JPH0517823Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention mainly relates to a connector structure used for connection in an electrical system.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as this type of connector structure, for example, a connector structure described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-129782 has been known. This device consists of a contact that is fitted onto the end of a wire and is removable from a mating terminal, and a connector housing that has a storage chamber that stores and holds the contact. To prevent this, an elastic locking piece is formed in the storage chamber, and a lock plate is inserted to prevent the locking piece from elastically deforming and coming off.

Furthermore, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-5014 describes a connection structure between a terminal at the end of an electric wire and a connector housing for holding the terminal. This device has a locking part formed in the connector housing that engages with a recess formed in the terminal, and a locking bar for inserting the locking bar on the opposite side of the recess across the locking part. An insertion hole is formed, and a locking bar inserted into the locking bar insertion hole is intended to prevent the locking portion from moving in a direction in which the engagement with the recess is released. This is intended to prevent the terminal from coming off from the connector housing.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, when the above-mentioned terminals are connected by fitting and connecting the male side connector housing holding the male side terminal and the female side connector housing holding the female side terminal. In some cases, the connector housings on the male and female sides appear to be mated together, but in reality they are only partially mated and the connection between the terminals is incomplete. This may cause the connector to become unable to conduct electricity, or the connector to come off due to a slight pulling force later.

Regarding this point, in the above-mentioned conventional connection structure between a terminal and a connector housing, if the locking bar can be inserted, it is considered to be in a fully fitted state, and conversely, if it cannot be inserted, it is considered to be in a partially fitted state. Therefore, it is conceivable to apply this conventional connection structure to the connection structure between the male and female connector housings. however,
Since the conventional connection structure described above is a connection structure between a terminal and a connector housing, it is difficult to apply this to a connection structure between male and female connector housings that each hold a terminal. The conventional connection structure has a drawback in that it is not possible to reliably confirm that the half-fitted state is established. That is, in the above conventional connection structure, the locking part hits the tip of the terminal and is bent toward the locking bar insertion hole, and the tip of the terminal passes through the locking part and engages with the recess. Since the locking portion is designed to restore its original shape, the locking bar insertion hole is not able to prevent insertion of the locking bar until the locking portion rides on the tip of the terminal and is bent. Become. Therefore, it is possible to confirm that the above-mentioned half-fitted state is only in the half-fitted state when the above-mentioned locking part stops at the position where it rests on the tip of the terminal, and the other half-fitted states can be confirmed. ,
For example, when the tip of the terminal hits the locking part and stops, the locking bar insertion hole is open and the locking bar can be inserted freely, so the fitting is complete. There is a risk of misidentification.

This invention was devised in view of these circumstances, and the check plate cannot be inserted unless the connector is completely mated, and the check plate can only be inserted when the connector is completely mated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure in which the state can be visually confirmed, and to prevent the occurrence of a half-fitted state, which is a half-fitted state of a connector.

(Means for Solving the Problem) In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in the claims for utility model registration is such that a male member and a female member facing each other are fitted into each other to lock them together. A check plate insertion passage is formed through one of the male member and the female member and extends in the direction in which they fit together, and the check plate insertion path is provided when confirming the fitted state of the male member and female member. The plate insertion passage is provided with a check plate inserted toward the other side of the male member and female member. The check plate is provided on one of the male member and the female member, and protrudes toward the check plate insertion path so as to prevent the check plate from being inserted before the male member and the female member are mated and in a semi-fit state. At the same time, an elastic control member that can be elastically deformed is provided at a position retracted from the check plate insertion passage. Further, a protrusion is provided on the other of the male member and the female member and elastically deforms so as to press the control member and withdraw it from the check plate insertion passage when the male member and the female member are fully fitted. establish. Further, a check plate is formed in the other of the male member and the female member so as to be continuous with the check plate insertion passage and open to the outside in the fully fitted state, and from the check plate insertion passage to the other side of the male member and the female member. A stopper portion is provided to stop the movement of the distal end portion of the check plate in the insertion direction, which protrudes from the side.

