JP2009104936A - Lock structure and connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lock structure to lock a pair of members in a regular engagement state by a spring and a connector to be locked in a regular state by a spring wherein operation for locking can be made easily. <P>SOLUTION: A lock release arm 25 which extends in an engagement direction with the other member 50 and can slant in seesaw form is provided in one of member 10, and one end of this lock release arm 25 is arranged between a spring 40 and the one member 10 and is made a pushing portion 27 to pushing-move the spring 40 in a separating direction from the one member 10, and the other end is made a lock-release operation portion 31 to pushing-move the pushing portion 27 by being pressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lock structure that locks a pair of members in a proper fitting state by a spring and a connector that is locked in a normal fitting state by a spring.

Conventionally, for example, a lock structure described in Patent Document 1 is known as a lock structure that locks a pair of members in a regular fitting state by a spring. The spring has a pair of elastically displaceable legs and is mounted so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction with respect to the connector housing. The housing forms a passage for the engagement protrusion provided on the mating housing to pass therethrough. Has been. When the housing is in a properly fitted state with the mating housing, the leg portion of the spring projects over the passage and is arranged behind the engaging projection (in the direction in which the mating housing is separated). As a result of the engagement, both the connectors are locked in a normal fitting state.
And when separating both the connectors locked in the regular fitting state, the leg is retracted from the passage way by performing an operation of pushing down the spring, and the lock is released.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-98485

By the way, in the structure as described above, the operation of pushing down the spring (that is, the unlocking operation) must be performed by directly pressing the spring with the fingertip, and the spring is thinner than the fingertip. There is a problem of being bad.
In addition, if the mating connector shape (for example, the mating connector has a wall portion that protrudes outward from the spring) does not secure a space for placing the fingertip above the spring, a jig or the like There is also a problem that the operation of unlocking must be performed using the, and the operation is troublesome.
The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and in a lock structure that locks a pair of members in a regular fitting state by a spring and a connector that is locked in a regular fitting state by a spring, An object of the present invention is to provide a lock structure and a connector that can easily perform an operation related to locking.

  The present invention is a lock structure that includes a pair of elastically displaceable leg portions and locks the other member that is normally fitted to the same member so as not to be detached by a spring that is attached to the one member. The spring is attached to an end of the one member on the front side in the fitting direction with the other member, and the spring attached to the one member is engaged with the other member. When the leg is extended between the entry position where the leg projects in the passageway through which the part passes and the retraction position in which the leg part retracts from the passageway, the spring is in the entry position. In the locked state by engaging with the engaged part of the other member that is normally fitted to the member, the spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position, and the lock is released. in front The spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position by being displaced in a direction away from the one member, and the one member extends in a fitting direction with the other member. A lock release arm that can be tilted like a seesaw is provided, and an end of the lock release arm on the front side in the fitting direction is arranged between the spring and the one member, and the spring is attached to the one of the one member. It is a pushing part that moves in a direction away from the member, and the end on the rear side in the fitting direction is a lock release operation part that pushes the pushing part when pressed. Has characteristics.

According to such a configuration, when the unlocking operation portion is pressed, the spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position, and the lock is released. Therefore, it is not necessary to directly operate the spring with the fingertip, so that the operability is improved. good. Further, since the unlocking operation portion is provided at the end of the unlocking arm on the rear side in the fitting direction with the other member, the end on the front side in the fitting direction of one of the members due to the shape of the other member, etc. Even if there is no space for placing the fingertip on the part (the end on the side where the spring is mounted), the lock can be released without any problem. Therefore, compared with the case where the unlocking operation is performed using a jig or the like, it is possible to save time and effort for the operation.
As described above, the operability of the unlocking operation can be improved and the labor required for the operation can be saved, so that the unlocking operation can be easily performed.

  And a support arm configured to extend in a fitting direction with the other member to support the lock release arm, and the support arm has a rear end portion in the fitting direction of the lock release arm. It is connected to the end portion on the rear side in the fitting direction, while the end portion on the front side in the fitting direction is connected to the one member, and one of the unlocking arm and the one member includes the When the unlocking operation portion is pressed and the unlocking arm and the one member approach each other, a fulcrum portion that contacts the other in the front-rear center portion of the unlocking arm may be provided. .

