JP2005302582A - Connector with lock - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector with a lock capable of preventing its lock portion from being damaged by burrs when the connector is inserted, even if these burrs remain on the inside edge of a connector attaching through hole on a panel side. <P>SOLUTION: This connector with a lock has on its periphery, a lock damage preventing piece for preventing the lock from being damaged when the connector with a lock is inserted into the connector attaching through hole. The inside diameter of the lock damage preventing piece is equal to or smaller than that of the through hole. In addition, when the connector with the lock is inserted into the through hole of the panel, the axial end face of the lock damage preventing piece touches the surface of the panel before the tip of the lock is inserted into the through hole, and is movable accompanied by the insertion of the connector in the direction opposite to the direction of connector insertion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a connector with a lock. Specifically, a connector inserted in a connector mounting through-hole provided in a connector mounting panel does not fall out of the panel through-hole. Therefore, the present invention relates to a connector with a lock which is improved so as to prevent a lock provided on a side surface of the connector from being broken by a burr generated at an edge of the through hole.

  For example, when wiring on the surface of a body panel of an automobile or the like, a connector is inserted into a through hole for mounting a connector provided on the panel, and at least a part of the axial direction is inserted, and provided on a side surface of the connector. Various types of so-called connectors with a lock that prevent the connector from coming off from the panel with a locking mechanism is used.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a connector of the type in which the connector 1 is inserted into the connector mounting through hole 21 of the panel 20 in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. .
At least a pair of locks 2 having elasticity is provided on the side surface of the connector 1. When the connector 1 is inserted into the through hole 21 of the panel 20 and the connector 1 is attached to the panel 20, an inward force is applied to the lock 2, and the through hole 21 is inserted into the insertion end side of the connector 1. The nail | claw 2a provided is passed. When the claw 2a passes through the through hole 21, the inward force is released from the lock 2. As a result, the panel 20 is sandwiched in the thickness direction between the claw 2a passing through the through-hole 21 and the claw 2b provided on the lock 2 with an interval corresponding to the thickness of the panel 3, and the connector 1 is connected to the panel. 20 is attached.

  In addition, although the shape of the lock 2 and the shape of the claw 2a and the claw 2b are variously devised according to the type and shape of the connector 1, the mechanism described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is basically used. The connector with a lock is mounted on a panel for mounting various connectors including a body panel of an automobile or the like.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-125310

By the way, in the case of the connector with a lock | rock described in the patent document 1 mentioned above, there exist the following problems.
That is, in the through hole 21 in FIG. 8, there may be a case where a burr generated when the through hole 21 is processed is left on the inner edge of the through hole 21 that comes into contact when the connector 1 is inserted. When inserting 1 into this through-hole 21, the claw 2a or claw 2b of the lock 2 may be damaged by this burr.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the claw 2 a and the claw 2 b of the lock 2 may be damaged because the lock 2 has an arm shape and the claw 2 a that first passes through the through hole 21 of the panel 20 is the tip of the arm 2. It is expected to be particularly large in the shape as provided in. Specifically, when the connector 1 is inserted in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9 and the claw 2a of the lock 2 passes through the through hole 21, the insertion resistance is greater due to the burr 5 present at the inner edge of the through hole 21 as shown in the enlarged view. Therefore, there is a high possibility that the lock 2 is broken at the starting point portion 6 of the arm or at any location between the claw 2 a and the starting point portion 6.

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is that in this type of connector with a lock, even if a burr remains on the inner edge of the through hole for mounting the connector on the panel side, the lock portion of the connector is damaged by this burr when the connector is inserted. It is to provide a connector with a lock.

  In order to achieve the above object, the connector with a lock according to claim 1 of the present invention is such that at least a part of the connector is inserted in the axial direction into a through-hole for mounting the connector provided on the panel and the lock is provided on the side surface. A connector with a lock that prevents the panel from coming off, and the connector with a lock prevents the lock from being damaged when the connector with a lock is inserted into a through hole for mounting the connector on the panel. A lock breakage prevention piece, and the inner diameter dimension of the lock breakage prevention piece is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the through hole, and the lock breakage prevention piece attaches the connector with lock to the through hole of the panel. When inserting, the one end surface in the axial direction comes into contact with the surface of the panel before the tip of the lock is inserted into the through hole, and the lock is attached. Is characterized in that it accompanied the insertion of connector in the connector insertion direction opposite to the direction is movable the upper lockable connector.

