JP2011070799A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of coping with the demand for reduction in size. <P>SOLUTION: The connector includes: a housing 10 capable of being fitted into a mating housing 80; and a detection member 50 assembled between a stand-by position and a detection position movably with respect to the housing 10. A deflectable lock arm 25 is formed at the housing 10, and the detection member 50 is disposed opposite to the lock arm 25 in the deflection direction. When the lock arm 25 is deflected and deformed in a fitting process of both housings 10, 80, this detection member 50 includes a detection body 51 deflected and deformed in interlocking with this lock arm 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional connector. This includes a housing that can be fitted into a mating housing, a lock arm that is swingably displaceable in the housing, and a detection member that is assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a standby position and a detection position. I have. The lock arm holds the mating housing in a fitted state by engaging a lock portion formed on the mating housing. The detecting member is locked by the lock arm and held in the standby position during the fitting process of the two housings, and the locked state with the lock arm is released as the two housings are properly fitted to the detecting position. Movement is allowed. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not both housings are in a properly fitted state based on whether or not the detection member can be moved to the detection position.

JP 2009-37836 A

  By the way, in the case of the conventional connector, when the lock arm is displaced during the fitting process of both housings, the detection member is also displaced following the displacement. However, the detection member has a shape that cannot substantially bend and deform and does not assist the displacement operation of the lock arm. Therefore, to increase the lock strength, the lock arm itself must be enlarged, and the lock arm and the detection member may overlap each other in the height direction, which may increase the size of the connector. It was.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector that can meet the demand for miniaturization.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a housing that can be fitted into a mating housing and a lock portion that is formed in the housing so as to be able to bend and that is formed in the mating housing are elastically provided. A lock arm that holds the mating housing in a fitted state by locking, and is mounted so as to be movable between a standby position and a detection position with respect to the housing. By maintaining the locked state with the lock arm, it is held at the standby position while being restricted from moving to the detection position, and when the two housings are properly fitted, the locked state with the lock arm is released. A detection member that is allowed to move to the detection position, and the detection member is disposed to face the lock arm in a bending direction thereof, and the two housings When the lock arm is resiliently deformed in the fitting process, having characterized in that has a sensing body flexural deformation in conjunction with the lock arm.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, in the fitting process of the two housings, the lock arm hits the lock portion, and in this state, a force exceeding the resistance caused by the abutment is applied. By giving to both housings, the said lock arm gets over the said lock part, and it has the characteristics in the place where the inertia force of a fitting direction is given to both said housings in connection with it.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the detection member is formed with a movement restricting portion that is locked to the lock arm at the standby position, and the movement restricting portion is provided. It is characterized in that a pair of interlocking portions that are pushed by the lock arm when the lock arm is bent and deformed are formed on both sides sandwiched.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the lock arm is bent and deformed during the fitting process of both housings, the detection body is also bent and deformed. Therefore, when the lock arm engages the lock part, the elastic restoring force of the detection body is added to the elastic restoring force of the lock arm. Is done. For this reason, high lock strength can be obtained with a lock arm smaller than the conventional one. As a result, it is possible to meet the demand for connector miniaturization.

<Invention of Claim 2>
The inertia lock function of the lock arm is further enhanced by the assistance of the detection body.

<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the pair of interlocking portions are formed on both sides of the movement restricting portion, the smoothness of the bending operation of the detection main body is maintained.

In the connector of Embodiment 1 of this invention, it is sectional drawing which shows the state before fitting of both housings. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in the middle of fitting of both housings. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which both housings were normally fitted and the movement to the detection position of the detection member was permitted. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which both housings fitted normally and the detection member moved to the detection position. It is a top view of the housing with which the detection member was hold | maintained in the standby position. It is a front view of a housing. It is a principal part fracture | rupture top view of the housing with which the detection member was hold | maintained in the standby position. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in the middle of canceling | releasing the locked state of both housings. It is a top view of a detection member. It is a front view of a detection member. It is a side view of a detection member. It is a bottom view of a detection member.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector of the present embodiment includes a housing 10, a detection member 50, and a terminal fitting 70, and the housing 10 can be fitted to a mating housing 80. In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the fitting surface side of both housings 10 and 80 is the front.

