JPH06295767A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To connect connectors with a low insertion force and prevent joining work from being finished in an incomplete fitted state by installing a rotation shaft in one side of both first and second housings, a spring installed between the housing in which side the rotation shaft is installed and a rotation piece, and a latch means to engage both coupled housing. CONSTITUTION: Connectors comprise a first and a second housing 10, 20 which are mutually coupled, a rotation piece 30 installed in a recessed part 25, which is formed in the second housing 20, in freely rotatable manner, a spring 40 set between the housing 20 and the rotation piece 30, a latch means 12 to engage both coupled housings 10, 20. Consequently, at the time of coupling both housings, once both housings are put in intermediate-coupled state, the rotation piece 30 is rotated by the work of the spring 40 and coupling of both housings is completed. As a result, the coupling work of both housings are prevented from being incompletely finished while leaving both housings in incompletely coupled (half-fitted) state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector which is devised so as not to end the joining work in a halfway joined state (half fitting).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to prevent a half-fitting of a connector, conventionally, for example, the insertion force when inserting one connector into the other connector is reduced, or the force applied to the connector when inserting is doubled. A method for facilitating the connecting work itself of the connector by providing a mechanism, a method for visually checking the half-fitted state, or a method for electrically detecting the conductive state of the contact have been known.

[0003]

However, if the insertion force of the connector is reduced, the connector is more likely to be disengaged, and the force applied at the time of insertion is doubled or contact continuity is detected. However, the method of (1) has a problem that the structure is complicated, or special jigs and tools and measuring instruments are required.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional defects, and it is provided rotatably on one of the first and second housings, which are connected to each other. Provided is a connector including a rotating piece, a spring interposed between the one housing and the rotating piece, and a latch means for locking the two housings connected to each other.

[0005]

In the connector according to the present invention, when the two housings are joined together, after the two housings reach a predetermined intermediate joined state, the turning piece is turned by the action of the spring to complete the joining of the two housings. To work.

[0006]

1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 show the connector on the harness side, and FIG.
FIG. 4 shows the connector on the board side. 5 to 9 show a process of connecting both connectors (housings), and FIG. 10 shows the connector in a completely connected state.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a male housing. In this housing, the female contact 11 terminating the wire rod 60 penetrates the front surface of the housing and is mounted in a storage groove provided in multiple stages inside the housing at regular intervals. In the figure, reference numeral 12 is a latch groove that engages with a female engaging pin 31 described later. Details will be described later.

Next, in FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 20 designates a female housing. The female housing is provided with a cavity 22 for accommodating the male housing, and a large number of male contacts 21 penetrate the rear surface of the housing and project into the cavity. When the male and female housings are mated, the male contact connects with the female contact of the male housing within the cavity. The other end of the male contact is connected to the substrate.

In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a rotating piece 30 rotatably provided on the female housing. Further, 40 is a spring interposed between the rotating piece and the female housing. Specifically, the rotating piece is pivotally supported on the top surface of the female housing, and one end of the spring is fixed to the top surface of the housing and the other end is fixed to the rotating piece. Further, the rotating piece has an engaging pin 31 projecting downward from the bottom surface thereof, and protrudes into the cavity through a window hole 23 provided on the upper surface (wall surface forming the cavity) of the female housing.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the two housings are not joined together, as is apparent from FIG. 3, the rotating shaft of the rotating piece is located above the spring, so that the rotating piece moves in the clockwise direction. It is receiving the force to rotate. However, since the engagement pin is restricted from rotating by the window hole, the rotating piece is stationary in the state shown in FIG.

Both male and female housings require latching means to lock the housings together to maintain the connection after the final interconnection. In this embodiment, the engaging pin 31 provided on the rotating piece of the female housing is used.
And a latch groove 12 provided in the male housing.

Next, the connecting process of both connectors (housings) in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 5
Shows the first step of connecting both housings. In this process, the engaging pin of the turning piece only engages with the latch groove of the male housing, and the turning piece has not been turned yet.

When the male housing is further inserted into the female housing, the state shown in FIG. 6 is reached. In this state, the spring and the rotating shaft of the rotating piece are on the same line. With this state as a boundary, the spring contracts, and the rotating piece receives a force for rotating counterclockwise from the spring. Therefore, the following FIG.
After that, the rotating piece rotates counterclockwise without applying an external force to the housing.

When the rotating piece is rotated to reach the state shown in FIG. 7, the engaging pin engages with the bent portion of the latch groove, and both housings are latched together with the connection of the male and female contacts. At this time, it is also time for the male and female contacts to come into contact and start the connection. The connection of male and female contacts and the connection of both housings are completed in the state of FIG. 10 through FIG. 8 and FIG.