  According to the connector with a lock according to claim 1 thus configured, the connector with the lock has a lock breakage preventing piece on the outer periphery thereof whose inner diameter is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the through hole. In addition, when the connector with lock is inserted into the through hole of the panel, the lock breakage preventing piece has an end surface in the axial direction before the tip of the lock is inserted into the through hole. And when the connector with lock is inserted into the through hole, the connector with lock is movable in the direction opposite to the connector insertion direction. Before the tip of the lock passes through the through hole, the axial end face of the lock breakage prevention piece comes into contact with the surface of the panel first, and even if there is a burr on the inner edge of the through hole, this is suppressed. Only to become.

At the same time, since the inner diameter dimension of the lock breakage prevention piece is equal to or smaller than that of the through hole, the lock contacts the inner surface of the lock breakage prevention piece, but the inner surface of the through hole where the burr may exist It is possible to pass through the through hole with almost no contact.
Therefore, even if there is a burr on the inner edge of the through hole, the lock of the connector with a lock can pass through the through hole with almost no contact with this burr, so the lock breaks at the burr at the inner edge of the through hole. There is no fear.

  The connector with a lock according to claim 2 of the present application is the connector with a lock according to claim 1, wherein the connector with the lock before and after inserting the main body of the connector with the lock into a through hole for mounting the connector provided in the panel. The connector main body and the lock breakage preventing piece are positioned by positioning members, respectively.

  According to the connector with a lock according to claim 2 thus configured, the main body of the connector with the lock and the lock breakage before and after inserting the connector with the lock into the through hole for mounting the connector provided on the panel. The position of the prevention piece can be determined, for example, by providing a concave portion on the outer surface of the connector with lock as a positioning member and providing a convex portion that fits into the concave portion on the inner surface of the lock breakage prevention piece.

  If both are positioned in this way, in addition to the effect of the connector with a lock according to claim 1 described above, for example, before the main body of the connector with the lock is inserted into the through hole for mounting the connector on the panel, The lock breakage prevention piece can be held so as not to fall out of the connector with lock, and can be securely held at the optimum position at the time of insertion. In addition, after insertion, the connector with the lock can be securely fixed to the panel by sandwiching the thickness direction of the panel between one end face in the axial direction of the lock breakage preventing piece and the clamping portion provided on the lock.

  Furthermore, the connector with a lock according to claim 3 of the present application is the connector with a lock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body of the connector with the lock is provided in the panel through the connector mounting hole. The position of the lock breakage preventing piece with respect to the body of the connector with lock after being inserted into the lock is such that the panel is sandwiched between the lock holding portion of the connector with lock and the one end face in the axial direction of the lock breakage preventing piece, It is a position which fixes a connector with a lock | rock to the said panel.

  According to the connector with a lock according to claim 3 as described above, in addition to the effect of the connector with a lock according to claim 1, as described in the explanation of the function and effect of the connector with a lock according to claim 2. In the state after the connector with the lock is inserted into the through hole for mounting the connector on the panel, the thickness direction of the panel is sandwiched between the axial one end face of the lock breakage preventing piece and the holding portion provided on the lock. It is also possible to firmly fix the connector with lock so that it does not move with respect to the panel.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when inserting the main body of the connector with a lock into the connector mounting through hole provided in the panel, even if there is a burr on the inner edge of the connector mounting through hole. In addition, it is possible to provide a connector with a lock in which the lock portion is not damaged by this burr when the main body of the connector with a lock is inserted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the connector with a lock according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a front view (left side) and a side view (right side) of a connector body 10 with a lock having a rectangular cross section showing an example of a connector with lock applied to the present invention.
An arm-type lock 12 having a claw 11 at the tip is provided on a pair of opposing side surfaces of the connector main body 10 with a lock. Further, another pair of opposing side surfaces are provided with a pair of panel holding members 13 having a rectangular cross section projecting from one end of the connector main body 10 with a lock at the same distance. The connector main body 10 with a lock is securely fixed to the panel by cooperating with a clamping part (described later) provided at the rear end of the terminal 11 in the thickness direction.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes a connection terminal. This connection terminal has various shapes other than those shown in the figure. In the present invention, the shape of the connection terminal 30 is irrelevant. Therefore, it has been deleted in the following drawings.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a front view (right side) of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 attached to the outside of the connector main body 10 with lock shown in FIG. 1 is locked to the outside of the connector main body 10 with the lock so that the panel holding members 13 and 13 of the connector main body 10 with the lock shown in FIG. The prevention piece 15 is assembled.

