JP3504860B2 - Connection structure of connector to electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for fitting a connector to an electric connection box that allows a connector portion of a connection box body and a mating connector to be fitted into and separated from each other by rotating a lever member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional electrical junction box 1. The electrical connection box 1 includes a connection box body 2 having a branch circuit formed by a bus bar and the like, and a lower surface 2b of the connection box body 2.
It is composed of a lower cover 4 made of synthetic resin that closes the side, and a lever member 5 rotatably supported by the connection box body 2.

In the connection box body 2, a plurality of electric component mounting portions 6 for mounting electric components such as relays and fuses are provided on the upper surface 2a, and the mating connector 7 is fitted on the lower surface 2b. A section 8 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) is provided. A terminal portion of a bus bar (not shown) is projectingly provided on the connector portion 8 and is connected to the mating terminal housed in the mating connector. Further, on the upper surface 2a of the connection box body 2, there is provided a lever support portion 9 for rotatably supporting a lever member 5 for fitting / releasing the mating connector 7 to / from the connector portion 8.

The lever support portion 9 includes a pair of lever support walls 10 and 10 which are erected from the upper surface 2a with a predetermined space therebetween.
The lever support walls 10 and 10 are provided with supporting shafts 18 and 18 projecting from the facing surfaces. On this support shaft 18, 18,
The lever member 5 is rotatably supported. Also,
A guide through hole 11 penetrating the upper surface 2a of the connection box body 2 and the connector portion 8 is provided between the pair of lever support walls 10 and 10.
Is provided. The guide column 12 of the mating connector 7 is guided and inserted into the guide through hole 11, and
The guide pin 13 provided on the lever engages with the lever member 5. Reference numeral 11a in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a guide pin guide groove in which the guide pin 13 is guided. Further, on both sides between the lever support walls 10 and 10, temporary locking portions 14 are provided on the electric component mounting portion 6 side, and main locking portions 15 are provided on the opposite side.

The temporary locking portion 14 has lever supporting walls 10, 1
Flexible locking claws 16, 16 that project in the same direction as 0 are provided. By locking locking projections 24, 24 projecting from both sides of an operation portion 22 of the lever member 5 described later between these locking claws 16, 16, the lever member 5 is set to the temporary locking position. Retained. In addition, similarly to the main locking portion 15,
Flexible locking claws 17, 17 that project in the same direction as the lever support walls 10, 10 are provided. These locking claws 1
The lever member 5 is held at the main locking position by locking the locking projections 24, 24 on both sides of the operation portion 22 of the lever member 5 which will be described later between 7 and 17.

The lever member 5 comprises a pair of lever support walls 1
Shaft support hole 1 into which the support shafts 18 of 0 and 10 are inserted and supported
9 and a pair of cam side plates 21 and 21 each having a cam groove 20 into which the guide pin 13 of the mating connector 7 is inserted, and an operating portion 22 provided between the pair of cam side plates 21 and 21.
Consists of. The cam groove 20 is provided around the support shaft 18, and an introduction opening 23 through which the guide pin 13 is introduced into the cam groove 20 is formed at the start end of the cam groove 20.
The cam groove 20 formed in the pair of cam side plates 21, 21 is
The distance from the shaft support hole 19 is formed in an arc shape so as to gradually decrease from the introduction opening 23 side to the terminal end. Further, locking protrusions 24, 24 are provided on both sides of the operation portion 22 so as to project.

Further, the lower cover 4 is provided with a connector locking portion 25 for locking the mating connector 7 on the bottom surface 4a. The connector locking part 25 is provided so as to surround the locking column part 26, the locking column part 26 provided so as to project from the bottom surface 4 a, the engagement arm 27 provided on the locking column part 26. It is composed of a mounting wall 28.

