JPH04209479A - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized and high performance connector by preventing a guide member from being disconnected from a female connector at the time of disconnecting a male connector, and ensuring the return of the guide member to an initial position after disconnecting the male connector. CONSTITUTION:When a male connector 10 is disconnected in the coupled state of male and female connectors 10 and 20, only the connector 10 first moves, and the rear slope 12b of the third projection 12 comes in contact with the end 40 of an elastic arm 36, thereby causing a member 30 to start a slide motion. When the connector 10 is further moved, the end 40 of the elastic arm 36 comes in contact with a projection 28. In this case, the end 40 of the elastic arm 36 is strongly coupled to the rear slope 12b of the projection 12 and, therefore, the elastic arm 36 slides, while being warped inward, and goes over the projection 28, thereby causing the member 30 to reach a temporary fixing position. Subsequently, when the connector 10 is pulled out, the end 40 of the elastic arm 36 comes in contact with a projection 26 and, therefore, the projection 12 goes over the aforesaid end 40. As a result, only the connector 10 is released from the connector 20.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[00011

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector having a guide member for guiding the contacts of the female connector into proper engagement with the contacts of the male connector within the opening of the female connector. . [0002] [0002] When male and female connectors are mated together, a guide member is provided in the female connector to prevent the contacts housed and held in the female connector from being deformed by the male connector. An electrical connector with a
Utility Model Application No. 61-99979). In FIG. 9, a guide plate 100 is slidably disposed within a recess 104 of a female connector housing 102 to guide contacts 108 through holes 106 while a male connector (not shown) is inserted into the recess 104. do. For this reason, contact 1
Both connectors can be fitted together without deforming 08. [0003] However, this guide plate 100 is
Once pushed deep into the recess 104, the male connector cannot be returned to its original position when removed from the female connector 1O2. Therefore, there is a risk that the contacts 108 of the female connector 1O2 may be deformed when the male connector is inserted for the second time. [0004] Therefore, the present applicant proposed a connector having a guide member that returns to its original position as the male connector moves when the male connector is removed (Utility Model Application No. 6).
3116985). As shown in FIG. 10, the male connector 141 has a locking arm 145 at its fitting portion,
When mating with the female connector 131, the guide member 13
It is locked in the locking hole 135b of No.5. When the male connector 141 is removed from the female connector 131, as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the guide member 135 can be returned to its original position. [0005]

However, since the locking arm 145 has two undercuts, it is difficult to mold it using a mold. In addition, the male connector 14
1 is a non-waterproof type, usually the hood part 141
It does not have b. In this case, the locking arm 145 is exposed and may be damaged. Further, contacts cannot be provided in the space where the presser plate 133 and the locking arm 145 are provided. Therefore, it is difficult to miniaturize the connector. [0006] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an electrical connector in which a guide member returns to its original position when the male connector is removed after the male and female connectors are mated, and in particular, The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that has excellent performance and can be miniaturized. [00071

[Means for Solving the Problems] The electrical connector of the present invention includes a male connector, a female connector having an opening for receiving the male connector, and a female connector that slides into the opening in the direction of movement of the male connector. a guide member that is removably received and guides a contact projecting from the female connector into the opening, the guide member comprising:
having at least one elastic arm on the wall of the opening;
A first protrusion that comes into contact with the elastic arm to prevent the guide member from detaching from the female connector, and a second protrusion that temporarily fixes the guide member, and a wall surface of the male connector is provided with the elastic arm. It is characterized by providing a third protrusion that engages with the arm. [0008] [Operation] Before the male and female connectors are mated, the guide member is temporarily fixed by the second protrusion, and the first protrusion comes into contact with the elastic arm of the guide member, so that the guide member is detached from the female connector. is prevented from doing so. Next, when the male connector is inserted into the female connector, the resilient arms are deflected outward by the third protrusions, so that the guide member allows the male connector to be inserted while remaining in the temporarily fixed position. When the male connector is further inserted, the male connector facing surface of the guide member comes into contact with the male connector, so that after the elastic arm gets over the second protrusion, the guide member moves as the male connector moves. do. [0009] When the male connector is removed from the female connector, the elastic arm engages with the third protrusion and the guide member moves as the male connector moves. When the elastic arm comes into contact with the second protrusion, it is deflected inward by the second protrusion, and by climbing over the second protrusion, the guide member reaches the temporary fixing position. When the male connector is pulled out further, the elastic arm
Since the third protrusion makes contact with the protrusion and deflects the elastic arm outward, the male connector separates from the female connector while the guide member remains in the temporary fixing position. [00101

