranged at the bottom of the space 1b.

The flat cable 5 is spirally inserted into the space 1b. The terminal 5a is attached to the lower surface of the space 1b, and the connecting portion 5e is connected to the flat cable 5. The sliding sheet 4 is placed on the flat cable 5. The terminal 5b is engaged with the engagement hole 6b from below the rotor 6.
And the engaging hole 6c is engaged with the engaging convex portion 5h. Then, the terminal 5b, which is the outer end of the flat cable 5, is fixed to the rotor 6, and the terminal 5d is arranged in the connector housing 6a.

The shaft cylindrical portion 6d of the rotor 6 is pushed into the cylindrical portion 1a, and the elastic locking piece 6e is rotatably locked to the locked portion 1g. In the housing covering the flat cable 5, the lower case is formed of the base 1 of the column switch 8, and the upper case is formed of the rotor 6 of the cancel cams 6j and 6k. Space can be achieved.

With the rotor 6 in the neutral position, the stopper 10 is inserted between the cancel cams 6j and 6k between the rotor 6 and the outer inner wall of the space 1b, and the elastic locking pieces 10e and 10f with pawls are canceled. It is inserted into space 9g on both sides of 9a and locked. The stopper 10 is provided with a locking portion 10.
By inserting c on both sides of the cancel claw 9a of the body 9b, rotation is prevented. In the rotor 6, both ends 10 g and 10 h of the arc-shaped portion 10 a of the stopper 10 are arranged on the turn signal switch 9 side of the cancel cams 6 j and 6 k protruding from the outer periphery. To prevent rotation.

When transporting the column switch 8 before assembling it to an automobile, the stopper 10 is inserted into the gap between the space 1b and the rotor 6 at the neutral position of the flat cable 5 to fix the rotor 6 of the rotary connector. Keep it. When the column switch 8 is mounted on the handle, the column switch 8 is
And the column switch 8 is interposed between the steering column and the steering wheel.

The base 1 is fixed to the steering column by fitting the mounting portion 1c to a bracket of the steering column. By fitting the connector housing 6a to the mating connector on the lower surface of the handle and fixing the handle to the steering shaft 2, the rotor 6 is positioned and arranged at a predetermined position.

When the handle is rotated, the rotor 6 and the terminal 5 at the end of the flat cable 5 are moved together with the handle.
b rotates. If the operation lever 9c has been swung to the left or right direction instruction position, the cancel cam 6
The j and 6k strike the cancel claw 9a to return the operation lever 9c to the neutral position.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. Hereinafter, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described in detail using the different numbers and reference numerals. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the stopper 11 that engages with the cancel cam 6j of the rotor 6 is inserted through a through hole 1m formed in the side wall of the base 1 to prevent the rotation of the rotor 6. Things. That is, the second embodiment is a means for fixing the rotor 6 by inserting the stopper 11 from the lateral direction of the base 1 to the rotor 6.

The base 1 is separated from the lower or upper outer wall by a space 1.
There is a through hole 1m communicating with the outer inner wall of b. The through hole 1
m forms a concave portion 11a at the tip where the cancel cams 6j and 6k are engaged. The position at which the through hole 1m is formed is the concave portion 11 of the stopper 11 inserted into the base 1 when the rotor 6 of the rotary connector is at the neutral position.
“a” is a position at which the cancel cams 6j and 6k are engaged.

As shown in FIG. 8, the stopper 11 has an elastic locking piece 11b at the center of one end and engaging pieces 11d and 11e formed on both sides of the elastic locking piece 11b via grooves 11c.
A grip portion 11g is formed at the other end. The recess 11
a is a recess formed by the elastic locking piece 11b and engaging pieces 11d and 11e protruding from the elastic locking piece 11b toward the distal end.
Is to prevent the rotation of. The elastic locking piece 11b
Has a claw 11f which is locked to the edge of the through hole 1m on the upper side or the lower side at the tip to prevent the elastic locking piece 11b from dropping out of the through hole 1m. The elastic locking piece 11
b provides elasticity to the elastic locking pieces 11b by forming grooves 11c on both sides.

An engaging piece 11d inserted into the through hole 1m,
The length 11e adjusts the lengths L1, L2 of the engagement pieces 11d, 11e according to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 6 as shown in FIG. For example, the cancel cam 6 in the neutral state
When j and 6k are located on the center line of the base 1, the stopper 11 is also located on the center line of the base 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 6 and the tip end surface of the stopper 11 face in a parallel state.
The lengths L1 and L2 of the engagement pieces 11d and 11e are the same.

When fixing the rotor 6 by attaching the stopper 11 to the base 1, the rotor 6 is first set to the neutral position, and the stopper 11 is inserted through the through hole 1m.
The cancel cam 6k is fitted into the recess 11a. The rotation of the rotor 6 is prevented by the cancel cam 6k fitted into the recess 11a, and the rotor 6 does not shift during transportation.

When assembling the column switch 8 to the automobile, the finger of the stopper 11 at the edge of the through hole 1m is released by pushing the base of the elastic locking piece 11b of the stopper 11 with a finger to release the stopper 11f. Is removed from the base 1 and the steering wheel is set to the straight position, and then the column switch 8 is interposed between the steering column and the steering wheel.

The base 1 is fixed to the steering column by fitting the mounting portion 1c to a bracket of the steering column. By fitting the connector housing 6a to the mating connector on the lower surface of the handle and fixing the handle to the steering shaft 2, the rotor 6 is positioned and arranged at a predetermined position.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. Hereinafter, only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described in detail using the different numbers and reference numerals. In the third embodiment of the present invention, the stopper 12 is engaged with the cancel cam 6j of the rotor 6.
Is formed in a notch groove 1 formed in the outer inner wall of the space 1b of the base 1.
n to prevent the rotation of the rotor 6. That is, in the third embodiment, the stoppers 12 are moved from above the base 1 to the cancel cams 6j, 6
k means for fixing the rotor 6.

The base 1 has a vertical notch 1n formed on the outer inner wall of the space 1b. The notch groove 1n is a groove into which the substantially U-shaped stopper 12 is inserted, and a through hole 1q in which the claw 12f of the stopper 12 engages is formed in the notch groove 1n.

The stopper 12 is provided with the grip 12
g, a concave portion 12a composed of engaging pieces 12d and 12e is formed on the facing surface side of the rotor 6, and an elastic locking piece 12b having a claw 12f is formed in the concave portion 12a. The position where the notch groove 1n is formed is in the direction perpendicular to the through hole 1m of the second embodiment described above, that is, when the rotor 6 of the rotary connector is at the neutral position, the stopper 12 inserted into the base 1 is formed. Is a position at which the concave portion 12a is engaged with the cancel cams 6j and 6k.

The recess 12a is provided with the elastic locking piece 12
The recess formed by the engagement pieces 12d and 12e formed on both sides of b. The recess engages with the cancel cam 6j to prevent the rotation of the rotor 6. The elastic locking piece 12b is
2f is locked to the edge of the through hole 1q, and the elastic locking piece 12b
Is prevented from dropping from the notch groove 1n. The elastic locking piece 12b provides the elastic locking piece 12b with elasticity by forming grooves 12c on both sides.

The engagement pieces 12d, 12 inserted into the notches 1n
e adjusts the lengths L3, L4 of the engagement pieces 12d, 12e according to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 6 as shown in FIG. For example, the cancel cams 6j, 6 in the neutral state
When k is on the center line of the base 1, the stopper 12 is also on the center line of the base 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 6 and the distal end surface of the stopper 12 face in a parallel state. Have the same length L3, L4.

When fixing the rotor 6 by attaching the stopper 12 to the base 1, the rotor 6 is first set to the neutral position, and the stopper 12 is inserted from above the base 1 through the notch groove 1 n, and the concave portion 12 a 6k cancel cam
Is fitted. The rotation of the rotor 6 is prevented by the engagement of the cancel cam 6k into the recess 12a, so that the rotor 6 does not shift during transportation.

When assembling the column switch 8 to the automobile, the root side portion of the elastic locking piece 12b of the stopper 12 was pushed with a finger, and the grip portion 12g was gripped and locked to the edge of the through hole 1q. Release the pawl 12f and pull out the stopper 12 from the base 1. Then, after the steering wheel is in the straight traveling position, the column switch 8 is interposed between the steering column and the steering wheel.

The base 1 is fixed to the steering column by fitting the mounting portion 1c to a bracket of the steering column. By fitting the connector housing 6a to the mating connector on the lower surface of the handle and fixing the handle to the steering shaft 2, the rotor 6 is positioned and arranged at a predetermined position.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the rotary connector 13 has a rotating case 14 side,
Alternatively, a plurality of connectors 16a and 16b are formed on at least one of the fixed case 15 side.

The flat cable 16 has, for example, two connector insertion holes 1 formed in the rotating case 14 on the rotating side.
The first connector 16a and the second connector 16b fitted to the 4a and 14b are connected, and the third connector 16c is connected to the fixed side. The flat cable 16 is made of a thin strip formed by insert-molding a large number of thin conductive wires 16d with a highly slidable resin. The flat cable 16 has a conductor 16d at one end and a terminal 16 in the first connector 16a.
e, a first peeling part 16h for connecting to the terminal 16f in the second connector 16b at an arbitrary intermediate position, and a terminal 16g in the third connector 16c at the other end. To form a third peeling portion 16j.

As shown in FIG. 12, the first connector 16a is formed by insert-molding a terminal 16e and arranging the terminal 16e on the lower side of a large number of conductors 16d arranged in parallel with the first peeling portion 16h. 16d is electrically connected by soldering or the like. The first connector 16a and the second connector 1
6b is fitted to a mating connector arranged on the lower surface of the handle. The terminal 16e in the first connector 16a is electrically connected to, for example, a horn switch, a constant speed control (ASCD) switch, a steering switch, and an A / T switch installed on a steering wheel.

In the second connector 16b, the terminal 16f is formed by insert molding, and the terminal 16f is electrically connected to the conductor 16d arranged above the second conductor 16d arranged in parallel with the second peeling portion 16i by soldering or the like. Connected. The terminal 16f in the second connector 16b is electrically connected to, for example, a plurality of inflators of an airbag provided on a handle.

The third connector 16c is formed by insert-molding the terminal 16g, and the terminal 16g is electrically connected to all of the multiple conductors 16d arranged in parallel with the third peeling portion 16j by soldering or the like.

The rotating connector 13 can be provided with a plurality of connectors 16 a and 16 b on the rotating case 14 or the fixed case 15, so that the number of conducting wires 16 d of the flat cable 16 can be increased. This allows a large number of switch controllers and the like to be installed on the handle.

The fixed case 15 is the first case of the present invention.
The base 1 of the column switch 8 having the space 1b into which the rotor 6 of the rotary connector 13 is rotatably fitted as described in detail in the third embodiment may be used.

[0067]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the following effects can be obtained. The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a rotary connector for electrically connecting the handle side and the vehicle body side by a flexible flat cable housed in a spiral shape in a housing, and the housing has a lower portion provided with a base of a column switch, In a rotary connector arranged on a column switch having a rotor having a cancel cam on an upper side, the column switch includes a stopper on a base of the column switch, the stopper being engaged with the cancel cam to prevent rotation of the rotor. This eliminates the need to specially form an engaging portion of the rotating rotor with which the stopper is engaged, and allows the canceling cam to double as the engaging portion of the stopper, thereby reducing the number of parts and assembling. Man-hours can be reduced, and costs can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the stopper is formed on the upper surface of the base and forms a fixed side case of the rotary connector, a rotor and an arc-shaped portion inserted into the gap. And an elastic locking piece inserted into a space adjacent to the cancel claw of the turn signal switch formed on the base, so that the stopper is prevented from rotating and the rotor is neutralized during transportation. Can be held in position.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the second aspect, the stopper has a cutout portion with which the cancel claw is engaged in the arc-shaped portion, so that the turn signal switch during the transportation is provided. When the operation lever is operated erroneously, the cancel claw moving in the rotational movement locus S of the cancel cam does not hit the stopper and is not damaged.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the stopper is inserted through a through hole formed in an outer peripheral portion of the base, and a concave portion at the tip is formed in the peripheral wall of the rotor. By engaging with the cancel cam, the rotor of the rotary connector is prevented from rotating by the stopper, and the rotor can be held at the neutral position during transportation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the stopper is inserted into a notch groove formed in an outer inner wall of a space of the base into which the rotor is rotatably inserted, and By forming a recessed portion on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor facing the cancel cam and engaging the cancel cam, the stopper is engaged with the cancel cam of the turn signal switch, thereby rotating the rotor. Can be prevented.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5.
In the invention described in the above, the stopper is formed integrally with an elastic locking piece having a claw that locks to an edge of a through hole penetrating into the space from the outer peripheral portion of the base, so that the stopper is moved from the rotary connector when the rotary connector is transported. Dropping can be prevented.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5.
In the invention described in the above, since the concave portion is formed by an engagement piece having a length along the outer peripheral surface of the rotor with which the tip end surface of the stopper opposes, the shape of the concave portion is changed to the shape of the rotor and the cancel cam. They can be formed together.

The invention according to claim 8 is a rotary connector for electrically connecting a steering wheel side and a vehicle body side by a flexible flat cable housed in a housing in a spiral shape.
Since the rotating connector has a plurality of connectors formed on at least one of the rotating case side and the fixed case side, the number of flat cable conductors is increased, and a large number of switches and various devices are attached to the handle. Can be.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eighth aspect, the fixed case is a column switch base having a space into which the rotary connector is rotatably fitted. Can also be used as a fixed case for the rotary connector, and the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced to reduce costs.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the eighth or ninth aspect, the flat cable has a first peeling portion connecting one end to a terminal in the first connector, an arbitrary intermediate position. A second peeling portion connected to a terminal in the second connector and a third peeling portion connected to a terminal in the third connector at the other end, so that a plurality of connectors are provided on the rotating case side or the fixed case side. Can be installed.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the tenth aspect of the present invention, the rotary case or the fixed case is provided with a connector insertion hole for fitting a plurality of connectors. It can be easily installed in a fixed case.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention and having a partial cross section.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of a base provided with a stopper.

