JP2006127796A - Connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector device capable of enlarging sound notifying mutual fitting-in of the connectors. <P>SOLUTION: A protruded lock protrusion part 33 and a pair of ribs 34 protruded higher than the lock protrusion part are formed on an upper face of a male housing 3 of a male connector 2 constituting the conector device. On the other hand, a lock lever 75 preventing the connector 2 from falling off from the connector 6 by getting engaged with the lock protrusion part 33 by deflecting and getting over the lock protrusion part 33 when fitting the connector 2 into the connector 6, and a movable piece 76 getting over the ribs as well are integrally formed on a female housing 7 of the female connector 6. When releasing the locked state of the connectors 2, 6, the male and female connectors 2, 6 are separated while pushing down an operation part 75b so that the lock lever 75 can get over the lock protrusion part 33. At this time, the movable piece 76 is made to deflect inward so as to evade the ribs 34 and pass through by being pressed in touching the back face of the ribs 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector device that includes a pair of connectors that house terminal fittings therein.

  As a prior art, a connector having a housing having a terminal fitting inside, the housing has a lock lever, and when the mating connector is fitted to the mating connector, the locking lever bends to lock the locking portion of the mating connector. There has been a connector that engages with a lock portion by getting over and then returning to its shape, and prevents both from coming off (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This connector overswings when the lock lever gets over the lock part and vigorously returns to its shape. Is informed that it is fully mated.

However, depending on the environment of the work place where the connector is fitted, the noise generated at the time of fitting is small for the operator, so it may be difficult to determine whether the fitting is complete. In particular, this is remarkable in the fitting work in a place where the noise from the surroundings is large. There was a method to increase the amount of bending of the lock lever during mating in order to increase the noise generated when the connector is mated, but this increases the amount of operation of the lock lever when the connector is released from the locked state. However, there is also a problem that the release work becomes difficult.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-50269 (FIGS. 6-8)

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector device that can increase the sound generated to notify that the connectors are fitted together.

  As means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 includes a pair of connectors for accommodating terminal fittings therein and engaging the terminal fittings by fitting each other. One of the housings is formed with a locking protrusion, and the other housing of the connectors gets over the locking protrusion while flexing when the connectors are fitted to each other. In the connector having a lock lever that engages with the locking protrusion and prevents the locking protrusion, the one housing includes a rib that protrudes higher than the locking protrusion, and the other housing includes the connector. When they are fitted together, they get over the ribs while flexing, then return to their shape, and their tips come into contact with the one housing. When releasing the fitting between the connectors, one side of the rib and the movable piece is placed in a direction different from the direction in which the movable piece bends over the rib. The connector device is characterized in that it can be bent and the housings can be pulled apart.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the fitting of the connectors is released, the housings are separated from each other, so that one side of the rib and the movable piece is pressed against the other side and is avoided. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the connector device is bent in a direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the rib is provided on one of the left and right sides of the locking protrusion on the one housing, in the fitting direction of the connector, and the movable piece is provided on the other housing. The connector device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector device is formed on one side of the lock lever toward a fitting direction of the connector.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a pair of the ribs are provided on the one housing so as to sandwich the lock protrusions on the left and right sides in the fitting direction of the connector, and the movable piece is provided on the other housing. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein a pair is formed so as to sandwich the lock lever from side to side in a fitting direction of the connector.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a cover portion that covers the movable piece is formed in the other housing.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the connectors are mated, the movable piece that has climbed over the ribs higher than the locking protrusion returns to its shape and abuts the housing. Can be clearly communicated. When releasing the fitting between the connectors, it is possible to separate the housings by bending one side of the rib and the movable piece in a direction different from the direction bent when the movable piece gets over the rib. Therefore, the operation amount for operating the rib and the movable piece so as to avoid each other is not so large, and the releasing operation is easy.

<Invention of Claim 2>
When releasing the fitting between the connectors, the housings are separated from each other, so that one side of the rib and the movable piece is pressed against the other side and is bent in a direction to avoid it. Only by pulling apart the housings without specially operating one of them, the connectors can be disconnected.

<Invention of Claim 3>
The ribs are provided on one housing on the left and right sides of the locking protrusion on the one housing in the connector fitting direction, and the movable pieces are on the other housing on the left and right sides of the lock lever in the connector fitting direction. By being formed on one side, the rib and the movable piece can be provided by using a small space of the housing.

<Invention of Claim 4>
A pair of ribs are provided on one housing so as to sandwich the lock protrusion on the left and right in the connector fitting direction, and the movable piece is a lock lever on the other housing in the connector fitting direction. By forming the pair so as to sandwich the right and left, the resistance generated when fitting the connectors is well balanced in the left and right direction, and the fitting can be performed smoothly.

