JP2004199903A

JP2004199903A - Low insertion force connector

Info

Publication number: JP2004199903A
Application number: JP2002364307A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Ichiro Terunuma; 一郎照沼; Takeshi Hasegawa; 健長谷川; Mutsumi Suwada; 睦諏訪田; Nobumasa Misaki; 信正見崎
Original assignee: Fujikura Ltd
Current assignee: Fujikura Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-16
Filing date: 2002-12-16
Publication date: 2004-07-15

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low insertion force connector capable of easily fitting. <P>SOLUTION: The low insertion force connector 1 comprises a plug connector housing 10 and a receptacle housing 20, and a plate-shaped lever part 14b is installed in the plug connector housing 10 through a hinge 12. A lever insertion hole 23 through which the lever part 14 is inserted in the fitting direction is installed in a fitting part 21 of the receptacle connector housing 20, and when the connector housings 10, 20 are fit, the lever part 14 is passed through the lever insertion hole 23. By turning up a turning up part 14b of the lever part 14 which is passed through the lever insertion hole 23 on the outer surface side of a wall part 26 of the fitting part 21, the connector housings 10, 20 are fit with low insertion force by utilizing the principle of a lever. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、プラグコネクタハウジング及びレセプタクルコネクタハウジング同士を相互に容易に嵌合させることができる低挿入力コネクタに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
現在、エレクトロニクス化の急速な発展により、例えば自動車に搭載されるワイヤハーネスなどにおいても回路数（電線数）が年々増加する傾向にある。回路数の増加に伴い、ワイヤハーネスの端末部に取り付けられるコネクタも多極化（内蔵接続端子数の増加）が進展し、図４に示すような多極コネクタが多く使用されるようになってきた。この多極コネクタ１００は、内部に複数のレセプタクル接続端子（図示せず）を収容するための端子収容孔１０１が形成されたプラグコネクタハウジング１１０と、このプラグコネクタハウジング１１０が内側に嵌合すると共に内部に複数のプラグ接続端子１０２を収容するための端子収容孔（図示せず）が形成されたレセプタクルコネクタハウジング１２０と、このレセプタクルコネクタハウジング１２０に別途取り付けられたレバー１３０とから構成されている。この多極コネクタ１００のように、接続する接続端子数が増えれば、プラグコネクタハウジング１１０及びレセプタクルコネクタハウジング１２０同士の嵌合時／離脱時の接触抵抗が増加するため、両者の嵌合時の挿入力及び離脱時の引抜力もより高くなってしまう。そこで、これらの挿入力及び引抜力を低く抑えるために、レバー１３０等の倍力機構を備え、例えばプラグコネクタハウジング１１０の側面に突起１１１を形成し、レバー１３０にこの突起１１１と嵌合すると共にこの突起１１１をレセプタクルコネクタハウジング１２０の奥側に移動させるための溝１２１を形成して、レバー１３０を動かすことによりてこの原理を利用して両者を嵌合／離脱するようにしたいわゆるレバー式コネクタが知られている（例えば、特許文献１及び２参照。）。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特許第２７６２８９７号公報（第２−３頁、第１−５図）
【特許文献２】
特許第２９５６４９８号公報（第３−５頁、第１−１２図）
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、このようなレバー式コネクタに備えられているレバー１３０等の倍力機構は、その倍力機構を動作させるためのスペースを確保する必要があると共にてこの作用を大きくするために倍力機構を大きく（例えば、レバー１３０を大きくしたり、溝１２１を長くしたり）構成しなければならないため、レバー式コネクタ自体が大きくなる傾向にある。また、レバー式コネクタでは、プラグコネクタハウジング１１０及びレセプタクルコネクタハウジング１２０の他に別部品でレバー１３０を製造しコネクタに取り付けなければならないため、別途レバー成型金型などの製造設備が必要となり安価に製造することが困難である。
【０００５】
この発明は、このような事情に鑑みてなされたもので、適度な大きさで安価に製造することができると共に容易に嵌合を行うことができる低挿入力コネクタを提供することを目的とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この発明に係る低挿入力コネクタは、プラグコネクタハウジングと、このプラグコネクタハウジングと嵌合するレセプタクルコネクタハウジングとを有し、前記プラグコネクタハウジングは、側壁を有しこの側壁に沿って前記レセプタクルコネクタハウジングと嵌合する嵌合本体部と、この嵌合本体部の前記レセプタクルコネクタハウジングとの嵌合方向にヒンジを介して延出した形状で形成され、且つ前記嵌合本体部の側壁外面側に折り返し可能な折返し部を有する構造からなるレバー部とを備え、前記レセプタクルコネクタハウジングは、壁部を有しこの壁部に沿って前記プラグコネクタハウジングの嵌合本体部が内側に嵌合し、嵌合時に前記レバー部が挿通するレバー挿通穴が形成された縦断面が凹状の嵌合部を備え、前記プラグ及びレセプタクルコネクタハウジングは、前記レバー挿通穴に挿通された前記レバー部の折返し部を、前記嵌合部の壁部に沿って前記嵌合本体部の側壁外面側に折り返した状態で完全嵌合されることを特徴とする。
【０００７】