The locking pillar portion 26 is inserted into the internal space 12a of the guide pillar 12 provided in the mating connector 7 and guides the mating connector 7 to a predetermined position on the bottom surface 4a. Further, the engaging arm 27 is formed with an engaging protrusion 27a toward the outside, and the engaging protrusion 27a engages with the locking portion 12c protruding from the inner wall 12b of the guide column 12. ,
The mating connector 7 is prevented from being detached from the connector locking portion 25. Further, the mounting wall 28 has a stopper wall 28b at the bottom portion of the internal space 28a into which the guide column 12 is inserted. The stopper wall 28b positions the height position from the bottom surface 4a of the mating connector 7 when the lower end surface of the guide column 12 contacts.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the locking column 2 is placed in the internal space 12a of the guide column 12 of the mating connector 7.
6 is inserted, the guide column 26 is inserted into the internal space 28a of the mounting wall 28, and the mating connector 7 is set at a predetermined position in the lower cover 4. Next, in this state, when the lower surface 2b side of the connection box body 2 is covered with the lower cover 4, the guide column 12 is inserted into the guide through hole 11, and the guide pin 13 is introduced into the cam groove 20 from the introduction opening 23. To be done. In the lever member 5, the introduction opening 23 is located at the opening edge of the guide through hole 11 and the operation portion 22 is on the right side in FIG. 3 when the lower surface side of the connection box body 2 is not closed by the lower cover 4. The temporary locking portion 14 is located at.

When the lever member 5 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 about the support shaft 18 by operating the operating portion 22 from this state, the guide pin 13 causes the cam groove 20 to move.
Move relatively inside. The relative movement of the guide pin 13 in the cam groove 20 causes the guide pin 13 to move toward the shaft support hole 19 side, and the mating connector 7 is pulled up to the connector portion 8 of the connection box body 2. Further, when the lever member 5 is rotated, the mating connector 7 is completely fitted into the connector portion 8. At this time, in the lever member 5, as shown in FIG. 7, the operation portion 22 is locked by the main locking portion 15, and the mating state of the mating connector 7 with the connector portion 8 is maintained.

In this electric junction box 1, the mating connector 7 is closed by closing the lower side of the junction box main body 2 with the lower cover 4 while the mating connector 7 is engaged with the connector engaging portion 25 of the lower cover 4. The lower cover 4 and the junction box body 2
And can be easily positioned at a proper fitting position for the connector portion 8 of the connection box body 2.

[0012]

However, if the bottom surface 4a is distorted due to deformation of the lower cover 4 or the like, the connector locking portion 25 may be displaced or the bottom surface 4a may be displaced as shown in FIGS. And fall down. Therefore, the position of the mating connector 7 set in the connector locking portion 25 is also
There is a problem that the connection box main body 2 is displaced from the proper fitting position to the connector portion 8 and cannot be fitted to the connector portion 8.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure for fitting a connector to an electrical connection box, which allows a mating connector to be set at a regular fitting position on the connector portion.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a connection box provided with a lever support portion on the upper surface side and a connector portion with which a mating connector is fitted on the lower surface side. A main body, and a lower cover that covers the lower surface side of the connection box main body and that has a connector locking portion on the bottom surface for locking the mating connector fitted to the connector portion,
A structure for fitting a connector to an electrical connection box, which is rotatably supported by a support shaft of the lever support part and includes a lever member that engages and disengages the connector part and a mating connector by a rotating operation. A guide means is provided on one side wall of the lower cover to guide the mating connector locked by the connector locking portion to a normal fitting position with respect to the connector portion.

In this fitting structure, even if the connector locking portion is displaced or tilted due to the distortion of the bottom surface of the lower cover, when the mating connector is locked in the connector locking portion, the connector portion is guided by the guide means. The mating connector is guided to the normal mating position. As a result, the mating connector can be reliably fitted into the connector portion.

A second aspect of the present invention is the fitting structure of the connector to the electrical connection box according to the first aspect, wherein the guide means is provided on the side wall of the lower cover and is located on one side of the mating connector. It is characterized in that it comprises a pair of guide rails for sandwiching and guiding the guide rail, and a guide rib engaging with the guide rails is provided on one side portion of the mating connector.

