JP2001135413A - Mechanism for preventing fall of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate preventing the fall of a cable connector and fixing releasing the same. SOLUTION: A USB cable connector 1 has a cap 4 fit in at a USB cable section. A claw portion 7 at the top of the cap 4 is fit into a chassis 7 of an apparatus by inserting the USB cable connector 1 into a connector 3 on a USB apparatus and then advancing the cap. An inclined portion from the top of the USB cable connector 1 to the USB cable is supported by a supporting section 5 integrally molded with the USB cable connector 1 and four top and bottom corners on the USB cable connector 1 are supported by a guide 10. The USB cable connector can be pulled out after an external force is applied to the top of the plastic cap 4 inward, disengaging the claw portion 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a USB (Universa)
The present invention relates to a mechanism for preventing a connector, such as a serial bus connector, from having a connector to which a cable is connected (hereinafter, referred to as a “cable connector”) whose body shape is narrowed down toward the cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a USB connector is widely used as a connector for a cable for connecting a personal computer to a peripheral device, but recently, its use has been expanded to a game machine. Conventional U
As shown in a sectional view in FIG. 7, the SB connector is a USB connector (hereinafter, referred to as a “USB”) mounted on the information processing apparatus in order to maintain the fitting with the USB cable connector 1A. The connector 30 has convex portions 13 on the upper and lower sides inside the connector 30 and the USB cable connector 1A.
Between the upper and lower sides. Such a fitting state can be easily realized by inserting the USB cable connector 1A in a correct insertion direction. Thereafter, data can be transferred between a peripheral device connected to the end of the USB cable connector 1A and an information processing device connected to the USB device connector 30.

A technique for preventing the plug from being unplugged from the power outlet is common in terms of preventing the disconnection of the connecting means, which is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-16376 as a "plug preventing device". I have. This device has a retaining cover receiver attached around an outlet provided in an electric device, a retaining cover detachably inserted into the retaining cover receiver, and a retaining cover inserted into the retaining cover receiver. Engaging / disengaging means for engaging and disengaging them in the disengaged state.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned conventional USB
The connector is easy to fit, but on the other hand, it does not take any special measures such as fixing the connection portion by screwing, and basically prevents the USB cable connector from coming off. Since no structure is provided, the strength of the mating is generated by each USB connector, and when an external force is applied from the outside in the direction of disconnection of the USB cable connector while using the information processing device, the USB cable is not connected. There is a problem that there is a danger that the cable connector may be disconnected from the USB device connector 3 and interrupt the data transfer. In a personal computer or a game machine, this problem is likely to become more frequent due to the stress since the peripheral device operated by the user is often moved.

In the apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 7-16376, the power supply side requires a retaining cover receiver, which is exaggerated, and requires a simple and inexpensive personal computer and game machine. Not suitable for equipment. Further, since this device is intended for connection of a power cord, it cannot be applied to a case where a plurality of cable connectors are connected to one device connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a simple connector disengagement prevention mechanism which can be easily fitted and released.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector disconnection prevention mechanism applicable to a case where a plurality of cable connectors are connected to one device connector.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector disconnection prevention mechanism in which a fixing means is fitted into a cable connector for connection to an external device, and a tip of the fixing means is fixed to a housing of the external device. In addition, the cable connector is configured to support a portion of the cable connector extending from the head to the cable.

[0009] A connector disconnection prevention mechanism according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
A cap which is fitted into a cable connector for connection with an external device, and a claw at a tip of the cap is fitted to a housing of the external device; and And a support part formed integrally.

[0010] A connector disconnection preventing mechanism according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
A cap that is fitted into a cable connector for connection with an external device, and a claw at a tip of the cap is fitted to a housing of the external device; And a cushion part packed inside.

Further, a guide integrally formed with a fixing means or a cap for vertically supporting the head of the cable connector at the four corners may be provided.

More specifically, the cable is a USB cable, and the support portion or the cushion component is a USB cable.
Supports the slope of the cable connector. Cap is PO
M (polyacetal), PS (polystyrene), ABS
The material is made of plastic having high flexibility, and the cushion component is made of rubber, sponge or the like.

The structure for preventing the connector from coming off according to the present invention comprises:
By fitting the resin molded part to the cable connector for connection to the external device and fixing it to the housing, even if external force is applied from the outside in the cable connector removal direction, the cable connector will not come off. Further, in the use of the information processing device and the external device, interruption of data transfer due to disconnection of the cable connector is prevented.

Further, even when the cable connector is disconnected,
The resin molded part fixed to the housing can be easily removed.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a basic mechanism of a structure for preventing the USB cable connector 1 from coming off using a cap 4.

In FIG. 1, an external device (not shown) such as a peripheral device on the left and a right information processing device are connected to a USB cable connector by a chassis 8 of the information processing device (not shown). 1 and a USB device connector 3 are connected at the opening 11 of the chassis 8. The USB cable connector 1 has a cap 4 fitted at the USB cable portion. on the other hand,
The USB device connector 3 is mounted on the printed wiring board 2 fixed to the chassis 8.

The shape of the USB cable connector 1 is determined by the USB standard, and the USB cable connector 1 has an inclined portion 6 (shown in FIG. 2) on the back surface (on the side of the USB cable). The shape of the inclined portion 6 is also defined by the USB standard. The opening 11 of the chassis 8 serves as an insertion port for the USB cable connector 1.

The cap 4 has a guide 10 for suppressing the vertical movement of the USB cable connector 1 and a USB cable.
A support portion 5 for interfering with the inclined portion 6 of the cable connector 1 to suppress the lateral movement (axial direction of the USB cable) of the USB cable connector 1 and a chassis inserted into the opening 11 of the chassis 8 A hook 7 is formed on the hook 8. The material of the cap 4 is preferably a plastic material having high flexibility. More specifically, POM (polyacetal) is preferred. This is because the material is excellent in fatigue resistance, creep resistance and wear resistance. Cap 4 is one side (upper side in the figure)
Only the opening is open and fitted into the USB cable.