  The inner diameter dimension of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the connector mounting through hole formed in the panel on which the connector main body 10 with the lock is mounted. When the main body 10 is inserted into the through hole of the panel, the end face in the axial direction of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 contacts the surface of the panel before the claw 11 at the tip of the lock 12 is inserted into the through hole. In contact with the connector main body 10 with lock, the connector main body 10 can be moved in the direction opposite to the connector insertion direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of concave portions 14 a and 14 b are provided in pairs on opposite side surfaces of the outer surface of the connector main body 10 with a lock, and on the other hand, a pair of opposing lock breakage prevention pieces 15. On the inner surface, a convex portion 17 that fits both the concave portions 14a and 14b is provided.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a side view of a state where the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is mounted on the outside of the connector main body 10 with the lock. Here, the state X indicates the state immediately before the connector main body 10 with lock having the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is inserted into the through hole 21 for mounting the connector of the panel 20, and is provided on the outer surface of the connector main body 10 with lock. The convex part 17 provided in the inner surface of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 is fitting in the concave part 14a.

  The Y state indicates the final stage state where the connector with lock is mounted on the panel 20, and indicates a state in which the distance L is separated from the X state in the axial direction of the connector body 10 with lock. In this state, the convex portion 17 provided on the inner surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 10 is fitted in the concave portion 14b of the connector main body 10 with the lock. In this way, the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is movable on the surface of the connector main body 10 with the lock by sliding from the X state to the Y state in the axial direction.

In order to make it easier to understand the two states X and Y and the intermediate state from the X state to the Y state, longitudinal sectional views of the respective states are shown in FIGS.
4 to 6, only the lock breakage prevention piece 15 and the panel 20 assembled to the connector main body 10 with a lock are shown as cross-sectional views in order to simplify the drawings, and the connector main body 10 with a lock is shown in a cross-sectional view. Not done.

Before explaining the change of the state due to the movement from FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the reference numerals in FIG. 4 will be explained first.
Reference numeral 18 denotes a clamping portion provided at the rear end of the claw 11 provided at the distal end portion of the arm-shaped lock 12. This clamping portion 18 is a panel clamping member 13 provided in the connector main body 10 with the lock described above. Alternatively, in cooperation with one end face in the axial direction of the lock breakage preventing piece 15, the thickness direction of the panel 20 is sandwiched and the connector main body 10 with the lock is firmly fixed to the panel 20.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes a claw gripping portion that grips the claw 11 at the tip of the lock 12 that is bored inside the lock breakage prevention piece 15 and is provided as necessary. If the claw gripping portion 19 that is enlarged inside the lock breakage prevention piece 15 is provided in this way, a very large inward force is not applied to the lock 12 of the connector main body 10 with the lock before being attached to the panel 20. It is very preferable.

As shown in FIG. 4, the state of X, that is, the state immediately before the connector main body 10 with the lock breakage prevention piece 15 is inserted into the connector mounting through hole 21 of the panel 20, is the connector main body with lock. 10 is a state in which a convex portion 17 provided on the inner surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is fitted in the concave portion 14a.
In this state, the end surface on the connector insertion side (end surface in the axial direction) of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is in contact with the surface of the panel 20 as shown in the figure. The inner diameter dimension of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the through hole 21 provided on the panel 20 side.

