JPH03152801A - Connector and connector retaining construction and vehicle lamp unit therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure the easy and proper coupling of the connector of a vehicle lamp unit by applying the constitution wherein one of two connectors is provided with a slidable coupling part having an elastic electrical contact piece projected and exposed, and slided relative with the other connector under guidance with the aforesaid coupling part. CONSTITUTION:One connector 1 is provided with a through-type slidable coupling part 14 having an elastic electrical contact piece 10 so projected and exposed as to be connected to a feeder 4. When the other connector connected to a lamp and the connector 1 are relatively slided under guidance with the aforesaid coupling part 14, the contact piece 10 and the electrical contact piece of the other connector come in contact with each other, regardless of the slide direction, and the connector of a vehicle lamp unit can be easily and properly coupled without any erroneous operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a set of connectors for slidingly connecting electrical contact portions to each other, and a connector holding structure having an automatic alignment function that facilitates the connection of the connectors. The present invention also relates to a vehicle lamp unit including the same.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 13 shows a vehicle lamp unit disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-153210.

In the figure, 86 indicates a lens, 87 indicates a back cover made of synthetic resin, and the back cover 87 includes an internal connector 8.
8 is welded and fixed using a high-heat tool (not shown) such as a soldering iron, the lamp socket 89 is fixed via the installation seat 90, and the electric wire 91 is introduced from the internal connector 88 into the lamp socket 89. There is. Then, an external connector 92 is coupled to the internal connector 88 to establish an electrical connection. Further, a lens engaging frame 94 is provided to a flange 93 formed at the end of the peripheral wall of the back cover 87, a lens 86 is fitted into the lens engaging frame 94 through a packing 95, and the lens 86 is fitted into the flange 93 through a packing 96. The lens 86 is fixed to the vehicle body panel 97 with screws (not shown) by bringing the lens 86 into contact with the vehicle body panel 97. In addition, in the figure 1.
98 indicates a clamp for converging electric wires.

However, the conventional assembly to the vehicle body side panel 97 requires two steps: after assembling the lens 86 to the pack cover assembly 99, and then further coupling the external connector 92. The assembly work was troublesome. Further, during maintenance, it is necessary to remove the external connector 92 and remove the lens 86 and the pack cover arrangement 99 to the outside of the vehicle, which is very time-consuming. Furthermore, since the internal connector 88 is attached to the back cover 87 by welding using a high-temperature tool, there is also the problem that the attachment work is dangerous and has poor workability.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the complexity of connecting connectors and to improve the ease of assembly and maintenance when assembling and maintaining a vehicle lamp unit.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a set of connectors that accommodate terminals each having a wire connection portion formed on one side and an electric contact piece formed on the other side with the electric contact piece exposed to the outside. A through-groove exposing an electrical contact piece having spring properties is provided for one connector, and a slide fitting portion for the through-groove is formed for the other connector, the electrical contact piece being exposed. , a connector characterized in that the slide fitting portion can be fitted into the through groove from both front and back directions, and a connector holding plate or connector is provided with a movable means using a spring, and a mounting panel is provided with a movable means using a spring. In contrast, a connector holding structure is adopted in which the connector is supported movably up and down, left and right, and one connector is attached to the mounting panel of the vehicle, and the other connector is attached to the electrical equipment. The present invention provides a vehicle lamp unit in which the connector of the electrical component can be freely fitted to the connector on the mounting panel from both front and rear directions.

[For production]

By inserting the sliding fitting portion of the other connector into the through groove of one connector, the electrical contact pieces of the terminals come into contact with each other under spring bias to obtain a good electrical connection.

Further, a movable means using a spring in the connector holding structure allows the connector to move in the vertical and horizontal directions (up, down, left and right), thereby achieving self-alignment. Therefore, the connector on the electrical component side can be smoothly fitted into the connector on the mounting panel side at the same time as the electrical component is assembled.

Furthermore, since the sliding fitting portion of the connector can be inserted into the through-hole of the connector from either the front or the rear, the degree of freedom in the direction of attaching and detaching the electrical component is increased, and assembly and maintenance can be performed easily.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of a connector for mounting on the body of an automobile or the like according to the present invention.

The body side connector 1 is a movable connector 3 made of synthetic resin.
and a power supply connector 5 to which a covered wire 4 of a wire harness for the purpose of power supply is attached, and a pressure contact terminal is fitted into the movable connector.

As shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. A pair of wire pressure welding pieces 8, 8 having a slit 7 are provided upright, side walls 9a, 9b are vertically provided on both sides of the base plate 6, and one side wall 9 is provided vertically.
An electrical contact spring piece 10 protruding forward from the tip end face of the side wall 9a is provided with elasticity in the direction of the wire pressure welding piece 8 with respect to a, and an abutting piece part for the tip of the spring piece 10 is provided. 11.

The movable connector 3 that accommodates the pressure contact terminals 2 has housings 3a and 3b that can be divided in the front and back direction, and inside each of the housings 3a and 3b there is a board portion 6 of the pressure contact terminals 2.
A housing chamber 12 is provided which is divided into side walls 9a and 9b, and an opening 13 is provided at the lower side of the housing chamber 12 from which the electrical contact spring piece 10 projects. Further, a through groove 14 exposing the spring piece 10 is provided in each of the housings 3a, 3b in a direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the power supply connector 5. The through groove 14 is formed in the housings 3a, 3 in order to connect a mating connector to be described later.
It is provided to penetrate in the front and back direction of b, and there are guide grooves 1 on both sides.
4a and 14a. Furthermore, locking frame pieces 15 for assembly are provided on the upper and lower sides of both side wall surfaces of one (front) housing 3a.
At the same time, a fitting protrusion 16 for the locking frame piece 15 is provided on the other housing 3b. Also,
The outer wall of the front housing 3a is provided with grooves 17 and 17 for receiving connector holding members, which will be described later.

Both housings 3a accommodate the pressure contact end 7-2,
3b and push the power supply connector 5 through the L opening 18, the electric wire 4 of the wire harness is connected to the pressure contact terminal 2 (FIG. 3 shows B-B in the assembled state of FIG. 1). (showing equivalent cross-sectional view). The power supply connector 5 is
Electric wire partition walls 20 are vertically provided on the top plate 19, and electric wire pressing protrusions 21 are vertically provided between the respective partition walls 20, and cutouts 22 for inserting the electric wires are provided in the rough edges. The top plate I9 is bent into a single character shape and mounted, and frame pieces 24 are provided on both sides of the top plate I9 to engage locking protrusions 23 provided on the inner wall of one of the housings 3a.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the body-side connector according to the present invention.

The body-side connector 1' accommodates a terminal 2' to which an electric wire 4' of a wire harness is connected in advance by crimping inside a housing 3a', 3b' which can be divided into front and rear parts. A crimp piece 8' is attached to the board part 6' as a wire connection part.
and a spring piece 10 similar to that of the first embodiment.
′. In addition, each housing 3a
', 3b' have a through groove 14 that exposes the spring piece 10'.
' is provided in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the electric wire 4'.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the connector attached to the electrical equipment side according to the present invention.

The electrical equipment side connector 25 includes a crimp terminal 26 having an electrical contact spring piece 27 and a connector housing made of synthetic resin, and the housing 28 has a locking means 29.
．． 30 is attached to a mounting side 31 of an electrical equipment body, etc., which will be described later, and is coupled to the body side connector 1 shown in FIG. 1 described above.

In the political situation 7-26, by punching and bending two conductive metal plates, a cutout step 33 is provided at the top of the support 32 having a U-shaped cross section, and the step 33 is tilted forward using the step 33 as a base point. A spring piece 27 for electrical contact is provided, and a wire crimping part 34 is connected to the lower part of the column 32 as a wire connection part, and a bent step part for stopping is provided at the tip of the spring piece 27. 35 is formed.

Further, the connector housing 28 is formed with protruding flanges 37.37 on both sides of the front wall 36, and a fitting window 38 for the electrical contact spring piece 27 of the terminal 26 is provided on the front wall 36. The spring piece 27 is made to protrude. Further, on both side walls, a locking frame piece 30 on the mounting side 31 and a positioning groove 39 are provided.
Fitting protrusions 29 and 40 are provided respectively. Here, the front wall 36 having the flange 37 has a slide fitting portion S for the through groove 14 of the body side connector 1 shown in FIG.
It becomes.

0 As shown in FIG. 6, the terminal 2 is attached to the housing 28.
6 is housed in a state in which the upper and lower step portions 33 and 35 of the electrical contact spring piece 27 are engaged with the upper and lower ends of the fitting window 38 to expose the spring piece 27 to the outside, and this electrical equipment side connector 25 is fixed to the mounting side 31 by the locking means 29 and 30.

