JP2007305484A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector with a lower height aimed at. <P>SOLUTION: Reinforcing ribs 35 are formed at an underside of a lock arm 24 capable of bending in a direction nearing/holding off from a connector housing 1 at insertion coupling of male and female connector housings 1, 2. On the other hand, relief recess parts 36 for relieving the ribs 35 are formed at an opposite wall face 1A of the connector housing 1, so that the ribs 35 are fitted into the relief recess parts 36 when the lock arm 24 is bent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector provided with a lock arm.

Usually, one of the male and female connector housings is provided with a lock arm in order to maintain a mutual fitting state (see Patent Document 1 below). The lock arm disclosed here has a fulcrum at the front end of the connector housing and extends in a cantilevered manner toward the rear. In the process of mating the male and female connector housings, the lock arm bends and deforms so as to approach the upper surface of the connector housing, and when both connector housings are brought into the normal fitting state, the lock arm is restored and locked by the lock arm. It is like that.
JP 2001-68214 A

  By the way, due to the recent demand for miniaturization of connectors, there is an increasing demand for a reduction in height particularly in the height direction. In that case, the lock arm is an important component. This is because the lock arm must secure a bending space between the lock housing and the lock arm, which tends to hinder a reduction in height. Conventionally, as in the case of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in order to respond to a reduction in height, in order to secure a bending space as much as possible, the lower surface on the free end side of the lock arm is thinned to form an inclined surface. It has been well formed.

  However, even if such measures are taken, there is a limit, and it has not been possible to sufficiently meet the demand for further reduction in height.

  This invention is completed based on the above situations, Comprising: It aims at providing the connector which can aim at low profile.

  As a means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a lock arm provided to be bent in one connector housing and a connector arm provided in the other connector housing are engaged with each other. A lock receiving portion that engages with the lock arm and holds both connector housings in a fitted state, and in the process of locking the lock arm with the lock receiving portion, the lock arm is connected to the one connector housing. A connector that deforms and deforms in a direction approaching the opposing wall surface, wherein the opposing wall surface is formed with a relief recess for releasing interference with the flexibly deformed lock arm. It is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the lock arm is provided with an operation portion for unlocking at a distal end portion thereof, and is closer to the operation portion of the lock arm and the one connector housing. A rib that protrudes along the length direction is formed on a surface that faces the opposite wall surface, and an escape recess is formed so that the rib can be fitted.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the surface of the lock arm on the side facing the opposing wall surface of the one connector housing includes a gentle gradient portion formed in the middle of the length direction. A steep slope portion formed adjacent to the operation portion and connected to the gentle slope portion, and the steep slope portion is not in contact with the opposing wall surface when the lock arm is deformed. Each gradient is set so that the gentle gradient portion is in contact with the opposing wall surface, and the rib is arranged between the gentle gradient portion and the steep gradient portion. It is.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of the ribs according to the second or third aspect, wherein the ribs are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the lock arm, and the escape recesses are also provided in a pair corresponding to both ribs. It is characterized by being.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the one according to the fourth aspect, the one connector housing includes a plurality of cavities for accommodating the terminal fittings arranged in parallel in the width direction, and constitutes each cavity. A guide groove portion for allowing a reverse insertion preventing stabilizer projecting from the terminal fitting to protrude at a corner portion of the wall surface near the facing wall surface where the escape recess is formed, The escape recesses are arranged between the guide groove portions of adjacent cavities.

<Invention of Claim 1>
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the two connector housings are fitted, the lock arm is bent and deformed toward the opposing wall surface of one of the connector housings. The connector is engaged with the lock receiving portion of the housing, whereby the two connector housings are held in the fitted state. Then, while the lock arm undergoes bending deformation, the lock arm is escaped and fitted into the recessed portion, thereby avoiding interference with the opposing wall surface, so that the bending allowance of the lock arm can be increased accordingly. Accordingly, when the lock arms having the same bending allowance are compared, the maximum height position of the lock arm can be lowered, and as a result, a reduction in the height of the connector housing can be achieved.

<Invention of Claim 2>
According to the invention of claim 2, when the operation portion is pushed down to release the lock between the connector housings, for example, if the lock arm is thinned, it is greatly bent near the operation portion. There is a fear. When such a situation occurs, the operation unit may first interfere with the opposing wall surface of the connector housing, and a desired bending allowance may not be ensured. In that respect, if the lock arm itself is reinforced by providing ribs on the lock arm as in the invention of claim 2, the bending near the operation portion is restricted, so that the expected bending allowance is reduced. Can be secured.

