JP3425872B2 - 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 mounting a module-side movable panel on a vehicle-body-side fixed panel of an automobile, for example, and simultaneously connecting the module-side movable panel with the module-side movable panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a process of assembling an automobile meter module, door module, overhead module, etc., a connector of a wire harness of a vehicle body side panel (eg dashboard, door panel, roof panel) and an electrical equipment module side panel (eg , The instrument panel, the inner panel) and the connector of the wire harness were connected by hand, and then the panel on the electrical module side was attached to the panel on the vehicle body side, but it was necessary to assemble the connectors by hand. There was a problem in workability. Further, since the wire harness of each connector requires an extra length, running noise may occur due to running vibration, and electric wires may be caught, and various measures have been required.

For this reason, a connector has been proposed in which a movable panel on the module side can be attached to a fixed panel on the vehicle body side at the same time (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-54933).
However, since the connectors are only fixed to each panel so that they are oriented vertically (opposite direction of the panels), a wide space for connector connection must be secured between the panels (depth direction). I have to.

[0004]

Therefore, the first connector is fixed to the first mounting member (movable panel on the module side) at the lateral position, and the second connector is laterally mounted on the holder of the second mounting member (fixed panel on the vehicle body side). When the two mounting members are supported relatively close to each other while being supported so as to be displaceable in the forward direction, the second
A connector in which the connector is coupled to the first connector while being displaced laterally in the forward direction is conceivable. In this connector, since each connector is in the horizontal position before and after the completion of the coupling, it is not necessary to secure a large space for coupling the connectors between the mounting members (in the depth direction).
Even if the space in the depth direction is narrow, it is possible to obtain the effect of enabling the connection.

However, in putting this connector into practical use, there is still room for improvement in terms of assembling property and the like.

The present invention has been made in order to meet the above demands, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a good assembling property and suitable for practical use.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention fixes a first connector at a lateral position to a first mounting member and a lateral position at a holder fixed to a second mounting member. Support the second connector so as to be displaceable in the lateral advancing direction, and when the two mounting members are brought relatively close to each other, the second connector is coupled to the first connector while being displaced in the lateral advancing direction. In the above connector, the first connector is provided with a holding guide portion that holds the second connector at the facing position when the second connector faces each other and guides the movement in the lateral forward direction. The guide pin portions on both sides of the second connector are fitted and supported in the cam slot portions on both sides so as to be movable laterally in the forward direction, so that both mounting members are relatively close to each other. At this time, the second connector is moved laterally in the forward direction in the cam slot portion so that the terminals of the first connector and the terminals of the second connector are completely fitted to each other. The insertion piece portion is provided on one side, and the insertion groove portion for inserting and holding the insertion piece portion is provided on the other side. The engagement piece portion and the insertion groove portion that can be engaged when inserted to a predetermined position The connector is characterized in that the holder is inserted and fixed in the second mounting member by relatively forming the fitting protrusion and the engaging hole.

According to the present invention, the first connector is fixed to the first mounting member in the lateral position (the direction perpendicular to the facing direction of the mounting member), and the guide of the second connector is guided by the cam throttle portion of the holder of the second mounting member. When the pin portion is movably supported in the laterally forward direction and both mounting members are relatively brought close to each other, the second connector moves in the laterally forward direction with respect to the first connector by the cam throttle portion and the guide pin portion. However, the terminals of the first connector and the terminals of the second connector are completely fitted. Further, the holder can be fixed to the second mounting member with one touch by simply inserting the insertion piece provided on either one of the second mounting member and the holder into the insertion groove provided on the other.

According to a second aspect, the first connector is the first
If the structure is fixed to the mounting member so that it can swing and swing, even if there is some error in the assembling relation position with the second connector, it will move to the assembling relation position by the swinging swing of the first connector. The first connector can be smoothly joined to the second connector without any trouble.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, after the terminals of the first connector and the terminals of the second connector are completely fitted, the second connector can be further moved laterally in the forward direction with respect to the holder. be able to.

