JPH0645275U - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To make it easy to disconnect the connector. A lever 17 is provided in a female connector housing 11, and an engaging pin 13 that engages with a cam groove 18 of the lever 17 is provided in a male connector housing 12 to provide a lever 17.
Both connectors are joined by the cam action of. The lever 17 is always biased by the return spring 20 in the "open position" direction, and the lever 17 is provided with a play area that allows the lever 17 to return from the "coupling position" to the "open position" side by a predetermined angle θ. With this, when the lock by the lever lock portion 24 is released, the lever 17 naturally becomes in the standing state, and therefore, it is possible to cause it by subsequently putting a finger on the lever 17.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an improvement of a lever-type connector in which a connector is coupled by a lever lever action.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 This type of connector has an advantage that it can be connected and disconnected with a small force, and is particularly applied to a multi-pole connector having 20 or more poles. The basic principle is to utilize the "levering action" of the lever. For example, the one known in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-627724 has the following structure.

As shown in FIG. 9, for example, a large number of male terminals are arranged in the inserted male connector housing 1, and a large number of female terminals are arranged in the female connector housing 2 on the inserted side. The male connector housing 1 on the inserted side is rotatably provided with a lever 3 having a cam groove 3a for performing a "levering action", and the female connector housing 2 side is engaged with a cover 4 to be covered there. Protrusions 4a are provided. When the connector housings 1 and 2 are connected, the engaging projection 4a of the cover 4 is engaged with the cam groove 3a of the lever 3 as shown in FIG. When the cover 4 is rotated and the female connector housing 2 is displaced toward the male connector housing 1 by the cam action of the cam groove 3a, both connectors are coupled. Further, generally, a lever locking mechanism for holding the lever 3 in the connecting position shown in FIG. 3D is provided so that the connected state can be surely held.

In this configuration, the cam groove 3a of the lever 3 is located at any angle at which the lever 3 is rotated from the open position ((B) in the figure) to the coupling position ((D) in the figure). Also has a smooth curve in which the curvature gradually changes depending on the angle so that a downward displacement force is exerted on the engagement protrusion 4a.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In this configuration, in order to disengage both connectors in the coupled state, the lever lock mechanism is first released to allow the rotation of the lever 3, and then the finger is put on the tip of the lever 3 to remove it. Perform the operation of causing.

However, such an operation does not automatically cause the lever 3 to stand up to a position where a finger can easily be put on even if the lever lock mechanism is unlocked. It must be possible to pry open lever 3 with the other hand while holding it with one hand, and it cannot be done with one hand at all. For this reason, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to perform the connector detaching operation after the connector is installed in a narrow device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lever-type connector capable of easily performing a detaching operation of the connector.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The lever-type connector of the present invention has a lever rotatably provided on one of the connectors to be coupled to each other and a cam receiving portion for engaging a cam portion formed on the lever on the other side, and Rotating from the open position toward the connecting position displaces both connectors in the direction in which they approach each other and connects both connectors, and is provided with a lever lock part that holds the lever at the connecting position. A return spring for urging the lever toward the opening position is provided, and the cam portion of the lever is provided with a play area that allows the lever to return from the coupling position to the opening position side by a predetermined angle. It has a feature when it is formed.

[0009]

[Action]

 When the lever is in the coupling position and both connectors are coupled, the lever is biased toward the open position by the return spring, but is held in the coupling position by the lever lock portion.

In this state, when the lever is disengaged from the lever lock portion, the return spring attempts to rotate the lever toward the open position. Here, in the case of the conventional lever-type connector, the shape of the cam groove 3a of the lever 3 is set so as to be a smooth curve that always applies downward displacement force to the engaging protrusion 4a. Even when 3 is near the coupling position, it is in engagement with the cam groove 3a, and even if it is urged toward the open position by the return spring, it does not return and rotate from the coupling position to the open position side.

On the other hand, according to the structure of the present invention, the cam portion of the lever is provided with the play area that allows the lever to return from the coupling position to the opening position side by a predetermined angle. When the engagement of the lever in the section is released, the lever is returned and rotated by a predetermined angle by the force of the return spring. As a result, the lever is in a slightly raised state, and it is easy to put a finger on the lever and raise the lever.

