JP2011082055A - Panel mounting type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a panel mounting type connector capable of being used in common on panels having different board thicknesses and facilitating a mounting operation and restraining degradation of retaining force of the panel and the connector even if external force is added. <P>SOLUTION: The panel mounting type connector has a housing 1 for retaining a wiring terminal 4, at least two locking arms 2 made of elastic members arranged on side faces 7 of the housing 1, and a flange 3 arranged on the housing 1. The locking arm 2 has a locking step section 11 which is formed on an end and can be locked to an edge of a panel hole. The locking step section 11 is formed by having at least one stepped surface 13 at the tip gradually lowered in a direction separating from the side face 7 of an insertion section 6, and is formed by locating a tip position of the locking stepped section 11 further at a panel side than the tip of a projection 13 of a cantilever arm 15 of the flange 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a panel-mounted connector, for example, a panel-mounted connector that inserts and fixes a connector for connecting wires such as electric wires and optical fibers into a panel hole formed in a panel such as a housing or a partition plate. About.

  2. Description of the Related Art Panel-mounted connectors are widely used in which a connector is fixed to a panel such as a casing or a partition plate in which electrical equipment is stored, and wires such as electric wires and optical fibers are connected via complementary mating connectors. As an example of this type of panel-mounted connector, according to the one described in Patent Document 1, an insulating connector housing (hereinafter simply referred to as a housing) constituting the connector is cut into a rectangular shape provided on the panel. The connector is fixed to the panel by inserting it into the notch. As for the structure of the fixed part, a flange larger than the width of the rectangular notch provided on the panel is formed on the outer periphery of the connector housing, and a locking projection is formed at an appropriate position on the outer periphery of the connector housing so as to face the flange. The panel is sandwiched between the flange and the locking projection. In particular, when a cantilever arm made of an elastic member is formed so that it can be elastically deformed in a direction perpendicular to the flange surface, and a protrusion that abuts the panel is provided at the tip of the cantilever arm, and the protrusion abuts the panel The flange is urged away from the panel by the elastic force of the cantilever arm generated in the step 1, and the locking projection is pressed against the panel.

  However, since the shape of the locking projection facing the flange is larger than the width of the notch and does not deform, the panel-mounted connector described in Patent Document 1 does not deform in the gap formed by the flange and the locking projection. In order to insert the connector, the connector must be slid from the cut provided at one end of the cutout. Therefore, it cannot be applied to a panel having a shape in which a cut cannot be formed in a connector mounting notch.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a panel mounting structure in which a connector can be fixed to a panel by simply inserting a connector housing into a panel hole formed in the panel without using a coupling means such as a bolt or a screw. A type connector is described. Specifically, a flange portion larger than the panel hole is formed behind the insertion portion of the housing to be inserted into the panel hole, and a cantilever engagement made of an elastic member having a base portion in the insertion direction ahead of the flange portion of the housing. The stop arm is provided with the front end facing the flange portion and the back surface of the locking arm inclined to the direction away from the outer surface of the housing. And the front-end | tip of a latching arm is formed so that it may contact | abut the edge part of a panel hole, A panel is clamped by the front-end | tip of a latching arm and a flange part, and a connector is fixed to a panel. According to this, when the locking arm is bent and the connector housing is inserted into the panel hole and the flange portion reaches a position where it abuts against the panel, the back surface of the locking arm comes off from the edge of the panel hole and locks. The bending of the arm is restored, the tip of the locking arm comes into contact with the panel, and the connector is fixed by sandwiching the panel with the flange portion.

  In particular, in Patent Document 2, in order to cope with the case where the thickness of the panel to which the connector is attached is different, a plurality of stepped locking steps having different heights are formed along the width direction of the tip of the cantilever arm facing the panel. And a notch for passing a locking step higher than a predetermined locking step to the edge of the panel hole so that the locking step having a height corresponding to the thickness of the panel contacts the panel. And a predetermined locking step corresponding to the thickness of the panel is brought into contact with the edge of the panel hole. However, in general, the design and manufacture of the connector and the panel are performed by different manufacturers or manufacturing processes, so that a notch for passing a locking step higher than a predetermined locking step according to the thickness of the panel is used. Therefore, there is a problem that the information exchange between the design and the manufacturing becomes complicated and the standardization or versatility is lacking.

