JP2007227249A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of carrying out a male/female fitting-in work, even in a narrow place. <P>SOLUTION: The connector is provided with a connector housing 60, having a connector main body 63 and a pair of coupling walls 61 protruded from the connector body 63, a rear holder 50, capable of coupling with the connector housing 60 so as to be positioned on the extended line of the connector body, and a hinge 70, connecting the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50. With the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 in a coupled state, the rear holder 50 is mounted between the coupling walls 61, each of which 61 is engaged with a plurality of engagement positions (engaging protrusion 51 insertion-coupled with an engagement hole 62, and a contact protrusion 52, in contact with a peripheral edge of the coupling walls). When the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 are coupled to each other, stress concentration at the engaging position of the both is avoided, so that an insertion-coupling work at a narrow place can be carried out easily and stably with the manipulation of the rear holder 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector used for electrical connection of a vehicle wiring harness or the like, and in particular, facilitates assembly work of a male / female connector in a narrow place.

  A connector used for a harness for an automobile may have to be fitted and removed between a male and a female in a depressed place that is difficult to access. In order to improve the workability of such a connector, a connector using a rear holder for protecting an electric wire coupled to the rear part of a connector housing as a gripping part is described in Patent Document 1 below.

  FIG. 10 shows this connector. The connector includes a connector housing 2 and a rear holder 4. FIG. 10A shows a state before the rear holder 4 is coupled to the connector housing 2, and FIG. 10B shows the rear holder 4 attached to the connector housing 2. The combined state is illustrated. The rear holder 4 has an electric wire protection housing portion 6 for housing the electric wires 31, and the electric wire protection housing portion 6 projects rearward of the connector housing 2 in the state of FIG. 10B in which the rear holder 4 is coupled to the connector housing 2. To do. Therefore, when connecting the connector to a recessed place, it is possible to work by holding the wire protection housing portion 6.

  Patent Document 2 below describes a connector in which a rear holder coupled to a rear portion of a connector is connected to a connector housing by a hinge.

  FIG. 11 shows the connector housings 2 and 3 and the rear holders 6 to 9. The rear holders 6 to 9 are rotatably coupled to the connector housings 2 and 3 by thin-walled hinges 4. FIG. 11 illustrates a state in which the rear holders 6 to 9 are opened. After the terminals are inserted into the terminal holes of the connector housings 2 and 3, the rear holders 6 to 9 are rotated in a direction to close the end surfaces of the connector housings 2 and 3. The three locking projections 23 are fitted and fixed. The rear holders 6 to 9 press and lock the rear side of the terminal to prevent the terminal from coming off.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-22481 JP-A-7-22108

  The technique of facilitating the assembly work of the connector using the rear holder as a gripping part described in Patent Document 1 is effective. However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the connector housing and the rear holder are separated. Therefore, the assembly process cannot be simplified or made efficient.

  Although it is possible to apply the technique of Patent Document 2 to the connector housing and the rear holder to integrate them, in this case, when the rear housing is operated, the connector housing and the rear holder are engaged. Excessive stress is applied to the location, and the engagement location may be damaged. Further, even when a large load is applied to the electric wire, excessive stress is applied to the engagement portion through the rear holder that comes into contact with the electric wire at a long distance, and there is a possibility that the electric wire is damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector capable of easily and stably performing a male / female fitting operation even in a narrow place.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the connector according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (6).
(1) a connector main body in which a terminal is accommodated, and a connector housing having a pair of coupling walls protruding from the connector main body;
A rear holder that can be coupled to the connector housing so as to be located on an extension of the connector body;
A hinge connecting the connector housing and the rear holder;
With
In the coupled state of the connector housing and the rear holder, the rear holder is attached between the pair of coupling walls, and each of the coupling walls is engaged with the rear holder at a plurality of engagement points.
(2) In the connector configured as described in (1) above,
Each of the coupling walls has an engagement hole, and the rear holder has an engagement protrusion that fits into the engagement hole, and at least two abutment protrusions that abut against the periphery of the coupling wall. thing.
(3) In the connector configured as described in (2) above,
The distance between the engagement protrusion and the contact protrusion is at least longer than the distance between the contact protrusions.
(4) In the connector configured as described in (1) above,
Each of the coupling walls has a plurality of engagement holes, and the rear holder has a plurality of engagement protrusions that fit into the plurality of engagement holes.
(5) In the connector having any one of the constitutions (1) to (4),
The rear holder further has a finger pad at a rear end opposite to an end connected to the connector housing.
(6) In the connector having any one of the constitutions (1) to (5),
The rear holder further has a contact wall that protrudes from an end of the rear holder and contacts the inner wall of the connector main body in a coupled state with the connector housing.