[0012]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the lever-type connector of the present invention, when the lock is released in the lever lock portion, the lever automatically returns and turns by a predetermined angle, and it is easy for a finger to be caught on the lever. It has an excellent effect that the detaching operation becomes extremely easy.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The overall configuration is as shown in FIG. A male connector housing 11 for mounting a male terminal (not shown) is shown on the right side of the figure, and a female connector housing 12 for mounting a female terminal (not shown) is shown on the left side.

The female connector housing 12 is large enough to be inserted into the male connector housing 11, and a pair of cam receiving pins 13, which are cam receiving portions, are laterally projected on both left and right sides thereof. (Only one shown).

On the other hand, a pair of guide grooves 15 are formed on both left and right sides of the male connector housing 11 so that the cam receiving pin 13 can enter the guide groove 15 when the male connector housing 11 is inserted. A pair of support shafts 16 are laterally projected on both left and right sides of the male connector housing 11 (only one is shown), and a lever 17 having a U-shape is rotatably supported here. As shown in FIG. 2, a cam groove 18 corresponding to a cam portion is formed on the back side of the lever 17 (connector housing 11 side), and the cam receiving pin 13 is inserted here when the male connector housing 11 is inserted. Can be combined. Although the shape of the cam groove 18 will be described in detail later, the cam groove 18 generally has an arc shape in which the curvature gradually changes, and the lever 17 has the "open position" shown in FIG. 1 to the "coupling position" shown in FIG. The cam receiving pin 13 and thus the female connector housing 12 are displaced by the "cam action" toward the insertion side into the male connector housing 11 as they are turned to, thereby coupling the two connectors.

A spring accommodating recessed portion 19 is formed on the back side of the lever 17 at a position where one of the support shafts 16 penetrates, and a return spring 20 formed by a “torsion coil spring” is housed therein. One end of the return spring 20 is housed in a locking groove 19a formed in series with the housing recess 19, and the other end is locked by a locking projection (not shown) formed on the side wall of the male connector housing 11. ing. Thus, the lever 17 is always urged by the return spring 20 toward the "open position" side.

As shown in FIG. 1, locking claws 22 are provided on the upper surface of the female connector housing 12 at positions sandwiched by the side walls 21 via elastic legs 23 (see FIG. 5). When the rear end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 5) of the locking claw 22 is pushed down, the elastic leg portion 23 is elastically deformed so that the tip of the locking claw 22 is lifted. A locking projection 24 that engages with the locking claw 22 is provided at an intermediate portion of the lever 17 to form a lever lock portion 25 that holds the lever 17 in the "coupling position". .

The cam groove 18 of the lever 17 has a shape shown in detail in FIG. That is, the cam groove 18 is configured to include a pair of inner side surfaces that are arcuate as a whole and are opposed to each other, and one inner side surface strongly contacts with the cam receiving pin 13 when the female connector housing 12 is inserted. 12 is displaced inward of the male connector housing 11 (hereinafter referred to as "insertion side cam surface 18A"), and the other inner surface of the female connector housing 12 is in strong contact with the cam receiving pin 13 when the female connector housing 12 is removed. Is displaced in the direction of coming out of the male connector housing 11 (hereinafter, this is referred to as "disengagement side cam surface 18B"). Further, in this embodiment, a portion of the release side cam surface 18B corresponding to the "open position" of the lever 17 (the insertion opening portion of the cam receiving pin 13) and a portion corresponding to the "coupling position" of the lever 17 ( The cam receiving pin 13 has a characteristic shape with respect to the innermost entrance portion), and the other portions have a continuous shape in which the curvature gradually changes. That is, at the portion corresponding to the "open position" of the lever 17, the disengagement side cam surface 18B is a flat portion 18B1. As a result, when the female connector housing 12 is simply inserted into the male connector housing 11, the cam receiving pin 13 comes into contact with the flat portion 18B1 to prevent further insertion. Further, in the portion corresponding to the "coupling position" of the lever 17, the disengagement side cam surface 18B has the same curvature in the area between the lever 17 and the position where the lever 17 returns to the "open position" side by the predetermined angle θ. It is the curved portion 18B2. Thus, the lever 17 is provided with a play area that allows the lever 17 to return from the “coupling position” to the “opening position” by the predetermined angle θ.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described for the case of disconnecting both connectors in the coupled state. Now, assume that both connectors are in the coupled state as shown in FIG. 6, and the lever 17 is held at the "coupled position" by the lever lock portion 25. Even in this case, the lever 17 is biased by the return spring 20 in the "open position" direction. However, due to the holding function of the lever lock portion 25, the lever 17 is in a state in which the lever 17 is prevented from rotating in the “open position” direction.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a thumb is put on the rear end portion of the locking claw 22 of the lever lock portion 25, and the thumb is pushed down. Then, the elastic leg portion 23 is flexibly deformed and the tip of the locking claw 22 is lifted, so that the locking claw 22 and the engaging projection 23 of the lever 17 are disengaged. As a result, in this embodiment, the lever 17 is constantly urged by the return spring 20 in the "open position" direction, and the lever 17 is returned from the "coupling position" to the "open position" by the predetermined angle θ. Since a play area for allowing the movement of the lever 17 is formed, the lever 17 immediately returns by the force of the return spring 20 by the angle θ 1 and rotates to stop, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the lever 17 is in a standing state as shown by the solid line in the figure, and a gap is formed between the lever 17 and the upper surface of the male connector housing 11, so that the finger can be easily put on the lever 17 even with one-handed operation. become able to. In this state, the disengagement side cam surface 18B of the cam groove 18 is in pressure contact with the cam receiving pin 13, and the frictional force between the male and female terminals acts in that state, so that the tip of the lever 17 is touched with a finger. When this is pulled and rotated, the cam receiving pin 13 of the male connector housing 11 is pushed up by the disengagement side cam surface 18B of the cam groove 18, and the cam receiving pin 13 is displaced to the "open position" side. The female connector housing 12 is pulled out from the male connector housing 11 while the male and female terminals are separated.

As described above, in order to disconnect the connector in this embodiment, first, the finger is put on the locking claw 22 and the lever 17 is unlocked, so that the lever 17 is naturally in the standing state. This can be triggered by putting a finger on the lever 17 of the. Therefore, even if the connector is placed in a narrow space inside the device, it can be detached and operated with one hand, and maintenance and other work becomes extremely easy.

When connecting the connectors, the male connector housing 11 is inserted into the female connector housing 12 and the lever 17 is rotated in the “connecting position” direction as in the conventional case, and the lever is finally connected. The locking projection 24 of 17 may be engaged with the locking claw 22. As a result, the cam receiving pin 13 is displaced by the cam groove 18 of the lever 17 and the female connector housing 12 reaches the "coupling position", so that the operability in coupling the connector is not impaired.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the following modifications can be made.

(A) In the above embodiment, the male connector housing 11 is provided with the lever 17 and the female connector housing 12 is provided with the cam receiving pin 13. However, conversely, the lever is provided in the female connector housing. The male connector housing may be provided with the cam receiving portion.

(B) In the above embodiment, the cam receiving pin 13 (cam receiving portion) is provided directly on the female connector housing 12, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is provided so as to cover the connector housing, for example. The cover may be provided with a cam receiving portion that engages with a cam groove of a lever provided on the other connector housing, and the cover or the connector housing may be displaced as the lever rotates.

[Submission date] December 15, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0002

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0002]

[Prior art]

This type of connector has an advantage that it can be connected and disconnected with a small force, and is particularly applied to a multi-pole connector having 20 or more poles. The basic principle is to utilize the "levering action" of the lever. For example, the one known in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-62772 has the following structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lever.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rotation process of a lever and a movement process of an engagement pin.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a lever lock portion.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view showing a connector in a coupled state.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a process of a detaching operation.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a process of a detaching operation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing a conventional lever-type connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Male connector housing 12 ... Female connector housing 13 ... Cam receiving pin (cam receiving portion) 17 ... Lever 18 ... Cam groove (cam portion) 20 ... Return spring 25 ... Lever lock portion

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A lever is rotatably provided on one of the connectors to be coupled to each other, and a cam receiving portion that engages with a cam portion formed on the lever is provided on the other side, and the lever is coupled from an open position. By rotating the connector toward the position, the connectors are displaced in a direction in which the connectors are brought close to each other to couple the connectors, and a lever lock portion for holding the lever in the coupled position is provided. A return spring for urging in the opening position direction is provided, and the cam portion of the lever is formed to have a play area that allows the lever to return from the coupling position to the opening position side by a predetermined angle. Lever type connector.