JP2001110521A - Connector engagement structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector engagement structure which has a good operationality in engaging and disengaging a lock member with a connector housing, improve durability of parts and reduce costs by decreasing the number of parts. SOLUTION: A flexible lock member 20 has engagement pieces 21, 22, having fit-in sections 23, 24, axially on both sides. A connector housing 11 has engagement projections 12, 13 which engage the lock member 20 with the connector housing 11 when the connector housing 11 fits in fit-in sections 23, 24 of the lock member 20. On fit-in sections 23, 24 of the engagement pieces are formed taper surfaces 23a, 24a inclined in the direction in which the fit-in sections 23, 24 of the engagement pieces separate from the engagement projections 12, 13. On the engagement projections 11, 13 are formed guide surfaces 12b, 13b which resiliently transform the engagement pieces pushing them open axially when the engagement projections 11, 13 engage with the fit-in sections 23, 24 of the engagement pieces and guide the engagement pieces to the positions where the fit-in sections 23, 24 of the engagement pieces and the engagement projections 12, 13 fit in together.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector locking structure for secondary locking of a mating connector primarily locked to a connector housing by a locking member locked at a predetermined position to the connector housing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure for securing good operability of secondary locking by a lock member and reducing cost.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 8-9911 discloses a lock member 40 rotatably supported by a connector housing 30 as a connector lock mechanism, as shown in FIGS. It is described that the flexible projection 41 is engaged with the connector housing 30 at a predetermined lock position by fitting the engagement projection 31 into the through hole 42 of the flexible engagement piece 41.

[0003] The locking projection 31 is connected to the connector housing 30.
7 are provided at predetermined positions on the front and rear side surfaces 32 and 33, respectively. A pair of flexible locking pieces 41 are provided on the left and right sides of the lock member 40 in FIG. Below each connecting portion 43 of FIG. 8 in each flexible locking piece 41,
A through hole 42 that can be fitted to each locking projection 31 of the connector housing 30 is provided to penetrate in the left-right direction in FIG.

[0006] The lock member 40 is provided with a front side surface 44 shown in FIG.
The spring is always urged in the unlocking direction (the front side in FIG. 7) by a leaf spring 35 provided between the connector housing 30 and the front wall surface 34 of the connector housing 30.

In such a connector lock mechanism,
When the lock member 40 is unlocked from the locked position (see FIG. 7).
In order to rotate the flexible projection 41 toward the front side, the fitting between the through hole 42 of each flexible locking piece 41 and each locking projection 31 is released. That is, by gripping the upper part of each flexible locking piece 41 in FIG. 8 with a fingertip or the like, each flexible locking piece 41 is expanded so that the lower part of each flexible locking piece 41 in FIG. 41 is resiliently deformed in a C-shape in FIG. Thereby, the through hole 42 of each flexible locking piece 41 and the locking projection 3
Release the fitting with 1.

[0006]

In the conventional connector lock mechanism described above, in order to release the lock mechanism, the lock member 40 must be rotated from the lock position in the unlocking direction (the near side in FIG. 7). An operation of pinching the upper part of each flexible locking piece 41 in FIG. 8 with a fingertip or the like is required. Since the flexible locking piece is a minute component, it is difficult to say that the operation is good, and it is necessary to secure a space around each flexible locking piece 41 so that a fingertip can be inserted. There is a problem that restrictions are imposed on the layout and the like.

[0007] Further, by operating each flexible locking piece 41 with a fingertip or the like, each flexible locking piece 41 is elastically deformed into a C-shape in FIG. . For this reason, especially, the connecting portion 43 needs to have a considerably large amount of bending, and thus the rigidity of the connecting portion 43 cannot be increased. Therefore, when an external force more than necessary is applied to each of the flexible locking pieces 41, there is a possibility that the flexible locking pieces 41 may be damaged near the connecting portion 43.

Further, as a part separate from the lock member 40,
The configuration includes a leaf spring 35 that constantly biases the lock member 40 in the unlocking direction. For this reason, there is a problem that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are unavoidably increased, and the cost increases. In addition, there is a risk that the leaf spring 35 may be forgotten to be assembled or may fall off.

