JPH0223981B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a connector in which a socket connector to which a cable is attached is mated to a pin connector, and particularly a lock mechanism for confirming that the socket connector is completely inserted into the pin connector. The present invention relates to a connector equipped with a connector.

<Background> A socket connector with a cable attached is mated to a pin connector with connection pins planted inside, and each core wire of the cable is connected to the pin contacts of these pin connectors via the socket contacts. A connector is used which is connected to make the connection between the cable and the pin contact.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of the pin connector 11 and the socket housing 12, and Fig. 2 shows the fitted state of the connector. It is of a format called .

In this seesaw type lock, a protrusion 13 is formed on the upper plate surface of the pin connector 11 on the side opposite to the opening surface, and an insertion side end of the socket housing 12 that is inserted from the opening surface of the pin connector 11. The engagement piece 14 formed on the upper plate surface of the connector elastically engages with the engagement piece 14 as shown in FIG. 2 when fitted.

Similarly, the configurations shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, are of a type called a cantilever lock among conventionally used connectors of this type. In this cantilever type lock, a protrusion 13 is formed on the upper plate surface of the pin connector 11 on the opening side, and a locking piece 13 is formed on the upper plate surface of the socket housing 12 which is inserted from this opening surface. The connecting piece 14 is configured to be elastically engaged with the connecting piece 14.

This type of connector is also used for electrical circuits inside vehicles. Particularly in recent years, as the number of internal electronic devices has increased in vehicles, almost all types of connectors have been used to connect wiring within the vehicle. Furthermore, in vehicles, there are special conditions of use in which considerable vibration is applied to the connector portion when the vehicle is running.

On the other hand, this type of connector used for vehicles, for example, has been significantly downsized as the number of wiring has increased. However, with such a connector, it is still possible to check whether a complete connection has been made by the click feeling when the protruding piece 13 and the engaging piece engage as shown in FIGS. I'm guided by the sound.

Confirmation based on the click sensation or attachment sound generally becomes less clear as the connector becomes smaller. On the other hand, it has been proven that the confirmation of connection using the click sensation or the sound of attachment is not a completely reliable confirmation method, as it largely depends on the environmental conditions in which the judge is placed, even from an ergonomic point of view.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned difficulties in such connectors, especially connectors of this type that require miniaturization, and makes it easy to confirm that the socket housing has been completely inserted into the pin connector. To provide a connector which is possible, does not require any special parts, can be constructed as a whole in a compact form, and has a robust structure.

According to this invention, a rectangular socket housing is inserted and fitted into a substantially rectangular cylindrical pin connector, and the socket housing is attached to a pin contact that is planted inward from the inner surface of the pin connector. The core wires of the cables are connected via socket contacts. In this invention, a projecting piece that engages with an engagement hole of a socket housing is integrally formed to protrude from the inner surface of the pin connector. The engagement hole of the socket housing is provided with an engaging portion that engages with this protruding piece, and when the socket housing is properly inserted and fitted into the pin connector, these protruding pieces and the engaging piece do not interact with each other. fully engaged.

Further, a lock piece is attached to the pin connector, which is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the insertion direction of the socket housing. This lock piece has an engaging piece formed at the end opposite to the axis of rotation, and when the lock piece is rotated when the socket housing is properly inserted and fitted into the pin connector, this rotation is prevented. At the end, this engaging piece is disposed in opposition to the back surface of the socket housing in the insertion direction.

<Example> Hereinafter, the connector of the present invention will be described in detail based on the example using the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the connector of the present invention, which has a structure in which a rectangular socket housing 12 made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin material is inserted and mounted. A rectangular cylindrical pin connector 11 is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin material by, for example, molding means. This pin connector 11 is provided with an open surface 20 into which a socket housing 12 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 6, pin contacts 22-11, 22-21 are planted at almost right angles on the inner surface 21 facing the open surface 20, and the pin contacts 22-11, 22-2
The other end of the pin connector 11 is led out to the outside of the pin connector 11. An engaging body 2 is provided at the center of the upper plate surface 23 of the pin connector 11 on the open surface 20 side, protruding perpendicularly to the plate surface.
4 is integrally formed, and the upper plate surface of the engaging body 24 is extended to protrude toward the inner surface 21 side to form a projecting piece 24-T.

Projecting pieces 25-1 and 25-2 are integrally projected from approximately the center of the inner surface 21 of the pin connector 11 in the direction of the opening surface 20. As shown in FIG.
At the ends of -1 and 25-2 are claws 26-1 and 26-2.
The ends of the projecting pieces 25-1 and 25-2 can be elastically deflected at right angles to the insertion direction of the socket housing 12.

The socket housing 12, whose opening surface is inserted into the pin connector 11, has an engagement hole 31 formed approximately in the center thereof extending from the front end to the rear end in the insertion direction of the socket housing 12. Step protrusions 32-1 and 32-2 are formed on both opposing inner circumferential surfaces of the hole 31 from the leading end in the insertion direction.

