JP3094878B2 - Half mating detection 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 half-fit detection connector for preventing a pair of connector housings from being held in a half-fit state during a fitting operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of half-fitting detection connector, a connector disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-81967 shown in FIG. 9 is known. In the figure, a male connector 1 is formed in a rectangular box shape, and has a cylindrical hood portion 2 at a front end. In the middle of both side walls of the hood portion 2, two parallel cutouts are formed from an opening end to form flexible pieces 3 and 3 therebetween. Has a wedge-shaped projection 3a,
3a is formed.

On the other hand, the female connector 4 is
A concave portion 5 that can be inserted into the inside and that can receive the protrusions 3a at the tips of the flexible pieces 3 on the outer peripheral surface.
a, 5a is formed, and a cylindrical cover 6 is attached so as to cover the outer periphery of the terminal housing 5. The cover 6 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and
Can be moved back and forth relatively along the axial direction of
A clearance between the terminal housing 5 and the terminal housing 5 is provided by the thickness of the hood 2 of the male connector 1. A spring 7 is mounted inside the housing and is urged toward the fitting surface of the terminal housing 5. ing.

In such a configuration, when the terminal accommodating portion 5 of the female connector 4 is inserted into the hood portion 2 of the male connector 1, the wedge-shaped projection 3 a rides on the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 5. The flexible piece 3 protrudes outward and comes out of the clearance between the cover 6 and the terminal housing 5. Therefore, when the terminal accommodating portion 5 is pushed into the hood portion 2, the terminal accommodating portion 5 comes into contact with the front end face of the cover 6 and is pushed down against the spring 7. Therefore, if you release your hand on the way, the cover 6
Act against the flexible piece 3 and push it out. On the other hand, when the terminal accommodating portion 5 is pushed to the regular fitting position in the hood portion 2, the projection 3 a enters the concave portion 5 a, and the flexible piece 3 that has bent and protruded becomes flush with the surrounding hood portion 2. Then, the cover 6 does not come into contact with the flexible piece 3 and the cover 6 passes outside the flexible piece 3 and passes to the front position. As a result, even if the hand is released, the cover 6
Does not hit the flexible piece 3 and push out the male connector 1. On the other hand, since the cover 6 is located outside the flexible piece 3 to restrict outward bending, the projection 3a is
It does not come off and locks. To release the lock, the cover 6 is pushed down rearward, and the male connector 1 is pulled out with the flexible piece 3 exposed.

[0005]

In the above-described conventional half-fitting detection connector, the spring 7 is mounted inside the hood portion 2 while the hood portion 2 is mounted outside the terminal accommodating portion 5.
There was a problem that assembly was complicated. The flexible piece 3 as a movable member is formed on the male connector 1 side, and the cover 6 as a movable member is formed on the female connector 4 side. However, the movable members are not necessarily formed on both connectors. There is a problem that it cannot be applied in such a case because it may not be possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a semi-fitting detection connector which can be easily assembled.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a first connector housing and a second connector housing for holding terminal fittings, respectively. In the connector which locks while inserting and joining the in-cylinder entry portion of the first connector housing into the tubular portion having the first connector housing, the first connector housing has an abutting portion projecting toward a side outer surface of the in-cylinder entry portion. The second connector housing has a cover formed in a double cylindrical shape having an outer cylinder formed outside the inner cylinder, and a coil spring mountable between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in the cover. , A cylindrical movable plate that is mounted after the coil spring between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and can be mounted inside the same inner cylinder and when mounted The movable plate is abutted from the opening side to prevent the movable plate from slipping forward, and has a hood portion into which the in-cylinder entry portion can be inserted. And a housing formed with a notch for projecting from the housing.

