JP2008112700A - Electric connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to obtain superior operability while making constitution of a lock mechanism in an electric connector device simple and easy. <P>SOLUTION: By rotating a single unit lock lever 14 installed so as to be rotation-operated from either one side over to the other side of a first and a second connectors 1, 2 so as to pinch both of the first and the second connectors 1, 2 in a fitting state, the lock mechanism is constituted so as to retain the fitting state of the both connectors 1, 2 by the lock lever 14 which is a single unit and has a simple constitution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical connector device configured to hold or release a fitting state between a pair of connectors by operating a lock mechanism.

  In general, in various electrical devices, it is widely performed to connect a signal line to the printed wiring board side using an electrical connector device. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, the signal line of the coaxial cable is connected to the first connector (plug connector) side, and the second connector (receptacle connector) is connected and fixed on the printed wiring board. The fitting portion of the first connector (plug connector) is attached to the fitting portion of the second connector (receptacle connector), so that the signal line of the coaxial cable is connected to the conductive path on the printed wiring board side. It is designed to be connected electrically.

  In addition, the electrical connector device including such a pair of connector fittings is provided with a lock mechanism for holding the fitting state between the two connectors and a lock releasing mechanism including an operation lever for releasing the fitting state. When the lock mechanism is operated, the fitting state of the two connectors is maintained, and the lock mechanism can be released by operating the lock release mechanism.

  However, in the conventional electrical connector device having such a structure, a lock mechanism having a relatively complicated structure and a lock release mechanism including an operation lever are provided, and the lock mechanism and the lock release having the complicated structure are provided. A mechanism is disposed at each end portion in the connector longitudinal direction. Therefore, the number of parts of the electrical connector device is large, the assemblability is not good, and the lockability at the two positions on both ends is particularly difficult to unlock.

JP 2003-297482 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector device having a lock mechanism with a simple configuration and good operability.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a first and a second connector configured to be fitted to each other, and provided with a lock mechanism for holding or releasing the fitted state of the two connectors. In the electrical connector device, the lock mechanism is rotatably provided on one side of the first and second connectors, and is rotated by being hung from the connector on the one side to the connector on the other side. And a lock locking portion provided on the other side of the first and second connectors so that the lock lever can be engaged and disengaged. ing.

  According to the electrical connector device having such a configuration, the single lock lever constituting the lock mechanism is hung from the connector on one side to the connector on the other side, and is engaged and locked. Both the first and second connectors in the fitted state are maintained in the fitted state so as to be sandwiched by a simple lock lever.

  Further, in the present invention, the lock lever of the lock mechanism is configured to also serve as an extraction mechanism that separates the first and second connectors in the fitted state.

  According to the electrical connector device having such a configuration, by pulling the lock lever having a simple configuration as a single unit, the two connectors in the fitted state are separated from each other, so there is no need to provide a separate removal mechanism. .

  Further, in the present invention, the lock lever of the lock mechanism is configured such that an operation assisting member that facilitates the rotation operation of the lock lever can be attached or removed.

  According to the electrical connector device having such a configuration, the operation of the lock lever, particularly the release of the lock lever, even when only a small work space can be secured by attaching the operation assisting member to the lock lever, for example. The (extraction) operation is easily performed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the single lock lever provided so as to be rotated from either one side of the first and second connectors to the other side is in the fitted state. Since the locking mechanism is configured to hold the fitting state of the two connectors by a simple lock lever by rotating the two connectors so as to sandwich the two connectors. Good operability can be obtained while simplifying the configuration of the lock mechanism in the connector device, and the assembly and productivity of the electrical connector device and various devices using the same can be improved.

  At this time, if the configuration is such that the two levers are separated by pulling the lock lever of the lock mechanism that also serves as the removal mechanism that separates the first and second connectors in the fitted state, the removal mechanism There is no need to provide it separately, the configuration of the electrical connector device can be further simplified, and the above-described effects can be further enhanced.