この発明によれば、従来のレバー等の倍力機構に相当するレバー部をプラグコネクタハウジングに備え、レセプタクルコネクタハウジングのレバー挿通穴にレバー部を挿通した後にこのレバー部をプラグコネクタハウジングの側壁外面側に折り返して、てこの原理を利用して両コネクタハウジングを完全嵌合する。このため、別途作製したレバーをハウジングに取り付けて倍力機構を構成していた場合に比べ、レバー部の動作スペースやコネクタ全体を小さく構成することができると共に、コネクタを構成する部品点数を増やさずに低い挿入力で容易にハウジング同士を嵌合することが可能となる。
【０００８】
なお、レバー部は、嵌合本体部の一対の対向する側壁にそれぞれ備えられ、嵌合部には、嵌合時にこれら複数のレバー部がそれぞれ挿通する複数のレバー挿通穴が形成されていることが好ましい。複数のレバー部を同期させて嵌合動作を行えば、両コネクタハウジングの嵌合時のねじれやこじれの発生をより抑えることが期待できる。
【０００９】
また、レバー部は、嵌合本体部と別体に形成され、嵌合本体部に装着される装着部と、嵌合本体部の側壁外面側に折り返される折返し部と、これら装着部及び折返し部を連結するヒンジとを備えてなり、嵌合本体部に装着部を係合機構を介して着脱自在に取り付けることができる構造からなるものであっても良い。このようにすれば、レバー部をプラグコネクタハウジングに後付け可能な構造とすることができるようになる。
【００１０】
この場合、係合機構としては、嵌合本体部の側壁外面に形成された突条又は突起からなる係合部と、装着部に形成された係合部と係合する溝又は穴からなる被係合部とから構成されてなるものなどが考えられる。このような構成ならば、係合機構を簡単且つ安価に形成することができる。
【００１１】
また、この発明の低挿入力コネクタは、レセプタクルコネクタハウジングの嵌合部が壁部の外面に突出した係合突起を備え、レバー部の折返し部がこの係合突起と係合する係合穴を備え、プラグ及びレセプタクルコネクタハウジングの完全嵌合時にレバー挿通穴を通して折り返された折返し部の係合穴を係合突起と係合し、両コネクタハウジングの完全嵌合状態を保持するように構成されていても良い。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、添付の図面を参照して、この発明の好ましい実施の形態を説明する。
図１は、この発明の一実施形態に係る低挿入力コネクタを示す外観斜視図、図２は、この低挿入力コネクタにおける嵌合動作を説明するための一部断面図である。
図１に示すように、低挿入力コネクタ１は、プラグコネクタハウジング１０と、レセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０とから構成されている。プラグコネクタハウジング１０は、側壁１３を有しこの側壁１３に沿ってレセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０と嵌合する嵌合本体部１１と、この嵌合本体部１１のレセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０との嵌合方向にヒンジ１２を介して延出し、嵌合本体部１１の側壁１３の外面側に折り返し可能な折返し部１４ｂを有する構造からなる板状のレバー部１４とから構成されている。このプラグコネクタハウジング１０には、例えば複数のレセプタクル接続端子３４（図２参照）をプラグコネクタハウジング１０内に収容するための複数の端子収容孔１５が形成されている。また、プラグコネクタハウジング１０には、レセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０との完全嵌合時に両コネクタハウジング１０，２０を係止固定するためのロック機構を後述するロック凹部と共に構成するロック凸部１６を有する弾性ロック片１７が形成されている。
【００１３】
一方、レセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０は、壁部２６を有しこの壁部２６に沿ってプラグコネクタハウジング１０の嵌合本体部１１が内側に嵌合すると共に、嵌合本体部１１の嵌合時にレバー部１４が挿通するレバー挿通穴２３（図２参照）が形成された縦断面が凹状の嵌合部２１を備えて構成されている。このレセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０には、例えば複数のプラグ接続端子２４をレセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０内に収容するための複数の端子収容孔２８（図２参照）が形成されている。また、レセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０には、プラグコネクタハウジング１０との完全嵌合時に両コネクタハウジング１０，２０を係止固定するためのロック機構を上記ロック凸部１６と共に構成するロック凹部２５が形成されている。
【００１４】
なお、この低挿入力コネクタ１には、プラグ及びレセプタクルコネクタハウジング１０，２０の完全嵌合状態を保持するための嵌合状態保持機構が備えられている。即ち、嵌合状態保持機構は、レセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０の嵌合部２１の側壁２６の外面から突出した形状の係合突起２７と、プラグコネクタハウジング１０のレバー部１４の折返し部１４ｂに厚さ方向に貫通して形成された係合穴１９とから構成され、嵌合部２１のレバー挿通穴２３を通ったレバー部１４の折返し部１４ｂを嵌合本体部１１の側壁１３の外面側（両コネクタハウジング１０，２０の完全嵌合時には嵌合部２１の壁部２６の外面側）に折り返したときに係合突起２７と係合穴１９とを係合することにより両コネクタハウジング１０，２０の完全嵌合状態を保持するものである。これにより、ロック凸部１６とロック凹部２５で構成されるロック機構による両コネクタハウジング１０，２０の係止固定状態を更に強力に保持することができる。
【００１５】
この低挿入力コネクタ１における両コネクタハウジング１０，２０の嵌合動作は、図２に示すようにして行われる。まず、同図（ａ）に示すように、プラグコネクタハウジング１０のレバー部１４がレセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０の嵌合部２１のレバー挿通部２３を通り、嵌合本体部１１が嵌合部２１に嵌る状態となるように、両コネクタハウジング１０，２０を嵌合方向に近づける。そのまま両コネクタハウジング１０，２０を嵌合方向に移動させると、同図（ｂ）に示すように、プラグコネクタハウジング１０のレセプタクル接続端子３４とレセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０のプラグ接続端子２４とが僅かに嵌合した初期嵌合状態となる。ここで、プラグコネクタハウジング１０のレバー部１４の折返し部１４ｂを図（ｂ）中矢印で示すように、嵌合部２１の壁部２６の外面側に折り返し始めると、同図（ｃ）に示すように、ヒンジ１２を介して、てこの原理でプラグコネクタハウジング１０の嵌合本体部１１が嵌合部２１の内側に引き込まれ、レセプタクル接続端子３４とプラグ接続端子２４との嵌合が進行する。こうして、折り返し始めたレバー部１４の折返し部１４ｂを、嵌合部２１の壁部２６の外面側に完全に折り返し、嵌合部２１の係合突起２７をレバー部１４の係合穴１９に完全に嵌め込めば、同図（ｄ）に示すように両コネクタハウジング１０，２０が完全嵌合状態となる。
【００１６】
このように、この低挿入力コネクタ１によれば、レバー部１４の折返し部１４ｂを嵌合部２１の壁部２６の外面側に折り返すことにより、てこの原理を利用して両コネクタハウジング１０，２０を嵌合することができるため、低い挿入力でコネクタハウジング同士の嵌合を行うことができる。また、レバー部１４がプラグコネクタハウジング１０と一体的に形成されているため、別途レバーを別部品で製造して低挿入力で嵌合する場合に比べ、部品点数を削減することができる。
