JP5806597B2 - Retractable connection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage-type connection device, and more specifically, a connection device that connects electrical wiring, gas piping, and the like using a connector, a socket, a plug, and the like, and the connector can be stored. The present invention relates to a retractable connection device that is embedded in a wall surface or a floor surface.

  As a storage-type connection device, the connector is fixed between a storage position where the connection portion with the mating connector is not exposed to the outside and a use position where the connection portion is exposed to the outside and can be connected to the mating connector. The connector is pivotally attached to the member, and the connector is biased toward the storage position by the spring force of the spring. When not in use, the connector is positioned in the storage position for dust prevention or the like. A connector is known that is configured to rotate to the use position against a spring force when the connector is pressed by a specially provided pressing bar (Patent Document 1).

  In addition, as a lid opening and closing type connection device, a lid that can be opened and closed is provided at the connection port part with the connection object. When not in use, the lid is closed with a lid for dust prevention and appearance beauty, and when used, the lid is opened. There are known connectors and socket plugs (outlets) configured so as to be configured (Patent Document 2). Further, there is known a lid opening / closing type connecting device in which a synthetic resin lid can be opened and closed by a thin hinge.

JP 2008-192516 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-294669

  The conventional storage-type connecting device needs to be provided with a pressing rod on the mating connector, which hinders the use of a general-purpose connector. Further, when the connector is in the use position, the connector must be pressed by the pressing rod so that the connector does not return to the storage position due to the force of inserting the mating connector into the connector connection portion.

  The conventional lid opening / closing type connection device has a poor operability because the lid opening / closing operation becomes complicated and the lid cannot be held in the open position.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to improve the operability of the retractable connecting device using a general-purpose connector or socket / plug in the retractable connecting device.

  The retractable connection device according to the present invention includes a base member (10) having a wall body (14) in which an opening (12) is formed, a connection tool (90), and the connection tool (60) connected to the wall body ( 14) between the storage position for storing on the back side and the use position where the connection object (96) should be inserted into the connection tool (90), the connection object (90) is connected to the connection tool (90) in the use position. 96) and a holder member (40) supported by the base member (10) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (X) perpendicular to the direction in which the holder member is inserted, and the holder member (40) The connector (90) is exposed from the opening (12) when in the position, and the opening (12) is closed when in the storage position, and the holder member (40) is Rotation from position to the use position In order to determine the limit of movement, the connector has an abutting portion (60) that abuts a part (18A) of the base member (10), and when the holder member (40) is in the use position, the connector The direction in which the connection object (96) is inserted so that the force that inserts the connection object (96) into (90) acts on the holder member (40) as the torque that moves the holder member (40) toward the use position. The axis of rotation (X) is offset with respect to the line of force (F).

  According to this configuration, the action line (F) of the force in the direction in which the rotation axis (X) of the holder member (40) inserts the connection object (96) into the connection tool (90) installed in the holder member (40). When the connection object (96) is inserted into the holder member (40), the insertion force causes the abutting portion (60) of the holder member (40) to move to the base member (10). Therefore, the holder member (40) is stably maintained in the use position. As a result, the operation of inserting the connection object (96) into the connection tool (90) can be performed smoothly and reliably with one hand, with good operability.

  Preferably, the retractable connection device according to the present invention further includes a use position mechanism for releasably locking the holder member (40) to the use position on the holder member (40) and the base member (10). A stop is provided.

  According to this configuration, the holder member (40) does not wobble due to vibration or the like at the use position, and it is avoided that the connection state of the connection object (96) with respect to the connection tool (90) becomes unstable due to wobble. .

  In the storage type connecting device according to the present invention, preferably, the holder member (40) and the base member (10) have a storage position locking portion for releasably locking the holder member (40) at the storage position. Is provided.

  According to this configuration, the holder member (40) does not wobble due to traveling or the like at the storage position, and the appearance is good.

  In the retractable connection device according to the present invention, preferably, the base member (10) is disposed on the back side of the panel (100) having an opening (102) smaller than the opening (12) of the base member (10). Further, the holder member (40) has a shielding wall portion (36) that closes a gap formed between the holder member (40) and an edge of the opening (102) of the panel (100) in the use position. 66).

  According to this configuration, the gap formed between the holder member (40) and the edge of the opening (102) of the panel (100) is closed at the use position by the shielding wall (66), so that the appearance in the use state can be obtained. Will be good.

