JP4413441B2 - Connector device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector device used mainly for connection between an electrical component of an automobile and a wire harness on the vehicle body side, or connection between modules of an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when an electrical component such as a meter is assembled to the vehicle body, an operator holds the connector on the wire harness side by hand, and after fitting and connecting it to the electrical component side connector, the electrical component is fixed to the vehicle body. It is common to take a procedure.
[0003]
On the other hand, recently, in order to improve the workability of assembling the electrical components, the connector on the wire harness side is attached to a predetermined position of the vehicle body, and when the electrical component is assembled to the vehicle body, A method for completing the fitting with the connector has been proposed.
In addition, for example, a method of attaching one connector to the door inner panel, attaching the other connector to the door trim, and assembling the door trim to the door inner panel has been proposed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, one connector is attached to the fixed body in a standby state, the other connector is attached to an assembly member that can be assembled to the fixed body, and both connectors are attached simultaneously with the assembly of the assembly member to the fixed body. In the case of a structure to be fitted, the following problems occur. That is, since there is a dimensional tolerance between the fixed body and the assembly member, if the dimensional tolerance in the connector fitting direction is large, even if the assembly of the assembly member to the fixed body is completed, both connectors are fitted. The connection may not be completed and the connection may be incomplete. In addition, when the vibration mode of the fixed body and the vibration mode of the assembly member are different, a load due to a shift of the vibration mode is applied to the terminal connection portions of both connectors, and the reliability of the connection portions may be reduced.
[0005]
In order to avoid this problem, in the process of assembling the assembly member to the fixed body, first, the fitting of both connectors is completed, and then the assembly of the assembly member to the fixed body is completed. One of the connectors (for example, the standby connector) is preferably cut off from the fixed body (to make it difficult for vibration from the fixed body to be transmitted). However, when assembling the assembly member to the fixed body, it is difficult to continue the fitting of both connectors and the edge cutting from the member (fixed body or assembly member) to which one connector is attached. There is a tendency that the edge is cut before the fitting is completed, or the edge is not completely cut even when the connector is fitted.
[0006]
In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to make it possible to reliably perform connector fitting and edge cutting from a member to which one connector is attached by simply applying a force in the fitting direction. To provide a connector device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The connector device according to the present invention includes a first connector and a second connector that are fitted to each other, a support that is inserted into the first connector so that a distal end side of the first connector is slidable in the axial direction, and a rear end of the support. An elastic pedestal provided in contact with the elastic pedestal, an elastic support for supporting the first connector at an appropriate distance in the axial direction from the elastic pedestal, and a spring force in the direction of pulling out the support column from the first connector The first connector has a stopper that prevents it from retracting relative to the strut, and the second connector comprises: It has a stopper releasing portion that releases the stopper and enables the first connector to be retracted when the fitting of the first connector and the second connector is completed. .
[0008]
In this way, while the fitting of both connectors is in progress, the first connector does not move backward due to the stopper engaging with the support column. Is released so that the first connector can be retracted while being fitted to the second connector, and the assembly member can be reliably assembled to the fixed body while the retraction proceeds. In other words, by shifting the timing of completion of mating of both connectors and the timing of assembly of the assembly member to the fixed body, the dimensional error in the connector mating direction of the assembly member and the fixed body can be brought into the mated state of both connectors. It can be prevented from affecting. In addition, after the fitting of both connectors, the rear end of the support is in contact with the elastic pedestal and the support and the first connector are slidable, so the member to which the elastic pedestal is attached (for example, a fixed body) ) Is not easily transmitted to the first connector.
[0009]
In the connector device of the present invention, it is preferable that the elastic pedestal and the elastic support body are integrally formed of rubber in order to reduce the number of parts and facilitate the assembly of the connector device.
[0010]
Further, in the connector device of the present invention, the stopper has a slide piece that can slide in a direction crossing the axis of the column at the tip of the first elastic tongue piece whose base end is fixed to the first connector. While the sliding piece is engaged with both connectors, the slide piece engages with the support so as to prevent the first connector from moving backward, and the stopper releasing portion has a base end on the second connector. When the tip of the fixed second elastic tongue piece has a pressing portion that pushes the slide piece in the direction to release the engagement with the support column, when this pressing portion has completed the fitting of both connectors It is preferable that the stopper is released by pressing the slide piece.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a male connector in which a male terminal (not shown) is incorporated in a plastic housing, and 12 is a female connector in which a female terminal (not shown) is incorporated in a plastic housing. The male connector 10 has a structure as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, and a base portion of a male terminal is inserted into a hatched portion P. FIG. The female connector 12 has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, and a female terminal is accommodated in a hatched portion Q.
[0013]
A through hole 14 is formed in the housing of the male connector 10 along its central axis (connector fitting direction), and a tip end portion of a support column 16 is inserted into the through hole 14. The male connector 10 and the column 16 can be slid relative to each other when a stopper described later is released. A backing plate 18 is integrally provided at the rear end of the column 16. The surface of the contact plate 18 is perpendicular to the axis of the support column 16. Between the contact plate 18 and the rear end of the male connector 10, a spring member 20 (the illustrated example is a plate spring, but a coil spring is also acceptable) is incorporated. The spring member 20 is incorporated so as to generate a spring force in a direction in which the support 16 is pulled out from the male connector 10.