  The mating housing 80 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a square hood 81 as shown in FIG. Tabs 91 of a plurality of mating terminal fittings 90 are disposed in the hood portion 81 in a penetrating manner, and each mating terminal fitting 90 is mounted on the back wall of the hood portion 81. A lock portion 82 projects from the upper surface of the upper wall of the hood portion 81, and a regulating portion 83 projects from the rear of the lock portion 82. The front surface of the lock portion 82 is a steep butting surface 84 that is substantially vertical. The restricting portion 83 is made slightly larger than the lock portion 82.

The housing 10 is also made of a synthetic resin, and has a housing main body 11, a fitting cylinder portion 12 surrounding the housing main body 11, and a connecting portion 13 connecting the fitting cylinder portion 12 and the housing main body 11. is doing. A fitting space 14 in which the hood portion 81 of the mating housing 80 is fitted is formed between the fitting cylinder portion 12 and the housing body 11 so as to open forward.
A plurality of cavities 15 are formed in the housing body 11 in the front-rear direction, and terminal fittings 70 are inserted into the cavities 15 from the rear. A deflectable lance 16 is formed on the inner wall of each cavity 15 so as to project forward, and the terminal fitting 70 that is normally inserted into each cavity 15 is locked to the lance 16 so that rearward withdrawal is restricted. .

  The terminal fitting 70 is formed by bending a conductive metal plate or the like, and includes a rectangular tube-shaped main body portion 71 and a barrel portion 72 coupled to the rear of the main body portion 71. A tab 91 is inserted into the main body 71 from the front as the housings 10 and 80 are fitted together. The barrel portion 72 has a portion for caulking the core wire exposed at the end portion of the electric wire W, and a portion for caulking the rubber stopper 99 fitted to the end portion of the electric wire W. The electric wire W connected to the terminal fitting 70 is pulled out to the rear of the housing body 11. The rubber plug 99 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire W and also in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cavity 15, thereby fulfilling the role of sealing the inside of the cavity 15 in a watertight manner. Note that the rear end portion of the rubber plug 99 that is normally inserted into each cavity 15 is partially exposed outside the housing body 11.

  A front member 17 is fitted on the front surface of the housing body 11. The front member 17 has a front wall 18 that covers the front surface of the housing main body 11, and an insertion port 19 for guiding the tab 91 of the mating terminal fitting 90 into each cavity 15 is formed in each front cavity 18. . The terminal fittings 70 that are normally inserted into the cavities 15 come into contact with the rear surface of the front wall 18 of the front member 17 to restrict further advancement. A lock claw 21 is formed on the front wall 18 of the front member 17 so as to protrude rearward. The lock claw 21 is elastically fitted into a temporary locking groove 22 and a main locking groove 23 formed on the upper surface of the housing main body 11, whereby the front member 17 is placed in a temporary locking position with respect to the housing main body 11. It is mounted so as to be movable in the fitting direction between the main locking positions.

  A step 24 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body 11 in front of the connecting portion 13, and a seal ring 98 is fitted in front of the step 24. The seal ring 98 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hood portion 81 and in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the housing body 11 when both the housings 10 and 80 are properly fitted, thereby sealing between the housings 10 and 80 in a watertight manner. To play a role.

  A lock arm 25 is formed at the center in the width direction on the upper surface of the housing body 11. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the lock arm 25 includes a pair of support legs 26 rising from the upper surface of the housing body 11, a pair of arm bodies 27 extending from the upper ends of the support legs 26 in both the front and rear directions, and both arm bodies. 27 includes a lock main body 28 that connects the front end portions of the arm 27 and a pair of operation portions 29 that are formed one step higher at the rear end portions of the arm main bodies 27. A lock groove 31 is formed between the arm bodies 27 and behind the lock body 28 so as to extend in the front-rear direction. The lock arm 25 swings and displaces (elastically displaces) in a seesaw shape with the two support legs 26 as fulcrums during the fitting of the two housings 10 and 80, and returns elastically as the two housings 10 and 80 are properly fitted. It is supposed to be. Then, with this elastic return, the lock portion 82 is fitted into the lock groove 31, whereby the housings 10 and 80 are held in the fitted state. When the two housings 10 and 80 are detached, it is only necessary to press both the operation parts 29 downward. As a result, the lock body 28 comes out of the lock groove 31, and the lock arm 25 and the lock part 82 are locked. Canceled.