  In the retractable connecting device according to the present invention, when the holder member is in the use position, the rotation axis of the holder member is offset with respect to the action line of the force in the direction of inserting the connection object into the connector of the holder member. Since the force that inserts the connection object into the connector acts on the holder member as torque toward the use position of the holder member, the insertion force is applied to the holder member during the operation of inserting the connection object into the holder member. It acts in the direction which abuts a part on a part of base member, and the state which a holder member exists in a use position is maintained stably. Thereby, the operability of the retractable connection device is improved under the use of a general-purpose connector.

It is a perspective view which shows the Example which installed the storage type connection apparatus by this invention in the instrument panel of a motor vehicle, (A) is a storage state, (B) is the intermediate state of a storage state and a use state, (C). Indicates the state of use. It is sectional drawing (equivalent to the II-II cross section of FIG. 1 (A)) of the accommodation type connection apparatus by a present Example, (A) has shown the accommodation state, (B) has each shown the use condition. The perspective view which shows the accommodation state of the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example. The perspective view which looked at the base member used for the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example from the front side. The perspective view which looked at the base member used for the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example from the rear side. The rear view of the base member used for the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example. Sectional drawing along line VII-VII of FIG. The perspective view which looked at the holder member used for the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example from the front side. The perspective view which looked at the holder member used for the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example from the rear side. The side view of the holder member used for the accommodation type connection apparatus by a present Example. The rear view of the holder member used for the storage type connection apparatus by a present Example. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 11.

  One embodiment of a retractable connection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is applied to an in-vehicle USB connector installed on an instrument panel 100 of an automobile. In this embodiment, the retractable connecting device is installed on the ridge surface, so that for convenience of explanation, the operation surface side of the device is the front side, and the front, rear, left, and right directions are shown in the drawings. Defined in

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the retractable connection device according to the present embodiment includes a base member 10 made of a resin molded product and a holder member 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the base member 10 extends along a frame-like wall body 14 in which a vertically rectangular opening 12 is formed, and left and right side edges and an upper edge of the opening 12. Thus, the left and right side wall portions 16 and the upper wall portion 18 projecting rearward from the back surface (rear surface) of the wall body 14 are integrally provided. The upper wall portion 18 has a step portion 18B whose central portion in the left-right direction protrudes upward. As shown in FIG. 2, the stepped portion 18B is integrally formed with a mounting piece 20 for screwing the base member 10 to the back side of the instrument panel 100 extending upward from the stepped portion 18B. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base member 10 is fixed to the instrument panel 100 so that the front surface of the wall body 14 is joined to the back surface of the instrument panel 100 by screwing the mounting piece 20. The instrument panel 100 is formed with a vertically long rectangular opening 102 that overlaps the opening 12 of the wall 14. The horizontal dimension of the opening 102 is the same as the horizontal dimension of the opening 12, but the vertical dimension is smaller than the vertical dimension of the opening 12.

  The left and right side wall portions 16 are formed with through holes 22 as round holes on one horizontal axis line Xa (see FIG. 6) that crosses the opening 12 in the left-right direction.

  A first elastic claw piece 24 extending horizontally rearward from the back surface of the wall body 14 is integrally formed below the step portion 18B of the upper wall portion 18. The first elastic claw piece 24 is a cantilever piece having only the front end fixed to the back surface of the wall body 14, and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, a locking projection 26 protruding downward is integrally formed at the free end (rear end) of the first elastic claw piece 24. The locking projection 26 is a locking wall surface 26 </ b> A whose front surface is raised.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the second elastic claw pieces 30 are formed in the lower portions of the left and right side wall portions 16 by two slits 28 provided in the side wall portion 16 so as to be separated from each other vertically. It is defined. The second elastic claw piece 30 is a cantilever piece that extends horizontally rearward from the back surface of the wall body 14 and is elastically deformable in the left-right direction. A locking protrusion 32 protruding inward is integrally formed at the free end (rear end) of the second elastic claw piece 30. The locking projection 32 is a locking wall surface 32A with the front surface standing upright.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 8 to 12, the holder member 40 includes a holder main portion 42 having a square cylindrical shape with openings at both ends. The holder main portion 42 has a connector arrangement portion 44 on the inner side of the cylinder. As shown in FIG. 2, a USB female connector 90 that is a connector is fixedly arranged in the connector arrangement portion 44.