  Therefore, in the lock breakage preventing piece 15 in which one end surface thereof is in contact with the surface of the panel 20, even if the inner edge of the through hole 21 has the burr 5 as shown in FIG. The inner edge of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 that holds the burr 5 at its one end face that is in contact or has the same inner diameter as or smaller than the inner edge of the through hole 21 with the burr 5 has a burr of the through hole 21. It will be located in the center axis side of the connector main body 10 with a lock | rock from an inner edge, ie, an inner side.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the connector main body 10 with the lock is pushed into the through hole 21 of the panel 20 in the direction of the arrow, the claw 11 at the distal end of the lock 12, for example, which has been easily damaged in the past, Although the inner edge of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 is touched, the through-hole 21 can be passed through without touching the inner edge of the through-hole 21 of the panel 20 which may have a burr. Therefore, the conventional problem that the lock 12 is damaged by being touched by the burr on the inner edge of the through hole 21 and receiving an excessive force does not occur.

FIG. 6 shows a state immediately after the claw 11 portion of the lock 12 has passed through the through-hole 21 of the panel 20, that is, the state of Y described above. The final state of mounting in the through hole 21 provided in the panel 20 is shown. This state is also a state in which the convex portion 17 provided on the inner surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is fitted in the concave portion 14b of the connector main body 10 with the lock as described above.
In this state, the clamping portion 18 at the rear end of the claw 11 of the lock 12 and one end surface of the panel clamping member 13, or the axial end surface of the lock breakage prevention piece 15, that is, the surface in contact with the panel 20, respectively. Working together, the panel 20 is clamped in the thickness direction, and the connector main body 10 with the lock is firmly and securely fixed to the panel 20.

By the way, in order to clamp the panel 20 in the thickness direction in order to fix the connector main body 10 with the lock to the panel 20, the clamping is provided at the rear end of the claw 11 of the lock 12 that holds at least one end surface side of the panel 20. Any combination of the part 18 and one end surface in the axial direction of the panel holding member 13 or the lock breakage prevention piece 15 that holds down the other surface of the panel comes into contact with the surface of the panel 20 in the final state is required.
That is, a combination of the sandwiching portion 18 and the panel sandwiching member 13 or a combination of whether the end portions in the axial direction of the sandwiching portion 18 and the lock breakage prevention piece 15 are in contact with the surface of the panel 20 in the final state.

Therefore, if the panel clamping member 13 is provided, the end position of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 in the final state is in contact with the surface of the panel 20 as shown in FIG. It may not be a contact position, and conversely, one end face in the axial direction of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 is designed to be in contact with the surface of the panel 20 as shown in FIG. 6 in the final stage, that is, in the final state, When the position where the concave portion 14b formed in the inner surface of the connector main body 10 with the lock and the convex portion 17 provided on the inner surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 are designed as shown in FIG. The panel clamping member 13 can be omitted.
Of course, as shown in FIG. 6, it is more reliable that the panel 20 is held by the three members of the clamping portion 18 of the claw 11 of the lock 12, one axial end surface of the lock breakage prevention piece 15, and the panel clamping member 13. It is preferable that the connector main body 10 with a lock can be attached and fixed to the panel 20.

  By the way, the state where one end surface of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 in the axial direction is in contact with the surface of the panel 20 means “contact” means that the lock breakage prevention piece 15 is in contact with the surface of the panel 20 in the axial direction. There is a burr on the inner edge of the through hole 21 of the panel 20 as well as the case where the one end surface is in contact, and the one end surface in the axial direction of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 is obstructed by this burr with a normal connector insertion force. However, it includes a state where the panel 20 is not close to the surface of the panel 20 any more, and there is a slight gap between the one end surface in the axial direction of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 and the panel 20.

By the way, in the said Example, although the one end surface of the lock breakage prevention piece 15 showed the type which contact | abuts the surface of the panel 20 in the whole front surface like FIGS. There is a risk that the front surface of the breakage preventing piece 15 (the surface that comes into contact with the surface of the panel 20) may be damaged by the burrs 5 existing at the inner edge of the through hole 21 of the panel 20.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a method in which a notch portion 25 is provided on the front surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 so as to avoid the burr 5 so as not to directly contact the burr 5.
Incidentally, also in FIG. 7, only the lock breakage prevention piece 15 and the panel 20 assembled to the connector main body 10 with a lock are shown as cross-sectional views in order to simplify the drawing, and the connector main body 10 with the lock is shown in a cross-sectional view. Absent.

