JP2537302B2 - Lock check device for electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lock confirmation device for an electric connector used for connecting electric wires and the like.

[Conventional technology]

11 and 12 show a conventional connector lock confirmation device. In the figure, 1 and 2 are a female connector housing and a male connector housing respectively accommodating terminals (not shown), 3 is a locking arm having a locking claw 4, and 5 is a locking claw 4 when the two housings are fitted together. It is a locking rod that engages with.

When the housings 1 and 2 are fitted to each other, the locking arm 3 bends and passes below the cauldron 5, and the locking claw 4 is locked (locked) to the cauldron 5. At this time, the member 6 is inserted into the space between the housing 2 and the locking arm 3 to detect the locked state of the arm 3.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

According to the prior art shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, both housings 1, 2
If is halfway fitted, the locking arm 3 is in a state of being bent under the shaft 5 and the member 6 cannot be inserted, so halfway fitting can be detected.

However, the member 6 can be inserted even when the housing 2 is not fitted, and if it is inserted by mistake when the housing 2 is not fitted, the anchor-shaped locking claw 7 at the tip of the member 6 meshes with the cauldron 5 and it cannot be removed. It's not easy, and it is very difficult to do the final mating.

An object of the present invention is to provide a member that does not have the above-described drawbacks and that operates only when the fitting of the connector housing is completely completed and the locking arm is in the locked state, and yet the attachment / detachment operation thereof can be facilitated. An object of the present invention is to provide a lock confirmation device for an electrical connector that can prevent incomplete fitting of the housing.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a lock confirmation device for an electrical connector according to the present invention has, as described in claim 1, a locking arm having a locking projection on one outer peripheral wall of a pair of female and male connector housings. In an electrical connector in which elastically displaceable through a fulcrum portion, a detent is provided on the other outer peripheral wall, and the locking projection engages with the detent when both housings are completely fitted to lock both housings, While providing a passage along the locking arm,
A lock confirmation slider comprising a slider body and a lock detection arm having a stopper at its free end capable of advancing and retracting through this passage is slidably mounted on the one outer peripheral wall, and when the locking arm is unlocked, The stopper of the lock detection arm inserted into the passage abuts against the locking projection, the lock detection arm is held by the locking arm, and when the locking arm is locked, the stopper and the locking projection are engaged and the return is performed. When it is pushed down by the stopper and passes through the detent, the locking projection passes through the detent and both connectors are fitted, the engagement between the stopper and the locking projection is released and the lock detection arm advances and locks. It is characterized in that the confirmation slider is moved to the lock confirmation position.

The lock confirmation slider is, as described in claim 3,
It is preferable to provide locking means between the slider body and the outer peripheral wall of the housing.

In order to facilitate insertion of the lock detection arm into the passage of the locking arm, that is, attachment of the lock confirmation slider to the connector, a guide is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the housing or the slider body to set the slider body as described in claim 4. Alternatively, it is preferable to provide an insertion groove on the outer peripheral wall.

Further, it is effective to provide the lock detection arm with a support guide that engages with the locking protrusion of the locking arm together with the stopper.

Further, the passage through which the lock detection arm advances and retracts is defined by claim
Alternatively, as described in 6, it can be provided between the locking arm and the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing or in parallel with the locking arm.

[Work]

The lock detection arm of the lock confirmation slider enters the passage in the locking arm, and its stopper abuts on the locking projection to prevent forward movement.

This state is not released unless the locking projection of the locking arm makes sliding contact with the detent and the arm once bends downward (or upward) and then elastically returns and is locked.

That is, when the female and male connectors (housings) are not fitted or in the middle of fitting and the locking arm is not in the locked state, the lock confirmation slider cannot be moved to the lock confirmation position. The lock confirmation slider operates only when both connectors are completely fitted and locked.

Therefore, incomplete fitting and locking of the connector can be prevented.

Further, by providing the lock detection arm of the lock confirmation slider with the support guide that engages with the locking projection together with the stopper, the lock detection arm operates in association with the bending of the locking arm, so that the slider can be easily operated. You can

The passage through which the lock detection arm advances and retracts may be either between the locking arm and the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing or in parallel with the locking arm. In the latter case, the connector can be made compact without avoiding bulkiness.