The length of the stepped protrusions 32-1 and 32-2 from the distal end surface of the socket housing 12 in the insertion direction is as follows:
The inner surface 21 of the pin connector 11 and the claws 26- of the protruding pieces 25-1 and 25-2 formed protruding from the inner surface 21.
1 and 26-2 on the inner surface 21 side.

The socket housing 12 has cable attachment holes 35-1 to 35-4 and 36- sandwiching the engagement hole 31.
1 to 36-4 are formed to extend through the socket housing 12 in the longitudinal direction. Socket contacts 37-1 to 37-1 made of conductive material are installed in these cable mounting holes.
37-4 and 38-1 to 38-4 are attached. Each of these socket contacts has a fitting portion formed on the distal end side of the socket housing 12 in the insertion direction to fit into a pin contact to be inserted. Further, on the rear end side of the socket housing 12 in the insertion direction, connecting portions are formed to connect with the core wires of the respective cables.

Mounting holes 35-1 to 35-3 of socket housing 12
Cables 40-1 to 40-4 and 41-1 to 41-4 whose core wires are exposed at their ends are inserted into 5-4 and 36-1 to 36-4, respectively. Each core wire of the cable inserted in this way is electrically connected to the connecting portion of the corresponding socket contact.

When the socket housing 12 is inserted and fitted into the pin connector 11 in this state, the pin connector 11
pin connector 22 planted from the inner surface 21 of
-11 to 22-14 and 22-21 to 22-24
are inserted into the fitting portions of the corresponding socket contacts, and the two are electrically connected to each other. Therefore, when the socket housing 12 is completely inserted into the pin connector 11, the cable 40
-1 to 40-4 and 41-1 to 41-4 respectively correspond to pin contacts 22-11 to 22-
14 and 22-21 to 22-24, respectively.

Confirmation of this insertion/fitting is performed by protruding piece 25 formed on pin connector 11, which is the first locking means.
1, 25-2 and the engagement hole 31 of the socket housing 12 to lock.

That is, the end surface of the socket housing 12 in the insertion direction with respect to the pin connector 11 is the same as the pin connector 11.
When the protrusions 25-1 and 25-2 are inserted into the engagement hole 31 to a position where they completely come into contact with the inner surface 21 of the engagement hole 31, the ends thereof are elastically deflected in a direction toward each other, and the protrusions 25-1 and 25-2 that were located in the engagement hole 31 are elastically returned to their original positions. The claws 26-1 and 26-2 are the stepped protrusions 3
Stepped portions 32-1D and 32-2D of 2-1 and 32-2
fully engaged with each other.

These projecting pieces 25-1, 25-2 and the step projection 32-
Complete fitting of the socket housing 12 to the pin connector 11 can be confirmed by sensing the engagement with the pin connectors 1 and 32-2 by a click sensation or by the sound of engagement. This is the confirmation by the first locking means.

However, as already stated in the background section of this specification, complete confirmation cannot be made by only confirming the fit by the click feeling or engagement sound by the first locking means. Therefore, in this invention, a second locking means is provided.

That is, a locking piece 46 is attached to the periphery of the end of the pin connector 11 on the upper plate surface 23 side, with the hinge 45 as a rotation axis.
is rotatably attached. pin connector 11
The lock piece 46 and the lock piece 46 can be made integrally, for example, by molding. Lock piece 4
At the end opposite to the hinge 45 of 6, there is a lock piece 4.
The plate surface of 6 extends perpendicularly to the direction of the pin connector 11, and an engaging piece 47 is integrally formed.

The distance between the end plate 47-T on the hinge 45 side of the engagement piece 47 formed integrally with the lock piece 46 and the end plate 46-T on the hinge 45 side of the lock piece 46 is set so that When the socket housing 12 is fully fitted and the protrusions 25-1 and 25-2 are fully engaged with the stepped protrusions 32-1 and 32-2, the socket housing 12 is properly inserted and fitted. It is selected so as to be in contact with the back surface 12-B in the insertion direction.

Further, a locking piece 48 is formed at an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the locking piece 46 in a direction parallel to the plate surface of the locking piece 46. Back surface 12-B in the insertion direction of the socket housing 12 inserted and fitted into the pin connector 11
The lock piece 46 is placed so that the engaging piece 47 faces the lock piece 46
When the locking piece 48 is rotated in the direction of the pin connector 11, the locking piece 48 engages with the protruding piece 24-T of the engaging body 24. Therefore, the cables 40-1 to 40-4 and 41-1 to
When the socket housing 12 with the socket housing 41-4 mounted thereon is inserted into the pin connector 11, the claws 2 of the projecting pieces 25-1 and 25-2 will open in the normal inserted and fitted state.
6-1, 26-2 are step projections 32-1, 32-2
and engage with each other. The proper insertion and fitting state can be confirmed by the click feeling or clicking sound when the first locking means is engaged.

