JP4057175B2 - Automatic alignment connecting device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic alignment connecting device suitable for a narrow space such as an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventional automatic alignment and connection devices are used in instrument panel (abbreviation of instrument panel), door trim, and the like. As shown in FIG. 5, the automatic alignment and connection apparatus guides the mating connector 3 and a housing body 21 including a terminal housing portion in which the terminals 2 are arranged and a connector housing portion for housing the mating connector. The sheath portion 12 is provided integrally. This automatic alignment connecting device 20, for example, in advance, is attached to the vehicle body, provided to fix the mating connector to the instrument panel, when assembled the instrument panel to the vehicle body at the same time automatic alignment connecting device 20 and the mating The connector was fitted. Therefore, the sheath part 12 is longer than a normal connection device, and the opening part 12a is provided with a wide opening, and an opening that guides the mating connector 3 to a normal position of the terminal 2 therein. Guide ribs 13 that are inclined from the portion 12a toward the terminal 2 are provided. In order to connect the terminal 2 and the mating connector 3 with the automatic alignment connecting device 20, the mating connector 3 is positioned in the opening 12a of the sheath 12 as shown in FIG. The mating connector 3 is guided to a proper position where it is connected to the terminal 2 by moving the mating connector 3 along the direction of the connector 2, that is, automatically aligned to the terminal 2 of the housing body 21 (see FIG. 5A) . Connections can be made as shown in FIG.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional automatic alignment connecting device 20, the length of the connecting device 20 is increased by the length (H) that the sheath portion 12 is provided long, and the opening 12a has a wide opening. There is a problem that it cannot be used in a narrow space.
In addition to the conventional examples described above, there have been proposed self-aligning connection devices in which movable pieces and wings are integrally formed in order to shorten the length, but all of them are complicated in shape and lack practicality. there were.
An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic alignment connecting device that is long during connection work but short after connection is completed.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing body having a terminal housing portion and a connector housing portion for housing a mating connector, and is attached to the housing body so as to be slidable in a fitting direction, and the mating connector is connected to the connector. A sheath portion for guiding the housing portion, housing the terminal in the terminal housing portion, fitting the mating connector with the mating connector, guiding the connector into the housing portion, and housing the sheath portion with the mating connector. It is an automatic alignment connecting device characterized by sliding in the fitting direction.
[0005]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a housing body having a terminal housing portion and a connector housing portion for housing the mating connector, and is attached to the housing body so as to be slidable in the fitting direction, and the mating connector is connected to the connector. A sheath portion for guiding the housing portion, housing the terminal in the terminal housing portion, and sliding the sheath portion in the mating direction of the mating connector while fitting the mating connector to fit the connector into the housing portion. It is an automatic alignment connecting device characterized by being guided and accommodated.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an automatic alignment connecting device. The automatic alignment connecting device 1 includes a housing body 11 that houses a terminal (for example, male connector) 2 and a mating connector (for example, female connector) 3, and the housing body. 11 is slidably provided on the sheath portion 12, and the sheath portion 12 has a wide opening 12a (see FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b)) from the opening 12a to the housing body 11 side. The rib 13 which guides the other party connector 3 whose width | variety narrows toward is provided. In FIG. 1, 15 is a stopper for moving the sheath portion 12 up and down, and 17 is a locking piece for positioning the sheath portion 12 upward. In order to connect the terminal 2 and the mating connector 3 with such a connecting device 1, along the guide rib 13 of the sheath 12 positioned in front of the housing body 11 as shown in FIG. If the mating connector 3 is moved forward in the direction of the terminal 2, it is automatically aligned and the terminal 2 and the mating connector 3 are accurately connected as shown in FIG. By sliding toward the main body 11 and moving backward, the size of the connecting device 1 becomes substantially equal to the size of the housing main body 11.
[0007]
3 and 4 show the engagement state of the housing main body 11 and the sheath portion 12, and FIG. 3 shows a mechanism of a stopper that moves up and down when the sheath portion 12 slides the housing main body 11 up and down. A closing groove or through-hole 14 long enough to slide the sheath 12 is provided on the wall surface of the main body 11, and a stopper 15 (protrusion) provided in the sheath 12 is engaged with the groove or through-hole 14 so that the sheath The sliding distance of 12 is restricted and the sheath 12 is prevented from coming off the housing body. This slide-stopper mechanism may be provided at one place or at about four places.