With this structure, after the terminals of the first connector and the terminals of the second connector are completely fitted, the coupling between the first connector and the second connector is completed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the harness is connected to the second connector, the second connector to which the harness is connected is assembled to the holder, and the holder to which the second connector is assembled is fixed to the second mounting member. It can be configured to be.

According to this structure, the extra length of the harness is increased as compared with the case where the holder is fixed to the second mounting member and then the second connector in which the harness is connected is assembled to the holder fixed to the second mounting member. Can be shortened.

According to a fifth aspect, the first mounting member and the second mounting member
When one of the mounting members is a vehicle body side fixed panel of the automobile and the other is an electric component module side movable panel, it is not necessary to manually connect the connectors in the automobile assembly process.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an overhead module (first mounting member ... electrical module side panel).
In this embodiment, one male connector (first connector) 12 is connected to a female connector (second connector) 14 of a roof panel (second mounting member ... Vehicle body side panel) 3.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the insert shoe groove 1 is formed on the inner surface 1a of the overhead module 1.
The fixed base 15 having the 5a formed therein is attached, the shoe 12a at the bottom of the male connector 12 is inserted into the fixed base 15, and the locking projection 12j (see FIG. 1) of the male connector 12 is engaged in the locking hole 15b. By being stopped, the male connector 12 is fixed to the fixed base 15 in the lateral position.

A slight gap is formed between the shoe groove 15a of the fixed base 15 and the shoe 12a of the male connector 12 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and the male connector 12 is attached to the fixed base 15 by the gap. It is fixed so that it can be swung.

Temporary locking release projections 12c are formed on both outer surfaces of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12, and holding guide projections 12d are formed on both inner surfaces of the fitting portion 12b. Has been done. The fitting part 1
The inner upper surface 12e of 2b forms a holding guide portion together with the holding guide protrusion 12d.

A notch 12f is formed on the lower surface of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 for fitting a fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 which will be described later from below, and both side surfaces will be described later. An escape groove 12g of the guide pin portion 14b is formed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, on the inner surface of the roof panel 3, there are formed left and right paired insertion piece portions 3a, and each insertion piece portion 3a has an engagement hole 3b. Each is formed.

A bulging portion 17 is formed on the outer surface of both side portions 17a of the female holder 17 in the shape of a rectangular box whose upper surface and front surface are open.
i is formed in each bulging portion 17i, and a penetrating insertion groove portion 17j is formed in each bulging portion 17i. Each insertion groove portion 17j has an engagement protrusion 17k having a spring property.
Are formed respectively.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b),
By inserting both insertion groove portions 17j of the female side holder 17 into both insertion piece portions 3a of the roof panel 3,
The female protrusion 17k of the insertion groove 17j of the female holder 17 is engaged with the engaging hole 3b of the insertion piece 3a of the roof panel 3, whereby the female holder 17 is fixed to the roof panel 3. .

Each of the insertion pieces 3a may be integrally formed with a bracket attached to the roof panel 3, or may be attached by welding, or integrally formed if the bracket or the roof panel is a resin molded product.

Guide pins 14b projecting to both sides are formed on both outer surfaces of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14, and both side portions 1 of the female holder 17 are formed.
A cam slot portion 17b that is inclined downward in the forward direction (see arrow F) is formed at 7a.
The upper part 17c of 7b is formed in a slightly downward slope. Then, the guide pin portion 14b of the female connector 14 is fitted and guided in the cam slot portion 17b, so that, as will be described later, with respect to the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 fixed in the lateral position, The fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 is coupled while moving laterally in the forward direction.

An upper locking projection 17d and a lower temporary locking projection 17e are formed on both inner surfaces of both side portions 17a of the female holder 17, respectively. The guide pin portion 14b of the female connector 14 is connected to the cam throttle portion 17
The lower surface flange portion 14c of the female connector 14 is locked between the locking projection 17d and the temporary locking projection 17e in a state where the female connector 14 is fitted in the upper portion 17c of the female connector 14b.
Will be temporarily locked in the initial horizontal position (see FIG. 6).

When the male connector 12 approaches the open upper surface of the female holder 17, the temporary locking of the male connector 12 is released on both inner surfaces of the both side portions 17a of the female holder 17 near the open front portion. Fitting groove 17 into which the protrusion 12c is fitted
f are formed respectively, and as shown in FIG. 6B, the engaging protrusion 17d and the temporary engaging protrusion 1 of the fitting groove 17f are formed.
At the bottom between 7e and 17e, a protrusion-like temporary locking release protrusion 17 is formed.
g are formed respectively.

As shown in detail in FIG. 10, holding guide rail portions 14d extending in the front-rear direction are formed on both outer surfaces of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14, respectively. The male connector 1 at the bottom
When the second holding guide protrusion 12d is locked, the male connector 12 is held (locked) with respect to the female connector 14 so as not to move in the locking direction. At this time, the inner upper surface 12e of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 is in contact with the upper surface 14e of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14.

Next, a procedure for connecting the male connector 12 and the female connector 14 having the above-described configurations will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, before connection (before assembly), the male connector 12 is attached to the fixed base 15 of the roof panel 1.
Is fixed to the sideways position, and the female connector 14 on the side of the overhead module 3 is temporarily locked by the female side holder 17 at the sideways initial position. That is, with the guide pin portion 14b of the female connector 14 fitted in the upper portion 17c of the cam throttle portion 17b of the female holder 17, the lower surface flange portion 14c of the female connector 14 is locked by the locking projection portion 17d.
And the temporary locking protrusion 17e.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the overhead module 1 approaches the roof panel 3 in a parallel state (see arrow A), the male connector 12 is temporarily engaged with the fitting groove 17f of the female holder 17. The stop release protrusion 12c is fitted, and the notch 12f of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 is fitted to the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14. In this state, the terminals of the fitting portions 12b and 14a are just before fitting.

At this time, the temporary locking release projection 12c of the male connector 12 rides on the temporary locking release projection 17g of the fitting groove 17f of the female holder 17, and the temporary locking release projection 17g.
Since the both side portions 17a are flexed and expanded outward (see the broken line), the temporary locking protrusion 17e also moves outward and the lower surface flange portion of the female connector 14 is pressed. The temporary locking of 14c is released or brought into a state close to the release.

Further, since the holding guide projection 12d of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 gets over the lower end of the holding guide rail portion 14d of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 and is locked to the female connector 14. Male connector 12
Is held (locked) so as not to move in the locking direction, and the inner upper surface 12e of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 is in contact with the upper surface 14e of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 (Fig. 8).

When the overhead module 1 is further brought closer to the roof panel 3 (see arrow A), the guide pin portion 14b of the female connector 14 has cam slot portions 17c and 17b of the female side holder 17 as shown in FIG. And the male connector 12 is attached to the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 as the overhead module 1 approaches (see arrow A).
The fitting portion 12b of FIG. 4 is fitted, and the terminal of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 and the terminal of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 are fitted together.

When the female connector 14 is moved in the laterally forward direction F, the holding guide rail portion 14d of the fitting portion 14a is moved.
The holding guide protrusion 12d of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 is locked to the lower end of the male connector 12, but movement in the lateral forward direction F is allowed, and the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 is allowed.
Since the inner upper surface 12e of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 is in contact with the upper surface 14e of the connector 12, both connectors 12, which will be described later,
Until the complete coupling of 14, the holding guide protrusion 12d of the male connector 12 and the inner upper surface 12e guide the movement of the female connector 14 in the laterally forward direction F.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9, when the overhead module 1 is brought closer to the roof panel 3 (see arrow A), the female connector 14 is moved further in the lateral forward direction F, and the female connector 14 is fitted. The fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 is deeply fitted into the fitting portion 14a so that the terminals of the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 and the terminals of the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12 are completely fitted. Then, the coupling of the male connector 12 to the female connector 14 is completed.

As described above, when the overhead module 1 is brought closer to the roof panel 3, the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 moves laterally in the forward direction F while moving toward the fitting portion 12b of the male connector 12. Joining will be completed. Therefore, since the connectors 12 and 14 are in the lateral position before and after the coupling, the roof panel 3
Since it is not necessary to secure a large space for connector connection between the overhead module 1 and the overhead module 1 (depth direction), connection is possible even if the space in the depth direction is narrow.

