JP2007128721A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector having a lock arm which can not be released from locking by an operator in a process of fitting both connector housings. <P>SOLUTION: A releasing operation part 19 (releasing operation means), which shifts the lock arm 13 to a releasing position where the lock arm is made to elastically deflect into a lock releasing posture, is arranged in a first connector housing 10, and a release regulation part 33 regulating the shift of a second connector housing 30 to a releasing position of the releasing operation part 19 in a process of fitting the second connector housing 30 into the first connector housing 10, is arranged in the second connector housing 30. Since the lock arm 13 is arranged inside an outer wall (upper surface wall 12A of a cylinder-shaped fitting part 12) of the first connector housing 10, the lock arm can not be released by hitching a finger on it. Since the shift of the releasing operation part 19 is regulated by the release regulation part 33, the locking of the releasing operation part 19 can not be released from locking during the fitting process of the connector housings 10, 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

Conventionally, there is a connector described in Patent Document 1 as a connector in which two connector housings are fitted and locked. This is because a lock arm that can be elastically bent in a seesaw shape is provided on the outer surface of the first connector housing, and a lock portion is provided on the outer surface of the second connector housing. When the two connector housings are in the proper mating state, the lock arm is elastically restored to the locked position and becomes locked. By locking, both connector housings are locked in the fitted state.
When both the connector housings reach the normal fitting state, an impact sound is generated between the lock arm and the second connector housing due to the elastic restoring force of the lock arm. It has come to be understood that the meeting has been reached.
When releasing both connector housings, the lock arm is released from the lock portion in the unlocked posture by pushing the rear end of the lock arm toward the outer surface of the first connector housing, and the unlocked state. Both connector housings are separated while maintaining the above.
JP-A-10-241788

While the lock arm is elastically bent to the unlocking posture during the fitting process, a frictional resistance due to the elastic restoring force of the lock arm is generated between the lock arm and the lock part. Since it becomes resistance, it is inevitable that the work becomes difficult. Therefore, in order to avoid the occurrence of frictional resistance between the lock arm and the lock part, the operator pushes the rear end of the lock arm and keeps the lock arm in the unlocked posture, Can be considered.
However, when fitting work is performed with the lock arm in the unlocked posture, when both connector housings are properly fitted, the collision noise associated with the elastic return of the lock arm will not occur. There arises a problem that it is not possible to confirm that both connector housings have reached the normal fitting state.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent an operator from performing an unlocking operation of a lock arm during the fitting process of both connector housings.

  As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a first connector housing, a second connector housing fitted to the first connector housing, and an outer wall of the first connector housing. A lock arm provided to be located on the inner side and capable of elastic deformation from a lock posture to a lock release posture; a standby position provided in the first connector housing and disengaged from the lock arm; A release operation means capable of being displaced between a release position for elastically bending the lock arm to a lock release posture by engaging with the lock arm, a lock portion provided in the second connector housing, Provided in the second connector housing, and restricts the displacement of the release operation means to the release position in the fitting process with the first connector housing. A release restricting portion that allows displacement of the release operation means to a release position in a state of being normally fitted to the first connector housing, and in the fitting process of the two connector housings, the lock arm is connected to the lock portion. When the two connector housings are brought into a normal fitting state due to the interference with the lock, the lock arm is elastically restored and is engaged with the lock portion while generating a collision sound. It is characterized in that both connector housings are locked in the fitted state.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, at least a part of the release operation means displaced to the release position is positioned on a movement path of the release restriction portion in the fitting process of the two connector housings. It has a feature.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the release operation means is provided in a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the lock arm, and is displaced to the release position while approaching each other. It has the characteristics in the place.

  The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 3, the release restricting portion is provided as a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the protruding lock portion from both sides.

  A fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the release operation means is integrally formed with the first connector housing.

  The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the apparatus of claim 5, the release operation means is displaced to the release position while being elastically bent.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lock arm extends in a cantilever shape, and the release operation means is a free end of the lock arm. It is characterized in that the lock arm is bent in the unlocking direction by engaging with the portion.

<Invention of Claim 1>
Since the lock arm is disposed on the inner side of the outer wall of the first connector housing, it is difficult to perform the unlocking operation by directly placing a finger on the lock arm. Moreover, in the fitting process of both connector housings, since the displacement of the release operation means is restricted by the release restricting portion, the lock arm cannot be bent to the unlocking posture by operating the release operation means.

