JP3250067B2 - Vehicle light 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 a vehicle lamp suitable for use in a combination lamp or the like having a plurality of lamps.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various lamps such as tail lamps, turn signal lamps, stop lamps, clearance lamps, side marker lamps, etc., which are mounted on an automobile, one lamp-side cord derived from a lamp body is used. The lamp-side cord assembly is connected to the vehicle-side cord via a connector.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional example of a vehicular lamp, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a lamp side cord assembly. In these figures, a vehicle lamp 1 includes two lamps A1 and A2.
A lamp body 4 having an interior partitioned into two lamp chambers B1 and B2, a front lens 5 covering an opening on the front side of the lamp body 4, and an interior of each lamp chamber B1 and B2. Are provided with valves 6, 7 and the like.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a lamp-side cord assembly of the vehicle lamp 1. The lamp-side cord assembly 8 includes two bulb sockets 9 and 10 to which the bulbs 6 and 7 are detachably mounted.
A lamp-side cord 11 having one end connected to a positive contact and a negative contact (not shown) of each of the bulb sockets 9 and 10.
a, 11b, 12a, 12b and their codes 11
a, 11b, 12a, and 12b are provided on the other end side of the vehicle body-side cord 13 and are connected to the connector 14 and the like. Codes 11a, 11b, 12a, 1
2b are bundled by insulating tapes (or vinyl tubes) 16a and 16b, respectively. The ends of the cords 11a, 11b, 12a and 12b on the connector 15 side are insulating tapes (or vinyl tubes).
17 together. Code 1
Of the cables 1a, 11b, 12a, and 12b, the cords 11b and 12b on the minus side are connected on the connector 15 side to form one cord 18. Thereby, the connector 15
The number of connecting pieces (not shown) provided in the inside is reduced by one. In FIG. 9, C is a code 1 on the minus side.
The connecting portion C is covered with the insulating tape 17 at the connecting portions 1b and 12b. In the case where the bulb has three lamps, three negative side cords are connected at the connection portion C to form one cord.

[0005] The lamp-side cord assembly 8 in the vehicle lamp 1 has a wide variety of types because the specifications differ for each maker depending on the model of the lamp. The specifications of the lamp side cord assembly 8 include the shapes of the bulb sockets 9 and 10, the number of contacts, the shape of the connector 15, the number of contacts, the number of cords, the length, the color, the presence or absence of taping, the winding method, and the presence or absence of a vinyl tube. , The diameter, the length, the color, the one that fixes the connector 15 to the lamp body side, and the one that does not.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional connector for a vehicle lamp, since the specifications of the lamp-side cord assembly 8 are uniform and varied, it is difficult to standardize and standardize the parts. There was a problem. In particular, the bulb sockets 9 and 10 and the connector 15 need to be manufactured for each lamp model depending on the type of the lamp, the number of filaments of the bulb, and the like.
Mold making is troublesome and expensive. Further, as the number of functions of the lamp (multi-lamp type) increases, the number of cords increases, so that the number of assembly steps increases. For example, the number of connection points of the negative side cord and the number of man-hours for tape winding are increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of codes and the number of assembling steps, standardize and standardize parts, and reduce the cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector for a vehicle lighting device that can be manufactured.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a power supply portion from a vehicle, a power supply contact portion to a valve, and a cord connection portion. Is disposed at the cord connection portion, the other end portion is disposed at the power supply portion, and a positive contact is disposed at one end portion at the power supply contact portion, and at the other end portion at the power supply portion. One end of the negative contact is located at the power supply contact portion, the other end is branched into two branches, one of which is located at the cord connection portion, and the other is located at the power supply portion. And one end of the plus side cord and the minus side cord on the lamp side are connected to the plus side connection piece and the minus side contact, respectively. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a socket mounting portion to which a valve socket is detachably mounted is provided at a power supply contact portion, and one end of a plus side contact and a minus side contact are located in the valve socket. Further, the present invention is characterized in that a valve socket is provided integrally with the power supply contact portion, and one ends of the plus side contact and the minus side contact are located in the valve socket.

In the present invention, the connector of the vehicle body-side cord is connected to the plus-side connecting piece and the plus-side and minus-side contacts when inserted into the feeding section, and the contact section of the plus-side and minus-side contacts in the feeding contact section. Contacts the terminals of the valve. In the cord connection portion, the lamp-side cord of another lamp bulb is connected to the plus-side connection piece and the minus-side contact. A valve socket is detachably attached to the socket attachment portion of the power supply contact portion. Further, the connector of the present invention has a valve socket provided integrally with the power supply contact portion, and the terminal of the valve attached to the valve socket contacts the contact portions of the plus side contact and the minus side contact.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view, partially broken away, showing an embodiment of a connector according to the first invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector with a valve socket attached thereto, and FIG. 3 is a right side view of the connector. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a part of the connector, which is cut away, and FIG. 5 is a left side view of the connector. The same components as those shown in the section of the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present embodiment is applied to a connector of a vehicle lamp in which three lamps A1, A2 and A3 are integrated. Therefore, the vehicle lamp 1 includes a lamp body 4 having three lamp chambers B1, B2, and B3, a front lens 5 that covers a front opening of the lamp body 4, and three bulbs 6, 7, and 21. It is composed of a lamp side cord assembly 20 and the like. Also, on the back side of the lamp body 4, each of the lamp rooms B1, B2, B
3 are formed respectively with socket mounting holes 22a, 22b, 22c.
Valve sockets 9, 10, 25 for holding the bulbs 6, 7, 21 are detachably mounted from the rear of the lamp body 4 on a, 22 b, 22 c.

The valves 6, 7, 21 include a base 6
The incandescent lamp (S25) provided with a, 7a, and 21a is used. Lamp A1 of these three bulbs 6, 7, 21
, A2 have one filament F, and bulb 21 for lamp A3 has two filaments F1.
, F2. Therefore, the bulb 21 includes two plus terminals 23a and 23b and one minus terminal 23c, and the minus terminal 23c is
1a.

Valve sockets 9 and 10 for holding the valves 6 and 7 are the same as conventional single filament valve sockets, and have cords 11a, 11b, 12a and 12
b. These codes 11a, 11
b, 12a, 12b, the minus side code 11b,
12b is a single cord 1
8 and a contact 26 is attached to the tip. On the other hand, a valve socket 25 for holding the valve 21
Is detachably attached to the connector 31.

Next, the structure and the like of the valve socket 25 and the connector 31 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. The valve socket 25 is formed of a synthetic resin into a double cylindrical body whose both ends are open, so that the valve socket 25 has an outer cylinder 30A and an inner cylinder 30B integrally. The portion 30C and the flange 32 are integrally provided.
A plurality of locking projections 35 are provided on the outer circumference of the outer cylinder 30A at intervals in the circumferential direction, and a gasket 36 is provided on the front side of the flange 32. ). A pair of J slots 38 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 30B.
And a contact groove 39 are formed. A pair of J slots 3
8 is formed corresponding to a pair of protrusions 40 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the base 21 a of the valve 21. Contact groove 39
Is formed over the entire length of the valve socket 25.

The connector 31 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped having both ends opened by a synthetic resin and the center of the inside is partitioned by a partition wall 45, and one end opening side is connected to the cords 11a, 12a and 18 of the valve sockets 9 and 10. The other end opening side forms a power supply unit 43 to which the connector 14 of the vehicle body side cord 13 is connected. On the front side of the connector 31, the power supply contact 4 to which the valve socket 25 is detachably attached.
4 are integrally provided. The inside of the cord connection part 42 is divided into six chambers 42a, 42 by a grid-like partition plate 48.
b ... 42f. Power supply contact 44
Is formed in a cylindrical shape whose outer diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the small diameter cylindrical portion 30C of the valve socket 25.

In the connector 31, three contacts 4 made of a metal plate such as copper having good conductivity are provided.
6a, 46b, 46c and two positive connection pieces 47a,
47b is integrally attached by insert molding. Of the three contacts 46a, 46b, 46c, the two contacts 46a, 46b are L-shaped to form plus-side contacts, one end of which protrudes forward from the surface of the power supply contact portion 44, and Positive terminals 23a, 23
b and contact portions 146 a and 146 b with the other end are located in the power supply unit 43. The contact portion 146a,
146b is bent in an S-shape as shown in FIG. The remaining contact 46c has a T-shape to form a negative contact, and one end of the contact 46c projects forward of the power supply contact portion 44 and has a contact portion 49 with the negative terminal 23c of the valve 21. The contact portion 49 is formed in a tongue shape by cutting and raising. The other two ends of the negative contact 46c are located in the chamber 42c of the cord connection section 42 and the power supply section 43. The cord 18 is connected via a contact 26 to the end of the negative contact 46c on the cord connection portion 42 side.

The two plus-side connecting pieces 47a, 47b
Is formed in a straight line and provided through the partition wall 45 so that one end thereof is connected to the cord connecting portion 42.
The other ends of the chambers 42b and 42f are located in the power supply unit 43, respectively. The plus-side cord 11a, the plus-side cord 11a,
One end of 12a is respectively connected by soldering.

In the connector 31 having such a structure, when one end of the negative contact 46c is inserted into the contact groove 39 of the valve socket 25 from the rear, the valve socket 25 is connected to the power supply contact portion 44 of the connector 31. It can be detachably attached. Thereby, a connector directly connected to the socket is formed. In this state, the contact portions 146a, 146b of the plus side contacts 46a, 46b
Are located in the valve socket 25.

The valve 21 is connected to the valve socket 2
The base 21a is inserted into the inner cylinder 30B of No. 5, and the base 21a
By locking a pair of projections 40 provided on the outer periphery with a J-slot 38, the protrusion is prevented. In this state,
The two positive terminals 23a and 23b are connected to the positive contact 46.
a and 46b are electrically connected to the contact portions 146a and 146b, respectively, and the base 21a is also electrically connected to the contact portion 49 of the negative contact 46c.

The valve socket 25 is provided with a locking projection 35 protruding from the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 30A by a socket mounting hole 22c.
The outer cylinder 30A is fitted into the socket mounting hole 22c so as to coincide with the concave portion 50 (see FIG. 1) formed on the hole wall surface of the hole, and the flange 32 is brought into close contact with the back surface of the lamp body 4 via the gasket 36. Next, when the valve socket 25 is rotated by a required angle and the peripheral portion of the socket mounting hole 22c is sandwiched between the locking projection 35 and the flange 32, the valve socket 25 is detachably engaged with the socket mounting hole 22c. Can be. Such a mounting structure of the valve socket 25 is exactly the same as that of the conventional valve sockets 9 and 10.

The connector 14 of the vehicle body-side cord 13 constitutes a female connector. When the connector 14 is fitted into the power supply portion 43 of the connector 31, the plus side contact and the minus side contact 46a,
46b, 46c and the positive connection pieces 47a, 47b are electrically connected.

In the vehicle lamp connector 31 having such a structure, if a plurality of types of connectors 31 are prepared according to the type of the bulb socket 25 and used as a standard product, and these are used in combination according to the specifications, there is a difference. Socket direct-connecting connector. For example, 3
If the three types of valve sockets 25 and the connectors 31 are manufactured, nine types of socket direct connection type connectors can be obtained by combining these. It is possible to obtain various types of socket direct connection type connectors. Therefore, the number of dies is smaller than in the case of individually manufacturing the socket direct-connecting connectors according to the specifications, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, in the connector 31 directly connected to the socket, it is not necessary to connect the valve socket 25 to the connector 31 by a cord, and the number of cords can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, since the present invention is applied to a vehicular lamp provided with three bulbs, the minus cords 11b, 12b of the two bulb sockets 9, 10 are provided.
b are connected to each other and the connection portion C is covered with the insulating tape 17. In the case of a vehicle lamp provided with the two bulbs 6 and 21 and the bulb sockets 9 and 25, the minus-side cord 11 b is connected to the cord of the connector 31. Since it is sufficient to connect to the minus contact 46c in the connection portion 42, the connection portion C
No tape winding work is required. Therefore, the number of steps for assembling the lamp-side cord assembly 20 is small, and workability can be improved.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the second invention. In the first aspect, the connector 3
1 shows an example in which the valve socket 25 is detachably attached, but in this embodiment, the valve socket 2
5 is formed integrally with the connector 60 by insert molding. The plus-side cords 11a and 12a are connected to the plus-side connecting pieces 47a and 47b via the contacts 26 similarly to the minus-side cord 18. Other configurations are exactly the same as the above-described embodiment,
The same components and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In addition, 65 is a rubber bushing for improving waterproofness.

Such a connector 60 directly connected to a socket.
In order to manufacture the connector body 61 and the valve socket 2
When preparing the connector body 61 after preparing the molds for fabricating the valve socket 5 separately and fabricating the valve socket 25, the valve body 25 is loaded into the mold to produce the connector body 61, or Alternatively, when the valve socket 25 is manufactured after the connector main body 61 is manufactured, the connector main body 61 is loaded into the mold and the valve socket 25 is manufactured.
Can be produced. In that case, a plurality of types of molds are prepared according to the types of the valve socket 25 and the connector main body 61,
When these dies are combined and manufactured according to the specifications of the connector 60, different socket direct-connecting connectors can be manufactured. Therefore, the number of dies is smaller than in the case where the socket direct connection side connectors are individually manufactured in accordance with the specifications in the same manner as in the above first invention, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the third invention. In this embodiment, socket portions 70, 70 corresponding to the respective light rooms A1, A2 are provided on the rear side of the lamp body 4.
The present invention is applied to a connector of a vehicular lamp in which 71 is integrally provided, and connectors 72 and 73 are detachably attached to the socket portions 70 and 71 from the rear of the lamp body 4. The rear ends of the socket portions 70 and 71 projecting rearward from the lamp body 4 form fitting portions 75 and 76 with the connectors 72 and 73, respectively. The other configuration is the same as the valve socket 25 of the first invention.
It is formed identically.

The connector 72 is different from the connector 31 of the first embodiment only in that the configuration of the power supply contact portion 44 and the number of connecting pieces 47 are smaller by one.
Since other configurations are completely the same, the same components and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. A socket mounting portion 77 formed of a concave portion into which the fitting portion 75 of the socket portion 70 fits is formed on the tip end surface of the power supply contact portion 44. The number of the positive connection pieces 47 is one.

The other connector 73 has a cord connecting portion 79
And a socket mounting portion 80, and a plus side contact 81 therein.
And the negative contact 82 are integrally attached by insert molding. A recess 8 into which the fitting portion 76 of the socket portion 71 fits is provided on the distal end surface of the socket mounting portion 80.
3 are formed. One end of the positive contact 81 is located in the recess 83 to form a contact portion 181 with the positive terminal 85 of the bulb 7, and the other end is connected to the cord connecting portion 7.
9, and is connected by a cord 86 to the end of the plus-side connecting piece 47 on the cord connecting portion 42 side via the contact 26. One end of the negative contact 82 protrudes forward from the recess 83, and when the connector 73 is attached to the socket 71, it is electrically connected to the base 7a of the bulb 7, in other words, to the negative terminal. On the other hand, the other end of the negative contact 82 is located in the cord connection portion 79, and the cord 87
Is connected via a contact 26 to an end of the negative contact 46c on the cord connection portion 42 side.

In the vehicle lamp connector 72 having such a structure, various socket direct-connecting connectors may be manufactured as standard products, and may be mounted according to the socket portion 70. In the case where there are two valves, there is only one cord 87 on the minus side, so it is only necessary to connect to the minus contact 46c in the cord connection section 42. Is unnecessary.

Here, in the above embodiment,
The connectors 72 and 73 are detachably attached to the socket portions 70 and 71.
Can be formed integrally with the socket portions 70 and 71. In this case, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, after the lamp body 4 and the socket portions 70, 71 are integrally formed, when manufacturing the connectors 72, 73, the socket of the lamp body 4 is placed in the mold. Loading the parts 70, 71 to produce the connectors 72, 73, or
73, the lamp body 4 and the sockets 70, 7
When manufacturing the lamp body 1, the lamp body 4 may be manufactured by loading the connectors 72 and 73 into the mold.

As described above, when a plurality of types of dies are prepared according to the types of the lamp body 4 and the connector 72, and these dies are combined and manufactured according to the specifications, different types of connectors directly connected to sockets are manufactured. Therefore, the number of dies can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the socket direct connection side connectors are individually manufactured according to the specifications as in the first and second inventions described above. .

In the above embodiment, the valve 2 having two filaments F1 and F2 is used.
However, in the present invention, the valve 21 having one filament is not specified at all.
It may be. In that case, the valve socket 25, 6
0 or the positive contact of the connector 72 may be reduced to one. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the socket 70 is provided integrally with the lamp body 4, but the socket 70 may be provided integrally with the back cover. Further, the connector main body 31 with respect to the valve socket 25 or the socket portion 70 is provided.
Alternatively, when the mounting strength of the connector 72 is low and there is a possibility that the connector 72 will fall off due to vibration or the like, it may be fixed with screws or the like.

[0032]

As described above, the connector for a vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes a power supply portion from a vehicle, a power supply contact portion to a bulb, and a cord connection portion of the bulb. One end is located at the cord connection part, the other end is located at the power supply part, and a positive contact is positioned at one end at the power supply contact part, and the other end is at the power supply part. And one end of the negative contact is located at the power supply contact portion, the other end is branched into two branches, one of which is located at the cord connection portion, and the other is the power supply portion. , And one end of the plus side and minus side cords on the lamp side are connected to the plus side connection piece and the minus side contact, respectively. Products, and valve sockets according to the specifications. When the attachment to bets, can constitute a different socket direct type connector,
Eliminates wiring work. In addition, the number of dies is smaller than in a case where the socket direct connection type connectors are individually manufactured according to specifications, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, the connection between the minus side cords and the tape winding work are unnecessary, and the workability of assembling the cord assembly can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, a socket mounting portion to which a valve socket is detachably mounted is provided at a power supply contact portion, and one end of a plus side contact and a minus side contact are located in the valve socket. When attached to the valve socket, the terminals of the valve and the positive and negative contacts can be reliably contacted. Further, the present invention provides a valve socket integrally with the power supply contact portion,
Since one end of the plus side contact and the minus side contact are located in the valve socket, when the valve is attached to the valve socket, the terminal of the valve and the contact can be reliably contacted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a connector for a vehicle lamp according to a first invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector with a valve socket attached.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the connector.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a part of the connector in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the connector.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional example of a vehicular lamp.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a conventional example of a lamp side cord assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

4: Lamp body, 5: Front lens, 6, 7: Bulb, 8
... cord assembly on lamp side, 9, 10 ... bulb socket, 1
1a, 11b, 12a, 12b ... cord, 13 ... body side cord, 14, 15 ... connector, 18 ... cord, 20 ...
Lamp side cord assembly, 21 ... Bulb, 25 ... Bulb socket, 31 ... Connector, 42 ... Cord connection part, 43 ... Power supply part, 44 ... Power supply contact part, 46a, 46b ... Plus side contact, 46c ... Minus side contact , 47a, 47b ... plus side connection piece, 60 ... connector, 70, 71 ... socket part, 72, 73 ... connector, 77 ... socket mounting part, 8
0: Socket mounting portion, 81: Positive contact, 82: Negative contact, 86, 87: Cord, A1, A2, A3
... lights, B1, B2, B3 ... light room.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/514 F21S 8/10 H01R 33/46 H01R 33/88

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A power supply section from a vehicle, a power supply contact section to a valve, and a cord connection section of the valve, wherein one end of a plus-side connection piece is located at the cord connection section,
The other end is disposed so as to be located at the power supply section, and a positive contact is disposed at one end at the power supply contact section.
An end portion is disposed so as to be located at the power supply portion, and a negative contact is located at one end portion at the power supply contact portion ,
The other end branches into two branches, one of which branches into the cord connection
And one end of the plus side of the lamp and one end of the minus side cord are connected to the plug.
A connector for a vehicular lamp, wherein the connector is connected to a negative connection piece and a negative contact . 2. The connector for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, further comprising: a socket mounting portion to which a bulb socket is detachably mounted at a power supply contact portion, wherein one end of a plus side contact and a minus side contact are provided inside the bulb socket. A connector for a vehicular lamp characterized by being located at: 3. The connector for a vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein a valve socket is provided integrally with the power supply contact portion, and one end of a plus side contact and a minus side contact are located in the valve socket. A connector for a vehicle lamp.