<Invention of Claim 3>
According to the third aspect, the steep slope portion is set in the operation portion having the largest amount of deflection displacement so that interference with one connector housing can be avoided. However, in the formation of the steep slope portion, the amount of thinning with respect to the lock arm increases, and there is a concern about insufficient bending strength, but in claim 3, since the rib is set in the length range from the gentle slope portion to the steep slope portion, The above insufficient bending strength can be resolved.

<Invention of Claim 4>
According to the invention of claim 4, the lock arm is bent and the ribs are fitted into the corresponding relief recesses, so that the lock arm can be prevented from being displaced. At this time, as in the invention of claim 4 In addition, if a pair of ribs and relief recesses are fitted in the width direction, the displacement prevention function can be balanced.

<Invention of Claim 5>
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the escape recess is arranged at a position avoiding the guide groove, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a strength reduction portion in one connector housing by providing the escape recess.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, 1 is a female connector housing made of synthetic resin (one connector housing in the present invention), and 2 is a male connector housing also formed of a synthetic resin material (the other connector housing in the present invention). ). Both connector housings 1 and 2 are fitted to each other so that the male and female terminal fittings accommodated in each can be connected. The male connector housing 2 has a cylindrical hood portion 3 that opens forward, and a lock receiving portion 4 protrudes at a center position in the width direction on the front edge of the upper surface.

  The female connector housing 1 is composed of a housing body 5 and a front holder 6 attached to the front surface thereof. A plurality of cavities 7 are provided in parallel inside the housing body 5. As shown in the figure, the cavity 7 is formed with four first-stage chambers along the width direction of the housing body 5. Each cavity 7 is formed so as to penetrate along the front-rear direction, and is formed so as to accommodate the female terminal fitting 8 from the rear. Further, a lance 9 protrudes obliquely forward from the front upper surface wall in each cavity 7 so that the lance 9 can be bent. When the female terminal fitting 8 is inserted into the cavity 7 to a normal depth, the lance 9 is Locks with the female terminal fitting 8 to prevent the female terminal fitting 8 from coming off.

  The female terminal fitting 8 has a wire connecting portion 10 connected to the terminal of the electric wire W in the rear half portion, and a terminal connecting portion 11 connected to the mating male terminal fitting is formed in the front half portion. The terminal connection portion 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape, and an elastic tongue piece 12 is formed on the upper surface thereof by being folded inward from the front end. This elastic tongue piece 12 is formed in a cantilever shape toward the rear, and can be bent in the vertical direction. A tab portion (not shown) of the male terminal fitting is elastically sandwiched between the elastic tongue piece 12 and the lower surface wall. The continuity is taken. Further, a lance hole 13 is opened near the front end of the upper surface of the terminal connection portion 11 and can be elastically locked to the lance 9. Further, two pieces of stabilizers 14 shown in the figure are arranged adjacent to each other in the length direction at one corner portion on the upper surface of the terminal connection portion 11, and these are formed by cutting and raising from the upper surface or side surface of the terminal fitting 8. Yes. The stabilizer 14 is provided to prevent the terminal fitting 8 from being inserted in the opposite direction with respect to the cavity 7 and to stabilize the insertion posture. Can not be inserted due to interference at the entrance.

  In the cavity 7, the guide groove 15 for allowing the stabilizer 14 to pass when the female terminal fitting 8 is received in the cavity 7 has a corner (upper left corner in the figure) as shown in FIG. 1. It is formed in the form which protruded upwards. Further, the lower surface portion (surface opposite to the side where the lance 9 is provided) in the cavity 7 becomes a narrow portion 7 A slightly narrower than the cavity 7 and communicates with the cavity 7.

  Further, a retainer mounting hole 16 is opened in a region from the center portion to the rear half portion in the length direction on the lower surface of the housing main body portion 5. A retainer 18 that can be rotated with its rear edge as a hinge 17 is continuously provided at the opening edge of the retainer mounting hole 16, and the retainer mounting hole 16 can be opened and closed in accordance with the rotating operation. The retainer 18 is molded together with the housing main body 5 with the retainer mounting hole 16 fully opened as shown in FIG. 2, but can be locked to the connector housing 1 at two positions in use. That is, in the present example, a total of four protrusions T are arranged at regular intervals in the width direction corresponding to the cavities 7 near the front end on the inner surface side of the retainer 18. Each protrusion T includes a main locking protrusion 20, a temporary locking protrusion 21, and a retaining protrusion 22 in order from the side closer to the body plate 19 of the retainer 18 to the side farther from the side. Of these, the temporary locking projection 21 is locked to the opening front edge of the retainer mounting hole 16 at a position where the retainer 18 is shallowly locked to the connector housing 1 (temporary locking position shown in FIG. 3). This is for temporarily holding the retainer 18. In this state, the retaining protrusion 22 remains in the narrow portion 7 </ b> A and is in a position retracted from the cavity 7. Therefore, when the retainer 18 is in the temporary locking position, the female terminal fitting 8 can be inserted and removed.