<Invention of Claim 2>
When fitting of both connector housings is started with the release operating means displaced to the release position, the release restricting section hits the release operating means in the middle of fitting, preventing further fitting operation. Is done. Therefore, the two connector housings are not normally fitted with the lock arm in the unlocked posture.

<Invention of Claim 3>
The pair of release operation means is excellent in operability because it can be displaced to the release position if it is picked up by two fingers and brought close to each other.

<Invention of Claim 4>
Since a pair of release restricting portions are provided so as to sandwich the lock portion, it is possible to prevent foreign matter interference with the protruding lock portion.

<Invention of Claim 5>
Since the release operation means is formed integrally with the first connector housing, the work of assembling the release operation means to the first connector housing becomes unnecessary.

<Invention of Claim 6>
After the lock arm is bent in the unlocking direction, when the hand is released from the release operation means, the release operation means returns to the standby position by the elastic restoring force accumulated in itself. Therefore, when both the connector housings are fitted again after unlocking and releasing both the connector housings, it is possible to save the trouble of returning the release operation means to the standby position.

<Invention of Claim 7>
Since the free end portion of the lock arm is the farthest from the fulcrum of the lock arm, the engagement force applied from the release operation means side to the lock arm side to bend the lock arm in the unlocking direction is small, and as a result The operation force for the operator to displace the release operation means can be small.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment includes a first connector housing 10 made of synthetic resin and a second connector housing 30 made of synthetic resin.
The first connector housing 10 has a block-shaped terminal accommodating portion 11 and a tubular shape that protrudes forward from a substantially central position in the front-rear direction on the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 11 so as to surround a substantially first half portion of the terminal accommodating portion 11. And a fitting portion 12. A first terminal fitting (not shown) having a well-known structure having a female shape is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 11. In the space between the upper surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11 and the upper surface wall 12A of the cylindrical fitting portion 12 (the outer wall of the first connector housing 10 which is a constituent feature of the present invention), the outer peripheral upper surface (first The lock arm 13 is formed so as to extend forward in a cantilevered manner along the outer surface of one connector housing 10.

  The lock arm 13 includes a pair of left and right arm portions 14 that are elongated in the front-rear direction, a locking portion 15 that connects the front end portions of both arm portions 14, and extends obliquely downward and rearward from the rear end portions of both arm portions 14. It consists of a pair of left and right legs 16 extending out and continuing to the upper surface of the terminal housing 11. In a free state in which the lock arm 13 is not elastically bent, the lock unit 13 is in a locked posture in which the arm portion 14 is horizontally oriented so as to be parallel to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 30 as shown by a solid line in FIG. However, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 7, the arm 16 can be elastically bent to the unlocking posture in which both the arm portions 14 are inclined forwardly with the rear end leg portion 16 as a substantially fulcrum. The rear surface of the locking portion 15 is a locking surface 15A that is perpendicular to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 30. Furthermore, a pair of left and right projecting portions 17 are formed at the front end of the lock arm 13 so that the outer surfaces of both arm portions 14 project outward. The projecting portion 17 extends from the lower surface to the outer surface. Thus, an arcuate receiving surface 17A having a substantially quadrangular arc shape is formed.

  A pair of left and right window holes 18 having a shape penetrating a portion corresponding to the front end portion of the arm portion 14 is formed in the left and right side wall portions of the cylindrical fitting portion 12. A release operation part 19 (release operation means which is a constituent element of the present invention) is provided which is extended in a cantilevered manner from the front edge part at the opening edge and formed integrally with the first connector housing 10. ing. The release operation unit 19 is always in the standby position as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 8, but as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the release operation unit 19 is inclined with the front end as a fulcrum. While changing the posture, it can be elastically displaced horizontally to the release position inside (the direction approaching the lock arm 13) from the standby position. The release operation portion 19 is disposed at substantially the same height as the arm portion 14 and the protruding portion 17 of the lock arm 13.