【００１７】
図３は、この発明の他の実施形態に係る低挿入力コネクタを示す外観斜視図である。なお、以降において、既に説明した部分と重複する説明は割愛する。
図３に示すように、この低挿入力コネクタ１´は、プラグコネクタハウジング１０´と、レセプタクルコネクタハウジング２０´と、プラグコネクタハウジング１０´に係合機構を介して着脱自在に取り付けることができるレバー部１４´とから構成されている。このレバー部１４´は、プラグコネクタハウジング１０´の嵌合本体部１１´の側壁１３´に装着される装着部１４ａと、嵌合本体部１１´の側壁１３´の外面側（両コネクタハウジング１０´，２０´の完全嵌合時には嵌合部２１の壁部２６の外面側）に折り返される折返し部１４ｂと、これら装着部１４ａ及び折返し部１４ｂを連結するヒンジ１２とを備え、例えば装着部１４ａに形成された溝又は穴からなる被係合部４２を嵌合本体部１１´の側壁１３´の外面に形成された突条又は突起からなる係合部４１に係合して嵌合本体部１１´に装着される（なお、これら係合部４１及び被係合部４２で係合機構を構成する）。このようにすれば、レバー部１４´をプラグコネクタハウジング１０´に後付けして低挿入力コネクタ１´を構成することが可能となる。このような構造の低挿入力コネクタ１´においても、上述した低挿入力コネクタ１と同様の効果を得ることができる。
【００１８】
【発明の効果】
以上述べたように、この発明によれば、従来のレバー等の倍力機構に相当するレバー部をプラグコネクタハウジングに備え、レセプタクルコネクタハウジングのレバー挿通穴にレバー部を挿通した後にこのレバー部をプラグコネクタハウジングの側壁外面側に折り返して、てこの原理を利用して両コネクタハウジングを完全嵌合する。このため、別途作製したレバーをハウジングに取り付けて倍力機構を構成していた場合に比べ、レバー部の動作スペースやコネクタ全体を小さく構成することができると共に、コネクタを構成する部品点数を増やさずに低い挿入力で容易にハウジング同士を嵌合することが可能となるという効果を奏する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明の一実施形態に係る低挿入力コネクタを示す外観斜視図である。
【図２】同低挿入力コネクタにおける嵌合動作を説明するための一部断面図である。
【図３】この発明の他の実施形態に係る低挿入力コネクタを示す外観斜視図である。
【図４】従来の低挿入力コネクタを示す外観斜視図である。
【符号の説明】１，１´…低挿入力コネクタ、１０，１０´…プラグコネクタハウジング、１１…嵌合本体部、１２…ヒンジ、１３…側壁、１４，１４´…レバー部、１４ｂ…折返し部、１５，２８…端子収容孔、１６…ロック凸部、１７…弾性ロック片、１９…係合穴、２０…レセプタクルコネクタハウジング、２１…嵌合部、２３…レバー挿通穴、２４…プラグ接続端子、２５…ロック凹部、２６…壁部、２７…係合突起、３４…レセプタクル接続端子、４１…係合部、４２…被係合部。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a low insertion force connector that can easily fit a plug connector housing and a receptacle connector housing into each other.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, with the rapid development of electronics, for example, the number of circuits (the number of electric wires) tends to increase year by year even in a wire harness mounted on an automobile. With an increase in the number of circuits, the number of connectors attached to the terminal portion of the wire harness has also increased in number (increase in the number of built-in connection terminals), and a multi-pole connector as shown in FIG. 4 has been increasingly used. The multipolar connector 100 has a plug connector housing 110 in which a terminal receiving hole 101 for receiving a plurality of receptacle connection terminals (not shown) is formed, and the plug connector housing 110 is fitted inside. It comprises a receptacle connector housing 120 in which a terminal receiving hole (not shown) for receiving a plurality of plug connection terminals 102 is formed, and a lever 130 separately attached to the receptacle connector housing 120. If the number of connection terminals to be connected increases as in the multi-pole connector 100, the contact resistance between the plug connector housing 110 and the receptacle connector housing 120 at the time of fitting / detaching increases, so that the plug connector housing 110 and the receptacle connector housing 120 are inserted at the time of fitting. The force and the pull-out force during disengagement are also higher. Therefore, in order to suppress the insertion force and the withdrawal force, a boosting mechanism such as a lever 130 is provided. For example, a protrusion 111 is formed on the side surface of the plug connector housing 110, and the lever 111 is fitted with the protrusion 111 and A so-called lever-type connector in which a groove 121 for moving