JP2001345145A - Inertia lock connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely insert a male terminal into a female terminal in a connector housing. SOLUTION: Shafts 6 butted with the male terminal 4 are slidably arranged in the connector housing 2, and locking parts 9 and 10 are arranged for locking the shafts on an initial position, and the locking parts are released by force not less than required inserting force of both male and female terminals. The shafts 6 are arranged in a pair near both tip sides of the male terminal 4. Guide parts 7 and 8 for slidably engaging the shafts 6 are arranged in the connector housing 2. The guide parts 7 and 8 extend in a circular arc shape or an inclined shape toward an outside part of the connector housing 2. The tail ends 7b and 8b of the guide parts 7 and 8 are extended outside a terminal housing chamber of the connector housing 2, and the shafts 6 are positioned outside the terminal housing chamber in a completely inserted state of the male terminal 4. A collar member 23 or a collar part 25 is arranged in an end part 6a of the shafts 6 on the outside of guide holes 7 being the guide parts.

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 having a structure in which when a male terminal is inserted and connected to a female terminal, the male terminal abuts against a shaft to obtain an inertial force to prevent incomplete insertion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 to 6 show states in which a male terminal used for connecting a rear defogger or the like of an automobile is connected to a female terminal in a mating connector.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 81 denotes a male terminal having a contact tab 81a, and reference numeral 82 denotes a connector accommodating a female terminal 83. The male terminal 81 is formed, for example, by bending in a substantially crank shape, and the other connecting portion (not shown) following the one contact tab portion 81a is connected to a terminal of a rear defogger heat wire by soldering. A hole 84 for locking is formed in the center of the contact tab 81a. The male terminal 81 remains exposed to the outside, and is not housed in the connector housing 85 like the female terminal 83.

The connector 82 includes a connector housing 85 made of synthetic resin and a female terminal 83 made of metal.
The connector housing 85 is composed of a front wall and upper, lower, left and right walls. An insertion hole 86 for the male terminal 81 is formed on the front wall, and a locking projection 87a for the female terminal 83 is formed on the lower wall.
Is formed.

The female terminal 83 has a box-shaped electric contact portion 8 on one side.
8, and the other side has an electric wire connection part (crimp part) 89. An elastic contact piece 90 is provided inside the electric contact portion 88, and the elastic contact piece 90 is formed with a locking projection 91 with respect to the hole 84 of the male terminal 81. As shown in FIG. 6, the contact tab 81 a of the male terminal 81 is inserted and connected between the elastic contact piece 90 of the female terminal 83 and the holding wall 92, and the locking projection 9 is formed in the hole 84.
1 is engaged, so-called positive locking is performed. The engagement between the terminals 81 and 83 is released by displacing the elastic contact piece 90 downward by a mechanism (not shown) and pulling the connector 82 having the male terminal 81 or the female terminal 83.

In FIG. 5, the electric wire connecting portion 89 is constituted by a pair of conductor crimping pieces on the front side and a pair of covering crimping pieces on the rear side.
The electric wire 93 is, for example, a power line for an automobile, and has a male terminal 81.
The side is supplied with electricity to heat, for example, a hot wire for a rear defogger.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, since there is no connector housing on the male terminal 81 side, the male and female connector housings cannot be fitted and locked together. ,for that reason,
It is difficult to check whether the male terminal 81 is completely inserted and connected to the female terminal 83, and the male terminal 8
1 is likely to be in a half-inserted (incompletely inserted) state, in which case there is a problem that the male terminal 81 easily comes out of the female terminal 83 due to vibration of the vehicle or the like. Also, terminal 8
When the terminals 1 and 83 are large or the terminals 81 and 83 have a large number of poles, the sliding resistance between the terminals increases at the time of terminal connection, and a large insertion force is required for the male terminal 81. There is a problem that the terminal 81 is likely to be half-inserted.

Conventionally, when a male connector containing a female terminal is fitted to a female connector (not shown) containing a male terminal, for example, one of the two connectors is prevented from being half-fitted. Means for fitting the two connectors with a large inertia force by abutting the locking projection of the other connector housing against the flexible lock arm of the connector housing. However, there is no good means for securely connecting the male terminal 81 having no connector housing to the female terminal 83 in the mating connector 82 without half-insertion, and such means has been desired.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inertial lock connector that can reliably connect a male terminal to a female terminal in a connector housing without causing half-insertion.

