JP3008473B2 - Connectors and connector devices - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Summary] In particular, the present invention relates to a connector for a cable which is mounted at a high density and a method of locking the same, by a simple operation of inserting and removing a locking member supported reciprocally. It is intended to be capable of being locked or unlocked, and has a cable connector, a pair of covers that sandwich the cable connector on both sides, and a lock member attached to the cover on one side, and the cable connector is The locking member is formed with escape holes at both ends of the fitting area with the mating connector, and the locking member is formed to be always in contact with the relief hole forming surface while being supported by the cover in a reciprocating manner. The piece is formed with a gourd-shaped locking hole formed by a continuous large hole and small hole, and the lock member is provided at a position where the large hole and the escape hole coincide with each other. Cross section T that protrudes from the
A connector configured to release the lock on the L-shaped locking pin and lock the locking pin at a position where the small hole and the escape hole coincide with each other; The connector device is provided with the side connector having a fitting with a locking pin having a T-shaped cross section as projected from the escape hole when fitted to the connector at a position corresponding to the escape hole of the connector. .

[Industrial applications]

The present invention relates to a connector and a locking method thereof, and more particularly to a connector for a cable which can lock and unlock a connector for a cable by a simple operation of pushing or pulling a locking member supported reciprocally. About.

In recent years, with the sophistication of various electronic devices, not only connection of printed boards mounted in the devices, but also
The number of cables connecting between devices tends to increase.
Accompanying this, the number of wires processed by one connector has increased, and on the other hand, as the size of the device has been reduced, it has been required to increase the mounting density of the connector, such as close mounting. I have.

Therefore, it is important how easily the connector can be fitted and removed in a limited small space, and how easily the connector can be locked (fixed) when the connector is fitted. is there.

[Conventional technology]

In general, when a cable is connected between devices, a male connector is fixed to a housing of the device, and a female connector called a cable connector is provided at the end of the cable, and a form is adopted in which these two connectors are fitted and disconnected. Then, when fitted, the cable connector is fixed by various lock mechanisms so as not to come off.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a connector locking mechanism.

1 is a cable connector, 2 is a cover, 4 is a device side connector, 5 is a cable, and 7 is a lock screw.

The cable connector 1 is a female connector to which the cable 5 is fixed to the terminal 1b. The cable 5 is fixed by crimping by soldering or caulking.

The cover 2 is made of a pair of half-split members, and may be made of plastic, but recently, die-cast metal is also used for EMI (electromagnetic wave countermeasures). Then, the cable connector 1 is joined so as to sandwich the cable connector 1 from both sides, and the terminal 1b
The cable 5 is secured by the cable inlet 2b so that the cable 5 is protected from excessive external force.

The cable inlet 2b is designed so that the cable 5 does not protrude much from the cable connector 1,
The cable 5 is provided so as to be inclined or parallel.

In addition, storage grooves 2b for lock screws 7 are provided at both ends of the cover 2.
The lock screw 7 is rotatably held when the cover 2 is combined.

The lock mechanism includes a mechanism for shaping and hooking a spring wire, a mechanism for hooking a hook-shaped hook on a claw, and the like, in addition to screwing with the screw exemplified here.

On the other hand, the device-side connector 4 is a male connector that is fitted to and disengaged from the cable connector 1, and is fixed so as to be exposed from a side wall or the like (not shown) of the housing of the device. A metal fitting 41 provided with screw holes 4b at both ends for fitting the lock screw 7.
Has been fixed.

When the cable connector 1 is fitted and fixed to the device-side connector 4, the cable connector 1 is inserted into the device-side connector 4, and then the lock screw 7 is connected to the device-side connector 4.
Into the screw hole 4b.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, when the mounting density of the connectors is increased and the device side connectors are closely arranged on the side wall of the device, it is troublesome to tighten the lock screw after fitting the cable connector to the device side connector in the conventional connector. Becomes In particular, when the lock screw on the side where the cable is introduced from the cover is to be tightened, the cable must be bent forcibly, or in some cases, the thick cable hinders the screwing operation.

Therefore, the present invention provides a simple operation of pushing or pulling out a reciprocally supported lock member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for a cable that can lock and unlock the connector.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above-described problem has a cable connector, a pair of covers that sandwich the cable connector on both sides, and a lock member attached to the cover on one side, wherein the cable connector has a fitting area for a mating connector. Formed with escape holes at both ends, the lock member has a large piece and a small hole formed in a protruding piece formed so as to be always in contact with the relief hole formation surface while being supported by the cover in a reciprocating manner. The lock member is formed to have a gourd-shaped locking hole by continuous connection, and the lock member projects from the relief hole at a position where the large hole and the relief hole coincide with each other.
The problem is solved by a connector configured to release the lock on the L-shaped locking pin and lock the locking pin at a position where the small hole and the relief hole coincide.

