JPH02174081A - Electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the insertion/hold state of contacts and correct it by providing a detecting member which is located between the free end of a hooking lever and a detecting section and moved in the extension direction of a cavity is extended and pushing a hooking member in the direction crossing the extension direction of the cavity. CONSTITUTION:A hooking lever 9 with a pressing section 8 as a free end is provided on a housing 1, and a hooking section 11 is provided on the lever 9. A hooking member 21 having an opening section 22 slidably coupled in the direction crossing the extension direction of a cavity 2 is extended on a support section 4 on one end of the housing 1 where one end opening section of the cavity 2 is located and facing the opening section and a detecting section 25 facing the free end of the hooking lever 9 and a detecting member 41 located between the free end of the hooking lever 9 and the detecting section 25 and pushing the hooking member 21 to the direction crossing the extension direction of the cavity 2 is extended when it is moved to the extension direction of the cavity 2 are provided. The insertion/hold state of contacts can be detected and corrected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrical connector equipped with so-called double locking means, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an electrical connector equipped with a so-called double locking means, and more particularly, a locking means for the contacts provided in a cavity for inserting the contacts in the housing. The present invention relates to an electrical connector having second locking means for the contacts in a member formed separately from the housing.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, connectors with this kind of double locking means are
For example, it is widely used in the electrical components of automobiles. Various types of locking means for the contact provided in the contact holding cavity in the housing are known, and various types are also known for the second locking means provided in a member formed separately from the housing. It is being

The second locking means is known to have a locking function attached to a member connected to the housing via a hinge, and to provide a locking function to a member formed separately from the housing. In this method, an elongated hole is formed in the housing and a comb-like member is inserted through the elongated hole to press down the wire-covered crimped portion of the contact. It is known that a comb-like member having a stabilizer presser is inserted through a long hole and pressed.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the case of the hinge type.

A break occurs in the hinge section, making the lock unreliable.

There are problems such as high-density mounting and unstable moldability. In the case of the wire covering crimping part presser type, if the wire is bent or entangled, the comb-like member cannot be inserted, resulting in poor workability. In the stabilizer holding type, adding a stabilizer to a small contact complicates the structure of the housing and deteriorates its moldability, making it unsuitable for low-cost mass production.

An object of the present invention is to provide a locking member that can solve the above-mentioned problems at once with relatively simple means, and has a detection portion that can detect whether or not the second lock is engaged. An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector including a detection member that activates the detection member.

[Means to solve the problem]

The electrical connector according to the present invention includes a first housing having a cavity that holds a first contact, and a second housing that holds a second contact that is electrically connected to the first contact and is slidable on the first housing. a locking lever having a locking portion that is pressed by and engaged with the locking portion of the second housing to be fitted; and a locking lever provided at one end of the first housing where one end opening of the cavity is located. a locking member that is slidably fitted into a support portion in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the cavity and has an opening corresponding to the opening and a detection portion facing the free end of the locking lever; and a detection member supported by at least the locking member in the vicinity of the detection portion so as to push the locking member in a direction intersecting the direction in which the cavity extends by moving in the direction in which the cavity extends.

At least a portion of the first contact is located within the opening of the locking member, so that the locking member collides with the first contact and prevents sliding in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the cavity. When the second housing is fitted to the first housing in a state where the second housing is not completely fitted to the support part, the free end of the locking lever is received by the detection part. The locking portion of the second housing presses the locking lever and is prevented from climbing over the locking portion of the locking lever.

In a preferred embodiment, a cam mechanism is provided so that the detection member moves parallel to the direction in which the cavity extends and then moves in a direction intersecting the direction in which the cavity extends.

In a preferred embodiment, between the first housing and the locking member, the locking member is connected via the detection member to the opening of the locking member and the opening at one end of the cavity. means for temporarily fixing the locking member at the fitted position when the locking member is fitted to the support portion so as to match the locking member, and the locking member is inserted into the opening at one end of the first housing via the detection member. sliding diagonally and parallel to the one end surface where the locking member is located, and bringing the inner surface of the locking member opposite thereto into contact with the one end surface, thereby completing fitting of the locking member to the support portion. and means for reaching the position.

