JP4917661B2 - Double locking connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a double-locking connector that prevents a terminal housed in a connector housing from coming off with a double-locking member.

  7 to 10 show one form of a conventional double locking connector (see Patent Document 1).

  This double locking connector 61 includes a synthetic resin connector housing 62 and a synthetic resin front holder (double locking member) 64 inserted into the connector housing from the front opening of the connector fitting chamber 63. And a terminal 65 with an electric wire inserted into the connector housing from the rear in a temporarily locked state of the front holder 64 to the connector housing 62.

  As shown in FIG. 8, at the same time that the terminal 65 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber of the connector housing 62, the flexible locking lance 66 in the connector housing locks the terminal 65, and then pushes the front holder 64 backward. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the double locking plate 67 of the front holder 64 enters the bending space of the locking lance 66 to prevent the locking lance 66 from being bent and to double lock the terminal 65 at the same time. The front holder 64 is permanently locked to the connector housing 62. FIG. 8 shows a temporarily locked state of the front holder 64, and FIGS. 7 and 9 show a fully locked state of the front holder 64.

  The front holder 64 of this example has a flexible locking arm 69 on the upper side of the frame-shaped portion 68 (FIG. 7), and a pair of frame-piece plate-shaped operation portions 70 (see FIG. 7). The operation unit 70 slides back and forth in a horizontal groove 71 on the side wall of the connector housing 62.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the front holder 64 is temporarily locked with the protrusion 72 of the locking arm 69 positioned on the front side of the protrusion 73 on the upper wall of the connector housing 62, and the operation unit 70 is pulled backward from the temporarily locked state. Thus, the protrusion 72 gets over the protrusion 73 and the front holder 64 is fully locked without coming out forward. When the front holder 64 is shifted from the final locking to the temporary locking, the operation unit 70 is pushed forward. The operation unit 70 is operated by holding the connector housing 62 with one hand, holding the pair of left and right operation units 70 with the other hand, for example, the thumb and forefinger, and pulling backward or pushing forward.

  The double locking plate 67 杆 of the front holder 64 of this example is provided with a plurality of horizontal projections rearward from the lower side portion and the intermediate side portion of the frame-like portion 68 corresponding to the number of terminal accommodating chambers. The connector housing 62 has terminal receiving chambers in two front and rear stages, and a locking lance 66 projects from the rear part of the lower surface of the lower wall and the intermediate wall toward the front. The terminal 65 is a male terminal, and a tab-like contact portion 65a of the male terminal 65 protrudes from the hole in the front wall of the terminal accommodating portion 74 of the connector housing 62 into the connector fitting chamber 63, and temporarily enters from the opening below the hole. The double locking plate 67 of the front holder 64 is inserted into the terminal accommodating portion 74 during locking, and the frame-shaped portion 68 of the front holder 64 is engaged along the front wall during main locking.

  The connector fitting chamber 63 is formed in the hood portion, and the hood portion 75 continues to the terminal accommodating portion 74 integrally. A space for allowing the flexible lock arm of the mating connector (not shown) to enter and a protrusion for engaging the protrusion of the lock arm are provided above the hood portion 75. An opening through which the operation part 70 is inserted is provided in the left and right rear walls of the hood part 75, and the opening communicates with the connector fitting chamber 63.

  FIG. 10 shows another form of a conventional double-locking connector (see Patent Document 1). This double-locking connector 76 is operated on both the left and right sides of a front holder (double-locking member) 77. This is different from the above-described embodiment in that the portion 79 is provided with a temporary locking projection 80 and a final locking projection 81 as locking means. The other parts are almost the same.

  The operation portion 79 is formed in a horizontally long frame shape, and a temporary locking protrusion 80 and a main locking protrusion 81 are provided on flexible upper and lower sides. Temporary locking protrusions 82 and main locking protrusions 83 are provided in the grooves on both side walls of the connector housing 78 with respect to the protrusions 80 and 81. The operation portion 79 protrudes from the front frame portion 84 in the same direction as the terminal double locking plate 85.