the projection 111 to the rear side of the receptacle connector housing 120 is formed, and by moving the lever 130, the two are fitted / removed using this principle. Are known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent No. 2762897 (page 2-3, FIG. 1-5)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent No. 2956498 (page 3-5, FIG. 1-12)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a booster mechanism such as the lever 130 provided in such a lever-type connector needs to secure a space for operating the booster mechanism, and also requires a booster mechanism to increase this action. (For example, the lever 130 is enlarged or the groove 121 is elongated), so that the lever-type connector itself tends to be large. Further, in the lever type connector, since the lever 130 must be manufactured as a separate component in addition to the plug connector housing 110 and the receptacle connector housing 120 and attached to the connector, manufacturing equipment such as a lever molding die is separately required, and the manufacturing is inexpensive. Is difficult to do.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a low insertion force connector that can be manufactured at an appropriate size at low cost and that can be easily fitted. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A low insertion force connector according to the present invention includes a plug connector housing and a receptacle connector housing fitted with the plug connector housing, wherein the plug connector housing has a side wall and the receptacle connector housing extends along the side wall. Formed in a shape extending through a hinge in a fitting direction of the fitting body with the receptacle connector housing, and is folded back to a side wall outer surface of the fitting body. A lever portion having a structure having a possible folded portion, wherein the receptacle connector housing has a wall portion, and the fitting body portion of the plug connector housing fits inward along the wall portion, and the fitting is performed. Sometimes, a longitudinal section in which a lever insertion hole through which the lever section is inserted is formed with a concave fitting portion, and the plug and The receptacle connector housing is completely fitted in a state where the folded portion of the lever portion inserted into the lever insertion hole is folded back along the wall portion of the fitting portion to the outer surface of the side wall of the fitting main body. It is characterized by that.
[0007]
According to the present invention, a lever portion corresponding to a conventional lever or other boosting mechanism is provided in the plug connector housing, and after the lever portion is inserted into the lever insertion hole of the receptacle connector housing, the lever portion is connected to the outer surface of the side wall of the plug connector housing. Then, the connector housings are completely fitted using the principle of leverage. For this reason, compared to a case where a separately manufactured lever is attached to the housing to constitute a booster mechanism, the operating space of the lever portion and the entire connector can be made smaller, and the number of parts constituting the connector does not increase. It is possible to easily fit the housings with a low insertion force.
[0008]
Note that the lever portion is provided on each of a pair of opposed side walls of the fitting main body portion, and the fitting portion has a plurality of lever insertion holes through which the plurality of lever portions are respectively inserted at the time of fitting. Is preferred. If the fitting operation is performed by synchronizing the plurality of lever portions, it can be expected that the occurrence of twisting and twisting when fitting the two connector housings is further suppressed.
[0009]
Further, the lever portion is formed separately from the fitting main body portion, and is provided with a mounting portion mounted on the fitting main body portion, a folded portion folded back to the outer side surface of the side wall of the fitting main body portion, and the mounting portion and the folded portion. And a hinge capable of detachably attaching a mounting portion to the fitting body via an engagement mechanism. This makes it possible to provide a structure in which the lever portion can be retrofitted to the plug connector housing.
[0010]
In this case, the engaging mechanism includes an engaging portion formed of a ridge or a protrusion formed on the outer surface of the side wall of the fitting main body, and a groove or hole engaging with the engaging portion formed on the mounting portion. A member constituted with an engaging portion is conceivable. With such a configuration, the engagement mechanism can be formed easily and inexpensively.
[0011]
In addition, the low insertion force connector of the present invention includes an engagement projection in which a fitting portion of the receptacle connector housing projects from an outer surface of the wall, and a bent portion of the lever portion engages with the engagement projection. When the plug and the receptacle connector housing are completely fitted, the engagement hole of the folded portion that is folded back through the lever insertion hole is engaged with the engagement projection, and the two connector housings are kept in a completely fitted state. May be.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a low insertion force connector according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a fitting operation in the low insertion force connector.
As shown in FIG. 1, the low insertion force connector 1 includes a plug connector housing 10 and a receptacle connector housing 20. The plug connector housing 10 has a side wall 13, a fitting body 11 that fits along the side wall 13 with the receptacle connector housing 20, and hinges in the fitting direction of the fitting body 11 with the receptacle connector housing 20. And a plate-shaped lever portion 14 having a structure having a turnable portion 14b which can be turned on the outer surface side of the side wall 13 of the fitting main body portion 11. The plug connector housing 10 has a plurality of terminal receiving holes 15 for receiving, for example, a plurality of receptacle connection terminals 34 (see FIG. 2) in the plug connector housing 10. Further, the plug connector housing 10 has an elastic locking portion 16 having a locking mechanism 16 for locking and fixing the connector housings 10 and 20 together with a locking concave portion described later when the connector connector housing 20 is completely fitted. A piece 17 is formed.