In the above-described embodiment, the connector main body 10 with lock has a rectangular cross section, but the present invention is not limited to a rectangular cross section, but can be applied to connectors with various shapes such as a circular one.
Further, the connector with lock attached to the panel 20 may be a male connector with lock or a female connector with lock.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the concave portion 14 is provided as a positioning member on the surface of the connector main body 10 with lock, and the convex portion 17 is provided on the inner surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 15. Needless to say, a convex portion may be provided on the surface, and a concave portion fitted to the inner surface of the lock breakage preventing piece 15 may be provided.

Furthermore, although the recessed part and the convex part in the said Example were a recessed part with a circular cross section, and were a convex part, a linear or rectangular recessed part may be sufficient as a convex part.
In the embodiment, the recesses and the projections are provided in pairs and symmetrical positions, but two pairs or more may be used instead of the pair, and the positions need not be symmetrical positions. Not too long. What is to be done may be selected as appropriate mainly according to the shape of the connector main body 10 with lock.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, for example, when a connector with a lock is inserted into a connector mounting through-hole provided in a connector mounting panel, a burr is temporarily formed on the inner edge of the connector mounting through-hole. Even if it exists, when inserting a connector with a lock | rock into this through-hole, the connector with a lock | rock which a lock | rock part is not damaged by this burr | flash can be provided.

It is the front view and side view which show an example of the connector main body with a lock | rock applied to this invention. It is the front view which shows an example of the lock breakage prevention piece applied to this invention, and its AA sectional drawing. It is a side view which anticipates the state which assembled | attached the lock breakage prevention piece shown in FIG. 2 to the connector main body with a lock shown in FIG. It is a connector with a lock in the state where a lock breakage prevention piece is incorporated in a connector main body with a lock which is an example of the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state immediately before the connector with a lock is inserted into a through hole of a panel. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which inserted the connector main body with a lock | rock further into the through-hole of the panel from the state of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the final state which mounted | wore the through-hole of the panel with the connector with a lock | rock of this invention. It is a connector with a lock | rock of this invention, Comprising: It is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which mounted | wore the panel through-hole with the connector with a lock | rock equipped with the lock | rock breakage prevention piece which improved. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which mounted | wore the through-hole provided in the panel with the conventional connector with a lock | rock. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which mounted | wore the other conventional connector with a lock | rock with the through-hole provided in the panel.

Explanation of symbols

5 Burr 10 Connector body 11 with lock 11 Claw 12 Lock 13 Panel clamping member 14 Recess 15 Lock breakage prevention piece 17 Convex part 18 Clamping part 19 Claw gripping part 20 Panel 21 Through hole 25 Notch

Claims (3)

  A connector with a lock in which at least a part of a connector is inserted in an axial direction into a through hole for mounting a connector provided in a panel and the lock is provided on a side surface to prevent the lock from being removed from the panel. The attached connector has on its outer periphery a lock breakage preventing piece that prevents breakage of the lock when the connector with lock is inserted into the through hole for mounting the connector on the panel. The lock breakage prevention piece is inserted into the through hole of the panel when the connector with lock is inserted into the through hole. The first end surface in the axial direction abuts against the surface of the panel before the connector is inserted, and the lock is inserted in the direction opposite to the connector insertion direction along with the insertion of the connector with the lock. Lockable connectors, characterized in that it is movable on the connector attached.   The position of the main body of the connector with lock and the locking breakage prevention piece before and after inserting the connector with lock into a connector mounting through-hole provided in the panel is respectively positioned by a positioning member. Item 10. A connector with a lock according to item 1.   The position of the lock breakage prevention piece with respect to the body of the connector with lock after inserting the connector with lock into the connector mounting through-hole provided in the panel is determined by the pinching portion of the lock of the connector with lock and the lock breakage. 3. The connector with a lock according to claim 1, wherein the panel is sandwiched between one end face in the axial direction of the prevention piece and the connector with the lock is fixed to the panel. 4.

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