JP2008097956A - Locking mechanism of connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a locking mechanism of a connector wherein no such trouble that a connector fitting stroke becomes long is caused, and backlash between connectors is thereby prevented. <P>SOLUTION: In a first connector 1, provided are: a leg part 21 erected in a first connector housing 2, a connecting arm part 22 one end of which is connected to the leg part 21; and a lock arm 23 the intermediate part of which is connected to the other end of the connecting arm part 22, and which has an engagement hole 24 on one end side close to the intermediate part, and also has a release operating part 25 on the other side. In a second connector 10, provided are: an engagement protrusion 26 provided in a second housing 11; and a backlash preventing arm 27 provided in a second connector housing 11 while having an engagement pawl part 28 on the tip side. In a position where the engagement is completed, the engagement protrusion 26 is engaged with the engagement hole 24 by the deflection resetting deformation of the lock arm 23, and the engagement pawl part 28 is engaged with the connecting arm part 22 by the deflection resetting deformation of the backlash preventing arm 27. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector locking mechanism that locks between a connector-fitted first connector and a second connector.

  As a connector fitting structure provided with this type of locking mechanism, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the first connector 100 includes a first connector housing 101 in which a large number of female terminals (not shown) are accommodated. The second connector 110 includes a second connector housing 112 in which a large number of male terminals 111 are accommodated. When the first and second connectors 100 and 110 are mated, corresponding female terminals (not shown) and male terminals 111 are connected to each other.

  The first and second connectors 100 and 110 are provided with a lock mechanism 120 for locking the connector fitting state.

  The lock mechanism 120 is fixed on the first connector 100 side at the base end side to the first connector housing 101 and has a lock arm 121 having an engagement protrusion 121a, and an elastic absorption hole on the fitting distal end side of the first connector housing 101. And an elastic transition 123 formed by 122. Further, the lock mechanism 120 includes an engaged hole 124 provided in the second connector housing 112 and a pressing portion 125 provided in the inner wall of the second connector housing 112 on the second connector 110 side.

  In the above configuration, in order to fit the first connector 100 and the second connector 110 in the separated state shown in FIG. 13, the first connector housing 101 of the first connector 100 is placed in the second connector housing 112 of the second connector 110. insert. Then, the engagement protrusion 121a of the lock arm 121 comes into contact with the second connector housing 112. When an insertion force is further applied from this state, the lock arm 121 is bent and deformed downward to allow insertion. When the first connector 100 and the second connector 110 are mated to the mating completion position, the lock arm 121 is bent and returned and the engagement protrusion 121a is engaged with the engaged hole 124. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the locking mechanism 120 locks between the first connector 100 and the second connector 110.

  To release the fitting between the first connector 100 and the second connector 110, the release operation part 121b of the lock arm 121 is pressed. Then, the lock arm 121 is bent and deformed with the base end side as a fulcrum, and the engagement protrusion 121a is moved downward, so that it is detached from the engaged hole 124. The first connector 100 and the second connector 110 can be separated by pulling apart the first connector 100 and the second connector 110 while pressing the release operation unit 121b.

In the connector fitting state, the pressing portion 125 on the second connector 110 side presses the elastic transition portion 123 on the first connector 100 side, and the engaging protrusion 121a is the end face of the engaged hole 124 by this pressing force. Is always pressed. Therefore, the engagement protrusion 121a and the engaged hole 124 are engaged with no gap, thereby preventing backlash between the first and second connectors 100 and 110.
JP 2001-57269 A