  In addition, the opening front edge of the retainer mounting hole 16 is formed in a reverse taper shape so that the locking is not easily released.

  The main locking projection 20 is engaged with the front edge of the retainer mounting hole 16 at a position where the retainer 18 is deeply locked to the connector housing 1 (the main locking position shown in FIG. 4). It is for holding. In this state, the retaining protrusion 22 enters the cavity 7 and is engaged with the rear end edge of the terminal connecting portion 11, so that the female terminal fitting 8 is prevented from coming off in combination with the engagement by the lance 9. do.

  On the other hand, the front surface of the housing main body 5 is formed so as to be opened to the front as a whole, and a front holder 6 provided with a front stop wall 6A for the female terminal fitting 8 is separated from the housing main body 5 here. Is provided. The front holder 6 is provided with tab insertion holes 23 that can communicate with the cavities 7 coaxially, from which the tab portion of the male terminal fitting can be penetrated into the cavity 7. Further, the front holder 6 can be assembled to the housing main body 5 by moving from the lower side to the upper side along the front surface of the housing main body 5, and the normal position (the tab insertion hole 23, the cavity 7, Can be fixed at the same position).

  At the front end of the upper surface of the housing body 5 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the retainer mounting hole is open), a lock arm 24 extends in a cantilevered manner toward the rear at substantially the center in the width direction. Thus, it can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction, that is, in a direction approaching or separating from the housing body 5. In addition, a lock protrusion 25 is formed to protrude at the center in the length direction of the upper surface of the lock arm 24. The rear portion of the lock projection 25 is formed so as to form a horizontal surface 26 when the lock arm is in a natural state, and an operation portion 28 is formed via a connecting surface 27 that rises obliquely upward from the rear end of the horizontal surface 26. ing. The operation unit 28 is used to perform a pressing operation for unlocking the lock arm 24 and is formed to be slightly wide.

  On the other hand, a pair of protective walls 29 are erected on the upper surface of the housing main body 5 so as to sandwich the lock arm 24 in the width direction, and the lock arm 24 is inadvertently displaced in the unlocking direction due to interference with foreign matter or the like. I try not to let you. Both protective walls 29 are formed over a predetermined length range along both side surfaces of the lock arm 24, and are formed to have substantially the same height as the top surface of the lock arm 24 excluding the lock protrusion 25. In addition, a regulating wall 30 is provided in an arch shape at the rear end portion of the upper surface of the housing main body 5 so as to cover the operation portion 28, thereby restricting an inadvertent unlocking operation. The restriction wall 30 includes a pair of side wall portions 30A that rise from both ends in the width direction of the upper surface of the housing main body portion 5, and an upper wall portion 30B that connects the upper end portions of the side wall portions 30A. Both side wall portions 30 </ b> A are formed with a predetermined length range in which the rear ends thereof are aligned with the rear end edges of the housing main body portion 5. However, the upper wall portion 30B has a leading edge aligned with the front edge of the operation portion 28, but the rear edge is formed to have a length that exposes a part of the operation portion 28. Although the release operation is restricted, the latter half of the operation unit 28 is exposed, and a conscious unlocking operation is allowed.

