JP2002144980A - Connector connecting structure of electric apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress occurrence of different vibration frequencies an apparatus side connector and a vehicle side connector. SOLUTION: This connector connecting structure of an electric apparatus for vehicle according to the invention is equipped with an instrument side connector 31 to be connected with the instrument 1 and a vehicle side connector 80 detachably held by a holder 2c of an instrument panel 2. The two connectors 31 and 80 are fitted and the instrument 1 is positioned to a specified position 2a by pressing the instrument 1 to the panel 2. The vehicle side connector 80 is separated from the holder 2c and held to the instrument side connector 31 after the fitting to the instrument side connector 31 is completed. Accordingly the vehicle side connector 80 can vibrate together with the instrument side connector 31 without being restrained by the holder 2c, once fitting of the two connectors 31 and 80 is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device-side connector provided in an electric device such as an instrument, an audio device, a navigation device, an air conditioner operating device, etc., and a vehicle component such as an instrument panel. The present invention relates to a connection structure with a vehicle-side connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A connector connection structure shown in FIG. 8 has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-258007.
The instrument side (equipment side) connector 31 is fixed to the vehicle instrument (electric device) 1, and the vehicle side connector 80 is connected to the instrument panel 2 of the vehicle.
And the instrument 1 as shown by arrow C in FIG.
Is attached to the assembling portion 2a of the instrument panel 2 from the position indicated by the two-dot line, so that the connectors 31 and 80 are fitted and electrically connected, and at the same time, the meter 1 is positioned at the assembling portion 2a. It has become.

[0003]

By the way, in a state where the instrument 1 is attached to the attaching section 2a of the instrument panel 2, the instrument 1 and the attaching section 2a of the instrument panel 2 are respectively caused by vibration during the operation of the vehicle. Vibrates at different frequencies.

Here, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, the instrument side connector 31 is fixed to the instrument 1 while the vehicle side connector 8 is fixed.
0 is fixed to the assembling portion 2a.
1, 80 vibrate at different frequencies. Thereby, each terminal 31 of both connectors 31 and 80
Since terminals t and 80t slide with respect to each other, the terminals 31t and 80t
The contact surface was worn, causing poor connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to suppress vibrations of a device-side connector and a vehicle-side connector from having different frequencies.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an electric device (1) assembled to a vehicle-side component (2) and held by the electric device (1). The vehicle includes a device-side connector (31) and a vehicle-side connector (80) held by a vehicle-side component (2). 80) and the electrical connection of the electric device (1) to the predetermined position (2a) of the vehicle-side component (2).
Either one of the two connectors (31, 80) has a fitting structure that is detachable from the electric device (1) or the vehicle-side part (2). After the completion of the above, it is characterized in that it is detached from the electric device (1) or the vehicle-side component (2) and held by the other connector.

As a result, until the mating of the two connectors (31, 80) is completed, the two connectors (31, 8) are not inserted.
0) is held by the electric device (1) or the vehicle-side component (2), so that both connectors (31, 8)
0) can be fitted and electrically connected.

On the other hand, after the mating of the two connectors (31, 80) is completed, one of the connectors is detached from the electric device (1) or the vehicle-side component (2) and held by the other connector. Even if the electric device (1) and the vehicle-side component (2) vibrate at different frequencies due to vibration during driving of the vehicle, one connector is restricted by the electric device (1) or the vehicle-side component (2). Vibrates together with the other connector without any vibration. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the vibrations of the two connectors (31, 80) from being different in frequency from each other, and it is possible to make it difficult for the connection failure of the connectors to occur.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the two connectors (31, 80) are fitted, the holding mechanism (2e, 80b) holds the one connector at a predetermined position.
And the position of the electric device (1) when the fitting is completed
The position of the electric device (1) when the positioning is completed is set as the second position, and the displacement when the electric device (1) is moved from the first position to the second position is transmitted to the holding mechanism (2e, 80b) to release the holding. And a holding release mechanism (90).

