JP4780994B2 - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lever-type connector.

Conventionally, as a lever-type connector, the lever is assembled to the first housing, the lever is displaced from the assembled position and temporarily held at the standby position, and at the standby position, the cam follower of the second housing enters the cam groove of the lever In the process of displacing the lever from this state to the mating position, there is one in which both housings are brought into the mating state.
Note that there is a lever-type connector disclosed in Patent Document 1.
JP-A-8-78091

In the conventional lever-type connector, when the two housings are fitted, the first housing is grasped with one hand, the finger is placed on the lever, the second housing is grasped with the other hand, and the lever is operated. It was. Thus, in the case of a lever-type connector that requires operation with both hands, it is difficult to perform a fitting operation in a narrow place.
The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to facilitate the fitting operation of both housings with only one hand.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first housing connected to the end of one electric wire group and the first housing supported by the support shaft can be rotated and displaced between the standby position and the fitting position. And a second housing having a cam follower connected to a terminal of another electric wire group. The two housings are shallowly fitted while the cam follower is inserted into the cam groove of the lever at the standby position. In the lever-type connector in which the two housings are fitted by the cam action by the engagement of the cam groove and the cam follower by displacing the lever from the combined state to the fitting position. the lever, while the operating unit capable of it cormorants addressed the pressing force finger in the direction of imparting the fitting position direction is provided for the lever, the second housing is pre Symbol lever A pair of finger grips are provided with the support shaft on both sides of a line connecting the said cam follower, this finger placing portion, the operation portion destined destined to the operation unit in the same hand as the power sale fingers Cormorants the finger It is possible to apply a finger other than the direction of displacement of the operation portion when the two housings are fitted, and the operation portion of the lever before the fitting operation of the two housings. There is located on the opposite side across the supporting shaft the lever relative to the finger hook portion of the second housing, the finger on the operation section, the operation section addressed to non cormorants finger on the finger hook portions By applying a finger, the lever can be displaced toward the fitting position while the operating part is brought close to the finger hanging part, and the operating part and the finger hanging in the fitting direction of the two housings Direction of approach to the Characterized in place that is roughly parallel to the mating direction of the housing.

Claim 2 invention, there is provided a connector described in claim 1, in the state in which the lever has reached the fitting position, the configuration of the finger moment of the operation portion is substantially flush against the outer surface of the first housing It has the characteristics in that place.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the two housings are fitted together, the operation portion addressed to the finger and the finger-hanging portion are brought close to each other, so that the fitting operation can be performed with the finger of only one hand.

In addition, since the approaching direction between the operation part and the finger-hanging part is substantially parallel to the fitting direction of both housings, the pressing force applied from the finger to the operation part and the finger-holding part is applied to both housings. It works as a force to bring them closer to each other and is excellent in workability.

<Invention of Claim 2 >
When the lever reaches the fitting position and the two housings are fitted, the contact surface of the finger in the operating portion is substantially flush with the outer surface of the first housing. Can be confirmed easily and reliably.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The lever type connector of the present embodiment is configured such that the first housing 10 and the second housing 50 are fitted and detached using the lever 30.
The first housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and has a flat block shape (the height dimension is small with respect to the front-rear and left-right directions) as a whole, and includes a terminal housing portion 11 and a substantially front half region of the terminal housing portion 11. The housing space 13 is formed at the rear end portion of the upper surface of the terminal housing portion 11 so as to open upward and rearward by being recessed in a stepped shape. A cutout portion 14 is formed on the upper surface wall of the cylindrical fitting portion 12 so as to be cut out in a substantially square shape from the center of the front end edge to the rear, and a receiving portion 15 is formed at the right end of the rear end of the cutout portion 14. Has been. The upper surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11 has a cylindrical support shaft 16 that protrudes upward in the vertical direction at the position rearward of the notch portion 14, and a form that extends rearward in a cantilevered manner. A flexible lock piece 17 capable of elastic bending in the vertical direction and a pair of left and right guide grooves 18 along the left and right side edges of the terminal accommodating portion 11 are formed.

  The female terminal fitting 20 is elongated in the front-rear direction as a whole, the substantially first half portion is a square tube portion 21, and the substantially second half portion is an open barrel-shaped wire connection portion 22. An electric wire 23 is connected to the electric wire connecting portion 22 by crimping, and a front end portion of a cylindrical rubber plug 24 that is externally fitted to the electric wire 23 in a liquid-tight manner is fixed together with the electric wire 23. The female terminal fitting 20 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 11 from the rear and is prevented from being removed by the lance 19, and the rubber plug 24 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11 in a liquid-tight manner.

