JPH0590845U - Lever connector lock structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The connector is downsized by forming a mechanism that locks the lever at the mating end position with the least amount of protrusion from the outer surface of the housing. [Structure] While forming a locking claw at the tip of the lever, a locking arm having a central support portion protruding from the housing is integrally formed on the rotation track of the locking claw on the outer surface of the housing to which the lever is attached. At the position where the fitting of the connector is completed by the rotation operation, the lock claw at the tip of the lever swings the locking arm and engages with the lock claw formed at one end of the locking arm to lock the lever.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a lever-type connector locking mechanism, and more specifically, a locking mechanism for locking a lever at a position where a connector is fitted is made thin so that the amount of protrusion from the outer surface of the housing is reduced. Therefore, the connector can be suitably used for a vehicle wiring harness with a small connector installation space.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, when connecting a multi-pole connector such as 20 poles or more, a large coupling force is required. Therefore, it is possible to easily couple by applying a relatively small force using a lever that utilizes the lever principle. A lever type connector is provided.

In the above-mentioned lever type connector, as shown in FIG. 5, usually, a lever 3 is rotatably supported on the outer side wall of one male connector 1 by supporting shafts 4 and 4, and the other female connector 2 is also supported. Pins 5 and 5 which engage with the guide grooves 3a and 3a of the lever 3 are provided in a protruding manner, and when the lever 3 is rotated, the pins 5 and 5 are guided to the insertion side by the guide grooves 3a and 3a. The female connector 2 is connected to the male connector 1 with a small operation force.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The above-mentioned lever-type connector requires a lock mechanism that locks the lever at a position where the lever has been rotated to complete the fitting of the connector. Conventionally, the locking mechanism locks the lever by locking the locking projection provided on the outer surface of the housing with the locking recess formed on the lever in the past, but if the protruding amount of the locking projection is small, the locking mechanism is locked. Since the force is weak, it is necessary to increase the protrusion amount in order to obtain a strong locking force, in which case the outer shape of the housing becomes large.

In recent automobiles, there is not enough space for installing the connector, and the connector is required to be as small as possible. On the other hand, a stronger locking force than the current one is required. It is difficult to meet the above-mentioned demands with a locking mechanism including a stop projection and a locking recess.

Further, when a strong locking force is obtained by a method of increasing the protrusion amount of the locking projection, there is a drawback that a large operating force is required at the time of locking and a large load is applied to the lever.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, and the amount of protrusion of the lock mechanism from the outer surface of the housing is reduced to meet the demand for miniaturization of the connector and the lock side for locking the lever. It is possible to swing and reduce the operating force at the time of locking.

That is, according to the present invention, of the pair of the first connector and the second connector fitted to each other, the lever is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the housing of the first connector, while the lever is attached to the second connector. In a lever-type connector in which a pin that fits in the guide groove of the lever is projected and the lever is rotated to fit the first connector and the second connector, a lock claw is formed at the tip of the lever on the shaft support side. , A locking arm having a central support portion protruding from the housing is integrally formed on the rotation outer surface of the housing on which the lever is attached, on the rotation path of the lock claw, and the first connector and the second connector are fitted by rotating the lever. At the position where the locking is completed, the lock claw at the tip of the lever swings the locking arm and engages with the lock claw formed at one end of the locking arm to lock the lever. The present invention provides a lock structure for a lever-type connector configured to be locked.

Specifically, the housing of the first connector to which the lever is attached includes a hood having a fitting hole formed therein for inserting the second connector made of a female connector, and a male housing projecting from a rear end of the hood. The hood rotatably supports both sides of the U-shaped lever on both outer surfaces of the hood, and forms locking claws along the leading edge of the lever, while locking the both outer surfaces of the male housing portion. The arm is formed parallel to the outer surface of the male housing within the range that does not protrude from the outer surface of the hood, and the locking arm has a locking claw that engages with the locking claw of the lever. It is configured to be locked with the lock claw.

In addition, it is preferable that protective walls are provided so as to protrude from the outer surface of the housing at intervals on the upper and lower sides or the left and right sides of the locking arm.

[0011]

[Action]

 In the lever type connector with the above structure, when the lever is rotated to fit the connector, the tip of the lever pivot side approaches the tip of the locking arm at the end of fitting, and the lever lock claw While pushing up the locking arm, insert it into the inside of the locking claw of the locking arm, and the locking claws engage with each other.

[0012]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment. The first connector 10 is integrally formed with a hood 11 at the front part and a male housing 12 at the rear part. The hood 11 is set to be slightly larger than the male housing 12, and a second connector is provided in a fitting hole 13 therein. The female connector (not shown) of is inserted. The female connector housing and the male housing 12 are multipolar connectors having a terminal accommodating chamber into which a large number of terminals, such as 20 poles or more, are inserted, and the terminals inserted into these terminal accommodating chambers are connected to each other when the connectors are fitted. It

A U-shaped lever 15 is attached to the hood 11 of the first connector 10, and a support pin 11b protruding from both outer surfaces 11a of the hood 11 is formed on both sides 15a of the lever 15. The lever 15 is rotatably supported by being inserted into the hole 15b. Guide grooves 15c are formed on both sides of the lever 15, and by rotating the lever 15 in the direction of arrow X1 with the pin protruding from the female connector inserted in the guide groove 15, the female The connector is pulled into the hood 11 for fitting.

A lock claw 15 d is formed at the tip of the lever 15 on the shaft support side so as to project outward. The end position of the lock claw 15d on the rotational trajectory is located on the male housing 12 side, and the locking arm 18 is installed at the position of the male housing 12 with the central support portion 18a protruding from the male housing outer surface 12a. ..

The rocking arm 18 is provided with a rocking plate portion 18b that projects from the center support portion 18a to the front and rear sides, and the rocking plate portion 18b is set so as not to project outward from the hood 11. A lock claw 18c that protrudes inward is formed at the tip edge of the oscillating plate portion 18b on the hood 11 side. An outward projecting portion 18d is provided at the tip opposite to the lock claw 18c, and the lock can be easily released by pushing the projecting portion 18d when releasing the lock. The tip surface of the protrusion 18d is set so as not to protrude from the outer surface of the hood 11 as described above.

The locking claw 18 c of the locking arm 18 and the locking claw 15 d of the lever 15 each include an oscillating plate portion 18 b and an inclined surface 18 c-1, 15 d-1 protruding from the tip of the lever 15. Locking surfaces 18c-2 and 15d-2 are formed at right angles to the tips of the inclined surfaces 18c-1 and 15d-1.

Protective walls 19A and 19B are provided on the upper and lower sides of the locking arm 18 with a gap from the outer surface 12a of the male housing, and other members come into contact with the locking arm 18 to deform the locking arm 18. I try to prevent damage.

In the above-mentioned lever type connector, when the lever 15 is rotated to perform the connector coupling, the lock claw 15d formed at the tip of the lever 15 rotates in the direction of the arrow X2, and the lock claw 15d immediately before the fitting is completed. One end contacts the locking claw 18c at the tip of the locking arm 18. Further, when the lever 15 is rotated, the inclined surface 15d-1 of the lock claw 15d of the lever 15 pushes up the inclined surface 18c-1 of the lock claw 18c of the locking arm 18 without difficulty, and the locking arm 18 is moved to the central support portion 18a. It is rocked as a fulcrum, and the lock claw 15d is inserted inside 18c.

At the end of fitting of the connector, the lock claw 15d of the lever 15 is rotated 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 1, and is in a state of extending in the same vertical direction as the lock claw 18c of the locking arm 18, As shown in FIG. 2, the locking surface 15c-2 of the lock claw 15d is in close contact with the locking surface 18c-2 of the lock claw 18c. Therefore, the lever 15 is locked by the locking arm 18 with a strong locking force at the fitting end position.

When the lever is released from the locked state, when the protrusion 18d on the side opposite to the lock claw 18c is pushed, the lock claw 18c swings outward and is locked with the lock claw 15d of the lever 15. Can be solved easily.

In the above embodiment, the lock claws 15d are formed on both sides of the lever 15, and the locking arms 18 are formed on both outer surfaces of the male housing 12 so that the lever 15 is locked at two positions. With this structure, a strong locking force can be obtained. However, it goes without saying that the lever locking mechanism may be provided only on one side without providing it on both sides.

3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the outer surface of the tip end of the lever 15 'on the shaft support side is cut out to provide a thin portion 15f', and the locking claw 15d is provided on the thin portion 15f '. 'Is protruding. The lock claw 15d 'is formed in the vertical direction in the figure, and the direction of the lock claw is changed by 90 degrees as compared with the lock claw 15d in the first embodiment formed in the horizontal direction in FIG. ..

Therefore, the direction of the locking arm 18 'formed on the outer surface of the male housing 12' of the first connector 10 'is also changed by 90 degrees from that of the first embodiment, and the central support portion 18a' is moved laterally. The rocking plate portion 18b 'is projected so as to rock vertically in the figure, and a lock claw (not shown) for locking the lock claw 15d' is provided on the inner surface of the lower side.

Also in the second embodiment, when the connection of the connector is completed by the rotation operation of the lever 15 ', the lock claw 15d' engages with the lock claw of the locking arm 18 'to securely lock the lever 15'. You can

[0025]

[Effect of the device]

 As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the locking arm that locks the lever at the mating end position is provided on the rotation path of the lock claw formed at the tip of the lever. The rocking arm can be rocked with only a rotating operation to lock it with a light operating force. Also, when unlocking, you can easily unlock by pushing the other end of the locking arm.

Further, since the locking arm is formed so as not to project from the outer surface of the hood, the outer shape of the connector can be made as small as possible, so that the lever-type connector can be installed in a narrow space. Further, since it is not projected from the hood, the formability can be improved, and from this point, the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a locked state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a lever of the second embodiment is removed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional lever-type connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 1st connector 11 Hood 12 Male housing 13 Fitting hole 15 Lever 15c Guide groove 15d Lock claw 18 Locking arm 18a Central support part 18b Oscillating plate part 18c Lock claw 19A, 19B Protective wall

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A lever of a pair of a first connector and a second connector, which are fitted to each other, is rotatably supported on an outer surface of a housing of the first connector, and is fitted in a guide groove of the lever on a second connector. A lever-type connector in which a mating pin is provided in a protruding manner, and a lever is rotationally operated to fit a first connector and a second connector. A locking arm having a central supporting portion protruding from the housing is integrally formed on the rotation locus of the lock pawl, and the first operation is performed by rotating the lever.
At a position where the fitting of the connector and the second connector is completed, the lock claw at the tip of the lever swings the locking arm to engage with the lock claw formed at one end of the locking arm to lock the lever. Lever type connector lock structure.