JP3774635B2 - Electrical connector with cover case - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector having a cover case.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As this type of electrical connector, one disclosed in JP-A-11-149957 is known.
[0003]
This known connector has a cylindrical cover case 50 made by molding an insulating material as seen in FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings. In this example, a shield case made by bending a metal plate is assembled on the peripheral surface of a housing holding a terminal, and the assembly (not shown) passes through the opening 51 of the cover case 50 and is indicated by an arrow A. Inserted and assembled from the direction. The cover case 50 has a plurality of locking holes 52 penetrating in the thickness direction of the case, and locking claws formed by cutting and raising the shield case at positions corresponding to the locking holes 52. Locking with the stop hole 52 prevents the assembly from coming off. The cover case 50 is provided with a lock arm 54 on the side of the cover case 50 for pressing and releasing the lock arm of the shield case for locking the engagement with the mating connector.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described known connector causes a problem because the locking hole penetrating the cover case is formed.
[0005]
First, in terms of appearance, the locking holes are exposed and the appearance is not good.
[0006]
Next, in order to prevent a decrease in strength due to the formation of the locking hole, the cover case must be at least locally thick. However, this also has a limit.
[0007]
Furthermore, dirt substances tend to accumulate in the locking holes.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a cover case that eliminates such problems and does not have a locking hole.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Electrical connector according to the present invention, subassembly to form attached to the metal body in an insulating housing that holds the terminal is comprised are inserted assembled from the opening to the cylindrical molded cover case, the subassemblies and the cover The case is provided with locking means for preventing the cases from coming off from each other.
[0010]
In such an electrical connector, in the present invention, the metal body is formed as one member by punching and bending a metal plate, and has a locking arm extending in the anti-insertion direction. The cover case is provided with a locking portion at the distal end in the extending direction of the locking arm, and the cover case is provided with a locking projection for locking the locking portion on the inner surface. a locking protrusion, by restoring the is released elastic deformation original shape after being brought to the locking position the locking arm when contacting each other is elastically flexural deformation at the engaging portion, the metal The body and the cover case engage with each other to prevent the metal case from being pulled out , and the metal body has an elastically bendable lock arm that locks with the mating connector, and the cover case presses the lock arm to release the lock. Has a release arm, and the cover case gives the release arm flexibility Because slits releasing arm is formed so as to bound the, and can unlock the mating connector by by pressing the lock arms through the release arm give resiliently deformed the locking arm It is characterized by that.
[0011]
According to the present invention, when the semi-assembly formed by attaching the metal body to the housing is inserted into the cover case and assembled, the locking portion provided on the metal body of the semi-assembly is formed on the inner surface of the cover case. Locking with the locking protrusions prevents slipping out. Since the locking projection of the cover case is formed on the inner surface, the outer surface is flat without holes or protrusions, etc., and the appearance of the cover case is not impaired, and there is no hole, so strength is reduced and dirt There is no entry of material. Even if the locking part is a locking hole, the metal body is made of metal, so that there is almost no decrease in strength. Processing is also easy.
[0012]
In the present invention, the metal body may be assembled to at least a part of the periphery of the housing.
[0014]
When the locking protrusions are provided at a plurality of positions, it is preferable in manufacturing the cover case that they are positioned on one plane of the inner surface of the cover case.
[0015]
The connector has an elastically bendable lock arm in which the metal body locks with the mating connector, the cover case has a release arm that releases the lock by pressing the lock arm, and the cover case is released The slit is formed so that the release arm is bounded to give flexibility to the arm, and the lock arm can be unlocked by pressing the lock arm through the release arm to give the deformation to the lock arm. Applicable to electrical connectors.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
[0018]
<First embodiment>
In FIG. 1, the electrical connector has a housing 1 for holding terminals (not shown), a metal body 10 attached thereto, and a cover case 20 made of an electrical insulating material.
[0019]
The housing 1 is formed with fitting recesses 2 and 3 for fitting with a mating connector at a front portion (left portion in the figure), and a terminal is disposed therein. The intermediate portion of the housing 1 has a flange portion 4 for determining the insertion direction position when the housing 1 is inserted into the cover case 20, and comes into contact with the front end surface of the cover case 20. In addition, a plate-like arm portion 5 extending rearward is provided at the rear portion, and is guided when inserted into the cover case 20. A locking projection 6 is provided on the side surface of the arm portion 5. The locking projection 6 locks the housing 1 when assembled into the metal body from above. The locking projection 6 has a stepped locking surface 6A at the upper end surface and a sloped shape for the lower portion to enter the mating locking hole. An introduction surface 6B is formed.