In a preferred embodiment, the fitting completion means includes:
The locking hole includes a locking hole provided on one of the support portion and the locking member, and a locking protrusion provided on the other side and slidably engaging with the locking hole, and the locking hole is connected to the slope portion. , and a continuous vertical section.

In a preferred embodiment, the fitting temporary fixing means includes:
The support part and the locking member include racks that engage with each other.

[Effect]

According to the electrical connector according to the present invention, the detection member does not move completely in the direction in which the cavity extends, and therefore the locking member slides in the direction intersecting the direction in which the cavity extends, and the detection member does not move completely in the direction in which the cavity extends. When the second housing is not completely fitted into the second housing, the detection part receives the free end of the locking lever, so that the locking part of the second housing engages the locking part of the locking lever. This prevents the second housing from sliding over and into engagement with the first housing. The failure of such a fit means that it can be detected that the contacts of said first housing are not properly inserted into their cavities.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is
It comprises a housing 1 made of plastic material, which housing includes a number of cavities 2 arranged to receive and hold the contacts described below.

This connector is paired with or has a complementary relationship with the connector described below. A support portion 4 is formed on one vertical end surface 3 of the housing 1 and surrounds the one end surface except for the upper center portion thereof. This support part 4 is.

On the upper surface of the housing 1 between the double-sided part 5a consisting of the rain top part 5 having an L-shaped part 5a, the bottom part 6, and both side parts 7, there is a locking part having a pressing part 8 as a free end. A lever 9 is provided. This locking lever 9 is connected to the rear end of the upper surface of the housing 1, and has a spring property that allows it to move downward using the connecting portion 10 as a fulcrum and return to its original position. A locking portion 11 is provided on the upper surface of the lever 9. The inner surface of each side part 7 is provided with a rack 12 on which documents are inclined in a certain direction.

A locking hole 13 is formed near the upper and lower ends of the rack 12 in each side portion 7 . This locking hole 13 has a sloped portion 13a in the upper half, as shown enlarged in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
and a lower vertical portion 13b. Locking holes 14 are formed in the bottom portion 6 at intervals in the lateral direction. This locking hole 14 has an inclined edge 14a as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

Furthermore, the connector according to an embodiment of the invention includes a locking member 21 made of plastic material. This locking member 21 has a large number of openings 22 that substantially match the size and arrangement of the openings at one end of the cavity 2, and a lateral dimension that substantially matches the spacing between the inner surfaces of both side portions 7. Top part 5
It has a longitudinal dimension shorter than the distance between the inner surface of the bottom surface portion 6 and the inner surface of the bottom surface portion 6, and can be fitted into the support portion 4. The central concave surface portion 23 of the upper surface of the locking member 21 is provided with a detection mechanism portion 24 .

This detection mechanism section 24 includes a pair of racks 2 extending from a detection section 25 to the outside of the locking member 21 and having tooth surfaces inclined in a certain direction.
6, a cam portion 27 on both sides of the rack, and a groove 28 lower than the concave surface portion 23 on both sides of the cam portion.

A rack 12 is located approximately in the center of the outer surface of the locking member 21.
A rack 29 whose tooth surfaces are inclined in a certain direction and which is in sliding engagement with the
Equipped with. Near the upper and lower ends of the rack 29, locking protrusions 30 that engage with the locking holes 13 are provided. This locking protrusion 30 is
As shown enlarged in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the locking hole 13
first engages with the inclined portion 13a of the
It is formed in a shape that can be slid and engaged with the vertical portion 13b. A locking protrusion 31 that engages with the locking hole 14 is provided on the lower surface of the locking member 21 (see FIG. 4A).