[0013]
On the other hand, the receptacle connector housing 20 has a wall portion 26 along which the fitting body 11 of the plug connector housing 10 fits inside and a lever portion when the fitting body 11 is fitted. It has a fitting section 21 having a concave longitudinal section in which a lever insertion hole 23 (see FIG. 2) through which the lever 14 is inserted is formed. The receptacle connector housing 20 is formed with a plurality of terminal receiving holes 28 (see FIG. 2) for receiving, for example, the plurality of plug connection terminals 24 in the receptacle connector housing 20. The receptacle connector housing 20 is provided with a lock recess 25 which, together with the lock projection 16, forms a lock mechanism for locking and fixing the connector housings 10 and 20 when the plug connector housing 10 is completely fitted. I have.
[0014]
The low insertion force connector 1 is provided with a fitting state holding mechanism for holding the plug and the receptacle connector housings 10 and 20 in a completely fitted state. That is, the fitting state holding mechanism includes an engaging protrusion 27 having a shape protruding from the outer surface of the side wall 26 of the fitting portion 21 of the receptacle connector housing 20 and a folded portion 14b of the lever portion 14 of the plug connector housing 10 in the thickness direction. And the folded portion 14b of the lever portion 14 that has passed through the lever insertion hole 23 of the fitting portion 21 is connected to the outer surface of the side wall 13 of the fitting body portion 11 (both connectors). When the housings 10 and 20 are completely fitted, the engagement projections 27 and the engagement holes 19 are engaged with each other when the housings 10 and 20 are folded back on the outer surface of the wall portion 26 of the fitting portion 21, so that the two connector housings 10 and 20 can be completely fitted. This is to maintain the fitted state. As a result, the locked state of the connector housings 10 and 20 by the lock mechanism constituted by the lock convex portion 16 and the lock concave portion 25 can be more strongly maintained.
[0015]
The fitting operation of the two connector housings 10 and 20 in the low insertion force connector 1 is performed as shown in FIG. First, as shown in FIG. 1A, the lever portion 14 of the plug connector housing 10 passes through the lever insertion portion 23 of the fitting portion 21 of the receptacle connector housing 20, and the fitting body 11 fits into the fitting portion 21. The two connector housings 10, 20 are brought closer to the fitting direction so as to be in the state. When the two connector housings 10 and 20 are moved in the fitting direction as they are, the receptacle connection terminals 34 of the plug connector housing 10 and the plug connection terminals 24 of the receptacle connector housing 20 slightly fit as shown in FIG. The combined state is the initial fitting state. Here, when the folded portion 14b of the lever portion 14 of the plug connector housing 10 starts to be folded toward the outer surface side of the wall portion 26 of the fitting portion 21 as shown by an arrow in FIG. As described above, the fitting body 11 of the plug connector housing 10 is drawn into the fitting portion 21 by the leverage principle via the hinge 12, and the fitting between the receptacle connection terminal 34 and the plug connection terminal 24 proceeds. . Thus, the folded portion 14b of the lever portion 14 which has begun to be folded is completely folded back to the outer surface side of the wall portion 26 of the fitting portion 21, and the engaging projection 27 of the fitting portion 21 is completely fitted into the engaging hole 19 of the lever portion 14. As shown in FIG. 3D, the two connector housings 10 and 20 are completely fitted.
