JP2004319124A - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a flexible lock piece from being interfered by foreign matter. <P>SOLUTION: Since a flexible lock piece 25 is stored within the range of the thickness of an arm part 22, and a locking projection 25a projecting toward the inner surface side of the arm part 22, it is never exposed to the outside. Therefore, the flexible lock piece 25 and the locking projection 25a are prevented from being interfered by foreign matter. Since the flexible lock piece 25 serves both as a means to regulate a lever 20 so as not to rotate in the direction opposite to its engagement direction and an inertia locking means to give inertial force to the lever 20, the shape of the lever 20 can be simplified in comparison with one for which these two means are separately formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lever-type connector provided with inertial locking means.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a lever-type connector having an inertial lock function, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this lever-type connector, a flexible lock piece is formed on the side wall of the hood portion of the male housing, and the lever is locked to the flexible lock piece, so that the lever is in the initial position (the entrance of the cam groove opens to the female housing side). (Posture) and locked in a state where the rotation is restricted.
[0003]
From this state, the female housing is fitted shallowly into the hood portion of the male housing, and the cam pins of the female housing enter the entrance of the cam groove of the lever. When a large rotation operation exceeding the fitting resistance of both housings is applied to the lever, the flexible lock piece is dissociated from the lever while elastically bending, and the rotation of the lever rapidly advances to the normal fitting position by inertia immediately after disengagement. By the rotation of the lever, the cam action by the engagement between the cam groove and the cam pin causes the male and female housings to be in a properly fitted state.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-214653
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional lever-type connector, the flexible lock piece is formed to protrude outward from the outer surface of the housing to enable engagement with a lever displaced along the outer surface of the housing. Therefore, the foreign matter easily interferes with the flexible lock piece, and there is a possibility that the flexible lock piece may be deformed or damaged by the interference of the foreign matter.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent foreign matter from interfering with a flexible lock piece.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 has a first housing, a plate-shaped arm portion supported by the first housing and rotating along an outer surface of the first housing, and a cam groove is formed in the arm portion. And a second housing having a cam follower on the outer surface and capable of being fitted to the first housing, wherein the cam follower enters the cam groove when the lever is at an initial position. When the lever is rotated in the fitting direction, the two housings are fitted by a cam action by the engagement between the cam groove and the cam follower. Are provided with elastically-deflectable flexible lock pieces accommodated within the range of the plate thickness, and the flexible lock pieces have locking projections protruding toward the inner surface side of the arm portion. A restricting portion formed on the first housing for locking the lever in a direction opposite to a fitting direction by locking the lever in the initial position with the locking protrusion. Is formed in the first housing, and the lever is locked in the fitting direction during the rotation of the lever from the initial position in the fitting direction, thereby restricting the rotation of the lever in the fitting direction. A locking portion is formed, and from the restricted state in which the locking protrusion is locked to the locking portion, by applying a turning force exceeding the fitting resistance between the housings to the lever, the flexible lock piece is elastic. The locking projection is disengaged from the locking portion while being bent, and the rotation of the lever advances at a stretch to a normal fitting state by inertia immediately after disengagement.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the flexible lock piece extends in a cantilevered manner along a plate surface of the arm portion, and an extending direction of the flexible lock piece is The direction in which the locking portion is locked to the restricting portion is opposite to the direction in which the locking portion is locked to the locking portion.
[0009]
Function and effect of the present invention
[Invention of claim 1]
The bending lock piece is accommodated within the range of the thickness of the arm portion, and the locking projection projects to the inner surface side of the arm portion, so that it is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from interfering with the bending lock piece and the locking projection. In addition, since the bending lock piece serves both as a means for restricting rotation of the lever in a direction opposite to the fitting direction and an inertial locking means for applying inertial force to the lever, the two means are separately provided. The shape of the lever can be simplified as compared with the case where the lever is formed.
[0010]
[Invention of claim 2]
In a state in which the lever at the initial position is restricted from rotating in the opposite direction to the fitting direction, the bending lock piece receives a force pulled in the extending direction by being locked with the restriction portion, so that the bending lock piece is bent. There is no possibility that the lock piece is inclined or buckled, a strong locking force is obtained, and the rotation of the lever can be reliably restricted.
Further, when the bending lock piece is locked with the locking portion to exhibit the function of inertial locking, the locking direction between the locking portion and the bending lock piece is a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the bending lock piece, The locking force does not need to be excessively large. Therefore, the locking between the bending lock piece and the locking portion can be released only by applying the minimum necessary rotation force to the lever, and the lever is excellent in operability.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The lever connector according to the first embodiment includes a first housing 10, a lever 20, and a second housing 30.