  Each of the double locking connectors 61 and 76 constitutes a sub-wire harness together with a plurality of electric wires and connectors arranged at the other end of each electric wire, and a plurality of sub-wire harnesses are combined to constitute a wire harness.

JP-A-9-251874 (FIGS. 2 to 4)

  However, in the conventional double locking connector, for example, when the wire harness is manufactured or assembled to a vehicle or the like, the operation portions 70 and 79 of the front holders (double locking members) 64 and 77 are used. There is a concern that an electric wire or the like may be caught on the operation unit 70 and 79, and the operation units 70 and 79 may be strongly bent outward to cause deformation or breakage. Further, when the operation parts 70 and 79 are strongly pressed with a finger upward or downward when the front holders 64 and 77 are operated, the operation parts 70 and 79 are detached from the groove portions of the connector housings 62 and 78 in the same manner. There were concerns that the operability would deteriorate even if it was deformed or damaged, or even if it was not damaged.

  In view of the above points, the present invention does not cause deformation or breakage even if the operation portion of the terminal double locking member is hooked or twisted, and allows the operation portion to be moved smoothly and reliably. An object of the present invention is to provide a double locking connector that can be used.

  To achieve the above object, in the double locking connector according to claim 1 of the present invention, a terminal double locking member is inserted into the connector housing from the front, and an operation on the upper side of the terminal double locking member is performed. Is exposed to the outside of the connector housing, the operation portion is provided with a slide engagement portion, and a guide portion having a presser portion located outside the slide engagement portion is provided on the outer wall of the connector housing. A double locking connector in which upward displacement of the operating portion is prevented by the pressing portion, the operating portion extending rearward from the terminal double locking member via each rising side portion Left and right narrow flexible sides, an intermediate wide plate as the slide engaging portion, left and right engaging portions provided on the left and right sides, the left and right sides, and the The left and right guide sections are connected to the rear end of the plate section via rising edges. An operation side portion having a rear opening to be entered, the plate portion is slidably engaged with the guide portion, and the pressing portion of the guide portion is positioned between the plate portion and the operation side portion, The locking portion is engaged with a locked portion disposed outside the left and right sides.

  With the above configuration, when the terminal double locking member is slidably inserted (attached) to the connector housing, the operating portion of the terminal double locking member is exposed to the outside of the connector housing. The sliding engagement portion of the guide portion is slidably engaged with the guide portion of the outer wall of the connector housing, and the presser portion of the guide portion is located outside the slide engagement portion so as to be slidably contacted. Prevents displacement in direction. As a result, even when an electric wire is caught on the operation unit or the operation unit is operated, the operation unit is prevented from being deformed and a smooth slide operation is possible. As the guide portion, a rail, a groove portion or the like having an L-shaped section or a T-shape can be applied. As the double locking member, a front holder or a rear holder can be applied. It is preferable that the guide portion having the pressing portion is held so as to wrap around or surround the slide engagement portion. With the terminal double lock, the lock lance that primarily locks the terminal may be prevented from bending, or the terminal may be locked directly. By connecting the central plate part of the operation part and the side parts on both sides at the operation side part, the rigidity of the operation part is increased, and the slide operability is improved together with the long operation side part.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sliding engagement portion is slidably brought into contact with the holding portion of the guide portion, and the opening of the operation portion of the terminal double locking member with respect to the connector housing is prevented. Even when the electric wire is strongly caught on the operation part, harmful deformation and breakage of the operation part are surely prevented. Further, even when the operator pulls or pushes the operation part so as to bend, the slide engagement part slides smoothly along the guide part, and the insertion and removal operation of the terminal double locking member can be performed smoothly and smoothly. It can be done reliably. In addition, the central plate part of the operation part and the side parts on both sides are connected to each other at the operation side part to increase the rigidity of the operation part. improves.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the double latching connector which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which cuts and shows the upper part of a double latching connector similarly. It is a perspective view which cuts and shows the intermediate part of a double latching connector similarly. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the operation part and its holding structure of a double latching connector. It is a perspective view which shows the temporary latching means of a double latching connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the assembly state of a double latching connector. It is a perspective view which shows one form of the conventional double latching connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which similarly shows the temporary latching state of the front holder of the conventional double latching connector. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which similarly shows the main latching state of a front holder. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the other form of the conventional double latching connector.

