JP2002093521A - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate assembly of a slider with a cover into a housing, to make it easy to locate an initial position of the slider with a cover, and to simplify structure. SOLUTION: A female housing 10 having an outer wall 16 and an inner wall 18 for both sides, a male housing 12 insertion-coupled with the above, a slider 14 with a cover which has two slider pieces sliding to an orthogonal direction to the connector inserting direction and a wire bundle protecting cover 22 integrally formed, inserted between the outer wall 16 and the inner wall 18, are provided. A cam projection 24 is formed on an outer surface of the male housing 12, a slot introducing the cam projection 24 to the inserting direction of the both housings 10 and 12 is formed on an inner wall of the female housing 10, and also a slope cam groove 28 moving the cam projection 24 along the slot is formed on an inner surface of the slider piece 20. A slider projection 30 is formed on the inner surface of the slider piece 20, and a rail 32 guiding the slider projection 30 and an entrance guide 34 are provided on the inner wall 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector assembly in which a connector is fitted by a cam mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A connector having a large number of terminals requires a large force for fitting. Therefore, a cam mechanism (fitting assist mechanism) is provided to reduce the fitting force. A slider that slides in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the connector is used for the cam mechanism. Further, in the connector having the cam mechanism, since the number of electric wires drawn out of the connector housing is large, the electric wires should be prevented from interfering with a connector fitting operation or the like, and should not be damaged by contacting other members. In addition, a protective cover is used to collectively pull out a large number of electric wires in a certain direction.

[0005] Therefore, the connector assembly having the cam mechanism has a problem that the number of parts is increased, the number of assembling steps is increased, the cost is increased, and the size is increased. As an improvement on this point, there has been proposed a connector assembly using a slider with a cover in which a slider of a cam mechanism and a protective cover for electric wires are integrated (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-230851 and 8-222331). No.).

[0004]

However, the connector assembly using a slider with a cover, which has been conventionally proposed, is troublesome in assembling the slider with the cover to the connector housing, and the initial position of the slider with the cover can be determined. There is a problem that it is difficult. Furthermore, since the structure for attaching the cover-equipped slider to the connector housing is complicated, there is a problem that the structure of the molding die becomes complicated and the cost increases.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to easily attach a slider with a cover to a connector housing, to easily understand an initial position of the slider with a cover, and to have a relatively simple structure. Is to provide.

[0006]

A connector assembly according to the present invention includes a first connector housing (for example, a female connector housing) having a double side wall including an outer wall and an inner wall on both sides; A second connector housing (e.g., a male connector housing) fitted between opposing inner walls of the connector housing; and a second connector between outer and inner walls on both sides of the first connector housing. Two slide pieces that are inserted from the opposite side of the housing and slide between the outer wall and the inner wall in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction of the first and second connector housings, and from the first connector housing A slider with a cover integrally formed with a protective cover for protecting a bundle of electric wires drawn out, and outer surfaces of side walls on both sides of the second connector housing. A cam projection is formed on the inner wall of the first connector housing, and a slot for guiding the cam projection in the fitting direction of both connector housings is formed on the inner wall of the first connector housing. An inclined cam groove for moving the cam projection along the slot is formed on the inner surface of the slider, and a slide projection is formed on the inner surface of the slide piece of the cover-equipped slider. A rail for guiding the slide projection in the sliding direction and an entrance guide for guiding the slide projection are formed at an entrance end of the rail on the inner side wall of the connector housing.

In the connector assembly according to the present invention, the cam projection and the inclined cam groove are formed in the opposite positions, the cam projection is formed on the inner surface of the slide piece of the slider with the cover, and the inclined cam groove is formed in the second connector housing. May be formed on the outer surface of the side wall.

In the connector assembly of the present invention, a plurality of cam projections, inclined cam grooves, slots, slide projections, rails and guides are provided at intervals in the sliding direction of the slider with cover. This is preferable for stabilizing the fitting operation.

Further, in the connector assembly of the present invention, the slide piece of the slider with the cover is formed with a lock piece that falls into a slot of the inner wall of the first connector housing at the slide start position, and is formed on the side wall of the second connector housing. Preferably, a rib is formed on the outer surface to push the lock piece out of the slot. In this way, the slider with the cover can be stably held at the initial position, and the lock piece does not hinder the slide at the start of the slide.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the connector assembly of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a female connector housing, 12 is a male connector housing, and 14 is a slider with a cover.