[0008] The invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
5. The half-fitting detection connector according to 5, wherein the side wall of the housing is supported so as to be able to bend inward and outward while the first abutting portion enters and engages with the inner peripheral surface side. Forming a notch for the second abutment portion to protrude outward, and having a side wall of the movable plate facing the notch from the outer surface. A flexible piece having a concave portion which can be brought into contact with the abutting portion at the distal end surface and which does not interfere with the abutting portion is formed on the inner side, and the movable plate of the movable plate is provided on a side wall of the housing. The movable plate is formed in contact with the flexible piece and forms an inclined surface that pushes the flexible piece outward when the movable plate moves to the deep position. So that the flexible piece gets over the abutment There as configuration.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the semi-fitting detection connector according to the first or second aspect, the first connector housing protrudes toward a lateral outer surface of the in-cylinder entry portion. A locking recess that has a locking projection that engages with the side wall of the housing of the second connector housing and that is engaged with the locking projection on the inner peripheral surface while being supported so as to be able to bend inward and outward. When the in-cylinder entry portion is inserted into the hood portion, the locking projection flexes outwardly into the locking piece and penetrates therethrough, and enters the locking recess to engage. It is a configuration to match.

[0010]

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the second connector housing is provided with a double cylindrical cover having an outer cylinder formed outside the inner cylinder. Then, a coil spring is mounted between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in the cover, and then a cylindrical movable plate is mounted. Thereafter, by mounting a housing having a hood portion into which the in-cylinder entrance portion can be inserted inside the inner cylinder of the cover, the movable plate comes into contact with the movable plate from the opening side and restricts the movable plate from slipping forward. Thus, the second connector housing is completed. Next, when the in-cylinder entry portion of the first connector housing is inserted into the housing, the butting portion protruding from the in-cylinder entry portion toward the side surface outer surface has a notch formed in the side wall of the hood portion. To protrude outward through
The movable plate comes into contact with the edge of the movable plate and is pushed in, and receives a reaction force by the coil spring. Therefore,
When the fitting operation is stopped in the anti-fitting state, the first connector housing is pushed out. Then, when it is inserted to a predetermined position and fitted and connected, it is united and locked.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, a flexible piece which is a side wall of the movable plate and faces the inner cutout from the outer surface is formed, and the abutting portion is formed. When it enters through the notch, it comes into contact with the abutting portion at its distal end face and is pushed back, but on the other hand, an inclined surface is formed on the side wall of the housing so as to contact the flexible piece. When the movable plate moves to the inner position and the first connector housing and the second connector housing are combined, the flexible piece is pushed outward. Then, the distal end surface of the flexible piece is separated from the abutting portion, and the movable plate is pushed forward by the coil spring to get over the abutting portion. Since a concave portion that does not interfere with the abutting portion is formed on the far side of the flexible piece, the abutting portion enters the concave portion when the movable plate is pushed forward.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, a locking projection protruding toward the outer surface of the side surface is formed at the in-cylinder entry portion of the first connector housing. When the portion enters the hood portion of the housing in the second connector housing,
The lock piece formed on the side wall of the housing is bent outward and penetrates, and the lock protrusion enters into and engages with a lock recess formed on the inner peripheral surface side of the lock piece. After the engagement, if the movable plate is pushed outward and covers the outside of the lock piece, the bending operation of the lock piece is regulated, and the lock cannot be released.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the coil spring, the movable plate and the housing are sequentially mounted on the double cylindrical cover composed of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in this order from the opening side. Thus, it is possible to provide a semi-fitting detection connector that can easily complete the assembly. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the coil spring is opened when the fitting is completed, it is possible to prevent the reaction force from gradually weakening.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention,
A lock structure can be easily formed by simply forming a lock piece on the side wall on the side of the second connector housing while forming a lock projection on the first connector housing.
In particular, it is possible to eliminate the need for a movable member on one side, which is suitable for simplifying one side. Further, if the movable plate passes from the outside of the lock piece, the locked state cannot be easily released.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a half-fitting detection connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a female connector, and FIG. The middle state is shown. In addition,
In the drawings, terminal fittings are omitted throughout, and only the assembled portion of the housing is shown. In the figure, a male connector 10 as a first connector housing is formed in a box shape with rounded ends, and a plurality of male connectors that can penetrate in the axial direction of the housing and house the male terminal fitting therein. A terminal fitting accommodating chamber is formed, and a hood portion is provided which projects cylindrically forward from the periphery of the fitting surface. On the other hand, the female connector 20 as a second connector housing
Similarly, a plurality of terminal fitting accommodating chambers penetrating in the axial direction of the housing are formed, and a terminal accommodating portion 31 capable of accommodating female terminal fittings therein, and protruding outward from the middle of the terminal accommodating portion 31. After that, the housing 30 includes a hood portion 32 extending in a cylindrical shape forward. The hood portion 32 of the female connector 20 has a rounded cylindrical shape into which the hood portion of the male connector 10 can be inserted, and the male connector 10 is inserted into the hood portion 32 as described later. To come together. A watertight surface is formed between the hood portion of the male connector 10 and the hood portion 32 of the female connector 20 by interposing a ring-shaped waterproof seal (not shown).