  The USB female-side connector 90 is a general-purpose product according to the USB standard, and has an insertion port (connection end) 92 into which a USB male-side connector 96 (see FIG. 2), which is an object to be connected, is inserted. The insertion port 92 is arranged to be exposed outward from one opening end 44 </ b> A of the holder main portion 42. The USB male connector 96 is also a general-purpose product according to the USB standard. The horizontal width (left-right dimension) of the USB female connector 90 is substantially equal to the horizontal width (left-right dimension) of the connector placement portion 44, and the vertical dimension of the USB female-side connector 90 (up and down in the use state shown in FIG. 2B). Dimension) is smaller than the vertical dimension of the connector placement portion 44. Under this vertical dimension setting, the USB female connector 90 is arranged in the connector arrangement portion 44 so as to be biased toward the back side of the lid wall portion 46 described later. The other opening end 44 </ b> B of the holder main portion 42 is an opening through which the flexible cable 94 connected to the USB female connector 90 is passed.

  The front wall portion of the holder main portion 42 that is erected on the front side in the stored state shown in FIG. 2A is slightly smaller than the opening 12 of the base member 10 and the same size as the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100. A rectangular lid wall portion 46 is formed. A push knob 48 that protrudes forward is formed at the bottom of the lid wall 46.

  A cylindrical shaft portion 52 is formed on the outer wall surface of the left and right side wall portions 50 of the holder main portion 42 so as to protrude outward on one horizontal axis line Xb (see FIG. 11). The left and right shaft portions 52 are rotatably fitted in the left and right bearing holes 22 of the base member 10 (see FIG. 3). By this fitting, the horizontal axis lines Xa and Xb are overlapped, and the holder member 40 uses the overlapped horizontal axis lines Xa and Xb as one rotation axis line X (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) and a base member around the rotation axis line X. 10 is rotatably supported. The rotation axis X is a rotation axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction (front-rear direction) in which the USB male connector 96 is inserted into the USB female connector 90 in a state where the holder member 40 is in a use position described later. .

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the holder member 40 is in a standing posture in which the lid wall portion 46 extends in parallel with the wall body 14, so that the opening 12 of the base member 10 is substantially formed by the lid wall portion 46. The storage position where the USB female connector 90 of the connector placement portion 44 is positioned on the back side of the wall body 14 of the base member 10, and the above-described storage position as shown in FIG. 2, the lid wall portion 46 is moved away from the position where the opening 12 is closed to be in a horizontal posture, and the USB female connector 90 installed in the connector arrangement portion 44 is rotated. The insertion port 92 is exposed outward (frontward) from the opening 12 and can be rotated between the use position where the USB male connector 96 on the connection partner side is to be inserted.

  In the storage position, the lid wall portion 46 is fitted into the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100 and the front surface excluding the push knob portion 48 as shown in FIGS. Is set to be flush with the front surface of the instrument panel 100 to completely close the opening 102. The lid wall portion 46 may be slightly smaller than the opening 12 of the base member 10 as long as the opening 102 is completely closed, and completely closes the opening 12 of the base member 10 in the storage position. It is not necessary. This is determined by the size of the opening 12 of the base member 10 and the size of the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100.

  A flat stopper piece 56 projects from the rear wall portion 54 of the holder main portion 42. The stopper piece 56 extends in a direction different from the lid wall 46 by 90 degrees, and a recess 58 is formed at the center of the tip. The left and right side portions of the recess 58 are abutting portions 60. The abutting portion 60 strikes the front end surface (rear surface) 18A of the upper wall portion 18 with the front surface 60A (front surface at the used position) at the use position described above, whereby the holder member 40 moves from the storage position to the use position. The limit of the rotational movement is set, and the holder member 40 is prohibited from rotating clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 beyond the use position.

  The bottom part of the recessed part 58 is the 1st latching | locking part 62 engaged with the latching protrusion part 26 of the 1st elastic claw piece 24 in a use position so that engagement / disengagement is possible. The first locking portion 62 is locked while elastically deforming the first elastic claw piece 24 by positioning the holder member 40 in the use position from the storage position by turning clockwise in FIG. Get over the protrusion 26. As a result, the rear surface 62A of the first locking portion 62 (the rear surface at the use position) comes into contact with the locking wall surface 26A of the locking projection 26, so that the holder member 40 freely returns from the use position to the storage position. Prohibit that. This state is referred to as a state in which the holder member 40 is locked at the use position.

  When the rotational force in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, that is, the force in the direction of returning the holder member 40 to the storage position is applied to the holder member 40 in the use position at a predetermined value or more, the first locking portion 62 is While the first elastic claw piece 24 is elastically deformed, the locking projection 26 is overcome in the reverse direction, and the rear surface 62A of the first locking portion 62 is separated from the contact with the locking wall surface 27. Accordingly, the holder member 40 is unlocked at the use position, and the holder member 40 can freely rotate in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG.