The female connector housing 10 has a double side wall including an outer wall 16 and an inner wall 18 on both sides. A large number of female terminals are housed between the inner walls 18 on both sides, from which a large number of electric wires are drawn upward, but these are not shown. The male connector housing 12 accommodates a large number of male terminals, which are also not shown. Male connector housing 12 is female connector housing
10 are fitted between the inner walls 18 on both sides. As a result, the male terminal and the female terminal are connected.

The slider 14 with a cover is formed by integrally forming two slide pieces 20 and a protection cover 22 having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section. The two slide pieces 20 are inserted from the opposite side of the male connector housing 12 between the double side walls 16 and 18 on both sides of the female connector housing 10, and the double side walls 16,
The sliding member 18 slides in the direction orthogonal to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10, 12. The protective cover 22 protects the bundle of electric wires drawn upward from the female connector housing 10 and aligns the drawing direction.

Two cylindrical cam projections 24 are formed on the outer surface of the side wall of the male connector housing 12 at intervals in the sliding direction of the slide piece 20. The cam projection 24 is similarly formed on the outer surface of the opposite side wall. Correspondingly, the cam projections 24 are provided on the two inner side walls 18 of the female connector housing 10, respectively.
Slot 2 for guiding in the fitting direction of 0 and 12 (vertical direction in the figure)
6 are formed (see FIG. 2). Slot 26 is inner wall 1
8, open at the lower end (bottom of female connector housing 10)
From there, the cam projection 24 enters. Two inclined cam grooves 28 for moving the cam projections 24 along the slots 20 are formed on the inner surfaces of the two slide pieces 20 of the slider 14 with a cover. The inclined cam groove 28 also opens at the lower end of the slide piece 20, and the cam projection 24 enters therefrom.

Further, two slide projections 30 are formed on the inner surfaces of the two slide pieces 20 of the cover-equipped slider 14, respectively. These slide protrusions 30 are formed near both ends of the slide piece 20 and at the same height from the lower end of the slide piece 20. Correspondingly, a rail 32 for guiding the slide protrusion 30 in the sliding direction is provided at an upper end edge of the two inner side walls 18 of the female connector housing 10, and the slide protrusion 30 is guided to an entrance end of the rail 32. The entrance guide 34 is formed integrally. The rail 32 has an inverted L-shaped cross section extending along the upper edge of the inner wall 18.

A lock piece 36 is formed on the tip end of the slide piece 20. The lock piece 36 drops into the slot 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the inner side wall 18 of the female connector housing 10 at the slide start position (details will be described with reference to FIG. 4). Correspondingly, male connector housing
Ribs 38 are formed on the outer surface of the side wall 12 to push the lock pieces 36 out of the slots.

Next, how to assemble the connector assembly configured as described above will be described. First female connector housing
Attach the slider 14 with the cover to the 10. Since a large number of electric wires are drawn upward from the female connector housing 10, the slide pieces 20 of the cover-equipped slider 14 are moved to the outer wall of the female connector housing 10 in a state where the electric wires are collectively turned to the right or left. Insert between 16 and inner wall 18. This insertion is performed with the cover-equipped slider 14 approaching the left end of the female connector housing 10, as shown in FIG. Then, the slide projection 30 enters between the entrance end of the rail 32 and the entrance guide 34, and when further inserted,
The slide projection 30 is guided by the slope of the entrance guide 34 and enters under the entrance end of the rail 32 as shown in FIG. This is the slide start position.

In this state, the leading end protruding portion of the lock piece 36 formed on the leading end side of the slide piece 20 falls into the slot 26 of the inner wall 18 as shown in FIG.
Cannot slide earlier. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the notch of the slide projection 30 (the portion cut off by a quarter of the cylinder) engages with the step of the entrance guide 34.
It will not be easy to pull it out. Therefore, the slider with cover 14 is stably held at the slide start position.

Next, the female connector housing 10 and the male connector housing 12 are fitted. Female connector housing 10
When the mating between the male connector housing 12 and the male connector housing 12 is started, as shown in FIG.
Slot 26 of inner wall 18 and inclined cam groove 28 of slide piece 20
to go into. The male connector housing 12 is usually fixed to a device on the vehicle body side of an automobile. The state shown in FIG. 5 is a position where the female terminal in the female connector housing 10 and the male terminal in the male connector housing 12 start fitting, and a strong fitting force is required from now on.