  However, in the conventional connector locking mechanism 120, the insertion tip surface 101a of the first connector housing 101 of the first connector 100 abuts the inner wall surface 112a of the second connector housing 112 of the second connector 110 during the connector fitting operation. Therefore, there is a problem that the connector fitting stroke becomes long. In addition, when the connector is fitted, the elastic transition portion 123 of the first connector 100 is elastically deformed by the pressing force from the pressing portion 125, but the deformation state is unstable, and this causes a female terminal (not shown). There is a problem that the contact between the terminal and the male terminal 111 is not stable.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector locking mechanism that can prevent rattling between connectors without the above-described various problems.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking mechanism for a connector for holding a fitting state between a first connector and a second connector constituting the connector, and a leg portion standing on the first connector housing constituting the first connector. A connecting arm portion having one end connected to the leg portion, a lock arm having a first engaging portion on one end side from the intermediate portion, and an intermediate portion connected to the other end of the connecting arm portion, A first engaged portion provided in a second connector housing constituting a two-connector; and a ratchet preventing arm provided in the second connector housing and having a second engaging portion on a distal end side; In the middle of the mating between the first connector and the second connector, the lock arm and the anti-rattle arm can be moved to the mating completion position by the deflection transition, and at the mating completion position, the lock arm is locked. The first engagement portion and the first engaged portion are engaged by the deflection return deformation of the arm, and the second engagement portion is engaged with the connection arm by the deflection return deformation of the rattle prevention arm. It is characterized by being combined.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector locking mechanism according to the first aspect, wherein the connecting arm portion is configured to be able to be bent and deformed, and the second engagement portions of the anti-rattle arms are engaged. The lock arm is shifted to the second connector housing side by bending deformation.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the connector locking mechanism according to the first or second aspect, wherein the connecting arm of the second engaging portion is in a fitting completion position of the first and second connectors. A surface that engages with the portion is formed as a tapered surface, and at least a part of the surface opposite to the engagement surface of the first engaged portion is formed as a vertical surface.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector locking mechanism according to the third aspect, wherein the first engaged portion is an engaging protrusion, and a surface opposite to the engaging surface of the engaging protrusion. Is characterized in that the lower side is a vertical surface and the upper side is an inclined surface.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention is the connector locking mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the leg portion and the connecting arm portion are provided in a pair on the left and right sides, and the backlash prevention is provided. A pair of arms are provided on the left and right sides, and the second engaging portions of the pair of rattling-preventing arms engage with the pair of connecting arm portions at the connector fitting completion position, respectively.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the connector locking mechanism according to the fifth aspect, wherein the lock arm has a release operation portion on the other end side from the intermediate portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the backlash between the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion of the lock arm is the engagement between the second engagement portion and the second engaged portion of the backlash prevention arm. Therefore, backlash between the first and second connectors can be prevented. Since there is no pressing part and elastic displacement part as in the conventional example, there is no need to lengthen the connector fitting stroke, and there is no place where both connector housings are unstablely deformed, so there is no gap between the terminals. Will not become unstable.

  In addition, since the first and second connectors are double-locked by two places on the lock arm side and the backlash preventing arm side, the lock holding force is improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the connector is fitted, the first engaging portion of the lock arm is deeply engaged with the first engaged portion.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when the connector is fitted, the first and second connectors are pressed by the taper surface of the second engagement portion to urge the connector in the connector fitting direction. Since the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion reliably receive the pressing force in the direction, it is possible to further prevent backlash.

  According to the invention of claim 4, the lock arm can smoothly get over the engaging protrusion by the inclined surface of the engaging protrusion during the connector fitting process. It can receive reliably by the 1st engaging part and the vertical surface of an engaging projection part.

  According to the invention of claim 5, since the lock arm bends and deforms without deflecting left and right, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are reliably engaged.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the release operation portion is pressed, the lock arm swings and shifts with the intermediate portion serving as a fulcrum, whereby the engagement between the first engagement portion and the first engaged portion of the lock arm is established. In addition to being released, the pair of connecting arm portions are shifted downward so as to be disengaged from the second engagement portions of the backlash preventing arms. Therefore, the double lock can be almost simultaneously released, and the release operability is good.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part before fitting the first and second connectors, and FIG. 2 is a plan view before fitting the first and second connectors. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first and second connectors in the middle of fitting, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. The top view of the fitting state of 1 connector and a 2nd connector, FIG. 7 is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

  1-7, the 1st connector 1 is provided with the 1st connector housing 2 in which many male terminals (not shown) were accommodated in the inside. The second connector 10 includes a second connector housing 11 in which a large number of female terminals (not shown) are accommodated. When the first and second connectors 1 and 10 are mated with each other, corresponding female terminals (not shown) and male terminals 111 are connected to each other.

  Further, the first and second connectors 1 and 10 are provided with a lock mechanism 20 for locking the connector fitting state.

