JP3123443B2 - Double locking 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 double locking connector in which a retainer is attached to a hooded connector housing body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a mating connector which is directly mounted on an outer wall of a device such as an automobile engine or the like and which is fitted to a so-called device directly-connectable connector, the outside of the connector is covered with a hood to ensure a waterproof structure. Things have been adopted. On the other hand, there is a demand for a connector directly connected to a device to prevent the terminal fitting from coming off, and a double locking system using a retainer has conventionally been adopted. There are various types of retainers depending on the difference in the insertion direction with respect to the connector. this house,
The method called a side retainer is a method that is inserted from the side surface of the connector housing and is directly locked to the terminal fitting, and thus can be said to be the most effective countermeasure against detachment. But,
When this method is adopted, it becomes necessary to form the retainer insertion hole in the hood together with the housing, and there is a problem that the hole formed in the hood impairs the waterproofness.

In view of the above, conventionally, as a next best measure, a method called a front retainer, that is, a locking piece called a flexible deformable lance which is engaged with the terminal fitting is formed in the terminal receiving chamber. A method has been adopted in which a retainer inserted from the front of the lance is guided to the bending region of the lance, and the bending of the lance is regulated to prevent the terminal fitting from coming off.

[0004]

However, recently, the required waterproofness of the connector has been released due to a change in the environment around the device or the like. Due to these changes, the use of side retainers, which had been restricted until now, has come to be adopted. Therefore, it is not inconceivable to reconsider the specifications of the connector at all using this as a machine, but doing so would result in a drastic modification of the existing conditions such as a redesign and a change in the mold, and a heavy burden on the economy, Not a good idea. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to increase the engagement force with respect to terminal fittings by adopting a side retainer method while minimizing changes to existing connectors.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main body having a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a terminal fitting, and a main body surrounding a side surface of the main body. A hood portion that forms a fitting area between the outer surface of the hood and the mating connector housing so that the mating connector housing can be fitted thereto; and the terminal housing chamber penetrating the main body portion while traversing the fitting region from a side surface of the hood portion. And a retainer that is inserted from the retainer insertion hole and engages with the terminal fitting to hold the terminal fitting in a retaining state , and the retainer includes:
Temporary staff that allows terminal fittings to be inserted and removed from the main body
The final lock that engages with the stop position and the terminal fitting to prevent its removal
Position, and
A state of being immersed in front Symbol in the hood portion of the retainer is in the locked position
In those characterized that you have to protrude from the outer surface of the body portion.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the retainer is inserted into the retainer insertion hole from the side of the hood, and reaches the terminal receiving chamber through the main body. Then, by engaging with terminal fittings accommodated in the terminal accommodation chamber,
Hold the terminal fittings in a locked state. In this case, since the retainer applies the engaging force directly, not indirectly, to the terminal fitting, the terminal fitting can be securely held.

If the retainer is engaged with the mating connector housing while the retainer is in an incompletely inserted state, the retainer protrudes from the main body in the fitting area in the hood. In other words, since the retainer remains at a position where it interferes with the mating connector housing, incomplete insertion of the retainer is recognized in a situation where the connector housings cannot be fitted.

Furthermore, in the present invention by utilizing the connector housing with a conventional hood, since it carried without significant changes to, economically advantageous.
In addition, if the retainer is held at the temporary locking position, the connector can be handled in a state integrated with the retainer, and the terminal fitting can be inserted in that state. In addition, since the retainer is immersed in the hood at the temporary locking position, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the retainer is accidentally pushed into the full locking position due to foreign matter or the like.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The double locking connector 1 of the present embodiment includes:
As shown in FIG. 1, the connector housing 2 includes a connector housing 2 and a retainer 8 attached to the connector housing 2.
The connector housing 2 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, accommodates the female terminal fitting 3 therein, and fits with the mating male connector M. The connector housing 2 includes a main body 5 that accommodates the female terminal fitting 3 and a hood 6 that covers the outside thereof.
Consists of

A fitting space 11 (fitting area) between the main body 5 and the hood 6 into which the fitting portion S of the mating connector M is inserted.
Are formed. The main body portion 5 is provided with the terminal accommodating chambers 4 opening in the front-rear direction over four horizontal rows. A connection hole 4A through which the male terminal fitting T of the male connector M is inserted is opened at the front of the terminal accommodating chamber 4, and a terminal insertion hole 4B for inserting the female terminal fitting 3 is opened at the rear. A lance 9 for preventing the female terminal fitting 3 from coming off is formed on the upper wall surface of the central portion of the terminal accommodating chamber 4 so as to project forward.
The lance 9 is configured to be elastically deformable upward in FIG. 3 and engages with the lance hole 10 of the female terminal fitting 3.
In addition, the opposite side of the wall surface provided with the lance 9 (the lower side in the figure)
One end of a retainer insertion hole 7 into which the retainer 8 is inserted is open on the wall surface.

The retainer insertion hole 7 is open from the side surface to the rear surface of the hood portion 6, and the opening extending to the rear surface serves as an operation opening 17 for facilitating the attachment / detachment operation of the retainer 8. I have. In the operation opening 17, a recess 17 </ b> B is formed at a boundary of a portion where the main body 5 projects rearward from the hood 6. The bottom surface of the concave portion 17B is configured to come into contact with the retainer when the retainer 8 reaches the final locking position, and a continuous side surface from this surface forms an inclined surface 17A. The inclined surface 17A is for facilitating insertion of a jig (not shown) for extracting with respect to the retainer 8.

Further, at the side end portion of the retainer insertion hole 7,
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, locking receiving portions 13 and 14 for locking the retainer 8 are provided. Lock receiving part 13, 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a temporary locking receiving portion 13 which protrudes from the front side of the retainer insertion hole 7 to hold the retainer 8 at the temporary locking position, and a retainer 8 which protrudes from the rear side of the retainer insertion hole 7 to form a permanent connection. And a final lock receiving portion 14 fixed at the stop position (see FIG. 7). Of these lock receiving portions 13, 14, the final lock receiving portion 14 is set at a position higher than the temporary lock receiving portion 13 (a position deeper in the insertion direction of the retainer 8).

The upper surface of the temporary lock receiving portion 13 is flat, and the lower surface is a sloped guide surface 13A. The guide surface 13 </ b> A acts on a guide surface 15 </ b> A of the retainer 8 on the side of the temporary locking projection 15, which will be described later, and serves to guide the temporary locking projection 15 to the temporary locking receiving portion 13 smoothly. Similarly, the upper surface of the final locking receiving portion 14 is flat, while the lower surface is the guide surface 14.
A. The guide surface 14 </ b> A acts on the guide surface 16 </ b> A on the upper surface of the main locking projection 16 of the retainer 8, and plays a role of smoothly guiding the main locking projection 16 to the main locking receiving portion 14. The retainer 8 is formed of a synthetic resin material so as to be inserted into the retainer insertion hole 7, passes through the hood 6, and is attached to the main body 5. In the retainer 8,
A pressing plate 18 which is pressed when being mounted on the connector housing 2 and the same number of terminal engaging projections 19 which can be engaged with the respective female terminal fittings 3 protrude from one surface thereof. Also,
Locking legs 20 for engaging the retainer 8 with the connector housing 2 are provided at both ends of the same surface.

The terminal engaging projection 19 is formed in a stepped shape so that the distal end portion is slightly narrower. When the retainer 8 is fully locked in the retainer insertion hole 7, the terminal engaging projection 19 is formed. The female terminal fitting 3 is engaged by being fitted into the retainer hole 12. When the retainer 8 is in the temporary locking position, the terminal engaging projection 19 is at a position where it does not protrude into the terminal accommodating chamber 4 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the retainer 8 is in the final locking position, as shown in FIG.
9 protrudes into the terminal accommodating chamber 4 and the female terminal fitting 3
The female terminal fitting 3 is strongly engaged in the main body in a retaining state in order to engage the retainer hole 12 from the side.

A pair of locking legs 20 are provided at both ends of the upper surface of the pressing plate 18 so as to sandwich the terminal engaging projections 19, and are branched into front and rear forks so that they can be bent and deformed in the direction of closing the legs. I have. The front legs of the locking legs 20 are temporary locking legs 21 for temporarily locking the connector housing 2 and the retainer 8, and the rear legs are full locking legs 22 for performing full locking. Temporary locking leg 21
A temporary locking projection 15 is projected forward from the tip of, and its end is a guide surface 15A that matches the guide surface 13A of the temporary locking receiving portion 13. On the other hand, the upper surface of the temporary locking projection 15 is formed in a horizontal shape, and at the temporary locking position engaged with the temporary locking receiving portion 13, the two are in contact with each other, so that the disengaging operation is difficult. The main locking leg 22 is provided with a main locking projection 16 protruding rearward from the distal end thereof. Main locking projection 1
A guide surface 16 </ b> A is formed on the end surface of the guide member 6 so as to match the guide surface 14 </ b> A of the final locking receiving portion 14. Main locking projection 1
The upper part of 6 is also horizontal, and at the final locking position where the final locking projection 16 and the final locking receiving portion 14 are engaged, the surface is brought into contact with each other so that the engagement is not released.

The rear edge of the pressing plate 18 is formed with an inclined surface which is compatible with the inclined surface 17A on the housing side, and a through groove 18A is cut out at the center. By providing the through groove 18A, the slope 17 on the housing side can be provided.
A predetermined gap is ensured between A and A, and a jig can be inserted from here to release the retainer 8 (see FIG. 4). When the retainer 8 and the connector housing 2 are in the temporary locking position, the pressing plate 18 of the retainer 8 is still in the fitting space 11 as shown in FIG.
It is in a state of protruding inside. For this reason, even if the mating connector housing M is to be fitted before the retainer 8 reaches the full locking position, the front end face S of the mating connector M comes into contact with the pressing plate 18 and the mating connector M is brought into a proper fitting state. It is not reached.

Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. First, the retainer 8 is fitted to the main body 5 side of the retainer insertion hole 7 while traversing the fitting space 11 from the hood 6 side. In this process, since the temporary locking leg 21 engages with the temporary locking receiving portion 13, the retainer 8
The whole is held in the temporary locking position. Next, the terminal insertion hole 4B
When the female terminal fitting 3 is inserted from the
Engages with the lance hole 10. As a result, the female terminal fitting 3 is primarily locked in the main body 5.

Thereafter, the retainer 8 is further pressed to engage the final locking leg 22 with the final locking receiving portion 14, thereby bringing the retainer 8 to the final locking position. This allows
The terminal engagement projection 19 is formed in the retainer hole 12 of the female terminal fitting 3.
, The female terminal fitting 3 is held in a retaining state. In this case, unlike the above-described front retainer method, the retainer 8 applies the engaging force directly, not indirectly, to the female terminal fitting 3, so that the female terminal fitting 3 can be securely held. it can. If the retainer 8 is engaged with the mating connector M while the retainer 8 is in an incompletely inserted state, the retainer 8 projects from the main body 5 in the fitting space 11 in the hood 6. It has become. That is, since the retainer 8 remains at a position where it interferes with the mating connector M, incomplete insertion of the retainer 8 is recognized in a situation where the connector housings cannot be fitted.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the retainer 8 is locked in a state of being immersed in the hood portion 6 at the temporary locking position, the retainer 8 is erroneously moved to the full locking position due to foreign matter or the like. The effect of being able to avoid being pushed in can be expected. In addition, when removing the retainer 8 from the final locking position, the retainer 8 can be easily removed by inserting a jig into the groove 18A and prying. In addition, since the operation opening 17 is formed by expanding the retainer insertion hole 7 in the hood 6 as a space for performing the work, a general tool such as a flathead screwdriver can be used without using a special tool. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to implement the present invention without using a large design change by utilizing the specifications of the conventional hooded connector housing. Therefore, it is economically advantageous.

<Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment and the first embodiment,
Components having the same configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is the shape of the retainer insertion hole 30 and the retainer 31.

In the main body 5, a retainer insertion hole 30 is provided.
Is formed with a concave portion 33 in front of. This recess 33
When removing the retainer 31 that has reached the final locking position, the jig 3
5 (see FIG. 11).
In the hood portion 6, the retainer insertion hole 30 is opened only at a position corresponding to the concave portion 33, and is not opened backward as in the first embodiment. The retainer 31 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin so as to fit into the retainer insertion hole 30. The pressing plate 32 provided on the lower surface of the retainer 31 is formed to have a larger area in front of the area of the terminal engaging projection 34.

A jig 35 for attaching and detaching the retainer 31 is provided.
Is made by bending the tip of the band-shaped metal,
When pushing in the retainer 31, press the hook 36 at the tip against the pressing plate 32, and when removing the retainer 31, pull out while hooking the front end of the pressing plate 32 of the retainer 31 with the hook 36 in the tip. Can be performed. In the second embodiment having such a configuration, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be carried out without changing the gist of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a double locking connector before assembling, showing a retainer upside down in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the double locking connector in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an AA cross-sectional view of the double locking connector in a temporary locking position in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an AA cross-sectional view of the double locking connector in a full locking position in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the double locking connector that has not reached the final locking position is about to be fitted to the mating connector in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view when the double locking connector at the final locking position is fitted to the mating connector in the same embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a BB cross-sectional view of the double locking connector in the temporary locking position in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a BB cross-sectional view of the double locking connector in the full locking position in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a double locking connector according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the double locking connector in a temporary locking position in the embodiment, taken along line CC.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment when the jig is engaged with the double locking connector at the final locking position.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the double locking connector that has not reached the final locking position is to be fitted to the mating connector in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view when the double locking connector at the final locking position is fitted to the mating connector in the same embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Double locking connector 3 ... Female terminal fitting (terminal fitting) 4 ... Terminal accommodation room 5 ... Main body part 6 ... Hood part 7, 30 ... Retainer insertion hole 8, 31 ... Retainer 11 ... Fitting space (fitting area) ) 17, 33: Operation opening M: Male connector (mating connector housing)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-322079 (JP, A) JP-A-61-161976 (JP, U) Special table 10-510662 (JP, A) International Publication 96/19018 (WO, A1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/42

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fitting area in which a mating connector housing can be fitted between a main body having a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a terminal fitting, and a side surface of the main body surrounding an outer surface of the main body. A retainer insertion hole that penetrates through the main body and reaches the terminal accommodating chamber while traversing the fitting region from a side surface of the hood portion; and the terminal fitting inserted through the retainer insertion hole. A retainer for holding the terminal fitting in a retaining state by engaging with the main body , and the retainer is provided with the terminal fitting relative to the main body.
Engage with the terminal fitting and the terminal
Can be held in the final locking position to prevent the
The retainer in the temporary locking position.
Protruding from the outer surface of the main body while immersed in the
Double locking connector according to claim Tei Rukoto.