When the overhead module 1 is brought closer to the roof panel 3, the male connector 12 is connected before the male connector 12 and the female connector 14 are completely coupled.
Of the fitting portion 12b of the connector and the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14
Of the connector 12 and the fitting portion 12b of the female connector 14 and the fitting portion 14a of the female connector 14 are completed to be joined in the lateral position. Reference numeral 14 denotes each fitting portion 12 before the completion of the coupling.
Since the terminals b and 14a are completely fitted, the mounting dimension error in the depth direction between the roof panel 3 and the overhead module 1 can be absorbed, and the dimension tolerance of the depth error is increased. In addition, since the terminals of the fitting portions 12b and 14a are completely fitted before the completion of the joining of the connectors 12 and 14, there is no possibility of half fitting (misfitting) of the connectors 12 and 14.

Further, since the male connector 12 on the side of the overhead module 1 is fixed to the fixed base 15 so that it can swing and swing, the male connector 12 on the side of the roof panel 3 is slightly moved to a position related to the assembly. Even if there is an error, the swinging of the male connector 12 allows the assembly-related positions to be flexible, and the male connector 12 can be smoothly joined to the female connector 14 without any trouble.

On the other hand, the female holder 17 is attached to the roof panel 3.
When assembling the
Since the female holder 17 can be fixed to the roof panel 3 with one touch by simply inserting the insertion groove portion 17j of the female holder 17 into a, the assembling property is improved.

In this case, after the female side holder 17 is fixed to the roof panel 3, the female side holder 17 fixed to the roof panel 3 is connected to the female connector 14 having a harness.
By assembling, the extra length of the harness becomes long due to this assembly. However, as in the present embodiment, the harness is connected to the female connector 14, and the female connector 14 to which the harness is connected is attached to the female holder 17. By assembling and fixing the female side holder 17 to which the female connector 14 is assembled to the roof panel 3, the extra length of the harness for this assembling is shortened and the cost is reduced.
The problem of abnormal noise and biting due to the long extra length is reduced.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the overhead (lamp lamp or the like) module 1 is attached to the roof panel 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that it can be applied to a door module, a center cluster module and the like. Yes.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, in the connector of the present invention, the first connector is fixed to the first mounting member in the lateral position, and the second connector is mounted at the cam throttle portion of the holder of the second mounting member. When the guide pin portion of the above is movably supported in the lateral forward direction and both mounting members are relatively brought close to each other, the second connector is moved in the lateral forward direction by the cam throttle portion and the guide pin portion with respect to the first connector. Since the terminals of the first connector and the terminals of the second connector are completely fitted while moving, the terminals of the respective connectors are completely fitted in the lateral position, so that the space between the mounting members is reduced. It is not necessary to secure a wide connector coupling space (in the depth direction), and the connector can be coupled even if the space in the depth direction is narrow. Also, the holder can be fixed to the second mounting member with one touch by simply inserting the insertion piece provided on either the second mounting member or the holder into the insertion groove provided on the other side. Workability will be improved.

If the first connector is fixed to the first mounting member so that it can swing and swing, as described in claim 2, even if there is some error in the assembly-related position with the second connector, Due to the swinging swing of the connector, the assembly-related position is made flexible, and the first connector is smoothly joined to the second connector without any trouble.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, since the first connector and the second connector are completely fitted to each other and then the first connector and the second connector are completely coupled to each other, each connector is Since the terminals are completely fitted to each other before the completion of the coupling, the mounting dimension error of the both mounting members in the depth direction can be absorbed, and the dimension tolerance of the depth error is increased. Further, since the terminals are completely fitted to each other before the completion of the joining of the respective connectors, there is no possibility of half-fitting (misfitting) of the connectors.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the harness is connected to the second connector, the second connector to which the harness is connected is assembled to the holder, and the holder to which the second connector is assembled is fixed to the second mounting member. With such a configuration, the extra length of the harness becomes shorter than that in the case where the holder is fixed to the second mounting member and then the second connector in which the harness is connected is assembled to the holder fixed to the second mounting member. The cost is reduced and the problems of abnormal noise and biting due to the long surplus are reduced.