  According to such a configuration, when the unlocking operation part is pressed, the support arm tilts and the unlocking arm approaches one member, and the unlocking arm tilts in a seesaw shape by contact with the fulcrum part. The lock is released. That is, since the connection part between the unlocking arm and one member and the fulcrum part for tilting the unlocking arm in a seesaw shape are provided separately, the strength of the connection part is reduced accordingly. Can do. Here, when the connecting portion between the unlocking arm and one member is configured to serve as a fulcrum portion when tilting in a seesaw shape, the connecting portion is large in order to provide sufficient strength. Is done. Then, the rigidity of the connecting portion is increased, and a large force is required when pressing the unlocking operation portion. However, according to the configuration of the present invention, the rigidity of the connecting portion between the one member and the unlocking arm can be reduced. Therefore, the force required for the unlocking operation can be reduced, and the operation can be easily performed. be able to.

  When the spring is in the retracted position, the leg entrance to the passageway has an elastic return side of the leg portion with respect to the engagement portion projecting to the passageway. It is good also as what has an inductive taper part of the inclination which guides the said engaging part to the said passage side by the elastic restoring force of the same leg part.

  According to such a configuration, when the pressing operation of the unlocking operation portion is released, the engaging portion is pushed against the tapered portion by the elastic restoring force of the leg portion and is drawn into the passage, and the spring enters from the retracted position. Displace to position. Therefore, when the pair of members are re-fitted after the unlocking operation, the spring does not have to be reset to the entry position, and the locking operation can be easily performed.

  The pushing portion may have a shape that is recessed on a side to which the spring is pressed when the spring is pushed and moved. As a result, it is possible to avoid the spring from being detached from the front end of the unlocking arm during the unlocking operation, so that the unlocking operation can be reliably performed.

  The connector of the present invention is a connector that includes a pair of elastically displaceable legs, and that locks a mating housing that is normally fitted to the housing, by means of a spring that is fitted to the housing. Is mounted at the end of the housing on the front side in the mating direction with the mating housing, and the spring mounted on the housing is in a passing path through which an engaged portion provided in the mating housing passes. When the leg is retracted from the passage position, the leg is retracted from the passage, and when the spring is in the entry position, the mating member is normally fitted to the housing. Locked by engaging the engaged portion of the side housing, and the spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position. In the release, the spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position by being displaced in a direction away from the housing, and the housing is fitted with the counterpart housing. An unlocking arm that extends in the direction and can be tilted like a seesaw is provided, and an end of the unlocking arm on the front side in the fitting direction is disposed between the spring and the housing, and the spring It is a pushing portion that moves in a direction away from the housing, and the end on the rear side in the fitting direction is a lock release operation portion that pushes the pushing portion when pressed. Has characteristics.

  According to the present invention, in a lock structure that locks a pair of members in a proper fitting state by a spring and a connector that is locked in a normal fitting state by a spring, a lock that can be easily operated for locking. Structures and connectors can be provided.

<Embodiment 1>
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, the lock structure of the present invention is applied to a lock structure that locks a pair of normally fitted connectors F and M (female connector F and male connector M) so that they cannot be detached. This lock structure is a male housing 50 of the male connector M (in accordance with the present invention) that is normally fitted to the female housing 10 by a spring 40 attached to the female housing 10 of the female connector F (corresponding to one member of the present invention). (Corresponding to the other member) is locked so as not to be detached. Hereinafter, in each component member, the fitting surface side of both connectors will be referred to as the front side, and the upper side in FIG.

  The male connector M includes a male housing 50 and a male terminal 51 held by the male housing 50. The male housing 50 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a front hood portion 52 that has a substantially rectangular tube shape that is slightly longer in the width direction and opens forward, and a rear hood portion 53 that opens rearward. Three male terminals 51 are provided in parallel in the width direction, and each of the male terminals 51 penetrates and holds the back wall 54 (the wall between the front hood portion 52 and the rear hood portion 53) of the male housing 50 in the front-rear direction. Has been. The front part and the rear part of the three male terminals 51 protrude forward and backward in the front hood part 52 and the rear hood part 53, respectively.

  Engagement protrusions 55 (corresponding to the engaged portion of the present invention) are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the male housing 50 respectively. The engagement protrusion 55 is disposed at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction of the male housing 50, and a height position thereof is a substantially central position in the vertical direction of the male housing 50. The front surface of the engagement protrusion 55 has a slope that gently rises from the front to the rear so that the spring 40 can easily climb, while the rear surface is an engagement surface 55A with which the spring 40 can engage. It is said that.