  The lock mechanism 20 includes a pair of leg portions 21 and 21 disposed at a distance from the first connector housing 2 constituting the first connector 1, and a pair of connecting arms having one end connected to each of the leg portions 21 and 21. Parts 22 and 22, and a lock arm 23 having an intermediate part connected to the other end of each connecting arm part 22 and 22.

  Each leg part 21 and 21 is arrange | positioned along the substantially orthogonal direction of the connector fitting direction. Each connection arm part 22 and 22 has L shape from the part extended in a connector fitting direction, and the part extended in the orthogonal direction of a connector fitting direction. Each of the connecting arm portions 22 and 22 has a cantilever structure in which one end is fixed to each of the leg portions 21 and 21 and is configured to be able to bend and deform in the vertical direction so as to displace the other end side downward. The lock arm 23 is disposed along the connector fitting direction and has an engagement hole 24 as a first engagement portion on one end side from an intermediate portion supported by the pair of connection arm portions 22, 22. A release operation unit 25 is provided on the other end side.

  The locking mechanism 20 includes an engaging protrusion 26 that is a first engaged portion protruding from the upper surface of the second connector housing 11 constituting the second connector 10, and an upper surface of the second connector housing 11. A pair of rattling-preventing arms 27 and 27 are provided on both sides of the engaging projection 26. The engagement protrusion 26 is engaged with the engagement hole 24 of the lock arm 23 when the connector is fitted. The engagement surface of the engagement protrusion 26 (the surface that comes into contact with the end surface of the engagement hole 24 by the change in the connector release direction) is formed on the vertical surface 26a. A surface opposite to the engagement surface (a surface on which the tip of the lock arm 23 abuts in the process of connector fitting, a surface on which the end surface of the engagement hole 24 abuts due to a change in the connector fitting direction) is formed on the inclined surface 24b. Has been.

  Each of the rattling-preventing arms 27 and 27 is disposed along the connector fitting direction, and has engaging claw portions 28 and 28 as second engaging portions on the distal end side thereof. Each engagement claw part 28 and 28 is engaged with each connection arm part 22 and 22 at the time of connector fitting. The engaging surfaces of the engaging claws 28 and 28 are formed on tapered surfaces 28a and 28a. Further, the front end surfaces of the respective engaging claws 28 and 28 (surfaces that abut against the connecting arm portions 22 and 22 during the connector fitting process) are also formed on the tapered surfaces 28b and 28b.

  In the above configuration, in order to fit the first connector 1 and the second connector 10 in the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second connector of the second connector 10 is inserted into the first connector housing 2 of the first connector 1. The housing 11 is inserted. Then, the distal end of the lock arm 23 comes into contact with the inclined surface 26b of the engaging projection 26, and the distal ends of the engaging claws 28, 28 of the pair of rattling-preventing arms 27, 27 become the pair of connecting arm portions 22, 22. Abut. When an insertion force is further applied from this state, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lock arm 23 is bent upward and the pair of rattling prevention arms 27 and 27 are bent upward and the insertion is allowed. The When the first connector 100 and the second connector 110 are mated to the mating completion position, the lock arm 23 bends and returns to the engagement hole 24 of the lock arm 23 as shown in FIGS. The mating protrusions 26 are engaged, and the pair of rattle-preventing arms 27 and 27 are bent downward and returned and deformed to engage the engaging claw portions 28 and 28 with the connecting arm portions 22 and 22. Thereby, the first connector 1 and the second connector 10 are double-locked by the lock mechanism 20.

  To release the fitting between the first connector 1 and the second connector 10, the release operation unit 25 of the lock arm 23 is pressed. Then, the lock arm 23 swings and changes with the intermediate portion as a fulcrum, and the engagement projection 26 is detached from the engagement hole 24. Further, when the release operation unit 25 is pressed, the pair of connecting arm portions 22 and 22 bend downward and change, and the engagement claw portions 28 and 28 of the pair of rattling-preventing arms 27 and 27 and the connecting arm portions 22 and 22 are connected. Is disengaged or loosened. By pulling the first connector 1 and the second connector 10 apart while pressing the release operation part 25, the engagement claw parts 28, 28 of the engagement arm 24 side of the lock arm 23 and the pair of rattle prevention arms 27, 27 are separated. The first connector 1 and the second connector 10 can be separated with little engagement force from the side.