In this embodiment, the male connector 10
Constitutes an in-cylinder entry portion as a whole, and the female connector 20 includes a hood portion 32 into which the in-cylinder entry portion can be inserted at the front end side of the terminal accommodating portion 11, one of which is cylindrical. The other part only needs to have a shape that can enter the cylinder, and the shape of the other part is not particularly limited. For example, it may be formed in a thin box shape depending on the arrangement of the terminal fitting accommodating chambers, or ribs for preventing prying may be formed on the inner and outer surfaces. Further, a female terminal fitting or a male terminal fitting may be mounted on either side. Further, each connector 10, 20 need not be a single connector housing, for example,
It may be such that it is formed integrally with a casing that houses the electric device.

The female connector 20 is connected to the housing 30
A cover 40 formed in a double cylindrical shape having an outer cylinder formed outside the inner cylinder, a coil spring 50 mountable between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder in the cover 40, And a cylindrical movable plate 60 mounted after the coil spring 50 with respect to the outer cylinder. The cover 40 has a cylindrical shape with rounded corners as a whole. An inner wall 42 is formed inside the outer wall 41 with a space therebetween, and an outer groove 43 is formed between the two. ing. The coil spring 50 is provided in the outer groove 43 so as to cover the inner wall 42.
Can be inserted so as to draw a spiral around the outer periphery of the outer groove 43, and the rear end is in contact with the movable plate 60 and is held. Movable plate 60
Is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that can be inserted along the inner peripheral surface of the outer wall 41, but the end on the far side is bent inward, and the inner diameter is narrowed to such an extent that the inner wall 42 can be inserted. It is. For this reason, the cross section is substantially L-shaped, and the wall surface perpendicular to the axial direction is in contact with the coil spring 50.

The housing 30 has such an outer shape that the terminal accommodating portion 31 can be inserted into the inner wall 42, but the hood portion 32 is enlarged until it is adjacent to the inner peripheral surface of the movable plate 60. . Therefore, when the housing 30 is inserted after the movable plate 60, the terminal housing 3
Reference numeral 1 denotes an inner wall 4 which penetrates a rear open end of the movable plate 60.
2 and a locking projection 3 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 31 with respect to a locking hole 42 a formed in the inner wall 42.
1a is locked and fixed. At this time, the step between the hood portion 32 and the terminal accommodating portion 31 is in contact with the narrowed vertical wall surface at the rear end of the movable plate 60, so that the movable plate 60 is prevented from slipping forward. Thereby, the cover 40 is fixed so as to cover the housing 30,
In the meantime, the cylindrical movable plate 60 is urged and held toward the opening side of the housing 30 while being supported so as to be able to move forward and backward.

As described above, the coil spring 50, the movable plate 60 and the housing 30 are opened from the opening side of the cover 40.
Can be easily configured simply by mounting them in order. In the present embodiment, the entirety is formed in a cylindrical shape with rounded corners, but may be changed as appropriate, such as a square cylindrical shape or a cylindrical shape. In addition, it is not always necessary to surround the entire circumference, but it may be configured to partially overlap.

Here, a pair of notches 32a, 32a are formed in the hood portion 32 of the housing 30 from the opening end toward the back side.
Claws 12 and 12 protruding outward through the notches 32a and 32a are formed on the outer surface of the male connector 10 inserted into the hood portion 32 and facing the notches 32a and 32a. Is formed. Accordingly, when the male connector 10 is inserted into the hood portion 32, the claws 12, 12 project outward from the hood portion 32 through the notches 32a, 32a, and extend outward from the hood portion 32. It hits the open end of the held movable plate 60. As described above, since the movable plate 60 is urged toward the opening side by the coil spring 50, the male connector 10 receives a reaction force so as to be pushed out. Therefore, if the hand is released in the half-fitted state, the male connector 10 is pushed back, and it is possible to detect that the male connector 10 is in the half-fitted state.

On the other hand, a locking projection 13 having a mountain-shaped cross section is formed on the upper surface of the male connector 10.
In the side wall forming the hood portion 32, two parallel slits are formed on both sides of a portion facing the locking projection 13 from the opening side, and a lock piece 32b is formed therebetween. The locking piece 32b has an engagement hole 32b1 as a locking recess that communicates vertically with the back side. When the male connector 10 is inserted into the hood 32, the locking projection 13 locks. When the lock piece 32b comes into contact with the tip of the piece 32b, the lock piece 32b bends upward and passes through,
The engagement hole 32b1 enters and engages.

In this embodiment, the male connector 10
Is formed on one male connector 10 with a locking projection 13 having a mountain-shaped cross section, and the other housing 30 has a hood 32
A lock piece 32b having an engagement hole 32b1 is formed on the side wall of the lock member 32. However, any lock structure may be used as long as it can be engaged with each other. However, if the side wall of the hood portion 32 is bent so as to pass through,
As will be described later, a movable plate 60
When is located, the side wall bends outward and becomes inoperable, so that the lock cannot be released.

In order to exert such an effect, two parallel slits are formed from the opening side in the side wall of the movable plate 60 where the claws 12, 12 abut, similarly to the lock piece 32b. Flexible pieces 61, 61 are formed. Like the lock pieces 32b, the flexible pieces 61, 61 are also formed with slit-shaped windows 61a, 61a extending toward the rear side, and the claws 12, 12 connect the distal ends of the flexible pieces 61, 61 to each other. It can pass through and enter the windows 61a, 61a. In the present embodiment,
Although the window 61a is formed so that the nail 12 can enter,
It is sufficient that at least a concave portion is formed so that the claw 12 does not interfere.

By the way, the claws 12, 12 are flexible pieces 61, 6
The surface facing 1 is an arc surface on the concave side while protruding outward, so that the flexible pieces 61, 61 do not bend outward and do not come off simply by abutting against the flexible pieces 61, 61. Has become. However, projections 32c, 32c that enter the windows 61a, 61a are formed on the outer surface of the hood 32 located inside the movable plate 60, and the surfaces of the projections 32c, 32c on the opening side are on the back side. It has an inclined surface protruding toward it. In the present embodiment, the projection 32c is formed inside the flexible piece 61, but may be appropriately changed as long as the position is in contact with the flexible piece 61.

In such a configuration, as shown in FIG.
The male connector 10 and the female connector 20 face each other, and as shown in FIG.
When the claw 12 is inserted into the hood 32 of the
Project outward through the notches 32a, 32a of the hood portion 32, and the flexible pieces 61, 61 in the movable plate 60.
Hit the tip of the. When the movable plate 60 is pressed down as it is, as shown in FIG.
The c and 32c move toward the opening side in the windows 61a and 61a, and when they move to the front ends, they abut against the front ends of the flexible pieces 61 and 61. When the pusher is further pushed in from the abutted state, as shown in FIG. 7, the flexible pieces 61, 61 climb on the inclined surface and bend outward, so that the flexible pieces 61, 61, move outward more than the claws 12, 12 and As shown in FIG. 8, the movable plate 60 is pushed forward.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the lock projection 13 and the lock piece 3 just before this are used.
2b, the lock projection 13 has passed through the lock piece 32b and entered the engagement hole 32b1 on the back side, and the outer periphery of the flat hood portion 32 of the housing 30 again The movable plate 60 is pushed back forward and covers the outside of the hood portion 32. Then, as described above, the lock piece 32b cannot be bent outward, and the lock projection 13 is
And cannot come out to the near side, it is locked.

On the other hand, to release the lock, the operator pushes down the movable plate 60 and pulls out the male connector 10 with the lock piece 32b exposed. In the present embodiment, as described above, the movable plate 60 is initially pushed down by the flexible piece 61, the claw 12, and the protrusion 32c without the claw 12 coming off, and the protrusion 32c is
The flexible piece 61 is deflected outward by the inclined surface, so that the flexible piece 61 can be disengaged from the claw 12. However, if the same timing is obtained, the configuration can be changed as appropriate without being limited to such a configuration. is there. Further, the movable plate 60 does not necessarily have to be detached from the male connector 10 as described above. In the present embodiment, the male connector 10
Is provided with a claw 12 as a fixed member and a locking projection 13 and does not have a movable member. Therefore, in the case where the casing is formed integrally with the casing for accommodating the electric equipment, the casing side can be configured very simply.

Thus, in the female connector 20,
The cover 40 is formed as a double cylinder having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and the coil spring 50 is inserted between the outer wall 41 and the inner wall 42 and the cylindrical movable plate 60 is inserted.
Further, the housing 30 having the hood portion 32 is
The movable plate 60 is prevented from coming off while being mounted on the inside, so that it is possible to assemble it very simply by simply pushing the movable plate 60 in order.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled state of a half-fitting detection connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a female connector in the half-fitting detection connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the half-fitting detection connector in a state during a fitting operation.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the half-fitting detection connector before fitting is started.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the half-fitting detection connector at the time of starting fitting.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the half-fitting detection connector in the middle of a fitting operation.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a timing at which a flexible piece opens outward during a fitting operation of the half-fitting detection connector.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the half-fitting detection connector in a fitting operation completed state.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional half-fitting detection connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Male side connector 12 ... Claw 13 ... Locking projection 20 ... Female side connector 30 ... Housing 31 ... Terminal accommodating part 32 ... Hood part 32b ... Lock piece 32b1 ... Engagement hole 32c ... Projection 40 ... Cover 43 ... Outer groove part 50 ... Coil spring 60 ... Movable plate 61 ... Flexible piece 61a ... Window

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A first connector housing for holding a terminal fitting and a second connector housing, and an in-cylinder entry portion of the first connector housing is inserted into a cylindrical portion of the second connector housing. In the connector which is locked while being combined, the first connector housing has an abutting portion protruding toward a side outer surface of the in-cylinder entry portion, and the second connector housing forms an outer cylinder outside the inner cylinder. A double cylindrical cover, a coil spring that can be mounted between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the cover, and a coil spring that is mounted between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder after the coil spring. The movable plate can be mounted inside the inner cylinder and the inner plate, and at the time of mounting, it comes into contact with the movable plate from the opening side to restrict the forward movement. And a housing formed with a cutout for allowing the abutting portion to protrude outwardly on a side wall of the hood portion while having a hood portion into which the in-cylinder entry portion can be inserted. Half mating detection connector. 2. The half-fitting detection connector according to claim 1, wherein a side surface of the movable plate is opposed to the notch from an outer surface with respect to the notch, and can contact the abutting portion at a tip end surface. A flexible piece having a concave portion that does not interfere with the abutting portion is formed on the back side, and the movable plate is formed on the side wall of the housing in contact with the flexible piece of the movable plate. An inclined surface is formed to push the flexible piece outward when moved to the far side position, so that the flexible piece gets over the abutting portion at the far side position in the movable range of the movable plate. A semi-mating detection connector characterized in that: 3. The half-fitting detection connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first connector housing has a locking projection protruding toward a side outer surface of the in-cylinder entry portion, On the side wall of the housing of the second connector housing, a locking piece having a locking concave portion into which the locking protrusion enters and is engageable is formed on the inner peripheral surface side while being supported so as to be able to bend inward and outward, When the in-cylinder entry portion is inserted into the hood portion, the locking projection bends and locks the locking piece outward, enters the locking recess, and engages. Mating detection connector.