In this fitting structure, when the mating connector is locked to the connector locking part, one side part of the mating connector is sandwiched and guided between the pair of guide rails on the side wall side of the lower cover. As a result, even if the connector locking portion is displaced due to the distortion of the bottom surface of the lower cover, the mating connector is guided to the proper fitting position by the pair of guide rails. , The mating connector is corrected to a position where proper fitting is possible.

The invention of claim 3 is claim 1 or claim 2.
A connector fitting structure for an electrical connection box according to claim 1, wherein the connector locking part is provided upright from a bottom surface of the lower cover and is inserted into a mating connector, and the locking column part. And an engaging arm that engages with the mating connector and locks the mating connector to the lower cover, and a mount on which the mating connector is placed upright from the bottom surface so as to surround the locking pillar portion. It is characterized by consisting of a wall.

In this fitting structure, when the mating connector is locked to the connector locking portion, the locking column portion is inserted into the mating connector and placed on the mounting wall. At the same time, the engaging arm is engaged with the mating connector. Thereby, the mating connector can be locked at a predetermined position of the lower cover.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a structure for fitting a connector to an electric junction box according to the present invention will be described below. In addition, about the same structure part as the fitting structure shown in FIGS. 5-10, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to drawing and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

The electrical junction box 31 of this embodiment covers the junction box main body 2 and the lower surface side of the junction box main body 2, and is a connector assembly to which the mating connector 37 fitted to the connector portion 8 is locked. The lower cover 34 having the stopper portion 25 on the bottom surface 34a, and the connector portion 8 and the mating connector 37 are rotatably supported by the support shaft 18 of the lever support portion 9 and are rotated.
And a lever member 5 for engaging and disengaging.

In the present embodiment, guide means 54 is provided on the side wall 34b side of the lower cover 34 for guiding the mating connector 37 locked by the connector locking portion 25 to the normal fitting position of the connector portion 8. ing.

The guide means 55 is provided on the side wall 34b side of the lower cover 34 and is provided on one side 37a of the mating connector 37.
It is composed of a pair of guide rails 55, 55 for sandwiching and guiding. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these guide rails 55 include a pair of support walls 58 protruding from the side wall 34b,
58, each of which is provided with a groove on the opposing surface side. The one side portion 37a of the mating connector 37 is sandwiched and guided between the guide rails 55, 55.

Guide ribs 56, 56 are provided on both sides of the one side portion 37a of the mating connector 37, respectively. These guide ribs 56, 56 are inserted into the respective groove portions of the guide rails 55, 55 as shown in FIG.

The reference numeral 57 shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) is a cover for protecting the wire drawing side of the mating connector 37.

When the mating connector 37 is set in the connector locking portion 25 of the lower cover 34, the mating connector 37 is placed on the connector locking portion 25 as shown in FIG.
After positioning, the mating connector 37 is attached to the lower cover 34
To the bottom surface 34a side, and the guide ribs 56, 56 are inserted into the groove portions of the guide rails 55, 55. By moving the mating connector 37 to the bottom surface 34a side in this state, the locking pillar portion 26 is inserted into the internal space 12a of the guide pillar 12, and the guide pillar 12 is inserted into the internal space 28a surrounded by the mounting wall 28. insert. As described above, the mating connector 37 can be set on the lower cover 34.

In this case, for example, as shown in, even if the connector locking portion 25 is tilted due to the deformation of the bottom surface 34a, the mating connector 37 is tilted and the mating connector 3 is tilted.
By guiding the one side portion 37a of the connector 7 by the guide means 54, the mating connector 37 can be finally positioned at the regular fitting position (regular set position) to the connector portion 8. As a result, the mating connector 37 can be reliably fitted into the connector portion 8 by the pivotal movement of the lever member 5.

