JP2002134214A - Block connector and connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To aim at a cost-down by commonizing shapes of connector units. SOLUTION: A block connector 10 on a female side consists of two female units 11 of a shape common to each other and one lock member 21 and the both female units 11 are united top to bottom by fitting a dovetailed groove 16 to a dovetail 17, and the lock member 21 is united with the female unit 11 of the upper stage with a dovetailed groove 27 and a dovetail 17. A block connector 30 on a male side consists of two male units 31 of shapes common to each other equipped with a lock protruded part 40 capable of engaging with the lock member 21, and are united top to bottom by fitting a dovetailed groove 36 and a dovetail 37. In the male unit 31, a release groove 41 to fit and release the non-used lock protruded part 40 is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a block connector formed by integrally connecting a plurality of connector units, and a connector device for fitting a pair of block connectors together.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of a multi-pole connector, a block type connector is partially adopted so that the insertion position of the terminal fitting is hardly caused and the operation of fitting the male and female connectors can be easily performed. ing. More specifically, each of the male and female connectors to be fitted with each other includes a plurality of connector units each having a relatively small number of cavities arranged in a line, and in each connector, first, each connector unit Insert the terminal fittings into the cavities each time, and when all the terminal fittings have been inserted, assemble the connector units in multiple stages to form an integrated block connector, and finally fit the male and female block connectors together. Thus, a lock member provided between the two block connectors locks in the fitted state.

[0003] In the above, the operation of inserting the terminal fittings is as follows.
Since the number of cavities is performed for a connector unit divided into small numbers, the possibility of mistaken insertion of cavities is reduced.
Since the integrally assembled block connectors are fitted together, there is an advantage that the fitting operation can be easily performed at once. In addition, such a block connector,
For example, it is disclosed in JP-A-5-251132.

[0004]

However, in the conventional block connector, two types of connector units are required, one having a lock member with the mating connector and the other not having a lock member. There is a problem that four types of connector units are required. The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost by sharing the shape of the connector unit.

[0005]

As a means for achieving the above object, a block connector according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of connectors having an engaging portion for mutual connection and an engaged portion. It is characterized by comprising a unit and a lock member formed separately from these connector units, which can be retrofitted, and locks a mating state with a mating connector. The invention of claim 2 is
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock member is attachable to an engaging portion or an engaged portion for interconnecting the connector units. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a direction in which the connector units are mutually connected is set to a direction orthogonal to a fitting direction with a mating connector. Having.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a connector device for fitting a pair of block connectors, one of the block connectors is formed of a plurality of connector units having a common shape and these connector units are formed separately. And a lock member for locking the other block connector in a fitted state with the other block connector, and the other block connector has a common shape provided with a lock portion engageable with the lock member. The feature is that a plurality of connector units are assembled.

[0007]

<Operation and effect of the invention><Invention of claim 1> Since only one kind of the common shape needs to be prepared as the connector unit, even if it is necessary to prepare the lock member as a separate member, the conventional one can be used. As compared to the case where two types of connector units are prepared depending on the presence or absence of the lock member, the manufacturing die can be simplified, and the parts management after molding can be simplified, so that the total manufacturing cost can be reduced. . <Invention of Claim 2> Since the lock member is attached using the engaging portion or the engaged portion provided in the connector unit, the entire block connector can be compactly assembled. <Invention of claim 3> Since the direction in which the block units are connected to each other is orthogonal to the fitting direction with the mating connector, even if the resistance is applied when the connectors are fitted together, the connection between the block units can be further improved. The lock member is prevented from being detached.

<Invention of Claim 4> A lock member assembled to one block connector is engaged with a lock portion of one connector unit of the other block connector, so that a pair of block connectors is in a fitted state. Locked to. In the other block connector, only one type having a common shape needs to be prepared as a connector unit, and three types of components can be used instead of four types of components conventionally required for both sexes. Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 1, a female block connector 10 and a male block connector 30 are provided. The female side block connector 10 includes two female side connector units 1
1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a female unit) and one lock member 21, and one male-side block connector 3.
0 is composed of two male connector units 31 (hereinafter simply referred to as male units).

The two female units 11 are formed in the same shape by a synthetic resin material. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, four female units 11 are provided on the front surface of a base 12 having a shape of a recumbent prism. The accommodating projections 13 are separated from each other and project from the side. In each of the accommodating protrusions 13, two cavities 14 that are open to the rear surface of the base 12 are formed side by side. In each cavity 14, a female terminal fitting (not shown) fixed to the end of the electric wire is inserted from behind (right side in FIG. 1), and is locked by a lance 15 provided on the bottom surface of each cavity 14. And is housed in a retaining state.

A first dovetail groove 16 is formed on the lower surface of the base 12 of the female unit 11 so as to face left and right. The right end as viewed from the front is open, and the left end is a dead end. On the other hand, the first dovetail groove 1 described above is provided on the upper surface of the base 12.
A first dovetail 17 that can be tightly fitted to 6 is formed from a right end to a position slightly before the left end when viewed from the front. A first engagement projection 18 is formed at a position corresponding to the second accommodation projection 13 from the left on the groove bottom of the first dovetail groove 16, and at the same position on the surface of the first dovetail 17,
The first engagement recess 19 into which the first engagement protrusion 18 is fitted is formed as a recess. The right surface of the first engaging projection 18 is a tapered surface 18A.