  The front surface of the lock body 28 is an abutting surface 32 that interferes with the counterpart lock portion 82, and a recess 33 into which a movement restricting portion 56 of a detection member 50 described later can be fitted is cut out. . Note that both abutting surfaces 32 and 84 of the lock main body 28 and the lock portion 82 abut along a direction substantially orthogonal to the fitting direction of both the housings 10 and 80.

  The concave portion 33 is opened upward and forward, and the rear inner surface of the concave portion 33 is inclined obliquely upward. A pair of engaging recesses 34 into which an interlocking portion 57 of a detection member 50 described later is fitted is formed on the upper surfaces of both arm bodies 27. Both engaging recesses 34 are located on both sides of the recess 33 and at a level higher than the lock main body 28, and the front inner surfaces thereof are arranged substantially vertically. Further, the front surfaces of both arm bodies 27 are inclined surfaces 35 inclined obliquely upward.

  A bulging portion 36 is formed in the fitting cylinder portion 12 of the housing body 11, and the lock arm 25 is accommodated in the bulging portion 36. As shown in FIG. 5, a window portion 37 is formed in the rear end portion of the bulging portion 36 so that the lock arm 25 can be visually recognized through the window portion 37 and a pressing operation to the operation portion 29 is performed. It is possible. The bulging portion 36 is formed with a substantially rectangular hole 38 formed by a mold that passes when the temporary locking groove 22 and the main locking groove 23 are formed. A pair of engaging grooves 39 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the inner surfaces of both sides of the bulging portion 36, and a locking projection 55 of a detection member 50 described later can slide in both engaging grooves 39. ing. A pair of retaining portions 41 are formed at the rear end portions of both engaging grooves 39 so as to block the inside of the grooves.

  Next, the detection member 50 will be described. The detection member 50 is also made of synthetic resin and has a flat plate shape as a whole, and is slidably disposed on the upper surface of the lock arm 25. It is assembled so as to be movable in the fitting direction between the detection positions. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13, the detection member 50 includes a detection main body 51 extending in the front-rear direction, and a pair of locking pieces extending in the front-rear direction while being aligned with the detection main body 51 on both sides of the detection main body 51. 52 and a rear connecting portion 53 that connects both the locking pieces 52 and the rear end portions of the detection main body 51. The front ends of both locking pieces 52 are located behind the front end of the detection body 51, and the front ends of both locking pieces 52 are integrally connected by a bridge portion 54. The bridge portion 54 is installed between the front end portions of the locking pieces 52 so as to straddle the upper portion of the detection main body 51. The detection main body 51 can be bent and deformed in the vertical direction, and both locking pieces 52 can be bent and deformed in the width direction.

  A pair of locking projections 55 are formed on both outer surfaces of the locking pieces 52 so as to protrude. Both locking protrusions 55 lock the rear ends of both engaging grooves 39, so that the detection member 50 is prevented from coming out backward in the standby position, and both locking protrusions 55 engage the front ends of both retaining portions 41. By stopping, the backward withdrawal of the detection member 50 at the detection position is regulated. In the standby position, both the locking projections 55 are disposed so as to be sandwiched between the rear ends of the two retaining portions 41 and the rear ends of the both engaging grooves 39.