FIG. 2 shows a USB cable as shown in FIG.
The cable connector 1 is connected to the USB device connector 3 and the cap 4 fitted into the USB cable connector 1
FIG. 3 shows a top view when fittings are made to the chassis 8. In FIG. 2, the USB cable connector 1 is located above and the USB device connector 3 is located below. FIG. 3 shows that, as shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a top view when the SB cable connector 1 is connected to the USB device connector 3 and the cap 4 inserted into the USB cable connector 1 is fitted to the chassis 8. In FIG. 3, two USB devices are connected to one USB device connector 3.
It can be seen that the cable connector 1 is inserted from the right. This is the case where the same signal is used in two places.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In order to connect the USB cable connector 1 to the USB device connector 3 and fix them, insert the USB cable connector 1 into the USB device connector 3 and then fit the cap 4 into the USB cable. Then, the cap 4 is advanced in accordance with the opening 11 of the chassis 8. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the situation in this case. The USB cable connector 1 is connected to the USB device connector 3 mounted on the printed wiring board 2, and the cap 4 which is a part for preventing the USB cable connector 1 from being pulled out is fitted in the USB cable portion and the A direction. To move forward. Thereafter, when the cap 4 is further advanced, the claw 7 of the cap 4 is inserted into the opening 11 of the chassis 8 as shown in FIG. Although it interferes with the inclined portion 6 of the cable connector 1, since the support portion 5 of the cap 4 is also elastically deformed, even if the cap 4 further moves forward until the state of FIG. 7 is chassis 8
In other words, the claw 7 is engaged with the chassis 8 and fixed, and the support 5 holds the inclined portion 6.

In this state, the guide 10 of the cap 4 holds the USB cable connector 1 up and down, and
The vertical movement of the SB cable connector 1 is suppressed.
Further, the support portion 5 is provided with the inclined portion 6 of the USB cable connector 1.
Hold. Therefore, even if an external force is applied in the direction in which the USB cable comes off, the USB cable can be prevented from coming off.

When the USB cable connector 1 is to be disconnected, as shown in FIG. 5, if an external force is applied to the tip 9 of the cap 4 inward (in the direction B), the claws 7 are moved to the chassis 8.
, The cap 4 can be easily removed from the USB cable connector 1 in the direction C.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
With reference to US Pat.
Instead of the structure of the support portion 5 supporting the inclined portion 6 of the B cable connector 1, a cushion component 12 made of rubber or a sponge-based material is employed inside the cap. In the above-described embodiment, the elastic deformation of the POM material is used. Instead, the inclined portion 6 of the USB cable connector 1 is supported using the elastic deformation of rubber or a sponge-based material. . In this case, cap 4
Is not only a highly flexible POM material, but also ABS
And PS and the like.

Although the embodiment described above relates to a USB connector, the present invention is not limited to this, and a cable connector having a shape (inclined in the above embodiment) that narrows down from the head to the cable. If so, it is applicable. The point is that the cushion support component or the cushion component may have any shape as long as the cable can be prevented from coming off in cooperation with the claw portion.

[0026]

The first effect of the present invention is that even if an external force is applied in the connector disconnection direction, interruption of data transfer between the information processing device and the external device can be prevented without disconnection of the connector. That is. The reason is that the resin molded part is fitted to the cable connector and fixed to the housing.

The second effect is that the prevention of disconnection of the cable connector can be easily set and easily removed. The reason for this is that the resin molded part is fitted into the chassis by utilizing the elastic deformation of the resin molded part, and a structure that only requires release by applying an external pressure to the resin molded part is adopted.

Further, a third effect is that even when one or two cable connectors are connected to the device connector, resin molded parts having the same shape can be used.
The reason for this is that guides are provided above and below the resin molded part, and the head of the standardized cable connector is held while holding the inclined portion on the back of the cable connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention in a state where a cap fitted to a USB cable connector is fitted to a chassis.

FIG. 2 is a top view in the state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view in the state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which a cap fitted into a USB cable connector is advanced.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a state where a cap is hung on a chassis;

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example in a state where a USB device connector and a USB cable connector are connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 USB cable connector 2 Printed wiring board 3 USB device connector 4 Cap 5 Support part 6 Inclined part 7 Claw part 8 Chassis 9 Tip part 10 Guide 11 Opening part 12 Cushion parts 13 Convex part 1A USB cable connector 30 USB device connector

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A fixing means is fitted into a cable connector for connection to an external device, and a tip of the fixing means is fixed to a housing of the external device, and supports a portion of the cable connector which is connected to a cable from a head thereof. A connector preventing mechanism for disconnection. 2. A cap which is fitted into a cable connector for connection with an external device, and a claw at a tip of the cap is fitted into a housing of the external device, and supports a portion of the cable connector from the head to the cable. And a support part integrally formed with the cap. 3. A cap fitted into a cable connector for connection to an external device, and a claw at a tip of the cap is fitted into a housing of the external device, and a portion of the cable connector from the head to the cable is supported. And a cushion component packed inside the cap. 4. A guide integrally formed with said fixing means or said cap for supporting the head of said cable connector up and down at four corners in addition to said support. Item 4. A connector removal prevention mechanism according to any one of Items 3. 5. The connector disconnection prevention mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cable is a USB cable. 6. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the cap is made of a highly flexible plastic material such as POM (polyacetal), PS (polystyrene), and ABS. Pull-out prevention mechanism. 7. The connector preventing mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the cushion component is made of rubber, sponge, or the like.