  1 to 6 show an embodiment of a double locking connector according to the present invention.

  The double locking connector 45 is provided with a guide rail (guide portion) 49 integrally provided on a wide horizontal upper wall (outer wall) 48 instead of both side walls 47 of a connector housing 46 made of synthetic resin, and a front surface made of synthetic resin. The operation portion 51 is formed to project horizontally from the upper front end to the rear rather than on both sides of the holder (terminal double locking member) 50, and the intermediate plate portion (plate portion or slide engagement portion) 90 of the operation portion 51 is formed. The guide rail 49 is slidably engaged.

  A part of the operation unit 51 is slidably engaged in the guide rail, thereby preventing the operation unit 51 from opening outward. The connector housing 46 of this example is formed thin by arranging the terminal accommodating chambers 52 in a single stage, and the main portion (the portion 53 (FIG. 3) excluding the operation portion 51) of the front holder 50 is formed in a substantially plate shape. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right guide rails 49 are provided symmetrically at the center in the width direction of the upper wall 48 in the terminal housing portion 54 in the latter half of the connector housing 46, and the rear ends of the pair of guide rails 49 are connected to the connecting walls 55 Are connected to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each guide rail 49 includes a vertical support wall (support portion) 49a orthogonal to the upper wall 48, and a press wall (press portion or protrusion) projecting inward perpendicular to the upper end of the support wall 49a. Abutting part) 49b is bent to have a substantially L-shaped cross section (saddle shape), and is surrounded by a substantially U-shaped cross section by the outer surface of the upper wall 48, the support wall 49a of the guide rail 49, and the presser wall 49b. A space having a rectangular cross section on the inside acts as a guide groove 56 (FIG. 4). The pair of left and right guide rails 49 are reinforced by a connecting wall 55 at the rear end. A horizontally long space 57 (FIG. 4) is formed between the left and right guide rails 49. Note that the vertical and horizontal directions are for convenience of explanation, and do not always coincide with the actual usage direction of the double locking connector 45.

  Protective walls 58 are vertically provided on the left and right outer sides of the pair of guide rails 49 from the upper wall 48 of the connector housing 46, and locking ridges (locked portions) 59 are vertically provided on the inner surfaces of the protective walls 58. Is provided. The protective wall 58 continues perpendicular to the vertical rear wall of the hood 60 in the first half of the housing. An opening 86 through which the operation part 51 of the front holder 50 is inserted is provided in the rear wall of the hood part 60.

  1 to 3, the front holder 50 is completely pushed into the connector housing and is fully locked. The front holder 50 is composed of a substantially plate-shaped main body 53 and an operation section 51 that is raised and extended rearward from the front end upper portion of the main body 53. The main body 53 has a plurality of plate-shaped terminal double locks. It has the part 87 (FIG. 3) in parallel. The double locking portion 87 is divided by a slit 88, and a partition wall 89 (FIG. 3) in the terminal accommodating portion 54 of the connector housing 46 is inserted into the slit so that the front holder 50 is positioned without backlash in the left-right direction. .

  The operation unit 51 of the front holder 50 includes a wide intermediate plate part (sliding engagement part) 90 at the center, and narrow flexible left and right side parts 91 positioned parallel to the left and right of the intermediate plate part 90, A slightly narrower rising side portion 92 raised substantially vertically from the rear end of the intermediate plate 90 and a raised side portion 93 raised substantially vertically with the same width from the rear ends of the left and right side portions 91. And a rear side portion (operation side portion) 94 that horizontally connects the left and right and central rising side portions 92, 93, and is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape. A raised side portion 90 a and a vertical rising side portion 91 a on the front end side of the left and right side portions 91 are integrally continued orthogonally to the upper front end portion of the main body 53 of the front holder 50. The intermediate plate portion 90, the left and right side portions 91, and the rear operation side portion 94 constitute a substantially frame-shaped peripheral portion 109.