  Furthermore, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of stepped locking steps having different heights are formed at both ends of the cantilever arm along both the width direction and the thickness direction in order to cope with panels having different thicknesses. Then, it has been proposed that unnecessary locking step portions are cut according to the thickness of the panel, and the gap between the flange portion and the tip of the cantilever arm is adjusted according to the thickness of the panel.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 3, a protrusion projecting larger than the panel hole is formed at the rear part in the insertion direction of the housing to be inserted into the panel hole so that the panels having different plate thicknesses can be shared. Provided with a cantilevered locking arm made of an elastic member having a base in the insertion direction ahead of the projection of the housing, with the tip of the locking arm directed rearward of the projection and the tip of the panel A configuration is described in which the connector is fixed to the panel by being formed so as to be in contact with the edge of the hole and holding the panel between the tip of the cantilever arm and the protrusion. In particular, a plurality of stepped locking steps with different heights are formed along the thickness direction of the tip of the cantilever arm, and the locking arm is bent during insertion and inserted into the panel hole. A predetermined locking step portion of the locking arm is brought into contact with the panel at a position where it comes into contact with the panel, and the connector is fixed by sandwiching the panel with the projecting portion.

JP 2000-348830 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-76084 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-61691

  However, according to the panel-mounted connector described in Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3, it can be used for panels with different plate thicknesses. Since a plurality of locking step portions must be formed along the thickness direction, there is a problem that the thickness of the locking arm tip is increased and the operation force for attaching or removing the connector is increased.

  In addition, if the increase in the thickness of the locking arm tip is suppressed to accommodate a panel having various plate thicknesses, the number of steps in the locking step portion increases, so the step difference in the step portion is small and the step portion The depth width of becomes narrower. Therefore, for example, when the connector is pulled up, down, left, or right with respect to the panel surface due to external force when the mating connector is attached to the connector, the step of the locking step portion that is locked to the edge of the panel hole of the panel There is a problem that the connector is detached from the panel due to a drop in the holding force between the panel and the connector.

  A problem to be solved by the present invention is a panel mounting type connector that can be shared by panels having different thicknesses, can be easily mounted, and can suppress a decrease in holding force between the panel and the connector even when an external force is applied. It is to be realized.

  The present invention includes a housing for holding a wiring terminal, at least two locking arms made of an elastic member provided on a side surface of the housing, and a flange provided on the housing. The locking arm has a base portion fixed to a side surface at a symmetrical position sandwiching the insertion portion of the housing, and floats along the side surface from the base portion. An arm portion having an end extending rearward in the insertion direction, and an inclined surface formed in a direction away from the side surface on the opposite side of the side surface of the insertion portion of the arm portion, A flange is provided on a side surface of the insertion portion on the rear side in the insertion direction from an end position of the locking arm, and the housing is inserted into the panel hole from the base side of the locking arm to end the locking arm. Target panel-mounted connector structure for mounting the connector to clamp the panel at the flange and.

  In particular, in order to solve the above-described problem, the flange is formed on a cantilever arm formed to be elastically deformable in a direction facing the panel surface, and a surface of the cantilever arm facing the panel surface. It shall have a protrusion. Further, the locking arm has a locking step portion formed at the end portion and lockable to an edge portion of the panel hole, and the locking step portion is formed at the tip in a direction away from the side surface of the insertion portion. It is formed with at least one step surface that becomes lower sequentially, and the tip position of the locking step portion is formed so as to be positioned closer to the panel side than the tip of the projection of the cantilever arm of the flange. Features.

  Thus, according to the present invention, when the connector housing is inserted into the panel hole from the base side of the locking arm, the inclined surface of the locking arm comes into contact with the edge of the panel hole and locks. The arm is bent toward the housing and inserted into the panel hole. Further, when the protrusion of the cantilever arm of the flange is inserted at a position where it comes into contact with the panel, the cantilever arm is elastically deformed to allow the housing to be inserted. When further inserted, the inclined surface of the locking arm is disengaged from the edge of the panel hole, and the locking step is locked to the edge of the panel hole by the elastic force of the locking arm. That is, the front end of the locking step portion enters the panel hole and is inserted to a position where at least one step portion of the locking step portion is removed from the panel hole. When a plurality of step portions are formed on the locking step portion, the step portions are sequentially removed from the panel holes and the housing is inserted. In this state, the panel is sandwiched between the step portion of the locking arm and the projection of the cantilever arm. Thereby, it can respond to the panel of various board thickness.