According to the configuration of (1) above, the stress applied to the engagement location with the connector housing during operation of the rear holder is distributed to the plurality of engagement locations, so that a state in which excessive stress is locally applied can be avoided.
According to the configuration of (2) above, the stress applied to the engagement portion with the connector housing when the rear holder is operated is distributed to the engagement protrusion and the contact protrusion.
According to the configuration of (3) above, the position of the abutment projection serving as a fulcrum of the lever (rear holder) moves away from the engagement projection and approaches the operated portion of the rear holder. The applied stress is reduced.
According to the configuration of (4) above, the stress applied to the engagement portion with the connector housing during operation of the rear holder is distributed to the plurality of engagement protrusions.
According to the configuration of (5) above, the operation of the rear holder is facilitated by bringing the finger into contact with the finger contact portion of the rear holder.
According to the configuration of (6) above, when the connector housing and the rear holder are coupled, the abutting wall of the rear holder contacts the inner wall of the connector main body of the connector housing, so that the coupled state of both is further stabilized.

  In the connector of the present invention, when the connector housing and the rear holder are coupled, stress concentration can be avoided at the engagement position between the two, and therefore, by operating the rear holder coupled to the connector housing, The fitting operation can be performed easily and stably. Further, since the connector housing and the rear holder are coupled by a hinge, the assembling work (Assy work) can be simplified and made more efficient.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through the best mode for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of suitable embodiments concerning the present invention are described in detail based on a drawing.

(First embodiment)
1, 2 and 3 are perspective views showing the connector in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in a non-coupled state of the connector as viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 2 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in a non-coupled state as viewed from obliquely below, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in a coupled state as viewed from obliquely above.

  This connector includes a connector housing 60, a rear holder 50, and a hinge 70 for connecting them. The connector housing 60, the rear holder 50, and the hinge 70 are integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and the hinge 70 is formed of a thin synthetic resin and has flexibility.

  The connector housing 60 includes a connector main body 63 in which terminals are accommodated, and a pair of coupling walls 61 to which the rear holder 50 is coupled.

  A hinge 70 is connected to one end of the connector main body 63, and the other end of the connector main body 63 is fitted into a connector housing (not shown) in a pair (that is, a female for a male and a male for a female). .

  The coupling wall 61 protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the connector main body 63 from the side wall near the end to which the hinge 70 of the connector main body 63 is connected. The distance between the pair of coupling walls 61 is the same as the width of the connector main body 63 and the rear holder 50.

  Each coupling wall 61 is provided with an engaging hole 62 penetrating through and a guide groove 64 (FIG. 2) inside the coupling wall 61 extending from the outer periphery of the coupling wall 61 to the engaging hole 62.

  The rear holder 50 is made of a bowl-shaped member having a bottom surface 56 and two side surfaces 57, and has a U-shaped groove 54 in which an electric wire connected to a terminal is accommodated. The length of the rear holder 50 is approximately the same as that of the connector main body 63, and the width of the rear holder 50 matches the width of the connector main body 63. A bottom surface 56 is connected to the hinge 70 at one end of the rear holder 50.

  On each side surface 57 of the rear holder 50, an engagement protrusion 51 is formed at an end of the hinge 70 connection side, two contact protrusions 52 are formed at a distance from the engagement protrusion 51, and in the vicinity of the other end. A finger pad 53 is formed on the surface.