<Invention of Claim 5>
In the other housing, the cover portion that covers the movable piece is formed, so that the movable piece does not abut against other members to be deformed or damaged.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the description, the right side in FIG. 1 is the front side of the male connector 2, and the left side is the front side of the female connector 6. The male connector 2 constitutes the connector device 1 together with the female connector 6, and includes a male housing 3 (corresponding to one housing of the present invention) and a male terminal fitting 4 accommodated therein. The male housing 3 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material, and has a terminal accommodating hole 31 in which the male terminal fitting 4 is accommodated. The male terminal fitting 4 is formed of a conductive metal material, has a fitting portion 41 that engages with a female terminal fitting 8 described later at the front end, and is caulked to the core wire CI of the electric wire W behind it. A wire barrel 42 is formed, and an insulating barrel 43 that is caulked on the outer peripheral surface of the waterproof rubber 5 into which the electric wire W is inserted is provided behind the wire barrel 42.

  A lance 32 that can be bent from below projects in the terminal receiving hole 31 of the male housing 3 and engages with the received male terminal fitting 4 to prevent the lance 32 from coming off. On the front upper surface of the male housing 3, a lock protrusion 33 protrudes upward at the center in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2). The lock protrusion 33 is formed with an inclined surface 33a in front of it, and the rear of the lock protrusion 33 is substantially vertical. Further, the male housing 3 is formed with a pair of protruding ribs 34 so as to sandwich the lock protrusion 33 from side to side in the fitting direction (rightward in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, each rib 34 protrudes higher than the lock projection 33, and a slope 34 a is provided in the front and the rear is formed vertically.

  The female connector 6 includes a female housing 7 (corresponding to the other housing of the present invention) and a female terminal fitting 8 accommodated therein. The female housing 7 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin material and has a terminal accommodating hole 71 in which the female terminal fitting 8 is accommodated. The female terminal fitting 8 is formed of a conductive metal material, has a connecting portion 81 into which the male terminal fitting 4 is inserted at the front end, and behind that is a wire barrel 82 that is caulked to the core wire CI of the electric wire W. Further, an insulating barrel 83 that is caulked on the outer peripheral surface of the waterproof rubber 5 into which the electric wire W is inserted is provided behind the insulating barrel 83.

  The front wall of the terminal receiving hole 71 of the female housing 7 is formed with a terminal insertion hole 72 into which the male terminal fitting 4 enters when the connectors 2 and 6 are fitted. A deflectable lance 73 protrudes. Similar to the male housing 3, it engages with the female terminal fitting 8 accommodated therein to prevent it from coming off. A hood 74 is formed in front of the female housing 7 so that the male connector 2 can be received.

  A lock lever 75 is integrally provided on the front upper surface of the female housing 7 at the center in the width direction. The lock lever 75 is connected to another part of the female housing 7 at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction, and can tilt (bend) in the front-rear direction. A hook-like portion 75a is formed at the front end of the lock lever 75 so as to be able to engage with the lock protrusion 33 of the male housing 3, and the rear end thereof is for releasing the engagement with the lock protrusion 33. An operation unit 75b is formed. In front of the lock lever 75, a pair of movable pieces 76 are integrally formed so as to sandwich the lock lever 75 from side to side in the fitting direction (leftward in FIG. 2). The movable piece 76 is formed so as to coincide with the position of the rib 34 of the male housing 3 when the connectors 2 and 6 are fitted. The pair of movable pieces 76 protrude from the lock lever 75 to the left and right in the width direction, and can be bent inward in the horizontal direction (on the lock lever 75 side). As shown in FIG. 2, a cover portion 77 is formed above the lock lever 75 so as to cover the movable piece 76, thereby protecting the movable piece 76.

  Next, a method for fitting the connectors 2 and 6 to each other will be described. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the male and female connectors 2, 6 are fitted, the fitting portion 41 of the male terminal fitting 4 enters the terminal insertion hole 72, and the connecting portion of the female terminal fitting 8. 81 is engaged. At the same time, the pair of movable pieces 76 ride on the slope 34 a formed on the rib 34 of the male housing 3 and rise, so that the lock lever 75 integrated therewith also has the same height as the movable piece 76 and faces forward. Tilt (bend).

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the fitting of the male and female connectors 2 and 6 is completed, the movable piece 76 reaches the rear surface of the rib 34. At this time, since the hook-shaped portion 75a of the lock lever 75 has also reached the rear surface of the lock projection 33, the lock lever 75 and the movable piece 76 are integrated together and get over the lock projection 33 and the rib 34, respectively. Return to shape. At this time, the hook-like portion 75a of the lock lever 75 and the pair of movable pieces 76 vigorously contact the upper surface of the male housing 3, so that a sound is generated between the male housing 3, the lock lever 75, and the movable piece 76. , Notify that the mating is complete. Note that the lock lever 75 whose shape has been restored engages with the lock protrusion 33 to prevent the connectors 2 and 6 from coming off.

