JP2018037336A - Unlock mechanism, and electric connector assembly and connector using this unlock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a connector or an electric connector assembly compact in the arrangement direction of contacts, by eliminating the need of a space for interposing a jig between a contact row and a corresponding lock part.SOLUTION: An unlock mechanism is used in an electric connector assembly with a lock mechanism consisting of a set of mateable and removable first connector and second connector. By using a lock part provided in the first connector and a corresponding lock part provided in the second connector, mating of the first and second connectors can be locked. The second connector has an operated part arranged at the terminal of the contact row in the arrangement direction of contacts, and the corresponding lock part can operate the operated part by a movable part on the opposite side to the contact arrangement side for the operated part. The corresponding lock part and lock part are unlocked, by displacing the operated part from the opposite side through operation by the movable part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a lock release mechanism used in an electrical connector assembly with a lock mechanism that is a set of connectors that can be fitted and removed, and an electrical connector assembly and a connector using the lock release mechanism.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a lock release mechanism. This unlock mechanism is used for so-called inter-board connection. A male connector and a female connector are respectively fixed to the boards facing each other, and the male connector and the female connector can be fitted or removed by bringing the boards close to each other or separating them.

  Each of the male connector and the female connector has a plurality of contacts arranged in one direction. To lock the fitting state of the male connector and the female connector, the housing of the male connector has a convex portion. Correspondingly, the female connectors are each provided with standing pieces having hooks. The standing piece provided on the female connector is provided at the end of the contact row of contacts arranged in the housing of the female connector. When the male connector and the female connector are fitted, a protrusion is engaged with the hook of the standing piece. By being stopped, a lock is formed.

  A jig is used to release the lock. The jig is inserted between the contact row and the standing piece in the contact arrangement direction along the fitting / extraction direction of the male connector and the female connector and from the male connector side to the female connector side. At this time, the upright piece collides with the jig on the contact arrangement side, and is displaced from the contact arrangement side toward the opposite side through the collision. Thereby, the lock | rock between a standing piece and a convex part is cancelled | released.

JP 2009-231151 A

  In the conventional configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the jig is inserted between the contact row and the standing piece in the contact arrangement direction. In other words, the jig was made to collide with the standing piece on the contact arrangement side. In this case, a space for inserting a jig between the contact row and the upright piece is required. As a result, the female connector becomes large in the contact arrangement direction, and as a result, the electrical connector assembly becomes large.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems in the prior art, and eliminates the need for a space for interposing a jig between the contact row and the corresponding lock portion, and reduces the size of the connector in the contact arrangement direction. Therefore, an object is to reduce the size of the electrical connector assembly.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an unlocking mechanism according to an aspect of the present invention is an unlocking mechanism used for an electrical connector assembly with a locking mechanism composed of a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted and removed. And using the lock portion provided in the first connector and the corresponding lock portion provided in the second connector, it is possible to lock the fitting of the first connector and the second connector, The second connector has an operated portion arranged at the end of a contact row along a contact arrangement direction, and the corresponding lock portion has the contact arrangement with respect to the operated portion. It is possible to operate by operating the movable part on the opposite side to the side, and the operated part is displaced from the opposite side toward the arrangement side through the operation by the movable part. More has a feature that it is configured to unlock said locking portion and said corresponding locking portion.
According to the unlocking mechanism of this aspect, the operation of the movable corresponding lock portion is performed on the side opposite to the contact arrangement side, so that a space for interposing the movable portion between the contact row and the corresponding lock portion is unnecessary. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the second connector in the arrangement direction of the contacts, and thus to reduce the size of the electrical connector assembly.

In the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, it is preferable that the corresponding lock portion forms a lock with the lock portion on the opposite side.
Thereby, the structure can be simplified.

Further, in the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, the operated portion is formed as a contact portion that is operated through contact with the movable portion, and the corresponding lock portion is fitted together with the contact portion. It may be formed as a part of a displacement member provided along the removal direction, and the corresponding lock portion may be arranged on the fitting side of the displacement member with respect to the contact portion.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, the corresponding lock portion can be operated from the second connector side through the contact between the contact portion and the movable portion.

Furthermore, in the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, it is preferable that both the displacement member and the movable portion are made of metal.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, the strength can be ensured by using a metal material. In particular, when the movable part is moved along the elastic member, it is possible to reduce the risk that the movable part and the elastic member are scraped together.

Moreover, in the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, it is preferable that the movable portion moves along the displacement member.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, the operation of the movable part can be stabilized by moving the movable part along the displacement member.