Hereinafter, the above configuration and operation will be specifically described with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lock confirmation device for an electric connector according to the present invention in a separated state, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a partially combined state of the same, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. Indicated.

In these figures, M is a male connector, F is a female connector, and S is a lock confirmation slider.

Inside the connector housing 11 of the male connector M, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 12 are formed in two steps, and female terminals 13 (see FIG. 2) are accommodated in each accommodating chamber 12. Further, a locking arm 14 is provided on the upper outer peripheral wall of the housing 11.

The locking arm 14 includes a pair of arm plates 14a, 14a extending forward through a rear gate-shaped (or channel-shaped) fulcrum portion 15, and locking protrusions 14b, 14b formed at their free ends. , And a connecting piece 14c that connects the two locking projections, and a passage 16 is formed between the pair of arm plates 14a, 14a to allow the lock detection arm 24, which will be described later, to move back and forth. The passage 16 communicates with the space formed between the side plates 15a, 15a on both sides of the fulcrum portion 15, and the projection 17 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for locking is provided between the side plates 15a, 15a. Is projected on.

The connector housing 18 of the female connector F has therein a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 19 corresponding to the male connector M, and each accommodating chamber 19 has a male terminal 20 (see FIG. 2) corresponding to the female terminal 13. It is housed.

The housing 18 has a hood 18a for receiving the male connector M in the front half thereof, and a lock chamber 21 for receiving the locking arm 14 is formed on the upper outer peripheral wall of the hood 18a so as to bulge, and the ceiling of the lock chamber 21 is formed. Detents 22 (2nd
(See the figure). The detent 22 has a guide taper 22a on the lower surface thereof, and has a locking projection 14b of the locking arm 14.
Engage with.

The lock confirmation slider S is composed of a slider body 23 and a lock detecting arm 24 extending integrally forward from the slider body 23.
The slider body 23 is formed in an L-shaped cross section by a slide plate 23a and an operation plate 23b, and a guide groove 25 for the protrusion 17 is provided on the back surface of the slide plate 23a (see FIGS. 2 and 3). A protrusion 26 is provided at the end of 25. The lock detection arm 24 is provided with a protruding stopper 24a and a support guide 24b protruding forward at the free end.

Next, a method of using the lock confirmation slider S and its operation will be described. (FIGS. 4a-f).

The lock confirmation slider S is attached to the male connector M in advance, as shown in FIG.

That is, when the slider S is inserted into the space between the housing 11 and the fulcrum portion 15, the lock detection arm 24 advances in the passage 16 of the locking arm 14, and the front hanging wall of the stopper 24a thereof is connected to the connecting piece 14c (hereinafter, referred to as a connecting piece 14c). (Represented by the locking protrusion 14b)
And the support guide 24b engages with the locking projection 1
4b is supported from below. Slide plate 23a at the same time
The projection 26 of the above gets over the projection 17 on the outer peripheral wall of the housing. As a result, the slider S is locked to the housing 11, and the lock detection arm 24 is held by the locking arm 14.

FIG. 4a shows a state in which the male connector M, to which the slider S is attached as described above, is half fitted in the hood 18a of the female connector F. The free end of the locking arm 14 abuts the detent 22 in the lock chamber 21.

In this state, when the slider S (or the male connector M) is pushed as indicated by the arrow P, the locking arm 14 is moved as shown in FIGS.
Moves forward while sliding in contact with the guide taper 22a and bending downward.
At this time, since the stopper 24a and the support guide 24b are engaged with the locking protrusion 14b of the arm 14, the lock detection arm 2
4 also bends downward, and the stopper 24a is also in a state of slipping under the detent 22.

When the locking projection 14b enters deeper than the detent 22 between FIGS. 4c and 4d, the engagement is released, and the locking arm 14 elastically returns and warps upward. As a result, the locking projection 14b engages with the detent 22, the complete fitting and locking of the female and male connectors F and M are simultaneously achieved, and the female and male terminals 13 and 20 are electrically connected. Further, due to the elastic return of the locking arm 14, the obstacle (locking protrusion 14b) that prevents the stopper 14a from moving forward is removed, and the front side is released.