  The engaging protrusion 51 is formed at the tip of an elastic piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the side surface 57 from the surface of the side surface 57, and the protrusion faces the outside of the rear holder 50.

  The two contact protrusions 52 are aligned in a direction (short direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the side surface 57, and the position of the engagement protrusion 51 in the short direction is an intermediate position between the two contact protrusions 52. It is in. The distance in the longitudinal direction from the engagement protrusion 51 to the contact protrusion 52 corresponds to the distance from the engagement hole 62 of the coupling wall 61 of the connector housing 60 to the peripheral edge of the coupling wall 61. The finger rest 53 is formed with serrated irregularities so as to increase friction with the finger.

  Further, an abutting wall 58 that abuts against the inner wall of the connector main body 63 protrudes from the end surface of the rear holder 50 on the hinge 70 connection side (FIG. 2).

  The connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 are coupled by inserting the rear holder 50 between the pair of coupling walls 61 of the connector housing 60 and fitting the engagement protrusions 51 of the rear holder 50 into the engagement holes 62 of the coupling wall 61. This is realized.

  At this time, the rear holder 50 is pushed between the coupling walls 61 so that the engaging protrusions 51 of the rear holder 50 advance along the guide grooves 64 inside the coupling wall 61. The guide groove 64 is formed along a trajectory that the engagement protrusion 51 of the rear holder 50 coupled to the connector housing 60 by the hinge 70 can take. The engagement protrusion 51 advances in the guide groove 64 with its elastic piece elastically deformed. When the engagement protrusion 51 reaches the position of the engagement hole 62, the engagement protrusion 51 is fitted into the engagement hole 62 and the elastic piece Return to the original state.

  When the engaging protrusion 51 and the engaging hole 62 are fitted, as shown in FIG. 3, the connector main body 63 and the rear holder 50 are linear, and the U-shaped end edge of the rear holder 50 is the end of the connector main body 63. The contact wall 58 abuts against the inner wall of the connector main body 63. Further, the contact protrusion 52 of the rear holder 50 contacts the outer periphery of the coupling wall 61, and a part of the connection wall 61 is sandwiched between the engagement protrusion 51 and the contact protrusion 52.

  As a result, the connecting relationship between the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 is such that the connector body 63 and the rear holder 50 are in contact with each other at the edge or the contact wall 58, the engagement protrusion 51 is engaged with the engagement hole 62, and By the contact / interference between the outer periphery of the coupling wall 61 and the contact protrusion 52, the connection wall 61 is reliably and firmly maintained.

  In addition, since the stress applied to the engagement portion with the connector housing 60 during the operation of the rear holder 50 is distributed to the engagement protrusion 51 and the contact protrusion 52, a state in which excessive stress is locally applied can be avoided. Therefore, when the rear holder 50 is operated, it is possible to prevent an accident in which the engagement between the connector housing 60 and the rear holder 50 is released and the rear holder 50 falls off.

  In order to investigate the proof stress against the stress of this connector, only the engagement protrusion 51 is provided on the rear holder, the connector without the contact protrusion 52 is selected as a comparison target, and how much force is applied to the rear end of the rear holder, When a comparison experiment was conducted to determine whether the location of engagement with the connector housing was damaged, the comparison object was damaged at 33.3 N, but the connector of this embodiment was able to withstand 2.5 times the comparison object.

  In this connector, when the connector main body 63 is fitted to the other connector housing (not shown), the workability is improved by grasping the rear holder 50 having a long length, and the fitting work in a narrow place is facilitated. Can be done. In particular, since the finger holder 53 is provided on the rear holder 50, the fingertip does not slip and a stable fitting operation is possible.

  Further, since the connector main body 63 and the rear holder 50 are coupled by the hinge 70 and have an integral structure, the assembling work (Assy work) can be simplified and improved in efficiency.

(Second Embodiment)
4 and 5 are perspective views showing a connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the connector housing and the rear holder in a non-coupled state, and FIG. 5 shows the connector housing and the rear holder in a coupled state.