  In this manner, the first elastic claw piece 24 having the locking projection 26 and the first locking portion 62 enable the holder member 40 to be engaged and disengaged to the use position only by rotating the holder member 40. A use position locking portion for locking is configured.

  On the outer wall surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 50 of the holder member 40, a second locking portion 64 is formed to project. The second locking portion 64 is a locking wall surface 64A whose rear surface (rear surface at the storage position) stands up. The second locking portion 64 is engaged with the second elastic claw piece 30 while elastically deforming the second elastic claw piece 30 by positioning the holder member 40 in the storage position from the use position by turning counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. The holder member 40 is prevented from freely returning from the storage position to the use position by getting over the stop protrusion 32 and the locking wall surface 64A contacting the locking wall surface 32A of the locking protrusion 32. This state is referred to as a state in which the holder member 40 is locked at the storage position.

  When the rotational force in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, that is, the force in the direction of rotating the holder member 40 to the use position is applied to the holder member 40 at the storage position at a predetermined value or more, the second locking portion 64 is applied. Then, while elastically deforming the second elastic claw piece 30, the locking projection 32 is overcome in the reverse direction, and the locking wall surface 64A is separated from the contact with the locking wall surface 32A. Accordingly, the holder member 40 is unlocked at the storage position, and the holder member 40 can be freely rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.

  In this way, the storage position locking portion that locks the holder member 40 in the storage position so as to be detachable by the second elastic claw piece 30 having the locking projection 32 and the second locking portion 64 is provided. It is configured.

  A flat shielding wall 66 is formed on the rear wall 54 of the holder member 40 so as to protrude. The shielding wall portion 66 is a protruding piece parallel to the stopper piece 56 and closes a gap formed between the upper portion of the holder member 40 and the upper edge portion of the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100 in the use position.

  A rib 68 is integrally formed between the shielding wall 66 and the stopper piece 56 to connect the two to each other for reinforcement.

  When the USB female connector 90 is used in a state where the holder member 40 is in the storage position shown in FIG. 1A, the push knob portion 48 at the lower portion of the lid wall portion 46 is held with a fingertip. Push. As a result, the engaging protrusion 32 and the second engaging portion 64 of the second elastic claw piece 30 are disengaged from each other, and the holder member 40 is rotated about the rotation axis X around the shaft portion 52 as shown in FIG. Rotate clockwise as seen at. By this rotation, the upper side of the holder member 40 projects forward from the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the front surface 60 </ b> A of the abutting portion 60 of the holder member 40 abuts against the front end surface 18 </ b> A of the upper wall portion 18 of the base member 10 so that the portion of the holder member 40 protruding forward from the opening 102 is pushed down with a fingertip. Until the holder member 40 is rotated in the same direction around the rotation axis X. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the front surface 60A of the abutting portion 60 abuts against the distal end surface 18A of the upper wall portion 18 and the holder member 40 is positioned at the use position, the first elastic claw piece The 24 locking projections 26 and the first locking portions 62 are engaged, and the holder member 40 is locked at the use position.

  In this use position, the insertion port 92 of the USB female connector 90 installed in the connector placement portion 44 shown in FIG. 1C is from the opening 12 of the wall body 14 and the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100. It is exposed to the front and the USB male connector 96 of the connection partner can be inserted into the insertion port 92.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the holder member 40 is in the use position depending on the relative positional relationship between the arrangement position of the rotation axis X of the holder member 40 and the attachment position of the USB female connector 90 in the connector arrangement portion 44. In this case, the rotation axis X of the holder member 40 is at a position displaced by an amount of displacement e above the force acting line F in the direction in which the USB male connector 96 is inserted into the insertion port 92 of the USB female connector 90.

  Thus, the rotation axis X of the holder member 40 is offset with respect to the force acting line F in the direction in which the USB male connector 96 is inserted, so that the USB female connector 90 attached to the connector placement portion 44 is A force for inserting the USB male connector 96 into the insertion port 92 acts on the holder member 40 as a torque toward the use position of the holder member 40 (a force in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2).

  Accordingly, when the USB male connector 96 is inserted into the insertion port 92 of the USB female connector 90 in a state where the holder member 40 is in the use position, the insertion force is applied to the abutting portion 60 of the holder member 40. Since the front surface 60 </ b> A acts in a direction in which the front surface 60 </ b> A is abutted against the front end surface 18 </ b> A of the upper wall portion 18 of the base member 10, the state where the holder member 40 is in the use position is stably maintained.