Therefore, when the slider S is further pushed as shown in FIGS.
The lock detection arm 24 moves forward and the stopper 24a engages with the locking projection 1.
The arm 24 elastically returns as it reaches a position deeper than 4b.

As a result, the slider S moves to the lock confirmation position as shown in Fig. 4f.

As described above, in the lock confirmation slider S, when the female and male connectors are completely fitted and locked, and the locking arm and the lock detection arm are disengaged,
It works for the first time. Therefore, it is possible to confirm that the lock is completely locked by fitting the connector.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The lock detecting arm 24 ₁ is the lock detecting arm 24 shown in FIG. 1 without the support guide 24b at its free end.

In this case, as can be easily understood from FIG. 4B, the downward bending of the locking arm 14 and that of the lock detecting arm 24 ₁ do not occur at the same time, but the stopper 2
4a is pressed downward by the tapered guide 22a of the detent 22 (see FIG. 2), since the arm 24 ₁ is flexed downward,
The lock confirmation slider S ₁ reaches the lock confirmation position by following the same procedure as in FIGS. In the case of the present embodiment, since the lock detection arm 24 ₁ bends after the locking arm 14, the slider S ₁ can be mounted with a low insertion force.

 FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a male connector M'and a female connector F'are formed as waterproof connectors, and a hood 18a 'of a female connector housing 18' is surrounded in front of an outer peripheral wall of a male connector housing 11 'having an elliptical cross section. Waterproof hood 27
Is provided.

A cutout 27a is opened in the upper outer peripheral wall of the waterproof hood 27,
The locking arm 14 'is supported by the fulcrum 1 so as to face the notch 27a.
It is provided via 5 '. Locking arm 14 '
Is a pair of arm plates 14a ′, which extend forward from the fulcrum portion 15 ′,
14a 'and a connecting piece (locking protrusion) 14 that connects the free end of the 14a'
It is composed of b'and a photographing portion 14c 'extending rearward from the fulcrum portion 15'. The arm plate 14a 'has a tapered triangular plate shape.
A passage 16 'is formed between a'and 14a'.

Also, on the outer peripheral wall of the rear part of the housing 11 ', a protrusion is formed in the center.
17 'and guides 28 for the lock confirmation slider S'are provided on both sides.

The locking projection 14b 'is provided on the hood 18a' of the female connector F '.
A detent 22 'is provided so as to be engaged with the detent.

The lock confirmation slider S'is composed of a slider body 23 'and a lock detection arm 24', as described above. The lock detecting arm 24 'is inclined slightly upward, a stopper 24a' is provided on the lower surface of its free end portion, and a support guide 24b 'is projected on the front side. Further, the slider body 23 'has a guide groove 25' and a protrusion 26 'on the back surface (see FIG. 7), and an insertion groove 29 for the guide 28 on both sides.
Is provided. In addition, this insertion groove 29
On the outer peripheral wall of 1 ', the guide 28 to the slider body 23',
You may provide each.

In the present embodiment, when the lock confirmation slider S'is fitted to the male connector M'with its insertion groove 29 aligned with the guide 28, the protrusion 26 'of the slider body 23' becomes the protrusion 17 'in the same manner as described above. Locking arm while engaging and locking
The lock detecting arm 24 'that has entered the passage 16' of the 14 'is prevented from advancing due to the abutment of the stopper 24a' with the locking projection 14b ', and is held by the arm 14'.

7A to 7F show a process of fitting the male connector M'on which the lock confirmation slider S'is mounted to the female connector F '. 4A to 4F are different in the following points.

In FIGS. 7A to 7C, the locking arm 14 'is locked by the fitting operation of the female and male connectors F'and M'.
14b 'rides on the detent 22' and the arm 14 'flexes upward.

Then, in FIG. 7d, the locking arm 14 'elastically returns downward and is locked by the engagement of the locking projection 14b' and the detent 22 '.

Further, the lock detecting arm 24 'bends upward due to the stopper 24a' and the support guide 24b 'engaging with the locking projection 14b'. When this engagement is released (Fig. 7d),
Since the stopper 24a 'is free of obstacles, the lock detecting arm 24' advances in the passage 16 'and the lock confirming slider S'reaches the lock confirming position as shown in FIGS.

As described above, in FIGS. 7A to 7F, the locking arm 14 'and the lock detecting arm 24' are bent upside down and elastically returned as compared with the case of FIGS. 4A to 4F, but the female and male connectors F ', When the M'is completely fitted and locked, the lock confirmation slider S'has the same operation in that it operates for the first time.

Note that the support guide 24b 'of the lock detecting arm 24' may be omitted, as in the case of FIG.

 8 to 10 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The outer peripheral wall of the male connector M has a rising base 30a at the front end.
Extends rearward through the (fulcrum), and in the middle the locking protrusion 30b,
A locking arm 30 is provided with a squeeze 30c at the rear end. The locking projection 30b is formed so as to project to one side of the arm 30 (the side of the slide holder 31 described later).

On the other hand, the slider body 23 of the lock confirmation slider S ₂ '
, The slider S, engaging with 'so as to form a slide frame 23a' U-shaped cross section of the slide frame 23a instead of the slide plate 23a of S ₁ claws 32a at the tip in front of the outer wall of A piece 32 is provided.

Then, the outer peripheral wall of the male connector M, the slide holder lock detection arm 24 of the lock confirming slider S ₂ along with the locking arm 30, leaving a passage 16 that advances and retreats, to movably hold the slider S ₂ 31 are erected.
Slide holder 31 has a cross-section L-shaped guide groove 31a for slide frames 23a of the slider S ₂ '.

 Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 10a shows the initial mating state of the male connector M and the female connector F on which the lock confirmation slider S ₂ is mounted. That is, in the slider S ₂ , by inserting the slider frame 23 a ′ into the guide groove 31 a of the slide holder 31, the lock detection arm 24 advances in the passage 16 and the stopper 24 a is moved to the locking arm as in FIG. 4 a. The support guide 24b abuts on the locking projection 30b of the slide support 30, and the support guide 24b supports the locking projection 30b. At the same time, the locking claw 32a of the locking arm 32 slides on the slide holder 3.
It is engaged with the tip of 1 and temporarily locked.

10b shows that the male connector M is further inserted into the female connector F, and the locking projection of the locking arm 30 is the same as in FIG. 4a.
The state where 30b is in sliding contact with the guide taper 22a of the detent 22 of the lock chamber 21 'is shown.

FIG. 10c shows that the female and male connectors F and M are completely fitted,
The locking protrusion 30b of the locking arm 30 is engaged with the detent 22 and locked, and the lock confirmation slider S ₂ is moved to the lock confirmation position. The locking arm 30
The interaction between the lock confirmation slider S _{2 and} the lock detection arm 24 is the same as in the case of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In each of the first to third embodiments, the lock confirmation slider is moved back and forth between the locking arm and the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the height h of the fulcrum portion 15 from the housing surface becomes high, and the connector housing 11 becomes bulky and tends to be large in size.

According to the present embodiment, since the lock detection arm 24 of the lock confirmation slider S ₂ is moved forward and backward along with the locking arm 30, the above drawback can be eliminated. In addition, in the fourth embodiment, the fulcrum portion (the rising base portion 30
Instead of the rocking arm 30 having a), a rocking arm having a fulcrum portion at the rear may be used as in the first to third embodiments.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the locking projections of the locking arms (14, 14 ', 30) are formed before and during the fitting of the female and male connectors F, M (F', M '). (14b, 14b ′, 30
b) and the lock detection arm (24, 24 ') stopper (24a, 24)
Since a ') is abutted, the lock confirmation slider (S, S
₁ , S ₂ , S ') do not work, and therefore cannot move to the lock confirmation position, and work only when fitting and locking are complete.

In this way, incomplete mating and locking of both connectors can be prevented, and electrical connection between them can be ensured.
It is particularly effective in forming the circuit of a safety device such as an airbag device.

Support guides (24b, 24b ') on the lock detection arm
Locking arm (14,14 ', 30)
The lock confirmation slider (S, S ₂ ,
The operation of S ′) can be performed extremely smoothly.

Further, the connector can be miniaturized by providing a passage through which the lock detection arm of the lock confirmation slider advances and retracts in parallel with the locking arm.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a perspective view in a separated state showing a first embodiment of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view in the partially combined state of the same, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 4A to 4F are cross-sectional views of the main part showing the same fitting process and operating state, respectively, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part showing a second embodiment of the device of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention device in a separated state, FIGS. 7a to 7f are cross-sectional views of essential parts showing the fitting process and the working state of the same, and FIG. 8 is a fourth embodiment of the invention device. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a separated state showing an example, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 8, and FIGS. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional example in a separated state, and FIG. F, F ′ …… Female connector, M, M ′ …… Male connector, S, S ′, S ₁
S ₂ …… Lock confirmation slider, 11,11 ′, 18,18 ′ …… Connector housing, 14,14 ′, 30 …… Locking arm,
14b, 14b ′, 30b …… Locking protrusion, 15,15 ′ …… Support point, 16,1
6 '... passage, 17, 17' ... protrusion, 22, 22 '... detent, 23, 23' ... slider body, 23a '... slide frame,
24,24 ', 24 ₁ ...... Lock detection arm, 24a, 24a' ...... Stopper, 24b, 24b '...... Support guide, 25,25' ...... Guide groove, 26,26 '...... Protrusion, 28 ...... Guide, 29 ... Insert groove, 3
1 …… Slide holder, 31a …… Guide groove.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuru Matsumoto 206-1 Nunobikihara, Haibara-cho, Hara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Yazaki Parts Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshinori Hiraguchi 206-1 Nunobikihara, Hara-cho, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Within Saki Parts Co., Ltd. (56) References: Kaihei Hei 1-165582 (JP, U)

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of female and male connector housings are provided on one outer peripheral wall thereof with a locking arm having a locking projection so as to be elastically displaceable through a fulcrum portion, and on the other outer peripheral wall thereof, a detent is provided, whereby both housings are provided. In the electric connector in which the locking projection engages with the detent and locks both housings when fully fitted, a passage is provided along the locking arm, and a stopper is provided at the free end of the passage, which can be advanced and retracted. A lock confirmation slider including a provided lock detection arm and a slider body is slidably mounted on the one outer peripheral wall, and when the locking arm is unlocked, the stopper of the lock detection arm inserted into the passage is The lock detection arm is held by the locking arm by hitting the locking projection, and when the locking arm is locked, the stopper and the locking projection are locked. Is engaged with the detent and passes through the detent, the locking projection passes through the detent, the locking projection engages with the detent, and when the mating of both connectors is completed, the stopper engages with the stopper. A lock confirmation device for an electrical connector, characterized in that the lock detection arm is moved forward by releasing the engagement with the stop projection, and the lock confirmation slider is moved to the lock confirmation position. 2. A passage through which the lock detecting arm advances and retracts,
The lock confirmation device for an electric connector according to claim 1, wherein the lock confirmation device is provided between the locking arm and the connector housing. 3. A locking means is provided between the slider body and the outer peripheral wall of the connector housing, the locking means functioning when the locking projection of the locking arm and the stopper of the lock detection arm collide with each other. Or the lock confirmation device of the electric connector of 2. 4. A guide is provided on an outer peripheral wall of one of the connector housings or a slider main body, and an insertion groove is provided on the slider main body or the outer peripheral wall, and the guide is inserted into the insertion groove to slide the slider main body. The lock confirmation device for an electrical connector according to claim 1, 5. A lock guide arm is provided at its free end with a support guide which engages with a locking projection of a locking arm and which projects forward from the stopper.
Lock confirmation device for one of the electrical connectors. 6. A slide holder having a guide groove is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the one connector housing at a side of the locking arm, leaving a passage through which the lock detection arm advances and retracts, and the slide main body of the lock confirmation slider is provided with the slide holder. The lock confirmation device for an electric connector according to claim 1, further comprising a slide frame for the guide groove.