[0010]

To achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a connector for inserting a male terminal into a female terminal in a connector housing and connecting the male terminal to the connector housing. An inertia lock connector slidably provided and provided with a locking portion for locking the shaft at an initial position, wherein the locking portion is released with a force greater than a required force for inserting the male and female terminals. Is adopted (claim 1). It is also effective that a pair of the shafts are disposed near both ends of the male terminal. It is also effective that a guide portion for slidably engaging the shaft is provided on the connector housing. It is also effective that the guide portion extends toward the outside of the connector housing in an arc shape or an inclined shape (claim 4). Further, it is also effective that the terminal end of the guide portion is extended outside the terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing, and the shaft is located outside the terminal receiving chamber when the male terminal is completely inserted. ). It is also effective that a flange member or a flange portion is provided at an end of the shaft outside the guide hole serving as the guide portion (claim 6).

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show one embodiment of an inertial lock connector according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the inertial lock connector 1
Is a connector housing 2 made of synthetic resin and a female terminal 3 with an electric wire housed in the connector housing 2 (FIG. 2).
And a male terminal 4 made of a conductive metal inserted and connected to the female terminal 3 from the outside. The male terminal protrudes rearward of the insertion hole 5 in the vicinity of the front opening of the connector housing 2, that is, the male terminal insertion hole 5. A pair of shafts 6 and 6 for contact are provided, and a pair of upper and lower sliding guide portions 7 and 8 and locking portions 9 and 10 for locking with respect to the pair of shafts 6 and 6 are provided in the connector housing 2. It is characterized by having been done.

The male terminal 4 has, for example, a base end side connected and fixed to a defroster heating wire of a rear window (not shown) by soldering, and has a tab part 14 for contact with the female terminal 3 at a front end side. There are inclined portions 12 and 13 which are tapered chamfers for guiding on the top, bottom, left and right of the front end 11 of 14.
In the center of the tab portion 14, a hole portion 15 for engagement with a locking projection of an elastic contact piece (not shown) of the female terminal 3 is provided. Since the female terminal 3 is the same as that described in the related art, a detailed description will be omitted.

The connector housing 2 is formed in a rectangular box shape, and a slit-shaped insertion hole 5 for the male terminal 4 is formed in the front wall 16.
A pair of right and left cylindrical shafts 6 and 6 are arranged in parallel and in the plate thickness direction of the tab portion 14 in close proximity immediately after the insertion hole 5. The pair of shafts 6, 6 are located opposite the tip 11 of the tab portion 14 of the male terminal 4.
Each shaft 6 has one end 6a slidably engaged with an upper arc-shaped guide hole (guide portion) 7 and the other end 6b slidably engaged with a lower arc-shaped guide groove (guide portion) 8, respectively. .

The upper guide hole 7 is provided in the connector housing 2.
And has a semicircular starting end 7a at a substantially intermediate position between the center and the outer end of the insertion hole 5 in the width direction, and extends from the starting end 7a toward the inside of the connector housing 2. It is curved in an arc shape, extends slightly outside the side wall 18 of the connector housing 2, and has a semicircular end portion 7b on a bulging wall 19 formed integrally with the side wall 18. The left and right guide holes 7 are formed symmetrically. A groove 20 for accommodating the shaft 6 is formed in the side wall 18 in the height direction.

The lower guide groove 8 is formed so as to face the upper guide hole 7 and have the same shape as the guide hole 7 at a depth of about half the thickness of the lower wall 21 of the connector housing 2. The curvature and groove width of the guide groove 8, the start end 8a and the end 8
The position of b is the same as that of the guide hole 7.

The guide holes 7 and the guide grooves 8, that is, the start ends 7a and 8a of the respective guide portions are provided at the ends 6a and 6
In this state, locking projections (locking portions) 9 and 10 for preventing the shafts 6 from moving rearward are provided on the inner surfaces of the outer ends (closer to the side walls 18) of the start ends 7a and 8a. Have been. The locking projections 9 and 10 are formed as, for example, semi-cylindrical protrusions having the same vertical length as the depth of the guide portions 7 and 8.

The shape of the locking projections 9 and 10, ie, the protruding height, the inclination angle, and the flexibility, depends on the force required to release the locking of the shaft 6 from the locking projections 9 and 10 at the start ends 7a and 8a. The force is set to be greater than the force required for inserting the male terminal 4 and the female terminal 3 (terminal insertion force). That is, the total of the locking forces of the four upper, lower, left and right locking projections 9 and 10 on the pair of left and right shafts 6 and 6 is set to be larger than the terminal insertion force. The positions of the locking projections 9 and 10 may be not on the inner surfaces of the guide portions 7 and 8 but on the inner surfaces thereof, or may be arranged on both the outer and inner surfaces of the guide portions 7 and 8.