[0008]
FIG. 4 shows a stopper mechanism for positioning the sheath portion 12 above the housing body 11. The cantilever piece 16 is formed in a state where the wall surface of the sheath portion 12 is cut out at two places. At the top of 16, a birdcage-like locking piece 17, that is, as shown in the figure, the upper part is inclined downward toward the inside of the sheath 12, and the length is slightly longer than the upper wall of the housing body 11. A stop piece 17 is provided.
Since the locking piece 17 is inclined toward the inside of the sheath portion 12, the locking piece 17 is sheathed by the guide rib 13 into the housing body 11 of the mating connector 3 and the wall surface of the mating connector 3. A force to remove the locking piece 17 from the upper wall of the housing is applied by being pushed outward of the portion 12.
That is, the locking piece 17 has a role of locking the sheath 12 to the housing body 11 and when the mating connector 3 is inserted, the mating connector 17 guides the mating connector 3 to the terminal 2 while tilting outward. It acts to disengage from the upper wall of the main body 11. Therefore, it is preferable that the surface of the locking piece 17 in contact with the upper wall of the housing main body 11 is an inclined surface that is inclined to the outside of the sheath portion 12 because the force for releasing the engagement is small.
In addition, the locking piece 17 provided on the top of the cantilever piece 16 of the sheath portion 12 is brought into pressure contact with the outer wall of the housing body 11 after being disengaged from the upper wall of the housing body 11 to restrict the movement of the sheath portion 12. . Therefore, after the terminal 2 and the mating connector 3 are connected, the sheath 12 is locked in a state of being stopped at a predetermined position on the outer wall of the housing body 11.
This cantilever piece 16 may be provided at one place of the sheath 12 or may be provided at about four places.
[0009]
As described above, the automatic alignment connecting device according to the present invention can accurately connect the mating connector 3 to the terminal 2 housed in the housing body 11 by groping. Since the sheath 12 guided to the terminal 2 slides along the outside of the housing body 11 after the connection is completed, the entire length of the apparatus is shortened, so that it can be used in a narrow place.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the self-aligning connection device of the present invention includes a housing main body in which one connector is disposed and a sheath portion that guides a mating connector that is slidably attached to the housing main body. The part is located at the front of the housing when connecting the mating connector to the terminal, and at the end of the connection, it slides back toward the housing body, so it can be used suitably for narrow places such as the back of the automobile door trim, There are significant industrial effects.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing an embodiment of an automatic alignment connecting device of the present invention.
2A is a side view of the automatic alignment connecting device shown in FIG. 1 before connection between the terminal and the mating connector, and FIG. 2B is a side view after connection.
3 is an explanatory view showing a stopper mechanism for moving up and down when the sheath portion of the automatic alignment connecting device shown in FIG. 1 slides the housing body up and down. FIG.
4 is an explanatory view showing a stopper mechanism for positioning the sheath of the self-aligning connection device shown in FIG. 1 above the housing. FIG.
5A is a side explanatory view before connection between a terminal and a counterpart connector, and FIG. 5B is a perspective explanatory view after connection.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic alignment connecting device 2 of this invention Terminal 3 Mating connector 11 Housing main body 12 Sheath part 12a Sheath part opening 13 Guide rib 14 Through-hole 15 Stopper (protrusion)
16 Cantilever 17 Locking piece 20 Conventional automatic alignment connecting device 21 Conventional housing body

Claims (2)

A housing body having a terminal housing portion and a connector housing portion for housing a mating connector; and a sheath portion that is slidably attached to the housing body in a fitting direction and guides the mating connector to the connector housing portion; A terminal is housed in the terminal housing portion, fitted with a mating connector, the connector is guided and housed in the housing portion, and then the sheath portion is slid in the mating direction of the mating connector. An automatic alignment connecting device characterized by the above. A housing body having a terminal housing portion and a connector housing portion for housing a mating connector; and a sheath portion that is slidably attached to the housing body in a fitting direction and guides the mating connector to the connector housing portion; The terminal is housed in the terminal housing portion, and the sheath portion is slid in the mating direction of the mating connector while being mated with the mating connector to guide and accommodate the connector in the housing portion. A self-aligning connecting device characterized.

Images