By the way, when both housings are in a separated state (reset state), but the rotating piece is in the position when the two housings are combined (set state) (the rotating piece is erroneously in the reset state). In the present embodiment, the engaging pin and the latch groove are in a non-engaging positional relationship when they have rotated to the state of FIG. 10. This means that if the rotating piece is erroneously rotated before the two connectors are joined together, they cannot be joined together, thus preventing erroneous insertion of the connectors.

11 to 29 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 shows a female connector (contact is female), and FIGS. 12 and 13 show a male connector (contact is male). 14 to 21 show a process of connecting both connectors (housings), and FIGS. 22 and 23 show the connector in a completely connected state. 24 to 29 show a process of separating both the joined connectors.

In FIG. 11, reference numeral 10 indicates a male housing. In this housing, the female contact 11 terminating the wire rod 60 penetrates the front surface of the housing and is mounted in a storage groove provided in multiple stages inside the housing at regular intervals.

In the figure, reference numeral 12 is a latch groove which engages with a female engaging pin 31 described later. Next, in FIGS. 12 and 13, reference numeral 20 denotes a female housing. The female housing is provided with a cavity 22 for accommodating the male housing, and a large number of male contacts 21 penetrate the rear surface of the housing and project into the cavity. When the male and female housings are mated, the male contact connects with the female contact of the male housing within the cavity. The other end of the male contact is connected to the substrate.

In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a rotating piece 30 rotatably provided on the female housing. Further, 40 is a spring interposed between the rotating piece and the female housing. Specifically, the rotating piece is pivotally supported on the top surface of the female housing, and one end of the spring is fixed to the top surface of the housing and the other end is fixed to the rotating piece. Further, the rotating piece has an engaging pin 31 projecting downward from the bottom surface thereof, and protrudes into the cavity through a window hole 23 provided on the upper surface (wall surface forming the cavity) of the female housing.

The rotating piece 30 further has a guide pin 32 projecting in the cavity through a guide groove 24 provided in the wall surface forming the cavity. When the male housing is inserted into the cavity, when the upper part of the front surface of the male housing pushes the guide pin protruding into the cavity, the guide pin slides in the guide groove, The rotating piece is rotated by.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the two housings are not joined together, as is apparent from FIG. 12, the rotating shaft of the rotating piece is located above the spring, so that the rotating piece moves in the clockwise direction. It is receiving the force to rotate. However, since the engaging pin is restricted from rotating by the window hole and the guide pin is restricted by the guide groove, the rotating piece is stationary in the state of FIG. Both male and female housings require latching means to lock the housings in order to hold the connection after the final interconnection is made. In this embodiment, the engaging pin 31 is provided on the rotating piece of the female housing, and the latch groove 12 is provided on the male housing.

Next, the connecting process of both connectors (housings) in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 show the first step of joining the two housings. In this process, the engaging pin of the turning piece only engages with the latch groove of the male housing, and the turning piece has not been turned yet.

Further, the male housing is inserted into the female housing. At this time, since the spring 40 expands in accordance with the rotation of the rotating piece, it is necessary to rotate the rotating piece against the acting force of the spring. Thus, the state of FIG. 16 is followed by the state of FIG. 17 and FIG. In this state, the spring and the rotary shaft of the rotating piece are on the same line (a predetermined intermediate coupling state). From this state, the spring contracts,
The rotating piece receives a force for rotating counterclockwise from the spring. Therefore, after the next FIG. 19, the rotating piece rotates counterclockwise without applying an external force to the housing. The states of FIGS. 17 and 18 are also when the male and female contacts make contact and start connection.

The rotating piece is rotated and the state shown in FIG.
When the state of 0 is reached, the engagement pin engages with the bent portion of the latch groove and latches both housings together with the connection of the male and female contacts. The connection of male and female contacts and the connection of both housings are completed in the state of FIGS. 22 and 23 through FIG.

In comparison with the first embodiment, in the case of the second embodiment, as will be understood by comparing FIG. 3 and FIG. 12 showing the state before coupling of the female housing, for example, the second embodiment In the embodiment, the position of the spring is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the connector, and in order to bring the turning piece into the same state as in FIG.
Therefore, it is necessary to rotate the rotating piece. This is the reason why the rotating pin is provided with the guide pin and is engaged with the guide groove of the housing in the second embodiment. That is, when the male housing is inserted into the female housing, the male housing first comes into contact with the guide pin inside the cavity. The turning piece is turned by sliding in the guide groove. Since it is necessary to apply a force from the outside in the initial state of the coupling, the rotating piece does not move carelessly, and it can be said that it is more stable than that in the first embodiment.

By the way, when both housings are in a separated state (reset state), but the rotating piece is in the position when both housings are combined (set state) (the rotating piece is erroneously in the reset state). In the present embodiment, the engaging pin and the latch groove are in a non-engaging positional relationship when they are rotated to the state of FIG. 10. This means that if the rotating piece is erroneously rotated before the two connectors are joined together, they cannot be joined together, thus preventing erroneous insertion of the connectors.

Next, in FIGS. 24 to 29, in order to separate the connected connectors, an operating member which can be operated from the outside is engaged with a projection 33 provided on a part of the rotating piece to move the rotating piece. The process of rotating both housings in the opposite direction to the case of fitting them is shown. At this time, the guide pin slides in the guide groove of the housing, whereby the rotating piece rotates.

FIG. 30 shows the distance from the fitting point (reference position of the connector at the time of completion of coupling), the insertion force of the connector and the female connector (male housing) in the coupling process of both connectors in the second embodiment. ) Is a picture of the relationship with the force received. 14, point 1 is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, point 2 is shown in FIG. 16, point 3 is shown in FIGS.
19, point 4 is shown in FIG. 19, point 5 is shown in FIG. 20, and point 6 is shown in FIG.
22 corresponds to FIG. 22 and FIG.

As is apparent from the figure, the insertion force of the connector becomes zero at the point 3, and before that, the force for inserting the connector from outside is required, whereas after that, the insertion force of the connector is minus, that is, outside. Insertion is completed and contact connection is completed only by the acting force of the spring, without requiring force from.

[0030]

According to the connector of the present invention, when the two housings are joined together, the turning piece is turned by the action of the spring after the two housings reach a predetermined intermediate joining state.
Since both housings are completely coupled and both housings are securely latched, a so-called half-fitted state can be prevented. The connector can be connected in one direction and only once, and no special jigs or tools are required. The contact can be set so that it does not contact until both housings reach a predetermined intermediate connection state (until the force to pull in the housing works), so there is the inconvenience that the contacts will come into contact in the half-fitted state. Can be removed. In addition, the insertion force when inserting one connector into the other connector is only required to apply the force required to reach the specified intermediate coupling state, so a low insertion force is required (from the outside, it is necessary to connect the contacts to each other). It is not necessary to add force).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view of a female connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the female connector of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of the male connector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the male connector of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway plan view of a female connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway plan view of a male connector according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the male connector of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the second embodiment.

15 is a side sectional view of the connector in the state of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a coupling process of the connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a connecting process of the connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a side sectional view of the connector in the state of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a connecting process of the connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway view for explaining the coupling process of the connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a connecting process of the connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a connecting process of the connector of the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a side sectional view of the connector in the state of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a process of separating the joined connectors according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a side sectional view of the connector in the state of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a partially cutaway view for explaining the process of separating the joined connectors according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a process of separating the joined connectors according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a process of separating the joined connectors according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a process of separating the joined connectors according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance from the reference position and the insertion force of the connector of the connector according to the present application.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 First Housing 11 Contact 12 Latch Means 20 Second Housing 21 Multiple Contacts 21 22 Cavity 23 Window Hole 24 Guide Groove 30 Rotating Piece 31 Engaging Pin 32 Guide Pin 33 Protrusion 40 Spring 50 External Operating Member

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first and a second housings 10, 20 that are coupled to each other, a turning piece 30 rotatably provided in a recess 25 formed in one of the housings, and the one housing. A spring 40 interposed between the rotating piece and
Latch means 12 for locking both coupled housings
The connector is characterized in that when the two housings are joined together, the turning piece is turned by the action of the spring to complete the joining of the two housings. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the turning piece is acted by the spring by an external force until the first housing and the second housing reach a predetermined intermediate coupling state. After both housings have reached the predetermined intermediate coupling state by rotating against the force, the mutual coupling of both housings is completed by the rotation of the rotating piece and the contacts 11 and 21 of both housings are completed. A connector characterized by being in contact with each other. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the rotating piece 30 has a guide pin 32, and the first housing 10 is inserted into the second housing when the first housing 10 is inserted into the second housing. A connector characterized in that a guide pin slides in a guide groove provided in the second housing, whereby the rotating piece rotates. 4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the spring 40 extends in accordance with the rotation of the rotating piece until both housings reach the predetermined intermediate coupling state, A connector which contracts when the predetermined connection state is exceeded. 5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotating piece has a releasing means that can be operated from the outside in order to release the locked state of both housings. connector. 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the releasing means is a protrusion 33 provided on a part of the rotating piece, and the rotating piece is operated by an external operation member 50 to attach the rotating piece to both housings. The connector is characterized in that the connector is rotated in a direction opposite to that in which the connector is fitted. 7. When the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and both housings are in a fitted state, the turning piece is turned in a direction opposite to a direction in which the two housings are fitted. And an operating member 50 for releasing the latched state of the latch means. 8. The connector assembly according to claim 7, wherein the operating member 50 engages with a protrusion 33 provided on a part of the rotating piece.