In the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, it is preferable that the contact portion is disposed adjacent to the corresponding lock portion.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, the force received from the movable portion at the contact portion can be more efficiently transmitted to the corresponding lock portion by providing the contact portion at a position closest to the corresponding lock portion. .

Furthermore, in the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, at least a part of the displacement member may be accommodated in a recess provided in a wall of the housing of the second connector from the opposite side toward the arrangement side.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, the second connector can be reduced in size in the arrangement direction, and as a result, the electrical connector assembly can be reduced in size. Further, the strength of the elastic member can be increased.

Moreover, the lock release mechanism of the said aspect WHEREIN: The said displacement member is accommodated in the said hollow over the full length in the said fitting removal direction.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, by embedding the elastic member over substantially the entire length, the substantially entire elastic member is covered by the housing. Even when an excessive force is applied to the member, the elastic member can be prevented from being damaged due to excessive displacement.

In the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, it is preferable that the recess is provided in a wall of the guide portion of the second connector.
According to the lock release mechanism of this aspect, by providing a recess in the wall of the guide portion, it is possible to reduce the size of the second connector while providing a fitting function and a guide function for removal.
Furthermore, in the lock release mechanism of the above aspect, the first connector may be used while being fixed to the first substrate, and the second connector may be used while being fixed to the second substrate.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an electrical connector assembly according to an aspect of the present invention is an electrical connector assembly with a lock mechanism that includes a pair of a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted and removed. The first connector and the second connector can lock the fitting by using a lock portion provided in the first connector and a corresponding lock portion provided in the second connector, The second connector has an operated portion arranged at the end of a contact row along a contact arrangement direction, and the corresponding lock portion has the contact arrangement with respect to the operated portion. It is possible to operate by operating the movable part on the opposite side to the side, and by displacing the operated part from the opposite side toward the arrangement side through the operation by the movable part Has a feature that it is configured to unlock said locking portion and said corresponding locking portion.
In order to solve the above problem, the connector according to one aspect of the present invention is a connector that can be fitted to and removed from the mating connector, and the mating connector and the connector include a lock portion provided in the mating connector. It is possible to lock the fitting using a corresponding locking portion provided on the connector, and the connector has an operated portion arranged at the end of the contact row along the contact arrangement direction. The corresponding lock portion can be operated by operating the operated portion with the movable portion on the side opposite to the contact arrangement side with respect to the operated portion. By moving the part from the opposite side toward the arrangement side through the operation by the movable part, the lock between the corresponding lock part and the lock part is released. It has a feature that it is.

  According to the present invention, a space for interposing a jig between the contact row and the corresponding lock portion is not required, and the connector can be downsized in the contact arrangement direction, and thus the electrical connector assembly can be downsized.

It is a perspective view of the electrical connector assembly to which the unlocking mechanism of the present invention is applied, and is a view showing a state before fitting. FIG. 2 is a side view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is a partially broken perspective view of the electrical connector assembly to which the unlocking mechanism of the present invention is applied, and shows a state after fitting. It is sectional drawing corresponded in FIG. 3, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state after a fitting. It is a partially broken perspective view equivalent to FIG. 4, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state before a jig contact | abuts to a contact part. It is sectional drawing corresponded in FIG. 3, Comprising: The state before a jig | tool contact | abuts to a contact part is shown. It is a partially broken perspective view equivalent to FIG. 4, Comprising: The state when a jig is contacting the contact part is shown. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a state where the jig is in contact with the contact portion. It is a figure which shows a modification.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience, only preferred embodiments are shown, but of course are not intended to limit the invention.

  1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly 1 to which an unlocking mechanism as an example of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. .

  The electrical connector assembly 1 includes a set of a receptacle connector 20 and a plug connector 60. The receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 each have a symmetrical shape. The receptacle connector 20 can be fixed to the substrate 2 and the plug connector 60 can be fixed to the substrate 6 for use. The receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 can be fitted or removed by bringing the substrate 2 and the substrate 6 facing each other closer to or away from each other along the direction of the arrow “α”. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a state before these are fitted. 4 and 5 show a state after the fitting. FIG. 4 is a partially broken perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view thereof.

  3 and 5, the receptacle connector 20 mainly includes a housing 21 and a plurality of (herein, five) contacts 22 arranged in a line along the “β” direction in the housing 21. And a locking piece 30 disposed at the end of the contact row along the arrangement direction “β” of the contacts 22.