The first housing 10 is made of a synthetic resin, and has a hood portion 11 that protrudes forward (to the right in FIGS. 3 to 6) into a rectangular tube shape. A male terminal fitting (not shown) having a tab at the tip is accommodated in the first housing 10, and the tab projects forward in the hood portion 11. In addition, upper and lower two cutout grooves 12 and 13 that are open to the front end thereof are formed in the left and right side walls forming the hood 11 in parallel with the fitting direction (front and rear direction) of the housings 10 and 30. ing. The cam follower 31 of the second housing 30 enters the upper cutout groove 12, and the release portion 32 of the second housing 30 enters the lower cutout groove 13.
[0012]
A pair of support shafts 14 for supporting the lever 20 are formed to project from both left and right outer surfaces of the first housing 10. Similarly, at the rear end of the first housing 10, a pair of restricting portions 15 are formed with the restricting surfaces 15 a facing upward by notching the upper ends of both left and right outer surfaces in steps. The restricting portion 15 is positioned obliquely upward and rearward with respect to the support shaft 14.
Similarly, at the front end of the first housing 10, that is, at a position slightly behind the front end of the hood 11, a pair of locking portions 16 extending upward from the upper ends of the left and right outer surfaces in a plate shape. Is formed. The locking portion 16 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the first housing 10 and is positioned obliquely upward and forward with respect to the support shaft 14. The plate surface of the locking portion 16 is parallel to the outer surface of the first housing 10, and the outer surface of the locking portion 16 is located slightly inward from the outer surface of the first housing 10. The upper end surface of the locking portion 16 is a locking surface 16a which is elongated in the front-rear direction and has an upward slope. The slope of the locking surface 16a is a gentler angle than the slope of a radial virtual line connecting the locking portion 16 and the support shaft 14. The front end surface 16b of the locking portion 16 is a flat surface that is inclined substantially in the same direction as the circumferential direction around the support shaft 14. The rear end surface 16c of the locking portion 16 is a flat surface substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction of the housings 10, 30.
[0013]
The lever 20 is made of a synthetic resin, and is provided with an operation unit 21 arranged so as to move substantially in the front-rear direction above the first housing 10. A pair of plate-like arm portions 22 extending along the side surface are integrally formed. A cam groove 23 having an entrance opened to the outer peripheral edge of the arm 22 is formed on the inner surface of the arm 22 (the surface facing the outer surface of the first housing 10).
[0014]
The lever 20 has an initial position (see FIG. 3) and a fitting completed position (see FIG. 5) with respect to the first housing 10 by fitting the bearing holes 24 of the both arm portions 22 to the support shaft 14. Are supported so as to be able to rotate at an angle of about 110 °. Further, an inertia applying position (see FIG. 4) for applying an inertial force to the lever 20 is set at a position rotated by about 90 ° from the initial position to the fitting completed position side.
When the lever 20 is at the initial position, the entrance of the cam groove 23 opens forward (in a direction corresponding to the second housing 30) at the same height as the support shaft 14 (the center of rotation of the lever 20). Accordingly, the cam follower 31 can enter the cam groove 23.
[0015]
Bend lock pieces 25 are formed at positions near the operation unit 21 (positions between the operation unit 21 and the support shaft 14 and close to the operation unit 21) in both the arm units 22. The arm 22 has a substantially U-shaped slit 26 communicating from the outer surface to the inner surface, and an elongated portion surrounded by the slit 26 extends cantilevered along the plate surface of the arm 22. The bending lock piece 25 has the form shown in FIG. The inner surface of the flexible lock piece 25 is flush with the inner surface of the arm 22, and the extended end of the inner surface has a locking projection 25 a protruding inward from the inner surface of the arm 22. Is formed. The outer side surface of the bending lock piece 25 is located at a position further inward than the outer side surface of the arm portion 22. Therefore, the bending lock piece 25 is accommodated within the range of the thickness of the arm portion 22. The flexible lock piece 25 can be elastically flexed outward (a direction substantially parallel to the center of rotation of the lever 20 and substantially perpendicular to the plate surface of the arm 22).
[0016]
In the state where the lever 20 is in the initial position, the bending lock piece 25 extends upward, that is, in a cantilevered manner in the same direction as the displacement direction when the lever 20 starts rotating from the initial position toward the fitting completed position. The locking projection 25a comes into contact with the regulating surface 15a of the regulating portion 15 from directly above. This restricts the bending lock piece 25 from being displaced downward with respect to the first housing 10, so that the lever 20 at the initial position rotates in the direction opposite to the fitting direction (the fitting completed position side). Is regulated. The direction in which the locking projection 25a contacts the regulating surface 15a is opposite to the direction in which the flexible lock piece 25 extends.