The female connector F includes a female housing 10 made of synthetic resin that can be fitted to the male housing 50. The female housing 10 includes a terminal accommodating portion 11 that can accommodate the female terminal 34 and an outer cylinder portion 12 that surrounds the outer peripheral side of the terminal accommodating portion 11.
The terminal accommodating portion 11 has a prismatic shape with a slightly longer cross section in the width direction that can be fitted in the front hood portion 52 of the male housing 50, and a female terminal 34 can be inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 11 from the rear 3. Two cavities 13 are formed side by side.

  The outer cylinder part 12 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, is provided from the rear end to the front end of the terminal accommodating part 11, and the rear end of the outer cylinder part 12 and the rear end of the terminal accommodating part 11 are connected by the connecting part 14. Yes. Between the outer cylinder part 12 and the terminal accommodating part 11, the space | interval which can insert the front hood part 52 of the male housing 50 is provided. A seal ring 15 is fitted on the rear portion of the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11, and the seal ring 15 is sandwiched between the front hood portion 52 and the terminal accommodating portion 11 so that the two housings are separated from each other. Sealed. Note that an opening 12 </ b> A for assembling a retainer 35 for preventing the female terminal 34 from being detached from the terminal accommodating portion 11 is opened on the lower surface of the outer cylinder portion 12.

  The rear end of the female housing 10 is provided with a pair of finger hooks 16 projecting sideways from the left and right sides. When the connectors F and M are to be detached, the fingertips 16 are hooked on the finger hooks 16. Thus, the female housing 10 can be pulled out.

A pair of rising walls 17 extending in the front-rear direction are provided on the upper surface of the outer cylinder portion 12. The rising wall 17 continuously extends from the rear end to the position near the front end of the female housing 10, and an unlocking arm 25 is provided inside the rising wall 17. The lock release arm 25 will be described in detail later.
A rear recess 18 is formed in a portion between the rising walls 17 on the upper surface of the outer cylinder portion 12 so as to be recessed from a substantially central position in the front-rear direction to the rear edge. The recess size of the rear recess 18 is gradually made deeper toward the rear.

  First positioning walls 19 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the outer cylinder portion 12. The first positioning wall 19 has a wall shape extending in the circumferential direction along both side surfaces of the outer cylinder portion 12 from the front ends of the pair of rising walls 17. Further, a second positioning wall 21 is provided in front of the first positioning wall 19 in the outer cylinder portion 12. The 2nd positioning wall 21 has comprised the wall shape extended in the circumferential direction in the upper surface of the outer cylinder part 12, and both right and left side surfaces. The second positioning wall 21 and the first positioning wall 19 are substantially parallel to each other, and an interval substantially equal to the width dimension (diameter) of the spring 40 in the front-rear direction is provided therebetween.

  A front concave portion 22 that allows the front end portion of the lock release arm 25 to escape is formed in a substantially central portion in the width direction of the second positioning wall 21 (a portion facing the lock release arm 25). The front concave portion 22 has a form in which the depth dimension gradually increases from both ends in the width direction to the central portion, and the depth dimension of the central portion is substantially the wall thickness dimension (width dimension in the front-rear direction) of the second positioning wall 21. It is about half (see FIG. 4).

  A portion of the outer cylinder portion 12 between the first positioning wall 19 and the second positioning wall 21 is a mounting portion 23 to which the spring 40 is mounted. The mounting portion 23 includes a portion formed by denting the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 12 inward, and a first positioning wall 19 and a second positioning wall 21.

  On both the left and right side walls of the outer cylinder portion 12, there are provided passages 33 through which the engaging projections 55 of the male housing 50 can pass. The passage path 33 extends rearward from the front end of the outer cylinder portion 12 and communicates with the mounting portion 23.

  The upper surface 24A and the lower surface 24B of the communication portion 24 (corresponding to the entrance / exit of the leg portion 41 to the passageway 33 of the present invention) where the attachment portion 23 and the passageway 33 communicate with each other are inward from the outer side (the attachment portion 23 side). The vertical direction dimension of the communication part 24 on the inside thereof is substantially equal to the vertical dimension of the engagement protrusion 55 (see FIG. 6). The inclination of the upper surface 24A of the communication part 24 is an inclination that guides the engaging part 43 of the spring 40 from the mounting part 23 side to the passing path 33 side, and the upper surface 24A of the communication part 24 corresponds to the leading taper part of the present invention.