[0014]
The contact plate 18 comes into contact with a rubber elastic base 22. A rubber elastic support 24 is integrally formed on the elastic base 22. The elastic support 24 supports the male connector 10 at a position away from the elastic base 22 by a predetermined distance in the axial direction. The elastic support 24 is formed in a shape having a bulge outward, so that when the male connector 10 is retracted (when moved in a direction approaching the elastic pedestal 22), it is easily elastically deformed outward. It has become. The elastic pedestal 22 and the elastic support 24 can be formed as separate members, but are preferably integrally formed as illustrated.
[0015]
The male connector 10 has a stopper 26 that prevents the male connector 10 from retreating relative to the support 16 when receiving a force in the direction of retreating it (connector fitting force). The stopper 26 is integrally provided with a slide piece 30 slidable in a direction crossing the through hole 14 at the tip of a male elastic tongue piece 28 whose base end is fixed to the male connector 10. The slide piece 30 is provided with an opening 32 that is eccentric to the through hole 14 in the direction opposite to the slide direction of the slide piece 30. The stopper 26 is held at the illustrated position by the elastic restoring force of the elastic tongue piece 28 as long as no external force in the sliding direction acts on the slide piece 30. The tip of the slide piece 30 protrudes into a recess 34 formed on the outer surface of the male connector 10 housing.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the state where the connector fitting force is not applied to the male connector 10, the tip end of the support 16 abuts against the slide piece 30. In other words, the spring member 20 generates a spring force in the direction of pulling out the support column 16 from the male connector 10, but the elastic support 24 causes the male connector 10 to move the elastic base 22 with an elastic tensile force slightly stronger than the repulsive force of the spring member 20. Since it is drawn to the side, the tip end of the support column 16 comes into contact with the slide piece 30. In this state, of course, the contact plate 18 at the rear end of the column 16 is in contact with the elastic base 22.
[0017]
The elastic pedestal 22 has a mounting piece 35 as shown in FIG. 2A, and the elastic pedestal 22 is fixed to a fixed body such as a vehicle body by the mounting piece 35. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the elastic base 22 is fixed to the fixed body 36. The elastic pedestal 22 is formed so that a gap S is formed between the elastic base 22 and the fixed body 36 in this state. That is, the support column 16 and the male connector 10 are held by the elastic base 22 in a state of floating from the fixed body 36 by the gap S.
[0018]
Next, the female connector 12 has a stopper release portion 38 that releases the stopper 26 of the male connector 10. The stopper release portion 38 is provided with a convex portion 42 inwardly at the distal end of a female elastic tongue piece 40 whose base end is fixed to the female connector 12. The convex portion 42 is formed at a position where the convex portion 42 falls into the concave portion 34 of the male connector 10 when the fitting of the male connector 10 and the female connector 12 is completed. The female elastic tongue piece 40 is formed so that the elastic restoring force when deformed outward is larger than that of the male elastic tongue piece 28.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the female connector 12 has a mounting piece 44 at the rear end, and the female connector 12 is fixed to an assembly member such as an electrical component by the mounting piece 44. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the female connector 12 is fixed to a predetermined position of the assembly member 46. A tapered surface T is formed at the distal end of the female connector 12 to guide the male connector 10 to an appropriate fitting position (correcting the deviation of the axis) when the fitting with the male connector 10 is started.
[0020]
The above is the overall configuration of the connector device. Next, the fitting process of the connector device will be described. FIG. 1 shows an initial state. That is, when the assembly member 46 is brought to the position where it is assembled to the fixed body 36, the male connector 10 and the female connector 12 face each other with their central axes substantially coincident. When the assembly member 46 is advanced toward the fixed body 36 from this state, first, the male connector 10 and the female connector 12 start to be engaged as shown in FIG. Even if the male connector 10 and the female connector 12 are misaligned at the start of mating, the misalignment is corrected by the guide by the tapered surface T at the tip of the female connector 12 and the displacement of the elastic support member 24. , 12 are fitted in a state where the central axes coincide with each other.
[0021]
When the mating progresses to the state shown in FIG. 4, the convex portion 42 of the stopper release portion 38 on the female connector 12 side pushes the tip of the male connector 10 in the mating direction, so that the male connector 10 is slightly retracted together with the support 16 and is elastic. The base 22 is elastically deformed and pressed against the fixed body 36. However, since the male connector 10 cannot be further retracted, when the female connector 12 further advances, the convex portion 42 is pushed outward by the tip edge of the male connector 10 (the elastic tongue piece 40 is elastically deformed outward). When the mating progresses in this state and the mating of the male connector 10 and the female connector 12 is completed, the convex portion 42 of the stopper release portion 38 is moved by the elastic restoring force of the elastic tongue piece 40 as shown in FIG. It falls into the recess 34. Since the elastic restoring force of the female elastic tongue piece 40 is set stronger than the elastic restoring force of the male elastic tongue piece 28, when the convex part 42 falls into the concave part 34, the slide piece 30 causes the male elastic tongue piece 28 to Slide in the direction of elastic deformation outward. As a result, when the opening 32 of the slide piece 30 coincides with the through hole 14 of the male connector 10, the stopper 26 is released, and the male connector 10 can be retracted relative to the support column 16.
