JP6004279B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

  The connector disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a housing having a lock arm that can be bent, and a detection member that is assembled to the housing so as to be movable between a standby position (initial position) and a detection position. The housing can be mated with the mating housing, and the lock arm is elastically locked to the locking projection of the mating housing at the time of normal mating, so that both housings are held in the mating state. . Further, the movement of the detection member to the detection position is restricted by contacting the rear surface of the stopper of the lock arm in the fitting process of both housings, and the lock projection of the mating housing is connected to the lock arm when the two housings are normally fitted. Movement to the detection position is allowed by releasing the contact state. At the detection position, the detection member abuts against the front surface of the stopper of the lock arm, so that the movement to the initial position is restricted. In this case, it is possible to know that both housings are in a properly fitted state when the detection member can move from the initial position to the detection position.

JP 2003-142209 A

  By the way, in the case of the conventional connector, when a large rearward pulling force acts on the detection member at the detection position, the tapered rear surface of the detection member slides on the tapered front surface of the stopper of the lock arm. In this configuration, the detection member is unlocked from the lock arm. For this reason, there is a possibility that the detection member may not move to a predetermined position (detection position) with respect to the housing but may move or drop off. On the other hand, when a structure for preventing the detection member from being unlocked is newly installed in the housing, there is a situation in which the structure is undesirably increased in size and complexity.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent the detection member from being inadvertently displaced while avoiding an increase in size and complexity of the housing.

  The connector of the present invention has a housing having a lockable arm that holds the mating housing in a fitted state, and is assembled to the housing so as to be able to move from an initial position to a detection position. Until it is fitted, it is kept in the initial position, and when the two housings are properly fitted, movement to the detection position is allowed, and further, bending deformation in the process from the initial position to the detection position A detection member that is elastically returned at the detection position and is held in a state in which return movement to the initial position with respect to the lock arm is restricted, and an attachment member attached to the housing, The member is provided with a relief portion, and the detection member is attached to the attachment member in a state where the attachment member is normally attached to the housing. In the process from the initial position to the detection position, the detection member is disposed at a position corresponding to the escape portion to allow the detection member to bend, and when the detection member reaches the detection position, the detection member is moved away from the escape portion. A restricting portion that is disposed and restricts the bending of the detection member is provided.

  When the detection member reaches the detection position with the attachment member being properly attached to the housing, the restricting portion is arranged at a position away from the escape portion, and the bending of the detection member is restricted. The detection member is not accidentally bent and deformed, and inadvertent displacement of the detection member relative to the housing is prevented. On the other hand, in a process in which the attachment member is properly attached to the housing and the detection member moves from the initial position to the detection position, the restriction portion is disposed at a position corresponding to the escape portion, and the detection member is allowed to bend. The smoothness of the bending operation of the restricting portion is ensured. And since the control part is provided in the attachment member, the enlargement and complication of a housing are not caused.

In the connector of Example 1 of this invention, with respect to a housing, it is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the attachment member was put in the semi-attachment position, and the detection member was put in the initial position. It is sectional drawing which shows the state of the process in which a mounting member is put in a mounting position, a housing is fitted with the other party housing, and a detection member goes to a detection position from an initial position. It is sectional drawing which shows the state in which the attachment member was put in the attachment position, the housing was fitted with the other party housing, and the detection member was put in the detection position. It is a top view which shows the state by which the detection member was put in the initial position, and the housing was fitted with the other party housing. It is a top view which shows the state by which the housing was fitted with the other party housing and the detection member was put in the detection position. It is a front view of the connector in which the detection member was put in the initial position. It is a rear view of the connector in which the mounting member is placed at the mounting position. It is a rear view of a housing. It is a top view of a housing. It is a top view of a detection member. It is a side view of a detection member. It is a front view of a detection member. It is a bottom view of a detection member. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown below.
The attachment member is disposed at a position where the restricting portion is removed from the escape portion of the detection member placed at the initial position in a semi-attachment position where the attachment member is not properly attached to the housing. It is the structure which controls bending. When the attachment member is in the semi-attachment position, the detection member cannot be moved from the initial position to the detection position because the restriction member restricts the bending of the detection member. Therefore, when the movement of the detection member to the detection position is restricted, it can be seen that the attachment member is not properly attached to the housing.