Furthermore, the connector according to an embodiment of the invention includes a sensing member 41 made of plastic material. This detection member 41 has a size that is located between the double-sided portions 5a, and both side portions 43 having sliding protrusions 43a on the lower surface are connected to the base 42.
A cam groove 44 is provided on the inside of both side walls 43, and a locking portion 45 is provided on the inside of the center of the base 42. Cam groove 44
As shown in FIG. 4A, it consists of a high horizontal part 44a, a low horizontal part 44b, and an inclined part 44c communicating with these parts. The locking portion 45 includes a locking pawl 45a that slides into engagement with the rack 26, as shown in FIG. 4B.

In the connector according to the above configuration, FIG. 2, 4A
As shown in FIG. 4B, the locking member 21 is preliminarily fitted to the support portion 4 of the housing 1. As shown in FIG. At this time, the locking protrusion 30 is positioned at the inclined portion 13a of the locking hole 13 (see FIG. 8A), the rack 29 is engaged with the rack 12 (see FIG. 9A), and the locking protrusion 31 is positioned at the locking hole 14 (see FIG. 9A). They are on the verge of meeting (see Figure 4A). Further, the detection member 41 is preliminarily engaged with the detection mechanism section 24 . At this time, the cam part 27 is located in the high horizontal part 44a of the cam groove 44, and the sliding protrusion 43a
is located in the concave groove 28 (see Fig. 4A), and the locking pawl 4
5a meshes with the first tooth from the tip of the rack 26 (
(See Figure 4B).

In this state, as is clear from FIGS. 2, 4A, and 4B, a portion of the locking member 21 protrudes from the support portion 4, and a portion of the detection member 41 protrudes from the L-shaped portion 5a, so that the locking member 21 and the detection member 41 partially protrude from the L-shaped portion 5a, respectively. In other words, it is in a temporarily fixed state. In addition, in such a state, the opening 2
2 substantially coincides with the opening at one end of the cavity 2 .

In this temporarily fixed state, the wire 50 is crimped and connected, and the receptacle contact 51 is inserted into the cavity 2 through the opening 22, as shown by chain lines in FIGS. 4A and 4B. After this insertion, the detection member 41 is completely pushed in, thereby moving the locking member 21 diagonally downward with respect to one end surface of the housing 1 to completely fit it into the support portion 4.

However, as shown by the chain lines in FIGS. 5A and 5B, there may actually be cases where the contact 51 is not completely inserted into the cavity 2. In this case, even if an attempt is made to lower the locking member 21 by pushing in the detection member 41 in order to completely fit the locking member 21 into the support portion 4, the contact 5
1 is located within the opening 22, and the rib 32 forming the opening collides with a portion of the contact 51, so it cannot be pushed in and lowered in this way. Therefore, here, it is possible to detect whether the contact 51 is properly inserted into the cavity 2 or not.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the contact 51 is inserted into the cavity 2 to the extent that the detection member 41 can be pushed in and the locking member 21 can be lowered, but the insertion is not normal. If the sensor cannot be detected, the detection member 4
1 to lower the locking member 21, the locking protrusion 30 slides from the inclined part 13a of the locking hole 13 to the vertical part 13b, and at the same time, the locking protrusion 31 slides from the inclined part 14a of the locking hole 14.
, the locking member 21 slides diagonally downward with respect to the one end surface 3 of the housing 1 and presses the outer end of the wire-coated crimp portion 51a of the contact 51 inwardly, and the locking member The inner surface of 21 contacts one end surface 3 of housing 1, thereby causing contact 51 to be fully inserted into cavity 2. Therefore, here, the abnormal insertion of the contact 51 into the cavity 2 as described above can be corrected.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 7A, and 7B, when the correction is made or when the contact 51 is inserted into the cavity 2 normally from the beginning, the locking protrusion 30 is inserted into the locking hole. The locking protrusion 3 is attached to the vertical portion 13b of 13 (see Fig. 8B).
1 are fully engaged with the locking holes 14, respectively, and therefore,
The detection member 41 is completely recessed into the L-shaped portion 5a, and the locking member 21 is completely fitted into the support portion 4. At this time, the engagement position of the racks 12 and 29 shifts from FIG. 9A to FIG. 9B, and as is clear from FIG. 7B, the rack 26 moves downward away from the locking claw 45a. ing.