[0022]
Therefore, when the assembling member 46 is further advanced for assembling to the fixed body 36, the male connector 10 is retracted while elastically deforming the elastic support 24 and the spring member 20 while being fitted to the female connector 12. While this backward movement proceeds, the assembly of the assembly member 46 to the fixed body 36 is completed. In other words, even if the assembly member 46 and the fixed body 36 have variations in dimensions in the connector fitting direction, the male connector 10 moves backward after the fitting of both connectors is completed, so that the variations can be absorbed. it can.
[0023]
When the assembly is completed, the elastic support 24 and the spring member 20 are deformed as shown in FIG. In this state, the elastic pedestal 22 is lifted from the fixed body 36 (a gap S is formed), and the male connector 10 and the column 16 can slide, so that the male connector 10 is cut off from the fixed body 36. The vibration of the fixed body 36 is not easily transmitted to the male connector 10. For this reason, even if there is a difference in vibration mode between the fixed body 36 and the assembly member 46, a load is not applied to the terminal connection portions of both the connectors 10 and 12.
[0024]
In order to release the fitting between the male connector 10 and the female connector 12, an operation reverse to the above may be performed.
[0025]
In the above embodiment, the case where the first connector is a male connector and the second connector is a female connector has been described. On the contrary, the first connector is a female connector and the second connector is a male connector. It may be a connector.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the first connector and the second connector are securely fitted to each other only by applying a force in the connector fitting direction to the first connector and the second connector, and thereafter In addition, both the connectors in the fitted state can be cut off from the member to which the first connector is attached. For this reason, even if the member to which the first connector is attached and the member to which the second connector is attached have variations in the dimensions in the connector fitting direction, the variations are absorbed to ensure proper fitting. Can be obtained. In addition, since there is no possibility that a load due to the vibration mode shift is applied to the terminal connection portions of both connectors, a highly reliable connection state can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a connector device according to the present invention in a state before fitting.
2 shows the male connector side of the connector device of FIG. 1, (A) is a partially cut plan view, (B) is a front view, (C) is a vertical sectional view, and (D) omits an elastic support. FIG.
3 shows the female connector side of the connector device of FIG. 1, (A) is a plan view, (B) is a front view, and (C) is a vertical sectional view. FIG.
4 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the female connector has advanced from the state of FIG. 1 and the fitting of both connectors has started. FIG.
5 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the female connector has further advanced from the state of FIG. 4 and the fitting of both connectors has been completed. FIG.
6 is a vertical sectional view showing a state in which the female connector has further advanced from the state of FIG. 5 and the male connector has been cut off from the fixed body. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Male connector
12: Female connector
14: Through hole
16: Prop
18: Batting plate
20: Spring member
22: Elastic base
24: Elastic support
26: Stopper
28: Male elastic tongue
30: Slide piece
32: Opening
34: Recess
36: Fixed body (car body, etc.)
38: Stopper release
40: Female elastic tongue
42: Convex part (pressing part)
46: Assembly parts (electrical components, etc.)

Claims (3)

The first connector (10) and the second connector (12) that are fitted to each other, the support (16) that is inserted into the first connector (10) so that the distal end side is slidable in the axial direction, and the support ( 16) An elastic pedestal (22) provided so that the rear end abuts, and an elastic support for supporting the first connector (10) at an appropriate distance in the axial direction from the elastic pedestal (22) A body (24), and a spring member (20) incorporated so as to generate a spring force in the direction of pulling out the column (16) from the first connector (10),
The first connector (10) has a stopper (26) that prevents it from moving backward relative to the support column (16), and the second connector (12) Stopper release part (38) that allows the first connector (10) to be retracted by releasing the stopper (26) when the mating of the connector (10) and the second connector (12) is completed The connector apparatus characterized by having. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic base (22) and the elastic support (24) are integrally formed of rubber. The stopper (26) is a slide piece (30) slidable in a direction crossing the axis of the column (16) at the tip of the first elastic tongue piece (28) whose base end is fixed to the first connector (10). This slide piece (30) engages with the support column (16) while the fitting of both connectors (10, 12) is in progress, preventing the first connector (10) from moving backward. Is supposed to
The stopper release portion (38) is configured such that the slide piece (30) is engaged with the support column (16) at the distal end of the second elastic tongue piece (40) whose base end is fixed to the second connector (12). It has a pressing part (42) that pushes in the direction to release the joint, and when this pressing part (42) has completed the fitting of both connectors (10, 12), the slide piece (30) is pushed and a stopper ( 26) The connector device according to claim 1, wherein 26) is released.

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