[0016]
As described above, according to the low insertion force connector 1, the folded portion 14b of the lever portion 14 is folded back to the outer surface side of the wall portion 26 of the fitting portion 21. 20 can be fitted, so that the connector housings can be fitted with a low insertion force. Further, since the lever portion 14 is formed integrally with the plug connector housing 10, the number of components can be reduced as compared with a case where a lever is separately manufactured as a separate component and fitted with a low insertion force.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a low insertion force connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. Note that, in the following, description that is the same as that already described is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the low insertion force connector 1 'is a lever which can be detachably attached to the plug connector housing 10', the receptacle connector housing 20 ', and the plug connector housing 10' via an engagement mechanism. 14 '. The lever portion 14 ′ has a mounting portion 14 a mounted on the side wall 13 ′ of the fitting main body portion 11 ′ of the plug connector housing 10 ′ and an outer surface side of the side wall 13 ′ of the fitting main body portion 11 ′ (both connector housings 10 ′). ′ And 20 ′ are completely folded back to the outside of the wall portion 26 of the fitting portion 21) and the hinge 12 connecting the mounting portion 14 a and the folded portion 14 b. The engaged portion 42 formed of a groove or a hole formed in the main body portion engages with the engaging portion 41 formed of a ridge or projection formed on the outer surface of the side wall 13 ′ of the fitting main body portion 11 ′. 11 '(the engaging portion 41 and the engaged portion 42 constitute an engaging mechanism). By doing so, it becomes possible to configure the low insertion force connector 1 'by retrofitting the lever portion 14' to the plug connector housing 10 '. With the low insertion force connector 1 'having such a structure, the same effect as that of the low insertion force connector 1 described above can be obtained.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a lever portion corresponding to a conventional booster mechanism such as a lever is provided in the plug connector housing, and after the lever portion is inserted into the lever insertion hole of the receptacle connector housing, the lever portion is inserted. The two connector housings are completely fitted using the principle of leverage by folding back on the outer surface of the side wall of the plug connector housing. For this reason, compared to a case where a separately manufactured lever is attached to the housing to constitute a booster mechanism, the operating space of the lever portion and the entire connector can be made smaller, and the number of parts constituting the connector is not increased. This has an effect that the housings can be easily fitted with each other with a low insertion force.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a low insertion force connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining a fitting operation in the low insertion force connector.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a low insertion force connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing a conventional low insertion force connector.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 '... low insertion force connector, 10, 10' ... plug connector housing, 11 ... fitting body, 12 ... hinge, 13 ... side wall, 14 and 14 '... lever, 14b ... , 15, 28 ... terminal accommodation hole, 16 ... lock projection, 17 ... elastic lock piece, 19 ... engagement hole, 20 ... receptacle connector housing, 21 ... fitting part, 23 ... lever insertion hole, 24 ... plug connection Terminals, 25: locking recesses, 26: wall portions, 27: engagement protrusions, 34: receptacle connection terminals, 41: engagement portions, 42: engaged portions.

Claims

Plug connector housing,
Having a receptacle connector housing fitted with the plug connector housing,
The plug connector housing,
A fitting body that has a side wall and fits with the receptacle connector housing along the side wall; and a shape that extends through a hinge in a fitting direction of the fitting body with the receptacle connector housing. And a lever portion having a structure having a foldable portion that can be folded back on a side wall outer surface side of the fitting main body portion,
The receptacle connector housing includes:
A fitting having a wall portion, a fitting body portion of the plug connector housing fits inside along the wall portion, and a longitudinal section in which a lever insertion hole through which the lever portion is inserted at the time of fitting is formed into a concave shape. Part,
The plug and the receptacle connector housing,
The folded portion of the lever portion inserted into the lever insertion hole is completely fitted in a state of being folded back along the wall of the fitting portion to the outer surface of the side wall of the fitting main body. Low insertion force connector.

The lever portion is provided on each of a pair of opposed side walls of the fitting main body portion,
The low insertion force connector according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion has a plurality of lever insertion holes through which the plurality of lever portions are inserted at the time of fitting.

The lever portion is formed separately from the fitting main body portion, a mounting portion mounted on the fitting main body portion, a folded portion that is folded back to a side wall outer surface side of the fitting main body portion, and these mounting portions and 2. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising: the hinge for connecting a folded portion, wherein the mounting portion is detachably attached to the fitting main body via an engagement mechanism. Or the low insertion force connector according to 2.

The engagement mechanism includes an engagement portion formed of a ridge or a protrusion formed on an outer surface of a side wall of the fitting main body, and a groove or a hole configured to engage with the engagement portion formed on the mounting portion. 4. The low insertion force connector according to claim 3, wherein the low insertion force connector comprises an engaging portion.

The fitting portion includes an engagement protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the wall portion, and the folded portion of the lever portion includes an engagement hole that engages with the engagement protrusion.
When the plug and the receptacle connector housing are completely fitted, the engagement hole of the folded portion folded back through the lever insertion hole is engaged with the engagement projection, and the two connector housings are maintained in a completely fitted state. The low insertion force connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: