JP2002334753A - Fitting structure for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably hold a clamp for fitting a connector. SOLUTION: The clamp 30 is inserted into a fitting hole 23 opened in a top plate 21 of a fitting bed 20 to fit in a removal preventing state with an elastic locking piece 40. By closely fitting a hanging down plate 30 to a groove part 25 formed on one side of the fitting hole 23, the clamp 30 is prevented from turning. A falling down preventing rib 61 is installed on the rear surface side of the fitting bed 20. A connector 50 is pushed in from the front while a guide plate 45 of the clamp 30 is fitted to a rail 56 and slid. During this operation, although the clamp 30 may fall down by pushing, the falling down is suppressed to the minimum by receiving the bottom surface of an extended bed 44 with the upper end of the falling down preventing rib 61. The clamp 30 is firmly fitted with no back-lash inside the fitting hole 23 in addition to being prevented from turning and the connector 50 is smoothly inserted into the clamp 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for attaching a connector to a fixing member using a clamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a connector containing terminal fittings is attached to a fixing member such as a connector holder or a junction box (J / B), a clamp is used in some cases. More specifically, a mounting hole is opened in the fixing member, and the fixing member is fitted into the mounting member in an upright posture so that the mounting member is elastically prevented from coming off. Then, the connector is fitted to and attached to a mounting portion provided at the upper end of the clamp from the side.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, when the connector is fitted to the mounting portion of the clamp, the clamp tends to fall forward while receiving a pressing force and elastically deforming a part thereof. That is, there is a problem that the mounting work of the connector is difficult due to the unstable posture of the clamp. The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to stably hold a clamp.

[0004]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector mounting structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is capable of elastically fitting into a mounting hole opened in a fixing member. A clamp having a mounting portion and a mounting portion to which a connector is to be mounted, wherein the fitting portion of the clamp is fitted in the mounting hole, and the mounting portion is arranged to protrude from the mounting hole; On the other hand, the connector is fitted and attached from a predetermined direction intersecting with a direction in which the clamp projects, wherein the fixing member is provided on the front edge side of the mounting hole in the fitting direction of the connector. The present invention is characterized in that a fall prevention member for receiving the mounting portion is provided. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, between the rim of the mounting hole and a portion of the clamp that fits into the mounting hole, the concave and convex are fitted to each other. It is characterized in that a detent means for detent is provided.

[0005]

<Operation and effect of the invention><Invention of claim 1> When the connector is fitted to the mounting portion of the clamp, the clamp is pushed and tries to fall forward in the fitting direction, but the mounting portion is received by the fall prevention member. The inclination is regulated by being performed. That is, the clamp is firmly and stably held when the connector is fitted, so that the fitting operation of the connector can be performed smoothly. <Invention of claim 2> By preventing rotation of the clamp, the fitting operation of the connector can be performed more easily.

[0006]

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,
The case where the present invention is applied to a connector holder that holds a plurality of connectors is illustrated. The connector holder 10 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed in a box shape with an open top as shown in FIGS. A plurality of bracket-like mounting portions 12 are formed in the inside (inner peripheral surface or bottom surface) of the connector holder 10, the arm portion 11 projecting outward from the opening edge, and the like. , Various connectors C accommodating terminal fittings (see chain lines in the figure) are attached in a direction that allows mating connectors to be fitted in a later process.

[0007] In the opening edge 15 on the left side of FIG.
0 is protruding. Then, the electric wires W1 drawn from the connector C attached to the arm 11 are collectively wired and routed along the passage 14 provided at the upper opening edge in FIG. 1 and attached inside. The electric wire W2 pulled out from a part of the connector C passes through the upper side of the same figure on the mounting base 20 and joins the electric wire W1,
The wires W3 drawn out from the left side of the connector C attached inside as well as the wires W3 drawn out to the left side in FIG. It has become. Note that the electric wire W1
Is pressed and fixed by a holding plate 17 with a hinge. The mounting table 20 is provided at the predetermined opening edge 15 of the connector holder 10 so as to secure a space for leading out the electric wire W and to hold another connector. The clamp 30 is fitted, and the connector 50 is attached to the clamp 30 in a later step.

Next, the structure of the mounting portion of the connector 50 to the mounting base 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting base 20 has a shape in which a top plate 21 is stretched over an oval cylindrical portion having a predetermined height, and as shown in FIG. It is erected in a posture along the width direction of the edge 15. The mounting hole 23 of the clamp 30 is formed in the top plate 21. As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting hole 23 has an oval shape as a whole, and has one end in the length direction (FIG. 6).
(Left side), the filling portion 24 is formed so as to protrude from both sides in the width direction, so that a groove portion 25 having a predetermined width is left therebetween.