  As described above, according to the lock mechanism 20 described above, when the connector is fitted, the backlash between the engagement hole 24 of the lock arm 23 and the engagement projection 26 is the engagement claw 28 of the pair of backlash prevention arms 27, 27. , 28 and the connecting arm portions 22 and 22 are prevented from engaging with each other, so that backlash between the first and second connectors 1 and 10 can be prevented. And since it does not have a press part and an elastic displacement part like a prior art example, it is not necessary to lengthen a connector fitting stroke, and there is no part which carries out unstable deformation in both connector housings 2 and 11. The contact between the terminals is stabilized.

  In addition, since the first and second connectors 1 and 10 are double-locked by the two locations on the lock arm 23 side and the backlash prevention arms 27 and 27 side, the lock holding force is improved.

  In the first embodiment, the pair of connecting arm portions 22 and 22 are configured to be able to be bent and deformed, and when the engagement claw portions 28 and 28 of the backlash preventing arms 27 and 27 are engaged, FIG. As shown, the lock arm 23 shifts to the first connector housing 2 side by bending deformation. Therefore, when the connector is fitted, the engagement hole 24 of the lock arm 23 is deeply engaged with the engagement protrusion 26, so that the backlash can be further prevented.

  In the first embodiment, a pair of left and right legs 21 and 21 and connecting arm portions 22 and 22 are provided, and a pair of left and right prevention arms 27 and 27 are also provided. The engagement claw portions 28, 28 of the rattle prevention arms 27, 27 are configured to engage with the pair of connecting arm portions 22, 22, respectively. Therefore, since the lock arm 23 bends and deforms without being deflected left and right, the engagement hole 24 and the engagement protrusion 26 are reliably engaged.

  In the first embodiment, the lock arm has a release operation part 25 on the other end side from the intermediate part. Accordingly, when the release operation portion 25 is pressed, the lock arm 23 swings and changes with the intermediate portion as a fulcrum, thereby releasing the engagement between the engagement hole 24 and the engagement protrusion 26 of the lock arm 23 and The connecting arm portions 22 and 22 are shifted downward so that the engagement with the engagement claw portions 28 and 28 of the backlash preventing arms 27 and 27 is released. Therefore, the double lock can be almost simultaneously released, and the release operability is good.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the engaging protrusion which is the first engaged portion. The engaging projection 26A of this modification has a vertical surface 26a that is in contact with the end surface of the engagement hole 24 of the lock arm 23 when the connector is fitted, and opposite surfaces that are inclined surfaces 26b and 26c. It is formed as.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the surface that is in the fitting completion position of the first and second connectors 1, 10 and engages with the connecting arm portions 22, 22 of the engaging claws 28, 28 is a tapered surface 28 a. , 28a, and a part of the surface opposite to the engaging surface of the engaging protrusion 26 is formed on the vertical surface 26c. Therefore, when the connector is fitted, the first and second connectors 1 and 10 are pressed in the connector fitting direction by the tapered surfaces 28a and 28a of the engaging claws 28 and 28, respectively, and the pressing force F1 (first connector 1 side) ), F2 (second connector 10 side) acts, and the end faces of the engagement holes 24 and the vertical surfaces 26c of the engagement protrusions 26 are surely subjected to the pressing forces F1, F2 in the connector fitting direction. Can prevent backlash.

  Further, the surface of the engaging projection 26 opposite to the engaging surface is formed such that the lower side is the vertical surface 26c and the upper side is the inclined surface 26b. Accordingly, in the middle of the connector fitting, the lock arm 23 can smoothly get over the engaging projection 26 by the inclined surface 26b of the engaging projection 26, and when the connector is fitted, the pressing force in the connector fitting direction is applied to the engagement hole. 24 and the vertical surface 26c of the engaging protrusion 26 can be reliably received.

  FIG. 10 is a front view of a modified example of the lock arm. As shown in FIG. 10, the lower side of the front end surface of the lock arm 23 is formed as an inclined surface 23a.

  According to this modification, since the tip of the lock arm 23 a is the inclined surface 23 a, the lock arm 23 can smoothly get over the engaging protrusion 26. Further, the same effect can be obtained even if the lower side of the front end surface of the lock arm 23 is formed into a rounded surface.