  The housing 21 has a substantially rectangular outer shape, and includes a base body 23 having a predetermined thickness on which the contact 22 is installed, and a side wall 27 erected around the base body 23. A fitting side with the plug connector 60 is opened, and an insertion space 21a into which a part of the plug connector 60 is inserted is provided in the housing 21 in a state where the insertion space 21a communicates with the opening.

  Each contact 22 is erected in the insertion space 21 a of the housing 21 along the mating / removing direction “α” toward the mating side with the plug connector 60. Each contact 22 may be formed as a set of a long terminal portion 22A that is slightly longer in the fitting / removing direction “α” and a short terminal portion 22B that is slightly shorter in the same direction. The long terminal portion 22A and the short terminal portion 22B are inserted into the holes of the substrate 2 in a state where they are combined with each other at their ends 22c. The contact portion 22a with the mating contact in the long terminal portion 22A is disposed closer to the mating contact in the fitting / removal direction “α” than the contact portion 22b with the mating contact in the short terminal portion 22B. As a result, when the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 are fitted, each contact 22 is connected at a different timing from the counterpart contact.

  The lock piece 30 is formed as a metal plate-like body erected along the fitting / removing direction “α” toward the fitting side with the plug connector 60. The lock piece 30 is erected in the same direction toward the mating side with the plug connector 60 by inserting and fixing the end portion into a hole provided in the substrate 2. The distal end of the locking piece 30 on the insertion side is supported by a support portion 27 a that protrudes inward of the side wall 27 of the housing 21 in the arrangement direction “β” of the contacts 22.

  The lock portion 32 may be, for example, a locking hole provided on the distal end side of the lock piece 30, that is, on the fitting side with the plug connector 60. The locking hole 32 can be easily formed by punching a metal plate. However, it is sufficient that the lock portion can form a lock with the counterpart lock portion on the other side, and the lock hole 32 is not necessarily required. For example, it is good also as a hollow instead of the locking hole 32, and you may form by members other than a plate-shaped object.

  The plug connector 60 mainly includes a housing 61, a plurality of (here, five) contacts 62 arranged in a line along the “β” direction in the housing 61, and an arrangement direction “β” of these contacts 62. ”And a displacement member 70 disposed at the end of the contact row.

  The housing 61 has a substantially rectangular outer shape, a plate-like base 63 having a predetermined thickness on which the contact 62 is installed, and a fitting / removal direction from the base 63 toward the fitting side of the receptacle connector 20. A plurality of, in this case, four contact holding portions 65 suspending along “α” and one at each end of the contact holding portion row along the arrangement direction “β” of these contact holding portions 65 are provided. The guide part 66 is provided.

  The contact 62 is held on the outer wall of the contact holding portion 65 in a state of being embedded therein.

The guide portion 66 has a function of guiding the plug connector 60 to the insertion space 21a (see FIG. 3) on the receptacle connector 20 side when the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 are fitted. Tapers 66 a and 66 c are provided at the fitting side end of the guide portion 66 so that the guide is smoothly performed. For the same reason, a taper 65 a is also provided at the fitting-side tip of the contact holding portion 65.
A holding portion 65 ′ corresponding to a part of the contact holding portion 65 is provided on the arrangement side of the contact holding portion in the guide portion 66. A contact 62 is embedded in the holding portion 65 ′ in the same manner as the contact holding portion 65.
On the other hand, a recess 66b that can accommodate the displacement member 70 in a state in which the displacement member 70 is allowed to be displaced is provided on the outer wall 66d of the guide portion 66 opposite to the contact holding portion arrangement side. The recess 66b is formed from the opposite side 70a of the contact 62 to the arrangement side 70b with respect to the displacement member 70 in the arrangement direction “β” of the contacts 62. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the size of the plug connector 60 in the arrangement direction “β” of the contacts 62 without impairing the function of the guide portion. As a result, the electrical connector assembly 1 can be reduced in size. . Moreover, according to this structure, since the accommodation side of the displacement member is protected by the contact holding part 65, the strength of the displacement member can be increased. The displacement member 70 is preferably accommodated in the recess 66b over the entire length in the fitting / removing direction “α”. By protecting substantially the entire displacement member 70 with the housing 61, the displacement member 70 is excessively displaced even when an excessive force is applied to the displacement member 70 due to, for example, a twist during fitting. Can be prevented from being damaged.