  The lever 30 is made of synthetic resin, has a generally flat plate shape as a whole, and includes a lever main body 31 and an operation unit 34. In the description of the lever 30, the front, rear, left, and right directions are in a state where the lever 30 is in the fitting position (position where the two housings 10 and 50 are fitted) with respect to the first housing 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). ) The lever body 31 has a substantially circular shape in plan view, but in detail, the lever main body 31 has a shape in which the rear end region of the peripheral portion of the circle is notched in a comb shape. A circular bearing hole 32 is formed through the center of the lever main body 31, and the lever 30 is fitted to the support shaft 16 so that the lever 30 is in a standby position (see FIG. (See FIG. 3) and a fitting position, it is rotationally displaced over an angle of about 45 °. Further, a cam groove 33 is formed in front of the bearing hole 32 in the lever main body 31 so as to be inclined with respect to both the circumferential direction and the radial direction centering on the bearing hole 32.

An operation portion 34 is integrally provided in a substantially left half region at the rear end portion of the lever main body 31. The operation part 34 includes a support part 35 in which a rear end edge of the lever body 31 is bulged downward, and a pair of left and right finger contact parts 36L that rise upward from the lever body 31 from the left and right ends of the support part 35. 36R and a lock arm 37 are provided. The lock arm 37 has a generally rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and is supported on the upper surface of the support portion 35 by a leg portion 38 at a position slightly forward of the rear end portion. It can be elastically displaced in the form of a seesaw so as to assume a backward tilting posture. A lock hole 37 a is formed at the front end of the lock arm 37 so as to penetrate substantially square. The rear end portion of the lock arm 37 is a lock releasing pressing portion 37b. The lock arm 37 is disposed above the support portion 35 and between the left and right finger contact portions 36L and 36R.
The rear end surfaces of the left and right finger contact portions 36L, 36R, the rear end surface of the support portion 35, and the rear end surface of the lock arm 37 in the operation portion 34 are generally flat finger contact surfaces 39. When the two housings 10 and 50 are fitted to the finger contact surface 39, the operator applies the finger Fa horizontally from the rear or obliquely rearward (that is, the lever 30 is pressed in the fitting position direction). (In the direction you want to).

  On the outer peripheral edge of the lever main body 31, a pair of left and right projecting portions 40 projecting in an arc shape radially outward is formed, and the both projecting portions 40 are fitted into the guide grooves 18 and 18 so that the lever 30 is restricted from separating upward from the first housing 10. A return regulating portion 41 is formed at a position in front of the lock arm 37 in the lever main body 31 so as to penetrate the lever main body 31 up and down. A bending locking piece 42 is formed at a position on the right side of the bearing hole 32 in the lever body 31 so as to extend rearward in a cantilevered manner and can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction.

Next, the second housing 50 will be described.
The second housing 50 is made of synthetic resin, and is formed by integrally forming a horizontally long housing main body 51 and a generally rectangular tube-shaped hood portion 52 protruding forward from the housing main body 51. A male terminal fitting 53 is inserted into the housing main body 51 from the rear and secured by a lance 54, and a tab 53 a at the front end of the male terminal fitting 53 projects forward in the hood portion 52. A cam follower 55 is formed on the upper surface of the upper surface plate of the hood portion 52 at a center position in the width direction and close to the front end of the hood portion 52. The cam follower 55 is formed in a circular shape and protrudes upward with its axis line directed in the vertical direction. Similarly, on the upper surface of the upper surface plate of the hood portion 52, a pair of left and right restriction release portions 56 that extend linearly in the front-rear direction (direction parallel to the fitting direction with respect to the first housing 10) are formed on the left and right sides of the cam follower 55. Yes. The restriction release portion 56 is configured to protrude in a rib shape upward from the upper surface plate.

  In addition, a pair of left and right finger hooks 57L and 57R that rise upward from a position near the boundary between the front end of the housing body 51 and the rear end of the hood portion 52 are formed on the upper surface of the second housing 50. The finger hook portions 57L and 57R are disposed behind the cam follower 55 and shifted in the left-right direction with respect to the cam follower 55. The side edge portions inside the finger hook portions 57L and 57R and the restriction release portion 56 The rear end is connected. Further, the upper surfaces of the finger hook portions 57L and 57R are located above the upper surface of the cam follower 55 and the upper surface of the restriction release portion 56. Each finger-hanging portion 57L, 57R is formed with a pair of left and right thinned portions 58 that are recessed on the rear surface side, and a reinforcing rib 59 is provided between both thinned portions 58. The operator places the fingers Fb and Fc horizontally on the rear surfaces of the finger-hanging portions 57L and 57R from the rear (that is, in a direction generally opposite to the displacement direction of the operation portion 34 when the two housings 10 and 50 are fitted). The finger hooking surfaces 60L and 60R on the rear surfaces of the finger hook portions 57L and 57R are concave in a plan view shape so that the assigned fingers Fb and Fc do not shift in the left-right direction. It has become a form.