  Therefore, there is no problem that the holder member 40 moves to the storage position side due to the insertion force of the USB male connector 96 and it becomes difficult to connect the connector, and the connection object is inserted into the insertion port 92 of the USB female connector 90. The inserting operation can be performed smoothly and surely with one hand, with good operability. As a result, the operability of the retractable connection device is improved using a general-purpose USB connector.

  In the state where the holder member 40 is in the use position, as shown in FIG. 1C, the shielding wall 66 is between the upper part of the holder member 40 and the upper edge of the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100. Since the gap that can be made is closed, it looks good in the use position.

  Further, when the holder member 40 is locked by the engagement of the locking protrusion 26 of the first elastic claw piece 24 and the first locking portion 62 at the use position, the holder member 40 is caused by running vibration or the like. 40 does not wobble, and it is avoided that the connection state between the USB female connector 90 and the USB male connector 96 becomes unstable due to wobbling.

  When returning the holder member 40 from the use position to the storage position, the USB male connector 96 is pulled out from the insertion port 92 of the USB female connector 90, and the holder member 40 projects forward from the opening 102 of the instrument panel 100. Rotate to lift the part. As a result, the engagement between the locking projection 26 of the first elastic claw piece 24 and the first locking portion 62 is disengaged, and the holder member 40 is rotated about the rotation axis X around the shaft portion 52 as shown in FIG. Rotate counterclockwise as seen at, and return to the original storage position. When the holder member 40 is positioned at the storage position, the locking protrusion 32 and the second locking portion 64 of the second elastic claw piece 30 are engaged, and the holder member 40 is locked at the storage position.

  In this locked state, the holder member 40 does not wobble due to traveling vibration or the like in the storage position, and the front surface of the lid wall portion 46 excluding the push knob portion 48 is flush with the front surface of the instrument panel 100 and opens. The state where 102 is closed is maintained and the appearance is good.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. Changes can be made as appropriate without departing from the scope. For example, the connector is not limited to a USB connector, but may be a connector of a signal line cable such as HDMI, a connector or socket / plug of a power cable, or a socket / plug of combustion gas such as city gas. In any case, standard products and general-purpose connectors can be used. The use position locking portion and the storage position locking portion are not limited to the elastic claw type, and may be any one having a structure that can be engaged and disengaged only by rotation of the holder member, such as an uneven engagement type. In addition, the installation location of the retractable connection device according to the present invention is not limited to the instrument panel of an automobile, and may be embedded in the wall or floor of a building. In addition, all the components shown in the above embodiments are not necessarily essential, and can be appropriately selected without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Base member 12 Opening 14 Wall body 22 Bearing hole 24 1st elastic claw piece 30 2nd elastic claw piece 40 Holder member 42 Holder main part 44 Connector arrangement | positioning part 46 Lid wall part 50 Side wall part 52 Shaft part 56 Stopper piece 60 Abutting section 62 First locking section 64 Second locking section 66 Shielding wall section 90 USB female side connector 92 Socket 96 USB male side connector 100 Instrument panel

Claims (4)

A base member having a wall formed with an opening;
The connection in the use position between a storage position for holding the plug-in connection tool and storing the connection tool on the back side of the wall body and a use position where a connection object is to be inserted into the connection tool. A holder member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis perpendicular to the direction in which the connection object is inserted into the tool,
The holder member collides with a part of the base member in the use position and a lid wall portion that closes the opening when in the storage position and opens the opening when in the use position, and the use position Having a bumper that prohibits turning beyond
The connector is disposed on the back side of the lid wall portion so as to be exposed forward from the opening when the holder member is in the use position.
The rotation axis is in an intermediate portion of the holder member , and when the holder member is in the use position, a force for inserting a connection object into the connection tool causes the holder member to be used as a torque toward the use position. to act on and to the line of action of force in the direction of inserting the connecting object is offset in that storage-type connection device.   The storage-type connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the holder member and the base member are provided with a use position locking portion for releasably locking the holder member to the use position.   The storage-type connection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder member and the base member are provided with storage position locking portions that removably lock the holder member at the storage position. The base member is disposed on the back side of the panel having an opening smaller than the opening of the base member,
The storage-type connection according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the holder member has a shielding wall portion that closes a gap formed between the holder member and an edge of the opening of the panel in the use position. apparatus.

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