(Function) In the connector structure having the above configuration, when the male member and the female member are mated and connected, the control member in the check plate insertion path prevents the check plate from being inserted if the male member and the female member are in a half-fit state before mating. Since the check plate is in a state where it is blocked, even if an attempt is made to insert the check plate, the connector cannot be inserted, which confirms that the connector is in an incompletely fitted state. Further, when the connector is completely fitted, the protrusion presses the control member and the check plate insertion passage becomes open, allowing complete insertion of the check plate. By inserting the check plate, the distal end in the insertion direction is stopped by the stopper part, and the distal end of the check plate is exposed to the outside. By visually observing this,
It is confirmed that the connector is fully fitted.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. 1a, b and 2a, b show the connector structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1a is a perspective view showing the state of the connector 1 before mating, and FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the connector 1 in a fully fitted state, and Figure 2a is a perspective view of the connector 1.
FIG. 2b is a vertical cross-sectional view of the connector 1 after fitting. Figure 2 a, b
correspond to FIGS. 1a and 1b, respectively.

In the above drawings, the connector 1 is composed of a male member 2 and a female member 3 that fit into each other, and a check plate 4 that can be connected to and detached from the female member 3. This check plate 4 checks whether the connector is in a half-fitted state before mating, an incompletely mated state that is not a completely mated state, or a fully mated state. When the connector is fully mated, it also serves as a lock plate to maintain the connector in the fully mated state. That is, a convex portion 4b that protrudes upward is formed at the rear end position of the check plate 4, and this convex portion 4b is in a state where the male member 2 and female member 3 are fully fitted (see Fig. 2b).
In the state shown in FIG. 1), the lock arm 3c comes into contact with the rear end of the lock arm 3c, which will be described later, to prevent the lock arm 3c from moving in the direction of disengaging the protrusion 3d from the opening edge 2c of the male member 2. ing.

The upper surface of the female member 3 has a projection 3 on the center upper surface.
A lock arm 3c having a diameter d extends rearward from a front end position in the direction of fitting with the male member 2, and the check plate 4 is fitted between the lower surface of the lock arm 3c and the upper surface of the female member 3. A check plate insertion passage 3e for insertion forward in the mating direction is formed passing through the front end of the lock arm 3c. Facing this check plate insertion path 3e, the female members 3 at both ends in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction have rail grooves 3a for guiding the check plate 4 in the fitting direction.
are formed respectively. And the above protrusion 3
d engages with the opening edge 2c formed in the cylindrical portion 2d of the male member 2 when the male member 2 and the female member 3 are fully fitted, and the male member 2 and the female member 3 It is designed to prevent the two from separating from each other.

Further, the upper surface of the female member 3 facing the check plate insertion passage 3e has elasticity for preventing the check plate 4 from being inserted in the half-fitted state before the male member 2 and the female member 3 are fitted together. As a control member, a release bar 9 is formed in a cantilevered shape so as to protrude and extend forward in the fitting direction. At the protruding tip position of this release bar 9, there is a
That is, the hook portion 9 projects toward the side that closes the check plate insertion passage 3e and has an inclined surface on the front end surface.
a is formed, and this hook portion 9a comes into contact with the tip end portion 4a of the check plate 4 before it is fitted with the male member 2, that is, in an unloaded state, and the fitting of the check plate 4 is completed. It is designed to prevent movement forward in the opposite direction.

A stopper portion 6 is formed in the male member 2 so as to be continuous with the check plate insertion passage 3e and opened on the upper surface when the male member 2 is fully fitted with the female member 3 (the state shown in FIG. 2b). When the male member 2 and female member 3 are fully fitted, the check plate 4 is inserted into the check plate insertion passage 3e toward the male member 2, and its distal end 4a is inserted into the stopper portion 6. The distal end portion 4a is visible from the outside at the stopper portion 6.

Further, a protrusion 2a that protrudes toward the release bar 9 is formed on the distal end surface of the male member 2 at a position opposite to the release bar 9. The front end surface of the hook portion 9a is pressed to elastically deform the release bar 9 downward in the fully fitted state with the female member 3, and by bending the release bar 9, the above part of the check plate 4 is pressed. The movement prevention is released so that the distal end portion 4a can be inserted up to the stopper portion 6.

Of the electric wires 5, 5 on both sides to be connected, one electric wire 5 is connected to a male terminal 7 in the male member 2, and the other electric wire 5 is connected to a female terminal 8 in the female member 3. . Both terminals 7, 8
The male member 2 and the female member 3 are arranged and held so as to be connected to each other by facing each other and bringing them into a completely fitted state.

In the first embodiment with the above configuration, by fitting the male member 2 and the female member 3 while facing each other, the protrusion 3d of the lock arm 3c on the female member 3 side is aligned with the opening end edge on the male member 2 side. 2c to bring the male member 2 and female member 3 into a completely fitted state, and at the same time, the male terminal 7 and female terminal 8 are coupled. Since the release bar 9 is bent downward by the protrusion 2a in the completely fitted state, by inserting the check plate 4 into the check plate insertion passage 3e, the distal end 4a of the release bar 9 is bent downward.
is stopped by the stopper part 6, and the tip part 4a can be seen from the outside at the stopper part 6, and by visually observing the tip part 4a, it is possible to see that the male member 2 and the female member 3 are in a completely fitted state. It is possible to easily and reliably confirm that the male terminal 7 and the female terminal 8 are completely connected. At this time, red,
Visual confirmation can be easily performed by applying a color such as yellow.

During the above mating work, before the mating,
Even if an attempt is made to insert the check plate 4 into the check plate insertion passage 3e of the female member 3, the distal end 4 of the check plate 4 will not fit into the hook 9a of the release bar 9.
Since a is locked and insertion is prevented, it is possible to reliably determine whether the mating state is unmated or before mating. It is possible to reliably prevent procedural errors such as blocking.

In addition, even if the mating work is started, the lock arm 3
In the half-fitted state until the protrusion 3d of c engages with the opening edge 2c, the hook portion 9a of the release bar 9
continues to lock the distal end 4a of the check plate 4 to prevent further insertion until the male member 2 and female member 3 are fully fitted and a pressing force from the protrusion 2a is applied. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to insert the check plate 4 deep into the check plate insertion passage 3e, it cannot be inserted due to the above-mentioned blockage, and the rear end protrusion 4b of the check plate 4 remains in the rear position, and the stopper This means that the tip 4a of the check plate 4 cannot be visually observed from the portion 6. Thereby, it is possible to easily and reliably confirm that it is not a completely fitted state but a partially fitted state.

Further, in the completely fitted state, the elastic restoring force of the elastically deformed release bar 9 acts on the check plate 4, causing the check plate 4 to
In addition, since the rear end convex portion 4b of the check plate 4 prevents the lock arm 3c of the female member 3 from moving in the disengagement direction, the male member 2 and the female member 3 can be reliably maintained in a completely fitted state.

3 and 4 show the second embodiment, FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the connector 1 before mating, and FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the connector 1 before mating.
4 is a perspective view showing the state after mating, and FIGS.
b is a vertical sectional view corresponding to FIGS. 3a and 3b.

On this side, male member 2 and female member 3
Back plates 10 and 11 are attached to the outside of the cable to fix each electric wire 5 to which both male and female terminals 7 and 8 are attached so that they do not move or come off. Components common to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above are designated by the same reference numerals. Each back plate 10, 11 has an elastic locking piece 10a, 11a.
are provided and configured to fix the electric wires 5 by inserting them into the respective electric wire holes 5a. Side plates 10b are integrally formed on both sides of the back plate 10, and are inserted into arch-shaped locking portions 2b formed on the sides of the male member 2, so that the back plate 10
can be fixed to the male member 2. Also, the female member 3 has a locking portion 3b on the side thereof, so that the back plate 11 can be fixed to the female member 3. The back plate 11 and check plate 4 are integrally constructed.

One electric wire 5 is connected to a male terminal 7 in the male member 2.
, and the female member 2 is connected to the other electric wire 5 on the other side.
is connected to the female terminal 8, and the terminals 7 and 8 are configured to face each other so as to be coupled. The hook portion 9a of the release bar 9 is provided on the female member 3 as a control member for the check plate 4, as in the first embodiment.
Even if an attempt is made to insert the check plate 4 into the female member 3 before the connector is mated, the distal end 4a of the check plate 4 is locked by the hook 9a of the release bar 9, preventing insertion of the check plate. be done. After the connector 1 is fitted, the hook portion 9a of the release bar 9 comes into contact with the protrusion 2a of the male member 2 and is pushed down, so that the check plate 4 is completely inserted. At this time, when the check plate 4 is inserted, the side plate 11 of the back plate 11 is inserted.
b is locked in the locking part 3b of the female member 3, and the elastic locking piece 11a is inserted into the wire hole 5a, thereby,
The electric wire 5 attachment part can be fixed in one step. Connector 1
When the fitting is complete, the tip 4a of the check plate 4 can be inserted up to the stopper 6, and the tip 4a stopped by the stopper 6 can be seen from the outside, indicating that the check plate 4 is completely fitted. This allows you to confirm that the system is in the correct state. In this stopper part 6, if the upper surface of the tip part 4a is colored red, yellow, etc.,
This is similar to the example shown in FIG. 1, such that it is possible to easily visually confirm whether the connector 1 is in a fully fitted state.

In the above embodiment, the check plate 4 is inserted into the rail groove 3a of the female member 3, but the check plate 4 can be inserted into the male member 2. By checking the matching state, it is possible to obtain the same effects as in each of the above embodiments.

(Effect of the invention) When the male member and the female member are fitted and connected, when the male member and the female member are in a half-fitted state before they are fitted, the control member in the check plate insertion path is in a state that prevents the check plate from being inserted. Therefore, even if an attempt is made to insert the check plate into the check plate insertion passage, it is not possible to insert the check plate, so that it can be easily and reliably confirmed that the connector is in an incompletely fitted state. Therefore, by additional mating work, the male member and female member can be brought into a fully mated state, and this prevents the connector from coming off due to vibrations, etc. that may occur if the male member and female member are left in a partially mated state. It can be prevented.

Furthermore, when the connector is completely fitted, the protrusion presses the control member and the check plate insertion passage becomes open, so that the check plate can be completely inserted, and the distal end in the insertion direction It can be stopped at a stopper part and exposed to the outside from this stopper part.
Therefore, by visually checking the tip end from the stopper part, it is possible to easily and reliably confirm that the connector is in the fully fitted state.

Furthermore, in this fully fitted state, the check plate receives a restoring force from the control member due to its elastic deformation and is prevented from being pulled out, so the check plate is maintained in a state where it can be visually checked from the stopper part. can do.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1a is a perspective view showing the state of the connector before mating, and Fig. 1b
2 is a perspective view of the connector in a mated state, FIGS. 2a and 2b are vertical cross-sectional views of the connector corresponding to FIGS.
Figures a and b are perspective views of connectors showing other embodiments before and after mating, Figures 4 a and b are Figure 3 a,
FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Connector, 2...Male member, 2a...Protrusion, 3...Female member, 3e...Check plate insertion path, 4...Check plate, 4a...Check plate insertion direction tip, 6... Stopper part, 9...Release bar (control member).

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] In a connector structure in which a male member and a female member facing each other are fitted together to lock them together, the connector is formed to penetrate through one of the male member and the female member. a check plate insertion passage extending in the direction in which the male member and the female member fit together; and a check plate inserted into the check plate insertion passage toward the other side of the male member and the female member when confirming the fitted state of the male member and the female member. a plate, and a check plate provided on one of the male member and the female member on the side of the check plate insertion path so as to prevent the check plate from being inserted in each state before the male member and the female member are mated and in a half-fit state. a control member that protrudes and is elastically deformable to a position retracted from the check plate insertion path; and a control member that is provided on the other of the male member and the female member so that the male member and the female member are in a fully fitted state. a protrusion that elastically deforms the control member so as to press it and withdraw it from the check plate insertion passage; A connector structure comprising: a stopper portion that is formed in an open state and that stops movement of a distal end portion in the insertion direction of the check plate that protrudes from the check plate insertion path to the other side of the male member and the female member. .