  The intermediate plate portion 90 of the operation portion 51 is slidably engaged with the pair of left and right guide rails 49, and the upper surface (outer surface) of the intermediate plate portion 90 is in contact with the lower surface (inner surface) of the holding wall 49 b of each guide rail 49. Further, the outward opening of the operation unit 51 is prevented. The rising side portion 92 that follows the rear end side of the intermediate plate portion 90 is formed to be narrower than the intermediate plate portion 90, and can enter between the holding walls 49b of the left and right guide rails 49. In this example, the left and right side portions of the intermediate plate portion 90 are directly used as slide portions.

  In this example (FIG. 1), ribs (not shown) may be provided on both the left and right sides of the intermediate plate 90 so that the ribs are slidably engaged with the guide rails 49. The rib is thinner than the thickness of the intermediate plate portion 90. By using the rib, the protruding height of the guide rail 49 can be kept low.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the operation side portion 94 at the rear end of the operation portion 51 is positioned to protrude slightly higher than the upper surface of the guide rail 49, and the operation side portion 94, the central rising side portion 92, and the left and right rising sides Each guide rail 49 can enter the opening 95 between the intermediate plate portion 90 and the left and right side portions 91 from a rectangular rear opening (entrance) 95 a formed by being surrounded by the portion 93.

  1 and 2, the left and right flexible side portions 91 of the operation portion 51 can be moved back and forth along the outer surfaces of the support walls 49 a of the left and right guide rails 49. A main locking projection (main locking portion or main locking means) 96 is provided symmetrically on the outer surface of the first half of each flexible side portion 91. The main locking projection 96 has a substantially triangular shape with front and rear inclined surfaces. As shown in FIG. 1, the main locking projection 96 rides backward on the vertical protrusion 59 of the connector housing 46, and the front surface of the main locking protrusion 96 comes into contact with the rear surface of the protrusion 59. Is done. In FIG. 2, the protrusion 59 is shown as a cross section along with the guide rail 49, the rising side 92 at the rear end of the operation portion 51, the protective wall 58, the hood portion 60, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the front holder 50 is inserted between the upper wall 48 of the terminal housing portion 54 in the latter half of the connector housing 46 and the lower terminal housing chamber 52. The plate-like front holder 50 is inserted along a horizontal guide groove 98 provided in the upper part of the connector fitting chamber 97 of the connector housing 46. The base wall 99 at the front end of the front holder 50 is positioned substantially flush with the front wall 100 of the terminal accommodating chamber 52 on the rear end side of the upper wall of the hood portion 60 of the connector housing 46. The front wall 100 of the terminal accommodating chamber 52 is provided with a hole portion 102 through which the tab-like contact portion 101a of the male terminal 101 is inserted in parallel.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (shown with the intermediate portion cut away) and FIG. 6, the double locking portion 87 of the front holder 50 enters the bending space 104 on the upper side of the locking lance 103 of the connector housing 46 and locks it. The bending of the lance 103 is prevented. The double locking portion 87 of the front holder 50 is formed thinner in the second half of the main portion 53 than in the first half of the main portion 53, and the second half portion of the main portion 53 also serves as the upper wall of the terminal accommodating chamber 52. The first half of the box-shaped part 101b following the tab-shaped contact part 101a is held. The locking lance 103 locks the rear end upper part of the box-shaped part 101b. The locking lance 103 protrudes obliquely from the inner surface of the upper wall 48 of the terminal accommodating portion 54 toward the front.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a flexible temporary locking arm (temporary locking portion or temporary locking means) 105 faces forward along the side end surface from the rear ends of the left and right ends of the double locking portion 87 of the front holder 50. The main body 53 protrudes about half the length. The temporary locking arm 105 includes a support portion 105a orthogonal to the side end surface, an arm main body 105b orthogonal to the support portion 105a, and a protrusion 105c provided outward in the first half of the arm main body 105b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a wall portion 106 having the same width as the hood portion 60 is formed to bulge in the first half of both side walls 47 of the terminal housing portion 54 of the connector housing 46, and a horizontal long hole is formed at the center of the wall portion 106. As shown in FIG. 3, the slit portion 107 communicates with the holder housing space 108 in the terminal housing portion 54, and the temporary locking arm 105 of the front holder 50 protrudes and is positioned in the slit portion. The locking surface at the front end of the protrusion 105 c of the locking arm 105 can come into contact with the front end surface (locked portion) 107 a of the slit portion 107.