By providing such a holding mechanism (2e, 80b), it is easy to hold one connector at a predetermined position until the fitting of both connectors (31, 80) is completed. Further, the provision of the holding release mechanism (90) makes it easy to detach one connector from the predetermined position after the fitting of the two connectors (31, 80) is completed.

The holding release mechanism (90) is provided with a first
The displacement when moving from the position to the second position is determined by the holding mechanism (2).
e, 80b) to release the holding, so that when the electric device (1) is pressed against the vehicle-side part (2), the displacement of the electric device (1) reaches the first position. The two connectors (31, 80) can be fitted and electrically connected by the displacement until the first position is reached, and the holding can be released by the displacement from the first position to the second position. Therefore, only by the operation of pressing the electric device (1), the fitting and the electrical connection can be performed in the held state, and then the positioning operation can be performed while releasing the holding. Therefore, the fitting and electrical connection operation according to claim 1,
Positioning work can be facilitated.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the holding mechanism (2e, 80b) holds the one connector in a state in which it can be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the two connectors (31, 80). It is characterized in that it is held in a position.

Thus, since one of the connectors is movable in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction, both connectors (31, 80)
Can be aligned with the other connector, and both connectors (31, 80) can be smoothly fitted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the one connector is a vehicle-side connector (80).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a vehicular electrical device for positioning and assembling the electrical device (1) at a predetermined position (2a) of a vehicle-side component (2). In the process of pushing the device (1) toward the predetermined position (2a), the device-side connector (31) held by the electric device (1) is connected to the vehicle-side connector (80) held by the vehicle-side component (2). And the electric device (1) is further pushed in toward the predetermined position (2a), and the two connectors (31, 80) are fitted together, and the vehicle-side connector ( 80) is separated from the vehicle-side component (2), and the electric device (1) is positioned at a predetermined position (2a).

In the first step of fitting the two connectors (31, 80), the vehicle-side connector (80) is held by the vehicle-side part (2).
1, 80) can be fitted and electrically connected.

In the second step, the vehicle-side connector (8
0) is detached from the vehicle-side component (2) and is held by the device-side connector (31). Even if the electric device (1) and the vehicle-side component (2) vibrate at different frequencies due to the vibration of the vehicle, the vehicle-side connector (80)
Vibrates together with the device-side connector (31). Therefore,
It is possible to suppress the vibrations of both connectors (31, 80) from being different from each other, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a poor connector connection.

The reference numerals in parentheses of the above means are examples showing the correspondence with specific means described in the embodiments described later.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present embodiment, the connector connection structure of the present invention is used in a connection structure between an instrument-side connector provided on a vehicle instrument and a vehicle-side connector provided on a vehicle instrument panel. This is an embodiment and will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a front view of a vehicle instrument (electric device) 1 as viewed from the vehicle interior side, and the instrument 1 is an instrument panel (vehicle side component) 2 provided in the vehicle interior of the vehicle. Of the driver's seat.

1 (b) and 1 (c) are a sectional view taken along the line AA and a sectional view taken along the line BB, respectively. Is formed. The instrument 1 is fixed to the instrument panel 2 by screwing it into the mounting screw hole 4 of the instrument panel 2 via the screw insertion hole 3a of the bracket 3.
The instrument panel 2 has a guide pin 5 projecting toward the instrument 1, and the bracket 3 below the instrument 1 has a guide pin insertion hole 3 b into which the guide pin 5 is inserted. Thus, when positioning the instrument 1 at a predetermined position on the instrument panel 2, the guide pins 5 are guided by the guide pin insertion holes 3b, so that the instrument 1 can be easily positioned at the predetermined position.