  On the other hand, on the lower surface of the lock arm 24 (opposite wall surface facing the housing body 5), a plurality of types of gradient portions (two types in the figure) having different inclination angles are formed. That is, the lower surface of the lock arm 24 is a flat portion 31 having a predetermined horizontal range when the lock arm 24 is in a natural state from the fulcrum portion 34, and extending from here to the immediate lower portion of the operation portion 28. The length range is a gentle gradient portion 32. The start end of the gentle gradient portion 32 is located in front of the portion immediately below the lock protrusion 25, while the rear end extends beyond the portion directly below the coupling surface 27 and reaches a position including the portion directly below the front portion of the operation portion 28. Yes. The steep gradient portion 33 is formed from the rear end of the gentle gradient portion 32 to the rear end of the operation portion 28.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inclination angle set in the gentle gradient portion 32 is such that when the lock arm 24 is rotationally displaced about the fulcrum portion 34 as the male and female connector housings 1 and 2 are fitted, the gentle gradient portion is set. The angle is such that the substantially full length region of the portion 32 faces along the upper surface (opposing wall surface 1 </ b> A) of the connector housing 1. Therefore, the steep slope portion 33 having a larger inclination angle than the gentle slope portion 32 is prevented from interfering with the upper surface of the connector housing even by the rotation of the lock arm 24. Thus, in this embodiment, when the lock arm 24 is bent and deformed, the steep slope portion 33 is set immediately below the operation portion that most easily interferes with the connector housing upper surface 1A. Since the thickness at the lower end position (thickness portion S in FIG. 2) becomes thin, the portion from the same portion to the operation portion is likely to be bent. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to improve the bending strength of the lock arm 24, the reinforcing rib 35 is formed on the lower surface of the lock arm 24. In the present embodiment, a pair of ribs 35 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction (see FIG. 1). Each of the ribs 35 starts from a substantially central position in the length direction of the gentle gradient portion 32, and the steep gradient portion 33. Are formed so as to be parallel to each other over a range of lengths that end at the beginning of each. Each rib 35 is formed in a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape (isosceles trapezoidal shape) in which the base side is wide and the tip side is narrow.

  On the other hand, a pair of relief recesses 36 are formed in the upper surface (opposing wall surface 1 </ b> A) of the connector housing 1 at positions corresponding to both ribs 35. Both escape recesses 36 are formed with a depth that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the height of the ribs 35, and are provided over a range from the center position in the length direction of the connector housing 1 to the rear end. Both escape recesses 36 are formed with a trapezoidal cross section that expands to the upper surface side so as to match the cross-sectional shape of the rib 35. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the escape recess 36 is concentric with the central axis in the width direction of the central two cavities 7 out of all the cavities 7, in other words, avoids the guide groove portions 15 of both the cavities 7. It arrange | positions so that it may be located between the both adjacent guide groove parts 15.

  Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail. When the female terminal fitting 8 is assembled into the female connector housing 1, the front holder 6 is attached to the front surface of the housing body 5. The tab insertion hole 23 and the cavity 7 are assembled at a position where they are coaxially aligned with each other. Further, the temporary locking projection 21 of the retainer 18 is locked to the opening front edge of the retainer mounting hole 16 so that the retainer 18 is temporarily held at the temporary locking position. In this state, the female terminal fitting 8 is inserted from behind the cavity 7. In that case, insertion is performed while the stabilizer 14 is adapted to the guide groove 15. When the female terminal fitting 8 enters the cavity 7, the lance 9 is lifted upward to bend and deform, and when the female terminal fitting 8 is inserted to a normal depth that contacts the front stop wall 6 </ b> A of the front holder 6. The lance 9 is returned and deformed and locked to the lance hole 13 of the female terminal fitting 8, whereby the female terminal fitting 8 is brought into a primary locking state. Next, the retainer 18 is pushed further deeply to release the temporary locking projection 21 and switch to the locking by the main locking projection 20. As a result, the retaining protrusion 22 that has been retracted outside the cavity 7 at the temporary locking position enters the cavity 7 and is locked to the rear end of the terminal connecting portion 11 in the female terminal fitting 8. Thus, the female terminal fitting 8 is double-locked together with the lock by the lance 9.