  When the front holder 50 is temporarily locked, the projection 105 c of the temporary locking arm 105 is in contact with the front end surface 107 a of the slit 107, and the main locking projection 96 (FIG. 2) is in contact with the front end surface of the protrusion 59. . By pressing the front holder 50 rearward from the temporarily locked state, the main locking projection 96 of FIG. 2 is bent inward integrally with the flexible side portion 91, and gets over the protruding ridge 59 and extends over the protruding ridge 59. The front holder 50 is brought into a fully locked state by contacting the rear end surface.

  As the front holder 50 is shifted from the temporary lock to the main lock, the intermediate plate 90 of the operation portion 51 enters and slides into the pair of left and right guide rails 49 as shown in FIGS. The upper presser wall 49b of the guide rail 49 faces the upper side of both side portions of the intermediate plate portion 90 to prevent the intermediate plate portion 90 from being lifted. Side portions 91 on both the left and right sides of the operation portion 51 are positioned along the outer surface of the support wall 49 a of each guide rail 49. The operation side portion 94 at the rear end of the operation portion 51 is positioned so as to protrude above the guide rail 49.

  For example, when an electric wire (not shown) is caught on the operation side portion 94, or when the operation side portion 94 is pulled backward or pushed forward, that is, when the front holder 50 is shifted from temporary lock to full lock. Even when a twisting force is applied to the portion 51 or a twisting force is applied to the operation portion 51 when shifting from the main locking to the temporary locking, the wide intermediate plate portion 90 is held in the guide rail. In addition, the entire operation unit 51 including the left and right side portions 91 is prevented from being lifted, deformed or damaged, and the operation unit 51 is smoothly slid with a small operation force without being caught.

  In FIG. 4, when an inward projection or protrusion is provided at the inner end of the holding wall 49 b of the guide rail 49, the intermediate plate portion 90 is interposed between the holding wall 49 b and the housing upper wall 48 (inside the guide groove 56). The backlash of the upper and lower sides is more reliably suppressed.

  In addition, in the said embodiment, although the terminal 101 with an electric wire was double-locked with the front holder 50, for example in the apparatus direct attachment type double lock connector which does not use an electric wire, it follows a bus bar etc. in an apparatus. It is also possible to double-lock the terminal with the front holder 50.

  Further, the number of stages of the terminal housing chamber 52 of the connector housing 46 and the number of stages of the double locking portion (double locking plate or double locking rod) 87 of the front holder 50 are not limited to one, but may be two or more. It is also possible to do. In this case, for example, double locking portions 87 are provided in a plurality of stages on the base wall 99 at the front end of the front holder 50, and the operation portion 51 is provided in the main body 53 including the upper double locking portion 87.

  Further, the operation side part 94 at the rear end of the operation part 51 of the front holder 50 is provided only at the rear end of the intermediate plate part 90, and the operation side part 94 is provided with the rear ends of the left and right flexible side parts 91 as free ends. It is also possible to eliminate the rear opening 95a surrounded by. However, in this case, the operation side portion 94 is short and difficult to operate, and the locking force of the protrusions 96 on the left and right side portions 91 tends to be reduced.

  Further, as the locking means of the front holder 50, the temporary locking arm 105 is eliminated, and the two left and right side projections 96 and the left and right projections 96 of the connector housing 46 are disposed on the left and right sides 91 of the operation unit 51. It is also possible to dispose the protrusions 59 so as to be shifted forward and backward. Further, a stepped wall or the like of the connector housing 46 can be used as the locked portion instead of the protrusion 59. Further, the projection 96 of the operation portion 51 is eliminated, for example, the locking arm 105 is formed long by supporting both ends, the temporary locking projection 105c and the main locking projection are provided on the locking arm 105, and the connector housing 46 is engaged. It is also possible to provide a temporary locking step and a final locking step or projection as the locking portion. In that case, the left and right side portions 91 of the operation unit 51 need not be flexible.

