JP2008204830A - Anti-fall-off mechanism for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an anti-fall-off mechanism for a connector capable of surely and easily carrying out locking and locking release of a receptacle connector to and from a plug connector. <P>SOLUTION: As regards the anti-fall-off mechanism for a connector, a receptacle connector is provided with a latch part positioned at an inside face of a receptacle shell, moving in response to pressing in an insertion direction, and not moving in response to pressing in a pull-off direction, and a pressing member moving in free pressing of the latch part. The plug connector has a protruded part on an outside face of a plug shell, and, at time of insertion of the plug connector, the protruded part moves while pressing the latch part, and gets engaged with the latch part at a position where the former climbs over the latter, and at pulling off of the plug connector, the pressing member is moved in an insertion direction to press the latch part, whereby, engagement of the protrude part and the latch part is released. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector removal prevention mechanism in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector are fitted and connected to each other.

  Electronic devices such as personal computers, printers, scanners, oscilloscopes, and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) are equipped with interfaces such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) to connect with external devices. Connected.

In the case of a USB connector, a plug connector is inserted into a receptacle connector on the electronic device side, and the plug terminal and the receptacle terminal are electrically connected. Usually, a cable is connected to the plug connector and used as a USB cable to connect an electronic device and an external device.
In the USB connector series B, an elastic locking piece is formed on the receptacle connector shell, and a protrusion is formed on the plug connector shell. When the plug connector is inserted into the receptacle connector, the protrusion of the plug connector is locked by the locking piece of the receptacle connector.

JP 2006-127905 A

  The conventional USB connector has no receptacle connector and plug connector locking mechanism and can be easily inserted and removed, but the locking force is weak. For this reason, there is a possibility that the connector may come off due to vibrations taking a long time or inadvertently applying external force to the cable, and there is a problem that communication is interrupted. In addition, a mechanism capable of surely locking is required for electronic devices such as PLC that require reliability.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a connector disconnection prevention mechanism that can reliably and easily lock and unlock the receptacle connector and the plug connector. .

In order to achieve such a subject, the present invention is configured as follows.
(1) A connector removal prevention mechanism in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector are fitted and connected to each other,
The receptacle connector is located on the inner surface of the receptacle shell, is movable with respect to the pressing in the insertion direction, and is not movable with respect to the pressing in the removal direction, and a pressing that moves the latch so as to be able to be pressed And having a member
The plug connector has a protrusion on the outer surface of the plug shell,
When the plug connector is inserted, the protrusion moves while pressing the latch, and the protrusion and the latch engage at a position where the protrusion exceeds the latch,
When the plug connector is removed, the connector is prevented from coming off by moving the pressing member in the insertion direction and pressing the latch portion to release the engagement between the protrusion and the latch portion.

(2) The movable latch portion has a structure in which a right triangular prism member is supported by a spring member, and the protrusion moves while contacting the inclined surface of the right triangular prism member when the plug connector is inserted (1). ) Detachment prevention mechanism of the connector described.

(3) A part of the pressing member is fixed to the receptacle shell by a spring member, and the spring member extends when moved in the insertion direction, and returns by an elastic force in the removal direction (1). ) Or (2).

(4) The connector disconnection prevention mechanism according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the plug connector is a series B of USB connectors.
(5) A connector disconnection prevention mechanism in which the receptacle connector and the plug connector are fitted and connected to each other,
The receptacle connector is located on the inner surface of the receptacle shell, is movable with respect to the pressing in the insertion direction, and is not movable with respect to the pressing in the removal direction, and a pressing that moves the latch so as to be able to be pressed And having a member
The plug connector has a hole in the outer surface of the plug shell,
When the plug connector is inserted, it moves while pressing the latch portion on the outer surface of the plug shell, and the hole portion and the latch portion engage when the hole portion comes to the position of the latch portion,
An unplugging prevention mechanism for a connector, wherein when the plug connector is removed, the pressing member is moved in an insertion direction to press the latch portion to release the engagement between the hole portion and the latch portion.