According to a fifth aspect, the first attachment member and the second attachment member
If one of the mounting members is a fixed panel on the vehicle body side of the automobile and the other is a movable panel on the electrical component module side, it is not necessary to manually connect the connectors during the assembly process of the automobile, so automatic assembly is not required. This makes it possible to improve the assembling workability, and eliminates the need for various measures because the extra length of the wire harness does not cause abnormal noise due to traveling vibration or the possibility of being caught in the electric wire. Further, since the space in the depth direction between the vehicle body side panel and the electrical equipment module side panel may be small, the vehicle interior space can be expanded accordingly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connector of the present invention, (a) is an assembled perspective view of a male connector and a fixed base, and (b) is an exploded perspective view of (a).

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a female connector and a female holder.

4A and 4B are insertion structures of an overhead module and a female holder, FIG. 4A is a side sectional view before insertion, and FIG. 4B is a side sectional view after insertion.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a female connector and a female holder.

6A and 6B show how to connect a connector, FIG. 6A is a sectional view before connection, and FIG. 6B is a front sectional view of FIG.

7A and 7B show how to connect a connector, wherein FIG. 7A is a sectional view of a female connector in a temporarily locked state, and FIG. 7B is a front sectional view of FIG. 7A.

8A and 8B show a connecting procedure of a connector, FIG. 8A is a sectional view in the middle of connection, and FIG. 8B is a front sectional view of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the completed connection of the connectors.

FIG. 10 is a connector holding guide structure, (a)
FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view before the holding guide, and (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views in the middle of the holding guide.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Overhead module (first mounting member) 3 Roof panel (second mounting member) 3a Insert piece 3b Engagement hole 12 Male connector (first connector) 14 Male connector (2nd connector) 14d Guide pin part 17 Female side holder 17b Cam slot part 17j Insertion groove part 17h engagement protrusion

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Kensaku Takada 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Aichi Prefecture Haruna Research Institute Ltd. (72) Inventor Takao Nozaki 1-7-10, Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture No. 72 Harness Institute of Technology Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Aoki 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-10-125398 (JP, A) JP-A-5- 54933 (JP, A) JP 10-74562 (JP, A) JP 2000-77133 (JP, A) JP 2000-82534 (JP, A) Actual development 3-95578 (JP, U) (58) ) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/62-13/64 H01R 13/73

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first connector at a lateral position is fixed to a first mounting member, and a holder fixed at a second mounting member supports a second connector so as to be displaceable in a lateral forward direction at a lateral position, A connector in which the second connector is coupled to the first connector while being displaced laterally in the forward direction when the two mounting members are relatively brought close to each other, and the second connector faces the first connector. When you do the second connection
Hold the actuator in the opposite position and
It also has a holding guide that guides the movement.
The second slot on the cam slots on both sides of the holder.
Guide pins on both sides of the nectar move sideways in the forward direction
Be fitted and supported as much as possible to bring both mounting members relatively close to each other.
The cam slot, the second connector is
Is moved in the advancing direction to connect the terminals of the first connector and the second connector.
The second mounting
Install the insertion piece on either the bracket or the holder.
On the other side, insert the insertion piece on the other side and hold it
There is a groove for inserting,
Engagement that can be engaged with the groove when it is inserted to the predetermined position
Since the protrusion and the engaging hole are formed relatively, the second
A connector characterized in that a holder is inserted and fixed to a mounting member . 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector is swingably and swingably fixed to the first mounting member. 3. The second connector can be further moved laterally in the forward direction with respect to the holder after the terminals of the first connector and the terminals of the second connector have been completely fitted together. Alternatively, the connector according to claim 2. 4. A harness is connected to the second connector, the second connector harness is connected is assembled in a holder, holder the second connector are assembled
There connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is a configuration that will be fixed to the second mounting member. 5. The first attachment member and the second mounting member, one is a vehicle body side fixed panel of an automobile and the other according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which is electric module side movable panel Connector.