The lock member 21 is also formed of a synthetic resin material into the shape shown in FIG. 6, and as described later in detail, a position corresponding to the second housing projection 13 from the left on the upper surface of the upper female unit 11. (See a chain line in FIG. 8). More specifically, the lock member 21 is provided with a cantilever-shaped lock piece 23 that can be bent and deformed from the front surface of the substrate 22 which is a flat rectangular plate and is slightly thick. The lock groove 24 reaching the base end from the bent position is cut. Side walls 25 are erected on both sides of the substrate 22 and the lock piece 23, and a release for forcibly bending and deforming the lock piece 23 upward to release the lock is provided on the upper surface side of the tip of the lock piece 23. A part 26 is provided in a protruding manner.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first dovetail 1 of the female unit 11 is provided on the lower surface of the substrate 22 of the lock member 21.
A second dovetail groove 27 that can be fitted tightly into the groove 7 is formed in a state where it faces in the left-right direction and both ends are open. Also,
At the bottom of the second dovetail groove 27, as shown in FIG. 9, a second engagement projection 28 that fits into a first engagement recess 19 formed in the surface of the first dovetail 17 of the female unit 11. Is protruding. The right surface of the second engaging projection 28 is also a tapered surface 28A.

The two male units 31 constituting the male block connector 30 are also formed of the same shape from a synthetic resin material. The male unit 31 is provided with the above-described female unit 1 on the front surface of a base 32 having a horizontally long block shape.
Four hood portions 33 are formed side by side so that one accommodation protrusion 13 can be fitted inside. Two cavities 34 are formed side by side at each position on the base 32 corresponding to the back side of each hood portion 33. In each cavity 34, a male terminal fitting (not shown) fixed to the end of the electric wire is inserted from behind (left side in FIG. 1), and is locked by a lance 35 provided on the bottom surface of each cavity 34. Thus, the tab is projected into the hood portion 33 so as to be accommodated in a retaining state. In addition, the hood part may be formed in one horizontally long shape into which the four housing protrusions 13 can be fitted together.

A third dovetail groove 36 is formed on the lower surface of the base 32 of the male unit 31 so as to face left and right. The right end as viewed from the front is open, and the left end is a dead end. On the other hand, the third dovetail 3
A third dovetail 37 that can be tightly fitted to 6 is formed from a right end to a position slightly before the left end when viewed from the front. A third engagement protrusion 38 is formed at a position corresponding to the second hood portion 33 from the left on the groove bottom of the third dovetail groove 36, and at the same position on the surface of the third dovetail 37,
A third engagement recess 39 into which the third engagement protrusion 38 is fitted is formed as a recess. The right surface (the back surface in FIG. 1) of the third engagement projection 38 as viewed from the front is a tapered surface.

In the hood section 33 provided in the male unit 31, the hood section 33 facing the lock member 21 attached to the female unit 11, that is, the second hood section 33 from the right as viewed from the front. A lock projection 40 that is fitted into the lock groove 24 of the lock member 21 and can be hooked protrudes from a top end side of the upper surface. The lock protrusion 40 has a rear surface that is vertically steep, and a front surface that is a steeply sloping surface. On the lower surface on the distal end side of the male unit 31, an escape groove 41 for fitting and releasing the above-mentioned lock projection 40 is cut out over the entire width.

Subsequently, an assembling procedure of the present embodiment will be described. A female terminal fitting is inserted and accommodated in the cavity of the female unit 11 and a male terminal fitting is inserted and accommodated in the cavity of the male unit 31. Female side block connector 10
In the case of assembling, the first dovetail groove 16 on the lower surface of the upper female unit 11 is aligned with the first dovetail 17 on the upper surface of the lower female unit 11 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 11 is pushed rightward when viewed from the front. When the upper and lower female units 11 are pushed to the normal position where the side surfaces thereof are aligned, as shown in FIG. 9, the first engagement projections 18 provided in the first dovetail grooves 16 of the upper female unit 11 The female unit 11 is fitted into the first engaging recess 19 provided in the first dovetail 17 of the female unit 11, and the female unit 11 is assembled in alignment with the upper and lower two stages.

Next, the second dovetail groove 27 on the lower surface of the lock member 21 is aligned with the first dovetail 17 on the upper surface of the upper male unit 31 as shown by arrows in FIGS. 21 is also pushed rightward when viewed from the front. When the lock member 21 is pushed down to the position of the second accommodation protrusion 13 from the left, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 9, the second engagement protrusion 28 provided in the second dovetail groove 27 of the lock member 21.
Are fitted in the first engaging recesses 19 provided in the first dovetails 17 of the upper male unit 31, and the lock member 21 is fixed. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 10, the two female units 11 are vertically overlapped and connected, and the female side block connector 10 in which the lock member 21 is attached at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the upper female unit 11 is configured. Is done.