The present invention has the following effects.
Since the latch portion that is movable with respect to the pressing in the insertion direction and is not movable with respect to the pressing in the removal direction is engaged with the protrusion (or hole), the receptacle connector and the plug connector are locked and locked. Release can be performed reliably and easily.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
1A is a view of the receptacle connector as viewed from the insertion port side, and FIG. 1B is a view of FIG. 1A as viewed from the upper side. The necessary components are schematically shown.
Latch portions 20a and 20b are located on the left and right side surfaces inside the receptacle shell 10 of the receptacle connector. The latch portion 20a is movable in the outer direction (C) of the receptacle shell 10 when pressed in the direction (A) for inserting the plug connector, but is movable when pressed in the direction (B) for removing the plug connector. do not do. The latch portion 20b is movable in the outward direction (D) of the receptacle shell 10 when pressed in the direction (A) for inserting the plug connector, but is movable when pressed in the direction (B) for removing the plug connector. do not do.

  In this example, the latch portions 20a and 20b have a structure in which right-angled triangular prism members are supported by spring members 21a and 21b. However, the latch portions 20a and 20b can move with respect to pressing in the insertion direction, but not with respect to pressing in the removal direction. Any structure can be used.

The pressing member 30 is a member for pressing the latch portions 20a and 20b, and is movably attached to the receptacle connector.
In this example, the pressing member 30 is disposed along the frame of the receptacle shell 10 so as not to obstruct the insertion of the plug connector. Part of the pressing member 30 is fixed to the receptacle shell 10 by spring members 31a and 31b, and presses the latch portions 20a and 20b by moving in the insertion direction (A). At this time, since the spring members 31a and 31b extend, the spring members 31a and 31b return to their original positions in the removal direction (B) due to the elastic force of the springs.

  The pressing member 30 may be a member for pressing the latch portions 20a and 20b, and is not necessarily fixed by the spring members 31a and 31b. Further, the shape is not limited to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram when locking the connector.
FIGS. 2A to 2C show a state in which the receptacle connector and the plug connector are locked.
FIG. 2A shows a state in which the plug connector has started to be inserted into the receptacle connector. Protrusions 41a and 41b are located on the left and right side surfaces outside the plug shell 40 of the plug connector.

  In FIG. 2B, when the plug connector is inserted, the protrusions 41a and 41b start to contact the latch parts 20a and 20b of the receptacle connector, and the protrusions 41a and 41b are the right triangular prisms of the latch parts 20a and 20b. When moving while contacting the inclined surface, the latch portions 20a and 20b are pushed toward the outside of the receptacle shell 10.

  In FIG. 2C, when the protrusions 41a and 41b reach a position beyond the latch portions 20a and 20b, the latch portions 20a and 20b are pushed back toward the inside of the receptacle shell 10 by the elastic force of the spring members 21a and 21b. . Then, even if the plug connector is pulled in the removal direction, the latch portions 20a and 20b do not move, the projection portions 41a and 41b engage with the latch portions 20a and 20b, and the receptacle connector and the plug connector are locked. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the connector is unlocked.
3A to 3C show how the receptacle connector and the plug connector are unlocked.
FIG. 3A shows a state in which the receptacle connector and the plug connector are locked, and even if the plug connector is pulled in the removal direction, the projections 41a and 41b of the plug connector are caught on the latch portions 20a and 20b of the receptacle connector. The plug connector cannot be pulled out.

  In FIG. 3B, when the pressing member 30 is moved in the insertion direction, the pressing member 30 starts to contact the latch portions 20a and 20b, and the pressing member 30 contacts the inclined surface of the right triangular prism of the latch portions 20a and 20b. While moving, the latch portions 20a and 20b are pushed away from the receptacle shell 10. If it does so, engagement with projection part 41a, 41b and latch part 20a, 20b will be cancelled | released.

In FIG. 3C, the plug connector can be pulled out from the receptacle connector by pulling the plug connector in the removal direction with the receptacle connector and the plug connector unlocked.
The pressing member 30 returns to the original position by the elastic force of the spring members 31a and 31b, and the pressing to the latch parts 20a and 20b is also released, so that the latch parts 20a and 20b are also affected by the elastic force of the spring members 21a and 21b. Return to the position.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of operation according to another configuration of the present invention.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show the configuration in which the latch portions 20a and 20b of the receptacle connector and the protrusion portions 41a and 41b of the plug connector are engaged, but the latch portions 20a and 20a of the receptacle connector are shown in FIGS. The configuration is shown in which 20b is engaged with the holes 51a and 51b of the plug connector.
FIG. 4A shows a state in which the plug connector has started to be inserted into the receptacle connector. Holes 51a and 51b are located on the left and right side surfaces of the plug connector 50 outside the plug connector.

