JP3685539B2 - Connector coupling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector coupling mechanism for releasing a constraint from a panel by moving both connectors to a large-diameter hole after coupling a mating connector to a connector temporarily fixed in a small-diameter hole of a panel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, when assembling an automobile instrument panel, an electrical device, or the like to an automobile dash panel, rack, or the like, it is necessary to connect the connectors attached to each.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the position of the connector is not always accurate with respect to the positioning of the panel, and it often happens that the panel must be moved after the connectors are joined. It may also be desirable to be able to change its position after the connectors are coupled.
[0004]
In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector coupling mechanism that allows connectors to be easily coupled to each other and that can subsequently release the restraint of the connector by the panel .
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A connector coupling mechanism according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a connector coupling mechanism for fixing a coupling portion to a mating connector to a holder and movably engaging the holder with a panel, provided communicating the small-diameter hole and a large diameter hole in the panel, the small-diameter hole size Satoshi circumferential groove formed in the holder is fitted, the large-diameter hole is inserted a size capable counsel holder with a margin, In a state where the circumferential groove is fitted to the small diameter hole, the coupling portion is coupled to the mating connector by a pressing force from the mating connector, and after the coupling, the circumferential groove of the holder is extracted from the small diameter hole, The holder can be moved in all directions with respect to the large-diameter hole so that the restraint from the panel can be released.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the embodiment before the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 are joined together, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first connector 11 held on the movable panel 13. The first connector 11 is attached to a movable panel 13 such as an electric device via a holder 14, and the second connector 12 is directly attached to a fixed panel 15 such as a rack.
[0007]
A flange 22 is provided on the outer periphery of the main body 21 that holds a connection terminal (not shown) of the first connector 11, and a plurality of locking projections 23 are provided on the front outer wall of the main body 21, for example. Is formed with a fitting hole 24. On the other hand, in the front inside of the main body 25 of the second connector 12, a main body insertion hole 26 through which the main body 21 of the first connector 11 is inserted with a gap, and the diameter of the first connector is reduced toward the back. 11, a tapered hole 27 that guides the main body 21 and fits thereafter, and an annular groove 28 that fits the locking projection 23 of the first connector 11 are sequentially provided toward the back. A terminal holding portion 29 that holds a connection terminal (not shown) and fits into the fitting hole 24 of the first connector 11 is provided inside the annular groove 28.
[0008]
The holder 14 that holds the first connector 11 is provided with a center hole 31 for fitting a rear portion of the main body 21 of the first connector 11 and inserting a connection terminal (not shown) to which a wire harness is connected. The front portion of the outer periphery of the holder 14 is a large diameter portion 32, and a circumferential groove 33 for fitting a part of the movable panel 13 is formed in the large diameter portion 32.
[0009]
The movable panel 13 is provided with a large diameter hole 34 through which the large diameter portion 32 of the holder 14 is inserted with a margin, and a small diameter hole 35 communicating with the large diameter hole 34. The large-diameter hole 34 is provided at a position where the first connector 11 coupled to the second connector 12 can move when the movable panel 13 is finally assembled to the fixed panel 15, and the diameter thereof is, for example, the first connector. 11 and the size of the second connector 12 are absorbed. The small-diameter hole 35 is sized so that its peripheral wall fits into the peripheral groove 33 of the holder 14 and holds the holder 14 so as not to move in the front-rear direction. The small diameter hole 35 is preferably positioned below the large diameter hole 34 so that the holder 14 fitted in the small diameter hole 35 does not fall off.
[0010]
The movable panel 13 and the fixed panel 15 thus configured are assembled through the following steps.
[0011]
(1) A connection terminal with a wire harness is attached to the main body 21 of the first connector 11 through the center hole 31 of the holder 14, and the first connector 11 and the holder 14 are fitted.
[0012]
(2) The holder 14 is inserted into the large-diameter hole 34 of the movable panel 13, and then the holder 14 is moved into the small-diameter hole 35 so that the peripheral wall of the small-diameter hole 35 fits into the circumferential groove 33 of the holder 14. 14 is held on the movable panel 13 so as not to move in the front-rear direction.
[0013]
(3) As shown in FIG. 3, the movable panel 13 is brought close to the fixed panel 15, and the main body 21 of the first connector 11 is coupled to the main body insertion hole 26 of the second connector 12. At this time, the body 21 of the first connector 11 enters while being guided by the tapered hole 2 7 of the second connector 12, the locking projection 23 of the first connector 11 is a second connector 12 of the annular groove 28 The connection terminals are connected by fitting and the terminal holding portion 29 is connected to the fitting hole 24, and the connection between the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 is completed.
[0014]
(4) The movable panel 13 is moved in the direction A, and the holder 14 is moved into the large-diameter hole 34 as shown in FIG. As a result, the first connector 11 is released from the restraint from the movable panel 13 and becomes movable.
[0015]
(5) The movable panel 13 is moved in the front-rear direction and positioned while being moved in the vertical and horizontal directions as shown in FIG.
[0016]
As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the large-diameter hole 34 and the small-diameter hole 35 communicating with the movable panel 13 are provided, and the first connector 11 is movable until the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 are coupled. After holding the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 in the small-diameter hole 35 of the panel 13 so as not to move in the front-rear direction, the first connector 11 is moved into the large-diameter hole 34 to move the movable panel. 13 so that the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 can be attached to the movable panel 13 and the fixed panel 15 with an attachment error, respectively. In a state where the connector 11 and the second connector 12 are coupled, the movable panel 13 can be easily positioned with respect to the fixed panel 15, and they can be assembled easily.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the connector coupling mechanism according to the present invention is capable of coupling the mating connector in a state where the connector holder is attached to the small-diameter hole formed in the panel so as not to move in the front-rear direction, and the connector coupled thereafter. By moving the hole to the large-diameter hole, it is not restrained by the panel, and various advantages arise.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a cross-sectional view before coupling the first and second connectors of the embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a first connector is held on a movable panel.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which a first connector and a second connector are coupled.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the holder is positioned in the large-diameter hole.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a movable panel is moved to a fixed panel side.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 1st connector 12 2nd connector 13, 15 Panel 14 Holder 33 Circumferential groove 34 Large diameter hole 35 Small diameter hole

Claims (3)

The coupling portion for mating connector is fixed to the holder, a coupling mechanism of the connector that engages movably to the holder with respect to the panel, provided by communicating the small-diameter hole and large-diameter hole in the panel, the small-diameter The hole is sized to fit the circumferential groove formed in the holder, the large-diameter hole is sized so that the holder can be inserted with a margin, and the mating connector is fitted in the state where the circumferential groove is fitted to the small-diameter hole. The coupling portion is coupled to the mating connector by a pressing force from, and after the coupling, the peripheral groove of the holder is extracted from the small diameter hole, and the holder can be moved in all directions with respect to the large diameter hole from the panel. A connector coupling mechanism characterized in that the restraint of the connector can be released.   The connector coupling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the small-diameter hole is positioned below the large-diameter hole.   The connector coupling mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the large-diameter hole is sized to allow the first and second connectors to pass therethrough.

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