JP2011018521A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of improving workability of a lock release operation.SOLUTION: A first wall 27 arranged so as to cover a base end of a lock arm 18 and a second wall 28 arranged so as to cover a pointed head of the lock arm 18 are formed at a housing 10. A lock-releasing space 32 for carrying out lock release operation to an intermediate section of the lock arm 18 is held between the first and second walls 27, 28. A pair of protection walls 29 are formed by standing up at both sides of the housing 10 so as to hold the lock arm 18, and both sides of the lock-releasing space 32 are closed by both the protection walls 29. Steps 33 cut off to a position lower than the first and second walls 27, 28 and higher than the intermediate section of the lock arm 18 is formed at both protection walls 29.

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional connector. This is provided with a housing that can be fitted with a mating housing, and the housing is formed with a lock arm that extends in a cantilevered manner from the proximal end to the distal end. The lock arm plays a role of elastically locking the mating lock portion of the mating housing when the two housings are fitted to hold the two housings in the mated state. The housing is formed with a first wall that covers the base end of the lock arm and a second wall that covers the tip of the lock arm, and the lock arm is unlocked between the first and second walls. There is a release space to do. Further, the housing is formed with a pair of protective walls arranged on both sides of the lock arm so as to close both sides of the release space. The rising end of the protective wall is arranged continuously at the same height as the upper ends of the first and second walls.
Here, when the two housings are separated from each other, a finger is inserted into the release space, the middle part of the lock arm is pressed with the tip of the finger, and the lock arm is bent and deformed in the unlocking direction.

JP 2008-66030 A

  By the way, in the said conventional connector, since the height difference between the standup end (upper end) of a protective wall and the intermediate part of a lock arm was large, it was necessary to insert a finger deeply in release space. However, since the opening area of the release space is determined according to the size of the housing, it is difficult to expand this, and the insertion operation may be blocked by the protective wall until the tip of the finger reaches the middle part of the lock arm. It was. That is, the conventional connector has a problem that it is difficult to perform the unlocking operation on the lock arm and the workability is poor.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the workability of the unlocking operation.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a housing that can be fitted to a mating housing, and formed in the housing, extending in a cantilevered manner from a proximal end to a distal end, and fitting the housing. A lock arm that is held together, a first wall that is formed in the housing and covers a proximal end portion of the lock arm, and is formed in the housing and covers a distal end portion of the lock arm. A second wall having a release space for performing an unlocking operation with respect to an intermediate portion of the lock arm between the first wall and the first wall, and the housing is raised and formed to sandwich the lock arm A connector having a pair of protective walls disposed on both sides and disposed so as to block both sides of the release space, wherein both the protective walls are more than the first and second walls. And a have positions having a feature where the step portion cut off to a higher position than the intermediate portion of the lock arm is formed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mating housing is formed with a mating lock portion that can be locked with the lock arm, and the mating lock portion is engaged when the two housings are fitted together. It is characterized in that it is arranged outside the release space.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the step portion is displaced from the counterpart lock portion so that the counterpart lock portion is hidden in a side view when the two housings are fitted. It is characterized by being arranged.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the two housings are separated from each other, the lock arm can be displaced in the unlocking direction by inserting a finger into the release space and pressing the middle part of the lock arm with the tip of the finger. In this case, since both the protective walls are formed with a stepped portion that is cut off at a position lower than the first and second walls, the finger is inserted deeply into the release space by inserting the finger into the stepped portion. The lock arm can be unlocked without insertion. In other words, the insertion operation of the finger is not blocked by the protective wall, and the workability of the unlocking operation is improved.

<Invention of Claim 2>
Since the mating lock part is located outside the release space when the two housings are fitted together, it is possible to prevent the tip of the finger from interfering with the mating lock part when inserting the finger into the release space. Operability is ensured.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the stepped part is displaced from the mating lock part so that the mating lock part is hidden in side view when both housings are fitted, foreign matter from the outside of the side surface is prevented from interfering with the mating lock part. Is done.