The contact 51 is normally located within the cavity 2, and the locking member 2
1 is completely fitted into the support portion 4, as is clear from FIGS. 7A and 7B, the opening 22 is shifted from the opening of the cavity 2, and the inner surface of the rib 32 of the opening 22 is in contact with the opening 22. The contact 51 contacts the outer end of the wire-covered crimping portion 51a of the contact 51, and prevents the contact 51 from moving in a direction opposite to the insertion direction. Therefore, here the second lock, which is one of the objectives of the invention, is achieved.

Apart from these second locking means, the contact 51 is held in the cavity 2 by known first locking means. For example, referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, cavity 2
A first locking means is adopted in which an elastic locking part 15 is formed by a part of the housing 1, and this locking part 15 engages with the recessed part 51b of the contact 51. There is.

Furthermore, as described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, if the contact 51 is not inserted normally into the cavity 2, the locking member 21 is not completely fitted into the support part 4. Then, since the locking member 21 has not completely lowered, the detection portion 25 is at a high position and receives the pressing portion 8, which is the free end of the locking lever 9, from its lower surface. In this state, a mating connector equipped with tabs or post contacts that are inserted into the contacts 51 to make electrical contact, that is, a housing 61 of a connector complementary to the housing 1 of the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention, is slid into the housing. 1, the locking portion 62 provided on the inner surface of the housing 61 does not press down on the locking lever 9, so that the locking portion 11 cannot be crossed and engaged with the locking portion 11, and therefore, The housing 61 cannot be completely fitted into the housing 1.

However, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the contact 51 is inserted normally into the cavity 2 and the locking member 21 is completely lowered, the detection part 25 is at a low position. Since the pressing portion 8 of the locking lever 9 is not received from the lower surface thereof, the locking protrusion 62 cannot push down the lever 9 and can overcome the locking portion 11 and engage with it. , and therefore, the housing 61 can be slid and completely fitted into the housing 1, in other words,
A pair of connectors can be completely mated and a normal electrical connection can be made. Therefore, in this way, the housing 61
Also when fitting the contact 51 into the housing 1, it is possible to detect whether the contact 51 is properly inserted into the cavity 2.

Note that even if the locking member 21 is not completely lowered, the contact 51 is inserted into the cavity 2 normally, or the contact 51 is inserted into the cavity 2 to the extent that the locking member 21 can be lowered. However, there may actually be cases where the insertion is not normal. In such a case, by pressing down the pressing part 8 of the locking lever 9 and completely lowering the locking member 21 diagonally downward, the housing 61 can be brought into a state where it can be completely fitted into the housing 1. I can come.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, since it has the above configuration, it has the following effects.

(1) If the contact in the first housing to which the locking member is slidably fitted via the detection member is not properly inserted and held in the cavity, the mating connector is inserted into the first housing. Since the second housing cannot be completely fitted, it is thereby possible to detect that the contact is not properly inserted and retained in the cavity, and therefore to correct it.

(2) If the contact is not inserted and held normally in the cavity, the locking member is completely inserted into the support portion of the first housing to be slidably fitted through the detection member. Even if a mating attempt is made, this will be blocked by the contacts in the incorrectly inserted state, so even at this stage, in other words, even before the first and second housings are mated, that is, the first housing Even during the assembly process of a connector equipped with a connector, it is possible to detect that the contact is not properly inserted and held in the cavity, and it is therefore possible to correct it.

(3) At a position where the locking member is fitted to the support portion, the opening of the locking member and the opening at one end of the cavity are aligned, and the locking member is fitted to the support portion. Since the contact can be temporarily fixed, the contact can be inserted into the cavity from the opening of the locking member in the fitted and temporarily fixed state.

Furthermore, in the process of moving the locking member from the temporary fitting position to the fitting completion position via the detection member, the locking member may Since the inner surface of the locking member can be brought into contact with the locking member by sliding in parallel (perpendicularly), even if one end of the inserted contact slightly protrudes from the opening at one end of the first housing, the inner surface of the locking member can be brought into contact with the locking member. The inserted state of the contact can be corrected by pushing one end of the contact into the inner surface of the locking member.