  Next, the fitting process of both the housings 10 and 50 will be described. First, the lever 30 is put on standby at the standby position. At this time, due to the engagement between the return regulating portion 41 and the lock protrusion 17a of the flexible lock piece 17, the side opposite to the fitting position side of the lever 30 (counterclockwise) Rotation of the lever 30 is restricted and the rotation of the lever 30 to the fitting position side (clockwise direction) is restricted by the engagement between the bending engagement piece 42 and the receiving portion 15. Is held at a standby position where the inlet 33a of the cam groove 33 is opened forward. In the state where the lever 30 is in the standby position, the substantially rear left half of the operation portion 34 (that is, most of the region of the finger contact surface 39) protrudes rearward from the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10, and the finger contact surface 39 But it faces diagonally right rear. That is, the finger contact surface 39 is inclined obliquely with respect to the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10 and at the same time obliquely with respect to both the fitting directions of the housings 10 and 50. Further, most of the finger contact surface 39 is located to the left of the support shaft 16.

  From this state, the hood portion 52 of the second housing 50 is shallowly fitted into the space between the terminal accommodating portion 11 and the cylindrical fitting portion 12 of the first housing 10. Then, the cam follower 55 enters the inlet 33a of the cam groove 33, and the restriction release portion 56 elastically displaces the bending engagement piece 42 upward to disengage from the receiving portion 15, and the rotation restriction state of the lever 30 is released. The

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, the thumb Fa (first finger) is placed on the finger contact surface 39 of the operation unit 34 from the diagonally right rear side of the first housing 10, and the left and right both-finger holding portions 57 </ b> L and 57 </ b> R. On the other hand, the index finger Fb (second finger) and the middle finger Fc (third finger) are placed from the rear of the second housing 50 so that the operation unit 34 and the finger hooks 57L and 57R are brought close to each other (hold the hand H). If force is applied to the fingers Fa, Fb, Fc, the lever 30 rotates in the fitting direction. As the rotation of the lever 30 proceeds, the operation portion 34 moves in a direction substantially parallel to the fitting direction of the housings 10 and 50 and approaches the finger hook portions 57L and 57R, and the orientation of the finger contact surface 39 is The housings 10 and 50 are displaced so as to approach a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the housings 10 and 50.

  As the lever 30 rotates, the second housing 50 is pulled toward the first housing 10 by a cam action (a boost action) due to the engagement between the cam groove 33 and the cam follower 55. When the lever 30 reaches the mating position, both the housings 10 and 50 reach the regular mating state, and the tab 53a enters the square tube portion 21 so that the male terminal fitting 53 and the female terminal fitting 20 are connected. It is connected to be able to conduct.

  In a state where the lever 30 has reached the fitting position, the front surface of the support portion 35 abuts against the front end surface of the accommodation space 13, and further rotation of the lever 30 is restricted, and the lock protrusion of the flexible lock piece 17. When the lever 17a is engaged with the lock hole 37a of the lock arm 37, the lever 30 is restricted from returning to the standby position. Thereby, the lever 30 is locked in a state in which the rotation is restricted at the fitting position. In the state where the lever 30 is in the fitting position, the entire operation portion 34 is accommodated in the accommodation space 13, and the rear end surface (finger contact surface) of the operation portion 34 (the support portion 35 and the left and right finger contact portions 36L, 36R). 39) is flush with the rear end surface 10R of the first housing 10 (terminal accommodating portion 11).

