JPH031900Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The invention consists of a pair of female terminals that accommodate electrical connection terminals;
In a connector consisting of a male housing, a lock structure is provided to ensure that the housings fit together with each other,
In particular, it relates to lock structures in waterproof connectors.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a lock structure of this type of connector, a lock structure as shown in a partially cutaway perspective view in FIG. 5 and in a vertical sectional view in FIG. 6 is known.

That is, this locking structure has one housing F.
A lock protrusion 2 protrudes from the outer circumferential upper wall 1 of the other housing M, and a lock protrusion 2 protrudes forward from the fitting upper wall 3a of the outer circumferential wall 3 of the other housing M, and is engaged with the lower part of the free end 4a thereof. It is composed of a lock arm 4 having a protruding piece 4b and a lock release lever 5 extending rearward and upward from the free end 4a of the lock arm 4.

Therefore, the fitting lock between the housings is achieved by the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4 colliding with the front tapered portion 2a of the lock protrusion 2 and bending upward.
This is done by passing over the top O of the lock protrusion 2 and engaging the rear end locking portion 2c. At this time, the lock protrusion 2 fits into the groove 4c of the lock arm 4.

To release the lock in order to separate the housings from each other, press the tip end pressing portion 5a of the lock release lever 5 downward to engage the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4 with the rear end locking portion 2c of the lock protrusion 2. This is done by flexing the lock arm 4 upward until it is disengaged.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the locking structure of such a conventional connector, the insertion force required for fitting and locking the housings together is the load required for deflection of the lock arm 4, the frictional force accompanying the fitting of the housings to each other, and the insertion force contained in each housing. The external force is the sum of the mating force between the male terminal 6 and the female terminal 7, but in addition, in the case of a waterproof connector in which a waterproof packing 8 is attached to the outer peripheral wall of one housing (housing M in the illustrated case). In this case, an insertion force for fitting the waterproof gasket 8 to the outer circumferential wall of the mating housing F is added to the above external force.

Therefore, if another external force exceeds the load required for deflection of the lock arm 4, the user may mistake the feeling of the other external force for locking to have been completed, and will not notice that the lock is still in a half-fitted state. There are cases. Particularly in the case of a waterproof connector, since the insertion force required for fitting the waterproof gasket 8 is relatively large, at the time when the gasket 8 contacts the outer peripheral edge 1a of the mating housing F as shown in FIG. After the mutual insertion of the housings ends, the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4 often becomes half-fitted with the lock protrusion 2. Further, in such a half-fitted state, not only can the housings easily come apart from each other, but also, in the case of a waterproof connector, there is a problem that the waterproof effect of the packing 8 cannot be obtained at all.

The present invention was developed by focusing on the problems with the lock structure of conventional connectors, and even when the insertion force required for the mating lock is large, such as with waterproof connectors, the lock arm and the lock protrusion are only half-fitted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock structure that can reliably achieve fitting without causing problems.

[Means for solving problems]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the main parts of the lock structure of the connector of the present invention, and Figs. 2 to 4 show the operating state of the connector equipped with the lock structure of the present invention when mated. A vertical cross-sectional view is shown.

In these figures, the same parts as the lock structure of the conventional connector shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 will be explained using the same symbols.

That is, the lock structure of the present invention includes a lock protrusion 2 protruding from the outer peripheral upper wall 1 of one housing F;
A lock arm 4 is fitted to the outer circumferential wall 3 of the other housing M, extends forwardly from the upper wall 3a, and has a locking piece 4b projecting from the lower part of the free end 4a, and from the free end 4a. In a lock structure consisting of a lock release lever 5 extending rearward and upward, a guide wall 9 is provided facing the lock arm 4 from the fitting upper wall of the other housing M in the vicinity of both side edges of the lock arm 4. A pressing protrusion 10 of the lock arm 4 is provided to protrude in the same direction as the guide wall 9 above the free end 4a of the lock arm 4, so that when the locking piece 4b gets over the lock protrusion 2, the pressing protrusion 10 The structure is such that the maximum repulsion load is applied to the lock arm 4 in contact with the lock arm 10.

In this configuration, the guide wall 9 on which the pressing protrusion 10 is protruded is provided protruding from the upper wall 3a of the housing near the base of the lock arm 4.
A part of a may be extended forward to form a reinforcing upper wall 3a', and the reinforcing upper wall 3a' may be erected on top of the reinforcing upper wall 3a'. Also, this guide wall 9 is connected to the lock arm 4.
It may be installed upright only on one side edge. Further, the protruding position of the pressing protrusion 10 is such that when the lock arm 4 bends upward and passes over the lock protrusion 2, the lock arm 4 is pressed by the bending force of the guide wall 9, and the maximum repulsion load is applied. Furthermore, in order to adjust the deflection force of the guide wall 9, a slit 11 extending rearward can be formed in the rising end of the guide wall 9. Preferably, the locking structure is formed from a plastic material that is inherently resilient.