  Furthermore, if a configuration in which an operation assisting member that facilitates the rotation operation of the lock lever of the lock mechanism can be attached or removed, for example, even when only a small work space can be secured, the lock lever can be released ( (Extraction) operation can be easily performed, and the above-described effects can be further enhanced.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment relating to the case where the present invention is applied to an electrical connector device for connecting a plurality of coaxial cables to the printed wiring board side will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the electrical connector device shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is provided with a vertical fitting type connector structure including a plug connector (first connector) 1 and a receptacle connector (second connector) 2. Then, one end edge portion (the right end edge portion in FIG. 6) of the plug connector 1 is connected to a terminal portion of a plurality of coaxial cables (not shown) arranged in parallel in a multipolar shape. At the same time, the receptacle connector 2 is mounted on a printed wiring board (not shown).

  In the following, the end edge portion on the side where the end portion of the coaxial cable is connected is referred to as a rear end edge portion, and the other end edge portion on the opposite side is referred to as a front end edge portion. Similarly, each end edge portion of the receptacle connector 2 corresponding to the rear end edge portion and the front end edge portion of the connector 1 will be referred to as a rear end edge portion and a front end edge portion.

  When the plug connector (first connector) 1 and the receptacle connector (second connector) 2 are fitted to each other, first, as shown in FIGS. The plug connector 1 is disposed at a position immediately above. Then, when the plug connector 1 is lowered to the lower side in FIG. 1 substantially orthogonal to the printed wiring board, the fitting convex portion 1a of the plug connector 1 is inserted into the fitting concave portion 2a of the receptacle connector 2, As a result, the connectors 1 and 2 are fitted together as shown in FIGS. In the following, the direction in which the plug connector 1 is inserted is defined as the downward direction, and the direction in which the plug connector 1 is removed is the upward direction.

  The plug connector (first connector) 1 and the receptacle connector (second connector) 2 are provided with elongated insulating housings 11 and 21, respectively, and the longitudinal directions of the insulating housings 11 and 21. A plurality of conductive terminals (contacts) 12 and 22 are arranged in multiple poles at appropriate pitch intervals. Furthermore, the outer surfaces of the insulating housings 11 and 21 are structured so as to be covered with metal conductive shells 13 and 23 over almost the entire surface excluding the fitting convex portion 1a and the fitting concave portion 2a.

  On the other hand, both the connectors 1 and 2 having the above-described configuration are provided with a lock mechanism that holds or releases the fitting state between the connectors 1 and 2. This lock mechanism is composed of a single lock lever 14 provided on the plug connector (first connector) 1 and a pair of lock engaging portions 24 provided on the receptacle connector (second connector) 2. Among them, the lock lever 14 on the plug connector 1 side is constituted by a long rod-like member arranged so as to span between both ends in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11.

  The lock lever 14 made of the rod-like member is formed to be bent so as to form a substantially U-shape on the front surface, and the longitudinal direction of the main operation portion 14 a extending in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11. Both end portions are folded back so as to face each other so as to form a substantially U-shape, whereby the rotating shaft portions 14b, 14b are formed at the respective folded end portions. Each of the two rotating shaft portions 14b is inserted and attached in a loosely fitted state so as to be rotatable with respect to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing 11, and the both rotating shaft portions 14b. The main operating portion 14a of the lock lever 14 is rotated so that the entire length of the main operation portion 14a passes through the region on the front side of the plug connector 1 and reciprocates with the receptacle connector 2 disposed on the lower side. It is made the structure to be moved.

  That is, the above-described rotation of the lock lever 14 is from the standby state in FIG. 1 placed on the upper surface side of the plug connector 1 to the locked state in FIG. 2 in contact with the receptacle connector 2 or in the opposite direction. A pair of spring-like holding pieces 13a, 13a formed so as to cut out a part of the conductive shell 13 described above is formed on the upper surface side of the plug connector 1 in the longitudinal direction. The end edges of both spring-like holding pieces 13a and 13a are fitted into a lock lever 14 that is lifted up to the upper standby position as shown in FIG. The lock lever 14 is temporarily fixed in a standby state.