  In this connector, the distance from the engagement protrusion 51 of the rear holder 150 to the contact protrusion 52 is set to be longer than that of the first embodiment, and accordingly, the engagement hole 61 extends from the outer periphery of the coupling wall 61 of the connector housing 160. The distance up to 62 is set long. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  The distance in the longitudinal direction of the side surface 57 from the engagement protrusion 51 of the rear holder 150 to the contact protrusion 52 is set to be longer than the distance between at least two contact protrusions 52.

  As described above, when the interval between the engagement protrusion 51 and the contact protrusion 52 of the rear holder 150 is widened, a force is applied to the finger contact portion 53 of the rear holder 150 in the state of FIG. When applied, the force acting on the engagement position of the engagement protrusion 51 and the engagement hole 62 is reduced by the lever principle.

  The fulcrum of the lever (rear holder 150) is the position of the contact protrusion 52 that contacts the outer periphery of the coupling wall 61 of the connector housing 160. Therefore, increasing the distance from the engaging protrusion 51 to the abutting protrusion 52 corresponds to moving the engaging protrusion 51 away from the lever fulcrum and bringing the lever fulcrum closer to the finger pad 53 that is the power point. The force applied to the abutting portion 53 is only exerted on the engaging portion of the engaging protrusion 51 and the engaging hole 62 with a small force.

  A comparative experiment similar to that of the first embodiment was conducted in order to investigate the stress resistance of this connector. As a result, the connector of this embodiment was able to withstand up to five times the force of the comparison target.

  Therefore, in this connector, when the connector main body 63 is fitted to the other connector housing (not shown), the stress applied to the engaging portion of the engaging protrusion 51 and the engaging hole 62 is reduced, and a stable fitting operation is achieved. Can be performed.

(Third embodiment)
6, 7, 8, and 9 are perspective views showing a connector according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a diagram of the connector housing and the rear holder in a non-coupled state as viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 7 is a diagram of the connector housing and the rear holder in a non-coupled state as viewed from diagonally below, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a view of the rear holder as viewed from the connector housing side, and FIG. 9 is a view of the connector housing and the rear holder in a coupled state as viewed from the rear holder side.

  The rear holder 250 of this connector has two engagement protrusions 51a and 51b at the end of each side surface 57 on the hinge 70 connection side, and the two engagement protrusions 51a and 51b are arranged at intervals. An extended portion 55 is provided at the end of each side surface 57 on the side where the hinge 70 is connected. Further, the rear holder 250 does not have the contact protrusion 52 unlike the rear holder 50 of the first embodiment. The other configuration of the rear holder 250 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In addition, the connector housing 260 includes two coupling holes 62a and 62b that pass through each coupling wall 61, and guide grooves 64a and 64b that guide the coupling holes 62a and 62b. Yes. The other configuration of the connector housing 260 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The connector housing 260 and the rear holder 250 are coupled by inserting the rear holder 250 between the pair of coupling walls 61 of the connector housing 260, and engaging the engagement protrusions 51 a and 51 b of the rear holder 250 with the engagement holes 62 a of the coupling wall 61. This is realized by fitting in 62b.
At this time, the rear holder 250 is pushed between the coupling walls 61 so that the engaging protrusions 51 a and 51 b of the rear holder 250 advance along the guide grooves 64 a and 64 b inside the coupling wall 61. The guide grooves 64 a and 64 b are formed along a trajectory that the engagement protrusions 51 a and 51 b of the rear holder 250 coupled to the connector housing 260 by the hinge 70 can take. When the engagement protrusions 51a and 51b advance through the guide grooves 64a and 64b and reach the positions of the engagement holes 62a and 62b, they engage with the engagement holes 62a and 62b.

  When the engagement protrusions 51a and 51b are engaged with the engagement holes 62a and 62b, the connector main body 63 and the rear holder 250 become linear as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the U-shaped end edge of the rear holder 250 Closely contacts the edge of the connector body 63, and the contact wall 58 contacts the inner wall of the connector body 63.