In the connector of Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is sectional drawing of the housing in a normal fitting state with the other party housing. It is sectional drawing of a housing. It is a front view of a housing. It is a rear view of a housing. It is a top view of a housing. It is a side view of a housing.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector according to the first embodiment includes a housing 10 that can be fitted into a mating housing 60 and a terminal fitting 80 that is attached to the housing 10. In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the mutual fitting surface side of both housings 10 and 60 is the front.

  The mating housing 60 is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical hood portion 61 as shown in FIG. In the hood part 61, a tab 91 of a mating terminal fitting is disposed so as to protrude. A mating lock portion 62 is formed at the upper end of the back wall 63 of the hood portion 61. The mating lock part 62 is configured to once rise upward from the upper end of the back wall 63 and then protrude forward, and a lock claw 64 is formed downward at the tip part. The rear surface of the lock claw 64 is a locked surface 65 that can be locked with the lock arm 18 on the other side.

  The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a block-shaped housing main body 11 that can accommodate the terminal fitting 80, and a cylindrical fitting cylindrical portion 12 that surrounds the housing main body 11. And a coupling portion 13 coupled to the fitting cylinder portion 12 and the housing main body 11. Between the fitting cylinder part 12 and the housing main body 11, the fitting space 14 into which the mating hood part 61 can enter is formed to open forward. The connecting portion 13 is provided between the rear of the housing body 11 and the rear end of the fitting tube portion 12 slightly from the center in the front-rear direction.

  A cavity 15 that can accommodate the terminal fitting 80 is formed in the housing body 11 in the front-rear direction. A lance 16 that can lock the terminal fitting 80 is formed on the inner surface of the cavity 15 so that the terminal fitting 80 can be bent, and the terminal fitting 80 that is normally inserted into the cavity 15 is elastically prevented from coming off by the lance 16. .

  The terminal fitting 80 is integrally formed by bending a conductive metal plate or the like, receives a tab 91 and can be connected to the box-like connecting portion 81, and the terminal of the electric wire 70 located behind the connecting portion 81. It comprises an open barrel-like wire barrel 82 and an insulation barrel 83 that can be connected to each other. The wire barrel 82 is caulked and connected to a conductor exposed at the end portion of the electric wire 70, and the insulation barrel 83 is caulked and connected to a rubber plug 75 fitted to the insulating coating of the end portion of the electric wire 70. The rubber plug 75 has an inner peripheral surface that is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 70, and an outer peripheral surface that is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 15, thereby serving to seal the inside of the housing 10 in a liquid-tight manner.

  A stepped portion 17 is formed at a position near the connecting portion 13 in the housing body 11, and a rear portion (the connecting portion 13 side) with the stepped portion 17 as a boundary is thicker than a front portion. . A seal ring 77 is fitted in front of the stepped portion 17 on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body 11. The seal ring 77 is elastically compressed between the hood portion 61 that enters the fitting space 14 and the housing body 11, and serves to seal between the housings 10 and 60 in a liquid-tight manner.

  A lock arm 18 is formed on the upper surface of the housing body 11. The lock arm 18 is integrated with the connecting portion 13, and a fulcrum portion 19 rising from the upper surface of the housing body 11, a pair of left and right arm portions 21 extending from the fulcrum portion 19 to the front, and the distal ends of both arm portions 21. It consists of the lock main body 22 which continues, and both the arm parts 21 can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction with the fulcrum part 19 as a fulcrum. Both arm portions 21 are arranged substantially horizontally in the natural state. A lock groove 23 is formed at the rear of the lock body 22 and inside the both arm portions 21 so as to extend in the front-rear direction and open to the rear surface. The lock claw 64 is fitted. The rear surface of the lock body 22 that is the front end of the lock groove 23 is a locking surface 24 that can be locked with the mating lock portion 62.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a pressing portion 25 having a triangular shape in side view is formed at the rear end of the fulcrum portion 19. The front end of the pressing portion 25 is integrally connected to the rear surface of the fulcrum portion 19, the lower end thereof is integrally connected to the upper surface of the housing body 11, and the rear end thereof is connected to the rear surface of the fulcrum portion 19 from the upper surface of the housing body 11. It is formed in a taper shape that inclines with an upward slope. The slope at the rear end of the pressing portion 25 is a pressing surface 26 that is pressed with a finger or the like from the rear when the housings 10 and 60 are fitted together.