The attachment member comprises a retainer that prevents the terminal fitting inserted into the housing from coming off. Since the mounting member also has a function of preventing the terminal fitting from coming off, the size and complexity of the entire connector can be avoided.
The mounting member is a rear holder that holds a rubber stopper that seals the periphery of the electric wire connected to the terminal fitting. Since the mounting member also has a function of holding the rubber plug, it is possible to avoid an increase in size and complexity of the entire connector.

<Example 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector according to the first embodiment includes a housing 10, a detection member 40, and a retainer 80 as an attachment member. The housing 10 can be fitted with the mating housing 90. In the following description, with respect to the front-rear direction, the surface side where the housing 10 and the mating housing 90 face each other at the start of fitting is defined as the front, and the vertical direction is based on FIGS.

  The mating housing 90 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a block-shaped terminal accommodating portion 91 and a cylindrical hood portion 92 that protrudes forward from the outer peripheral edge of the front end of the terminal accommodating portion 91 as shown in FIG. Yes. On the upper surface of the hood portion 92, a lock protrusion 93 is provided so as to protrude. A mating terminal fitting (not shown) can be accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 91, and a tab-shaped portion of the mating terminal fitting is arranged to protrude in the hood portion 92.

  The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a block-shaped housing main body 11, a cylindrical fitting cylindrical portion 12 surrounding the housing main body 11, and a fitting cylindrical portion 12. And a connecting portion 13 along the radial direction that connects the housing body 11. A front portion of the connecting portion 13 and between the fitting cylinder portion 12 and the housing body 11 is opened forward as a fitting space 14 into which the hood portion 92 of the mating housing 90 can be fitted. As shown in FIG. 6, the housing body 11 is provided with cavities 15 into which terminal fittings (not shown) can be inserted side by side, and a bendable lance that prevents the terminal fittings that are normally inserted from coming off on the inner wall of the cavity 15. 16 protrudes.

  The terminal fitting is crimped and connected to a terminal portion of an electric wire (not shown), and is crimped and connected to a rubber plug (not shown) fitted to the electric wire. A seal ring (not shown) is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the housing body 11. When the two housings 10 and 90 are properly fitted, the seal ring is elastically sandwiched between the housing main body 11 and the hood portion 92, and the two housings 10 and 90 are sealed via the seal ring. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a pair of locking projections 17 are provided on both side surfaces along the vertical direction of the rear end portion of the housing body 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pair of side walls 18 are provided upright on the upper portion of the fitting tube portion 12, and a cover wall 19 is provided between the front ends of the side walls 18. In addition, a space 20 is provided between the side walls 18 and the cover wall 19 so as to open upward. A lock arm 21 is disposed in the space 20 of the fitting cylinder 12. As shown in FIG. 9, the lock arm 21 includes a belt-plate-like arm body 22 extending in the front-rear direction, and a pair of blade-shaped fulcrum portions that project from both side edges of the arm body 22 and connect to the inner surface of the side wall 18. 23, and the arm main body 22 can be bent and deformed in a direction in which the arm body 22 tilts in a seesaw shape with the fulcrum 23 as a center.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the arm main body 22 is provided with a lock portion 24 at a front end portion thereof, and a lock hole 25 is provided behind the lock portion 24. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the arm main body 22 is provided with a pair of guide plates 26 extending in the front-rear direction so as to protrude into the lock hole 25, and a pair of guide plates 26 is provided on both guide plates 26. The retaining portion 27 is fixedly provided. In the first embodiment, both guide plates 26 are continuously provided on both fulcrum portions 23 in a flush manner.