  At the rear end (free end) of the release operation unit 19, a finger pad 20 that protrudes outward (outside of the cylindrical fitting unit 12) is formed, and the release operation unit 19 is in the standby position. In a certain state, the finger rest 20 protrudes outward from the outer surface of the side wall portion of the tubular fitting portion 12, and in a state where the release operation portion 19 is elastically displaced to the release position, the finger rest 20 is tubular fitted. It is located inside the outer surface of the joint portion 12. Similarly, a pressing portion 21 protruding inward is formed at the rear end portion of the release operation portion 19, and the inner side surface of each pressing portion 21 is a pressing surface 21A that is inclined so as to be displaced inward downward. ing. In a state in which the release operation unit 19 is in the standby position, the pressing unit 21 is positioned so as to be in non-contact with the front end portion (projecting portion 17) of the lock arm 13 in the locked posture and to correspond from the side. In a state where 19 is elastically displaced to the release position, the lock surface 13 is elastically pushed up from the lock posture to the release posture by the pressing surface 21A coming into contact with the arcuate receiving surface 17A. The operation of displacing the release operation part 19 from the standby position to the release position is performed by using two fingers (for example, the first finger) on the outer surface of the finger contact part 20 of both release operation parts 19 protruding from the outer surface of the cylindrical fitting part 12. It is only necessary that the fingers are placed so as to sandwich the first finger and the second finger) so that both finger contact portions 20 (both release operation portions 19) are brought closer to each other. Further, when the finger is released from the release operation unit 19 that has been displaced to the release position, each release operation unit 19 returns to the standby position by the elastic restoring force accumulated along with the elastic displacement to the release position. ing. As the release operation unit 19 is elastically returned to the standby position, the lock arm 13 that is elastically bent to the unlocking posture also returns to the locked posture by the elastic restoring force stored in itself. It has become.

  The second connector housing 30 has a hood portion 31 that protrudes forward (the same direction as the fitting direction with respect to the first connector housing 10), and is a well-known male shape that is accommodated in the second connector housing 30. An elongated tab at the front end of the second terminal fitting (not shown) having the structure is surrounded by the hood portion 31. A protruding lock portion 32 is formed on the outer surface (upper surface) of the upper surface wall of the hood portion 31. The front surface of the lock portion 32 is a guide slope 32B inclined with respect to the fitting direction of the two connector housings 10 and 30, and the rear surface of the lock portion 32 is substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction of the two connector housings 10 and 30. This is a locking surface 32A.

  On the upper surface of the upper surface wall of the hood portion 31, a pair of release restricting portions 33 are formed so as to protrude so as to sandwich the lock portion 32 from both the left and right sides. The release restricting portion 33 has a rib shape extending linearly in a direction (front-rear direction) parallel to the fitting direction of the connector housings 10 and 30. The formation range of the release restricting portion 33 in the front-rear direction is substantially the same position as the rear end of the lock portion 32 from the front end of the hood portion 31 (second connector housing 30). It is arranged between the rear ends. Further, in the left-right direction (the width direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the two connector housings 10 and 30), the release restricting portion 33 is free from the lock arm 13 in the first connector housing 10 (without being elastically bent). It is arranged so as to correspond to the space between the release operation unit 19 in a certain state). Further, the release restricting portion 33 is disposed at substantially the same height as the release operation portion 19 and the protruding portion 17 of the lock arm 13.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When fitting both the connector housings 10, 30, the outer surface of the first connector housing 10 and the outer surface of the second connector housing 30 are picked, and the hood portion 31 is placed between the terminal accommodating portion 11 and the cylindrical fitting portion 12. Enter the space. In the fitting process, the lower end edge of the locking portion 15 at the front end of the lock arm 13 abuts (interferes) with the guide slope 32B of the lock portion 32. 13 is elastically bent from the locked posture to the unlocked posture side, and an elastic restoring force is stored in the lock arm 13.

  When the connector housings 10 and 30 are in the normal fitting state, the locking portion 15 passes through the lock portion 32, so that the lock arm 13 is elastically restored to the locked posture (downward) by its elastic restoring force. The collision sound is generated when the lower end surface of the lock portion 32 collides with the upper surface (outer surface) of the upper surface wall of the hood portion 31. The operator can know that the connector housings 10 and 30 are properly fitted by the occurrence of the collision sound. Further, when the lock arm 13 returns to the locked posture, the locking surface 15A of the locking portion 15 and the locking surface 32A of the locking portion 32 are locked, whereby both the connector housings 10 and 30 are regulated to be released. Locked to the fitted state (see FIG. 7).