  In particular, according to the present invention, the protrusion of the cantilever arm acts in the direction of separating the housing from the panel by the elastic force of the cantilever arm, and the reaction force holds the panel between the stepped portion of the locking arm. Become. Therefore, even if the gap between the flange surface and the stepped portion of the locking arm is wider than the panel thickness, the panel can be clamped by the elastic force of the cantilever arm, so that the panel of various thicknesses can be handled.

  Further, according to the present invention, the panel can be clamped by the elastic force of the cantilever arm even if the gap between the flange surface and the step portion of the locking arm is wider than the thickness of the panel. Even if the number is reduced, it can be used for panels with different thicknesses. Therefore, the step of the locking step can be increased and the depth of the step can be increased. As a result, even if the connector is pulled up, down, left, or right with respect to the panel surface due to external force when the mating connector is attached to the connector, the step of the locking step that is locked to the edge of the panel hole in the panel Since the part is difficult to come off, it is possible to prevent the holding force between the panel and the connector from being lowered.

  In the present invention, the insertion portion of the housing is further formed to have a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction, and the flange is formed as a rectangular flat plate larger than the rectangular cross section of the insertion portion at the rear end of the insertion portion of the housing. The cantilever arms are formed on the sides of the rectangular flat plate that are opposed to each other across the insertion portion, extending from the center of the side toward both ends of the side, and the protrusion is the engagement portion. It can be set as the structure formed in the position corresponding to the latching step part of a stop arm. According to this, since the stepped portion of the locking stepped portion that is locked to the edge of the panel hole is difficult to come off, it is possible to prevent the holding force between the panel and the connector from being lowered.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a panel-mounted connector that can be shared by panels having different thicknesses, can be easily mounted, and can suppress a decrease in holding force between the panel and the connector even when an external force is applied. it can.

It is a perspective view of the panel attachment type connector of one embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure seen from the surface containing line II-II of FIG. 1 in the arrow direction. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached and fixed the embodiment of FIG. 1 to the panel of the other party of attachment. It is the figure seen from the surface containing line IV-IV of FIG. 3 in the arrow direction. It is an enlarged view around a locking step part, (a) is before attachment, (b) is a figure in an attachment state.

  Hereinafter, a panel-mounted connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The panel mounting type connector 100 of this embodiment is to be mounted on a panel 200 that constitutes a housing such as a lighting fixture. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a housing 1 made of an insulating material having a rectangular cross section, a locking arm 2 provided on two opposing side surfaces of the housing 1, and one end of the housing 1, for example, are integrated. A rectangular flat plate-shaped flange 3 is formed. The housing 1 is formed with a cylindrical terminal storage chamber 5 that holds a plurality of wiring terminals 4. The shape of the wiring terminal 4 is not limited to that stored in the terminal storage chamber 5 but may be one that is held by the housing 1 and protrudes from the end. Further, either a male terminal or a female terminal can be applied. The housing 1 is inserted in a direction of an arrow A in a panel hole formed in a panel to be attached (not shown).

  The two locking arms 2 are each formed using an elastic member, and are provided integrally on the side surface of the housing 1, for example. Each locking arm 2 includes a base member 8 fixed to a side surface 7 in a symmetrical position across the insertion portion 6 of the housing 1 and a base 9 fixed to the base member 8 to float from the side surface 7 or the base member 8 in the insertion direction. It is formed with an arm portion 10 extending rearward of A. In this embodiment, the base member 8 is formed to extend to the flange 3 along the side surface 7 of the housing 1. In this embodiment, the arm portion 10 is formed in a flat plate shape, one end is cantilevered by the base member 8 at the base portion 9, the other end has a locking step portion 11, and can be elastically deformed in the direction of arrow B in the figure. Is provided. A surface of the arm portion 10 opposite to the side surface 7 of the housing 1 (hereinafter referred to as a back surface) is an inclined surface 12 formed in a direction away from the side surface 7 of the housing 1 toward the locking step portion 11 from the base portion 9. Has been.

  Further, the arm portion 10 is formed with a thick arm from the vicinity of the locking step portion 11. In the locking step portion 11, a plurality of step portions are formed in a step shape in the thickness direction of the arm portion 10 from the front end of the locking arm 2 toward the back side. In other words, it is formed with at least one step surface 13 that gradually decreases in the direction away from the side surface 7 of the insertion portion 6. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which one step portion is formed, but two or more step portions can be formed according to the applicable range of panel plate thickness. Further, the distal end position of the locking step portion 11 is formed so as to be in contact with the flange surface of the flange 3 or to overlap the flange 3. In the latter case, an opening 14 is provided in the flange 3 as shown in FIG.