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the electrical equipment side connector 41 in which the number of man-hours for connecting electric wires is reduced by using a press-contact terminal 42, and FIG. 8 shows its assembled state.

The electrical equipment side connector 41 is composed of a pressure contact terminal 42 and a connector housing 43 and 44 divided into upper and lower parts,
It is fixed to the mounting side 45 of the electrical equipment body etc. by locking means 46, 47, 48.

Here, the press-contact terminal 42 is formed by bending the middle part of two conductive metal pieces to form an electrical contact spring piece 50 perpendicular to the bottom plate 49. An inverted U-shaped wire pressure welding part 52 having a tearing slit 51 is formed, and bending step parts 53 and 54 for stopping are formed at each end of the electrical contact spring piece 50 and the bottom plate 49. be.

In addition, the lower housing 44 has a housing groove 56 for the bottom plate 49 of the terminal 42 in the bottom wall 55, and a groove 56 for housing the terminal 42 in the bottom plate 49, and
A fitting window 58 for the electrical contact spring piece 50 is provided to allow the electrical contact spring piece 50 to protrude, and flanges 59, 59 are formed to protrude on both sides to form the body side connector shown in FIG. Slide fitting portion S1 for the through groove 14 of l
Further, on both sides of the bottom wall 55, fitting protrusions 47 are provided for the locking frame pieces 48 on the mounting side 45, and fitting protrusions 63 for the locking holes 62 of the positioning plate 61 are provided on the back wall 60. It is.

Then, the terminal 42 is placed on the lower housing 44, and the front wall 64 of the upper housing 43 is brought into contact with the back side of the electrical contact spring piece 50 of the terminal 42, so that the electrical contact spring piece 50 is inserted through the fitting window 58. The piece 50 is exposed in an unflexed (fixed) state, and the respective fitting protrusions 46 and 47 are engaged and fixed to the locking frame piece 48 on the mounting side 45.

FIG. 9 shows a holding member 67 as an example of a holding structure for the body-side connector 11 2 shown in FIG. 1, and in the figure, 65 indicates a bracket of the mounting panel 66.

The connector holding member 67 is provided with a pair of holding spring pieces 69 and 69 that curve inwardly and face each other on both sides of the holding plate 68 as movable means for the connector 1. A pair of abutting spring pieces 7I, 71 for the upper end bent portion 70 of the bracket 65 of the mounting panel 66 are provided on the left and right sides of the mounting panel 66 in an inclined manner, and a pair of slit holes in the bracket 65 are provided on the back surface of the retaining plate 68. 72, 72 are provided with locking protrusions 73, 73 that fit vertically slidably.

The holding spring pieces 69.69 fit into the grooves 17.17 of the body-side connector 1 to hold the connector 1 movably in the left and right direction, and the abutting spring pieces 71 hold the connector 1. Since the member 67 is supported movably in the vertical direction relative to the bracket 65, the self-aligning action allows the connectors to be aligned with each other, that is, with the body-side connector 1 as shown in FIG. 6 or 8.
This allows smooth connection to the electrical equipment side connector 25.4I shown in the figure.

Note that if a similar abutting spring piece (71) is provided not only on the upper end surface of the holding plate 68 but also on the lower end surface, it will be more effective. Further, instead of the holding spring piece 69 and the abutment spring piece 71, a movable means using a spring is provided on the body side connector 1 (movable connector 3) itself, and the movable means is attached to the connector holding member (not shown) or the mounting panel side. It is also possible to have a structure in which the connector 1 is supported by the connector 1 and can be moved vertically and horizontally.

FIG. 10 shows an automobile rear combination lamp unit equipped with the above-described body-side connector, electrical equipment-side connector, and connector holding member, as viewed from inside the body (trunk room side).