  On the other hand, the above-described receptacle connector (second connector) 2 is a lock member to which the lock lever 14 of the plug connector 1 is fitted after the plug connector (first connector) 1 is fitted. The stop part 24 is provided over two places. Each of the lock engaging portions 24 is composed of a spring-like member having a cantilever structure formed so as to cut and raise a part (hold-down portion) of the conductive shell 23, and the plug connector 1 side. The lock lever 14 can be engaged and disengaged when the lock lever 14 is rotated to the lowest position as shown in FIG.

  These lock locking portions 24, 24 are arranged in an arrangement with an appropriate interval in the longitudinal direction, and the end edges of both lock locking portions 24, 24 are at the end as shown in FIG. The lock lever 14 is locked to the receptacle connector 2 side by being fitted to both end portions of the main operation portion 14a of the lock lever 14 that has been lowered and rotated to the lower position.

  That is, in the state shown in FIG. 7 immediately after both the connectors 1 and 2 are fitted to each other, the lock lever 14 is placed on the upper surface side of the plug connector 1 and the spring-like holding pieces 13a and 13a are moved. Although it is temporarily fixed in the standby state by the fitting force, when the operator performs a turning operation so that the lock lever 14 in the standby state is lifted while grasping, the lock lever 14 is as shown in FIG. The spring-like holding pieces 13a and 13a are lifted off. Further, when the rotation operation is performed so as to push down the lock lever 14, the lock lever 14 finally comes into contact with the receptacle connector 2 as shown in FIG. Then, the lock lever 14 is engaged with the lock engagement portions 24, 24 on the receptacle connector 2 side, thereby being brought into an engagement state.

  At this time, the above-described lock locking portions 24 and 24 are integrally provided in the hold-down portion of the conductive shell 23 soldered onto the printed wiring board, and thus have a relatively high strength structure. Therefore, there is little risk of deformation or the like when engaged with the lock lever 14 described above. The shapes of the spring-like holding piece 13a and the lock engaging portion 24 are not limited to the shapes shown in the figure. For example, in order to increase the fitting force with the lock lever 14, the lock lever 14 is fitted. You may form a recessed part in the part to be stuck, or may change the angle which cuts out a part of shell. Furthermore, the positions where the spring-like holding pieces 13a and the lock engaging portions 24 are formed are not limited to the conductive shell, and may be formed in, for example, an insulating housing.

  As described above, according to the electrical connector device of the present embodiment, the single lock lever 14 constituting the lock mechanism is gripped by the operator and is turned from the plug connector 1 side to the receptacle connector 2 side. After being engaged, the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 which are in a fitted state are held in the fitted state so as to be sandwiched between the lock levers 14 having a simple structure as a single unit. Will be. That is, in the present embodiment, the fitting state between the connectors 1 and 2 can be satisfactorily maintained only by rotating the single lock lever 14 having a simple configuration only once.

  Furthermore, the lock lever 14 of the lock mechanism according to the present embodiment is configured to also serve as an extraction mechanism that separates the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2 that have been fitted. That is, conversely to the above-described procedure, when a rotation operation is performed by lifting the lock lever 14 upward from the locked state of the lock lever 14 in FIG. 9, the lock lever 14 is locked. It will come off from the parts 24 and 24, and will be in the state where it stood up like FIG. When the raised lock lever 14 is gripped by an operator and pulled upward, the plug connector 1 is pulled out of the receptacle connector 2 by the pulling force.

  The lock lever 14 of the lock mechanism described above is finally rotated until it is placed on the upper surface side of the plug connector 1 as shown in FIG. 7, and the spring-like holding pieces 13a and 13a are moved. It is temporarily fixed in the standby state by the fitting force.

  In the other embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in which the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the above-described embodiment, the main operation portion 14a of the lock lever 14 constituting the lock mechanism. An operation assisting member 15 made of an insulating tape (Kapton tape) or the like is attached to a substantially central portion. The operation assisting member 15 extends from the main operation portion 14a of the lock lever 14 so as to be rotatable with an appropriate width. By operating the lock lever 14 via the operation assisting member 15, the operation assisting member 15 is rotated. The lock lever 14 can be easily rotated.