[0017]
Further, while the lever 20 rotates from the initial position to the inertia imparting position, the operation unit 21 and the bending lock piece 25 move in a circular arc toward the front above the first housing 10. When the lever 20 reaches the inertia imparting position, the locking projection 25a of the flexible lock piece 25 abuts against the locking surface 16a of the locking portion 16 from diagonally above and rearward. The rotation to the completion position side is once restricted. When the lever 20 moves from the inertia imparting position to the fitting completed position, the locking projection 25a slides on the outer surface of the locking portion 16 while the bending lock piece 25 elastically bends to the outer surface side. When the fitting completion position is reached, the locking projection 25a is disengaged from the outer surface of the locking portion 16 and the lock piece 25 is elastically returned.
[0018]
Further, each of the arm portions 22 is formed with a bending locking piece 27. The flexure locking piece 27 is located on the opposite side of the operation unit 21 with the support shaft 14 interposed therebetween. When the lever 20 is at the initial position and the housings 10 and 30 are not fitted, the flexure locking piece 27 is By locking the notch 27 in the lower cutout groove 13, the rotation of the lever 20 to the fitting completed position side and the side opposite to the fitting completed position is restricted.
The second housing 30 is made of a synthetic resin, has a block shape as a whole, and accommodates therein a female terminal fitting (not shown) having a square tube portion that can be fitted with a tab of the male terminal fitting. ing. A pair of cam followers 31 protrude from both left and right outer surfaces of the second housing 30. Similarly, a rib-shaped release portion 32 extending parallel to the fitting direction of the housings 10 and 30 is formed at a position below the cam follower 31 on the left and right outer surfaces of the second housing 30.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
When the two housings 10 and 30 are fitted together, the lever 20 is held in the initial position by locking the flexible locking piece 27 in the lower cutout groove 13 in the first housing 10, and the locking is performed. The rotation of the lever 20 toward the fitting completed position side (fitting direction) is reliably regulated by locking the projection 25a from above with respect to the regulating portion 15 (see FIG. 3).
When the second housing 30 is fitted shallowly to the hood portion 11 from this state, the cam follower 31 enters the entrance of the cam groove 23, and the front end of the release portion 32 comes into contact with the flexure locking piece 27, and the flexure locking piece 27 is elastically bent toward the outer surface of the arm 22. As a result, the flexure locking piece 27 is disengaged from the lower cutout groove 13, and the rotation restricted state of the lever 20 due to the locking of the flexure lockpiece 27 and the cutout groove 13 is released.
[0020]
When a rotational power is applied to the operation unit 21 from this state, the lever 20 rotates, and the second housing 30 is drawn into the hood unit 11 by the cam action due to the engagement between the cam groove 23 and the cam follower 31, so that the two housings 10 , 30 are advanced. When the lever 20 reaches the inertia imparting position, the locking projection 25a of the bending lock piece 25 abuts the locking surface 16a of the locking portion 16 from obliquely above, whereby the lever 20 moves in the fitting direction of the lever 20. The rotation is once restricted (see FIG. 4).
[0021]
In this state, when a turning force that exceeds the fitting resistance between the two housings 10 and 30 due to the frictional resistance between the male terminal fitting and the female terminal fitting is applied to the operating portion 21 of the lever 20, The bending lock piece 25 elastically bends toward the outer side, and the locking projection 25a is separated from the locking surface 16a. Then, at the moment of dissociation, the rotation power applied to the lever 20 is released, so that the rotation restricted state of the lever 20 due to the locking between the bending lock piece 25 and the locking portion 16 is released, and at the same time, A large inertial force is applied to the lever 20. By this inertial force, the lever 20 is pivoted to the fitting completed position at a stretch, and the two housings 10 and 30 move at once to the normal fitting state by the cam action by the engagement between the cam groove 23 and the cam follower 31.
[0022]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the bending lock piece 25 is accommodated within the range of the plate thickness of the arm 22, and the locking projection 25 a of the bending lock piece 25 protrudes toward the inner surface of the arm 22. There is no exposure on the outer surface side of the lever 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from interfering with the bending lock piece 25 and the locking projection 25a.
In addition, since the bending lock piece 25 serves as a means for restricting the rotation of the lever 20 in the opposite direction to the fitting direction and an inertial locking means for applying an inertial force to the lever 20, the two pieces are used. The shape of the lever 20 is simplified as compared with the case where the means is formed separately.
[0023]
Further, in a state where the rotation of the lever 20 at the initial position in the opposite direction to the fitting direction is restricted, the flexible lock piece 25 receives a force pulled in the extending direction by the engagement with the restricting portion 15. Therefore, there is no possibility that the bending lock piece 25 buckles or tilts with respect to the extending direction, a strong locking force is obtained, and the rotation of the lever 20 can be reliably restricted.