Each shaft 6 is preferably made of the same or a different kind of metal material as the terminals 4. This is to prevent the shaft 6 from being worn when it goes over the locking projections 9 and 10 and slides along the guide portions 7 and 8, and does not cause wear debris in the connector housing 2.

At the center of the upper end 6a of each shaft 6, there is provided a hole 26 for press-fitting and fixing the boss 24 of a disk-shaped cap (flange member) 23. The flange 25 of the cap 23 is provided with a guide hole 7 Of the housing upper wall 1
The shaft 6 is stably supported in surface contact with the upper surface of the shaft 7 and functions as a fall prevention member for smoothly moving the shaft 6 along the guide portions 7 and 8. When the shaft 6 is made of metal, the cap 23 is preferably insulative.

It is also possible to make the lower guide groove 8 the same guide hole 7 as the upper one, and to provide caps 23 at both ends of the shaft 6. In addition, the flange 25 can be formed integrally with the shaft 6. In this case, the shaft 6 is preferably made of a hard synthetic resin. In addition, if resin molding is possible, the guide hole 7 may be the same guide groove 8 as the lower side, and the cap 23 may be omitted. This is particularly effective when the connector housing 2 is arranged without distinction between the upper and lower sides.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the male terminal 4 is inserted into the female terminal 3 (shown by a dashed line) in the connector housing 2 (this is caused by the connector housing 2 facing the fixed male terminal 4).
Is moved to connect the female terminal 3 to the male terminal 4 in the same manner), while the distal end 11 of the tab portion 14 of the male terminal 4 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole 5 of the connector housing 2 while maintaining the initial position, that is, the guide portion. Each of the shafts 7 and 8 (only the guide groove 8 is shown in FIG. 2) abuts on the outer peripheral surfaces of the pair of shafts 6 and 6 at the start ends 7a and 8a.

Each shaft 6 is provided with locking projections 9 and 10 (only locking projection 10 is shown in FIG. 2).
a, 8a, the male terminals 4
Cannot be inserted, and the operator pushes the male terminal 4 in the insertion direction with a strong force (or strongly pushes the connector housing 2, that is, the connector 27 having the female terminal 3 toward the male terminal 4). When the pressing force of the terminal 3 or 4 exceeds the terminal insertion force, the locking of the pair of shafts 6 and 6 from the locking projections 9 and 10 is released, that is, as shown in FIG. Each shaft 6 is bent backward and slides rearward along the guide portions 7 and 8 over the locking projections 9 and 10.

At the same time as the locking of both shafts 6 is released, the male terminal 4 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 28 of the connector housing 2 with a strong inertial force, and is inserted and connected to the female terminal 3 at a stretch. As a result, half insertion (incomplete insertion) of the male terminal 4 into the female terminal 3 is reliably prevented.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide portions 7, 8 intersect (substantially orthogonally) with the left and right inclined portions 13 of the front end 11 of the male terminal 4 and extend outward.
It is possible to smoothly move outward and escape when the inclined portion 13 enters the inside. The force (sliding resistance) required for the sliding movement of the shaft 6 is extremely small, and does not reduce the inertial force of the male terminal 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, each shaft 6 moves to the end portions 7b and 8b along the guide portions 7 and 8 (only the guide groove 8 is shown in FIG. 4) with the released momentum.
b and 8b, it is located in the bulging wall 19 outside the connector housing 2 so as not to obstruct the male terminal 4 and the female terminal 3. Since each bulging wall 19 has a vertical groove 20 formed through each side wall 18, each shaft 6 is accommodated in each groove 20.

In FIG. 2, the distal end of the female terminal 3 is located slightly behind the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the guide portions 7 and 8. In this state, the female terminal 3 is, for example, a flexible connector (not shown) of the connector housing 2. Locked by a stop arm. 4, the male terminal 4 is completely inserted and connected to the female terminal 3 at a position where the male terminal 4 is further inserted, and the locking projection of the elastic contact piece (not shown) of the female terminal 3 is inserted into the hole 15 of the male terminal 4. Engagement is positively locked to prevent the male terminal 4 from slipping back.

In FIG. 2, when the tip 11 of the male terminal 4 is initially inserted into the insertion hole 5 of the connector housing 2, that is, with the tip of the male terminal 4 supported by the insertion hole 5,
Since the tip 11 of the male terminal 4 hits each shaft 6,
The abutting posture of the male terminal 4 against each shaft 6 is stabilized, the shaft 6 is pressed accurately, and a specified inertia force is obtained.

It is also possible to form the guide portions 7 and 8 not in an arc shape but in a linearly inclined shape obliquely rearward. Further, the male terminal 4 is housed in a female connector housing (not shown), and when the male terminal 4 is fitted to the male connector housing 2 housing the female terminal 3, the shaft 6 is pressed by the male terminal 4 in the same manner as described above. It is also possible to gain strength. In addition, although the balance of the force when the male terminal is pressed is deteriorated, only one of the pair of shafts 6 and 6 is used,
The other shaft 6 can be omitted.

After the male terminal 4 is completely inserted into the female terminal 3 in FIG. 4, the female terminal 3 is advanced together with the male terminal 4 or only the connector housing 2 is retracted, and the tip of the female terminal 3 is connected to the connector. It is also possible to approach the front wall 16 of the housing 2. In FIG. 4, the terminal portions 7b, 8b of the guide portions 7, 8 are connected to the outside of the male terminal 4 and to the terminal accommodating chamber 28.
It is also possible to provide the shaft 6 outside the male terminal 4 and inside the terminal accommodating chamber 28 when the male terminal 4 is completely inserted.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when inserting the male terminal into the female terminal, the male terminal hits the shaft, and the operator presses the male terminal in the insertion direction with a strong force. When the pressing force exceeds the required terminal insertion force, the locking of the shaft is released, the shaft slides in the male terminal insertion direction and escapes, and the male terminal is inserted and connected to the female terminal at a stretch by inertia. As a result, half insertion (incomplete insertion) of the male terminal into the female terminal is reliably prevented. Further, the male terminal can be reliably inserted and connected to the female terminal in the connector housing in a single state without being accommodated in the connector housing. Also, by sliding the shaft,
For example, in an inertial lock connector using a flexible arm, there is no need to worry about deterioration of the elastic force of the arm, and the connector can withstand repeated insertion and connection.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the male terminal abuts against the pair of shafts, the posture of the male terminal at the time of abutting is stabilized, and the abutting force, that is, the inertia force of the male terminal is accurately determined. Defined, the insertion connection of the male terminal is further ensured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the male terminal reaches a pressing force equal to or greater than a specified value, the shaft is guided along the guide portion and slides smoothly, so that the male terminal is Insertion is performed smoothly without interference with the shaft.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the unlocked shaft smoothly escapes along the guide portion toward the outside of the connector housing, the insertion of the male terminal may interfere with the shaft. It is done smoothly without.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the male terminal is inserted into the female terminal by inertia or when the male terminal is inserted,
Since the shaft can completely escape to the outside of the terminal accommodating chamber along the guide portion, interference with the male terminal and the female terminal is reliably prevented, and the shaft escapes to the outside of the terminal accommodating chamber. The inner width of the housing chamber can be set narrow without considering the housing of the shaft, and the connector housing is made compact.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the end of the shaft penetrating the guide hole is supported by the flange member and the flange so as to be slidably guided on the outer wall surface of the connector housing. The movement is performed smoothly, and the male terminal is smoothly inserted into the female terminal without being caught.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an inertial lock connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the male terminal is abutted against a shaft in a connector housing.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the locking of the shaft is released and the male terminal is inserted into the connector housing by inertial force.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the shaft escapes into the side wall of the connector housing when the male terminal is inserted by inertia.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional connector.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the male terminal is being inserted into the female terminal in the connector housing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inertial lock connector 2 Connector housing 3 Female terminal 4 Male terminal 6 Shaft 7 Guide hole (guide part) 7b, 8b Terminal part (terminal) 8 Guide groove (guide part) 9, 10 Locking projection (locking part) 23 Cap (Flange member) 25 Flange 28 Terminal accommodation chamber

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A connector for inserting and connecting a male terminal to a female terminal in a connector housing, wherein a shaft for abutting the male terminal is slidably provided on the connector housing, and the shaft is locked at an initial position. An inertial lock connector having a stop portion, wherein the lock portion is released by a force greater than a force required for inserting the male and female terminals. 2. The inertial lock connector according to claim 1, wherein a pair of said shafts are arranged near both ends of said male terminal. 3. The inertial lock connector according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion for slidably engaging the shaft is provided on the connector housing. 4. The inertial lock connector according to claim 3, wherein said guide portion extends in an arc shape or an inclined shape toward an outer portion of said connector housing. 5. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein a terminal of the guide portion extends outside the terminal receiving chamber of the connector housing, and the shaft is located outside the terminal receiving chamber when the male terminal is completely inserted. Item 5. The inertial lock connector according to item 3 or 4. 6. The inertial lock connector according to claim 3, wherein a flange member or a flange portion is provided at an end of the shaft outside the guide hole serving as the guide portion.