According to the present invention, the locking and unlocking of the lock member to and from the connector housing can be performed with good operability, and the durability of parts can be improved.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a connector locking structure capable of reducing the number of parts and reducing costs.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a connector locking structure for locking a lock member rotatably supported by a connector housing at a predetermined position on the connector housing. Has locking pieces on both sides in the axial direction having flexibility and a fitting portion formed, and the connector housing fits the fitting portion of the lock member to connect the lock member to the connector. It has a locking projection for locking to the housing, and the fitting portion of the locking piece has a tapered surface inclined in a direction in which the fitting portion of the locking piece is detached from the locking projection. When the fitting protrusion of the locking piece is fitted to the locking projection,
By elastically deforming the locking piece so as to expand in the axial direction,
This is achieved by a connector locking structure in which a guide surface for guiding to a position where the fitting portion of the locking piece and the locking projection are fitted to each other is formed.

According to the connector locking structure of the present invention,
When an operating force is applied in a direction for locking the lock member and the connector housing, first, a locking piece provided on the lock member comes into contact with a guide surface of a locking projection provided on the connector housing. As the locking member moves in the locking direction, the locking piece is elastically deformed so as to gradually expand outward in the rotation axis direction of the locking member, and then the fitting portion and the locking projection are fitted. ,
The locking piece returns to its original state.

Also, when an operating force is applied in a direction to release the locked lock member and the connector housing, slippage occurs between the locking surface of the fitting portion having the tapered portion and the locking projection. As a result, the locking piece is elastically deformed so as to expand outward in the rotation axis direction of the lock member, and the fitting between the fitting portion of the locking piece and the locking projection is released. Furthermore, when the lock member moves in the unlocking direction, the engagement between the engagement portion of the engagement protrusion and the engagement protrusion is completely released, and the elastically deformed engagement piece returns to its original state.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector locking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a locking member of the connector locking structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is arrow sectional drawing. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before the locking member is locked to the connector housing of the connector locking structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the engagement of the locking member to the connector housing of the connector locking structure of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in the middle of stopping, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which locking of the lock member to the connector housing of the connector locking structure of FIG. 1 is completed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, in the connector locking structure, first, a mating connector (not shown) is used.
1 is fitted into the connector housing 11 on the vehicle joint box 10 from above in FIG. 1, and a protrusion (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the mating connector is provided on the inner surface of the connector housing 11 ( (Not shown). As a result, the mating connector is primarily locked to the connector housing 11.

Next, a lock member 20 rotatably supported by the connector housing 11 is provided with fitting holes (fitting portions) 23 and 24 of the locking pieces 21 and 22 and a locking projection 12 of the connector housing 11. , 13 are locked to the connector housing 11 at a predetermined position (hereinafter, referred to as a lock position). In the locked state, the lower surface of the upper surface plate 20a of the lock member 20 abuts on the rear end of the mating connector in the fitting direction, and restricts the movement of the mating connector in the detaching direction (upward in FIG. 1). Thereby, the mating connector is secondarily locked to the connector housing 11.

The lock member 20 has a pair of columnar projections 25 serving as rotation axes. The columnar projections 25 are provided in the shaft holes 1 of a pair of guide plates 14 provided in the connector housing 11.
5 is rotatably fitted. The lock member 20 is rotatable by approximately 90 ° from a position where the front side surface 20b in FIG. 1 contacts the upper surface of the vehicle joint box 10 in FIG. 1 (hereinafter, referred to as an unlock position) to the lock position. In the lower part of the columnar projection 25 in FIG. 1, chamfers 25a are formed in a tapered shape. When assembling the lock member 20 to the connector housing 11, first, the chamfer 25 a of the cylindrical projection 25 is positioned in contact with the upper surface of the guide plate 14 of the connector housing 11. Since the columnar projections 25 are guided by the shaft holes 15 along the guide grooves 15a respectively formed in the upper portion of 1, the work of fitting the columnar projections 25 into the shaft holes 15 becomes easy.