  First and second walls 27 and 28 are formed on the upper portion of the fitting cylinder portion 12, and a pair of left and right protective walls 29 are formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the first wall 27 is disposed so as to cover the proximal end portion of the lock arm 18, specifically, the proximal end portions of both arm portions 21, and the rear end thereof is integrated with the upper end of the connecting portion 13. It is lined up. The second wall 28 is disposed so as to cover the distal end portion of the lock arm 18, specifically the distal end portions of the both arm portions 21 and the lock main body 22, and is thicker than the first wall 27, and is thicker than the first wall 27. Is also placed at a high position. Between the 2nd wall 28 and the front-end | tip part of the lock arm 18, the approach space 31 in which the other party lock part 62 can approach from the front is opened ahead, and is connected with the fitting space 14.

  The protective walls 29 are arranged on both sides of the lock arm 18, and the rear ends thereof are integrally connected to the left and right ends of the first wall 27, and the front ends thereof are integrated with the left and right ends of the second wall 28. It is connected to. As shown in FIG. 5, a release space 32 having a substantially square shape in plan view is defined between the first and second walls 27 and 28 and between the protective walls 29. The left and right sides of the release space 32 are blocked by both protective walls 29. The release space 32 is arranged so that the middle part of the lock arm 18, specifically the upper surface of the middle part of both arm parts 21 faces, and the lock arm 18 is pressed by the tip part of the finger F inserted therein. Thus, it is bent and deformed downward (see FIG. 1).

  Now, a pair of left and right step portions 33 are cut off at the upper ends of both protective walls 29 at positions one step lower than the front and rear ends. Both step portions 33 are disposed at positions lower than the upper surfaces of the first and second walls 27 and 28 and higher than the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the arm portion 21, and the upper surfaces of the first and second walls 27 and 28 and The arm portion 21 is arranged substantially horizontally so as to be parallel to the upper surface of the intermediate portion. The protective walls 29 are each formed with a tapered first slope 34 that is inclined upwardly from the rear end of the stepped portion 33 to the upper end of the first wall 27. The protective walls 29 are each formed with a tapered second inclined surface 35 that is inclined upwardly from the front end of the stepped portion 33 to the upper end of the second wall 28. The second slope 35 is steeper than the first slope 34, and is longer than the length of the first slope 34 because the second wall 28 is disposed higher than the first wall 27. The step portion 33 is disposed close to the upper surface of the arm portion 21, and the height difference between the step portion 33 and the arm portion 21 is smaller than the thickness of the first wall 27.

Next, the effect of the connector of this invention is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 2, a terminal fitting 80 with an electric wire 70 and a rubber plug 75 is inserted into the cavity 15 of the housing body 11 from the rear, and a seal ring 77 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body 11. Subsequently, the housings 10 and 60 are opposed to each other, and in this state, the fitting operation of the housings 10 and 60 is started. In the fitting process of both housings 10 and 60, the housing main body 11 can be smoothly inserted into the hood portion 61 of the mating housing 60 by pressing the pressing surface 26 of the pressing portion 25 with a finger from behind. Further, in the process of fitting the two housings 10 and 60, the mating lock part 62 enters the entry space 31, the lock claw 64 interferes with the lock body 22, and the lock arm 18 is bent and deformed downward. When the two housings 10 and 60 are properly fitted, the lock arm 18 is elastically restored and the lock claw 64 of the mating lock portion 62 is fitted into the lock groove 23 as shown in FIG. The to-be-latched surface 65 opposes, and thus both the housings 10 and 60 are held in the fitted state. The locking surface 24 and the locked surface 65 are reverse tapered surfaces that are inclined along the direction opposite to the direction in which the housings 10 and 60 are detached, and the locking strength is increased.