  That is, according to the embodiment provided with such an operation assisting member 15, for example, even when only a small work space can be secured, the rotation operation of the lock lever 14, especially the lock lever 14 is locked to the lock engaging portion 24. The operation of releasing the plug connector 1 from the mating state with the receptacle connector 2 and separating (separating) the plug connector 1 from the engaged state with the receptacle connector 2 is easily performed via the operation assisting member 15.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the lock lever is provided on the plug connector and the lock engaging portion is provided on the receptacle connector. On the contrary, the lock lever is provided on the receptacle connector and locked. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which the locking portion is provided in the receptacle connector.

  Furthermore, although embodiment mentioned above applies this invention to the electrical connector apparatus of a vertical fitting type, it can apply similarly also to an electrical connector apparatus of a horizontal fitting type.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the coaxial cable connector as in each of the above-described embodiments, and an electric connector device in which a plurality of coaxial cables and insulating cables are mixed, a flexible wiring board, and the like are connected. The same can be applied to an electrical connector device or the like.

  As described above, the present invention can be widely applied to a wide variety of electrical connector devices used in various electrical devices.

It is an appearance perspective explanatory view showing the state just before fitting a plug connector and a receptacle connector in an electric connector device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective explanatory view showing a state in which the plug connector and the receptacle connector of the electrical connector device shown in FIG. 1 are fitted. FIG. 3 is a rear explanatory view showing the structure of the electrical connector device in the fitted state shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view showing the structure of the electrical connector device in the fitted state shown in FIG. 2. It is front explanatory drawing showing the structure of the electric connector apparatus of the fitting state shown by FIG. It is side surface explanatory drawing showing the state just before fitting the plug connector and receptacle connector of the electrical connector apparatus shown by FIG. It is side surface explanatory drawing showing the state after fitting the plug connector and receptacle connector of the electrical connector apparatus shown by FIG. It is side surface explanatory drawing showing the state rotated so that a lock lever might be raised from the state which fitted the plug connector and the receptacle connector. It is side surface explanatory drawing showing the state which rotated the lock lever toward the downward direction from the state shown by FIG. It is an external appearance perspective explanatory view showing the state where the plug connector and receptacle connector of the electrical connector device in other embodiments of the present invention were fitted. It is side surface explanatory drawing showing the state which operated the lock lever in the electrical connector apparatus shown by FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Plug connector (first connector)
1a Mating convex portion 11, 21 Insulating housing 12, 22 Conductive terminal (contact)
13, 23 Conductive shell 14 Lock lever (lock mechanism)
14a Main operation part 14b Rotating shaft 15 Operation auxiliary member 2 Receptacle connector (second connector)
2a Fitting recess 24 Lock locking part (lock mechanism)

Claims (7)

In the electrical connector device provided with the first and second connectors configured to be fitted to each other, and provided with a lock mechanism for holding or releasing the fitted state of the two connectors.
The lock mechanism is a single lock lever configured to be rotated from one side to the other side of the first and second connectors;
A lock engaging portion provided on the other side of the first and second connectors so that the single lock lever can be engaged and disengaged;
An electrical connector device comprising:   2. The electrical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the lock lever of the lock mechanism is configured to also serve as an extraction mechanism that separates the first and second connectors in a fitted state.   2. The lock lever of the lock mechanism is attached so as to be rotatable so as to span both ends in the longitudinal direction on one side of the first and second connectors. Electrical connector device.   2. The electric circuit according to claim 1, wherein a signal line is connected to the first connector, and the second connector is connected to the wiring board side. Connector device.   5. The electrical connector device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second connectors are configured as vertical fitting connectors that are fitted in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of the wiring board. . Each of the first and second connectors is configured to cover the insulating housing with a conductive shell,
Both end portions of the lock lever of the lock mechanism are attached so as to be rotatable with respect to both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the insulating housing on either one of the first and second connectors, and the lock mechanism The lock engaging portion of the first and second connectors is provided on the other side of the first and second connectors so as to be engageable and disengageable with the lock lever. Electrical connector device.   The electrical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the lock lever of the lock mechanism is configured such that an operation assisting member that facilitates a rotation operation of the lock lever is attachable or detachable.

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