  On the flange surface of the flange 3, a cantilever arm 15 is provided on a side portion corresponding to the side surface 7 of the insertion portion 6 of the housing 1 where the locking arm 2 is not provided. That is, the cantilever arm 15 has a half-loop cut groove 16 formed in the side portions (upper side portion and lower side portion in the drawing) of the flange 3 of the rectangular flat plate facing each other across the insertion portion 6 of the housing 1. Each of the side portions has a base end at the center, and has a rectangular elastically deformable arm portion extending toward both ends of the side portion. A protrusion 17 that protrudes in the insertion direction A of the housing 1 is provided at the tip of each cantilever arm 15. That is, the cantilever arm 15 is formed so as to be elastically deformable in a direction facing the panel surface of the mounting counterpart, and has a protrusion 17 at the tip of the surface facing the panel surface. The height (tip position) of the protrusion 17 of the cantilever arm 15 is such that when the cantilever arm 15 is in a free state, when viewed from a direction parallel to the flange surface in FIGS. The height is set so as to overlap the stepped portion 11.

  In order to ensure the rigidity of the flange 3 on the flange surface on the side of the flange 3 provided with the cantilever arm 15, support members 18 for supporting the flange 3 are provided on the upper and lower side surfaces of the housing 1 in FIG. It has been.

  The operation when the panel-mounted connector 100 of this embodiment configured as described above is inserted and fixed in the panel hole 201 formed in the panel 200 of FIG. 3 will be described. 3 and 4 show a state in which the panel-mounted connector 100 is attached to the panel 200. FIG. First, the connector housing 1 is inserted into the panel hole 201 from the base 9 side of the locking arm 2. When the inclined surface 12 of the locking arm 2 is inserted to a position where it contacts the edge of the panel hole 201, the locking arm 2 is inserted into the panel hole 201 while being bent toward the housing 1 side. Thus, when the protrusion 17 of the cantilever arm 15 of the flange 3 is inserted to a position where it abuts the panel 200, the cantilever arm 15 is displaced in a direction away from the panel surface of the panel 200 due to elastic deformation. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the protrusion 17 presses the panel 200 by the reaction force C. Further, when the housing 1 is inserted and the edge of the panel hole 201 reaches the stepped surface 13 of the locking step portion 11 of the locking arm 2, the bending of the locking arm 2 is reduced, and FIG. As shown, the edge of the panel hole 201 moves away from the inclined surface 12 and moves to the step surface 13. As a result, the edge of the panel hole 201 abuts on the stepped surface 13, and the force that sandwiches the panel 200 between the protrusion 17 and the stepped surface 13 is exerted by the elastic force of the cantilever arm 15, and the cantilever arm 15. The reaction force d that presses the locking step 11 against the edge of the panel hole 201 acts due to elasticity, and the housing 1 is firmly attached to the panel 200. That is, when the front end of the locking step portion 11 enters the panel hole 201 and at least one step portion of the locking step portion 11 is detached from the panel hole 201, the one step surface 13 of the locking step portion 11 is formed. The edge of the panel hole 201 abuts on the step surface 13, and the housing 1 is fixed to the panel 200. When a plurality of step surfaces 13 are formed on the locking step portion 11, the step surfaces are sequentially removed from the panel holes 201 and the housing 1 is inserted. In this state, since the panel 200 is sandwiched between the stepped surface of the locking arm 2 and the protrusion 17 of the cantilever arm 15, the panel 200 having various plate thicknesses can be handled.