  A spring 40 mounted on the mounting portion 23 of the female housing 10 has a substantially U-shape that is open downward as a whole, and a pair of leg portions 41 that can be elastically displaced in opposite directions, and an upper end of the leg portion 41. The upper side part 42 which connects parts is provided. When in a natural state, the pair of leg portions 41 hangs from both ends of the upper side portion 42 in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the upper side portion 42.

  The lower end portion of the leg portion 41 is bent inwardly (in a direction approaching each other) in a substantially mountain shape, and the bent portion is an engaging portion 43 that protrudes to the passage path 33. The engaging portion 43 is composed of an upper inclined side 43A and a lower inclined side 43B that are inclined toward each other toward the inside, and has a shape in which the width dimension in the vertical direction becomes smaller toward the inside as a whole. The lower inclined side 43B has an inclination substantially equal to the inclination of the lower surface 24B of the communication portion 24, and the upper inclined side 43A has an inclination substantially equal to the inclination of the upper surface 24A of the communication portion 24. Note that the protruding end portion of the engaging portion 43 (the connecting portion between the upper inclined side 43A and the lower inclined side 43B) is rounded.

  The spring 40 is displaceable between an approach position (see FIG. 6) where the engaging portion 43 protrudes from the passage path 33 and a retracted position (see FIG. 7) where the engaging portion 43 retracts from the passage path 33. It is attached to. When the spring 40 is in the entry position, the engaging portion 43 projecting from the passage passage 33 is pushed by the engagement protrusion 55 passing through the passage passage 33, so that the leg portion 41 is elastically bent outward, and both the connectors F, When M reaches a proper fitting state, the leg portion 41 is elastically restored, the engaging portion 43 engages with the engaging surface 55A, and the male housing 50 is locked so as not to be detached. The spring 40 is displaced upward from the entry position (in a direction away from the female housing 10) to reach the retracted position. When the spring 40 reaches the retracted position, the engaging portion 43 is retracted from the passage path 33 to be unlocked, and the engaging portion 43 retracted from the passage path 33 is located outside the upper surface 24A of the communication portion 24. In addition, the height dimension of the 1st positioning wall 19 and the 2nd positioning wall 21 is set to the dimension distribute | arranged before and behind the spring 40 over the range which the spring 40 displaces between an approach position and a retracted position.

  Now, the unlocking arm 25 provided between the pair of rising walls 17 has a form extending in the front-rear direction (the fitting direction with the male housing 50), and is connected by a pair of rotation shafts 26 provided in the width direction. It is connected to the rising wall 17 and floats upward from the outer cylinder portion 12. The unlocking arm 25 has a length dimension that protrudes from the rear end of the female housing 10 to the front concave portion 22 of the second positioning wall 21, and a connecting rotation shaft 26 is provided at a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 4). The connecting rotation shaft 26 has a shape that can be rotated with the facing direction of the rising wall 17 (the short direction of the unlocking arm 25) as an axis, and the unlocking arm 25 has a seesaw shape with the connecting rotation shaft 26 as a fulcrum. Can be tilted. The connecting rotation shaft 26 extends slightly obliquely forward from the side surface of the lock release arm 25 and is connected to the rising wall 17. When the lock release arm 25 is in a natural state, the lock release arm 25 is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the outer cylinder portion 12 (see FIG. 1).

  A front end portion (one end) of the unlocking arm 25 is disposed below the spring 40, and is a pushing portion 27 that pushes the spring 40 upward (in a direction away from the female housing 10) when the unlocking arm 25 tilts. . A front wall portion 28 that rises upward is provided at the front end of the unlocking arm 25, and the front wall portion 28 causes the pushing portion 27 to be recessed downward, that is, the spring 40 is pressed when the spring 40 is pushed up. It has a concave shape on the side to be The front wall portion 28 enters the front concave portion 22 of the second positioning wall 21, and when the unlocking arm 25 is in a natural state, the rear surface of the front wall portion 28 and the rear surface of the second positioning wall 21 (first positioning wall 21). The surface facing the wall 19 is substantially flush. The front wall portion 28 has a substantially mountain shape in which the dimension in the width direction gradually decreases toward the upper end.