Further, the connector comprises the device-side connector and the connector, and the device-side connector has a T-shaped cross-sectional view projecting from the escape hole when the connector is fitted to the connector at each position corresponding to the escape hole of the connector. The connector device includes a metal fitting with a locking pin.

(Operation)

In conventional cable connectors, locking methods such as tightening the lock screw were adopted, so if the mounting density of the connector was high, operation became troublesome, and in some cases the cable hindered locking. Thus, in the present invention, locking can be performed by one operation of taking the lock member in and out.

That is, a guide hole that is long in the moving direction of at least one lock member provided on the horizontal plate of the lock member is fitted to at least one support protrusion provided below the inner wall of the cover that holds the cable connector, and reciprocates. I am trying to do it.

On the other hand, when the cable connector is fitted to the device-side connector, both ends of the device-side connector are inserted into the large holes of the gourd-shaped locking holes provided in the protruding pieces projecting from below the both ends of the horizontal plate of the lock member. The locking pins provided on the protruding portions are protruded.

Then, when locking the cable connector to the apparatus-side connector, the locking member is pushed with a handle to move the large hole of the locking hole to the small hole, and the locking pin is locked by the small hole. At the time of unlocking, by pulling out the handle and moving the small hole of the locking hole to the large hole, the locking pin comes out of the large hole.

Therefore, even if the connector is closely mounted or a thick cable is introduced so as to cover the connector, the cable connector can be locked or unlocked by a simple operation of pushing and pulling the handle of the locking member. It can be locked.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an application example of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a main part of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of.

In the figure, 1 is a cable connector, 1a is an escape hole, 2 is a cover, 2a is a support protrusion, 2b is a cable inlet, 2c is a guide groove,
3 is a lock member, 3a is a guide hole, 3b is a large hole, 3c is a small hole, 3d
Is a protrusion, 31 is a horizontal plate, 32 is a locking hole, 33 is a protruding piece, 34 is a handle,
4 is a device side connector, 41 is a metal fitting, 4a is a locking pin, and 5 is a cable.

The cable connector 1 is a connector in which the cable 5 is soldered to the terminal 1b.
1a is provided.

The device-side connector 4 is fitted with the cable connector 1 and is fixed to, for example, a housing of the device (not shown). A metal fitting 41 provided with a locking pin 4a having a T-shaped cross section is attached to both ends, and when fitted with the cable connector 1, the tip of the locking pin 4a escapes into the escape hole 1a. It has become.

Embodiment 1 In FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover 2 holds the cable connector 1 with the cable connector 1 interposed therebetween, and two covers constitute one set. Two support protrusions 2a are provided below the inner wall, and a cable inlet 2b through which the cable 5 is clamped is provided on the longitudinal side wall.

On the other hand, the lock member 3 is made of, for example,
Two guide holes 3a which are fitted and slide on the support projections 2a of the cover 2 project from the horizontal plate 31.

The two protrusions 33 have, for example, a large hole 3b of 5 mmφ and a 3 mm
A locking hole 32 similar to a gourd shape in which small holes 3c of φ communicate with each other is provided. The positional relationship between the large hole 3b and the small hole 3c is such that the small hole 3c is located on the side of the cover 2 which faces the cable inlet 2b in the longitudinal direction.
Is located. And since the tip of the locking pin 4a of the apparatus side connector 4 comes out of this large hole 3b, the tip of the locking pin 4a is at most 5 mmφ,
Since the tip of the locking pin 4a is caught in the small hole 3c,
The axis of the locking pin 4a is at most 3 mmφ. Further, a handle 34 is provided on the protruding piece 33 so as to protrude from a side wall of the cover 2 facing the cable inlet 2b.

After connecting the cable 5 to the cable connector 1, the guide hole 3a of the lock member 3 is fitted into the support projection 2a of the cover 2,
The cable connector 1 is sandwiched and fixed between the two covers 2 so that the cable 5 comes out of the cable inlet 2b.

After operating the handle 34 of the lock member 3 so that the large hole 3b faces the escape hole 1a, the cable connector 1 is fitted to the device-side connector 4. Then, the tip of the locking pin 4a protrudes from the large hole 3b as shown in FIG. 2 (A).
This state is an unlocked state.

Next, when the lock member 3 is pushed in by operating the handle 34, the large hole 3b moves, and the small hole 3c is located below the tip of the locking pin 4a as shown in FIG. The tip of the pin 4a is caught in the small hole 3c, so that the cable connector 1 does not come off from the device side connector 4, and this state is a locked state.

In FIG. 3, a plurality of device-side connectors 4
It is mounted close to.

When the cable connector 1 is fitted into the device-side connector 4 so that the cable 5 is led out from below, the handle 34 of the lock member 3 projects upward from the cover 2. Therefore, the cable connector 1 is locked to the apparatus-side connector 4 by one operation of pushing the handle 34 downward.

Embodiment 2 In FIG. 4, at least one guide groove 2c is provided on the inner side wall of the cover 2 in place of the support projection 2a shown in the first embodiment.
Is provided.

On the other hand, the horizontal plate 31 of the lock member 3 is provided with at least one projection 3d that fits in the guide groove 2c instead of the guide hole 3a shown in the first embodiment.

Also in this case, the lock member 3 having exactly the same function as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Example: 3 In FIG. 5, when one end of the guide hole 3a of the lock member 3 hits the support projection 2a, as shown in FIG. The end of the locking pin 4a is projected so as to be in an unlocked state. When locking, if the guide hole 3a moves in the opposite direction, the locking pin 4a
And hits the lock state.

On the other hand, when the projection 3d of the lock member 3 hits one end of the guide groove 2c, the locking pin is inserted through the large hole 3b of the locking hole 32.
The same effect can be obtained even if the tip of 4a protrudes.

In this way, when the unlocked state is established, the position adjustment for inserting and removing the lock member 3 does not need to be performed, and locking and unlocking can be performed by one simple operation.

Embodiment 4 In FIG. 6, the horizontal plate 31 of the lock member 3 is configured so as to face in a U-shape in a side view with a protruding piece 33 interposed therebetween. And
The horizontal plate 31 is slidably held between the covers (not shown) on both sides.

In this case, since the lock member 3 is supported by both ends, a more stable lock state can be obtained.

Here, the solder connector is used as the cable connector 1, but the present invention can be applied to various types of cable connectors.

The shape of the contacts of the cable connector 1 and the device-side connector 4 may be either male or female.

Furthermore, relief holes provided at both ends of the cable connector 1
Reference numeral 1a denotes a counterbore hole or a through hole through which the locking pin 4a escapes.

Further, the handles 34 provided on the lock member 3 may be provided on both sides in the longitudinal direction, and the shape of the handle 34 can be variously modified.

Further, support protrusions 2a and guide grooves 2c provided on the cover 2 are provided.
Various modifications can be made to the number and shape of the guide holes 3a and the projections 3d fitted in them and provided in the horizontal plate 31 of the lock member 3.

Further, the position of the cable inlet 2b provided in the cover 2 can be variously modified.

〔The invention's effect〕

In a conventional cable connector, a troublesome locking method such as tightening a lock screw is adopted, whereas in the present invention, locking and unlocking are performed by a simple operation of pulling out and pushing in a locking member. Or you can.

Therefore, the present invention greatly contributes to improvement in lock operability of a cable connector which is more and more compact and is closely mounted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an application example of FIG. 1, and FIG. Is a sectional view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a main part of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an example of a connector locking mechanism. In the figure, 1 is a cable connector, 1a is an escape hole, 2 is a cover, 2a is a support projection, 2b is a cable inlet, 2c is a guide groove, 3 is a lock member, 3a is a guide hole, 3b is a large hole, and 3c is a large hole. A small hole, 3d is a projection, 31 is a horizontal plate, 32 is a locking hole, 33 is a protruding piece, 34 is a handle, 4 is a device side connector, 4a is a locking pin, 41 is a metal fitting, and 5 is a cable.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/639

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cable connector, a pair of covers for holding the cable connector on both sides, and a lock member attached to the cover on one side, wherein the cable connector has both ends of a fitting area with a mating connector. The lock member is formed by a continuation of a large hole and a small hole in a protruding piece formed so as to be always in contact with the relief hole forming surface while being supported by the cover in a reciprocating manner. The lock member is formed with a gourd-shaped locking hole, and the lock member releases a lock on a locking pin having a T-shaped cross section projected from the clearance hole at a position where the large hole and the clearance hole coincide with each other. A connector configured to lock the locking pin at a position where the small hole and the escape hole coincide with each other. 2. A means for reciprocating the lock member according to claim 1 with respect to said cover, said lock member being provided on a horizontal plate bent and formed so as to be L-shaped in a side view with respect to said projecting piece. A guide hole that is long in the reciprocating direction of the lock member, a handle formed at one end of the lock member that is always located outside the cover, and a support protrusion that is provided at a position corresponding to the guide hole on the inner wall of the cover. A connector comprising: a connector; 3. The device-side connector and the connector according to claim 1, wherein when the device-side connector is fitted to the connector at a position corresponding to the relief hole of the connector, the connector is inserted from the escape hole. A connector device comprising a fitting with a protruding locking pin having a T-shaped cross section in a sectional view.