  When the connector housings 10 and 30 are fitted together, a part of the finger holding the first connector housing 10 hits the finger contact part 20 of the release operation part 19 so that the release operation part 19 is released from the standby position. When the fitting of the two connector housings 10 and 30 is started in a state where the lock arm 13 is displaced to the unlocked posture and the lock arm 13 is pushed up to the unlocked posture, as shown in FIG. Since it has entered the entry path of the release restricting portion 33 (region along the left and right side surfaces of the lock arm 13), the front end of the release restricting portion 33 hits the pressing portion 21 of the release operating portion 19 in the middle of the fitting, Further fitting operation is restricted.

  Further, when the release restricting portion 33 is in contact with the release operating portion 19 and the fitting force is increased and the release operating portion 19 is pushed back to the standby position by the pressing force from the release restricting portion 33 side, FIG. As shown, the release restricting portion 33 enters between the lock arm 13 and the release operating portion 19 and the fitting of the connector housings 10 and 30 proceeds. At this time, the release operating portion 19 is in the standby position. Therefore, the lock arm 13 also returns to the locked posture.

Further, even after the fitting operation of both the connector housings 10 and 30 is started in a state where the release operation unit 19 is in the standby position, even if the finger hits the finger contact part 20 of the release operation unit 19 during the fitting, FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the release operation portion 19 is displaced toward the release position by the pressing portion 21 of the release operation portion 19 coming into contact with the release restriction portion 33 positioned along the outer surface of the lock arm 13. Since it is regulated, the lock arm 13 is not displaced to the unlocking posture.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the connector housings 10 and 30 do not advance to the normal fitting in a state where the lock arm 13 is displaced to the unlocking posture.

  When the two connector housings 10 and 30 in the normal fitting state are detached, two fingers are directed to the finger-addressed portions of both release operation portions 19 protruding from both side surfaces of the cylindrical fitting portion 12, and the inside So that it is pinched. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the left and right release operation portions 19 approach each other and the pressing portion 21 pushes up the protruding portion 17 of the lock arm 13, so that the lock arm 13 is in the unlocked posture, and the locking portion 15 The locking with the lock part 32 is released. After that, both connector housings 10 and 30 may be pulled apart while maintaining this unlocked state. When displacing both release operation parts 19 to the release position, the two release operation parts 19 need only be picked and moved closer to each other, so that the unlocking operation can be easily performed with only one hand.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lock arm 13 is disposed on the inner side of the outer wall of the first connector housing 10 (the upper surface wall 12A of the cylindrical fitting portion 12). It is difficult to perform the unlocking operation by applying. Further, in the fitting process of both the connector housings 10 and 30, since the displacement of the release operation part 19 is restricted by the release restriction part 33, the release arm 19 is operated to bend the lock arm 13 to the unlocking posture. I can't. That is, the operator is prevented from performing the unlocking operation of the lock arm 13 during the fitting process of the connector housings 10 and 30.

  Further, since at least a part (the pressing portion 21) of the release operation portion 19 displaced to the release position is positioned on the movement path of the release restricting portion 33 in the fitting process of the connector housings 10 and 30, the release operation portion 19 is released. When the fitting of both the connector housings 10 and 30 is started in a state where the operation portion 19 is displaced to the release position, the release restricting portion 33 hits the release operation portion 19 in the middle of the fitting, and more The mating operation is prevented. Therefore, the connector housings 10 and 30 are not properly fitted with the lock arm 13 in the unlocked posture.

Further, the release operation unit 19 is provided in a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the lock arm 13 and is displaced to the release position while approaching each other. Therefore, the pair of release operation units 19 is held by two fingers. If they are brought close to each other, they can be displaced to the release position, and the operability is excellent.
Further, since the release restricting portion 33 is provided in a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the protruding lock portion 32 from both sides, the release restricting portion 33 can prevent foreign matter interference with the protruding lock portion 32.
In addition, since the release operating portion 19 as the release means is formed integrally with the first connector housing 10, the release means, such as when the release means is molded as a separate part, is assembled to the first connector housing 10. Is no longer necessary.
Moreover, since the release operation part 19 is displaced to the release position while being elastically bent, the release operation part 19 can be released by releasing the hand from the release operation part 19 after the lock arm 13 is bent in the unlocking direction. 19 is returned to the standby position by the elastic restoring force stored in itself. Therefore, when the connector housings 10 and 30 are fitted again after unlocking and detaching the connector housings 10 and 30, it is possible to save the trouble of returning the release operation unit 19 to the standby position.