  In FIG. 4B, when the plug connector is inserted, the outer surface of the plug shell 50 starts to come into contact with the latch portions 20a and 20b of the receptacle connector, and the latch portions 20a and 20b on the outer surface of the plug shell 50. Move while pressing. At that time, the latch portions 20 a and 20 b are pushed to the outside of the receptacle shell 10.

  In FIG. 4C, when the holes 51a and 51b reach the position of the latches 20a and 20b, the latches 20a and 20b are released from being pressed, and the latches 20a and 20b are moved by the elastic force of the spring members 21a and 21b. It is pushed back toward the inside of the receptacle shell 10. Then, even if the plug connector is pulled in the removal direction, the latch portions 20a and 20b cannot move, the holes 51a and 51b engage with the latch portions 20a and 20b, and the receptacle connector and the plug connector are locked. .

  As described above, since the latch portion that is movable with respect to the pressing in the insertion direction and not movable with respect to the pressing in the removal direction is engaged with the protrusion (or the hole), the receptacle connector and the plug connector are used. Can be reliably and easily locked. Further, by pressing the latch portion with the pressing member, it is possible to reliably and easily unlock the receptacle connector and the plug connector.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the connector from coming off due to vibrations applied to the electronic device for a long time or inadvertent application of an external force to the cable between the electronic devices. In addition, a USB cable or the like can be used more safely in an electronic device that requires reliability such as a PLC.

The position of the latch portion of the receptacle connector may be a place other than the left and right side surfaces inside the receptacle shell, and the number of latch portions may be other than two.
Further, the position of the protrusion (or hole) of the plug connector may be a place other than the left and right side surfaces outside the plug shell, and the number of protrusions (or holes) is not limited to two. Is possible.

  In the USB connector series B, since the protrusion is formed in advance on the plug connector, only the mechanism on the receptacle side needs to be changed, and a commercially available plug side can be used as it is.

It is a block diagram which shows one Example of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of locking a connector. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of releasing the lock | rock of a connector. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing by the other structure of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Receptacle shell 20a, 20b Latch part 21a, 21b Spring member 30 Press member 31a, 31b Spring member 40, 50 Plug shell 41a, 41b Protrusion part 51a, 51b Hole part

Claims (5)

A connector disconnection prevention mechanism in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector are connected to each other,
The receptacle connector is located on the inner surface of the receptacle shell, is movable with respect to the pressing in the insertion direction, and is not movable with respect to the pressing in the removal direction, and a pressing that moves the latch so as to be able to be pressed And having a member
The plug connector has a protrusion on the outer surface of the plug shell,
When the plug connector is inserted, the protrusion moves while pressing the latch, and the protrusion and the latch engage at a position where the protrusion exceeds the latch,
When the plug connector is removed, the connector is prevented from coming off by moving the pressing member in the insertion direction and pressing the latch portion to release the engagement between the protrusion and the latch portion.   The said movable latch part is a structure which supported the right triangular prism member with the spring member, and the said protrusion part moves, contacting the inclined surface of the said right triangular prism member at the time of the said plug connector insertion. Connector removal prevention mechanism.   A part of the pressing member is fixed to the receptacle shell by a spring member, the spring member extends when moved in the insertion direction, and returns by an elastic force in the removal direction. Described prevention mechanism of the connector.   The connector plug prevention mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plug connector is a series B of USB connectors. A connector disconnection prevention mechanism in which a receptacle connector and a plug connector are connected to each other,
The receptacle connector is located on the inner surface of the receptacle shell, is movable with respect to the pressing in the insertion direction, and is not movable with respect to the pressing in the removal direction, and a pressing that moves the latch so as to be able to be pressed And having a member
The plug connector has a hole in the outer surface of the plug shell,
When the plug connector is inserted, it moves while pressing the latch portion on the outer surface of the plug shell, and the hole portion and the latch portion engage when the hole portion comes to the position of the latch portion,
An unplugging prevention mechanism for a connector, wherein when the plug connector is removed, the pressing member is moved in an insertion direction to press the latch portion to release the engagement between the hole portion and the latch portion.

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