Further, when the flexible lock piece 25 is locked to the locking portion 16 to exhibit the function of inertial lock, the locking direction between the locking portion 16 and the flexible lock piece 25 is substantially the same as the extending direction of the flexible lock piece 25. Since the direction is orthogonal, the locking force does not need to be excessively increased. Therefore, the locking between the bending lock piece 25 and the locking portion 16 can be released only by applying the minimum necessary rotation force to the lever 20, and the operability of the lever 20 is excellent.
[0024]
[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. Can be implemented with various modifications.
(1) In the above embodiment, the flexible lock piece is exposed on the outer surface side of the arm portion. However, according to the present invention, the accommodation space for the flexible lock piece is opened only on the inner surface side of the arm portion. May not be exposed on the outer surface side of the arm portion.
[0025]
(2) In the above embodiment, the lever is supported on the male side housing for holding the male terminal fitting having the tab at the tip, but according to the present invention, the female terminal fitting which is the connection partner with the male terminal fitting is held. Alternatively, the lever may be supported by the female housing.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the elastic bending direction of the bending lock piece is set to a direction substantially perpendicular to the plate surface of the arm portion (a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of rotation of the lever). The elastic bending direction of the piece may be a direction substantially parallel to the plate surface of the arm portion.
[0026]
(4) In the above embodiment, the flexible lock piece is configured to extend in a cantilever manner. However, according to the present invention, the flexible lock piece may be configured to support both ends.
(5) In the above-described embodiment, the extending direction of the flexible lock piece is opposite to the locking direction with respect to the restricting portion. The direction may be substantially the same as the above or a direction intersecting with the locking direction with respect to the regulating portion.
(6) In the above embodiment, the extending direction of the flexible lock piece is set to a direction substantially perpendicular to the contact direction of the flexible lock piece with the locking portion. According to the present invention, the extending direction of the flexible lock piece is The direction may be substantially parallel to the direction in which the flexible lock piece abuts the locking portion.
[0027]
(7) In the above embodiment, the flexible lock piece is elastically restored when the fitting of the two housings is completed. However, according to the present invention, the flexible lock piece is elastically bent even when the fitting of the housing is completed. It may be left as it is.
(8) In the above embodiment, the outer surface of the locking portion is located slightly inward of the outer surface of the first housing. However, according to the present invention, the outer surface of the locking portion is formed on the first housing. It may be made continuous with the outer side surface flush.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a first housing according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a state in which a lever is at an initial position. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where a lever is in an inertia imparting position in which a lever locks a flexible lock piece to a locking portion. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where both housings are properly fitted. FIG. 6 is a side view of a first housing with a lever removed. FIG. 7 is a side view of a second housing.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... 1st housing 15 ... restriction part 16 ... locking part 20 ... lever 22 ... arm part 23 ... cam groove 25 ... bending lock piece 25a ... locking projection 30 ... second housing 31 ... cam follower

Claims (2)

A first housing;
A lever having a plate-shaped arm supported by the first housing and rotating along the outer surface of the first housing, and having a cam groove formed in the arm;
A second housing having a cam follower on an outer surface and capable of being fitted to the first housing;
When the cam follower enters the cam groove in a state where the lever is at the initial position, and the lever is rotated in the fitting direction, the two housings are fitted by the cam action by the engagement between the cam groove and the cam follower. In the lever type connector that is
The plate-shaped arm portion is provided with an elastically-deflectable flexible lock piece housed within a range of the plate thickness, and the flexible lock piece is locked to protrude toward the inner surface side of the arm portion. A protrusion is formed,
The first housing is provided with a restricting portion that restricts rotation of the lever in a direction opposite to the fitting direction by locking the lever with the locking protrusion in a state where the lever is at the initial position. ,
The first housing has a locking portion that locks with the locking projection while the lever is rotating from the initial position in the fitting direction, thereby restricting the rotation of the lever in the fitting direction. Formed,
From the restricted state in which the locking projection is locked to the locking portion, by applying a rotating force to the lever exceeding the fitting resistance between the housings, the locking projection is elastically bent by the bending lock piece. Wherein the lever is disengaged from the locking portion and the rotation of the lever advances at a stretch to a proper fitting state by inertia immediately after the disengagement. The bending lock piece is configured to extend in a cantilever shape along the plate surface of the arm portion,
The direction in which the flexible lock piece extends is opposite to the direction in which the flexible lock piece is locked to the restricting portion, and is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the flexible lock piece is locked to the locking portion. The lever-type connector according to claim 1.

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