Both axial sides of the lock member 20 (FIG. 2)
Are provided with a pair of locking pieces 21 and 22. The engaging pieces 2 and 22 are respectively provided with fitting holes 2 into which the engaging protrusions 12 and 13 of the connector housing 11 are fitted.
3, 24 are formed. When the locking projections 12 and 13 are fitted into the fitting holes 23 and 24, respectively,
Locking surfaces 23a and 24a are provided for engaging with the engaging projections 2 and 13. The locking surfaces 23a and 24a have tapered surfaces inclined in a direction in which the fitting holes 23 and 24 are separated from the locking protrusions 12 and 13. Is formed. That is, the left locking piece 2 in FIG.
The engaging surface 23a of the first fitting hole 23 is formed with a tapered surface inclined at an angle of, for example, about 30 ° from a horizontal plane toward the lower right in FIG. The engagement surface 24a of the fitting hole 24 is formed with a tapered surface that is inclined downward, for example, about 30 ° from a horizontal plane toward a diagonally lower left side.

The connector housing 11 is provided with locking projections 12 and 13 which are fitted to the fitting holes 23 and 24 of the locking pieces 21 and 22, respectively, near the upper end portions of the left and right side surfaces in FIG. .

The engaging projections 12 and 13 respectively have engaging surfaces 12a and 1
3a and the connector housing 11 from the top of the locking projection.
Guide surfaces 12b and 13b are formed on the upper surface of the upper surface. The engaging surfaces 12a and 13a of the locking projections 21 and 13 are formed by fitting holes 23 and 2 of the locking pieces 21 and 22 with the locking projections 12 and 13.
4, the engaging surfaces 23a, 2a of the fitting holes 23, 24
4a. Guide surfaces 12b of the locking projections 12, 13;
13b, when the engaging protrusions 12, 13 and the fitting holes 23, 24 of the engaging pieces 21, 22 are fitted, the engaging pieces 21, 22 are gradually expanded outward in the axial direction of the lock member 20. And elastically deform (state shown in FIG. 5). In addition, the guide surfaces 12b and 13b are provided with the locking projections 12 and 13 and the locking pieces 21,
If the fitting of the fitting holes 22 and 22 to the fitting holes 23 and 24 is incomplete, that is, if the fitting is interrupted in the state shown in FIG. 5, the elastically deformed locking pieces 21 and 22 are restored to the original state. The lock member 20 is returned to the upper side in FIG. 5 by the force. Thereby, the fitting holes 23 and 24 of the locking pieces 21 and 22 and the locking projections 1 are formed.
Prevents incomplete fitting with 2,13.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. When the lock member 20 is manually operated after the mating connector is primarily locked to the connector housing 11, the locking pieces 21 and 22 are moved as the lock member 20 moves from the unlock position to the lock position. It is guided by the guide surfaces 12b, 13b of the locking projections 12, 13, and is elastically deformed so as to gradually expand outward in the rotation axis direction of the lock member 20 (FIG. 5).
State). As the lock member 20 further moves toward the lock position, the locking projections 12 and 13 are fitted into the fitting holes 23 and 24 of the locking pieces 21 and 22, and then return to the original state (see FIG. 6). State shown). At this time, the engagement surfaces 23a, 24a of the fitting holes 23, 24 and the engagement surfaces 12 of the engagement protrusions 12, 13
a and 13a engage with each other. Thereby, the lock member 20 is locked to the connector housing 11 at the lock position, and the mating connector is secondarily locked to the connector housing 11.