  At the upper end of the front wall portion 28, a hook portion 29 that protrudes rearward is provided. The hook portion 29 is provided corresponding to the substantially center position in the width direction of the upper side portion 42 of the spring 40, and the projecting dimension thereof is approximately the same as the dimension (radius) of approximately half of the width in the front-rear direction of the spring 40. Yes. Further, an interval equal to the vertical dimension (diameter) of the spring 40 is provided between the hook portion 29 and the pushing portion 27, and the upper side portion 42 of the spring 40 is connected to the hook portion 29 and the pushing portion. 27 between the upper and lower sides with almost no gap. The entire spring 40 is sandwiched between the first positioning wall 19, the front wall portion 28, and the second positioning wall 21 with almost no gap between the front and rear.

  The rear end portion (the other end) of the lock release arm 25 serves as a lock release operation portion 31 that pushes the push portion 27 when pressed. The width direction dimension of the unlocking operation unit 31 is wider than the portion of the unlocking arm 25 on the front side of the connecting rotation shaft 26 (see FIG. 4), and the rear end of the upper surface of the unlocking operation unit 31. The portion is a pressed inclined surface 32 that has an inclination that gradually rises toward the rear (see FIG. 1). Further, the lower surface of the unlocking operation unit 31 has an inclination that rises toward the rear end. In other words, the unlocking operation unit 31 has a shape in which the thickness dimension in the vertical direction decreases toward the rear end. The inclination of the lower surface of the unlocking operation part 31 and the rear recess 18 of the female housing 10 ensure a sufficient amount of elastic displacement below the unlocking operation part 31 while keeping the height dimension of the female housing 10 as small as possible. is doing.

  When the unlocking arm 25 is in the natural state, the spring 40 is held in the entry position, and the female housing 10 is in a state where it can be locked with the male housing 50. The state of the unlocking arm 25 at this time can be locked. Called. When the unlocking operation part 31 is pressed and the unlocking arm 25 tilts, the pushing part 27 pushes the spring 40 upward and the spring 40 is displaced to the retracted position, that is, with the male housing 50. The lock is released, and the state of the lock release arm 25 at this time is referred to as a lock release state (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

  Next, an operation of locking the male connector M and the female connector F in a proper fitting state will be described. The unlock arm 25 is always set in a lockable state, and the spring 40 is always set in the entry position.

  First, the female housing 10 is grasped with a finger and gradually pushed into the male connector M side while the passage 33 of the female housing 10 is aligned with the engaging protrusion 55 of the male housing 50. Then, the engagement protrusion 55 advances along the passage 33 and the front surface thereof contacts the engagement portion 43 of the spring 40. As the engagement protrusion 55 advances, the engagement portion 43 of the spring 40 moves to the engagement protrusion. 55, the legs 41 are elastically displaced in the expanding direction. At this time, since the hook portion 29 of the unlocking arm 25 is disposed on the upper side of the spring 40, it is possible to prevent the spring 40 from being lifted upward when the leg portion 41 is elastically displaced.

  As soon as both connectors F and M reach the normal fitting state, the protruding end surface of the engaging projection 55 passes forward of the spring 40 and the leg portion 41 is elastically restored, so that the engaging portion 43 and the engaging protrusion 55 Both the housings 10 and 50 are locked so as not to be separated from each other with the engagement surface 55A facing the front and rear direction. When the connectors F and M are properly fitted, the internal spaces of the housings 10 and 50 are sealed by the seal ring 15 and the rubber plug 36 for electric wires, and the male and female terminals 34 and 51 are properly connected. Conductive connection is established.

  Next, both connectors F and M locked in the normal fitting state are released. First, a fingertip is applied to the pressed slope 32 of the unlocking arm 25 in the lockable state, and the unlocking operation unit 31 is pressed downward. Then, the connecting rotation shaft 26 rotates and functions as a fulcrum, the lock release arm 25 tilts, and the pushing portion 27 pushes the spring 40 upward. As the spring 40 is pushed up by the pushing portion 27, the engaging portion 43 is guided to the outside along the inclination of the upper surface 24A of the communicating portion 24, and the leg portion 41 is elastically expanded and deformed. When the unlocking arm 25 reaches the unlocked state, the engaging portion 43 is located at the upper end of the upper surface 24A of the communicating portion 24 and is retracted from the passage path 33, and the engaging protrusion 55 can be moved backward. That is, the lock is released. Then, a finger is hooked on the finger hooking portion 16 of the female housing 10 so as to sandwich both sides of the female housing 10, and the connectors F and M are detached by pulling backward.