[Effect]

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained.

First, FIG. 2 shows the state before mating when a waterproof connector is used as the connector, and as the other housing M is inserted into one housing F, the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4 will close as shown in the figure. collides with the front tapered portion 2a of the lock projection 2. In this case, the male terminals 6 housed in both housings, respectively.
The female terminal 7, the outer peripheral edge 1a of one housing F, and the waterproof gasket 8 provided around the other housing M are still not fitted together.

Then, as the housings are fitted together, the lock arm 4 is bent upward, as shown in FIG.
When the locking piece 4b passes the top O of the lock projection 2, the deflection of the lock arm 4 reaches its maximum, and the free end 4a or side edge of the lock arm 4 comes into contact with a pressing projection 10 projecting from the guide wall 9. in this case,
Since the guide wall 9 is erected and extended from the upper wall 3a to the reinforced upper wall 3a' of the housing M,
Strong repulsion load (maximum repulsion load) on the pressing protrusion 10
acts. On the other hand, the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4
When the pin passes over the top O of the lock protrusion 2, the male terminal 6
The female terminals 7 begin to partially fit together, and the waterproof gasket 8 of the other housing M begins to fit into the outer peripheral edge 1a of one housing F.

A considerable amount of fitting force is required until these fittings are completely completed, but when the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4 passes over the top O of the lock protrusion 2, it acts on the locking piece 4b. The pressing force is
A large load corresponding to the combined force of the repulsion load due to the bending of the lock arm 4 and the repulsion load of the guide wall 9 due to the pressing protrusion 10 exceeds the fitting force of the terminal and the packing, so the locking piece 4b of the lock arm 4 is locked. It slides down the rear tapered portion 2b of the projection 2 and smoothly engages with the rear locking portion 2c, resulting in the state shown in FIG. 4, and the mutual locking of the housings is completed. As soon as this locking is completed, the lock protrusion 2 fits into the groove 4c of the lock arm 4, and the deflection of the lock arm 4 returns to its original state. Further, even if the guide wall 9 is slightly bent, it returns to its original position.

In this way, in the present invention, a strong pressing load by the guide wall 9 is added to the bending load of the lock arm 4 via the pressing protrusion 10, and the pressing load can be adjusted by the protruding position of the pressing protrusion 10. However, as shown in FIG. 1, a slit 11 may be provided at the rising end of the guide wall 9 to appropriately adjust the pressing load due to the deflection of the guide wall 9.

Further, the lock can be released by pressing the pressing part 5a of the lock release lever 5 extending above the lock arm 4, whereby the base of the release lever 5 is levered with the top O of the lock protrusion 2 as a fulcrum. This is done when the locking piece 4b moves upward and the locking piece 4b disengages from the rear end locking portion 2c of the lock projection 2.
In this case, the distance between the pressing protrusion 10 of the guide wall 9 and the locking protrusion 2 may be set to be greater than the amount of deflection required when the locking piece 4b comes off from the locking protrusion 2.

[Effect of idea]

As explained in detail above, according to the lock structure of the present invention, by erecting the guide wall protruding from the pressing protrusion in close proximity to the lock arm, a large deflection load of the guide wall is applied in addition to the deflection load of the lock arm itself. Because the overall pressing force at locking is extremely large, locking is easy even when a large mating force is required when mating the housings together, especially when mating waterproof connectors with waterproof packing. It is also reliable, prevents half-fitting, and provides an exhilarating feeling of fitting when the locking is completed. Further, in the case of a waterproof connector, advantages such as significantly improved waterproof performance can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the locking structure of a connector according to the present invention, FIGS. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the lock structure of a conventional connector, and FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operating state of a connector having the conventional lock structure when mated. 2...Lock protrusion, 4...Lock arm, 5...
...Lock release lever, 8...Waterproof gasket, 9...
...Guide wall, 10...Press protrusion.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A chevron-shaped lock protrusion 2 protrudes from the outer circumferential upper wall 1 of one housing F, and a lock protrusion 2 protrudes forward from the outer circumferential upper wall 3 of the other housing M, and has a locking piece 4b at its free end. In the locking structure of the connector, which comprises a lock arm 4 and a lock release lever 5 extending rearwardly and upwardly from the free end of the lock arm 4, the upper wall 3 of the other housing M is provided.
A guide wall 9 is provided upright near the side edge of the lock arm 4, and a protrusion 10 for pressing against the lock arm 4 is provided on the guide wall 9 so as to protrude above the free end of the lock arm 4. This connector lock structure is characterized in that when the lock arm 4b gets over the lock projection 2, the maximum repulsion load is applied to the lock arm 4 that comes into contact with the pressing projection 10.