[0020]
The metal body 10 is made by punching and bending a metal plate, and has a bottom plate portion 11 and a side plate portion 12 and has a substantially U shape. Two standing portions 13 formed by cutting and raising are opposed to each other at the front portion of the bottom plate portion 11, and a window-like locking hole 13 </ b> A is formed in the standing portion 13. The upright portion 13 is in a position in contact with the outer surface of the arm portion 5 of the housing 1, and the locking hole 13A has a shape in which the above-described locking projection 6 provided in the arm portion 5 is fitted and locked. It is a dimension. Further, locking arms 14 are provided on the intermediate side portions on both sides of the bottom plate portion 11. Engagement Tomeude 14 has flexibility laterally extend toward the person before. The locking arm 14, a stepped locking portion 14B is formed in the front end position of the inclined surface 14A and the oblique surface 14A extending outwardly toward the front one. The inclined surface 14A receives a force from the cover case to bend the locking arm 14 inward when the metal body 10 is inserted into the cover case 20, and the bending of the locking portion 14B is released. Sometimes it has a function of locking with the corresponding locking part of the cover case.
[0021]
Further, the bottom plate portion 11 is formed with a window-like locking hole 15 at the rear portion. The locking hole 15 is also when the metal body 10 is inserted into the cover case 20 has a function of locking the corresponding locking projection of the cover case 20.
[0022]
The bottom plate portion 11 is formed such that the connecting portion 16 with the side plate portion 12 is bent in an L shape and raised upward. This is to form a space below the connecting portion 16 to avoid interference with a corresponding portion (lower guide portion 26 described later) when the metal body 10 is inserted into the cover case 20 . is there.
[0023]
A lock arm 17 extending forward is provided at the front portion of the side plate portion 12 of the metal body 10. When the lock arm 17 is connected to a mating connector (not shown), a wing-like latching claw 17A that is bent inward and latches to a corresponding portion of the mating connector is provided so as to protrude laterally. .
[0024]
The cover case 20 is made into a horizontally long rectangular tube shape by molding from an insulating material. The upper and lower surfaces of the cover case 20 are flat and no holes are formed. A front portion of the cover case 20 forms a rectangular tube-shaped opening portion 21, and a sleeve portion 22 through which a cable is passed is provided at the rear portion. Further, release arms 23 having flexibility toward the inside are provided on both sides. The release arm 23 can be elastically deformed by forming a slit 24 around it except for the root portion at the rear of the release arm. A pressing portion 23A is formed that slightly bulges laterally and pushes the release arm 23 inward. The release arm 23 is bent inward by receiving a pressing force at the pressing portion 23A, and thereby, the lock arm 17 of the metal body 10 is bent in the same direction to cause bending and release the lock. . The distance between the inner surfaces of the two release arms 23 is substantially equal to the distance between the outer surfaces of the two side plate portions 12 of the metal body 10.
[0025]
A rail-shaped upper guide portion 25 and a lower guide portion 26 extending in the front-rear direction are provided on the inner upper surface of the release arm 23 and the inner bottom surface of the cover case 20, respectively. The upper guide portion 25 and the lower guide portion 26 serve to guide the upper and lower edges of the side plate portion 12 of the metal body 10 between them. In the lower guide portion 26, a groove portion 26A is formed at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction, and a rounded step portion 26B is formed in the vicinity of the front end of the groove portion 26A. The stepped portion 26B and the front end surface of the groove portion 26A form a locking projection.
[0026]
Further, another type of locking protrusion 27 is formed at the rear part (back part) of the inner bottom surface of the cover case 20. The locking protrusion 27 is locked with the locking hole 15 of the metal body 10 described above, and the front surface has an inclined surface portion 27A, and the rear surface has a stepped locking surface 27B perpendicular to the inner bottom surface of the cover case. Forming.
[0027]
Such an electrical connector of this embodiment is assembled in the following manner.
1) First, the mounting metal member 10 to the housing 1 to hold the terminals that form a sub-assembly. The housing 1 is arranged on the metal body 1 from above, as indicated by a one-dot chain line P in FIG. 1, and the locking projection 6 of the housing 1 is elastically fitted into the locking hole 13A of the metal body 10, To fix each other. The connection of the cable to the terminal is performed before or after the assembly of the housing and the metal body.
2) Next, the cable passing into the sleeve section 22, the semi-assembly of the housing 1 and the metal body 10, as the one-dot chain line Q in FIG. 1, is inserted into the cover case 20.
3 ) The insertion of the semi- assembly into the cover case 20 proceeds while the side plate portion 12 of the metal body 10 is guided between the upper guide portion 25 and the lower guide portion 26 of the cover case 20 and reaches a predetermined position. . At that time, the locking arm 14 of the metal body 10 is bent inward by receiving a pressing force from the step portion 26B of the cover case 20 on the inclined surface 14A, and the rear edge of the locking hole 15 is a locking projection. In response to the force from the inclined surface portion 27A of 27, it bends upward and allows the insertion to proceed. Further, when the cover case 20 is made thin, the inner bottom surface itself bends and the locking projection 27 is displaced, facilitating the engagement with the locking hole 15.