  The contact 62 may be substantially plate-shaped. The contact 62 is erected along the mating / removing direction “α” toward the mating side with the receptacle connector 20 in a state of being embedded in the wall of the contact holding portion 65 or the holding portion 65 ′ of the guide portion 66. Provided. Each contact 62 may be formed as a pair of terminals 62A and 62B. The pair of terminals 62A and 62B are embedded in the wall of the contact holding portion 65 or in the holding portion 65 ′ of the guide portion 66 in a state of facing each other, and their ends 62a are combined with each other. It is inserted through the hole. When the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 are fitted, the contact portion 22a of the long terminal portion 22A of the receptacle connector 20 contacts the terminal 62A of the plug connector 60, and the contact portion 22b of the short terminal portion 22B of the receptacle connector 20 They are in contact with the terminals 62B of the plug connector 60 and are electrically connected.

  The displacement member 70 is formed of a metal plate and is erected along the fitting / removing direction “α” toward the fitting side with the receptacle connector 20. Since it is made of a metal plate, it has a predetermined elastic displacement action. Since the plate surface side of the displacement member 70 is separated from the wall forming the recess 66b of the guide portion 66 by a predetermined distance, the displacement action of the displacement member 70 is not hindered. The displacement member 70 is press-fitted and fixed in the recess 66b on both side surfaces using press-fit portions 70c (see FIG. 2) provided on both sides.

  The displacement member 70 includes a corresponding lock portion provided corresponding to the lock portion 32 provided on the lock piece 30. The corresponding lock portion may be, for example, a locking protrusion 72 provided on the distal end side of the displacement member 70, that is, on the fitting side with the receptacle connector 2. However, it is not always necessary to provide the front end side, and it is not necessary to provide the locking projection 72. The corresponding lock part is sufficient if it can form a lock with the lock part 32 on the other side. When the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 are fitted, the locking projections 72 provided on the plug connector 60 are locked in the locking holes 32 provided on the receptacle connector 20, whereby the receptacle connector 20 and the plug connector 60 are fitted. If it is locked.

  The displacement member 70 further includes an operated portion that can be operated from the outside of the connector with a jig or the like. For example, the operated portion may be formed as the contact portion 71. The contact portion 71 may be provided in a state of protruding from the arrangement side 70b of the contact 62 toward the side 70a opposite to the arrangement side.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, the abutment portion 71 provided on the displacement member 70 and a movable portion, for example, a lock 7 between the engagement protrusion 72 and the engagement hole 32 using the jig 7 are used. The release method will be described.
6 is a partially broken perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, and these drawings show a state before the jig 7 contacts the contact portion 71. ing. On the other hand, FIG. 8 is a partially broken perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3, in which these jigs 7 are in contact with the contact portion 71. Shows the state.

  The jig 7 includes a gripping portion 7a and two insertion portions 7b extending in the same direction from the gripping portion 7a, and has a substantially U-shape when viewed from the front. The jig 7 is made of metal in order to obtain strength.

  The insertion portion 7b of the jig 7 passes through a hole 6a provided in the substrate 6 from the plug connector 60 side to the receptacle connector 20 side, inside the electrical connector assembly 1, and more specifically, the base body on the plug connector 60 side. It is inserted into a space 63 a provided in 63 and a space 27 c formed inside the side wall 27 of the housing 21 of the receptacle connector 20. At the time of insertion, the jig 7 slides on the surface along the displacement member 70. Thus, by moving the jig 7 along the displacement member 70, the operation of the jig 7 can be stabilized. In addition, since the displacement member 70 is metal, there is almost no possibility that the displacement member 70 will be shaved with the jig 7. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, before the jig 7 contacts the contact portion 71, the locking protrusion 72 is locked to the displacement member 70 on the side 70 a opposite to the arrangement side 70 b of the contact 62. A lock is formed between the holes 32. The locking projection 72 is arranged on the fitting side with respect to the contact portion 71 in the fitting / removal direction “α”, and the contact portion 71 and the locking hole 32 are positioned adjacent to the locking projection 72. It arrange | positions so that the lock | rock with the latching protrusion 72 may not be prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the jig 7 contacts the contact portion 71 of the displacement member 70, the locking projection 72 of the displacement member 70 contacts the displacement member 70 through the contact. 62 is displaced from the side 70a opposite to the arrangement side 70b toward the arrangement side 70b, that is, in the “β1” direction. As a result, the locking projection 72 and the locking hole 32 are unlocked. Since the contact portion 71 is disposed adjacent to the locking projection 72, the contact portion 71 can efficiently transmit the force received from the jig 7 to the locking projection 72 at this time. As described above, according to this configuration, the locking projection 72 can be operated through the substrate 6 from the plug connector 60 through the contact between the contact portion 71 and the jig 7, and the displacement member 70 can be operated. In other words, on the side 70 a opposite to the arrangement side 70 b of the contacts 62, the operation can be performed not on the contact row and the locking projection 72 but on the outside thereof. As described above, the operation of the locking projection 72 by the jig 7 is performed on the side opposite to the arrangement side of the contacts 62, so that a space for interposing the jig 7 between the contact row and the locking projection 72 is unnecessary. Therefore, particularly in the arrangement direction “β” of the contacts 62, the plug connector 60 can be reduced in size, and thus the electrical connector assembly 1 can be reduced in size.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the holding part of the jig 7 is removed, leaving only the insertion part 7c. Instead, the end part 7c 'of the insertion part 7c is exposed to the outside, and if necessary, the end part It is good also as a structure which operates the insertion part 7c through 7c '. As a result, the lock can be released without using a dedicated jig. In addition, although the operated portion has been described as a contact portion that is a protruding portion, it is sufficient that the operated portion can be displaced by a jig or the like that is a movable portion so that the corresponding lock portion can be displaced. It is not limited to the contact portion.