The instrument 1 also includes display means 11 to 14 for displaying vehicle information such as vehicle speed, and more specifically, a vehicle speedometer 11, a tachometer 12 for displaying the number of revolutions of a vehicle engine, A water temperature gauge 13 displays the temperature of the engine cooling water of the vehicle, and a fuel gauge 14 displays the remaining fuel amount of the vehicle. These vehicle speedometer 11, tachometer 12, water temperature gauge 13, and fuel gauge 14 are each provided with a driving device 11c to be described later and respective hands 11b, 1
2b, 13b and 14b.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the instrument has a scale plate 10 as a display plate, and the scale plate 10 has display patterns 11a to 11a corresponding to the respective display means 11 to 14. 14a is provided. By these display patterns 11a to 14a, the display means 11 to 15
The information of the vehicle is displayed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1, and is a view in which an actuator 90 described later is omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the instrument is a scale plate 10, a diffusion plate 20 disposed on the back side thereof, a vehicle speed meter 11, a tachometer 12, and a water temperature meter 1.
3, each driving device 11c of the fuel gauge 14 (only the driving device 11c of the vehicle speed meter 11 is shown in FIG. 2), and the circuit board 3
0, a plate-like reflector 40, and a casing 60 for accommodating a plurality of light sources 50.

The diffusion plate 20 is supported on the scale plate 10 along the back surface thereof on the four driving devices 11c via the circuit board 30 and the reflector 40, and diffuses light from each light source 50 described later. The diffused light is incident on the scale plate 10 from the back side. This means that the diffusion plate 20
Of the display pattern 11 on the scale 10
This means that the light is transmitted through portions other than the respective opaque portions such as the scales a to 14a and characters.

As shown in FIG. 2, the driving devices 11c are fixed to the bottom wall 61 of the casing 60, respectively, and the respective pointer shafts 11d of these driving devices 11c (in FIG. 2, only the pointer shaft 11d of the vehicle speedometer 11). Are extended rotatably from each drive device 11c through the circuit board 30, the reflector 40, and the diffusion plate 20.

The circuit board 30 is supported on each drive device 11c so as to be parallel to the scale plate 10. Two instrument side connectors (equipment side connectors) which are respectively connected to two vehicle side connectors 80 to be described later are provided on a lower portion (a dotted line portion in FIG. 1) of the drive device 11c side (vehicle front side) of the circuit board 30. 31 is fastened with a screw N as shown in FIG.

The vehicle-side connector 80 is connected to a wiring (not shown) arranged in the instrument panel 2, and is connected to, for example, an external circuit, a battery, a ground, an ignition switch IG, etc. on the vehicle side. ing. Therefore, when the instrument-side connector 31 is fitted and electrically connected to the vehicle-side connector 80, power is supplied to the circuit board 30,
Also, various signals are input. Various electronic components (not shown) mounted on the circuit board 30 calculate and output signals for controlling operations of the driving device 11c, the light source 50, and the like based on the input signals.

The instrument-side connector 31 has a plurality of terminal pins 31t built in the instrument-side housing 31h.
The solder is soldered on the surface of the circuit board 30 on the scale plate 10 side (rear side of the vehicle) through a through hole formed in the circuit board 30. The opening 31a of the instrument-side housing 31h is formed in a trumpet shape that opens outward, and the vehicle-side connector 80
Alignment function when fitting with The opening 31a comes into contact with an actuator 90 described later.

The reflector 40 is sandwiched between the circuit board 30 and the diffusion plate 20, and each of the reflectors 40 has a reflection surface 41 having an inverted V-shaped cross section (in FIG.
1 and only the reflection surface 41 of the indicator 15 are shown. )
Are formed in an annular shape from the surface side of the reflector 40 around each pointer shaft 11d.

The light source 50 illuminates the display pattern 11a for the vehicle speedometer 11, and the center of each pointer shaft 11d is placed on the surface of the circuit board 30 so as to be located in the lower opening 41a of the reflection surface 41. Each of the light sources 50 is supplied with power from the circuit board 30 and emits light when turned on, and emits toward the diffusion plate 20 from the upper opening 41 b through each reflection surface 41 of the reflector 40. In this emission, the light from each light source 50 is reflected toward the diffusion plate 20 by each reflection surface 41.