  At the front end of the detection main body 51, a movement restricting portion 56 is formed so as to protrude downward. At the standby position, the movement restricting portion 56 fits into the lock groove 31 of the lock arm 25 and locks the lock main body 28 from behind, whereby the movement of the detection member 50 at the standby position to the detection position is restricted. In addition, a pair of interlocking portions 57 are formed in the front-rear direction on both side surfaces of the front end portion of the detection main body 51 so as to sandwich the movement restricting portion 56 therebetween. The front ends of both interlocking portions 57 are disposed in front of the front end of the detection body 51, and the rear ends of both interlocking portions 57 are obliquely cut out at positions corresponding to the front ends of both locking pieces 52. An engaging projection 58 is formed at the front end of both interlocking portions 57 so as to protrude downward. At the standby position, the engagement protrusions 58 are fitted into the engagement recesses 34 so that the detection member 50 is held in the movement restricted state. At the detection position, the engagement protrusions 58 are By locking the slope 35, the backward movement of the detection member 50 is regulated.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, the detection member 50 is mounted on the housing 10. At this time, the detection member 50 is disposed in contact with the upper surface of the lock arm 25, the both locking projections 55 face each other in front of the rear ends of the both engaging grooves 39 of the housing 10, and the movement restricting portion 56 is locked. By facing the back of the main body 28, the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted at the standby position (see FIGS. 1, 5, and 7). In addition, when both the engagement protrusions 58 are fitted into the engagement recesses 34 of the both arm bodies 27, the holding state of the detection member 50 at the standby position described above is more reliably maintained. In such a standby position, the rear connection portion 53 of the detection member 50 is disposed so as to protrude rearward from the rear end of the housing 10.

  Subsequently, the housings 10 and 80 are opposed to each other, and the housings 10 and 80 are fitted to each other from this state. In the fitting process of both housings 10 and 80, both abutting surfaces 32 and 84 of the lock portion 82 and the lock arm 25 abut against each other, and a large fitting resistance is temporarily generated due to the abutment. In this state, when a fitting force exceeding this fitting resistance is applied to both the housings 10 and 80, the lock main body 28 rides on the lock portion 82, and from there, an inertial force is applied to both the housings 10 and 80. 10 and 80 move at a stroke toward the normal fitting position.

  Further, when the lock main body 28 rides on the lock portion 82, both arm main bodies 27 are bent and deformed with both support legs 26 as fulcrums (see FIG. 2). Then, the interlocking portion 57 is pushed upward so as to follow the bending operation of both arm main bodies 27, and the detection main body 51 is also displaced upward accordingly. At this time, since both the locking protrusions 55 are fixed in the both engaging grooves 39, the detection main body 51 is bent and deformed upward with the both locking protrusions 55 as fulcrums. An elastic restoring force is applied from the detection main body 51 via the interlocking portion 57.

  When both housings 10 and 80 reach the normal fitting position, both arm main bodies 27 are elastically restored, the lock main body 28 gets over the lock part 82, and the lock part 82 is fitted in the lock groove 31. 80 is held in the fitted state (see FIG. 3). Further, as the lock portion 82 enters the lock groove 31, the movement restricting portion 56 is pushed up by the lock portion 82 and dissociates from the lock groove 31. 58 is disengaged from both engaging recesses 34, and the detection member 50 is allowed to move to the detection position.

  In the above case, when both the arm main bodies 27 are elastically restored, the elastic restoring force of the detection main body 51 is applied to the both arm main bodies 27 via the interlocking portion 57, thereby energizing the returning operation of both the arm main bodies 27. Is done. In addition, when both arm main bodies 27 are elastically restored, the detection main body 51 is slightly lowered toward the upper surface of the lock portion 82 in an elastic return direction. Further, the lock main body 28 that has passed over the lock portion 82 strongly hits the upper surface of the hood portion 81 by the elastic restoring force from both the detection main body 51 and the both arm main bodies 27, and generates a loud hitting sound. Therefore, by listening to this striking sound, it is possible to know secondarily that both housings 10 and 80 have reached the normal fitting position.