4) When the insertion reaches a predetermined position, the deflection of the trailing edge of the locking arms 14 and locking holes 15 is released, the locking arm 14 and the front end surface of the locking portion 14B grooves 26 A, engaging hole 15, the front edge portion engages with the engaging surface 27 </ b> B, and the metal body 10 is prevented from coming off from the cover case 20.
[0028]
<Second embodiment>
The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is characterized in that the locking arm 14 of the metal body 10 in the first embodiment of FIG. 1 is deformed and that the locking hole 15 of the first embodiment is not provided. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG.
[0029]
Locking arm 34 is not at an extremely simple shape, front towards extends straight in, and the shoulder portion 34A is has a rounded shoulder portion 34A has a function of slope 14A in FIG. 1 .
[0030]
In the above embodiment, the cover case is locked with the metal body, but it is also possible to lock the cover case with the housing .
[0031]
As in the case of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , the housing 1 is semi- assembled with the metal body 10 by the locking between the locking protrusion 6 of the housing and the locking hole 13A of the metal body 10. Form. The housing 1 is provided with a locking arm 7 having the same shape as the locking arm 14 of the metal body 10 seen in FIG. This locking arm 7 is locked to the front end surface of the groove 26 </ b> A of the cover case 20, similarly to the locking arm 14 of FIG. 1. Further, the housing 1 is provided with a plate-like portion 8 extending at a rear portion, and a locking hole 9 is formed therein. The locking hole 9 is locked with the locking protrusion 27 of the cover case 20. Therefore, the cover case 20 of FIG. 1 can be used as it is.
[0032]
In this example , the metal body 10 has a U-shaped bent portion 18 at the rear portion of the side plate portion 12, and communicates with the upright portion 13 through the bent portion 18.
[0033]
FIG. 4 shows a method for manufacturing the cover case 20 in the previous embodiment.
[0034]
In order to mold the cylindrical cover case 20 with resin, an outer mold (not shown) for defining the outer surface of the cover case 20, a first slide mold 31 shown in FIG. Two second slide molds 32 are used.
[0035]
The first slide mold 31 is inserted into the outer mold from the direction Q of the opening of the cover case, and the two second slide molds 32 are inserted from the side direction R. Therefore, the first slide mold 31 and the second slide mold 32 are formed in a step shape so that their front end surfaces in the insertion direction form a lower guide portion 26 and a locking projection portion 27 provided in the cover case. It has been. In that case, the 2nd slide metal mold | die 32 is inserted from the slit 24 (refer FIG. 1) formed in the upper and lower sides of the release arm 23 of a cover case.
[0036]
Thus, as shown in FIG. 4B, after the cover case is molded, the first slide mold 31 and the second slide mold 32 are extracted in the direction opposite to the directions Q and R, and the cover as a product is formed from the outer mold. Remove the case.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the semi- assembly composed of the housing and the metal body as the shield body is locked with the locking protrusion provided on the inner surface of the cover case so as to be prevented from coming off. since, in the cover case, the locking hole, such as a conventional one not formed, appearance is good, no strength reduction, and stain is able to improve the entrance block of material, increase the commercial value of the connector .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention and is a perspective view before assembly.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a metal body and a cover case of a second embodiment.
FIG. 3 shows a connector as a modification of the first embodiment, and is a perspective view before assembly.
4A and 4B show a mold for molding a cover case, where FIG. 4A shows a state before the mold is assembled, and FIG. 4B shows a molding time after the mold is assembled.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector cover case.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 10 Metal body 14, 15 Locking part 15 Engagement hole 17 Lock arm 20 Cover case 23 Release arm 24 Slit 26, 27 Locking protrusion

Claims (3)

A semi-assembly formed by attaching a metal body to an insulating housing that holds terminals is inserted and assembled into a cylindrical integral cover case through an opening, and the semi-assembly and the cover case are prevented from coming off from each other. in the electrical connector comprises a stop means, the metal body has a locking arm extending in a counter-insertion direction have been made as one member by punching and bending a metal plate, the engagement Tomeude the side The locking arm is provided with a locking portion at the front end of the locking arm in the extending direction, and the cover case is provided with a locking protrusion for locking the locking portion on the inner surface. The locking portion and the locking projection are restored to their original shape after the locking arm is elastically deformed and deformed at the locking portion and brought to the locking position when they are brought into contact with each other. by, anti-missing metal body and the cover case are each other engaged with each other Is, the metal body has a resilient deflectable locking arm forms a locking with the mating connector has a release arm cover case performs unlocking by pressing the lock arm, the cover case to the release arm In order to give flexibility, the slit is formed so as to bound the release arm, and the lock arm is pressed through the release arm to bend and deform the lock arm, thereby releasing the lock with the mating connector. An electrical connector having a cover case, characterized in that it is possible.   The electrical connector having a cover case according to claim 1, wherein the metal body is assembled to at least a part of the periphery of the housing.   The electrical connector having a cover case according to claim 1, wherein the locking projection is located on one plane of the inner surface of the cover case.

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