To release the secondary lock of the mating connector, the lock member 20 at the lock position is manually operated to apply an operating force of a predetermined magnitude or more to the lock member 20 in the unlock position direction. Add. Then, slippage occurs between the engaging surfaces 23a, 24a of the fitting holes 23, 24 having the tapered surfaces and the engaging surfaces 12a, 13a of the engaging protrusions 12, 13. Accordingly, the fitting holes 2 of the locking pieces 21 and 22 are
The engagement of the locking projections 12, 13 with the locking projections 12, 13 is released, and the locking pieces 21, 22 are elastically deformed so as to expand outward in the rotation axis direction of the lock member 20 (the state shown in FIG. 5). ).
Further, as the lock member 20 moves to the unlock position, the locking pieces 21 and 22 return to the original state (the state shown in FIG. 4). Thereby, the lock at the locked position between the connector housing 11 and the lock member 20 is released, and the secondary lock of the mating connector is released.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the fitting holes 23 and 24 of the locking pieces 21 and 22 and the locking projection 1 can be formed by a simple operation of moving the locking member 20 to the locking position.
The lock member 20 can be locked to the connector housing 11 at the lock position by fitting the lock members 2 and 13 with each other.
Further, the connector housing 11 locked in the locked position
When releasing the lock with the lock member 20, the lock member 2
0 by applying a predetermined amount of operating force in the direction of the unlock position, the engaging surfaces 23a and 24a of the fitting holes 23 and 24 of the engaging pieces 21 and 22 and the engaging surfaces of the engaging protrusions 12 and 13. 1
Sliding occurs between 2a and 13a, whereby the locking projections 12 and 13 and the fitting holes 23 and 24 are detached, and the locking of the lock member 20 is released. Therefore, unlike the conventional connector lock mechanism, the connector housing 11 and the lock member 20 can be locked and unlocked with good operability without requiring operations such as pinching of the locking pieces 21 and 22. It can be carried out.

Further, unlike the conventional connector lock mechanism, there is no need to secure a space around the locking pieces 21 and 22 to allow a fingertip to be inserted and pinched around the locking pieces 21 and 22. . Therefore, the layout of components around the connector is not restricted.

The locking pieces 21 and 22 and the lock member 20
Are formed integrally with each other, so that the locking piece is compared with the case where the flexible locking piece 41 and the locking member 40 are connected by the connecting member 43 required in the conventional connector locking mechanism (see FIG. 8). The mounting rigidity between the lock members 21 and 22 is increased. Therefore, it is possible to avoid damage at the mounting portion between the lock member 20 and each of the locking pieces 21 and 22.

Further, the need for a leaf spring 35 (see FIG. 7) for constantly urging the lock member 20 in the unlocking direction, unlike the conventional connector locking mechanism, becomes unnecessary, so that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced. Can be. Thereby, the working efficiency in the assembling process can be improved, and the cost can be reduced.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lock member has locking pieces having flexibility and fitting portions formed on both sides in the axial direction, and the connector housing has the lock member. And a locking projection for locking the lock member to the connector housing by fitting into the fitting portion of the locking piece. A tapered surface that is inclined in a direction in which the fitting portion of the locking piece is detached is formed, and the locking piece is axially expanded in the locking projection when the locking piece is fitted to the fitting portion of the locking piece. A guide surface is formed for elastically deforming the guide piece so as to guide it to a position where the fitting portion of the locking piece and the locking projection are fitted.
Thus, locking and unlocking between the connector housing and the lock member can be performed with good operability, the number of parts can be reduced, and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector locking structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a lock member of the connector locking structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the arrow A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state before the locking member is locked to the connector housing of the connector locking structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the lock member is being locked to the connector housing of the connector locking structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which locking of the lock member to the connector housing of the connector locking structure of FIG. 1 is completed.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional connector lock mechanism.

8 is a sectional view of a lock member of the connector lock mechanism of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Joint box for vehicles 11 Connector housing 12, 13 Engagement projection 12a, 13a Engagement surface 12b, 13b Guide surface 20 Lock member 21, 22 Engagement piece 23, 24 Engagement part (engagement hole) 23a, 24a Engagement surface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A connector locking structure for locking a lock member rotatably supported by a connector housing to a predetermined position on the connector housing, wherein the lock member has flexibility and a fitting portion. The connector housing has locking pieces formed on both sides in the axial direction, and the connector housing has a locking projection for locking the lock member to the connector housing by fitting into a fitting portion of the lock member. The fitting portion of the locking piece has a tapered surface inclined in a direction in which the fitting portion of the locking piece is detached from the locking projection. When fitting with the fitting portion of the piece, the locking piece is elastically deformed so as to expand in the axial direction, so that the fitting portion of the locking piece and the locking projection are fitted. A guide surface for guiding to the position is formed. Connector locking structure.