  In the above embodiment, the intermediate plate portion 90 of the operation portion 51 of the front holder 50 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 49 having a substantially L-shaped cross section of the connector housing 46. For example, the operation portion 51 of the front holder 50 is used. It is also possible to provide a slide engaging portion having a substantially inverted L shape (guide rail shape) in the cross section, and to provide a rib for sliding engagement of the slide engaging portion on the connector housing 46 or a guide portion having a substantially L shape in cross section. . Further, for example, an intermediate plate portion 90 of the operation portion 51 is provided with a groove portion (sliding engagement portion) having a substantially T-shaped cross section, and a ridge portion (guide portion) having a substantially T-shaped section for slidingly engaging the groove portion with the connector housing 46 It is also possible to provide. It is also possible to provide a protrusion (sliding engagement portion) with a T-shaped cross section on the inner surface (back surface) of the intermediate plate portion 90 and a pair of guide rails (guide portions) with a narrow gap on the upper wall 48 of the connector housing 46. It is. In any case, the guide portion 49 has a pressing portion 49b positioned outside the slide engaging portion 90, and the pressing portion 49b prevents the operation portion 51 from being displaced outward.

  Further, the above embodiment is directed to the connector 45 including the female housing connector housing 46 that accommodates the male terminal 101 and the front holder 50 that is inserted into the connector fitting chamber 97 of the connector housing 46 from the front. For example, an external male connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating female terminals and a synthetic resin rectangular frame or plate-like rear holder (terminal double locking) mounted from the rear opening of the connector housing In a double locking connector (not shown) having a member), a frame-like or plate-like base wall on the rear end side of the rear holder is opened by opening the rear end of a guide rail (49) provided on the outer wall surface of the connector housing. An operating portion (51) is provided so as to project forward from the upper portion, and a rear end of the operating portion (51) is integrally connected to the rear holder, and a front portion is provided on the front end side of the operating portion (51). A double side projecting forward from the base wall (99) by providing a front side portion having a mouth projecting outward, arranging both side ends of the intermediate plate portion (90) in a laterally elongated opening following the front opening It is also possible to adopt a structure that prevents the locking lance (103) protruding backward in the connector housing by the locking portion (87).

  In the above embodiment, the front holder 50 is configured to prevent the terminal locking lance 103 from being bent. For example, when the rear holder is used as a double locking member, the rear holder holds the terminal 101. It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the step 101b or the protrusion is directly locked.

  The double locking connector according to the present invention does not cause deformation or breakage even if the operation portion of the terminal double locking member is hooked or twisted, and makes the operation portion move smoothly and reliably. Can be used for.

45 Double locking connector 46 Connector housing 48 Upper wall (outer wall)
49 Guide rail (guide section)
49b Presser wall (presser part)
50 Front holder (terminal double locking member)
51 Operation part 53 Main part 59 Locking protrusion (locked part)
90 Intermediate plate part (plate part or slide engagement part)
90a, 91a Rising edge 91 Left and right edges 92, 93 Rising edge 94 Operating edge 95a Rear opening (entrance)
96 Protrusion (locking part)

Claims (1)

A terminal double locking member is inserted into the connector housing from the front, an operation portion on the upper side of the terminal double locking member is exposed to the outside of the connector housing, and a slide engagement portion is provided in the operation portion. A double-locking connector in which a guide portion having a pressing portion located outside the slide engaging portion is provided on the outer wall on the upper side of the connector housing, and upward displacement of the operating portion is prevented by the pressing portion. There,
The operation portion includes a flexible left and right flexible side portion extending rearward from the terminal double locking member via each rising side portion, and an intermediate wide plate portion as the slide engagement portion. , Left and right engaging portions provided on the left and right side portions, and a rear portion connected to the rear ends of the left and right side portions and the plate portion via a rising side portion to allow the left and right guide portions to enter. An operating side portion having an opening, the plate portion is slidably engaged with the guide portion, and the presser portion of the guide portion is positioned between the plate portion and the operating side portion, A double locking connector, wherein the locking portion engages with a locked portion disposed outside the side portion.

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