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a half sectional view of a column switch.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a column switch.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a column switch showing an assembled state of a stopper, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a second embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view having a partial cross section.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of a base provided with a stopper.

FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged perspective view of a stopper.

FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a third embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view having a partial cross section.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view of a base provided with a stopper.

FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged perspective view of a stopper.

FIG. 12 is a drawing showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view of a flat cable.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a rotary connector.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view of a rotary connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 base 1b space 1m, 1q through hole 1n notch groove 5, 16 flat cable 6 rotor 6j, 6k cancel cam 8 column switch 9 turn signal switch 9a cancel claw 9g space 10, 11, 12 stopper 10a arc-shaped portion 10b cutout portion 10e , 10f, 11b, 12b Elastic locking piece 11, 12 Stopper 11a, 12a Recessed part 11d, 11e, 12d, 12e Engaging piece 11f, 12f Claw 12 Stopper 13 Rotary connector 14 Rotary case 14a, 14b Connector insertion hole 15 Fixed Case 16a, 16b, 16c Connector 16d Conductor 16e, 16f, 16g Terminal 16h First peeling part 16i Second peeling part 16j Third peeling part

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A rotary connector for electrically connecting a steering wheel side and a vehicle body side by a flexible flat cable (5, 16) spirally housed in a housing, and the lower side of the housing is a column switch ( 8) A rotary connector arranged on a column switch composed of a rotor (6) having a cancel cam (6j, 6k) on the upper side of the base (1), wherein the column switch (8) is provided with the cancel cam (6).
j, 6k) provided on the base (1) of the column switch (8) with stoppers (10, 11, 12) for preventing rotation of the rotor (6). . 2. A space (1b) according to claim 1, wherein the stopper (10) forms a fixed case of a rotary connector formed on an upper surface of a base (1).
And an arc-shaped portion (10) inserted into the gap (t) with the rotor (6).
a) and elastic locking pieces (10e, 10f) inserted into a space (9g) adjacent to the cancel claw (9a) of the turn signal switch (9) formed on the base (1).
And a rotary connector comprising: 3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the stopper (10) is provided on the arc-shaped portion (10a).
The notch (10) with which the cancel claw (9a) engages
A rotary connector, wherein b) is formed. 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the stopper (11) is inserted through a through hole (1m) formed in an outer peripheral portion of the base (1), and has a concave portion (11) at the tip.
a) engaged with the cancel cam (6j, 6k) provided on the peripheral wall of the rotor (6). 5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the stopper (12) is a notch formed in an outer inner wall of a space (1b) of the base (1) into which the rotor (6) is rotatably inserted. The cancel cam (6j, 6) inserted into the groove (1n) and formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (6).
A rotary connector characterized in that a concave portion (12a) with which the cancel cam (6j) is engaged is formed on a surface facing the component (k). 6. The invention according to claim 4, wherein the stopper (11, 12) is an edge of a through-hole (1m, 1q) penetrating from the outer peripheral portion of the base (1) to the space (1b). A rotary connector, wherein elastic locking pieces (11b, 12b) having claws (11f, 12f) for locking the same are integrally formed. 7. The invention according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the recesses (11a, 12a) are provided with stoppers (11, 1).
The engagement piece (11) having a length (L1, L2, L3, L4) along the outer peripheral surface of the rotor (6) with which the tip surface of 2) opposes.
d, 11e, 12d, 12e). 8. A rotary connector (13) for electrically connecting a steering wheel side and a vehicle body side by a flexible flat cable (16) spirally housed in a housing, wherein the rotary connector (13) is a rotary case ( 14) side,
Or a rotary connector characterized in that a plurality of connectors (16a, 16b) are formed on at least one of the fixed case (15) side. 9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the fixed case (15) is provided with the rotary connector (13).
A rotary connector comprising a base (1) of a column switch (8) having a space (1b) into which a can be rotatably fitted. 10. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the flat cable (16) has a lead wire (16) at one end.
d) is replaced with a terminal (16e) in the first connector (16a).
To the terminal (16f) in the second connector (16b) at an arbitrary intermediate position, and to the third connector (16h) at the other end.
c) The third peeling part (16) connected to the terminal (16g) in
A rotary connector characterized by forming j). 11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the rotating case (14) or the fixed case (15) has connector insertion holes (14a, 14b) into which a plurality of connectors (16a, 16b) are fitted. A rotary connector characterized by being drilled.