The casing 60 has its open end attached to an annular bottom wall (flange) 71 of an annular dial plate 70. And the front cover 100
Are attached to the opening end of the return plate 70. Also,
Of the bottom wall 61 of the casing 60, the instrument-side connector 31
A rectangular opening 61a is formed in a portion facing the connector 61 along the outer shape of the instrument-side connector 31.

An opening 2b having the same shape as the square of the opening 61a is formed in a portion of the instrument panel 2 facing the opening 61a of the casing 60. 2b, a holder 2c for holding the vehicle-side connector 80 on the instrument panel 2 is incorporated. A vehicle-side connector 80 that is fitted and connected to the instrument-side connector 31 is detachably held in the holder 2c, so that the instrument-side connector 31 and the vehicle-side connector 80 can be fitted. .

The holder 2c is formed so that it can be easily elastically deformed in the vertical direction of the fitting direction D, so that the vehicle-side connector 80 can be aligned with the instrument-side connector 31. This centering structure will be described later in detail.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle-side connector 80 has a plurality of female terminals 80t built in a vehicle-side housing 80h, and the terminal pins 31t of the instrument-side connector 31 have female terminals. Type terminal 80t
To be fitted into the housing. When the connectors 31 and 80 are fitted and connected, the concave portion 3 formed inside the instrument side housing 31h of the instrument side connector 31 is formed.
A convex portion 80a formed on the vehicle-side housing 80h of the vehicle-side connector 80 is fitted into the vehicle-side connector 1b. The concave portion 31b and the convex portion 80a function as a well-known friction lock. , 80 are securely fitted.

Next, the detachable holding structure of the vehicle-side connector 80 and the holder 2c of the instrument panel 2 will be described in detail.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are partially enlarged sectional views of the instrument and the instrument panel. Both connectors 31, 80 are symmetrical with respect to a dashed line in the figure. FIG. 3 shows a state before fitting of both connectors 31, 80, and FIG. 4 shows a state when fitting of both connectors 31, 80 is completed.
FIG. 5 shows a state where the vehicle-side connector 80 is detached from the holder 2c, and FIG. 6 shows a state where the positioning of the instrument 1 is completed. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-side connector 80 and the holder 2c.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the holder 2c is formed of a resin, and has a cylindrical outer cylindrical portion 2c.
01, an inner cylindrical portion 202 and a plate-like connecting portion 203. The inner cylindrical portion 202 is arranged inside the outer cylindrical portion 201. Further, the connecting portion 203 is formed in a plate shape extending in the fitting direction (the direction of arrow D in FIG. 7) for fitting the two connectors 31 and 80, and in a wavy shape waving in the vertical direction of the fitting direction. The outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion 202 and the inner surface of the outer cylindrical portion 201 are connected by four connecting portions 203.

The vehicle-side connector 80 is connected to the inner cylindrical portion 2.
It is inserted and held in the connector insertion hole 2d opening in the opening 02. The connecting portion 203 includes the two connectors 31,
It is formed so as to be elastically deformable in the vertical direction of the fitting direction (the direction of arrow D in FIG. 2) in which 80 is fitted. Therefore, the vehicle-side connector 80 is inserted into the outer cylindrical portion 201 in the fitting direction D.
Are held by the inner cylindrical portion 202 in such a manner that they can be displaced in the vertical direction.

The inner cylindrical portion 202 of the holder 2c has
Among the directions orthogonal to the fitting direction D, the vehicle-side connector 80
Protruding portions 2e protruding toward both upper and lower surfaces of
(Holding mechanisms) are formed.

In the present embodiment, the shape of the holder 2c is complicated, and the material of the connecting portion 203 of the holder 2c needs to be elastically deformed by a predetermined force.
The holder 2c is formed separately from the instrument panel 2, and the claw 2f of the outer cylindrical portion 201 of the holder 2c is elastically deformed, so that the opening 2b of the instrument panel 2 is moved from right to left in FIG. The holder 2c is inserted and incorporated. Also, holder 2c
By interposing the instrument panel 2 between the retaining member 2g protruding outward of the outer cylindrical portion 201 and the claw section 2f, the holder 2c is prevented from falling off the instrument panel 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower surfaces of the vehicle-side housing 80h of the vehicle-side connector 80 are fitted to project outward of the vehicle-side housing 80h in parallel with the protruding portion 2e. The joint stoppers 80b (holding mechanisms) are formed one by one (see FIG. 7). Also,
In the upper and lower surfaces of the vehicle-side housing 80h, at the portion on the vehicle front side (right side in FIG. 3) with respect to the fitting stopper 80b, two pull-out stoppers 80c projecting in parallel with the protruding portions 2e (see FIG. 3). 7) is formed.

Also, actuators (holding and releasing mechanisms) 90 are arranged on both upper and lower surfaces of the vehicle side housing 80h. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the actuator 90. The actuator 90 is disposed between the protrusion 80a of the vehicle-side housing 80h and the stopper 80b at the time of fitting, and has a U-shape so as to surround the stopper 80b at the time of fitting. Is formed.

An engagement projection 91 having a T-shaped cross section is formed on the side of the actuator 90 on the side of the vehicle-side connector 80. The engagement projection 91 of the vehicle-side connector 80 corresponds to the shape of the engagement projection 91. An engagement groove portion 81 having a shape is formed.
Then, the engagement protrusion 91 is fitted into and engaged with the engagement groove portion 81, and the actuator 90 is held on the vehicle-side housing 80h in a slidable manner in the fitting direction D (the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 3). Have been.

The holder 2 of the actuator 90
The portion that contacts the protruding portion 2e of c is formed in a wedge shape having an inclined surface portion 90a on the front side of the vehicle (right side in FIG. 3). The inclined surface portion 90a protrudes inside the U-shape to form a contact surface 90b. And
A portion of the vehicle-side housing 80h located inside the U-shape of the actuator 90 includes a retaining projection 80.
d is formed so as to protrude, and when the actuator 90 slides toward the rear side of the vehicle, the retaining projection 80d abuts against the contact surface 90b to prevent the actuator 90 from coming out of the vehicle-side connector 80. It has become. On the other hand, when the actuator 90 slides toward the front of the vehicle, the actuator 90 comes into contact with the retaining projection 80d to prevent the actuator 90 from coming off.

Next, the instrument 1 is positioned and assembled at the assembly position of the instrument panel 2, and the instrument-side connector 31 is installed.
The procedure for fitting and electrically connecting to the vehicle-side connector 80 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as a first step, the guide pin 5 protruding from the instrument panel 2 is inserted into the guide pin insertion hole 3b of the bracket 3 of the instrument 1 described above. From the state, the instrument 1 is pushed toward the predetermined position 2 a of the instrument panel 2, and the instrument housing 31 h opening 31 a of the instrument connector 31 is inserted into the vehicle housing 80 h of the vehicle connector 80.

At this time, since the vehicle-side connector 80 is held by the inner cylindrical portion 202 so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction of the fitting direction D with respect to the outer cylindrical portion 201, the vehicle-side connector 80 is The center is aligned with the side connector 31.

Then, the convex portion 80a formed on the vehicle side housing 80h fits into the concave portion 31b formed inside the instrument side housing 31h. At the same time as this fitting, the terminal pin 31t of the instrument side connector 31 is inserted into the female terminal 80t of the vehicle side connector 80 to be electrically connected.

In the first step, the vehicle-side connector 80
The stopper 80b at the time of fitting is the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c.
Abut. Thus, the vehicle-side connector 80 can be supported by the holder 2c with respect to the pushing force for pushing the instrument 1 into the instrument panel 2. When the vehicle-side connector 80 moves from the holder 2c to the rear side of the vehicle (the left side in FIG. 3), the pull-out stopper 80c of the vehicle-side connector 80 comes into contact with the projection 2e of the holder 2c, and the vehicle-side connector 80
Is prevented from dropping from the holder 2c. That is, the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c is
And the stopper 80c at the time of removal, the amount of movement of the vehicle-side connector 80 in the fitting direction D is regulated.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the first step is completed, the opening 31a of the instrument-side connector 31 comes into contact with the contact portion 90c of the actuator 90.

Thereafter, as a second step, the instrument 1 is further pushed from the state of FIG. 4 toward the predetermined position 2a of the instrument panel 2. Accordingly, the opening 31a of the instrument side housing 31h pushes the actuator 90 toward the front side of the vehicle in the fitting direction D (the right side in FIG. 4). And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the pushed-out inclined surface portion 90a of the actuator 90 is inserted between the upper and lower surfaces of the vehicle-side housing 80h of the vehicle-side connector 80 and the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c. As a result, the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c is elastically deformed in a direction away from the vehicle-side housing 80h. Then, the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c is detached from the stopper 80b when the vehicle-side connector 80 is fitted.

That is, the position of the meter 1 when the fitting is completed (the position in FIG. 4) is the first position, and the position of the meter 1 when the positioning of the meter 1 is completed (the position in FIG. 6) is the second position. When the position is set to the position, the displacement of the instrument 1 when moving from the first position to the second position is transmitted to the actuator 90 via the instrument side housing 31h, and the actuator 90 moves the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c to the vehicle as described above. When the side connector 80 is fitted, it is detached from the stopper 80b.

Then, the instrument 1 is moved from the state shown in FIG.
Is pushed further toward the predetermined position 2a of the
The protrusion 2e of the actuator 90 is the inclined surface 90a of the actuator 90.
Elastically deform to overcome By the way, a cutout portion 90b is formed on the vehicle rear side (left side in FIG. 3) of the inclined surface portion 90b of the actuator 90, and the width dimension W1 (see FIG. 8) of the cutout portion 90b is equal to the width of the protruding portion 2e. It is set larger than the dimension W2 (see FIG. 7). Therefore, when the protruding portion 2e gets over the inclined surface portion 90a, the protruding portion 2e falls into the notch portion 90b, and the holder 2c
Is returned from the elastically deformed state to the natural state (see FIG. 6).

As described above, the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c is
The vehicle rear side (left side in FIG. 6) from between the stopper 80b at the time of fitting of the vehicle side connector 80 and the stopper 80c at the time of pulling out.
Come off. As a result, the vehicle-side connector 80 is detached from the holder 2c while the connectors 31, 80 are fitted (see FIG. 6).

In the state shown in FIG. 6, the notch 90b of the actuator 90 has the protrusion 2 of the holder 2c.
e, but in the fitting direction D, the holder 2c
Projection 2e and notch 90b of actuator 90
Between them, a clearance CL is provided as shown in FIG. Therefore, even in the state shown in FIG. 6, the actuator 90 can slide on the instrument-side connector 31. The size of the clearance CL is set to be larger than the amplitude (for example, 100 μm or less) of the instrument 1 or the predetermined position 2a of the instrument panel 2 that vibrates during driving of the vehicle.
mm.

At the same time that the projection 2e of the holder 2c gets over the inclined surface 90a of the actuator 90 and falls into the notch 90b of the actuator 90, the instrument 1
Is positioned at a predetermined position 2a of the instrument panel 2.

Thereafter, as a third step, the mounting screw hole 4 of the instrument panel 2 is inserted through the screw insertion hole 3a of the bracket 3.
Then, the instrument 1 is fixed to the instrument panel 2 by screwing to complete the assembly.

Incidentally, for the purpose of maintenance and the like, FIG.
When the instrument 1 in the state described above is removed from the predetermined position 2a of the instrument panel 2, the procedure opposite to the above-described assembling procedure is performed. That is, when the instrument 1 is pulled out from the instrument panel 2 to the rear side of the vehicle, the vehicle-side connector 80 is pulled toward the rear side of the vehicle while the connectors 31 and 80 are fitted together. Then, the projecting portion 2e of the holder 2c is elastically deformed in a direction away from the vehicle side housing 80h by the inclined surface formed on the vehicle rear side of the stopper 80b at the time of fitting (see FIG. 5).

The projecting portion 2e of the holder 2c climbs over the inclined surface 90a of the actuator 90 and is located between the fitting stopper 80b and the pulling stopper 80c (see FIG. 4).

After that, when the meter 1 is to be further pulled out, the stopper 80c at the time of pulling out is pulled out by the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c.
Abut. Accordingly, the vehicle-side connector 80 can be supported by the holder 2c with respect to the pulling force for pulling out the instrument 1 from the instrument panel 2. Therefore, since the vehicle-side connector 80 is held by the holder 2c, the instrument-side connector 31 is removed from the vehicle-side connector 80, and the instrument 1 is moved to the instrument panel 2
Can be removed from.

With the configuration of the present embodiment described above,
Until the fitting of the two connectors 31 and 80 is completed, the vehicle-side connector 80 is held by the holder 2c of the instrument panel 2, so that the two connectors 31 and 80 can be fitted and electrically connected. .

On the other hand, after the fitting of the two connectors 31 and 80 is completed, the vehicle-side connector 80 is detached from the holder 2c and is held by the instrument-side connector 31, so that the vehicle-side connector 80 is connected to the meter 1 by vibration during vehicle operation. Even if the instrument panel 2 vibrates at a different frequency, the vehicle-side connector 80 vibrates together with the instrument-side connector 31 without being restricted by the holder 2c. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the vibrations of the two connectors 31 and 80 from being different in frequency from each other, and it is possible to make it difficult for the connection failure of the connectors to occur.

When the vehicle-side connector 80 is detached from the holder 2c, a clearance CL is provided between the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c and the notch 90b of the actuator 90, and the actuator 90 is connected to the instrument-side connector. 31 can be slid by the clearance CL amount. The magnitude of the sliding amount is set to be larger than the amplitude (for example, 100 μm or less) of the predetermined position 2a of the instrument 1 and the instrument panel 2 which vibrate during driving of the vehicle. The vibration in the fitting direction D is not restricted by the holder 2c. On the other hand, regarding the vibration in the vertical direction of the fitting direction D among the vibrations of the two connectors 31 and 80, the holder 2c is formed so as to be easily elastically deformable in the vertical direction of the fitting direction D. Is not restrained by the holder 2c.

Also, the displacement of the gauge 1 when moving from the first position to the second position is transmitted to the actuator 90 via the gauge side housing 31h, and the actuator 90 moves the protrusion 2e of the holder 2c as described above. Since the vehicle-side connector 80 is detached from the stopper 80b at the time of fitting, the fitting and the electrical connection are performed in a state where the vehicle-side connector 80 is held by the holder 2c only by the operation of pressing the instrument 1, Thereafter, the positioning operation of the meter 1 can be performed while releasing the holding of the instrument 1. Therefore, the connector connection operation and the positioning operation can be performed by only one action of pressing the instrument 1.

Since the holder 2c is formed so as to be easily elastically deformed in the vertical direction of the fitting direction D,
The vehicle-side connector 80 is aligned with the instrument-side connector 31 so that the two connectors 31, 8 can be smoothly moved.
0 can be fitted.

(Other Embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the connector connection structure of the present invention is applied to the connector provided on the vehicle instrument (electric device) 1 and the connector provided on the instrument panel (vehicle side component) 2. However, the present invention is not limited to the connector of the instrument 1 and the connector of the instrument panel 2, for example, an audio device, a navigation device, and an air conditioner arranged in a center cluster of a vehicle. It may be used for a connection structure between a connector provided in an operation device or the like and a connector on a vehicle-side portion of the center cluster.

In the above embodiment, the vehicle-side connector 80 is detachable from the vehicle-side component (instrument panel) 2, and the device-side (instrument-side) connector 31 is fixed to the electric device (instrument) 1. However, the device-side connector 31 may be detachable from the electric device 1, and the vehicle-side connector 80 may be fixed to the vehicle-side component 2.