  Further, the release operation unit 19 is configured to bend the lock arm 13 in the unlocking direction by engaging the front end portion (free end portion) of the lock arm 13, but the front end portion of the lock arm 13 is Since it is the farthest position from the rear end (leg 16), which is the fulcrum of the bending of the lock arm 13, it is applied to the lock arm 13 from the release operation unit 19 to bend the lock arm 13 in the unlocking direction. The resultant force may be small, and as a result, the operation force required for the operator to displace the release operation unit 19 may be small.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment 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, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) In the above embodiment, the release operation means is formed integrally with the first connector housing. However, the release operation means may be a separate component from the first connector housing and assembled to the first connector housing.
(2) In the above embodiment, the release operation means is returned to the standby position by the elastic restoring force stored in itself. However, the release operation means is returned to the standby position by an urging means such as a spring provided separately from the release operation means. It may be restored.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the unlocking operation means is engaged with the free end of the lock arm to displace the lock arm in the unlocking direction. It may be a position forward (base end side) from the free end.
(4) In the above embodiment, a pair of release operation means is provided on both the left and right sides of the lock arm. However, the release operation means may be provided on either the left or right side of the lock arm. In this case, the number of release restriction portions is only one.
(5) In the above-described embodiment, the lock arm is cantilevered to extend backward, but the lock arm may be cantilevered to the front, and both front and rear ends are supported by the first connector housing. The form may be sufficient.
(6) In the above embodiment, at least a part of the release operation means is positioned on the movement path of the release restricting unit when the release operation means is displaced to the release position. When the is displaced to the release position, the release operation means may be removed from the movement path of the release restricting portion.
(7) In the above embodiment, the lock portion has a protrusion shape, but according to the present invention, the lock portion may have a dent shape or a through hole shape.

Partially cutaway plan view showing a state in which fitting of both connector housings is started in a state where the release operation portion is displaced to the release position in the first embodiment Partially cutaway plan view showing the mating process of both connector housings when the release operation part is in the standby position Partially cutaway plan view showing the state where both connector housings are properly fitted Partially cutaway plan view showing the unlocked state by the release operating part in the normal fitting state Front view showing the state where both connector housings are properly fitted Front view showing the state where the lock is released by the release operation part in the normal fitting state Sectional view showing the state where both connector housings are properly fitted Front view of first connector housing Side view of first connector housing Plan view of second connector housing Front view of second connector housing Sectional view showing the state where both connector housings are detached

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... 1st connector housing 12A ... Upper surface wall of a cylindrical fitting part (outer wall of 1st connector housing)
13 ... Lock arm 19 ... Release operation part (release operation means)
30 ... Second connector housing 32 ... Lock part 33 ... Release restriction part

Claims (7)

A first connector housing;
A second connector housing fitted to the first connector housing;
A lock arm provided on the first connector housing so as to be positioned inside the outer wall, and capable of elastic bending from a locked posture to an unlocked posture;
Displacement between a standby position that is provided in the first connector housing and is not engaged with the lock arm, and a release position that elastically deflects the lock arm to the unlocking posture by engaging the lock arm. A release operation means made possible;
A locking portion provided in the second connector housing;
Provided in the second connector housing, restricting displacement of the release operation means to the release position in the fitting process with the first connector housing, and the release operation means in a state of being normally fitted with the first connector housing. A release restricting portion that allows displacement to the release position of
In the fitting process of the two connector housings, the lock arm is elastically bent in the unlocking direction due to interference with the lock part,
When the two connector housings are in a properly fitted state, the two locks are locked in the fitted state by the lock arm being elastically restored and locking to the lock part while generating a collision sound. The connector characterized by becoming. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the release operation means displaced to the release position is located on a movement path of the release restricting portion in the fitting process of the two connector housings. The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the release operation means is provided in a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the lock arm, and is displaced to a release position while approaching each other. 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the release restricting portion is provided in a pair of left and right so as to sandwich the protruding lock portion from both sides. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the release operation means is formed integrally with the first connector housing. 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the release operation means is displaced to the release position while being elastically bent. The lock arm is in a cantilevered form,
7. The release operation means is configured to bend the lock arm in a lock release direction by engaging with a free end of the lock arm. Connector described in.

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