  The connection relationship between the connector housing 260 and the rear holder 250 is that the connector main body 63 and the rear holder 250 are in contact with each other at the end edge or the contact wall 58, and the engagement protrusions 51a and 51b are engaged with the engagement holes 62a and 62b. As a result, it is reliably and firmly maintained.

  In addition, since the stress applied to the position where the rear holder 250 is engaged with the connector housing 260 is distributed to the two engaging protrusions 51a and 51b, a state in which excessive stress is locally applied can be avoided.

  Further, since the extended portion 55 is provided on the side surface 57 of the rear holder 250 to secure the distance between the two engaging protrusions 51a and 51b, it is possible to counter the twisting force applied to the rear holder 250. Therefore, when the rear holder 250 is operated, an accident that the connector housing 260 and the rear holder 250 are disengaged and the rear holder 250 falls off can be prevented.

  A comparative experiment similar to that of the first embodiment was conducted in order to investigate the stress resistance of this connector. As a result, the connector of this embodiment was able to withstand a force 4.5 times that of the comparison target.

  In this connector, when the connector main body 63 is fitted to the other connector housing (not shown), the workability is improved by grasping the rear holder 250 having a long length, and the fitting work in a narrow place is facilitated. Can be done. In particular, since the finger holder 53 is provided in the rear holder 250, the fingertip does not slip and a stable fitting operation is possible.

  Further, since the connector main body 63 and the rear holder 250 are coupled by the hinge 70 and have an integral structure, it is possible to simplify and improve the assembly work (Assy work).

  Furthermore, the configuration of the third embodiment and the configuration of the first embodiment can be combined, or the configuration of the third embodiment and the configuration of the second embodiment can be combined. By doing so, the proof stress in the engagement part of a rear holder and a connector housing improves further.

It is a perspective view (figure seen from diagonally upward) which shows the unbonded state of the connector in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view (figure seen from the slanting lower part) which shows the unbonded state of the connector in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the coupling state of the connector in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the unbonded state of the connector in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the connection state of the connector in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view (figure seen from the slanting upper part) which shows the unbonded state of the connector in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view (figure seen from the slanting lower part) which shows the unbonded state of the connector in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view (figure seen from the connector housing side) which shows the combined state of the connector in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view (figure seen from the rear holder side) which shows the combined state of the connector in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional connector. It is a figure which shows the other conventional connector.

Explanation of symbols

50 Rear holder 51 Engagement protrusion 51a Engagement protrusion 51b Engagement protrusion 52 Contact protrusion 53 Finger contact part 54 Groove 55 Expansion part 56 Bottom surface 57 Side surface 58 Contact wall 60 Connector housing 61 Coupling wall 62 Engagement hole 62a Engagement Joint hole 62b Engagement hole 63 Connector body 64 Guide groove 64a Guide groove 64b Guide groove 70 Hinge 150 Rear holder 160 Connector housing 250 Rear holder 260 Connector housing

Claims (6)

A connector main body in which a terminal is accommodated, and a connector housing having a pair of coupling walls protruding from the connector main body;
A rear holder that can be coupled to the connector housing so as to be located on an extension of the connector body;
A hinge connecting the connector housing and the rear holder;
With
In the coupled state of the connector housing and the rear holder, the rear holder is attached between the pair of coupling walls, and each of the coupling walls is engaged with the rear holder at a plurality of engagement points. Characteristic connector.   Each of the coupling walls has an engagement hole, and the rear holder has an engagement protrusion that fits into the engagement hole, and at least two abutment protrusions that abut against the periphery of the coupling wall. The connector according to claim 1.   The connector according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the engagement protrusion and the contact protrusion is at least longer than a distance between the contact protrusions.   2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein each of the coupling walls has a plurality of engagement holes, and the rear holder has a plurality of engagement protrusions that fit into the plurality of engagement holes.   The said rear holder further has a finger contact part in the rear-end part on the opposite side to the edge part couple | bonded with the said connector housing, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. connector.   The rear holder further includes an abutting wall that projects from an end of the rear holder and abuts against an inner wall of the connector body in a coupled state with the connector housing. The connector according to any one of 5.

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