(4) The support portion is simply formed on one end surface of the housing where the one end opening is located, and the locking member is slidably fitted into the support portion via the detection member. Therefore, the transition operation from the temporarily fitted state to the fully fitted position is easy, and the locking is stable and reliable. Moreover, the first housing does not have a structure that requires a national electric power company to mold, and is suitable for low-cost mass production, and there is no need to provide the contact with a stabilizer for engaging the locking member.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a housing, a locking member, and a detection member. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a temporarily fitted state of the locking member and the detection member to the housing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the locking member and the detection member are completely fitted to the housing. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of different parts in the state shown in FIG. 2. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of different parts in the process of transitioning to the mating completion position, in which the free end of the locking lever is received by the detection portion of the locking member. , indicates a state in which the housing of the mating connector cannot be completely fitted into the housing. FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of different parts in the process of moving to the mating completion position, and the free end of the locking lever is received by the locking member. shows a state in which the insertion of the contact can be corrected by the locking member. FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional views showing a state in which the housing of the mating connector is completely fitted into the housing. 8A and 8B are partially enlarged side views showing the positional relationship of the locking protrusion of the locking member with respect to the locking hole of the support portion at the temporary fitting position and the fitting completion position. FIGS. 9A and 9B are partially enlarged side views showing the positional relationship of the rack of the locking member with respect to the rack of the support portion at the temporary fitting position and the fitting completion position. 1... Housing 2... Cavity 4... Support part 8... Pressing part (free end) 9... Locking lever 11... Locking part 12... Rack
13... Locking hole 14... Locking hole
21...Locking member 22...Opening part
25...Detection section 26...Rack 27.
...Cam part 30...Latching protrusion 41...Detection member 44...Cam groove 45...Locking part 5
1...Contact 61...Mating connector housing 62...Locking part Jl +4142 jl 14142 Procedural amendment Name of invention Person who amends electrical connector Relationship to case Patent applicant Nippon NMP Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A first housing having a cavity that holds a first contact, and a second housing that holds a second contact that is electrically connected to the first contact and that is slidably fitted into the first housing. a locking lever having a locking portion that is pressed by and engaged with the locking portion of the housing;
The opening and the engaging part are slidably fitted in a support part provided at one end of the first housing in which the opening at one end of the cavity is located in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the cavity, and the opening corresponding to the opening and the engaging part are fitted. a locking member having a detection portion facing the free end of the stop lever; and a locking member configured to move in the direction in which the cavity extends to push the locking member in a direction intersecting the direction in which the cavity extends. a detection member supported by at least the locking member in the vicinity of the locking member, and at least a portion of the first contact is located within the opening of the locking member, so that the locking member The second housing is fitted into the first housing in a state where the second housing collides with the contact and is prevented from sliding in a direction crossing the direction in which the cavity extends and is not completely fitted into the support part. When the free end of the locking lever is received by the detection portion, the locking portion of the second housing presses the locking lever and climbs over the locking portion of the locking lever. An electrical connector characterized in that it is blocked. (2) The electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising a cam mechanism such that the detection member moves parallel to the direction in which the cavity extends and then moves in a direction intersecting the direction in which the cavity extends. (3) Between the first housing and the locking member, the locking member is inserted through the detection member so that the opening of the locking member and the opening at one end of the cavity substantially match. means for temporarily fixing the locking member in the fitted position when the locking member is fitted to the supporting portion, and a means for temporarily fixing the locking member at the fitting position; sliding diagonally and parallel to one end surface of the locking member to bring the opposing inner surface of the locking member into contact with the one end surface;
3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising means for causing the locking member to reach a fully fitted position with respect to the support portion. (4) The fitting completion means includes a locking hole provided on one of the support portion and the locking member, and a locking protrusion provided on the other side and slidably engaged with the locking hole. 4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the locking hole comprises an inclined part and a vertical part continuous to the inclined part. (5) The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein the temporary fitting means includes a rack provided on the support portion and the engagement member and meshing with each other.