JP3472692B2 - Slide mating type connector - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a slide member which is slid in a fitting direction of a multi-pole female and male connector housing and is operated with a small operating force of the slide member. The present invention relates to a slide-fit type connector in which both connector housings can be easily fitted and detached by leverage of a rotating lever. [0002] The applicant of the present invention applied for a slide fitting type connector utilizing this kind of leverage in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-216718. This will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11. A male connector housing 2 constituting one connector housing of the slide fitting type connector 1 is provided with a slide member 3 so as to be capable of reciprocating sliding movement. The slide member 3 rotatably supports a base end 4a of a lever 4 which is rotated by reciprocation of the slide member 3 via a support shaft 5. The elongated hole 4b in the middle of the lever 4 is linked to a support pin 6 as an action point of the male connector housing 2. In order to fit and disengage the male connector housing 2 and the female connector housing 7 that constitutes the other connector housing, the distal ends 4c and 4d of the lever 4 are connected to a pair of engaging portions of the female connector housing 7. 8 and 9 can be engaged and separated freely. When the slide member 3 moves forward, the distal end portion 4c of the lever 4 engages with one of the engaging portions 8 of the female connector housing 7 so that the male connector housing 7 is connected to the female connector housing 7. When the housing 2 is retracted, the two connector housings 2 and 7 are fitted to each other, and when the slide member 3 is moved back, the distal end 4 d of the lever 4 is engaged with the other engagement portion 9 of the female connector housing 7. The two connector housings 2 and 7 are disengaged from each other by engagement. That is, as shown in FIGS.
Is pushed in the forward movement direction (fitting direction) and pushed in sequentially, and the lever action of the lever 4 (the base end 4 of the lever 4) is performed.
(a), the lever 5 is the point of force, the support pin 6 of the male connector housing 2 is the point of action, and the tip 4c of the lever 4 is the fulcrum. The mold connector housing 2 is retracted, and the two connector housings 2 and 7 are fitted together. [0004] In the prior art slide fitting type connector 1, both connector housings 2, 7 are provided.
When the lever 4 is rotated to fit the two connector housings 2 and 7 together with each other, the tip 4c of the lever 4 is used as a fulcrum of the lever action at the time of fitting.
Of the female connector housing 7 has been moved up and down along one engagement portion 8 of the female connector housing 7 in accordance with the rotation of the lever 4. This increases the distance from the point of action (support pin 6) to the fulcrum (tip 4c of lever 4),
Since the distance from the point of action (support pin 6) to the point of force (support shaft 5) is reduced, the lever acting force of lever 4 is reduced, and both connector housings 2 and 7 are fitted together by a small operating force of slide member 3. There was a limit to doing so. That is, there is a possibility that the so-called low insertion force effect of both connector housings 2 and 7 may be reduced. Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and prevents the movement of the fulcrum to sufficiently exert the leverage function of the lever. An object of the present invention is to provide a slide-fit type connector with good operability, which can easily and surely perform a fitting operation between housings. [0006] The invention of claim 1 is a female,
A slide member is reciprocally slidably provided on one of the male and female connector housings, and a base end of a lever which is rotated by the reciprocation of the slide member is rotated on the slide member via a support shaft for power point. Freely supported,
The middle part of the lever is linked to the action point of the one connector housing, and the front end of the lever is freely engageable with the engaging part of the other connector housing when the two connector housings are fitted. a sliding fitting type connector was, for the <br/> said slide member to said one connector housing de direction fitting of the two connector housings and exterior reciprocally sliding movement, the slide
Between the connector member and the one connector housing.
While intervening bar, of the one connector housing
A rectangular parallelepiped guide as an action point protrudes from the lower front side
The lever is located above the rear surface of the rectangular parallelepiped guide.
And a protrusion for a lever fulcrum on which the distal end of the lever slides is formed in the engaging portion of the other connector housing, and the distal end of the lever when the slide member moves forward. A side slides on a projection of an engaging portion of the other connector housing, and the one connector housing is drawn into the other connector housing so that both connector housings are fitted to each other. is there. In this slide fitting type connector, the fitting operation between the two connector housings can be easily performed simply by sliding the slide member in the reciprocating direction (the fitting / removing direction). At this time, since the projection serving as the fulcrum of the lever that is rotated by the reciprocating motion of the slide member is provided on the engagement portion of the other connector housing, the fulcrum of the lever action does not move, and the small operation force of the slide member reduces The lever action of the lever is sufficiently exerted, and the connector housings are smoothly and securely fitted to each other. Also, if the lever is
Since it is not included in the guide member and protrudes outward,
The lever and the like are not damaged by an external load. This
This does not impair the lever function of the lever.
Between the connector housings in a stable condition
Is ensured. In addition, one connector housing
Point of action with a simple structure that simply projects the guide section
Part, and miniaturization and cost reduction of the entire connector
It is planned. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state immediately before the fitting of the slide fitting type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state of the slide fitting type connector in the middle of fitting, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a completed state of the slide fitting type connector. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the slide-fit type connector 10 has a plurality of male terminals 26 projecting from a concave portion 21a of a rear wall 21 into a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 22. The rear side of the rear wall 21 is a female connector housing (the other connector housing) 20 made of synthetic resin and fixed to a substrate (not shown), and is reciprocally slidable into a hood portion 22 of the female connector housing 20. And a rectangular cylindrical slide cover (slide member) 30 made of synthetic resin which is loosely fitted in a rectangular parallelepiped male connector housing (one side) made of synthetic resin supported in the slide cover 30 so as to be reciprocally slidable. Connector housing) 4
0, upper and lower walls 3 of the slide cover 30 described later.
The movable male connector housing 40 is fitted to the fixed female connector housing 20 by leverage action. And a synthetic resin lever 50 to be combined. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a groove-shaped recess (lever guide) extending from the front end to the recess 21a of the rear wall 21 is provided on the inner surface of the upper wall 22a of the hood 22 of the female connector housing 20. Part) 23 is formed. A rib (engaging portion) 24 is integrally formed on the front side of the inner surface of the lower wall 22b of the hood portion 22 of the female connector housing 20. At the upper end of the rear surface of the rib 24, a projection 25 on which the tip end side of the lever 50 slides is formed integrally with the projection. The projection 25 pulls the male connector housing 40 into the female connector housing 20 by the forward sliding operation of the slide cover 30, and the two connector housings 20, 40 are moved.
When the members are fitted to each other, the distal end side of the lever 50 is slidably contacted and serves as a fulcrum of the lever 50. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the slide cover 30 is formed of a synthetic resin in the shape of a square tube, and is slidably mounted on the male connector housing 40. The female connector housing 20 is slidable in the hood portion 22 when the housings 20 and 40 are fitted and removed. On the front end side of the outer peripheral surface of the rectangular cylindrical slide cover 30, an operating portion 31 in the form of an annular flange is integrally formed. Also, the upper and lower walls 32 of the slide cover 30,
Slits 32a and 33a are formed at opposing positions of 33, respectively, and the base end 51 of the lever 50 is rotated through a support shaft 35 for power point in a slit (one slit) 32a of the upper wall 32. It is movably supported and the lower wall 3
The lever 5 is provided in the slit 33 (the other slit) 33a.
No. 0 is freely inserted and separated. Further, a groove portion (engaging portion) in which a temporary fixing means 53 described later provided on the base end portion 51 side of the lever 50 is temporarily locked on the front side of the opposed inner surface of the slit 32a of the upper wall 32. 36 is formed in a concave shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the male connector housing 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by a synthetic resin, and a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers (not shown) are formed between front and rear surfaces thereof. It is. In each of these terminal accommodation rooms,
When the two connector housings 20 and 40 are fitted together, a female terminal (not shown) that is electrically connected to each male terminal 26 of the female connector housing 20 to achieve electrical continuity between the two connector housings 20 and 40 is accommodated therein. It is. A wire harness (not shown) is connected to each of the female terminals. Further, a rectangular parallelepiped guide portion (action point portion) 41 is integrally formed at the front lower side of one side surface 40a of the male connector housing 40. An arc-shaped projection 41b is formed integrally with the upper surface of the rear surface 41a of the guide portion 41 so that the middle portion of the lever 50 slides and serves as an operating point of the lever 50. Further, on the rear side of one side surface 40a of the male connector housing 40, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped lever extruding portion 42 on which a sliding contact portion 56 described later on the distal end side of the lever 50 abuts and slides integrally. It is formed to protrude. This lever pushing part 42
Is a front surface (guide surface) on which the sliding portion 56 of the lever 50 slides.
42a and a tapered surface (restriction surface) 42 formed continuously above the front surface 42a and guiding the lever 50 to a normal position.
b. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the sliding contact portion 56 on the distal end side of the lever 50 is pressed and slid on the front surface 42a of the lever pushing portion 42, the temporarily stopped state of the lever 50 is released. And the slide cover 30 and the male connector housing 4 as shown in FIG.
0, the tapered surface 42 of the lever push-out portion 42
The lever 50 is guided to a proper position (initial rotation position) via the line b. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the lever 50 is formed of a synthetic resin into a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a pivot hole (engaging portion) 52 is formed at the center of an arc-shaped base end portion 51 thereof. It is formed. The base end 51 of the lever 50 is rotatably supported by fitting the support shaft 35 projecting into the slit 32 a of the upper wall 32 of the slide cover 30 into the pivot support hole 52. In the vicinity of the pivot hole 52 on both sides of the lever 50, temporary fixing protrusions (temporary fixing means) 53 having a horizontal columnar shape temporarily fixed to the groove 36 of the slide cover 30 are integrally formed. Further, the front surface (one surface) 54 of the lever 50 is tapered from the middle to the front end thereof, and the front surface 54 slides on the arc-shaped projection 41 b of the guide portion 41 of the male connector housing 40. It is accessible.
The upper side of the rear surface (other surface) 55 of the lever 50 is the tapered surface 42 of the lever push-out portion 42 of the male connector housing 40.
b. At the end of the rear surface 55 of the lever 50, a substantially triangular prism-shaped sliding contact portion 56 is integrally formed to protrude. As shown in FIG. 42 front 42a
When the lever 50 is pressed and slid to the lower side, the temporarily fixed state of the lever 50 is released. Further, when the female connector housing 20 and the male connector housing 40 are fitted to each other by the reciprocating sliding operation of the slide cover 30, the rear surface 55 of the lever 50 near the sliding contact portion 56 has a female connector. The lever 20 slides on a projection 25 for a lever fulcrum projecting from a rib 24 of the housing 20. The slide fitting type connector 1 of the embodiment described above
0, the lever 50 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 35 of the slide cover 30 immediately before the start of fitting between the female connector housing 20 and the male connector housings 40, as shown in FIG. The male connector housing 40 is inclined between the protrusion 41b of the guide portion 41 of the male connector housing 40 and the tapered surface 42b of the lever push-out portion 42 (the initial rotation position). This state is assembled as shown in FIGS. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, only the lever 50 is set on the slide cover 30 while maintaining a certain angle. The lever 50 is temporarily fixed in an oblique state by the groove 36 of the upper wall 32 of the slide cover 30 and the temporary fixing projection 53 temporarily fixed to the groove 36, and does not hang down. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, when the male connector housing 40 is pressed and inserted into the slide cover 30, the sliding contact portion 56 on the distal end side of the lever 50 is moved to the lever pushing portion 42 of the male connector housing 40. It contacts the front surface 42a. The male connector housing 4
6 is further inserted into the slide cover 30 by pressing.
As shown in (5), the temporary fixing projection 53 of the lever 50 is disengaged from the groove 36 of the upper wall 32 of the slide cover 30, and the temporary fixing state is released. The lever 50 in which the temporarily fixed state is released is connected to the lever pushing portion 4 of the male connector housing 40.
2 by being further pressed by the front surface 42a of the lever 50, as shown in FIG.
5 stops at a proper position (initial rotation position) where the projection 41b of the guide portion 41 of the male connector housing 40 and the tapered surface 42b of the lever push-out portion 42 abut. Thus, by providing the temporary fixing projection 53 on the lever 50,
The lever 50 does not turn downward due to its own weight.
This eliminates the need for operating the lever 50, such as lifting the lever 0, so that the slide cover 30 and the male connector housing 4 can be used.
The workability of assembling with 0 is improved. As shown in FIG. 1, the distal end of the slide cover 30 enclosing the male connector housing 40 assembled in this manner is inserted into the hood portion 22 of the fixed female connector housing 20. After that, the slide cover 30 is connected to both connector housings 2.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the push operation is performed by pressing in the fitting direction of 0, 40, the distal end side of the rear surface 55 of the lever 50 is a protrusion for the lever fulcrum of the rib 24 in the hood portion 22 of the female connector housing 20. The lever 50 starts to rotate in contact with 25. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when the slide cover 30 is further pressed and pushed in the fitting direction, the lever 50 is pushed.
Lever action (the support shaft 35 that rotatably supports the base end 51 of the lever 50 is the point of force, the projection 41 b of the guide portion 41 of the male connector housing 40 is the point of action, and the rib 24 of the female connector housing 20 is used. The male connector housing 40 is pulled into the hood portion 22 of the female connector housing 20 by the leverage of the projection 25 as a fulcrum, and the two connector housings 20 and 40 are fitted to each other. As described above, the fitting operation between the connector housings 20 and 40 can be easily performed only by sliding the slide cover 30 in the fitting direction with a small operating force. In particular, since the projection 25 serving as a fulcrum of the lever 50 that is rotated by the reciprocating movement of the slide cover 30 is protruded from the rib 24 of the female connector housing 20, the movement of the fulcrum relative to the lever 50 can be prevented.
Accordingly, the lever action of the lever 50 by the small operation force of the slide cover 30 can be sufficiently exerted, and the two connector housings 20, 40 can be smoothly and reliably connected to each other without reducing the effect of the low operation force of the slide cover 30. Can be fitted. Further, since the lever 50 is not included in the slide cover 30 and does not protrude outward, it is possible to reliably prevent the lever 50 from being damaged by an external load or the like. Thereby, the fitting between the connector housings 20 and 40 can be easily and reliably performed in a stable state without impairing the function of the lever action of the lever 50 (the fitting function by the small operation force). Furthermore, since the guide portion 41 as an action point is integrally formed on one side surface 40a of the male connector housing 40, the size and cost of the entire connector can be reduced. Also, the slide cover 30
Can be easily and reliably engaged with each other by using the lever action of one lever 50 provided in the connector housings 20 and 40, so that the number of parts can be reduced accordingly. Thus, the cost of the entire connector can be further reduced. According to the above-described embodiment, the action point portion provided on the male connector housing is used as the guide portion, but may be constituted by a support pin or the like. Although one lever and one male connector housing are provided, two or more levers and male connector housings may be provided. Further, although the lever is provided on the male connector housing side, the lever may be provided on the female connector housing side. As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the lever operates in cooperation with the slide member only by sliding the slide member in the fitting direction with a small operation force. Accordingly, the fitting operation between the female and male connector housings can be easily performed. In particular, since a projection serving as a fulcrum of the lever that is rotated by the reciprocating motion of the slide member is provided on the engagement portion of the other connector housing, the movement of the fulcrum is prevented, and the lever operation by the small operating force of the slide member is prevented. The two connector housings can be fitted smoothly and reliably without reducing the effect of the low operating force of the slide member. Also, the lever is included in the slide member and protrudes outward.
The lever will not be released, so the lever may be broken due to external load, etc.
Loss and the like can be reliably prevented. This allows the lever
-The lever function is always stable without impairment
The connector housings easily and securely
You can do it. In addition, one connector housing
The action point provided on the bearing is guided by a guide with a simple structure.
Configuration, miniaturization and cost reduction of the entire connector
Can be achieved. [0030]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before the fitting of a slide fitting type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention starts. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the slide fitting type connector is being fitted. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the slide fitting type connector has been completely fitted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before mounting a slide member in which a male connector housing and a lever of the slide fitting type connector are temporarily fixed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when mounting of the male connector housing and the slide member is started. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which the male connector housing and the slide member are being mounted. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when mounting of the male connector housing and the slide member is completed. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before fitting of a slide fitting connector of the prior art. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state at the time of starting fitting of the slide fitting connector of the prior art. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the prior art slide fitting type connector in the middle of fitting. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state at the time when the fitting of the slide fitting type connector of the prior art is completed. [Description of Reference Symbols] 10 Slide fitting type connector 20 Female connector housing (other connector housing) 24 Rib (engaging portion) 25 Projection for lever fulcrum 30 Slide cover (slide member) 35 Support shaft 40 Male type Connector housing (one connector housing) 41 Guide part (action point part) 50 Lever 51 Base end part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-11-26067 (JP, A) JP-A-6-231831 (JP, A) JP-A-10-334988 (JP, A) JP-A-10-108 172654 (JP, A) JP-A-11-67349 (JP, A) JP-A-11-31552 (JP, A) JP-A-11-102748 (JP, A) JP-A-4-85674 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/629

Claims (1)

(1) A slide member is provided in one of the female and male connector housings so as to be reciprocally slidable, and the slide member is rotated by the reciprocating movement of the slide member. A base end portion of the lever is rotatably supported via a support shaft for a point of force, and an intermediate portion of the lever is linked to an operation point portion of the one connector housing, and the two connector housings are fitted together. A slide-fit type connector in which a tip end side of the lever is freely engageable with an engagement portion of the other connector housing, wherein the slide member is attached to the one connector housing in a direction in which the two connector housings are inserted and removed. freely armored reciprocally slides against the said one of the co and the slide member
While interposing the lever between the connector housing,
An action point is provided at the front lower side of the one connector housing.
All of the rectangular guides are projected, and the rectangular guides are
The middle part of the lever is slidable on the upper part of the rear surface of the lever.
And forming a protrusion for a lever fulcrum on which the tip end side of the lever slides in the engagement portion of the other connector housing,
When the slide member moves forward, the distal end side of the lever slides on the projection of the engaging portion of the other connector housing, and the one connector housing is pulled into the other connector housing to fit the two connector housings together. A slide-fit type connector characterized in that the connector is configured to be engaged.