When the connector 38 is fitted to the position shown in FIG. 5, the rib 38 formed on the outer surface of the side wall of the male connector housing 12 enters the slot 26 as shown in FIG.
Since the 36 is pushed out of the slot 26, the slide piece 20 can be slid. Then, the slider 14 with the cover is pushed and slid in the direction of arrow P. Then Figure 6
As shown in FIG. 7, the inclined cam groove 28 moves to draw the cam projection 24 toward the back of the slot 26, so that the fitting between the connector housings 10 and 12 proceeds.

When the slider 14 with the cover is slid to the final position, the state shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is obtained, and the fitting of the female connector housing 10 and the male connector housing 12 is completed. In this state, the lock piece 36 has its tip protrusion dropped into the third slot 40 of the inner wall 18 (see FIG. 7), and is in a state in which elastic deformation has been released (a state as shown in FIG. 4A). . In order to release the fitting between the female connector housing 10 and the male connector housing 12, the reverse operation may be performed.

In the above embodiment, the cam projection is formed on the male connector housing side, and the inclined cam groove is formed on one side of the slide. Conversely, the cam projection is formed on one side of the slide, and the inclined cam groove is formed on the one side of the slide. It may be formed on the male connector housing side. If necessary, the male terminal can be housed in the connector housing (first connector housing) on which the slider with the cover is assembled, and the female terminal can be housed in the other connector housing.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a connector assembly in which the cover-equipped slider can be easily attached to the first connector housing and the slide start position of the cover-equipped slider can be easily understood. Further, since the structures of the slider with cover and the first connector housing are relatively simple, the structure of the mold is not complicated, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which a slider with a cover is being assembled to the female connector housing of the connector assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the assembly.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3, FIG.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the female connector housing and the male connector housing have begun to be fitted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which fitting between the female connector housing and the male connector housing has progressed halfway.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a state in which the female connector housing and the male connector housing have been completely fitted.

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

9 is a perspective view of the state shown in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Female connector housing (first connector housing) 12: Male connector housing (second connector housing) 14: Slider with cover 16: Outer wall 18: Inner wall 20: Slide piece 22: Protective cover 24: Cam protrusion 26 : Slot 28: Inclined cam groove 30: Slide protrusion 32: Rail 34: Inlet guide 36: Lock piece 38: Rib 40: Third slot

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first connector housing (1) having a double side wall comprising an outer wall (16) and an inner wall (18) on both sides.
0) and a second connector housing (1) fitted between the inner side walls (18) on both sides of the first connector housing (10).
2) and between the outer wall (16) and the inner wall (18) on both sides of the first connector housing (10) from the side opposite to the second connector housing (12), and the outer wall ( Between the first and second connector housings (10,
The two slide pieces (20) that slide in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of 12) and the protective cover (22) that protects the bundle of electric wires drawn out from the first connector housing (10) are integrated. Slider with cover formed (14)
A cam projection (24) is formed on the outer surface of both side walls of the second connector housing (12), and the inner wall of the first connector housing (10) is correspondingly formed on the cam protrusion (24). A slot (26) for guiding the cam projection (24) in the fitting direction of the connector housings (10, 12) is formed, and the cam projection is formed on the inner surface of the slide piece (20) of the slider with cover (14). An inclined cam groove (28) for moving the (24) along the slot (26) is formed, and a slide protrusion (30) is formed on the inner surface of the slide piece (20) of the slider with cover (14). Correspondingly, a rail (32) for guiding the slide protrusion (30) in the sliding direction is provided on an inner wall (18) of the first connector housing (10), and an entrance of the rail (32). Entrance guide that guides the slide protrusion (30) at the end 34) and it was formed, connector assemblies, characterized in that. 2. A cam projection (24) is formed on an inner surface of a slide piece (20) of a slider (14) with a cover by an inclined cam groove (28).
2. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector is formed on an outer surface of a side wall of the second connector housing. The cam projection (24), the inclined cam groove (28), the slot (26), the slide projection (30), the rail (32) and the entrance guide (34) are each provided with a cover-mounted slider (1).
3. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the connector assemblies are provided at intervals in the sliding direction. 4. A locking piece (36) which falls into a slot (26) of an inner wall (18) of a first connector housing (10) at a sliding start position on a slide piece (20) of a slider with cover (14). Forming the second connector housing (1
Insert the lock piece (36) into the slot (2)
4. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein a rib (38) is formed to be pushed out of (6).