  As described above, by pressing the lock release operation unit 31, the spring 40 is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position, and the lock is released. Therefore, it is not necessary to directly operate the spring 40 with the fingertip. Is good. Further, the unlocking operation part 31 is provided at the rear end part of the unlocking arm 25 (the end part on the rear side in the fitting direction with the male connector M). As a result, the male housing that fits into the female housing 10 is different from the male housing 50 of the present embodiment. For example, the front end portion thereof is provided with a flange portion or the like protruding in the circumferential direction. Even when there is no space for placing the fingertip on the front end side (the side where the spring 40 is attached), the lock can be released without any problem. Therefore, as compared with the conventional case where the unlocking operation is performed using a jig or the like, it is possible to save time and effort for the operation.

  In this way, since it is not necessary to displace the spring directly with the fingertip, the operability of the unlocking operation is good, and the lock can be released without any effort regardless of the shape of the mating male housing Thus, the operation for unlocking can be facilitated.

  Then, after the detachment operation of both connectors F and M is completed, when the finger that has pressed the unlocking operation portion 31 is released, the unlocking arm 25 is elastically restored, and the force to push down the spring 40 is released, and the leg is released. The engaging portion 43 is pressed against the upper surface 24 </ b> A of the communicating portion 24 by the elastic restoring force of the portion 41. Then, the engaging portion 43 is drawn into the passage 33 due to the inclination of the upper surface 24A of the communicating portion 24, and the spring 40 is displaced from the retracted position to the entering position accordingly. Therefore, the spring 40 is automatically set to the entry position simply by releasing the fingertip from the unlocking operation portion 31. Therefore, the spring 40 is moved to the entry position when reconnecting after the connectors F and M are separated. There is no need to reset the connector F and M, and it is possible to save the trouble of locking the connectors F and M in the fitted state again.

  Further, since the pushing portion 27 has a shape that is recessed toward the side to which the spring 40 is pressed when the spring 40 is pushed, the spring 40 is detached from the front end of the unlocking arm 25 during the unlocking operation. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of the lock, and the unlocking operation can be surely performed.

  Further, since the hook portion 29 of the unlocking arm 25 is disposed above the upper side portion 42 of the spring 40, the hook portion 29 causes a position shift or upward displacement of the spring 40 (in a direction away from the female housing 10). , Can prevent withdrawal.

  Further, since the pushing portion 27 of the unlocking arm 25 pushes the substantially central portion of the spring 40 in the width direction (the pair of leg portions 41), the force for pushing the spring 40 acts in a well-balanced manner. Operation can be performed efficiently.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the lock release operation unit 31 is pressed, the spring 40 is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position, and the lock is released. The operability is good because there is no need to operate.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a lock structure according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The lock structure of the present embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in the form of the unlock arm 70. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As in the first embodiment, this lock structure locks a pair of normally fitted connectors F and M (female connector F and male connector M) with a spring 40 attached to the female housing 10 so as not to be detached. As in the first embodiment, the spring 40 can be displaced between the entry position and the retracted position, and reaches the retracted position by being displaced upward from the entry position.

  Between the pair of rising walls 17 provided on the upper surface of the female housing 10, there is provided a lock release arm 70 that can be tilted in a seesaw shape. The unlocking arm 70 has a generally rectangular plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction as a whole, and the longitudinal dimension of the unlocking arm 70 is the same as that of the first embodiment from the rear end of the second positioning wall 21 from the rear end of the female housing 10. It is the dimension which protrudes to. The unlocking arm 70 is disposed at a substantially central position between the rising walls 17 and is connected to the rising wall 17 through a pair of support arms 71 provided on both sides.

  The support arm 71 supports the lock release arm 70 in a floating state from the female housing 10, and has an elongated shape along the extending direction of the lock release arm 70 (the fitting direction with the male housing 50). . The support arm 71 extends in the front-rear direction at a substantially central position between the lock release arm 70 and the rising wall 17, and substantially equal intervals are provided on both sides of the support arm 71. The support arm 71 has a front end portion (an end portion on the front side in the fitting direction with the male housing 50) connected to a position near the front end of the rising wall 17 (a position on the rear side of the first positioning wall 19 in the rising wall 17). The rear end portion is coupled to the rear end portion (unlock operation portion 31) of the unlock arm 70. A connecting portion between the front end portion of the support arm 71 and the rising wall 17 serves as a connecting rotation shaft 72 that rotates when the unlocking arm 70 tilts.