In the second step of the above-described embodiment, the projection 1e of the holder 2c falls into the notch 90b of the actuator 90, and at the same time the instrument 1 is positioned at the predetermined position 2a. After the projection 2e of the holder 2c falls into the notch 90b of the actuator 90, the gauge 1 may be further pushed toward the predetermined position 2a to position the bracket 3 of the gauge 1 at the predetermined position 2a. .

In the above embodiment, the instrument side housing 31h is a female type and the vehicle side housing 80h is a male type. However, the male and female sides may be reversed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the terminal of the meter-side connector 31 is a male terminal pin 31t and the terminal of the vehicle-side connector 80 is male, but these male and female may be reversed.

In the above-described embodiment, the holder 2c is formed separately from the instrument panel 2, but may be formed integrally.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a front view of a vehicle instrument according to the present invention as viewed from the vehicle interior side, FIG. 1 (b) is a cross-sectional view along AA,
(C) is BB sectional drawing.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view of an instrument and an instrument panel, showing a state before a connector is fitted.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the instrument and the instrument panel, showing a state when fitting of the vehicle-side connector and the instrument-side connector is completed.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the instrument and the instrument panel, showing a state where the vehicle-side connector is detached from the holder.

FIG. 6 shows a state when the positioning of the instrument is completed;
It is a partial expanded sectional view of an instrument and an instrument panel.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle-side connector and a holder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an actuator.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a structure for mounting a conventional vehicle instrument.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Instrument, 2 ... Instrument panel, 2a ... Predetermined position, 2c ... Holder, 2e ... Projection part, 31 ... Instrument side connector, 80 ... Vehicle side connector, 80b ... Fitting stopper, 80c ... Pulling-out stopper, 90 ... Actuator.

Claims (5)

[Claims] An electric device (1) to be mounted on a vehicle-side component (2), and a device-side connector (3) held by the electric device (1).
1) and a vehicle-side connector (8) held by the vehicle-side part (2).
0), the electric device (1) is pressed against the vehicle-side component (2) to fit and electrically connect the two connectors (31, 80) and the electric device (1). The vehicle-side component (2) is positioned at a predetermined position (2a). One of the two connectors (31, 80) is
It has a holding structure detachable from the electric device (1) or the vehicle-side component (2), and the one connector of the two connectors (31, 80) is provided after the mating is completed. The electric device (1)
Alternatively, a connector connecting structure for an electric device for a vehicle, wherein the connector is detached from the vehicle-side component (2) and held by the other connector. 2. A holding mechanism (2e, 80b) for holding the one connector at a predetermined position when the two connectors (31, 80) are fitted, and the electric device (2) when the fitting is completed. The position of 1) is a first position, the position of the electric device (1) when the positioning is completed is a second position, and the displacement when moving from the first position to the second position is the holding mechanism. (2
The connector connection structure for a vehicular electric device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding release mechanism (90) for transmitting the holding to the e and 80b) to release the holding. 3. The holding mechanism (2e, 80b) holds the one connector at a predetermined position in a state where the one connector (31e, 80) can be displaced in a vertical direction in a fitting direction of the two connectors (31, 80). 3. The connector connection structure for a vehicle electric device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the one connector is the vehicle-side connector.
The connection structure for a vehicle connector according to any one of the above. 5. A method for assembling an electric device for a vehicle, wherein the electric device (1) is positioned at a predetermined position (2a) of a vehicle-side component (2) and assembled. In the process of pushing toward (2a), the device-side connector (31) held by the electric device (1) is inserted and fitted into the vehicle-side connector (80) held by the vehicle-side component (2). The first to combine
And after that, further, the electric device (1) is further moved to the predetermined position (2).
a) and push in both connectors (31, 8).
0), the vehicle-side connector (80) is detached from the vehicle-side component (2), and the electric device (1) is positioned at the predetermined position (2a). A method for assembling electrical equipment for a vehicle, comprising: