JP2003115356A - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lever type connector who can judge easily that the insertion coupling has been carried out regularly. SOLUTION: A detection pin 40, which is made possible to have displacement between a projecting position and a non-projecting position, is attached in an operation part 32 of a lever 30. An insertion hole 29, which can accept the one end part of this detection pin 40 when the detection pin 40 is stuffed into the non-projecting position, is provided in a housing 20. Moreover, the axial part 41 of the detection pin 40 is made easy to be recognized by viewing from the backside of the housing 20. Furthermore, the detection pin 40 is provided with a 1st stopping nail 44, which resists the displacement to the side of a cover 22 when the detection pin 40 sits the projecting position, and a 2nd stopping nail 45, which regulates the secession from the operating part 32 when this detection pin 40 sits on the projecting position, and resists the secession from the insertion hole 29 when it is on the non-projecting position. Thereby, based on the propriety of the displacement to the non-projecting position of the detection pin 40, the rotating-move position of the lever 30 can be detectable. Moreover, operation which carries out the press of the detection pin 40 can be performed as a series of operation, and the check of an insertion-coupling state is not forgotten.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lever type connector having a fitting detection function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lever type connector is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-36774. This is because the first connector rotatably supports the lever, the second connector is provided with a cam pin that engages with the cam groove of the lever, and both connectors are shallowly fitted to engage the cam pin with the cam groove. When the lever is rotated in this state, both connectors are pulled together by the cam action by the engagement of the cam groove and the cam pin to reach the fitted state.

[0003]

In the case where the connectors are fitted to each other by using the lever as described above, a certain amount of operating force is required to rotate the lever. Without rotating completely to the mating position,
The rotation operation ends halfway in the half-fitted state,
I'm concerned. In this case, if the turning position of the lever is far away from the regular fitting position, it can be easily discerned visually, but if the lever remains at the position immediately before the regular fitting position, It is difficult to visually determine whether or not it has been rotated to the fitting position.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a lever-type connector which can easily determine that the connector is properly fitted.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the connector according to the invention of claim 1 has a gate-like shape as a whole by a pair of arm portions and an operation portion connecting the arm portions, A lever-type connector that is provided with a lever rotatably attached to the connector housing so as to straddle the connector housing from the rear surface side, and that is engaged with a mating connector by rotating the lever. The detection member attached to the operation portion and the connector housing, the detection is performed when the lever is at a rotation end position that brings the connector and the mating connector into a fitted state. It is characterized in that a member and a locking portion capable of locking are provided.

A second aspect of the present invention is the lever-type connector according to the first aspect, wherein the detection member includes a shaft portion slidably penetrated by the operation portion, and is separated from the connector housing. Is a detection pin that is displaceable between a projecting position that is pulled out in the direction of and a non-projecting position that is pushed into the connector housing side, and the locking portion is such that the detection pin is pushed to the non-projecting position. An insertion hole capable of receiving one end of the detection pin when
The detection pin is attached in a direction in which the shaft portion can be visually recognized when viewed from the rear surface side of the connector housing when the lever is at the turning end position.

A third aspect of the present invention is the lever-type connector according to the first or second aspect, wherein the detection member is displaced toward the connector housing when the detection member is in the protruding position. A first locking claw that resists, and a second locking claw that restricts detachment from the operating portion when the detection member is in the projecting position and resists detachment from the insertion hole when the detecting member is in the non-projecting position. Is provided.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the detecting member can be locked to the locking portion when the lever reaches the normal turning end position. Therefore, the turning position of the lever can be detected based on whether or not the detection member can be locked to the locking portion. Also,
Since the detection operation of the detection member is performed in the vicinity of the operation unit, it is possible to perform the detection operation of the detection member without changing the hand or finger attached to the operation unit to rotate the lever.
Excellent operability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the detection member is a detection pin having a shaft portion slidably penetrated by the operating portion, and the detection pin is provided when the lever is at the turning end position. The shaft portion is attached in a direction in which the shaft portion is visible when viewed from the rear surface side of the connector housing. Here, as described above, the connector is usually placed in a state in which the operation unit can be visually recognized even when used in a place where many devices are installed intricately. In other words, the rear side of the connector housing, which is the mounting direction of the lever, is usually left open. Therefore, if the detection pin is installed in the direction in which the shaft part can be viewed from the rear side of the connector housing, check whether the shaft part is protruding from the operating part to see if the detection pin is in the protruding position. It is easy to identify whether it is in a non-protruding position,
The half-fitted state can be reliably determined.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the detection member includes:
A first locking claw that resists displacement to the connector housing side when the detection member is in the projecting position, and a detachment from the operating portion is restricted when the detection member is in the projecting position, and a non-projecting position when the detection member is in the non-projecting position. A second locking claw that resists detachment from the insertion hole is provided. With such a configuration, the detection member can be reliably locked at the projecting position or the non-projecting position, and the half-fitted state can be reliably determined.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the lever type connector according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the side where the connector is fitted with the mating side is referred to as the front.

The lever-type connector of this embodiment is a female connector F which can be fitted to a male connector M (corresponding to the mating connector of the present invention), and the lever 30 is attached to this female connector F. It has become.

The male connector M is provided with a male housing 11 which is integrally provided on a predetermined side surface of the device 10. The male housing 11 is formed with a horizontally long hood portion 12 when viewed from the front (FIG. 1). reference). Male terminal 11 (not shown) connected to an electric circuit in device 10 is housed in male housing 11 with each tab protruding into hood portion 12. Further, follower pins 13 are erected on both side surfaces of the hood portion 12, respectively.

One of the female connectors F is a male housing 11
A female housing 20 (corresponding to the connector housing of the present invention) including a flat block-shaped main body portion 21 that can be fitted into the hood portion 12 and a cover 22 attached to the rear surface thereof is provided. (See Figure 1). Body 21
A female-side terminal fitting (not shown) is housed therein, and the electric wires projecting to the rear side pass through the cover 22 and are bundled into one bundle and pulled out in one direction from the outlet port 23. A pair of shaft projections 25 for mounting the lever 30 are provided on both side surfaces 24 of the cover 22 so as to project therefrom.

A lever 30 is attached to the female connector F. The lever 30 is formed in a portal shape as a whole by connecting ends of a pair of arm portions 31 each having a base end portion 31A formed in a substantially disc shape by an operation portion 32. A shaft hole 33 that can be fitted into the shaft protrusion 25 of the cover 22 is provided through both arm portions 31. Lever 3
No. 0 is mounted by sandwiching the cover 22 from above and below by the both arm portions 31, and the cover 22 is inserted into the shaft hole 33.
The shaft projection 25 is fitted so that it can be rotatably displaced about the shaft projection 25 between a rotation start end position (see FIG. 1) and a rotation end position (see FIG. 2). Has been done.

At this rotation start end position, the lever 30 is in a posture of standing upright from the cover 22. On the other hand, when the lever 30 is in the rotation end position, the lever 30 is in a posture lying substantially horizontally with respect to the cover 22, and the operation portion 32 is located on the side of the cover 30.

The lever 30 is held at the rotation start end position by fitting a temporary locking projection 26A projecting on the cover 22 into a circular temporary locking hole 34A opened in the base end portion 31 of the lever 30. In addition, a main locking hole 34 that is also opened in the base end portion 31.
When the main locking protrusion 26B on the cover 22 is fitted to B, it is held at the turning end position.

Both arm portions 31 of the lever 30 are provided with arcuate cam grooves 35 into which the follower pins 13 of the male housing 11 can enter, and when the lever 30 is at the rotation start end position, the cam grooves 35 of the cam grooves 35 are formed. The inlet 36 provided on the side of the starting end 35A is configured to be opened forward.

On the outer surface side of the operating portion 32 of the lever 30, a stepped finger-holding portion 37 is formed, the height of which becomes higher toward the lower side, and the lower side projects as a whole. Then, at the center position in the width direction of the operation unit 32,
Due to the cutout of the finger hook portion 37, the accommodation recess 38 is formed.
Is provided. A through hole 39 is provided in the bottom surface 38A of the housing recess 38, and a detection pin 40 is slidably inserted in the through hole 39.

The detection pin 40 is such that a disc-shaped pressing portion 42 having a diameter larger than that of the shaft portion 41 is provided at one end of a shaft portion 41 formed in a cylindrical shape. The shaft portion 41 is inserted so as to be in a direction perpendicular to the inclination of the finger hook portion 37 in the state of being directed toward. On the other hand, cover 2
An insertion hole 29 that can receive the tip end portion 43 of the detection pin 40 is formed at the rear surface 27 of the second pin 27 at a position aligned with the tip end portion 43 of the detection pin 40 when the lever 30 is at the turning end position.

On the side surface of the shaft portion 41 of the detection pin 40, a first locking claw 44 and a second locking claw 44 are respectively provided at substantially central positions in the lengthwise direction and at two positions slightly closer to the tip end portion 43 side. The claw 45 is projected. The tip 43 side of the first locking claw 44 is a locking surface 44A that can be locked to the bottom surface 38A of the housing recess 38 of the lever 30, and the pressing portion 4 thereof.
A tapered surface is formed on the second side. Further, the second locking claw 45 is such that the pressing portion 42 side is the operation portion 32 of the lever 30.
The inner side surface 32B of the cover 22 and the inner peripheral surface 28 of the cover 22 and a locking surface 45A that can be locked, and the tip portion 43
A tapered surface is formed on the side.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

To fit both housings 11 and 20,
First, the lever 30 mounted on the female housing 20 is temporarily held at the rotation start end position (see FIG. 1). At this time, the detection pin 40 is attached to the through hole 39 so that the wall surface of the housing recess 38 is sandwiched between the locking claws 44 and 45, and the detection pin 4 is inserted.
The front end portion 43 of 0 does not interfere with the cover 22, and the entire pressing portion 42 and part of the shaft portion 41 are held at the protruding position exposed from the housing recess 38. The locking surface 44A of the first locking claw 44 is locked to the bottom surface 38A of the housing recess 38, so that the detection pin 4 is not applied unless a force greater than a predetermined value is applied.
0 is retained so as not to enter the cover 22 side, and the engagement surface 45A of the second engagement claw 45 is engaged with the inner side surface 32B of the operation portion 32, so that the detection pin 40 is prevented from coming off. ing.

Next, when the main body portion 21 of the female housing 20 is fitted into the hood portion 12 of the male housing 11, the follower pin 13 on the male housing 11 side is introduced from the inlet 36 to the starting end 35A of the cam groove 35. Then, the operation unit 32
A finger is put on the lever 30 to rotate the lever 30 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 while releasing the locking of the temporary locking projection 26A in the temporary locking hole 34A. As the lever 30 is rotationally displaced, the follower pin 13 is moved inward along the cam groove 35, and the connectors M and F are attracted to each other in a direction in which the fitting is deepened. And the lever 30
When is rotated to the rotation end position, the main body portion 21 is properly fitted in the hood portion 12, and the main locking protrusion 26B is fitted in the main locking hole 34B to be locked. Along with that, the corresponding terminal fittings of the male and female are held in a state of being properly connected (see FIG. 2).

As described above, when the lever 30 is rotated to the rotation end position, the tip end portion 43 of the detection pin 40 is arranged at a position aligned with the insertion hole 29 formed in the cover 22 (see FIG. 3). ). Therefore, when the pressing portion 42 of the detection pin 40 is pressed toward the cover 22 side, the tip end portion 43 of the detection pin 40 enters the insertion hole 29. And the shaft portion 41
Are held in a non-projecting position which is completely hidden in the accommodation recess 38 (see FIG. 6). In this state, the engagement surface 45A of the second engagement claw 45 engages with the inner peripheral surface 28 of the cover 22 to prevent the detection pin 40 from coming off (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

At this time, since the detection pin 40 is attached to the operation portion 32 of the lever 30, the operation of putting the finger on the operation portion 32 to rotate the lever 30 and the operation of pressing the detection pin 40 are performed. It can be performed as a series of operations. Therefore, it is possible to surely confirm the fitting state without forgetting the pressing operation of the detection pin 40 and neglecting to confirm the fitting state. Moreover, even if the female connector F is used in a place where many devices are installed intricately,
Since it is necessary to hang the finger on the operation unit 32, it is easy to operate and is usually visible. Therefore, the detection pin 40 provided on the operation portion 32 is also in a state where it is easy to operate and easily visible. As a result, the pressing operation can be reliably performed, and the fitting state can be reliably determined.

On the other hand, when the lever 30 is rotated to the vicinity of the rotation end position, the fitting force is reduced by the lever action, but in order to receive a corresponding resistance such as the connection resistance between the terminal fittings. However, there is a possibility that the turning operation is stopped before reaching the turning end position, and the two housings 11 and 20 are left in the half-fitted state. In that case, the tip end portion 43 of the detection pin 40 is not aligned with the insertion hole 29. Therefore, the detection pin 40 cannot be inserted into the insertion hole 29 with its tip portion 43, and is left at the protruding position (see FIG. 7). With this, the half-fitted state can be detected. At this time, as described above, the detection pin 40
Is reliably visible, so that the half-fitted state can be easily determined.

Further, the lever 30 rotated to the vicinity of the rotation end position is in a posture lying substantially horizontally with respect to the cover 22, and the operating portion 32 is located on the side of the cover 30. ing. Then, the detection pin 40 is inserted so that the shaft portion 41 is perpendicular to the inclination of the finger hook portion 37. In this state, the detection pin 40 has the shaft 4
1 is inclined with respect to the rear surface of the cover 22, and it is easy to see whether or not the shaft portion 41 is exposed from the housing recess 38 when viewed from the rear side of the housing 20. Therefore, the connector is used in a place where many devices are installed intricately, and the housing 20
Even when only the rear side of the detection pin 40 is open, it is easy to distinguish whether the detection pin 40 is in the protruding position or the non-projecting position, and the half-fitted state can be reliably determined.

As described above, in this embodiment, the lever 30
The detection pin 40 when
While the lever can be pushed into the non-projection position, the rotation operation is stopped before the lever reaches the rotation end position, and both housings 11 and 20 are left in the half-fitted state. In the state, pushing of the detection pin 40 is restricted. Therefore, the rotational position of the lever 30 can be detected based on whether or not the detection pin 40 can be displaced to the non-projecting position. In addition, the detection pin 40 is attached to the operation portion 32 of the lever 30. Therefore, the operation of putting the finger on the operation portion 32 to rotate the lever 30 and the operation of pressing the detection pin 40 can be performed as a series of operations, and the confirmation of the fitted state is not forgotten.

Further, the detection pin 40 makes it easy to visually recognize the shaft portion 41 when viewed from the rear side of the housing 20.
Therefore, even if the connector is used in a place where many devices are installed intricately and only the rear side of the housing 20 is opened, the detection pin 40 is in the protruding position or the non-projecting position. It is easy to discriminate whether or not there is, and the half-fitted state can be reliably determined.

Further, the detection pin 40 has a first locking claw 44 that resists displacement toward the cover 22 when the detection pin 40 is in the projecting position, and an operating portion when the detection pin 40 is in the projecting position. A second locking claw 45 is provided that restricts the detachment from the insertion hole 29 and resists the detachment from the insertion hole 29 when in the non-projecting position. With such a configuration, the detection pin 40 can be reliably locked at the projecting position or the non-projecting position, and the half-fitted state can be reliably determined.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but extends to an equivalent range.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway view of a female connector of this embodiment before being fitted to a male connector as seen from a side surface.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the female connector according to the present embodiment after being fitted to the male connector as viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a circle R in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway view of a state in which a detection pin is displaced to a non-projecting position as seen from a side surface.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a circle S in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a rear view when the detection pin is displaced to a non-projecting position.

FIG. 7 is a rear view when the female connector is in a semi-fitted state.

[Explanation of symbols]

M: Male connector (mating connector) F ... Female connector (lever type connector) 20 ... Female housing (connector housing) 29 ... Insertion hole (locking part) 30 ... Lever 31 ... Arm part 32 ... Operation unit 38 ... accommodation recess 40 ... Detection pin (detection member) 41 ... Shaft 43 ... Tip (one end) 44 ... First locking claw 45 ... Second locking claw

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pair of arm portions and an operating portion connecting the arm portions form a gate shape as a whole, and are rotatably attached to the connector housing so as to straddle the connector housing from the rear surface side. Is a lever-type connector that is fitted to a mating connector by rotating the lever, the detection member being attached to the operation portion, and being provided in the connector housing, A lever type characterized in that when the lever is at the turning end position for bringing the connector and the mating connector into a fitted state, the locking member is capable of locking with the detection member. connector. 2. The detection member includes a shaft portion slidably penetrating the operation portion, and has a protruding position pulled out in a direction in which the operation portion is separated from the connector housing and is pushed into the connector housing side. A detection pin that is displaceable between a non-projection position and the locking portion is an insertion hole that can receive one end of the detection pin when the detection pin is pushed into the non-projection position. The detection pin is attached in a direction in which the shaft portion is visible when viewed from the rear surface side of the connector housing when the lever is at the rotation end position. Lever type connector. 3. The detection member includes a first locking claw that resists displacement toward the connector housing when the detection member is in the projecting position, and the operation portion when the detection member is in the projecting position. 3. The lever type according to claim 1, further comprising: a second locking claw that restricts the detachment of the hook and resists the detachment from the insertion hole when in the non-projecting position. connector.