[Embodiments] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the female connector 20 that accommodates the guide member 30. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [0011] In FIG. 1, the electrical connector of the present invention includes:
A male connector 10 that accommodates and holds a female contact (not shown), and a female connector that accommodates and holds a male contact (not shown) and that accommodates a guide member 30 in an opening 22 that receives the male connector 10. type connector 20. The guide member 30 is provided with through holes 34 corresponding to the number of contacts in the plate portion 32, and the plate portion 32 is provided with through holes 34 corresponding to the number of contacts.
Elastic arms 36 are provided that extend substantially perpendicularly to the plate-like portion 32 from both ends of the plate-like portion 2 in the longitudinal direction. [0012] As shown in FIG. 2, in the female connector 20 before mating with the female connector 10, the guide member 30
is in the temporary position. In this temporary fixing position, as shown in FIG.
The end portion 40 of the elastic arm is sandwiched between the second protrusion 28 located inside. As a result, the guide member 30 does not separate from the female connector 20 and does not move inside the opening 22 (to the right in the figure) unless a male connector is inserted. This prevents the guide member 30 from moving inadvertently while the female connector 20 is being transported. Needless to say, in this temporary fixing position, the tips of the male contacts 60 housed and held in the female connector 20 are aligned with the through holes 34 of the guide member 30. [0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the male connector 10 at the beginning of insertion. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the insertion process of the male connector 10. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the fitted state of the male and female connectors 10°20. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views showing the process of removing the male connector 10. [0014] As shown in FIG. 4, when the male connector 10 is inserted into the opening 22 of the female connector 20, the third protrusion 12 provided on the wall of the male connector 10 engages the elastic arm of the guide member 30. Push the ends 40 of 36 outward. Since the angle α of the front slope 28a of the second projection 28 is larger than the angle β of the front slope 12a of the third projection 12, the end 40 of the elastic arm 36 is strongly engaged with the front slope of the second projection 28. do. Therefore, while the end 40 of the elastic arm 36 remains in the temporary fixing position, the third protrusion 12
0 and enters the groove 38. [0015] When the male connector 10 is further inserted, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the front end surface of the male connector 10 comes into contact with the opposing surface of the plate-shaped portion 32 of the guide member 30. At this time, the second
The front slope 28a of the projection 28 and the end 40 of the elastic arm 36 are disengaged, and the guide member 30 slides within the opening 22 as the male connector 10 moves. During this sliding, the male contacts 60 of the female connector 20 are accurately guided to the female contacts 70 of the male connector 10 by the through holes 34 of the guide member 30, so that both connectors 10.20 and both contacts 60.70 fit normally. [00161 When the female connector 10 is removed from the fitted state of both connectors 10 and 20, only the male connector 10 moves first, and the guide member 30 does not move. Third protrusion 1
2 comes into contact with the end 40 of the elastic arm 36, so that the guide member 30 starts sliding as the male connector 10 moves. Further, when the male connector 10 is moved, the end portion 40 of the elastic arm 36 comes into contact with the second protrusion 28 . As illustrated, the rear slope 12b of the third protrusion 12
The angle γ is larger than the angle δ of the rear slope 28b of the second protrusion 28. Therefore, the end 40 of the elastic arm 36
is more strongly engaged with the rear slope 12b of the third projection 12, so the elastic arm 36 slides along the end 40 or the rear slope 28b of the second projection 28 while deflecting inward, and the second projection 12 Get over 28. As a result, the guide member 30 reaches the temporary fixing position. [0017] Subsequently, when the male connector is removed,
An end 40 of the elastic arm 36 abuts the first protrusion 26 . Figure 8
As shown, the end face angle ε of the first protrusion 26 is
2, the end portion 40 of the elastic arm 36 strongly engages with the first protrusion 26. Therefore, the elastic arm 36 bends outward and the third
The protrusion 12 rides over the end 40 of the resilient arm 36. As a result, only the male connector 10 is detached from the female connector 20 while the guide member 30 remains in the temporary fixing position. [0018] Each protrusion 26.28 in this particular embodiment
．． The angles of the slopes 12 are preferably 60° for α and γ, 300° for β and δ, and 95° for ε, but may be changed as necessary. In addition, in this specific example, a single elastic arm was in contact with the first to third protrusions, but the vertical position of each protrusion is shifted, and three elastic arms corresponding to each protrusion are provided. Alternatively, two elastic arms may be provided. [0019] [Effects] According to the present invention, due to the cooperation of the three types of protrusions and the elastic arms, the guide member does not separate from the female connector when unmated and when the male connector is removed, and the guide member does not separate from the male connector. An electrical connector in which the guide member returns to its original position when the connector is removed can be realized. Furthermore, since the guide member does not have any exposed portion when accommodated in the opening of the female connector, there is no risk of damage. Further, since no particular space is required for the guide member to return to its original position when the male connector is removed, it is effective in downsizing the electrical connector. Furthermore, since the guide member has a shape that is relatively easy to mold, it is excellent in mass production.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the electrical connector of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a female connector housing a guide member.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the male connector at the beginning of insertion.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the insertion process of the male connector.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a fitted state of male and female connectors.

7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views similar to FIG. 3 showing the process of removing the male connector. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

10 and 11 are cross-sectional views of different conventional examples.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Male connector 12 Third protrusion 20 Female connector 22 Opening 26 First protrusion 28 Second protrusion 30 Guide member 36 Elastic arm 60 Contact

[Figure 7]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A male connector; a female connector having an opening for receiving the male connector; an electrical connector comprising a guide member that guides a contact protruding into an opening, the guide member having at least one elastic arm, and a wall surface of the opening that is in contact with the elastic arm and the female connector. A first protrusion for preventing the guide member from separating from the connector and a second protrusion for temporarily fixing the guide member are provided, and a third protrusion for engaging with the elastic arm is provided on the wall surface of the male connector. An electrical connector characterized by: