JP2932902B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector for preventing a half-fitted state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a connector, for example, a female terminal fitting is generally arranged in one connector housing.
A male terminal fitting is provided on the other connector housing, and when one connector housing is picked up by hand and inserted into the other connector housing, the male and female terminal fittings are fitted to each other to be in an electrically connected state. In such a configuration, in order to prevent the fitting operation from being terminated halfway while the two connectors are in the half-fitted state, for example, the actual open flat 4-
A configuration shown in Japanese Patent No. 47285 has been developed.

In this connector, as shown in FIG. 17, a spring receiving member c formed separately from the housing a is fitted into one connector housing a, and a spring d is provided on a rear surface thereof.
Is arranged, and when the other connector housing b is inserted in the direction of the arrow in the same figure, the spring d is elastically compressed via the spring receiving member c. Both housings a, b
When is still in the half-fitted state, the housing b is pushed back by the repulsive force of the spring d to notify it, and when fully fitted, it is formed on the spring receiving member c as shown in FIG. The hook f at the rear end of the lock arm e is the housing a
The repulsive force of the spring d is eliminated by being locked in the locking hole g, and the fitting state is maintained. Further, as shown by a chain line in the figure, the lock arm e is swung by the pressing operation of the release arm h provided on the housing b to release the lock on the lock hole g, thereby locking the housings a and b. Can be canceled.

[0004]

However, in such a connector, a spring receiving member c is required in addition to the spring d, so that the number of parts increases, which not only causes an increase in manufacturing cost, but also requires extra parts management. There was a drawback that required.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A connector according to the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is provided in one of two connector housings of a connector to be fitted to each other and the other in a direction opposite to the fitting. A spring member that is urged and brought into an elasticized state when both connectors are in a fitted state, an elastic piece integrally provided in one connector housing, and both connectors provided in this elastic piece are in a fitted state. A spring holding projection that engages with the spring member when pressed to hold it in an elasticized state, and is provided on the elastic piece and the other connector housing. The elastic piece is elastically deformed so as to include a spring holding projection and an engagement release section for releasing the engagement between the spring member and the spring member.

Further, the elastic piece may be provided to face one of the connector housings, and a spring member may be arranged between them.

[0007]

When the two connector housings are fitted together, the spring member and the elastic piece are elastically deformed. However, if the half-fitted state is maintained, the spring member is not pressed by the spring holding projection of the elastic piece and rebounds. It can be seen that the other connector housing opposite to the side on which the spring member was provided was pushed back by force and was in a semi-fitted state. When the spring member is completely fitted, the spring member is pressed into the elastically contracted state by the spring holding projection, the repulsive force of the spring member is eliminated, and the fitted state is maintained.

When the operation of releasing the other connector housing is performed, the elastic piece is elastically deformed by the engagement releasing portion, so that the engagement between the spring holding projection and the spring member is released.
In a configuration in which the elastic pieces are provided to face each other and the spring member is disposed therebetween, the engagement between the spring member and the elastic piece is stably performed.

[0009]

That is, according to the present invention, the functions of preventing half-fitting, holding in the fitted state, and unlocking can be achieved without the need for a separate component other than the spring member. The production cost is reduced compared to the conventional equipment,
Also, there is an effect that parts management and the like can be simplified.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote male and female connector housings, which are provided with male or female terminal fittings M and F, respectively. When the female housing 2 is fitted into the hood portion 1a of the male housing 1 while the fitting ridge 3 projecting from the side surface thereof is fitted in the guide groove 4, the elastic locking piece 5 protruding from the female housing 2 is provided. But,
The two housings 1, 2 are fitted into the fitting groove 8 of the male housing 1 while riding on the protrusion 9 projecting from the inner wall thereof.
Is completely fitted, the locking hole 6 formed at the tip of the elastic locking piece 5 is fitted and held in the projection 9. From this state, the elastic locking piece 5 is pushed and bent to form the locking hole 6 with the projection 9.
If the female housing 2 is pulled up while being pulled out of the housing, the fitting is released.

Next, a description will be given of a structure of a portion for preventing a half-fitted state which is a feature of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, on the bottom surface of the hood 1a of the male connector housing 1,
A pair of left and right elastic pieces 11 are protruded in parallel to each other with a fixed opposing interval therebetween, and are elastically deformable so as to change the opposing interval on the upper end side with respect to each root portion. As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, a spring seat 15 having a width wider than that of the elastic elastic part 14 is provided between the elastic pieces 11 at upper and lower ends of the elastic elastic part 14 having a spring plate bent in a wave shape. Is placed. The elastic piece 11
As shown in FIG. 5, at the upper end of the opposing surface, the spring seat 15 above the spring member 13 is provided at both ends in the width direction.
A first projection 17 having a triangular cross section which can be locked at the center is formed at the center in the width direction of substantially the center height, and a second projection having a triangular cross section which can also be locked to the upper spring seat 15 is formed. 18 are formed.

One female connector housing 2 has
A pressing portion 20 that can be fitted between the pair of elastic pieces 11 and presses the spring seat 15 of the spring member 13 is provided in a protruding manner. As shown in FIG. To
A release projection 21 having a triangular cross section that can be engaged with the first projection 17 of the elastic piece 11 is formed. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Before the two connector housings 1 and 2 are fitted, as shown in FIG. 6, the spring member 13 elastically expands and the spring seat 15 above the elastic member 1
1 is in a state of being locked to the lower surface of the first projection 17 on the upper side. When the female side housing 2 is pushed into the male side housing 1 from this state, the pressing portion 20 enters between the elastic pieces 11 and hits the spring member 13 and starts to elastically compress it. As shown in FIG. The release projection 21 of the elastic piece 1
Pressing the inclined upper surface of the first projection 17 of the first
When the release projection 21 exceeds the first projection 17, the elastic piece 11 temporarily narrows as shown in FIG.
As described above, the spring member 13 is elastically compressed while the elastic piece 11 is expanded by the spring seat 15 pressing the inclined upper surface of the second projection 18.

In this state, the female housing 2 is still in a half-fitted state.
The female housing 2 is pushed back upward by the restoring force via the pressing portion 20, and it is notified that the female housing 2 is still in the half-fitted state. When the female housing 2 is further pushed in from the state shown in FIG. 9 and the two housings 1 and 2 are completely fitted, the spring seat 15 passes over the second projection 18 and is locked on the lower surface thereof as shown in FIG. By doing so, the repulsive force of the spring member 13 is eliminated, and the spring member 13 is kept in the locked state. When the two housings 1 and 2 are disengaged from each other, the female side housing 2 may be pulled up from the state shown in FIG. 10 while releasing the locking by the elastic locking pieces 5 and the protrusions 9 as described above. . Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the release protrusion 21 of the pressing portion 20 becomes the first protrusion 1 of the elastic piece 11.
After hitting the inclined lower surface of 7, the elastic piece 11 is pushed out as shown in FIG. Here, the distance X between the corresponding second protrusions 18 when the elastic piece 11 is opened to the maximum is the spring seat 1.
5 is set to be larger than the width Y, the lock on the spring member 13 is released, the spring member 13 is extended by the restoring elasticity, and the release protrusion 21 of the pressing portion 20 is moved to the first protrusion. 17, the elastic piece 11 is restored to the original posture as shown in FIG. 6, and the spring member 13 is locked by the first projection 17, and the two housings 1 and 2 are fitted together. Release ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the spring member 1
Without the need for separate components other than 3, the functions of preventing half-fitting of the two housings 1 and 2, holding in the fitted state, and unlocking are performed. As shown in FIG. 13, the first and second protrusions provided on the elastic piece 11 are, as shown in FIG. Two second protrusions 18 may be provided at both ends in the width direction, whereby the release protrusion 2 engaging with the first protrusion 17 is provided.
It is sufficient that the width of the pressing portion 1a and the pressing portion 20a provided with it are narrow. Further, the spring member is not limited to the one in the above-described embodiment, and as shown in FIG.
4a, and the elastic expansion and contraction portions 14 at the upper and lower ends.
Spring member 13a formed with a spring seat 15a wider than a
It may be. In addition, as shown in FIG.
b at both ends of the spring seat 15 having a width larger than the coil diameter
b, and both ends of a coil spring 14c are bent to a large diameter as shown in FIG.
Other shapes, such as the spring member 13c formed with 5c, may be adopted.

Further, contrary to the above embodiment, the elastic piece 11
The spring member 13 may be provided on the female housing 2 and the pressing portion 20 may be provided on the male housing 1.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spring member.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a spring member.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of an elastic piece and a pressing portion.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a modification of the elastic piece and the pressing portion.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a modified example of a spring member.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a modification of the spring member.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a modification of the spring member.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Male connector housing 2 ... Female connector housing 11 ... Elastic piece 13, 13a, 13b, 13c ... Spring member 15, 15a, 15b, 15c ... Spring seat 17 ... 1st protrusion (disengagement part) 18: second projection (spring holding projection) 21, 21a: release projection (engagement release section)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A spring member provided in one of two connector housings of a connector to be fitted to each other and biasing the other in an anti-fitting direction to be in an elastic state when both connectors are in a fitted state. And an elastic piece provided integrally with the one connector housing; and engaging the spring member when the two connectors provided in the elastic piece are in a fitted state, thereby bringing the elastic member into an elasticized state. A spring holding projection to be held down, and the elastic holding piece and the spring provided on the elastic piece and the other connector housing, the elastic piece being elastically deformed in accordance with an unmating operation of the other connector housing. A connector comprising: an engagement release section for releasing engagement with a member. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic pieces are provided as a pair in a state facing one of the connector housings, and the spring member is provided between the two elastic pieces.