  Thus, when the assembly of the female connector is completed, the male connector is fitted. In the fitting process, the lock receiving portion 4 of the male connector housing 2 and the lock projection 25 of the lock arm 24 come into contact with each other, so that the lock arm 24 is pushed down and approaches the opposing wall surface 1A side of the connector housing 1. To do. In the state in which the lock arm 24 is pushed down most, the gentle gradient portion 32 bends so as to be substantially parallel to the opposing wall surface 1A, and the ribs 35 are fitted into the facing recesses 36 facing each other. At this time, even if the rib 35 and the escape recess 36 are slightly misaligned, the rib 35 has a trapezoidal shape with a narrow tip, and the escape recess 36 has a shape in which the upper surface side is expanded. Therefore, the fitting operation is reliably guided by the positioning action of the mutual tapered surfaces. Therefore, the locking arm 24 can be surely released, so that the bending allowance of the locking arm 24 can be secured. When the lock projection 25 passes through the lock receiving portion 4, the lock arm 24 is restored, and the connector housings 1 and 2 are properly fitted to each other by locking the lock projection 25 and the lock receiving portion 4 ( The male and female terminal fittings are properly connected to each other.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the relief recess 36 for the lock arm 24 is provided on the opposing wall surface 1A of the connector housing 1, so that the bending allowance of the lock arm 24 can be ensured. Therefore, the height position of the lock arm 24 can be lowered as compared with a case where the escape recess 36 is not provided, which contributes to a reduction in the height of the connector. Further, when the connector housing 1 is downsized and the lock arm 24 is thinned by the influence, the steep slope portion 33 is bent and deformed before the gentle slope portion 32 when the lock arm 24 is bent. Although the situation which will interfere with the connector housing 1 side is also assumed, since the rib 35 is distribute | arranged including the starting end part of the connection surface 27 used as the thinnest part like this embodiment, the bending of the operation part 28 is carried out. Deformation is restricted, so that an expected bending allowance in the lock arm 24 can be secured.

  Further, since a pair of ribs 35 are provided and fitted in the relief recess 36 so as to fit, the positioning of the lock arm 24 in a bent state can be performed with good balance and reliability. . Further, since the relief recess 36 is formed so as to be aligned with the central axis of the cavity 7 while avoiding the guide groove 15 of the cavity 7, it is not necessary to form an excessively thin portion on the wall of the cavity 7. There is no risk of a decline.

<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, 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 present embodiment, the lock arm 24 is formed in a cantilever shape having a rotation fulcrum at one end. However, the lock arm 24 according to the present invention has a rotation fulcrum at the center and has a seesaw shape. A rotating type is also included.

  (2) In the present embodiment, the rib 35 formed on the lower surface of the lock arm 24 is escaped. However, the entire width portion of the lock arm 24 not having the rib 35 is allowed to escape and the recess 36 is allowed to escape. Good.

  (3) In the present embodiment, the connector housing 1 has a two-body structure including the housing main body 5 and the front holder 6. However, the connector housing 1 may be integrally formed.

  (4) The retainer 18 is not necessarily formed integrally with the connector housing 1, and may be assembled separately.

Rear view of female connector housing Sectional view of the connector housing showing the retainer fully open Sectional view of the connector housing when the retainer is temporarily locked Similarly, a cross-sectional view in the locked state Sectional view of the male and female connector housings in the process of mating Sectional view with mating completed

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Female connector housing 1A ... Opposite wall surface 4 ... Lock receiving part 7 ... Cavity 14 ... Stabilizer 15 ... Guide groove part 24 ... Lock arm 25 ... Locking projection part 32 ... Slow gradient part 33 ... Steep slope part 35 ... Rib 36 ... Relief recess

Claims (5)

A lock arm provided in one connector housing so as to be able to bend, and a lock arm provided in the other connector housing, when these two connector housings are engaged with each other, engages with the lock arm and holds both connector housings in a fitted state. A lock receiving portion, wherein the lock arm is deformed in a direction in which the lock arm approaches the opposing wall surface of the one connector housing in a process in which the lock arm is engaged with the lock receiving portion. ,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein an escape recess is formed on the opposing wall surface to escape interference with the flexurally deformed lock arm. An operation portion for unlocking is provided at a distal end portion of the lock arm, and a rib is provided along a length direction on a surface near the operation portion of the lock arm and facing the opposing wall surface of the one connector housing. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed and the relief recess is formed so that the rib can be fitted. On the surface of the lock arm facing the opposing wall surface of the one connector housing, a gentle slope portion formed in the middle of the length direction and a steep slope formed near the operation portion are connected to the gentle slope portion. A slope portion is formed, and the steep slope portion is not in contact with the opposing wall surface when the lock arm is bent and deformed, but the gentle slope portion is in contact with the opposing wall surface. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a gradient is set, and the rib is disposed between the gentle gradient portion and the steep gradient portion. 4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a pair of the ribs are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the lock arm, and the escape recesses are also provided in a pair corresponding to both the ribs. The one connector housing is provided with a plurality of cavities for accommodating terminal fittings arranged in parallel in the width direction, and is located near the opposing wall surface where the relief recess is formed among the wall surfaces constituting each cavity. A guide groove for projecting a reverse insertion prevention stabilizer projecting from the terminal fitting is formed in the corner, and the escape recess is formed between the guide grooves of adjacent cavities. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the connector is arranged.

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