  As described above, in a state where the two housings 10 and 60 are properly fitted, the mating lock portion 62 is not intruded into the release space 32 and is disposed outside the release space 32. Specifically, the mating lock part 62 is concealed by the fitting cylinder part 12 in a side view when both the housings 10 and 60 are normally fitted, and the front end thereof is closer to the lock body 22 side than the second slope 35. The position is shifted from the stepped portion 33 with respect to the direction.

  By the way, when the two housings 10 and 60 are separated from each other as necessary for maintenance or the like, the finger F is inserted into the release space 32, and the tip of the finger F is placed on the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the both arm portions 21. While pressing it downward (in the unlocking direction). Then, both arm portions 21 are bent downward and deformed around the fulcrum portion 19, and at the same time, the lock claw 64 is separated from the lock groove 23 and the locked state by the lock arm 18 is released. In this state, the housings 10 and 60 can be separated from each other by pulling the housings 10 and 60 in the opposite directions.

  In the above case, since the stepped portions 33 are formed in both the protective walls 29, the height difference between the stepped portion 33 and the both arm portions 21 is reduced, and the depth of the release space 32 is reduced. Even if the finger F is not inserted so deeply into the release space 32, the tip of the finger F can be brought into contact with the intermediate portion of both arm portions 21. Accordingly, the tip of the finger F does not interfere with both the protective walls 29 and the unlocking operation with respect to the lock arm 18 is not obstructed, and good workability is realized. On the other hand, since the protective walls 29 are disposed outside the both sides of the lock arm 18, the protective walls 29 prevent foreign matter from the outside of the side surface from interfering with the lock arm 18. The lock arm 18 can be pressed at the center of the tip of the finger F while the left and right sides of the tip of the finger F are placed on both stepped portions 33. Further, when inserting the finger F into the release space 32, the first and second inclined surfaces 34 and 35 can function as a finger F invitation.

  Further, since the mating lock portion 62 is disposed outside the release space 32 when the housings 10 and 60 are fitted, the tip of the finger F interferes with the mating lock portion 62 when the finger F is inserted into the release space 32. This avoids this and ensures smooth operability when unlocking.

  Furthermore, since the stepped portion 33 is arranged so as to be displaced from the mating lock portion 62 so that the mating lock portion 62 is hidden in a side view when the two housings 10 and 60 are fitted, foreign matter from the outside of the side surface is prevented. Interference with the counterpart lock portion 62 is prevented, and accidental release of the locked state between the counterpart lock portion 62 and the lock arm 18 can be avoided.

<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) The first and second walls may be arranged at the same height position.
(2) Contrary to the above embodiment, the housing may be a male housing capable of accommodating a male terminal fitting having a tab, and the mating housing may be a female housing capable of accommodating a female terminal fitting.
(3) When the two housings are separated from each other, a jig may be inserted in the release space instead of a finger, and the lock arm may be bent and deformed in the unlock direction at the tip of the jig.

F ... finger 10 ... housing 18 ... lock arm 27 ... first wall 28 ... second wall 29 ... protection wall 32 ... release space 33 ... stepped portion 60 ... mating housing 62 ... mating lock unit

Claims (3)

A housing that can be fitted into the mating housing;
A lock arm formed in the housing, extending in a cantilevered manner from a proximal end to a distal end, and holding the housing in a fitted state;
A first wall formed on the housing and arranged to cover a proximal end of the lock arm;
A second wall formed in the housing and disposed so as to cover the tip of the lock arm, and having a release space for performing an unlock operation on the intermediate portion of the lock arm between the first wall and the second wall; ,
A connector comprising a pair of protective walls that are formed upright on the housing, are arranged on both sides of the lock arm, and are arranged to close both sides of the release space,
The both protective walls are formed with stepped portions that are cut off to a position lower than the first and second walls and higher than an intermediate portion of the lock arm.   The mating housing is formed with a mating lock portion that can be engaged with the lock arm, and the mating lock portion is disposed outside the release space when the two housings are fitted together. Item 1. The connector according to item 1.   The connector according to claim 2, wherein the stepped portion is arranged so as to be displaced from the mating lock portion so that the mating lock portion is hidden in a side view when the two housings are fitted together.

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