  Next, the detection member 40 will be described. The detection member 40 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an operation guide portion 41 along the width direction, and a detection main body portion 42 that protrudes forward from the center portion in the width direction of the operation guide portion 41. And has a substantially T-shape in plan view as a whole. On the lower surface of the detection main body 42, a stop portion 43 protrudes from the front end portion, and a rib-shaped guide portion 44 extends in the front-rear direction behind the stop portion 43. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a pair of guide grooves 45 extending in the front-rear direction and opening at both front-rear ends are provided on both side surfaces of the guide portion 44.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, a relief portion 46 is provided on the lower surface of the guide portion 44 so as to open. The relief portion 46 is a bottomed hole that opens in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom, and has a shape that is lowered by one step from the surrounding flat surface. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a pair of to-be-removed portions 47 protrude from the both side edges of the detection main body 42 above the guide groove 45. As shown in FIG. 12, the operation guide portion 41 is arranged one step higher than the detection main body portion 42, and hanging portions 49 are provided so as to protrude downward on both sides thereof. 48 is provided open to the front.

  The detection member 40 is assembled to the lock arm 21, and in this state, the initial position (see FIGS. 1 and 4) and the detection position ahead of the initial position (see FIGS. 3 and 5) with respect to the housing 10. (See Fig. 1). When the detection member 40 is assembled to the lock arm 21, both guide plates 26 of the arm body 22 are fitted into both guide grooves 45 of the guide portion 44 and both fitting grooves 48 of the operation guide portion 41 (see FIG. 7), the assembly posture of the detection member 40 is stably maintained. Further, when the detection member 40 moves, the guide plates 26 slide in the guide grooves 45 and the fitting grooves 48, so that the movement of the detection member 40 is smoothly guided. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the detection member 40 is in the initial position, the detection members 40 are brought into contact with the front surfaces of the both prevention portions 27 of the arm body 22 by the both prevention portions 47 of the detection body portion 42. The rearward movement of the lock arm 21 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the retainer 80 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a retainer main body 81 and a pair of locking pieces 82 protruding forward from both widthwise ends of the retainer main body 81. The locking piece 82 is plate-shaped and can be bent and deformed with the connecting position with the retainer main body 81 as a fulcrum, and a locking hole 83 is opened inside. The retainer 80 is attached to the rear end portion of the housing body 11 from the rear, and is moved from the semi-attachment position (see FIG. 1) to the attachment position (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear end of the retainer main body 81 is disposed so as to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the housing main body 11, so that the amount of protrusion gradually decreases from the semi-attachment position toward the attachment position. It has become. Then, at the mounting position, as shown in FIG. 7, after the locking piece 82 is bent, the locking projection 17 of the housing body 11 is elastically fitted into the locking hole 83 of the locking piece 82. As a result, the retainer 80 is held by the housing body 11 so as not to be detached.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the retainer main body 81 has a pair of notch cylinder portions 84 having a substantially U-shaped cross section opened downward at positions corresponding to the cavities 15 in a state where the retainer 80 is attached to the housing main body 11. Are provided side by side. The notched cylinder portion 84 is disposed so as to come into contact with the rear surface of the rubber plug fitted in the cavity 15 by entering the cavity 15 of the housing body 11 at the mounting position. A retaining structure (not shown) is provided to prevent the rear part from slipping out.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the retainer body 81 is provided with a restricting portion 86 protruding from the upper surface of the front end of the partition wall 85 that partitions between the two notched tube portions 84. As shown in FIG. 1, the restricting portion 86 has a square block shape and is disposed at the front end and the upper end of the retainer 80. Similar to the lower surface of the guide portion 44, the upper surface of the restricting portion 86 is a flat surface along the front-rear direction and the width direction.

The structure of the connector according to the first embodiment is as described above, and the operation thereof will be described.
Prior to the fitting of the two housings 10 and 90, the detection member 40 is assembled to the housing body 11. When the detection member 40 is assembled at the initial position, both the stoppers 47 of the detection member 40 are disposed so as to be able to contact the front surfaces of both the stoppers 27 of the lock arm 21, and the movement of the detection member 40 to the rear is restricted. At the same time, the stop portion 43 of the detection member 40 is inserted into the lock hole 25 of the lock arm 21 and arranged so as to be able to contact the rear surface of the lock portion 24, thereby restricting the forward movement of the detection member 40. Further, a terminal fitting (not shown) is inserted into the cavity 15 of the housing body 11, and then the retainer 80 is assembled and held at the mounting position with respect to the housing 10.

  As described above, in a state where the retainer 80 is in the mounting position and the detection member 40 is in the initial position, the restricting portion 86 of the retainer 80 is disposed below the relief portion 46 of the detection member 40. Subsequently, both housings 10 and 90 are fitted to each other. In the fitting process of the two housings 10 and 90, the lock projection 93 interferes with the lock portion 24 of the lock arm 21, so that the arm main body 22 is bent and deformed, and the detection member 40 is also tilted and displaced accordingly. The upper end portion of the restriction portion 86 of the retainer 80 enters the relief portion 46 of the member 40. Therefore, the retainer 80 does not interfere with the lock arm 21 and the detection member 40 in the process of fitting the two housings 10 and 90, and the fitting of the two housings 10 and 90 is smoothly advanced.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the two housings 10 and 90 are properly fitted, the hood portion 92 enters the fitting space 14 of the housing 10 at a normal depth, and the mating housing is inserted into the lock hole 25 of the lock arm 21. 90 lock protrusions 93 enter, and the lock protrusions 93 are arranged to be able to contact the rear surface of the lock portion 24. Thereby, both the housings 10 and 90 are hold | maintained at a fitting state. Further, the stopper 43 of the detection member 40 is pressed by the lock protrusion 93 that has entered the lock hole 25 of the lock arm 21, and the stopper 43 comes out above the lock hole 25. Thereby, the detection member 40 can be moved to the detection position. At this time, the detection member 40 is bent and deformed, and the upper end portion of the restriction portion 86 of the retainer 80 slightly enters the relief portion 46 of the detection member 40.

  Next, the detection member 40 is pushed forward to reach the detection position. As shown in FIG. 3, when the detection member 40 reaches the detection position, the detection main body portion 42 is elastically displaced in the return direction, and the stop portion 43 of the detection member 40 contacts the front surface of the lock portion 24 of the lock arm 21. Arranged as possible. Thereby, the return movement of the detection member 40 toward the initial position is restricted. Further, the both fulcrum portions 23 of the lock arm 21 are arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the back surface of the fitting groove 48 of the both hanging portions 49 in the operation guide portion 41 of the detection member 40, so that the detection member 40 is further advanced. It is regulated (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the detection member 40 reaches the detection position, the regulating portion 86 of the retainer 80 is removed from the position facing the escape portion 46 of the detection member 40, and the lower surface of the guide portion 44 of the detection member 40. The upper surface (flat surface) of the restricting portion 86 faces the (flat surface) so as to be able to come into contact therewith. For this reason, the rear end portion of the detection member 40 is restricted from being displaced downward, and as a result, the deflection of the detection member 40 is restricted. Therefore, even if the detection member 40 placed at the detection position is to be retracted to the initial position, the stop portion 43 of the detection member 40 cannot get over the lock portion 24 of the lock arm 21 unless the detection member 40 is bent and deformed. For this reason, the detection member 40 does not return to the initial position. In addition, since the bending of the lock arm 21 that is integrally interlocked with the detection member 40 is also restricted, the fitting state of both the housings 10 and 90 is well maintained.

  By the way, if both the housings 10 and 90 are not normally fitted but remain in a semi-fitted state, the lock projection 93 of the mating housing 90 does not enter the lock hole 25 of the lock arm 21, and the stop portion of the detection member 40. 43 does not come out of the lock hole 25. For this reason, the movement of the detection member 40 to the detection position is restricted, and it can be known that both the housings 10 and 90 have not reached the proper fitting state.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, if the detection member 40 is placed at the initial position before the housings 10 and 90 are fitted, and the retainer 80 is placed at the semi-attachment position without reaching the attachment position. The restricting portion 86 of the retainer 80 is disposed so as to be able to come into contact with the lower surface of the guide portion 44 by detaching from the position facing the escape portion 46 of the detection member 40. For this reason, even if it tries to move the detection member 40 to a detection position, the control part 86 contact | abuts to the guide part 44, the bending of the detection member 40 is controlled, and the detection member 40 cannot be brought to a detection position. Therefore, it is possible to know that the retainer 80 has not reached the attachment position by restricting the movement of the detection member 40 to the detection position.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the detection member 40 reaches the detection position in a state where the retainer 80 is properly attached to the housing 10, the restriction portion 86 is disposed at a position away from the escape portion 46. Thus, since the bending of the detection member 40 is restricted, the detection member 40 reaching the detection position is not inadvertently bent and deformed, and the inadvertent displacement of the detection member 40 with respect to the housing 10 is prevented. On the other hand, in a process in which the detection member 40 moves from the initial position to the detection position in a state where the retainer 80 is properly attached to the housing 10, the restricting portion 86 is disposed at a position corresponding to the escape portion 46 and the detection member 40 is bent. Therefore, the smoothness of the bending operation of the restricting portion 86 is ensured. In this case, since the restricting portion 86 is provided in the retainer 80, the housing 10 is not increased in size and complexity. In addition, since the retainer 80 also has a function of preventing the terminal fitting from coming off, it is possible to avoid an increase in size and complexity of the entire connector.

  Further, when the retainer 80 is in the semi-attached position, the restricting portion 86 is disposed at a position away from the escape portion 46 of the detecting member 40 placed at the initial position, and the bending of the detecting member 40 is restricted. It can be seen that has not reached the mounting position.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following aspects are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) If the attachment member is attached to the housing and has a restricting portion, it is not necessary to be a retainer. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the attachment member is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the electric wire 200 connected to the terminal fitting 100. It may consist of the rear holder 400 that can hold the rubber plug 300 having the sealing hole 310 that is in close contact with the rubber stopper 300. FIG. 14 shows the case where the rear holder 400 is placed in the semi-attachment position. When the rear holder 400 is placed in the attachment position with respect to the housing 10, the rear holder 400 is placed on the rear surface of the rubber plug 300. The rubber plug 300 comes into contact with the rubber stopper 300 and is prevented from coming off. Further, the attachment member may be a wire cover attached so as to cover the electric wire drawn from the housing.
(2) The present invention can also be applied to a non-waterproof type connector having no seal ring or rubber plug.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Housing 21 ... Lock arm 40 ... Detection member 46 ... Relief part 80 ... Retainer (mounting member)
86 ... Regulatory Department

Claims (4)

A housing having a deflectable lock arm that holds the mating housing in a mated state;
When assembled to the housing, it is possible to move from the initial position to the detection position, and the two housings are held in the initial position until they are properly fitted. Movement to the detection position is allowed, and further, bending and deformation is performed in the process from the initial position to the detection position, and elastic return at the detection position causes return movement to the initial position with respect to the lock arm. A detection member held in a regulated state;
An attachment member attached to the housing,
The detection member is provided with a relief part,
The detection member is disposed at a position corresponding to the escape portion in the process of the detection member moving from the initial position to the detection position in a state where the attachment member is normally attached to the housing. The connector is provided with a restricting portion that is disposed at a position deviating from the escape portion when the detecting member reaches the detection position and restricts the bending of the detecting member.   The attachment member is disposed at a position where the restricting portion is removed from the escape portion of the detection member placed at the initial position in a semi-attachment position where the attachment member is not properly attached to the housing. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to restrict bending.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member includes a retainer that prevents a terminal fitting inserted into the housing from coming off.   The connector according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member includes a rear holder that holds a rubber plug that seals the periphery of the electric wire connected to the terminal fitting.

Images