JPH04349376A - Connecting and disconnecting mechanism of male and female connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely keep the interconnection of a female connector and a male connector, and also to make the female connector easily removable from the male connector by small force. CONSTITUTION:End plates 3, 4 being juxtaposed with each other are provided respectively to the right-and-left sides of a male connector A, and then a pair of switching elements 9, 10 for connecting and disconnecting a female connector B from the male connector are jounaled rotatably between the juxtaposed end plates 3, 4. Each of the switching elements 9, 10 is provided with one of lower-part push-up fingers 7 for pushing up the right-and-left end parts of the female connector B on its lower face side so that the female connector may be disconnected from the male connector, and an upper-part engaging claw 6 which is engaged with one of the right-and-left shoulder parts of the female connector B on its upper-face side so as to keep the interconnection described above. Between each of the switching elements 9, 10 and each of the juxtaposed end-plates 3, 4 is provided a detent for braking the rotational movement of each of the switching elements 9, 10 between the engaged and disengaged positions of the switching element. Moreover, the connecting and disconnecting mechanism of the male and female connectors has such structure that the push-up starting-point of the lower-part push-up finger 7 is set to a position lower than a line whereby the axes 11 of both switching elements 9, 10 may be interconnected.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]The present invention provides a connector in which a group of female and male terminals are connected by coupling male and female connectors,
The present invention relates to a connector connection mechanism in which a male and female connector can be easily uncoupled by a lever action of an opening/closing element provided on the connector, and the connecting position of the male and female connectors can also be locked by the opening/closing element.

In the figure, A is a male connector, and B is a female connector. The male connector A is provided with a large number of male terminals 1 which are vertically inserted through the board portion 2, and the female connector B is the same as the male connector A. It has a number of female terminals (not shown) connected to the male terminals of the terminal. The male connector A has a pair of regulating plates A', A'' symmetrically installed on the left and right sides of the board portion 2. This pair of regulating plates A', A'' guides the female connector B inserted between them. , the opposite surfaces of the regulating plates A', A'' regulate the side surface of the female connector B, and the male terminal 1 and the female connector are inserted at an accurate position.

9 and 10 are the pair of left and right regulating plates A' and A.
A pair of left and right regulation plates A'.
, A" are end plates 3,
4, each switch 9, 10 is interposed between the side-by-side end plates 3, 4, and bears the shaft 11 on the side-by-side end plates. direction)
Close rotation and open rotation are allowed.

Each of the switches 9 and 10 has upper engaging claws 6 and 6 that project inwardly at the upper part, and the engagement claws 6 and 6 connect the two switches 9 and 10 to each other as shown in FIG. At the position where the female connector B is slid in the closing direction, it engages with the engagement receivers 13, 13 on both shoulders of the upper surface of the female connector B connected to the male connector A, and prevents the female connector B from coming out. The above-mentioned engagement is released at a position where the elements 9 and 10 are slid in the opening direction as shown in FIG. 4.

[0005] Also, there is provided a rotation preventing means for braking the rotation of the opening/closing members 9, 10 and displacing the upper engaging claws 6, 6 to the engagement position and the engagement release position. As an example of this, the parallel end plates 3, 4 constituting each of the regulating plates A', A'' are provided with engagement receiving parts such as protrusions 5, 5 on their respective opposing surfaces, and on the other hand, each of the switches 9, 10 Engagers such as protrusions 8, 8 are provided on both sides of the protrusions 8, 8. The protrusions 8, 8 are attached to the protrusions 5 by the force applied to the switches 9, 10.
, 5 can be displaced from the disengagement position to the engagement position of the upper engagement claws 6, 6 shown in FIG. The protrusions 8, 8 can be displaced to the disengaged position with resistance from the protrusions 5, 5, and when in the disengaged position as shown in FIG. 2, rotation to the engaged position is inhibited. and the upper engaging claws 6, 6
The upper engaging claw 6 is held in a position where it does not interfere with the female connector B to allow its normal insertion and insertion, and as shown in FIG.
, 6 and the engagement receiving portions 13, 13 of the female connector B are prevented from rotating to the engagement release position, and both opening/closing members 9, 1
Maintain the 0 engagement position normally.

As described above, the protrusions 8, 8 and the protrusions 5, 5 each inhibit rotation to each of the above positions by their braking action, and also prevent rotation to each of the above positions by a force that resists the braking action. It constitutes a detent that allows movement.

By providing a rotation preventing means for braking the rotation of both the opening/closing elements 9, 10, the engaging claws 6, 6 are released from the engaged position unless a force is applied to the opening/closing elements 9, 10. The displacement to the position is restrained, and even if there is some play in the engagement of the engaging claws 6, 6, the above-mentioned removal preventing action by the engaging claws 6, 6 is effectively maintained, and the female connector is similarly removed. The displacement from the disengaged position to the engaged position at the same time is inhibited, allowing the female connector B to be introduced smoothly and without any hindrance.

Each of the opening/closing members 9 and 10 has push-up fingers 7 and 7 constituting a female connector push-up action section that protrude downward from both ends of the lower surface of the female connector B on the inside of the lower part.
, 7 are in a push-up standby state below the female connector B in the position where the opening/closing elements 9, 10 are slid in the closing direction and brought into the engaged state as shown in FIG. In the position where it is slid in the opening direction and brought to the disengaged state, it abuts against the left and right ends of the lower surface of the female connector B, and due to its leverage, the female connector B is pushed up with a slight force, and the male connector A It is a mechanism to separate from the At this time, regulation plates A', A
” guides the removal of the female connector B well without tilting it.

As can be understood from the comparison between FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower push-up fingers 7, 7 can be opened and closed left and right when the upper engagement claws 6, 6 are engaged with the engagement receiving parts 13, 13. It waits below the imaginary straight line connecting the axes 11, 11 of the children 9, 10, and pushes up the female connector B while reaching substantially on the imaginary straight line. That is, the lower push-up fingers 7, 7 of the left and right opening/closing elements 9, 10
The starting point for pushing up the connector is the rotation axis 1 of the switches 9 and 10.
It is set at a position lower than the virtual straight line connecting 1 and 11.

When the rotation locus of the lower push-up fingers 7, 7 is drawn around the shafts 11, 11 as described above, the push-up fingers 7, 7 always move from just below the left and right ends of the lower surface of the connector B to the intersection with the virtual straight line. It moves on the circular arc trajectory towards which it is heading and gives a push-up effect. That is, both the push-up fingers 7, 7 are configured to push up the female connector B along a locus of movement in the biting direction with respect to the female connector B during the push-up process.

For example, a male connector having a large number of male terminals connected to a printed wiring board 14, etc., and a large number of conductive wires 12 are used.
It can be conveniently used as a connection mechanism with a female connector having a large number of female terminals.

Further, an opening stop means is provided for preventing the left and right opening/closing members 9, 10 from being reversed in the opening direction.

The drawings show preferred embodiments thereof. That is, a protrusion 16 is provided at the bottom of each switch 9, 10, and an abutting part 16' with the protrusion 16 is formed on the wall of the substrate portion of the male connector A that faces the bottom of the switch 9, 10. . At the abutting position between the abutting portion 16' and the protrusion 16, the left and right opening/closing elements 9,
The opening stop position 10 is determined, and a certain amount of rotation of the engaging claws 6, 6 from the disengaged position in the opening direction is ensured. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4, the left and right switches 9,
An appropriate amount of push-up of the female connector B by 10 is set. The required push-up amount is determined by the coupling depth between the male and female terminals.

When the open/close elements 9, 10 are completely reversed in the opening direction, the push-up fingers 7, 7 will be in an upward position, and if the female connector B is accidentally inserted forcibly without noticing this, the push-up fingers 7, 7 will be Connector B may become stuck and difficult to remove.
This causes the shafts 11 of the switches 9 and 10 to break, resulting in loss of functionality. The above opening stop reliably eliminates this drawback. The above-mentioned opening preventing means may be replaced by, for example, locking between a protrusion and a stepped portion, or a locking between a protrusion and a protrusion. The opening stop means is advantageous in terms of strength and has a simple structure.

Furthermore, means for closing the left and right opening/closing members 9 and 10 is provided. In the drawing, as a preferable example, the push-up fingers 7, 7 and the abutment part 15 formed by the wall of the base plate corresponding to the lower part of the push-up fingers constitute a closing means, and the abutment between the two makes the opening/closing member 9, 1 close.
0 is prevented from rotating deeper than the engagement position with the engagement receiving portions 13, 13 in the closing direction. This closing means effectively prevents the switches 9 and 10 from falling inward from the engagement position into the regulating plates A' and A'' when the female connector B is removed. , 10 from reversing in the closing direction.If the opening/closing members 9, 10 are reversed in the closing direction, it will be impossible to insert the female connector B, so this must be corrected or supported with fingers each time the female connector is inserted. In addition, if the female connector is inserted by mistake when the switches 9 and 10 are reversed in the closing direction, the switches 9 and 10 and the male terminal 1 may be damaged, and the switch may have to be restored. The above-mentioned closing means secures a fixed rotational position of the opening/closing members 9, 10 in the closing direction, guarantees trouble-free insertion of the female connector B, and eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In order to connect the male and female connectors, the left and right switches 9 and 1 are moved around the shaft 11 as a fulcrum, as shown in FIG.
When the connector 0 is slid in the opening direction, the waiting position is properly held by the opening stopper, and the engaging claws 6, 6 also move outward, making it easy to insert the female connector B into the male connector A. be able to. The left and right regulating plates A', A'' regulate both sides of this female connector B, and guide it well to the fully mated position in a normal posture without tilting it.Furthermore, the female connector B is fitted between the regulating plates. While being inserted, press down the push-up fingers 7, 7 on the lower surface, rotate the left and right opening/closing members 9, 10 in the closing direction, and rotate around the above-mentioned protrusions 8, 8 and protrusions 5, 5 at the fully inserted position. The upper engaging claws 6, 6 become engaged with the engaging receiving portions 13, 13 of the female connector B while receiving the stopping brake, and at the same time, the protrusions 8, 8 of the opening/closing members 9, 10 move inside the protrusions 5, 5. By engaging, the braking action secures the connection between the male and female connectors A and B, and prevents the female connector B from unnecessarily coming off from the male connector A.

Next, when detaching the female connector B from the male connector A, by forcibly rotating the switches 9 and 10 in the opening direction as shown in FIG. While resisting the braking, the upper engaging claws 6, 6 disengage from the engaging receiving portions 13, 13 of the female connector B and enter the disengaged state, and from the disengaged position, the switches 9, 10 further move in the opening direction. When rotated,
Since the lower push-up fingers 7, 7 push up the left and right ends of the lower surface of the female connector B by lever action, the female connector B can be easily pulled out from the male connector A.

As mentioned above, the opening stop means is the switch 9.
. In order to increase the bonding force between the male and female connectors and ensure the connection between the male and female connectors, the male and female terminals may be unnecessarily tightly coupled or an alternative coupling means may be provided, making it necessary to release the connection. In some cases, it is very difficult to remove it easily with your fingers.

As explained above, the present invention provides the switches 9 and 1.
By levering the lower push-up fingers 7, 7 of 0 in conjunction with the sliding operation of the pair of switches, the male and female connectors A, B can be easily separated with extremely slight force, and the switches 9, 1
The male and female connectors can be prevented from coming off by the upper engaging claws 6, 6 of 0, and the connected state can be ensured.

The opening/closing elements 9 and 10 are interposed between the side-by-side end plates 3 and 4, and the push-up fingers 7 and 7 extending from between them toward the lower surface of the female connector B push the lower left and right ends of the female connector B. It can be pushed up with equal pushing up force on the left and right sides, and uneven pushing up force does not occur.

The present invention further provides a position where the starting point of pushing up the female connector by the lower push-up fingers 7, 7 of the left and right switches 9, 10 is lower than the imaginary straight line connecting the rotation axes 11, 11 of the left and right switches 9, 10. Since the configuration is set so that the push-up fingers 7, 7
constantly moves on an arcuate trajectory from directly below the left and right ends of the lower surface of the connector B to the intersection with the virtual straight line to provide a pushing-up action. That is, both push-up fingers 7, 7 can push up the female connector B with a locus of movement in the biting direction, and when pushing up the connector B only with a locus of movement in the so-called escape direction beyond the imaginary straight line. In comparison, a sufficient amount of push-up can be secured.

Further, the tip of the push-up finger can generate a push-up force while moving from the push-up starting point in the biting direction (direction from the corner edge to the center on the bottom surface of the connector) on the left and right ends of the bottom surface of the connector. So push up finger 7
. , 7 and the corner edges of the left and right ends of the lower surface of the connector, the engagement can be reliably maintained without coming off, and the connector can be pushed up.

Further, according to the present invention, since the upper engaging pawl is configured to engage and release the engagement receiving portions on the left and right shoulders of the upper surface of the female connector, the engaged and disengaged states are the same as those of the female connector. It has the advantage that it can be easily confirmed from the top side, that is, from the direction in which the female connector is pushed in. Therefore, the completion of the connection of the female connector to the male connector can be accurately recognized visually, making it easier to insert and remove the female connector, and in addition, the female connector is compact. Contribute to

Furthermore, since the lower push-up fingers are configured to engage with the left and right ends of the lower surface corresponding to the left and right shoulders of the upper surface of the female connector to apply a pushing force thereto, the push-up starting point of the female connector can be opened and closed on the left and right sides. Coupled with the configuration and its effect, which is set at a position lower than the line connecting the above-mentioned rotational axes of the connector, the extremely narrow space at both ends of the male and female contact arrangement area of the female connector can be utilized to make it possible to To make it possible to reliably perform push-up while ensuring appropriate engagement and push-up amount of push-up fingers. Therefore, according to the present invention, the female connector can be engaged with the push-up finger by utilizing the narrow space at the left and right ends of the lower surface of the female connector, which is originally a dead space, without having to perform any special work on the female connector to engage the push-up finger. This has the advantage of not increasing the size.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a locking means for braking the rotation of both the switches 9 and 10.
, 10, the engagement claws 6, 6 are prevented from moving from the engagement position to the disengagement position.
Similarly, when the female connector is removed, the displacement from the disengaged position to the engaged position is prevented, allowing the female connector B to be introduced smoothly and without any hindrance.

Furthermore, since the opening/closing elements are rotated under braking with the resistance of the rotation stopper, this resistance accurately conveys to the fingertips that the opening/closing elements 9, 10 have been displaced to the disengagement position and the engagement position. ,
For example, even if the male and female connectors A and B are installed in a location that is difficult to see, the resistance applied to the fingertips will tell you that the switches 9 and 10 have engaged with the female connector B (the connection has been completed) and that the engagement has been released. It has the advantage that it can be easily detected by the change in feel, and the operating feel during use is also excellent.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a male connector.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional front view showing a state before the female connector is connected to the male connector.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional front view showing a state where the connection is completed.

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional front view showing the process of removing and removing the female connector from the male connector and the process of inserting the female connector into the male connector.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a portion of the male connector.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

A Male connector B
Female connector A', A'' Left and right regulating plate 1 Male terminal 2 Board 3, 4 Parallel end plate 5 Projection 6 Upper engaging claw 7
Lower push-up finger 8 Protrusion 9, 10 Opening/closing element 15 Lower push-up finger abutment portion 16, 1
6' Projection and its abutment

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A pair of regulation plates for regulating both sides of the female connector are erected on the left and right sides of the substrate part of the male connector in which the male terminals are implanted,
Each of the regulating plates is composed of two end plates arranged in parallel at intervals in the front and back, and a pair of left and right switches is interposed between each of the parallel end plates so as to be rotatable in opposite directions. The left and right opening/closing elements have upper engaging claws that are engaged with the female connector when the opening/closing element is rotated in the closing direction, and are disengaged when the opening/closing element is rotated in the opening direction. In the connector, the upper engagement claw is provided with lower push-up fingers that are placed in a push-up standby state when the switch is rotated in the closing direction, and push up the female connector when the switch is rotated in the opening direction. When the female connector is rotated in the closing direction, it is arranged so that it engages with the engagement receivers on the left and right shoulders of the upper surface of the female connector to form the engaged state, and the lower push-up finger is rotated in the opening direction. the female connector so as to push up the left and right ends of the lower surface of the female connector, and set the female connector push-up starting point of each push-up finger of the left and right switches to a position below the line connecting the rotation axes of the left and right switches. Further, a detent is provided between the left and right opening/closing elements and each of the side-by-side end plates for braking the rotation of the opening/closing element between the engagement position and the disengagement position of the upper engaging claw. Features a connection and release mechanism for female and male connectors.