In this embodiment, the mating connector 37 is used.
Although the ribs 56, 56 are provided on the one side portion 37a, they may not be provided, and the one side portion 37a may be sandwiched and guided by the guide rails 55, 55.

[0029]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, when the mating connector is locked to the connector locking portion even if the position of the connector locking portion is displaced due to the distortion of the bottom surface of the lower cover. Since the guide means guides the mating connector to the regular fitting position with respect to the connector part, the mating connector can be reliably fitted into the connector part.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the connector locking portion is displaced due to the distortion of the bottom surface of the lower cover, the mating connector is guided to the regular fitting position by the pair of guide rails. The connector locking portion can also be corrected by the mating connector to a position where the mating connector can be locked at the regular fitting position.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the mating connector is locked to the connector locking portion, the locking column is inserted into the mating connector and mounted on the mounting wall, and the engaging arm is mated. By engaging the connector, the mating connector can be securely locked at a predetermined position on the lower cover.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a locking portion of a lower cover to which a structure for fitting a connector to an electric junction box according to the present invention is applied, and a mating connector that is locked to the lower cover. Is a sectional view showing a state before being locked to the connector locking portion, and (b) is a sectional view showing a state where the mating connector is locked to the connector locking portion.

FIG. 2 shows an engaging portion of a lower cover to which a connector fitting structure for an electrical junction box according to the present invention is applied, and a mating connector that is engaged with the lower cover. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a stop portion, and FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a mating connector.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the mating connector is locked to the locking portion of the lower cover to which the connector fitting structure for the electrical junction box according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a mating connector is to be locked to a connector locking portion that has fallen due to deformation of the bottom surface of the lower cover.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an electric connection box using a conventional connector fitting structure for the electric connection box.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a lever member is locked to a temporary locking portion in a conventional connector fitting structure for an electrical connection box.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a lever member is locked to a main locking portion in a conventional connector fitting structure for an electrical junction box.

8A and 8B show a conventional connector locking portion and a mating connector locked to the connector locking portion, FIG. 8A is a sectional view showing a state before locking, and FIG. 8B is locked. It is sectional drawing which shows a state.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a state in which displacement has occurred in a conventional connector locking portion.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where a conventional connector locking portion has fallen down.

[Explanation of symbols]

31 electrical junction box 2 Connection box body 2a upper surface 2b lower surface 5 Lever member 25 Connector locking part 34 Lower cover 34a bottom 34b Side wall 54 Guide means 37 Mating connector 37a one side

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A-7-169529 (JP, A) JP-A-10-21990 (JP, A) JP-A-10-55853 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-58- 52878 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/629 H02G 3/08

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connection box main body having a lever support portion on an upper surface side and a connector portion on a lower surface side to which a mating connector is fitted, and a lower surface side of the connection box main body and the connector portion. A lower cover having a connector locking portion on the bottom surface for locking a mating connector to be fitted, and a lower cover rotatably supported by a support shaft of the lever supporting portion to rotate the connector portion and the mating connector. A fitting structure of a connector to an electric connection box having a lever member to be fitted / disengaged, wherein the mating connector locked to the connector locking portion is provided on one side wall of the lower cover. A structure for fitting a connector to an electric junction box, characterized in that guide means for guiding the connector to a normal fitting position is provided. 2. The structure for fitting a connector to an electrical junction box according to claim 1, wherein the guide means is provided on a side wall of the lower cover to clamp one side of the mating connector.
A structure for fitting a connector to an electric connection box, comprising a pair of guide rails for guiding, and a guide rib engaging with the guide rail is provided on one side of the mating connector. 3. The fitting structure of a connector to an electric connection box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector locking portion is erected from a bottom surface of the lower cover and inserted into a mating connector. Locking pillar portion, an engagement arm provided on the locking pillar portion for engaging the mating connector and locking the mating connector to the lower cover, and standing from the bottom surface so as to surround the locking pillar portion. And a mounting wall on which the mating connector is mounted, the connector fitting structure to the electrical connection box.