JPH04220972A - Locking device for electric connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the node sense of a locking pawl with the restoring force of flexible coupling part by interposing a coupling part having flexible elasticity between a lock arm and an outer frame. CONSTITUTION:In a lock arm of a connector having fulcrum at connector housing, a locking pawl to be detained with the mating connector housing is formed at one end of the lock arm, while the other end is arranged so as to work as an unlocking operating part, and coupling is made by a flexible coupling part energizing the locking pawl in the direction of forming with the mating connector between the locking pawl and fulcrum. Thereby the intended purpose is embodied.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector comprising a pair of male and female connectors, which is provided with a locking mechanism to prevent the electrical connector from being half-fitted.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional electrical connectors of this type have structures as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. That is, 1
1 is a female housing in which a plurality of male terminals (not shown) are mounted;
(not shown) is fitted into the male housing 2. Further, in order to maintain the fitted state between the male housing 2 and the female housing 1, a locking pawl 3 is integrally formed on the outer surface of the male housing 2. Further, a lock arm 5 having a lock claw 4 is integrally molded into the female housing 1. Further, the lock arm 5 has a fulcrum 6 at a substantially central portion thereof in the longitudinal direction, and an operating portion 7 at the opposite end of the lock arm 5 from the lock pawl 4 . Reference numeral 8 denotes a connecting portion for increasing the rigidity of the operating portion. Note that 9 indicates a waterproof packing interposed between the female housing 1 and the male housing 2.

In an electrical connector having such a structure, when the male housing 2 is inserted into the female housing 1 and the male housing 2 is completely fitted into the female housing 1, the restoring force of the lock arm is reduced. At this point, the lock 4 and the locking pawl 3 are locked, and both housings are fitted together.

0004

However, in a connector locking device having such a structure, a fulcrum 6 is provided at approximately the center of the lock arm 5, a lock claw 4 is provided at the tip of the fulcrum, and a lock arm 5 is provided at the other end. A connecting portion 8 is formed to increase the restoring force or rigidity of the locking portion 8, and the rigidity of this connecting portion 8 is expected to provide a sense of moderation when the locking pawl 4 is locked to the locking pawl 3. However, in this conventional structure, since the connecting portion 8 provided on the lock arm 5 is provided at the end opposite to the end having the lock claw 4, the lock claw 4 is The stiffness force (reaction force) of the connecting portion 8 that acts is:
The power is transmitted through the entire length of the lock arm, making it difficult to obtain a strong sense of moderation.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made by focusing on the problems of the conventional example, and provides a lock arm of a connector having a fulcrum on the connector housing, in which one end of the lock arm is connected to the mating connector housing. A flexible connecting part that forms a locking claw, has the other end as a lock release operation part, and further biases the locking claw in a direction to be locked with a mating connector between the locking claw and the fulcrum. It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking device for an electrical connector, which is connected to each other and can enhance the sense of moderation of the locking pawl by the restoring force of the flexible connecting portion.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be explained in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a male housing in which a female terminal 12 is mounted, and an outer frame 10 is provided on the outside of the male housing 11, and the male housing 11 and the outer frame are connected to each other at one end. The frame 10 is integrally connected.

Furthermore, this male housing 11 has a lock pawl 13 at one end similar to the conventional example, and an operating section 14 at the other end.
A lock arm 15 is integrally formed. Further, the lock arm 15 has a fulcrum 16 that is integral with the housing 11 at approximately the center in the longitudinal direction. Reference numeral 17 designates a flexible connecting portion of the lock arm 15 extending between the lock claw 13 and the fulcrum 16 and connected to the outer frame 10. A female housing 18 corresponds to the male housing 11, and a male terminal 19 is attached to the female housing 18. Further, on the outer surface of the male housing fitting portion of the female housing 18, a locking claw 20 that is engaged with the locking claw 13 of the lock arm 15 is provided in a protruding manner. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portions 17 are spaced apart from each other at two locations in the width direction of the lock arm 15 so as to sandwich the lock arm.

The above is the configuration of this embodiment.Next, its operation will be described.The male housing 11 is inserted into the female housing 18 having the above configuration, and the male housing 11 installed in both housings is The terminal 19 and the female terminal 12 are connected, but in the process of inserting the male housing 11 into the female housing 18, the lock pawl 13 formed at one end of the lock arm slips over the locking pawl 20. , and by fully inserting the female housing 18,
The lock pawl 13 is locked with the rear surface of the lock pawl 20, and
As shown in the figure, the locked state of the twin housings is maintained. In this embodiment, since the flexible and elastic connecting portion 17 is interposed between the lock arm 15 and the outer frame 10, the lock claw 13 of the lock arm 15 does not exceed the locking claw 20. When the locking claw 20 is engaged with the locking claw 20, the restoring force of the connecting portion 17 is added to the restoring force of the locking arm 15, so that the restoring force of the locking claw 13 is strengthened, and therefore, the restoring force of the locking claw 13 is enhanced. When the locking claw 20 is crossed, the feeling of moderation is strong, and when the male housing 11 and the female housing 18 are completely mated, a sufficient sense of moderation can be obtained, and it is easy to confirm when the mating of both housings is completed. It is possible.

0010

As described above, the present invention provides an electrical connector in which the male connector housing 11 is inserted into the female connector housing 18 so that the connectors 19 and 12 housed in these connector housings 18 and 11 are connected to each other. In the connector, an outer frame 10 is provided on the outside of the male connector housing 11, and a lock arm 15, which is positioned within the outer frame 10 and extends in the insertion direction of the male connector housing 18, is inserted into the substantially central portion of the lock arm 15 via a fulcrum 18. A lock claw 13 and a fulcrum 18 are connected and provided at the end of the lock arm 15.
and the outer frame 10 are connected by a flexible and elastic connecting part, and a locking claw 20 is provided on the outer wall of the female connector housing 18 to which the locking claw 13 is locked. This is a locking device for an electrical connector in which the other end of the locking arm 15 is formed on the operating portion 14 for releasing the locking, so that flexible elasticity is provided between the locking arm 15 and the outer frame 10. Since the connecting portion 17 is interposed, the lock claw 13 of the lock arm 15 is connected to the locking claw 20.
When the lock arm 15 crosses over and is locked with the locking claw 20, the restoring force of the connecting portion 17 is added to the restoring force of the lock arm 15, so that the restoring force of the lock claw 13 is enhanced. , Therefore, the sense of moderation when climbing over the locking pawl 20 is strong, and the male housing 11 and the female housing 18
It is possible to obtain a sufficient sense of fitting moderation when the fitting between the two housings is completed, and it is possible to easily confirm when the fitting of both housings is completed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an electrical connector locking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of a connecting portion.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the male housing.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10...Outer frame 11...Male housing 12...Female terminal 13...
Lock claw 14...operation part 15...
Lock arm 16...fulcrum
17... Connecting portion 18... Female housing 19... Male terminal 20... Locking claw

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A male connector housing (11) is inserted into a female connector housing (18), and connectors (19) and (12) housed in these connector housings (18) and (11) are connected to each other. In the electrical connector, the male connector housing (11
), and a lock arm (15) positioned within the outer frame (10) and extending in the insertion direction of the male connector housing (18) has an approximately central portion as a fulcrum (
18), and a flexible elastic member is connected between the outer frame (10) and the lock claw (13) provided at the end of the lock arm (15) and the fulcrum (18). a locking claw (20) connected to the outer wall of the female connector housing (18) by which the locking claw (13) is locked;
Furthermore, the locking device for an electrical connector is characterized in that the other end of the lock arm (15) is formed as an operating portion (14) for releasing the lock.