[0009] The mounting base 20 has a portion of the peripheral wall cut off on the right front side in FIG. 3 (lower side in FIG. 1). By providing the cutout portion 27 in this manner, a space for inserting the electric wire W on the right front side of the mounting table 20 in FIG. In addition, the cut end of the peripheral wall of the mounting base 20 is such that the cut end 27A on the inner side (the right rear side in the drawing) rises from the opening edge 15 and the cut end 27B on the outside rises from the step 28 which is raised one step. But both cut ends 27A, 27B
Are formed integrally with the lower ends of the ribs 29, each of which has a rounded shape and a gradually expanding skirt. These ribs 29 contribute to reinforcing the peripheral wall without obstructing the insertion of the electric wire W.

The clamp 30 is formed of a synthetic resin material. Roughly, a mounting portion 32 for mounting the connector 50 is provided on the upper surface of the locking portion 31 which is locked in the mounting hole 23 of the mounting base 20 described above. Shape. As shown in FIG. 6, the locking portion 31 is provided with an oblong substrate 34 corresponding to the mounting hole 23 described above, and from the periphery thereof, as shown in FIGS. A thin umbrella portion 35 is formed so as to spread toward the umbrella. On the lower surface of the substrate 34, a hanging plate 36 is formed over the entire length from the center in the short width direction. The hanging plate 36 has a plate thickness that fits closely with the groove 25 in the mounting hole 23 described above. A semicircular fitting protrusion 37 that fits into the semicircular portion 26 on the rear end side of the mounting hole 23 is formed at the base of the rear end side (the right end side in FIG. 6) of the hanging plate 36. ing. The lower corners at both ends in the length direction of the hanging plate 36 are inclined portions 38 for guiding (FIG. 4).
reference).

As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of elastic locking pieces 4 extend from substantially the center of the lower end of the hanging plate 36 in the longitudinal direction.
No. 0 is formed by folding upward on both sides of the hanging plate 36 in a posture in which the tip is spread outward. The distal ends of the two elastic locking pieces 40 can be bent and deformed in the direction of coming into contact with and separating from the hanging plate 36, and the outer surface of each distal end has
A plurality of locking teeth 41 are formed.

Before the structure of the mounting portion 32 of the clamp 30,
The connector 50 will be described. The connector 50 is a male side, as shown in FIG. 7, has a shape in which a hood 53 is provided on a front surface of a main body 52 in which a plurality of cavities 51 are formed, and is fixed to an end of the electric wire. A male terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the corresponding cavity 51 from the rear surface side, and is prevented from falling off and housed with the tab projecting into the hood 53.

On the lower surface side of the connector 50, an attached portion 5
5 are provided. As shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, a pair of rails 56 are formed along both side edges in the width direction of the lower surface, and each rail 56 takes a posture of facing each other with a hook-shaped cross section. From the leading edge of the body 52
Is formed over a position that slightly hangs. Rail 5
The front end of the groove 6 is closed by a stopper 57. A bridging portion 58 is inserted at a position near the front end of each of the rails 56, and a locking protrusion 59 is provided on the rear edge of the bridging portion 58 as shown in FIG.
Are formed.

On the other hand, the structure of the mounting portion 32 of the clamp 30 is as follows. The substrate 3 of the above-described locking portion 31
A shallow channel-shaped base 43 is formed on the upper surface of the base 4 and extends rearward at a position higher by one step from the rear end thereof.
4 are connected in series. The extension table 44 can be fitted almost tightly between the projecting edges of the pair of rails 56 provided on the connector 50, and the upper ends of the left and right side walls are slid into the grooves of both rails 56. Guide plate 4 movably fitted
5 is formed to project outward. This guide plate 45
Is formed to protrude from the entire length of the extension base 44 to a position reaching the front end of the base 43. A tapered edge 45A is formed at an outer corner at the front ends of the two guide plates 45, and a stopper 46 that abuts against the rear end of the rail 56 is formed downward at the rear end of the guide plate 45.

As shown in FIG. 3, a bridging portion 47 is formed at a position near the front end of each of the guide plates 45, and the connector 5 is connected to the front side of the bridging portion 47.
In order to introduce the lock projection 59 on the 0 side, an introduction port 48 whose width is gradually narrowed toward the back side is formed. Also,
The rear edge of the bridging portion 47 is a locking edge 49 that can be locked to the lock projection 59 described above. A fall prevention rib 61 is set up adjacent to the rear side (right side in FIG. 1) of the mounting base 20 of the connector holder 10 described above. As shown in FIG. 9, the fall prevention rib 61 has a height that protrudes above the top plate 21 of the mounting base 20 by a predetermined dimension, and the clamp 30 is attached to the mounting base 20 as described later. When attached, the upper end of the fall prevention rib 61 is located almost directly below the bottom surface of the extension base 44.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, the clamp 30 is attached to the mount 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the clamp 30 is oriented so that the extension base 44 faces rearward, and as shown by the arrow in the figure, the locking part 31 is attached to the mounting hole 23 of the top plate 21 of the mounting base 20. Inserted inside. The clamp 30 is inserted with the front end side of the hanging plate 36 inserted into the groove 25 of the mounting hole 23 and the fitting projection 37 on the rear end side corresponding to the semicircular portion 26 at the rear end of the mounting hole 23, At the same time, the pair of elastic locking pieces 40 deflect and deform so as to close the straight side edge of the mounting hole 23 and close, and deform so that the umbrella portion 35 hits the front edge of the mounting hole 23 and is crushed.

When the insertion force is removed at an appropriate position, the clamp 30 tends to come out above the mounting hole 23 by the restoring elastic force of the umbrella portion 35. One is locked to the straight edge on the back side of the mounting hole 23, so that the mounting hole 23 is mounted in a retaining state as shown in FIG. At this time, the fitting protrusion 37 on the rear end side of the hanging plate 36
Fits into the semicircular portion 26 at the rear end of the mounting hole 23, and in particular, the front end side of the hanging plate 36 is tightly inserted into the groove 25 formed at the front end side of the mounting hole 23, so that the clamp 30 is strong. It is stopped. At this time, the upper end of the fall prevention rib 61 erected on the rear side of the mounting base 20 is located almost directly below the bottom surface of the extension base 44.

Next, the connector 50 is connected to the clamp 30.
Is attached. In that case, as shown in FIG. 9, the connector 50 is inserted backward, and as shown by the arrow in FIG. Specifically, the guide plate 45 of the clamp 30 is inserted into the groove of the pair of rails 56 on the connector 50 side, and the connector 50 is pushed in so as to slide relatively.
When approaching the end of pushing, the lock projection 59 on the connector 50 side enters the inlet 48 of the clamp 30 and then rides on the bridge 47. If the regular amount is pushed, rail 5
6 is pushed against the stopper 46 on the clamp 30 side, and the front end of the guide plate 45 comes into contact with the stopper 57 on the rail 56 side.
As shown in FIG. 0, the connector 50 is attached in a state where the connector 50 is prevented from falling forward by locking the locking protrusion 59 to the locking edge 49.

Here, during the insertion of the connector 50, the clamp 30 may fall down so that the front end thereof faces obliquely upward while elastically deforming the umbrella portion 35, but as shown by the chain line in FIG. By receiving the bottom surface at the upper end of the fall prevention rib 61, the inclination can be minimized. Therefore, in addition to the fact that the clamp is not rotated as described above, the clamp 30 is firmly attached without rattling in the attachment hole 23, and as a result, the connector 50 is
The work to insert into is done smoothly. When the connector 50 is attached to the clamp 30, the mating connector is fitted from the front of the connector 50. The connector 50 is also prevented from falling down via the clamp 30,
In addition, since it is mounted so as to be prevented from rotating, the work of fitting the mating connector is performed smoothly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inclination of the clamp 30 is restricted by the fall prevention rib 61, and the rotation of the clamp 30 is also prevented, so that the clamp 30 is firmly stabilized when the connector 50 is fitted. Thus, the work of inserting and fitting the connector 50 into the clamp 30 can be performed easily and smoothly.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to 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 present invention is not limited to the connector holder exemplified in the above-described embodiment, but is also applicable to a case where a connector is mounted via a clamp to a mounting base projecting from a junction box (J / B) or the like. . (2) Even when the mounting hole is opened in the flat mounting plate, the clamp may be tilted at the time of fitting of the connector as long as the clamp rises from the mounting plate and is mounted. The present invention is also effective in such cases.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a connector holder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting portion of the connector to the mounting base.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the clamp.

FIG. 5 is a front view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a joint surface between the mounting table and the clamp.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the connector.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway bottom view thereof.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side view showing the mounting operation of the connector.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway side view when the connector is completely mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector holder 15 ... Opening edge part 20 ... Mounting stand (fixing member) 21 ... Top plate 23 ... Mounting hole 25 ... Groove part 30 ... Clamp 32 ... Mounting part 36 ... Hanging plate 40 ... Elastic locking piece (fitting part) 44 ... Extension stand 45 ... Guide plate 50 ... Connector 55 ... Mounted part 56 ... Rail 61 ... Folding prevention rib (falling prevention member)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A clamp having a fitting portion elastically fitable in a mounting hole opened in a fixing member and a mounting portion to which a connector is to be mounted, wherein the fitting portion of the clamp has the mounting hole. Wherein the mounting portion is disposed so as to protrude from the mounting hole, and the connector is fitted and mounted to the mounting portion from a predetermined direction that intersects with a direction in which the clamp protrudes. The connector mounting structure, wherein the fixing member is provided with a fall prevention member that receives the mounting portion at a front edge side of the mounting hole in the fitting direction of the connector. 2. A detent means is provided between an edge of the mounting hole and a portion of the clamp to be fitted into the mounting hole, so as to prevent the clamp from rotating by engaging and recessing with each other. The connector mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein