JP3276313B2 - Connector fitting structure - 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 fitting / disconnecting structure which is used, for example, in a vehicle door and is suitable for fitting and removing multipolar female and male connectors with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fitting structure of this kind of connector,
For example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-55262 shown in FIG. In the connector fitting structure disclosed in this publication, as shown in FIG. 10A, the electrical component 4 is provided on the male connector 1 which is inserted into the fitting hole 8a of the connector mounting plate 8 and stands by. The female connector 5 is fitted from the mounting opening 9a side of the instrument panel 9. The male connector 1 has a flexible locking piece 2, and locks a projection 2 a provided on the locking piece 2 into a fitting hole 8 a of a connector mounting plate 8 before fitting. It is. From this state, when the female connector 5 is inserted through the mounting opening 9a of the instrument panel 9 and fitted to the male connector 1, as shown in FIGS. 5 is properly fitted, the locking piece 2 bends downward and the hook 3 at the tip of the locking piece 2
Is fitted into the escape hole 6 of the female connector 5. When the electrical component 4 is further pushed in from this state, as shown in FIG. 10D, the male connector 1 is pushed to the mounting position, and the female connector 5 is inserted via the lock piece 4a of the electrical component 4 into the instrument panel. 9 is locked in the mounting opening 9a.

[0003]

However, in the conventional connector fitting structure, the locking piece 2 of the male connector 1 is not provided.
Since the tapered surface 2b is formed at the rear part of the projection 2a, the male connector 1 is easily retreated during the fitting of the connectors 1 and 5, and the connectors 1 and 5 are completely fitted. The work of assembling it in the correct position was difficult and lacked reliability. For this reason, when the mating of the two connectors 1 and 5 is released during maintenance or the like, the male connector 1 remains in a state of being lowered to the rear of the connector mounting plate 8. Could not fit.
Further, if the wire harness connected to the male connector 1 is pulled for some reason after the mating of the connectors 1 and 5, there is no locking means between the connectors 1 and 5, so that the mating of the connectors 1 and 5 is not performed. There was a risk that the connection would be lost. Further, since the connectors 1 and 5 are fitted only by the holding force of the female terminal (not shown) of the male connector 1 and the male terminal 7 of the female connector 5, the fitting force between the connectors 1 and 5 is insufficient.
It was weak against vibration, and it was easy for rattling and abnormal noise to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector fitting / removing structure in which female and male connectors can be fitted / removed easily and reliably. With the goal.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a female,
One of the male and female connectors is attached to the object to be mounted in a standby state protruding via a holder, and the other connector is detachably fitted to the one connector from the one of the connectors in a standby standby direction, and The holder is provided with the one connector slidably, and the holder and the hood of the one connector are provided with locking means for holding the standby projection state of the one connector, respectively, while the fitting of the two connectors to the other connector is provided. A holding means for holding the locking state of each of the locking means at the time of engagement is provided, and a holding release means for releasing the locking state of each of the locking means when the fitting of the two connectors is completed. A connector fitting and disengaging structure in which both connectors are slidable toward the attached body with respect to the holder in the fitting completed state when the fitting is completed, The locking means of the serial holder together constitute at engaging hole having a locking recess in the peripheral wall, the hood of the locking means of the one connector of the engagement recess side of the engaging hole circumference
The flexible connector has a flexible arm having a locking portion which is locked and released from the wall, and the holding release means of the other connector is provided at the front.
The release arm has a projection which is inserted into the engagement recess of the engagement hole to bend the flexible arm, and the release arm has a release surface.

[0006] In this connector mating / unmating structure, the mating and unmating of the two connectors can be easily and reliably performed by the holding means provided on the other connector and the release arm having the projecting / unmating surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector fitting / disengaging structure according to the first aspect, wherein the release surface of the projection of the release arm is formed as a tapered surface.

In this connector fitting / disengaging structure, since the release surface of the projection of the release arm is a tapered surface, the locked state of the locking means of the holder and the locking means of one connector can be easily released. As a result, the other connector is easily detached from the one connector, and the detachment operation and the re-engagement operation of the two connectors during maintenance and inspection or the like are easily and reliably performed.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before mating of a female connector and a male connector used in a connector mating structure of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before mating of the female and male connectors. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the state of FIG. 3 and FIG.
It is a side view which shows the state of.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the male connector (one connector) 20 of the synthetic resin male and female connectors 20 and 30 projects through a synthetic resin holder 10 in a standby state. To be attached to a door panel (attached body) 50. A female connector (the other connector) 30 is removably fitted to the male connector 20 which stands out from the holder 10. This female connector 3
0 is attached to a switch 41 of a switch unit 40 such as a power window switch unit via a substrate or the like (not shown). The switch unit 40 is provided with a switch mounting hole formed in a door trim (another body to be mounted) 60. (Switch mounting portion) 61.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
A substantially rectangular engagement hole (locking means) 1 in the center of the substantially rectangular plate shape;
3 and a mounting bracket 12 integrally projecting from the lower center of the plate 11. Engaging recesses 14 are formed in the center of the left and right sides of the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the plate body 11, respectively.
Further, a pair of long projecting pieces 15, 15 extending rearward are integrally formed at the upper and lower centers of the rear part of the peripheral wall 13 a of the engagement hole 13 of the plate body 11. Furthermore, the engagement hole 13 of the plate 11
A clearance is provided on the entire periphery between the peripheral wall 13a of the male connector 20 and a hood 22 of the male connector 20 described later.
The hood 22 of the male connector 20 is slidably supported in the engagement hole 13 of the 0 plate body 11. That is, when the mating between the male connector 20 and the female connector 30 is completed, the two connectors 2
0 and 30 are slidable to the lower side of the door panel 50 side with respect to the engagement holes 13 of the plate body 11 of the holder 10 in the fitted state.

As shown in FIG. 1, the male connector 20 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 2 for accommodating unillustrated female terminals (terminals).
The housing 21 includes a housing 21 provided with the housing 1a and a hood 22 that covers the housing 21. This housing 2
The one base 21b is assembled by press fitting or the like in a state of being centered on the base 22b of the hood 22. 1 and 2
As shown in FIG. 5, the hood 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape from the upper and lower walls and the left and right side walls, and functions as a guide for the holder 10 and the female connector 30. A pair of long holes 23 are formed in the center of the left and right side walls of the substantially rectangular tubular hood 22, respectively, and the plate 11 of the holder 10 is engaged between the pair of long holes 23. Hole 1
A flat T-shaped flexible arm (locking means) 24 having a projection (locking portion) 25 which is locked to and released from each recess 14 side of the third peripheral wall 13a is integrally formed. The projection 25 is formed integrally with the flexible arm 24 so that the width of the projection 25 of each flexible arm 24 is larger than the width of the locking recess 14 of the plate 11 of the holder 10. Each projection 25 is formed in a trapezoidal cross section, and a tapered surface 25a is formed at the front of each projection 25.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the engaging recesses 13 of the engaging hole 13 of the plate 11 of the holder 10 and the projection 25 of each of the flexible arms 24 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20. When the female connector 30 is locked, the male connector 20 projects from the holder 10 by a predetermined length and waits for the female connector 30 to be fitted. That is, the male connector 20 is retracted with respect to the holder 10 by the engagement between the locking recesses 14 of the engagement holes 13 of the plate 11 of the holder 10 and the projections 25 of the flexible arms 24 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20. The movement is regulated, and the male connector 20 at the time of this locking is in a projecting standby state. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hood 22 of the male connector 20 is provided.
A pair of stoppers 26 are integrally formed near the rear portion of each of the long holes 23 on the left and right side walls. The rear side of the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the plate 11 of the holder 10 and the stoppers 26 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20 are respectively locked to restrict the amount of forward projection of the male connector 20. Has become. Further, an electric wire (not shown) constituting the wire harness W is connected to the rear side of each female terminal (not shown) of the housing 21 of the male connector 20 by pressure welding or crimping.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, U-shaped notches 27 are respectively formed in the center of the upper and lower side walls of the substantially rectangular cylindrical hood 22 of the male connector 20. In each of the notches 27, a rectangular plate-shaped flexible locking piece (a locking portion) having a projection (locking portion) 29 which is locked and detached from a front end portion 32a of a hood portion 32 of a female connector 30 described later. Locking means) 28 are integrally formed. Each of the flexible locking pieces 28 is disposed at a position facing each of the long projecting pieces 15 of the holder 11. Further, the front side of the protrusion 29 of each flexible locking piece 28 has a tapered surface (locking surface) 29a,
The rear side also has a tapered surface (separation surface) 29b.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the female connector 30 has a base 31 side in a block shape having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 31a accommodating male terminals (terminals) 37. The front side is formed as a rectangular tube-shaped hood portion 32 which is integrally formed with the base portion 31 to expose each male terminal 37. When the hood 32 of the female connector 30 is engaged with the two connectors 20 and 30,
And between the hood 22 and the connectors 20, 30
Are electrically connected to each other.
In the center of both outer surfaces of the base 31 of the female connector 30, the locking recesses 14 of the engagement holes 13 of the plate 11 of the holder 10 and the projections 25 of the flexible arms 24 of the male connector 20 are provided.
A flexible release arm (holding release means) 33 having a projection 34 for releasing the locked state is integrally formed so as to extend in parallel with the hood 32 side. The projections 34 of the release arms 33 are for bending the flexible arm 24 and have a trapezoidal cross section. Each projection 3
The rear side of 4 is a tapered surface (separation surface) 34a. The projection of the flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 and the locking recess 14 of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10 are locked to hold the male connector 20 in the standby protruding state. Of the flexible arm 24 and the engaging hole 1 of the holder 10 by the projection 34 of the sex release arm 33.
3 is released from the locking recess 14 and the release arm 3 is released.
The standby projection state of the male connector 20 is released by inserting the projections 34 of the third through the locking recesses 14 of the engagement holes 13.

Further, the hood portion (holding means) 32 of the female connector 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube state, and its front end portion 32a is provided at the front end portion 32a of the male connector 20 when the male and female connectors 20, 30 are fitted. The protrusion 10 of the flexible locking piece 28 is pressed against the flexible locking piece 28 to deflect the flexible locking piece 28 outward.
The male connector 20 functions as holding means for holding the locked state. In addition, the protrusion 29 of the flexible locking piece 28 is inserted into the center of the upper and lower wall portions of the hood portion 32 of the female connector 30 to release the locked state between the holder 10 and the male connector 20. A rectangular slot (release recess) 35 is formed as a means.
A tapered surface (release portion) 36 is formed at the boundary between the hood portion 32 and the front end side of the slot 35.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the switch unit 40 includes a switch 41, a female connector 30 fixed to the switch 41 via a board or the like (not shown), and an upper side of both sides of the switch 41. Metal leaf springs (locking means) 42 which are attached by screwing or the like and which lock the switch 41 attached to the switch attachment hole 61 of the door trim (other attached body) 60 to the door trim 60; It is composed of As shown in FIG. 8, the clearance t between the plate 11 of the holder 10 and the hood 22 of the male connector 20 is larger than the clearance t 'between the switch 41 of the switch unit 40 and the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60. Set (t>
t '). As shown in FIG. 9, a waterproof sheet 51 is attached to the door panel 50.

According to the connector fitting / removing structure of the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the male connector 20 on the wire harness W side arranged on the door panel 50 and the door panel 50
When connecting to the female connector 30 of the switch unit 40 side attached via the door trim 60 to the
A waterproof sheet 51 is attached to the door panel 50, and then a wire harness W is wired to the door panel 50 from above the waterproof sheet 51, and then a door trim 60 is attached to the door panel 50 on which the wire harness W is wired. After attaching the female connector 30 of the switch unit 40 to the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60, the female connector 30 and the male connector 20 connected to the end of the wire harness W are fitted.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the male connector 20 on the wire harness W side is attached to the door panel 50 via the holder 10, and the male connector 2
0 is projected so as to project toward the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60, and when the switch unit 40 is mounted in the switch mounting hole 61, the female connector 30 on the switch unit 40 side and the male connector on the wire harness W side. The connector 20 is fitted. These two connectors 20, 30
4 and 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7, as shown in FIG. 4, in the initial state in which the female connector 30 is fitted to the male connector 20, the male connector 20 is in a projecting standby state. Is held by the locking state of each locking concave portion 14 of the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10 and the projection 25 of each flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20. As shown in FIG. While the female connector 30 is fitted to the female connector 20, the front end 32 of the hood 32 of the female connector 30 is
a, the flexible locking pieces 28 of the male connector 20
Is elastically deformed outward through the protrusion 29, and the male connector 2
0, the front end surfaces of the flexible locking pieces 28 abut against the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10, respectively, and the respective locking recesses 14 of the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10 and the male connector 20. The locking state of each flexible arm 24 with the projection 25 is more reliably maintained.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the fitting of the male and female connectors 30 is completed, the projections 2 of the flexible locking pieces 28 of the male connector 20 are inserted into the respective slots 35 of the female connector 30.
9 enters. At this time, as shown in FIG.
The projections 34 of each release arm 33 press the projection 25 of each flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 inward, and each flexible arm 24 elastically deforms and bends inward. Thereby, each locking recess 14 of the peripheral wall 13 a of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10 and the projection 25 of each flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 are formed.
Is released, and the projections 34 of the release arms 33 of the female connector 30 are inserted into the respective locking recesses 14 of the engagement holes 13 of the holder 10. Thereby, the male connector 20
Is released, and the mated connectors 20 and 30 slide down in the holder 10 together. When the sliding is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, the switch 41 mounted in the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60 is locked by the elastic biasing force of the leaf spring 42, and the mounting of the switch unit 40 to the door panel 50 is completed. I do. At this time, the fitted connectors 20, 3
0 is in a state of being abutted and locked by the protrusion 29 of each flexible locking piece 28 of the male connector 20 and the tapered surface 36 of each slot 35 of the female connector 30. Even if the wire harness W connected to the male connector 20 is pulled for some reason after the attachment, the two connectors 2
The fitting of 0, 30 does not come off.

Further, when the connectors 20, 30 are disengaged from the fitted state of the connectors 20, 30 shown in FIG. 8 during maintenance and inspection, etc., as shown in FIGS. When the switch 41 is pulled upward, the tapered surface 36 of each slot 35 of the female connector 30 presses the projection 29 of each flexible locking piece 28 of the male connector 20 outward, and each of the flexible locking pieces 28 flexes outward,
The protrusion 25 of each flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 is exposed forward from the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10,
The locking recesses 14 on the peripheral wall 13a of the engagement hole 13 of the holder 10 and the projections 2 on the flexible arms 24 of the male connector 20
(This position is the position of the male connector 20 before fitting).
Is the same position as the projecting standby position of. Then, by pulling the switch 41 of the switch unit 40 further upward, the projection 2 of each flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 is
5, the female connector 30 is smoothly and easily detached via the tapered surface 34a of the projection 34 of each release arm 33. When the female connector 30 is fitted to the male connector 20 again after maintenance or the like is completed, the female connector 30 can be easily connected to the male connector 20 because the male connector 20 is at the protruding standby position where the male connector 20 protrudes from the holder 10. It can be fitted and attached.

As described above, the engagement state between the engagement hole 13 of the holder 10 and the flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 is as follows.
The flexible locking piece 28 of the male connector 20 is locked to the peripheral wall 13a of the engaging hole 13 of the holder 10 by the front end 32a of the hood 32 of the female connector 30.
Since it is securely maintained until the mating of 0, 30 is completed,
The fitting of the two connectors 20, 30 can be guaranteed, and the reliability can be improved. In addition, both connectors 2
At the completion of the fitting of 0 and 30, the engagement state of the engagement hole 13 of the holder 10 and the flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 is released by the release arm 33 of the female connector 30. It can be seen that the fitting of both connectors 20, 30 has been completed at the time when 20, 30 are slid downward, and it is possible to easily confirm the fitting state of both connectors 20, 30. Therefore, both connectors 20,
The connector 10 can be aligned and smoothly fitted, and the holder 10 can be fitted with both connectors 20 and 30 fitted together.
Can be easily slid and attached to the door panel 50. Thereby, vibration and the like can be prevented, vibration resistance can be improved, and generation of abnormal noise can be prevented. Further, when the mating is completed, both connectors 20, 30 are connected.
Can be absorbed in the position where the door panel 50 and the door trim 60 are completely slid with respect to the holder 10, and the occurrence of rattling, vibrations, and noise of the connectors 20, 30 can be reliably prevented. Can be prevented.

The peripheral wall 1 of the engagement hole 13 of the holder 10
3a and the flexible arm 2 of the male connector 20
4 restricts the retreat position of the male connector 20 at the time of waiting for the male connector 20 to protrude.
0 can be easily fitted. In addition, holder 1
Since the locking concave portion 14 of the engagement hole 13 and the flexible arm 24 of the male connector 20 are disposed at one place, the size of the entire connector can be reduced. Further, the position of the male connector 20 at which the male connector 20 projects forward is restricted by the engagement between the peripheral wall 13a of the engagement hole 13 of the holder 10 and the stopper 26 of the male connector 20. The position can always be the same position, and the detaching operation and re-engaging operation of both connectors 20, 30 during maintenance and inspection can be performed reliably and easily.

According to the above embodiment, the holding means for holding the locking state between the peripheral wall of the engaging hole of the holder and the flexible locking piece of the male connector is used as the hood portion of the female connector, and the components are omitted. However, it is needless to say that the holding means is not limited to the hood portion of the female connector, but may be a holding piece or the like integrally formed from the female connector.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the engagement and disengagement of the two connectors can be easily performed by the holding means provided on the other connector and the release arm having the release surface on the projection. It can be done reliably.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the release surface of the projection of the release arm is a tapered surface, the locked state of the locking means of the holder and the locking means of the one connector can be easily released. it can. As a result, the other connector can be easily and smoothly detached from the one connector, and the detachment operation and the re-engagement operation of both connectors during maintenance and inspection can be performed easily and reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before fitting of a female connector and a male connector used for a connector fitting / removing structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state before fitting of the two connectors.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state before the fitting of the two connectors.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of fitting of the two connectors.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the two connectors are being fitted.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an initial state of fitting of the two connectors.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state at the time when the fitting of the two connectors is completed.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state at the time of completion of attachment of both connectors.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door adopting the connector fitting / removing structure.

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional female and male connector before fitting, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the same connector when fitting.
(C) is a cross-sectional view of the two connectors in the middle of being mounted in their proper positions, and (d) is a cross-sectional view of the two connectors when mounting is completed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Holder 13 Engagement hole (locking means) 13a Peripheral wall 14 Locking recess 20 Male connector (one connector) 22 Hood 24 Flexible arm (locking means) 25 Projection (locking part) 28 Flexible locking Piece (locking means) 30 female connector (other connector) 32 hood part (holding means) 33 release arm (holding and releasing means) 34 projection 34a tapered surface (detached surface) 50 door panel (attached body)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/629-13/64 B60R 16/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. One of a female connector and a male connector is attached to an object to be mounted in a standby state protruding via a holder, and the other connector is connected to the one connector from the one connector's projection standby direction. The connector is slidably provided, and the one connector is slidably provided on the holder,
The holder and the hood of one of the connectors are provided with locking means for holding the one connector in a standby protruding state, and the locking state of the locking means when the two connectors are fitted to the other connector. A holding means for holding is provided, and a holding release means for releasing the locking state of each locking means when the fitting of the two connectors is completed is provided, and the fitting of the two connectors is completed when the fitting of the two connectors is completed. A connector that is slidable to the holder side with respect to the holder, wherein the locking means of the holder is constituted by an engaging hole having a locking recess in a peripheral wall, and The locking means of the connector hood is formed of a flexible arm having a locking portion which is locked to and released from the peripheral wall of the engagement hole on the locking recess side, and the holding release means of the other connector is provided. , Locking recess of the engagement hole
A connector having a release arm having a protrusion inserted through the portion to bend the flexible arm, wherein a release surface is provided on the protrusion of the release arm. 2. The connector fitting / disengaging structure according to claim 1, wherein the release surface of the projection of the release arm is formed as a tapered surface.