1 Electrical Connector Assembly 2 Board 6 Board 7 Jig 20 Receptacle Connector (Second Connector)
21 Housing 22 Contact 27 Side wall 30 Locking piece 32 Locking hole (locking part)
60 Plug connector (first connector)
61 Housing 62 Contact 65 Contact holding portion 70 Displacement member 72 Locking protrusion (corresponding lock portion)

Claims (12)

A lock release mechanism used for an electrical connector assembly with a lock mechanism comprising a pair of a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted and removed,
Using the lock portion provided in the first connector and the corresponding lock portion provided in the second connector, it is possible to lock the fitting of the first connector and the second connector,
The second connector has an operated portion arranged at the end of the contact row along the contact arrangement direction,
The corresponding lock part can be operated by operating the operated part with a movable part on the side opposite to the contact arrangement side with respect to the operated part,
It is configured to release the lock between the corresponding lock part and the lock part by displacing the operated part from the opposite side toward the arrangement side through an operation by the movable part. Unlock mechanism to do.   The lock release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding lock portion forms a lock with the lock portion on the opposite side. The operated portion is formed as a contact portion operated through contact with the movable portion,
The corresponding lock part is formed as a part of a displacement member provided along the fitting / removal direction together with the contact part,
The lock release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the corresponding lock part is disposed on the fitting side of the abutting part in the displacement member.   The lock release mechanism according to claim 3, wherein both the displacement member and the movable portion are made of metal.   The lock release mechanism according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the movable portion moves along the displacement member.   The lock release mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the contact portion is disposed adjacent to the corresponding lock portion.   The lock release mechanism according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein at least a part of the displacement member is accommodated in a recess provided in a wall of the housing of the second connector from the opposite side toward the arrangement side. .   The unlocking mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the displacement member is accommodated in the recess over the entire length in the fitting / removing direction.   The lock release mechanism according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the recess is provided in a wall of the guide portion of the second connector.   The lock release mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first connector is used while being fixed to the first board, and the second connector is used while being fixed to the second board. An electrical connector assembly with a locking mechanism comprising a pair of a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted and removed,
The first connector and the second connector can lock the fitting using a lock portion provided in the first connector and a corresponding lock portion provided in the second connector,
The second connector has an operated portion arranged at the end of the contact row along the contact arrangement direction,
The corresponding lock part can be operated by operating the operated part with a movable part on the side opposite to the contact arrangement side with respect to the operated part,
It is configured to release the lock between the corresponding lock part and the lock part by displacing the operated part from the opposite side toward the arrangement side through an operation by the movable part. Electrical connector assembly. A connector that can be mated with and removed from the mating connector,
The mating connector and the connector can lock the fitting using a lock portion provided in the mating connector and a corresponding lock portion provided in the connector,
The connector has an operated portion arranged at the end of the contact row along the contact arrangement direction,
By operating the operated part by a movable part on the side opposite to the arrangement side of the contacts with respect to the operated part, the corresponding lock part can be operated,
It is configured to release the lock between the corresponding lock part and the lock part by displacing the operated part from the opposite side toward the arrangement side through an operation by the movable part. Connector.

Images