  When the fitted housings 10 and 50 are removed, the front end of the lock arm 37 is elastically displaced upward by pushing down the unlocking pressing portion 37b at the rear end of the lock arm 37 with a finger. The lock hole 37a is dissociated from the lock protrusion 17a. As a result, the lever 30 is allowed to move to the standby position, and if the lever 30 is rotated to the standby position side as it is, the second housing is caused by the cam action by the engagement of the cam follower 55 and the cam groove 33. 50 is pushed forward with respect to the 1st housing 10, and both the housings 10 and 50 are removed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lever 30 is provided with the operation unit 34 that can apply the finger Fa in the direction in which the pressing force in the fitting position direction is applied to the lever 30. The housing 50 is provided with finger hooking portions 57L and 57R that can be applied to the fingers Fb and Fc from the direction substantially opposite to the displacement direction of the operating portion 34 when the housings 10 and 50 are fitted. By placing the fingers Fa, Fb, Fc on the finger hooks 57L, 57R, the lever 30 can be displaced toward the fitting position while the operation part 34 is approaching the finger hooks 57L, 57R. . As described above, when the two housings 10 and 50 are fitted, the operation portion 34 to which the fingers Fa, Fb, and Fc are addressed and the finger hook portions 57L and 57R are brought close to each other. The fitting operation can be performed only with the hand H.

Further, since the approaching direction of the operation unit 34 and the finger-hanging portions 57L and 57R is substantially parallel to the fitting direction of the two housings 10 and 50, it is given to the operation portion 34 and the finger-hanging portions 57L and 57R. The pressing force from the fingers Fa, Fb, and Fc acts as a force for bringing the two housings 10 and 50 closer to each other, and the workability is excellent.
When the lever 30 reaches the fitting position and the housings 10 and 50 are fitted, the contact surface (finger contact surface 39) of the finger Fa in the operation portion 34 is the outer surface (rear end surface 10R) of the first housing 10. ), It can be confirmed easily and reliably by visual observation that both housings 10 and 50 are fitted.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and further, within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention other than the following. Various modifications can be made.
(1) Although the case where the lever has a single plate shape has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention provides a case in which the lever has a portal shape in which a pair of arm portions are extended from both ends of the operation portion. Is also applicable.
(2) In the above embodiment, the rear end surface (finger contact surface) of the lever operation portion is flush with the rear end surface of the housing in a state where both housings are fitted. The rear end surface of the operation portion may be positioned forward (inner side) with respect to the rear end surface of the housing and rearward (outside) with respect to the rear end surface of the housing.
(3) In the above embodiment, the lever is exposed on the outer surface of the first housing. However, according to the present invention, a part or the whole of the lever may be accommodated in the first housing.
(4) In the above embodiment, a pair of left and right finger hooks are provided. However, according to the present invention, the number of finger hooks may be one or three or more.

The top view of the 1st housing showing the state which has a lever in a stand-by position in Embodiment 1. The top view of the 1st housing showing the state where a lever exists in a fitting position A plan view showing a state where both housings are shallowly fitted and the cam follower enters the cam groove. Plan view showing the state where both housings are mated XX sectional view of FIG. Plan view of the second housing Front view of second housing YY sectional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 ... 1st housing 10R ... Rear end surface (outer surface) of housing
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Lever 33 ... Cam groove 34 ... Operation part 39 ... Finger contact surface 50 ... 2nd housing 55 ... Cam follower 57L, 57R ... Finger hook part

Claims (2)

A first housing connected to a terminal of one wire group;
A lever supported by a support shaft on the first housing and provided so as to be capable of rotational displacement between a standby position and a fitting position;
A second housing connected to a terminal of another wire group and having a cam follower,
By engaging the cam groove and the cam follower by displacing the lever from the state in which both the housings are shallowly fitted while entering the cam groove of the lever in the standby position to the fitting position. In the lever type connector in which both the housings are fitted by cam action,
While the lever is provided with an operation unit capable of applying a finger in a direction in which a pressing force in the fitting position direction is applied to the lever,
Wherein the second housing, before Symbol pair of finger grips are provided with the support shaft on both sides of a line connecting the said cam follower lever, this is the finger hook portion, the same as addressed to cormorants finger on the operation section It is possible to address a finger other than the finger addressed to the operation part in the hand from a direction substantially opposite to the displacement direction of the operation part when the two housings are fitted,
Before the fitting operation of the two housings, the operation portion of the lever is located on the opposite side of the finger-holding portion of the second housing with the support shaft of the lever interposed therebetween,
The finger on the operation section, the finger hook a finger directed other than cormorants finger on the operating unit that is cormorants addressed to, displace the lever while approaching the operating unit to the finger holder to the mating position side It is possible to let
And the approach direction of the said operation part in the fitting direction of the said both housings and the said finger hook part is made into the direction substantially parallel to the fitting direction of the said both housings, The lever-type connector characterized by the above-mentioned.   2. The lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein when the lever reaches the fitting position, a finger contact surface of the operation portion is substantially flush with an outer surface of the first housing.

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