  The front end portion (one end) of the unlocking arm 70 is a pushing portion 27 that pushes the spring 40 upward (in the direction away from the female housing 10) when the unlocking arm 70 tilts, as in the first embodiment. A front wall portion 28 and a hook portion 29 are provided. The rear end portion (the other end) of the unlocking arm 70 is a lock releasing operation portion 31 that pushes the pushing portion 27 when pressed, and a pressed slope 32 is formed on the upper surface thereof. At the same time, its lower surface is inclined upward toward the rear end.

  A fulcrum portion 73 that serves as a fulcrum when the lock release arm 70 tilts is provided on the upper surface of the outer cylinder portion 12 between the rising walls 17. The fulcrum portion 73 is disposed directly below the center position in the longitudinal direction of the unlocking arm 70 (a front side position relative to the rear concave portion 18), and protrudes upward from the upper surface of the outer cylinder portion 12. A pair of fulcrum portions 73 are provided in the width direction of the lock release arm 70 (opposite direction of the rising wall 17), and have a mountain-like cross section in which the projecting dimension gradually increases from the front and rear. The projecting dimension of the fulcrum 73 is such that when the unlocking arm 70 is in a natural state, its projecting end is spaced apart from the lower surface of the unlocking arm 70 and the unlocking operation unit 31 is pressed. And a size that functions as a fulcrum for the tilting operation in contact with the unlocking arm 70. When the unlocking arm 70 is in a natural state, the unlocking arm 70 is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the outer cylinder portion 12 as in the first embodiment. Further, when the unlocking arm 70 is in a natural state, the lockable state is set, and when the unlocking arm 70 is tilted, the unlocking state is set.

  And the operation | work which locks the male connector M and the female connector F to a regular fitting state is made similarly to Embodiment 1. FIG. In addition, the operation of removing both the connectors F and M locked in the normal fitting state is performed by operating the lock release arm 70 as in the first embodiment, and is performed in detail as follows.

  When a fingertip is applied to the pressed inclined surface 32 of the unlocking arm 70 in the unlocked state and the unlocking operation unit 31 is pressed downward, the connecting rotation shaft 72 rotates, and the support arm 71 has a rear end ( The unlocking operation unit 31 side) tilts in a downward direction. Then, as the support arm 71 tilts, the entire unlocking arm 70 is displaced downward (on the outer cylinder part 12 side), and the lower surface of the unlocking arm 70 contacts the fulcrum part 73. When the unlocking operation portion 31 is further pressed, the unlocking arm 70 tilts with the fulcrum portion 73 as a fulcrum, and the pushing portion 27 pushes the spring 40 upward, and the lock is released as in the first embodiment. The Then, after releasing the lock, the female housing 10 is pulled out rearward and both connectors F and M are detached.

As described above, since the lock is released by pressing the lock release operation unit 31 as in the first embodiment, the lock release operation can be easily performed.
Further, the lock release arm 70 tilts in a seesaw shape with a fulcrum 73 provided separately from the connecting rotation shaft 72 as a fulcrum. Here, the fulcrum portion that functions as a fulcrum during the tilting operation of the unlocking arm must be provided with a strength that can withstand the force that pushes up the pushing portion (ie, the force that displaces the spring 40 upward). For this reason, if it is made the structure where a connection rotation axis | shaft serves as a fulcrum part, in order to provide sufficient intensity | strength to a connection rotation axis | shaft, it is necessary to enlarge the shape. Then, the rigidity of the connecting rotation shaft is increased, and a large force is required when the lock release operation portion is pressed. However, the rigidity of the connection rotation shaft 72 can be reduced by providing the fulcrum portion 73 and the connection rotation shaft 72 separately as in the second embodiment, so that the pressing operation of the unlocking operation portion 31 can be performed. Therefore, the unlocking operation can be easily performed.

<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.

(1) In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the connector lock structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any member lock structure may be used as long as the lock structure is a pair of members that can be fitted to each other. Can be applied.
(2) In the first embodiment, the unlocking arm 25 is tilted in a seesaw shape by the pivotable connecting pivot shaft 26. However, if the unlocking arm can be tilted in a seesaw shape, what is it? For example, a support leg that rises from the upper surface of the female housing may be provided, and the support leg may be tilted with the support leg as a fulcrum.

  (3) In Embodiment 2, the fulcrum part 73 is provided on the outer cylinder part 12 side. However, the fulcrum part is not limited to this, and the fulcrum part is provided on the lock release arm side, and the lock release operation part is pressed and locked. When the release arm is displaced downward, it may contact the outer cylinder portion and function as a fulcrum.

The longitudinal section showing the state where the connector concerning Embodiment 1 was locked in the regular fitting state External perspective view of female connector viewed from the front External perspective view from the back side Top view of female connector Side view Cross-sectional view showing the connector locked in the proper mating state Cross section showing female connector in unlocked state Longitudinal sectional view showing the state where both connectors are disconnected External perspective view of the female connector according to the second embodiment as seen from the front side External perspective view from the back side Top view of female connector Rear view Same part cutout perspective view Same longitudinal section

Explanation of symbols

10: Female housing (one member)
24 ... Communication section (leg entrance to the passageway)
24A: upper surface of communication part (leading taper part)
25, 70 ... Unlocking arm 27 ... Pushing part 31 ... Unlocking operation part 33 ... Passage path 40 ... Spring 41 ... Leg part 43 ... Engaging part 50 ... Male housing (other member)
55 ... engaging protrusion (engaged part)
71 ... support arm 73 ... fulcrum

Claims (5)

A lock structure that includes a pair of elastically displaceable legs and is attached to one member so that the other member that is normally fitted to the same member is locked so as not to be detached,
The spring is attached to an end portion on the front side in the fitting direction with the other member of the one member,
The spring mounted on the one member has an entry position where the leg portion projects into a passage path through which an engaged portion provided on the other member passes, and the leg portion retracts from the passage path. It can be displaced between the retracted position,
When the spring is in the entry position, the spring engages with the engaged portion of the other member that is normally fitted to the one member to be locked, and the spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position. In what is unlocked by doing,
The spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position by being displaced in a direction away from the one member.
The one member is provided with a lock release arm that extends in the fitting direction with the other member and can be tilted in a seesaw shape, and the end of the lock releasing arm on the front side in the fitting direction is It is arranged between the spring and the one member, and is a pushing portion that pushes the spring in the direction away from the one member, while the rear end of the fitting direction is pushed. The lock structure is a lock release operation unit that pushes the pushing unit. The lock structure according to claim 1, further comprising a support arm configured to support the lock release arm in a form extending in a fitting direction with the other member, and the support arm is disposed after the fitting direction. An end on the side is connected to an end on the rear side in the fitting direction of the unlocking arm, and an end on the front side in the fitting direction is connected to the one member,
One of the unlocking arm and the one member has a center in the front-rear direction of the unlocking arm when the unlocking operation portion is pressed and the unlocking arm and the one member approach each other. The lock structure in which the fulcrum part which contacts the other in a part is provided. 3. The lock structure according to claim 1, further comprising: an entrance / exit of the leg part to the passageway, where the spring is in the retracted position, and the leg part is stretched to the passageway. A lock structure having an inclined leading taper portion that is positioned on a side where the leg portion is elastically returned with respect to the engaging portion to be extended and guides the engaging portion to the passageway side by an elastic restoring force of the leg portion. The lock structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pushing portion has a concave shape on a side to which the spring is pressed when the spring is pushed and moved. A connector having a pair of elastically displaceable legs and a spring that is fitted to the housing and locks the mating housing that is normally fitted to the housing so that it cannot be detached.
The spring is attached to the end of the housing on the front side in the fitting direction with the counterpart housing,
The spring mounted on the housing includes an entry position where the leg portion protrudes into a passage path through which an engaged portion provided in the counterpart housing passes, and a retraction position where the leg portion retracts from the passage path. Can be displaced between
When the spring is in the entry position, the spring engages with an engaged portion of the mating housing that is normally fitted to the housing to be locked, and the spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position. In the case where the lock is released by
The spring is displaced from the entry position to the retracted position by being displaced in a direction away from the housing,
The housing is provided with a lock release arm that extends in a fitting direction with the counterpart housing and can be tilted in a seesaw shape, and an end of the lock releasing arm on the front side in the fitting direction is connected to the spring. The pushing portion is arranged between the housing and moves the spring in a direction away from the housing, while the end portion on the rear side in the fitting direction is pushed to operate the pushing portion. A connector characterized in that it is a lock release operation section that pushes.

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