Next, the second locking means is activated to rotate the locking piece 46 at the hinge 45 toward the pin connector 11. When the socket housing 12 is properly inserted into the pin connector 11,
The lock piece 46 is completely rotated to a position where the end surface 47-T of the engagement piece 47 on the side of the hinge 45 comes into contact with the back surface 12-B of the socket housing 12 in the insertion direction. At the same time, the locking piece 48
T, and the lock piece 46 becomes completely locked with the pin connector 11. In this state, the socket housing 12 is attached to the engaging piece 47 of the lock piece 46.
It is completely locked to the pin connector 11 by.

If the claws 26-1, 2 of the protruding pieces 25-1, 25-2
6-2 and the stepped projections 32-1, 32-2 are incomplete and the second locking means cannot be locked unless the first locking means is completely locked. That is, even if an attempt is made to rotate the locking piece 46 and locking with the engaging piece 47, the back face 12-B of the socket housing 12 in the insertion direction protrudes beyond the normal position, and the socket housing 12 cannot be engaged with the back face 12-B. piece 4
7 cannot be opposed. Furthermore, in this state, the locking piece 48 cannot be engaged with the engaging body 24.

After the socket housing 12 is inserted into the pin contact 11 and locked by the first locking means, the second locking means is actuated to rotate the locking piece 46 and locking the engaging piece. 47 to lock the pin connector 11 of the socket housing 12,
Whether or not the socket housing 12 is completely inserted into the pin connector 11 can be easily and accurately confirmed by whether or not the second locking means is completely locked.

When the first locking means and the second locking means are completely locked, the locking piece 4
8 and the engaging body 24, the overall lock is held extremely firmly and will not be released by vibration or external force. Furthermore, the pin connector 11 and the lock piece 46 can be made integrally, for example, by molding means, and the socket housing 12 can also be molded in the same way, so that its manufacture can be carried out easily and with high precision. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a highly reliable connector that can be produced in a greatly reduced size through a simple manufacturing process and that allows easy confirmation that the pin contact and cable are perfectly connected. be able to.

According to this invention, as explained in detail above,
The entire structure can be significantly miniaturized using a simple manufacturing process, and the state of complete connection to the pin contact of the cable can be easily confirmed, and this connection state can be maintained stably against external disturbances. A possible connector can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views showing the principle of the structure of a seesaw type lock, Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views showing the principle of the structure of a cantilever type lock, and Figure 5 is a connector of the present invention. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of the pin connector and lock piece portion of the embodiment of the connector of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a socket housing of the embodiment of the connector of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the part, and FIG.
A sectional view, FIG. 9 is a BB sectional view of FIG. 5 showing the shape of the engagement hole formed in the socket housing in an embodiment of the connector of this invention, and FIG. 10 is an embodiment of the connector of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a normal insertion and fitting state. 11: Pin connector, 12: Socket housing, 20: Open surface, 21: Inner surface, 22-11~2
2-14, 22-21 to 22-24: Pin contact, 23: Upper plate surface, 24: Engaging body, 24-T:
Projecting piece, 25-1, 25-2: Projecting piece, 26-1, 2
6-2: Claw, 31: Engagement hole, 32-1, 32-
2: Step projection, 35-1 to 35-4, 36-1 to
36-4: Cable mounting hole, 37-1 to 37-
4, 38-1 to 38-4: socket contact,
40-1 to 40-4, 41-1 to 41-4: cable, 45: hinge, 46: lock piece, 47: engaging piece, 48: locking piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A socket connector is inserted and fitted from the open surface into a cylindrical pin connector in which pin contacts are planted on the inner surface and the surface opposite to the inner surface is an open surface. The core wire of the cable attached to the socket connector is connected to the socket contact attached to the socket connector at its end, and the pin contact and the socket contact are electrically connected by the insertion and fitting. In the connector to be connected, a protrusion that can be elastically deflected in a direction transverse to the insertion direction of the socket connector is provided on the inner surface of the pin connector, and the protrusion is provided on the insertion and fitting side end surface of the socket connector. an engagement hole into which the protruding piece is inserted, and the projection piece and the engagement hole are respectively formed with a pawl and a stepped portion that engage with each other when the socket connector is properly inserted and fitted to the pin connector. , a lock piece is rotatably attached to the edge of the upper surface of the pin connector opposite to the open surface via a hinge, and the end of the lock piece opposite to the hinge is provided with the solenoid for the pin connector. When the lock piece is tilted to the top surface of the pin connector in the normal inserted and fitted state of the socket connector, an engaging piece is formed that faces the back surface of the socket connector in the insertion direction, and the bottom surface of the lock piece and the pin A locking piece and an engaging body that can be engaged with each other and that hold the lock piece in a state of being tilted down on the top surface of the pin connector are respectively formed protrudingly formed on the upper surface of the connector, and the locking piece has a claw, and the locking piece has a claw. A connector characterized in that a claw is configured to engage with a hinge-side end surface of the engaging body.