  In particular, according to the present embodiment, the protrusion 17 of the cantilever arm 15 acts in a direction in which the housing 1 is pulled away from the panel 200 by the elastic force of the cantilever arm 15, and the step surface 13 of the locking step portion 11 by the reaction force. Thus, the panel 200 is sandwiched. Therefore, even if the gap between the flange surface of the flange 3 and the stepped surface of the locking arm 2 is wider than the plate thickness of the panel 200, the panel 200 can be clamped by the elastic force of the cantilever arm 15, so 200.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the panel 200 can be clamped by the elastic force of the cantilever arm 15 even if the gap between the flange surface and the step surface of the locking arm 2 is larger than the panel thickness, the locking step Even if the number of steps of the portion 11 is reduced, it can be shared by the panels 200 having different thicknesses. Therefore, the step of the locking step portion 11 can be increased and the depth width of the step surface can be increased. As a result, even when the connector 100 is pulled vertically and horizontally with respect to the panel surface due to external force when the mating connector is attached to the connector 100 of the present embodiment, the connector 100 is locked to the edge of the panel hole 201 of the panel 200. Since the stepped surface of the engaging stepped portion 11 is difficult to come off, it is possible to prevent the holding force between the panel 200 and the connector 100 from being lowered, and it is possible to provide safer and superior attachment. That is, the stepped surface 13 does not slide down from the edge of the panel hole 201, and the holding force between the panel 200 and the connector 100 is not reduced.

  Further, the panel 200 is pressed by the protrusions 17 positioned at the four corners of the flange 3 while the cantilever arm 15 is bent. The connector 100 can be attached to the panels 200 having different plate thicknesses. Further, since the projections 17 are arranged at the four corners of the flange 3, the panel 200 and the connector 100 can be prevented from rattling and can be held on the panel 200 in a constant state at all times.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the flange 3 is provided at one end of the housing 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the insertion portion of the flange 3, for example. In this case, the arrangement relationship between the tip of the locking step portion 11 of the locking arm 2 and the projection 17 of the cantilever arm of the flange 3 is set to the same relationship as in the above embodiment. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the example of the rectangular cylindrical housing 1 was shown, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is applicable not only to this but the cylindrical housing of circular cross section. However, even in the case of a cylindrical housing having a circular cross section, the flange 3 is preferably formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. Thereby, the elastic force of the cantilever arm 15 can be effectively used as the clamping force. Furthermore, although the example which provides the latching arm 2 in the corresponding two side surfaces of the housing of a rectangular cross section was shown, it is also possible to provide in each of the four surfaces of the housing. In the case of a cylindrical housing having a circular cross section, the locking arms 2 can be provided at three positions at a pitch of 120 degrees. In this case, the locking step portion 11 of the locking arm 2 has a curvature in the width direction of the arm portion corresponding to the circular panel hole provided in the panel 200 or the locking step portion 11 at the edge of the panel hole. A rectangular cut is formed through which the step of the portion 11 is inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Locking arm 3 Flange 4 Wiring terminal 5 Terminal storage chamber 6 Insertion part 7 Side surface 8 Base member 9 Base part 10 Arm part 11 Locking step part 12 Inclined surface 13 Step surface 15 Cantilever arm 16 Cut groove 17 Protrusion 18 Support Component 100 Panel mount connector 200 Panel 201 Panel hole

Claims (2)

A housing for holding a wiring terminal; at least two locking arms made of an elastic member provided on a side surface of the housing; and a flange provided on the housing, wherein the housing is formed on a panel to be attached. An insertion portion to be inserted into the panel hole, wherein the locking arm is fixed to a side surface at a symmetrical position sandwiching the insertion portion of the housing, and floats along the side surface from the base portion to the rear in the insertion direction And an inclined surface formed in a direction away from the side surface on the opposite side of the side surface of the insertion portion of the arm portion, and the flange is the engagement member. It is provided on the side surface of the insertion portion at the rear in the insertion direction from the end position of the stop arm. In panel-mounted connector structure for mounting the connector to clamp the panel at Nji,
The flange has a cantilever arm formed to be elastically deformable in a direction facing the panel surface, and a protrusion formed on a surface of the cantilever arm facing the panel surface,
The locking arm has a locking step portion formed at the end portion and lockable to the edge of the panel hole, and the locking step portion is gradually lowered at the tip in a direction away from the side surface of the insertion portion. The front end position of the locking step portion is formed so as to be positioned on the panel side with respect to the front end of the projection of the cantilever arm of the flange. Panel mounting type connector. The panel-mounted connector according to claim 1,
The insertion portion of the housing has a rectangular cross section orthogonal to the insertion direction,
The flange is formed at a rear end of the insertion portion of the housing by a rectangular flat plate larger than a rectangular cross section of the insertion portion, and is opposed to a side portion facing the insertion portion of the rectangular flat plate from a central portion of the side portion. The panel-mounted connector, wherein the cantilever arm is formed to extend toward both ends of the side portion, and the protrusion is formed at a position corresponding to the locking step portion of the locking arm. .

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