In the figure, 1 is the body side connector shown in Fig. 1, 67 is the connector holding member shown in Fig. 9, and 25 is the electrical equipment side connector shown in Fig. 6 (the electrical equipment side shown in Fig. 8). The electrical equipment side connector 25 is assembled to the electrical equipment body (wiring board assembly) 75 to which the combination lamps 73 4 4 are attached by means of locking means 29 and 30. Further, 66 is a vehicle body side mounting panel, 76 is a lens, and 77 is the lens 76.
The lens 76 is bolted to a nut 78 on the mounting panel 66 side. In addition, fitting claws 80a and 80b are provided on the periphery of the electrical component 75 for engagement protrusions 79a>79b provided inside the storage box 77, so that when the electrical component 75 is fitted into the storage box 77, The slide fitting portion S of the electrical equipment side connector 25 has a self-aligning action of the connector holding member 67 in the through groove 14 of the body side connector 1 (in the figure, the connector 1 is movable in two directions).
It is inserted smoothly. Here, since the electrical equipment side connector 25 is attached to the electrical equipment body 75 by the locking means 29, 30, there is no need for welding work using a conventional high-temperature tool, and the assembly work is easy.

FIG. 11 shows a view C in FIG. 10 (viewed from outside the body).

In FIG. 10, the electrical component 75 is installed from inside the vehicle, whereas in FIG. 11, the electrical component 75 is installed as shown by the arrow H.
After assembling into the storage box 76, attach the mounting panel 6 from the outside of the vehicle.
It can be incorporated into 6. Therefore, the degree of freedom in assembly work is increased, and the electrical equipment 7 is
5 can be attached and detached both inside and outside the vehicle, making the work easier.

In the figure, reference numeral 25 indicates an electrical equipment side connector, and reference numeral 1 indicates a body side connector attached to the connector holding member 67.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the electrical component, in which the electrical component 8 is replaced with the electrical component side connector 25 shown in FIG.
1, a slide fitting part S2 having a flange part 82 is integrally formed, a flexible printed circuit 83 is routed, and a flat circuit of the terminal of the flexible printed circuit 83 is formed on the surface of the slide fitting part S2. The conductor 84 is exposed to form a connector 85.

The flat circuit conductor 84 of the connector 85 is joined to the electrical contact spring piece 10 of the body-side connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 10 to establish an electrical connection.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the connectors are automatically connected to each other at the same time as assembly 1 of the electrical equipment such as the vehicle lamp unit, the troublesome work of connecting the connectors becomes unnecessary.

Furthermore, since the sliding fitting part of the other connector can be inserted into the through-groove of one connector from either the front or back direction, the degree of freedom in the direction of attaching and detaching the electrical component is increased, and ease of assembly and maintenance is improved. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of the body-side connector of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a view taken from arrow A in Fig. 1 showing a press-contact terminal, and Fig. 3 is an assembled state of the connector. A view corresponding to the B-B cross section in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the second embodiment of the body side connector, Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the first embodiment of the electrical equipment side connector, Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the same connector group 4=3 state, No. 7
The figure is an exploded perspective view showing the second embodiment of the electrical equipment side connector, Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the same connector set (=J state,
10 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view taken from arrow C in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is an electrical component. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a conventional vehicle lamp unit. 1.1'... Body side connector, 25.41... Electrical side connector, 85... Connection connector, 2,2'26
．． 42...Terminal, 10.10', 27.50...
・Electrical contact spring piece, 14.14'...through groove, 17
... Receptacle is groove, 66 ... Take 1 panel, 67 ... Connector holding member, 69 ... Holding spring piece, 71 ... Contact spring piece, 75.81 ... Electrical component, 74...Combination lamp, S+S It S2...Slide fitting part. 7 8 8-9

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A pair of connectors that accommodate terminals each having a wire connection portion on one side and an electric contact piece on the other side, with the electric contact pieces exposed to the outside, and a spring is attached to one connector. A through-groove is provided in which an electrical contact piece having a property is exposed, and a slide fitting portion is formed in which the electric contact piece is exposed for the other connector, and the electric contact piece is exposed in the other connector. A connector characterized in that a mating portion can be mated from both front and rear directions. (2) The connector according to claim (1), wherein the through groove is provided in a direction perpendicular to the electric wire connected to the electric wire connecting portion. (3) A connector holding structure characterized in that a connector holding plate or a connector is provided with a movable means using a spring, and the connector is supported vertically and horizontally movably with respect to a mounting panel. (4) At the same time, one connector according to claim (1) or the connector according to claim (2) is installed on the mounting panel side of the vehicle, and the other connector according to claim (1) is installed on the electrical equipment. A lamp unit for a vehicle, characterized in that the connector of the electrical component can be fitted into the connector of the mounting panel from both front and rear directions. (5) A vehicular lamp unit according to claim (4), to which the connector holding structure according to claim (3) is applied.