  Next, based on FIG.9 and FIG.10, the method to make the connectors 2 and 6 in the fitted state into a cancellation | release state is demonstrated. First, the operator pushes down the operation portion 75b behind the lock lever 75 with a finger or the like, and tilts the lock lever 75 so that the hook-shaped portion 75a is positioned higher than the lock protrusion 33 ( Bend). Since the rib 34 of the male housing 3 protrudes higher than the lock protrusion 33, the movable piece 76 is not at a height exceeding the rib 34 at this time. Next, when the male and female connectors 2 and 6 are pulled apart from each other while the operation portion 75b is pressed down, the hook-shaped portion 75a of the lock lever 75 can easily exceed the lock projection 33. On the other hand, each of the pair of movable pieces 76 can be bent inward, which is a different direction from when over the rib 34, so that when the male and female connectors 2, 6 are pulled apart from each other, they contact the rear surface of the rib 34. By being pressed in contact with each other, it is possible to bend and pass so as to avoid the ribs 34 (shown in FIG. 10).

  According to the present embodiment, when the connectors 2 and 6 are fitted to each other, the movable piece 76 and the lock lever 75 that have passed over the rib 34 higher than the lock protrusion 33 return to their shapes and come into contact with the male housing 3. Therefore, since a louder sound than before is generated, it is possible to clearly notify that the connectors 2 and 6 are fitted together. When the fitting between the connectors 2 and 6 is released, the movable piece 76 is bent in the width direction of the female connector 6 so that the housings 3 and 7 can be separated from each other. The operation amount is not so large, and the releasing operation is easy.

  Further, when the fitting between the connectors 2 and 6 is released, the movable pieces 76 are pressed against the ribs 34 when the housings 3 and 7 are separated from each other. Only by pulling the housings 3 and 7 apart without specially operating 76, the fitting between the connectors can be released.

  Further, a pair of ribs 34 are provided on the male housing 3 so as to sandwich the lock protrusion 33 from side to side in the fitting direction of the connector 2, and the movable piece 76 is fitted on the female housing 7 to the connector 6. By forming a pair so that the lock lever 75 is sandwiched to the left and right in the direction, the resistance generated when fitting the connectors 2 and 6 is well balanced in the left and right direction, and the fitting is performed smoothly. Can do. Further, the cover 77 that covers the movable piece 76 is formed on the female housing 7, so that the movable piece 76 does not contact with other members to be deformed or damaged.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
(1) When the male and female connectors are separated, the movable piece and the rib may come into contact with each other, and the upper part of the rib may be bent so as to avoid the movable piece.
(2) Ribs are provided on the left and right sides of the lock projection in the connector fitting direction, and the movable pieces are formed on the left and right sides of the lock lever in the connector fitting direction, respectively. A rib and a movable piece can be provided using a small space.
(3) The lock lever and the movable piece may be formed not only in a cantilever shape but also in a double-sided shape.
(4) The lock lever and the movable piece may be formed separately from each other.

It is sectional drawing of the male and female connector by this embodiment. It is a top view of the male and female connector shown in FIG. It is a front view of the female connector shown in FIG. It is a front view of the male connector shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the place where the male and female connectors are fitting each other. FIG. 6 is a top view of the male and female connectors shown in FIG. 5. It is sectional drawing which shows the place where fitting of the male and female connectors was completed. FIG. 8 is a top view of the male and female connectors shown in FIG. 7. It is sectional drawing which shows the place which cancels | releases the fitting of the male and female connector. FIG. 10 is a top view of the male and female connectors shown in FIG. 9.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector apparatus 2 ... Male connector 3 ... Male housing 4 ... Male terminal metal fitting 6 ... Female connector 7 ... Female housing 8 ... Female terminal metal fitting 33 ... Locking protrusion 34 ... Rib 75 ... Lock lever 76 ... Movable piece 77 ... Cover part

Claims (5)

Each of the terminal fittings is housed and a pair of connectors for engaging the terminal fittings with each other by being fitted to each other, and a lock projection is formed on one of the connectors so as to protrude. The other housing includes a lock lever that, when the connectors are fitted to each other, gets over the lock protrusion while being bent, then returns to its shape and engages with the lock protrusion to prevent it from coming off. In
The one housing is formed with a rib projecting higher than the locking projection, and the other housing is bent over the rib while the connector is fitted to each other. It has a movable piece that generates sound when its tip abuts against the one housing, and when releasing the fitting between the connectors, the movable piece is placed on one side of the rib and the movable piece. A connector device characterized in that the housing can be pulled apart by bending in a direction different from the direction in which the rib is bent when getting over the rib. When releasing the fitting between the connectors, the housings are separated from each other, so that one side of the rib and the movable piece is pressed against the other side and is bent in a direction to avoid it. The connector device according to claim 1. The rib is provided on one of the housings on the left and right sides of the locking projection in the fitting direction of the connector, and the movable piece is provided on the other housing in the fitting direction of the connector. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the connector device is formed on one of the left and right sides of the lock lever. A pair of the ribs are provided on the one housing so as to sandwich the lock protrusions on the left and right sides in the fitting direction of the connector, and the movable piece is fitted on the other housing. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the lock levers are formed so as to sandwich the lock lever from side to side in a direction. The connector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cover portion that covers the movable piece is formed in the other housing.

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