  11 and 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a main part before the first and second connectors are fitted, and FIG. 12 is a plan view of the fitted state of the first and second connectors. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the lock mechanism 20A of the second embodiment, a pair of leg portions 21A, 21A are arranged along the connector fitting direction, and each leg portion 21A, 21A and the lock arm are arranged. A pair of connecting arm portions 22A and 22A for connecting 23 is formed in a straight shape.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components and the description thereof is omitted.

  Also in the second embodiment, the same operation and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the first connector housing 2 of the first connector 1 is female, the second connector housing 11 of the second connector 10 is male, and the female first connector housing. 2, the lock arm 23 side and the male second connector housing 11 are provided with a pair of rattle-preventing arms 27, 27. Of course, these arrangement relationships may be reversed.

  In the first and second embodiments, the first engagement portion of the lock arm 23 is the engagement hole 24, and the first engaged portion is the engagement protrusion 26, but the first engagement portion is engaged. Of course, the first projecting portion may be an engagement hole in the mating projection portion, and other configurations may be used as long as they can be engaged with each other.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention before the first and second connectors are fitted together. It is a top view before fitting of the 1st and 2nd connectors, showing a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the first embodiment of the present invention and in the process of fitting the first and second connectors. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 4. It is a top view of the fitting state of the 1st connector and the 2nd connector which shows a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6. It is sectional drawing of the modification of an engaging protrusion part. It is sectional drawing at the time of connector fitting of the locking mechanism to which the engagement protrusion part of a modification is applied. It is a front view of the modification of a lock arm. It is a principal part perspective view before fitting of the 1st and 2nd connector which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the fitting state of the 1st and 2nd connector which shows a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing before the fitting of the 1st and 2nd connector of a prior art example. It is sectional drawing of the fitting state of the 1st and 2nd connector of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st connector 2 Connector housing 10 2nd connector 11 Connector housing 20, 20A Lock mechanism 21, 21A Leg part 22, 22A Connection arm part 23 Lock arm 24 Engagement hole (1st engagement part)
25 Release operation part 26, 26A Engaging protrusion (first engaged part)
26b Vertical surface 26c Vertical surface 27 Anti-rattle arm 28 Engagement claw 28a Tapered surface

Claims (6)

In the connector locking mechanism that holds the fitting state between the first connector and the second connector constituting the connector,
Legs standing on a first connector housing constituting the first connector;
A connecting arm part having one end connected to the leg part;
An intermediate portion is connected to the other end of the connecting arm portion, and a lock arm having a first engaging portion on one end side from the intermediate portion is provided.
A first engaged portion provided in a second connector housing constituting the second connector;
A back-preventing arm provided with the second engagement portion on the tip side provided on the second connector housing;
In the course of fitting between the first connector and the second connector, the lock arm and the anti-rattle arm can be moved to a fitting completion position by bending change of the locking arm and the backlash preventing arm.
At the fitting completion position, the first engaging portion and the first engaged portion are engaged by the bending return deformation of the lock arm, and
The connector locking mechanism, wherein the second engaging portion is engaged with the connecting arm by a bending return deformation of the backlash preventing arm. A connector locking mechanism according to claim 1,
The connecting arm portion is configured to be able to bend and deform, and when the second engaging portion of each of the rattle-preventing arms is engaged, the lock arm is shifted to the second connector housing side by the bending deformation. A connector locking mechanism. The connector locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,
A surface of the second engagement portion that engages with the connection arm portion is formed as a tapered surface at the fitting completion position of the first and second connectors, and the engagement of the first engaged portion. A connector locking mechanism, wherein at least a part of a surface opposite to the mating surface is formed as a vertical surface. A connector locking mechanism according to claim 3,
The first engaged portion is an engaging protrusion, and the surface opposite to the engaging surface of the engaging protrusion is a vertical surface on the lower side and an inclined surface on the upper side. Connector locking mechanism. A connector locking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The leg portion and the connecting arm portion are provided in a pair of left and right, and the rattling-preventing arm is provided in a pair of left and right, and the second engaging portion of the pair of rattling-preventing arms is in the connector fitting completion position. A connector locking mechanism that engages with a pair of connecting arm portions, respectively. The connector locking mechanism according to claim 5,
The lock mechanism of the connector, wherein the lock arm has a release operation part on the other end side from the intermediate part.

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