  Subsequently, the detection member 50 is pushed into the detection position. In the process of moving the detection member 50 to the detection position, the movement restricting portion 56 slides on the upper surfaces of the lock portion 82 and the lock main body 28, and the detection main body 51 is completely elastically restored as the detection member 50 reaches the detection position. Then, the movement restricting portion 56 is fitted in the concave portion 33 of the lock main body 28, and the engaging protrusions 58 of the both interlocking portions 57 are arranged along the inclined surfaces 35 of the both arm main bodies 27 (see FIG. 4). In addition, the movement restricting portion 56 faces the rear of the restricting portion 83 and the both locking projections 55 face the front of the both retaining portions 41, whereby the detection member 50 is held in the movement restricted state at the detection position. On the other hand, when the two housings 10 and 80 are in a half-fitted state that does not reach the normal fitting position, the lock portion 82 is not fitted into the lock groove 31 and the movement restricting portion 56 is behind the lock body 28. Therefore, the detection member 50 cannot reach the detection position. Therefore, it is possible to detect whether or not both housings 10 and 80 are in a properly fitted state based on whether or not the detection member 50 can be moved to the detection position.

  When both the housings 10 and 80 are detached, the locking state between the locking protrusions 55 and the locking portions 41 is released, and the detection member 60 is moved backward to the standby position side. Next, the operating portion 29 is pressed to bend and deform both arm main bodies 27 in the unlocking direction to release the locking state between the lock main body 28 and the lock portion 82, so that the two housings 10 and 80 are separated from each other. (See FIG. 9).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the lock arm 25 is bent and deformed during the fitting process of the housings 10 and 80, the detection body 51 of the detection member 50 is also bent and deformed. When the lock portion 82 is locked, the elastic restoring force of the detection main body 51 is added to the elastic restoring force of the lock arm 25. For this reason, high lock strength can be obtained by the lock arm 25 smaller than the conventional one. As a result, it is possible to meet the demand for connector miniaturization.

  In addition, since the elastic restoring force of the lock arm 25 is enhanced by the detection body 51, both housings 10 and 80 are properly fitted after the abutting surfaces 32 and 84 of the lock portion 82 and the lock arm 25 abut against each other. Inertia lock characteristics acting in the case are more effectively exhibited.

  Furthermore, since the pair of interlocking portions 57 are formed on both sides in the width direction across the movement restricting portion 56, the detection main body 51 is bent and deformed in a balanced manner in the width direction, and the smoothness of the bending operation of the detection main body 51 is ensured. The

<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 interlocking unit and the detection main body may be integrally formed without being distinguished from each other.
(2) The lock arm and the lock portion may have a normal lock structure that is not an inertia lock.
(3) The detection member may be assembled to a male housing on which a male terminal fitting having a tab is mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 25 ... Lock arm 27 ... Arm main body 50 ... Detection member 51 ... Detection main body 56 ... Movement control part 57 ... Interlocking part 70 ... Terminal metal fitting 80 ... Counterpart housing 82 ... Lock part 90 ... Counterpart terminal metal fitting

Claims (3)

A housing that can be fitted into the mating housing;
A lock arm that is formed to be able to bend in the housing and holds the mating housing in a fitted state by elastically locking a lock portion formed in the mating housing;
The housing is movably mounted between a standby position and a detection position, and before the two housings are properly fitted, the lock arm is held in a locked state so that the movement to the detection position is achieved. A detection member that is held in the standby position while being regulated, and that is locked with the lock arm when both the housings are properly fitted, and is allowed to move to the detection position;
The detection member is disposed opposite to the lock arm in the bending direction thereof, and a detection body that is bent and deformed in conjunction with the lock arm when the lock arm is bent and deformed in the fitting process of the two housings. A connector characterized by having a connector.   In the fitting process of the two housings, the lock arm abuts against the lock portion, and in that state, a force exceeding the resistance caused by the abutment is applied to the two housings, whereby the lock arm causes the lock portion to move. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein an inertial force in a fitting direction is applied to both the housings as it gets over.   The detection member is formed with a movement restricting portion that is locked to the lock arm at the standby position, and is pushed to the lock arm when the lock arm is deformed on both sides of the movement restricting portion. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a pair of interlocking portions are formed.

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