On the male side, the third dovetail groove 36 on the lower surface of the upper male unit 31 is inserted into the third dovetail groove on the upper surface of the lower male unit 31.
According to the ants 37, the upper male unit 31 is pushed in to the right as viewed from the front (the direction toward the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1). When the upper and lower male units 31 are pushed to the normal position where the side surfaces thereof are aligned with each other, although not shown in detail, the third engagement projection 38 provided in the third dovetail groove 36 of the upper male unit 31 engages with the lower male unit 31. It fits in the third engagement recess 39 provided in the third dovetail 37 of the unit 31. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 10, the male side block connector 30 in which the two male units 31 are vertically overlapped and connected is formed. The lock projection 40 of the lower male unit 31 fits into the escape groove 41 of the upper male unit 31 and is hidden.

Subsequently, the male and female block connectors 10, 30 assembled as described above are directly opposed and fitted. Both block connectors 10 and 30 are female unit 1
The fitting protrusions 13 of the first male unit 31 are engaged with the locking protrusions 23 of the upper male unit 31 during the fitting. Deflected and ride. When the housing protrusion 13 enters the corresponding hood portion 33 by a predetermined amount and is properly fitted, the opposite male and female terminal fittings are properly connected to each other, and the distal end of the lock piece 23 is connected to the lock protrusion. As shown in FIG. 11, the lock piece 23 is restored and deformed so as to pass through
, And is locked at the front edge 24A of the lock groove 24, so that the male and female block connectors 10, 30 are locked to each other in a proper fitting state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
Whereas conventionally four types of parts were required for both sexes, a female unit 11
And the lock member 21 and the male side block connector 30 can be covered by only the male unit 31 and three types of parts.
Significant reduction in manufacturing cost can be achieved. The female side requires the same two types of parts as before, but the female unit 1
In the case where two types of connector units are prepared depending on the presence or absence of the conventional lock member, even if it is necessary to prepare the lock member 21 as a separate member because only one type of the common shape needs to be prepared as 1. As compared with the above, the manufacturing die can be simplified, and parts management after molding is also simplified, so that cost can be reduced even when only the female side is compared.

When the lock member 21 is formed separately and retrofitted to the female unit 11, it is mounted using the first dovetail 17 provided on the male unit 31, so that the space for mounting is minimized. Thus, the entire female-side block connector 10 can be compactly assembled. As means for connecting the female units 11 and attaching the lock member 21 to the female unit 11, ants and ant grooves are used, but the directions for connecting the female units 11 and attaching the lock member 21 are as follows. The male and female block connectors 10 and 30 are orthogonal to the fitting direction. Therefore, the male and female block connectors 10, 30
Even if resistance occurs when the gaps are fitted, the coupling between the female units 11 and the detachment of the attached lock member 21 are prevented.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) The direction of connecting the connector units and attaching the lock member is as follows.
It may be the same direction as the fitting direction of the male and female block connectors. (2) A lock member having a movable portion such as a lock piece can be similarly applied to a lock member provided on a male block connector, contrary to the above embodiment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway exploded side view according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a female unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lock member.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the assembling operation of the female block connector.

FIG. 8 is a plan view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view of a male and female block connector before fitting.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side view when the fitting is completed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Female side block connector 11 ... Female unit 16 ... 1st dovetail groove 17 ... 1st dovetail 18 ... 1st engaging protrusion 19 ... 1st engaging concave part 21 ... lock member 23 ... lock piece 24 ... lock groove 27 ... Second dovetail groove 28 ... Second engaging protrusion 30 ... Male block connector 31 ... Male unit 36 ... Third dovetail 37 ... Third dove 38 ... Third engaging protrusion 39 ... Third engaging recess 40 ... lock projection 41 ... escape groove

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Riichi Sakurai 1-114, Nishisuehiro-cho, Yokkaichi-shi, Mie Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideki Kano 1-4-1, Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama F-term in Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (reference) 5E021 FA05 FA09 FB07 FC32 FC36 HC12 5E087 EE14 FF06 FF12 GG15 HH04 JJ08 RR29

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of connector units each having an engaging portion and an engaged portion for mutual connection, and these connector units are formed separately and can be retrofitted to fit between mating connectors. A block connector comprising: a lock member for locking in a locked state. 2. The block connector according to claim 1, wherein said lock member is attachable to an engaging portion or an engaged portion for interconnecting said connector units. 3. The block connector according to claim 1, wherein a direction in which the connector units are mutually connected is set to a direction orthogonal to a fitting direction with a mating connector. 4. A connector device in which a pair of block connectors are fitted to each other, wherein one of the block connectors is formed of a plurality of connector units having a common shape, and the other is formed separately from the other connector units. And a lock member for locking between the mating state. The other block connector is configured by assembling a plurality of connector units having a common shape provided with a lock portion engageable with the lock member. A connector device characterized by comprising: