JP2725760B2 - Connector lock security mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a lock securing mechanism for a connector used for connection of an electric wire or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional lock securing mechanism for a connector, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 1-165582 discloses a lock securing mechanism for a connector as shown in FIG. The lock security mechanism of the connector shown in FIG. 8 always mounts the lock security member M1 in _one of the housings in a temporarily engaged state in order to ensure the fitting between the male housing M and the female housing F. During fitting of the male housing M and a female housing F is moved from the lock ensuring member M ₁ is Karikakarigo position relative to the housing in the engaged position, the male, and prevents the displacement of the lock arm a for locking the female housing The two housings are kept locked.

When the male housing M and the female housing F are in a half-fitted state, as shown in FIGS.
Since the disengagement driving rod b provided on the female housing F do not do the function of pushing up the flexible locking piece c of the lock ensuring member M _1, the free end c ₁ of the flexible locking piece c locking arm a of it into contact with the engaging projection d provided on both sides of the rising base portion, it is impossible to push the lock ensuring member M ₁ to the male housing M. Accordingly, by checking the state where it can not push the lock ensuring member M _1, it can be detected that the two housings are incomplete state.

[0004] Figure 11, in order to facilitate detecting the half-fitted state of mutual male housing M 'and female housing F' (see FIG. 12), the 'resilient locking piece c' of the lock ensuring member M ₁ FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example in which a detection projection e is provided and a detection portion f is formed at a free end of a lock arm a ′ of a male housing M ′.
If the detecting portion f and the detecting projection e abut against each other in a state where the housings are half-fitted, half-fitting can be detected because the lock ensuring member M ₁ ′ cannot enter any further, but the number of connector poles is small. If a large pressing force is required for fitting, excessive force acts on the contact portion between the detecting portion f and the detecting projection e even in the half-fitted state due to the pressing force. Te, as shown in FIG. 12, the locking arm a 'and the flexible locking piece c' is bent upward, the flexible locking piece c 'free end c _1'
There 'together out of the, flexible locking piece c' engagement projection d of the detection projection e locking arm a 'of the detection unit through the lower lock ensuring member M ₁ of f' is entered to cause problems have.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to reliably detect a half-fitted state between housings and prevent a failure due to incomplete fitting. An object of the present invention is to provide a lock security mechanism for a connector.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pair of female and male housings accommodating terminal fittings provided with a lock arm which is displaced via a rising base on one of outer peripheral walls, On the other side, there is provided a lock engaging portion which engages with the lock arm, and an unlocking preventing portion which engages with the lock arm and a flexible extending along the lock arm with respect to one housing having the lock arm. A lock securing member having a locking piece is provided so as to be movable in the extending direction, and a locking projection for temporarily engaging with a free end of the flexible locking piece is provided. A drive rod for disengaging the locking piece is provided, and when the female and male housings are fitted and the lock arm and the lock locking portion are engaged, the unlocking drive rod is A flexible locking piece is displaced in a rising direction of the lock arm to temporarily engage with the locking projection. Is released, and then the lock securing member is moved so that the flexible locking piece is fully engaged with one of the housings and the unlock prevention portion is engaged with the lock arm. In the lock security mechanism, a detection portion having an inclined surface that forms an acute angle with the extension direction of the lock arm is provided at a free end of the lock arm, and a detection protrusion that comes into contact with the inclined surface is provided at the flexible locking piece. It is characterized by becoming.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a pair of female and male housings accommodating terminal fittings is provided on one outer peripheral wall with a lock arm displaceable via a rising base, and the other is engaged with the lock arm. A lock locking portion provided with a locking locking portion, and an unlocking prevention portion engaging with the locking arm and a flexible locking piece extending along the locking arm with respect to one housing having the locking arm. A member is provided so as to be movable in the extending direction, and a locking projection for temporarily engaging the free end of the flexible locking piece is provided, and the other housing is engaged with the flexible locking piece. A release drive rod is provided, and when the female and male housings are fitted to engage the lock arm and the lock locking portion, the unlocking drive rod locks the flexible locking piece. The locking arm is displaced in the rising direction to release the temporary engagement with the locking projection, and then the locking arm is disengaged. Wherein the flexible locking piece is fully engaged with one of the housings by moving the locking member, and the unlocking preventing portion is engaged with the locking arm. The flexible locking piece is provided with a detection projection having a tip end inclined toward the free end of the flexible locking piece, and a detection portion abutting on the detection projection at the free end of the lock arm. It is characterized by the following.

[0008]

The lock security mechanism of the connector according to the present invention is provided with an inclined surface on the detection portion of the lock arm or the detection projection of the lock security member, so that the lock is secured when the female and male housings are half-fitted. When an excessive pressing force is applied to the member, when the detection protrusion of the lock ensuring member comes into contact with the detection portion of the lock arm, the inclined surface 6 (see FIG. 3) or the inclined surface 15 (see FIG. 7) is contacted. work, since the lock arm force is applied to lowering can lock arms without being flexed upwards, to reliably prevent the entry of the lock ensuring member M ₁ by mistake.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector security mechanism A according to an embodiment of the present invention. Connector security mechanism A
Consists female housing F and the male housing M, and the lock ensuring member M ₁ constituting the pair of connector housings.

The female housing F has terminal fittings (not shown).
And a male housing M in front of it.
Is formed. A lock hole 2b as a lock engagement portion is provided at the center of the upper wall 2a of the body 2.
Are formed, and two disengagement driving rods 3 extending forward from the rear wall 2c by cantilever support are provided in the body 2. As shown in FIG. Disengaging drive rod 3 acts on the security member M ₁ provided in the male housing M has a drive projection 3a at its free end.

The male housing M has terminal fittings (not shown).
The base portion 5 which rises forward on the upper wall 4a of the main body portion 4 for housing
A lock arm 5 extending rearward through a is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, a locking protrusion 5b is provided at an intermediate portion of the lock arm 5, and a detecting portion 5c is provided at the rear end thereof. The detecting portion 5c is formed with an inclined surface 6 which forms an acute angle with the extension direction (rearward) of the lock arm 5. On both sides of the lock arm 5, protection walls 7 parallel to the lock arm 5 are erected at intervals. Below the detection unit 5c, as shown in FIG. 3, leaving bevel surface 5 for insertion bevel surface 5c ₁ and the lock security member M ₁ Unlock ensuring member M ₁ for mounting
c ₂ is formed. When the female housing F and the male housing M are fitted together, the locking projection 5b of the lock arm 5
Engages with the lock hole 2b to lock the connection between the female and male housings.

The lock security member M ₁ is attached to the portal base 8.
The bifurcated flexible locking pieces 9, 9 located on both sides of the lock arm 5 are provided for cantilever support, and are mounted between the protection walls 7, 7 of the male housing M. At the top of the base 8, an unlocking prevention portion 8a is provided to protrude from the upper side to prevent the detection portion 5c of the lock arm 5 from being fitted when the housing is fitted. Flexible locking piece 9
The tapered surface 9b to be driven is provided on the lower surface continuous with the free end 9a of the
Are formed, and an engagement recess 9c is provided inside the middle of the driven tapered surface 9b. At an intermediate portion between the base portion 8 and the flexible locking piece 9, a detection projection 10 that abuts on the detection portion 5 c of the lock arm 5 is provided upright. Rising base 5 of lock arm 5
On both sides of “a”, engaging projections 11 having a tapered surface 11a at the front and an abutting surface 11b at the rear are provided.

[0013] lock ensuring member M _1, as shown in FIG. 4, by pushing the rear between the protective walls 7, 7 of the male housing M, collision of the engaging projections 11 of the free end 9a of the flexible locking piece 9 Contact Ku held in Karikakarigo position obtained by abutting the mating surface 11b. In this state, when the female housing F and the male housing M are fitted, as shown in FIG.
Engages with the lock hole 2b, the drive rod 3 for disengagement provided in the female housing F enters the lower surface of the flexible locking piece 9 from below the engagement protrusion 11, and the drive protrusion 3a Tapered surface 9
b, the free end 9a of the flexible locking piece 9 is raised, and the free end 9a of the flexible locking piece 9 is
Remove the rear.

[0014] At this time, the whole lock ensuring member M ₁ with increasing of the free end 9a of the flexible locking piece 9 is slightly inclined to the rear, when push the lock ensuring member M _1, the resilient locking pieces 9
The top 10a of the detection projection 10 contacts the insertion taper surface 5c ₁ (see FIG. 3) of the detection portion 5c, and the insertion taper surface 5c.
Is guided to _1, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection protrusion 10 enters the disengaged bevel surface 5c ₂ side of the detection unit 5c, the resilient locking pieces 9 of the engaging recess 9c and the engagement projection 11 Togakakari In this case, the engagement position is established, and the connection between the female and male housings F and M is ensured.

[0015] Female, male housing F, the M mutually the half-fitting state, when the excessive pressing force to the lock ensuring member M ₁ is applied, the detection protrusion 10 of the flexible locking piece 9 is detecting portion 5c
In when in contact, by the action of the inclined surface 6, the lock arm 5 is directed force acts to lowering, without lock arm 5 is bent upward, is entering the lock security member M ₁ by mistake It is surely blocked.

In order to apply a force in the direction in which the lock arm 5 descends when an excessive pressing force is applied to the lock arm 5, in the above-described embodiment, the detecting portion 5c of the lock arm 5 is used.
Although the case where the inclined surface 6 is provided is shown, the detection protrusion 10 of the flexible locking piece 9 may be tilted in advance toward the free end of the flexible locking piece 9. That is, FIG. 7 is a side view of the lock ensuring member M ₂ according to another embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate portion of the base portion 12 and the flexible locking piece 13, the resilient locking piece 13
A detection projection 14 having an inclined surface 15 which forms an acute angle with respect to the extension direction of the free end portion 13a is provided upright.

By providing the inclined surface 15 on the detecting projection 14, the female and male housings F and M are half-fitted without providing the inclined surface 6 on the detecting portion 5c of the lock arm 5 as in the above embodiment. in the state, when the excessive pressing force to the lock ensuring member M ₂ is applied, the detection unit 5c of the lock arm 5 to the inclined surface 15 of the detection protrusion 14 abuts, by the action of the inclined surface 15, the lock arm 5 downward Because the force in the direction of
As in the above embodiment, the lock arm 5 is not be bent upwardly, entering the lock security member M ₂ by mistake is reliably prevented.

[0018]

The lock securing mechanism of the connector according to the present invention includes:
Since the detecting surface of the lock arm or the detecting protrusion of the lock assurance member is provided with an inclined surface, the female member and the male housing are half-fitted with each other, even if an excessive pressing force acts on the lock assurance member. By the action, the lock arm does not bend upward, the entry of the lock security member due to an error is surely prevented, and an obstacle due to an erroneous insertion can be prevented beforehand, and there is an advantage that reliability is remarkably improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a lock security mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the female housing and the male housing of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view showing a free end of the lock arm of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a temporary engagement state between the male housing of FIG. 1 and a lock security member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a step of fitting the male housing of FIG. 4 into the female housing.

6 is an explanatory view showing a state where the male housing and the female housing of FIG. 5 are fitted.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a lock security member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a lock securing mechanism of a conventional connector.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a temporary engagement state between the male housing and the lock security mechanism in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing a main part of a lock security mechanism of the connector of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a lock securing mechanism of another conventional connector.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the lock arm of FIG. 11 is bent upward.

[Explanation of symbols]

A Connector lock assurance mechanism F Female housing M Male housing M ₁ , M ₂ Lock assurance member 2b Lock hole 3 Engagement release drive rod 5 Lock arm 5a Rising base 5c Detecting unit 6 Inclined surface 8a Unlock prevention unit 9 Flexible Locking piece 9a Free end 10 Detection protrusion 11 Locking protrusion 14 Detection protrusion 15 Inclined surface

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A pair of female and male housings accommodating a terminal fitting, a lock arm displaced via a rising base on one outer peripheral wall of the pair of female and male housings, and a lock engaging portion engaging the lock arm on the other; With respect to one housing having the lock arm, a lock securing member having an unlocking prevention portion engaging with the lock arm and a flexible locking piece extending along the lock arm is moved in the extension direction. A locking projection for temporarily engaging the free end of the flexible locking piece, and a driving rod for disengaging the flexible locking piece on the other housing; When the male housing is fitted and the lock arm and the lock locking portion are engaged, the unlocking drive rod displaces the flexible locking piece in the rising direction of the lock arm. The temporary engagement with the locking projection is released, and then the lock ensuring member is moved. A lock securing mechanism for a connector, wherein the flexible locking piece is fully engaged with one of the housings and the unlocking preventing portion is engaged with the lock arm. A lock securing mechanism for a connector, comprising: a detecting portion having an inclined surface that forms an acute angle with an extension direction of a lock arm; and a detecting protrusion that contacts the inclined surface on the flexible locking piece. 2. A lock arm displaced via a rising base on one of outer peripheral walls of a pair of female and male housings accommodating terminal fittings, and a lock engaging portion engaging with the lock arm is provided on the other. With respect to one housing having the lock arm, a lock securing member having an unlocking prevention portion engaging with the lock arm and a flexible locking piece extending along the lock arm is moved in the extension direction. A locking projection for temporarily engaging the free end of the flexible locking piece, and a driving rod for disengaging the flexible locking piece on the other housing; When the male housing is fitted and the lock arm and the lock locking portion are engaged, the unlocking drive rod displaces the flexible locking piece in the rising direction of the lock arm. The temporary engagement with the locking projection is released, and then the lock ensuring member is moved. Wherein the flexible locking piece is fully engaged with one of the housings and the unlocking preventing portion is engaged with the locking arm. The connector is characterized in that a detection projection is provided on the free end of the lock arm, the detection projection contacting the detection projection at the free end of the lock arm. Lock security mechanism.