JPH09283220A - Lock mechanism for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely lock a housing to a counterpart housing without any play even if the housings are used in a state fixed respectively to a body to be fixed and a fixing body. SOLUTION: A first housing 1 having a terminal. containing hole 15 containing a terminal 16, therein is fixed to a body to be fixed 3. A second housing 2 containing a connecting terminal to be connected to the terminal 16 therein is fixed to a fixing body. Locking projections 18 are formed at the inner faces of side walls 12a, 13a of the first housing 1. Locking grooves 26 tightly engageable with the locking projections 18 are formed in a plurality of rows at the outer faces of side walls 22a, 23a of the second housing 2. When the fixing body is assembled to the body to be fixed 3, the locking projection 18 is tightly fitted into one of the locking grooves 26 while absorbing a fixing error, thereby preventing any play between the first housing 1 and the second housing 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector locking mechanism for fitting and coupling housings used in, for example, switches.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent miniaturization of electrical equipment, the housing of the other party provided in the electrical equipment and the housing coupled to the housing of the other party are also miniaturized. In this type of small-sized housing, it is impossible to adopt a lock mechanism for preventing disengagement by a locking projection and a locking arm, which are often used in a normal-sized housing. In many cases, a lock mechanism with one groove is used.

In many cases, a mating housing having a claw is mounted on a mounting body, a housing having a groove is mounted on a mounting body, and the housings are coupled to each other when the mounting body is assembled on the mounting body. In this case, the claw and the groove are required to absorb the assembly error between the mounting body and the mounted body so that they can engage with each other.

[0004]

However, when the groove is provided with a margin in order to absorb the assembly error, the claws move in the groove and the housings rattle each other, resulting in a loss of electrical connection. In addition, there is a problem that durability is impaired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a connector locking mechanism capable of locking housings without rattling.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, a connector locking mechanism according to the present invention has a claw-shaped locking projection formed on one housing in a connector in which housings are fitted and coupled together. However, the other housing is provided with lock grooves that engage with the lock projections in a double row continuously in the fitting direction.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector having a second housing 2 for coupling to a first housing 1 such as a switch, the first housing 1
Shows a part cut away. The first and second housings 1 and 2 are made of a synthetic resin material and are attached to the attached body 3 and an attachment body (not shown) respectively. When the attachment body is assembled to the attached body 3, The second housings 1 and 2 are connected to each other.

The first housing 1 includes a bottom wall 11 and a side wall 1.
2, 13 and the fitting hole 15 surrounded by the top wall 14 are provided, and the upper side walls 12a, 13a of the side walls 12, 13 are bulged outward. A guide surface 15a is formed at the entrance of the fitting hole 15 so that the second housing 2 can be easily fitted into the fitting hole 15. As shown in the horizontal sectional view of FIG. 2, a terminal 16 is housed in the upper part of the fitting hole 15, and the terminal 16 is connected to the connection terminal housed in the second housing 2. Then, the side walls 12a, 13
Claw-shaped locking projections 17 and 18 for locking the second housing 2 are provided on the inner surface of a, respectively.

On the other hand, when the second housing 2 is fitted into the fitting hole 15 of the first housing 1, the bottom wall 21, the side walls 12, 13 and the top wall 14 come into contact with the bottom wall 21, respectively.
It has side walls 22, 23 and a top wall 24. As shown in the horizontal sectional view of FIG. 3, a terminal housing hole 25 for housing a connection terminal connected to the terminal 16 is provided inside the second housing 2, and the guide surface 25 a is provided at the entrance of the terminal housing hole 25.
Are formed. Then, the side walls 22a and 23a corresponding to the side walls 12a and 13a of the first housing 1 are provided with locking grooves 26 and 27 into which the locking protrusions 17 and 18 of the first housing 1 are engaged, respectively. Is continuously formed in a double row.

Here, the locking projections 17 and 18 of the first housing 1 and the locking groove 26 of the second housing 2,
27 has a shape that does not cause rattling due to tight engagement. Further, when the attachment body is assembled to the attachment body 3, the locking protrusions 17 and 18 absorb the assembling error and can engage with one of the double-row locking grooves 26 and 27. Has become.

Therefore, when the mounting body is shallowly assembled to the mounted body 3, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are also shallowly coupled, and the first housing 1 is locked as shown in FIG. The projections 17 and 18 for the second housing 2
Front locking groove 26 in the locking grooves 26, 27
It tightly engages with a and 27a, respectively. Further, when the attachment body is deeply assembled to the attachment body 3, the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are also deeply coupled to each other as shown in FIG. , 18
Engage tightly with the locking grooves 26b, 27b in the rear part of the locking grooves 26, 27 of the second housing 2, respectively.

As described above, the first housing is provided in the second housing 2.
Since the locking grooves 26 and 27 for tightly engaging the locking protrusions 17 and 18 of the housing 1 are provided in a double row continuously in the engaging direction, the first housing 1 is attached to the mounted body 3, Even when the second housing 2 is attached to the attachment body, when the attachment body is assembled to the attachment body 3, the locking protrusions 17 and 18 of the first housing 1 are the double row locks of the second housing 2. It can be tightly engaged in one of the channels 26, 27.

Therefore, the locking projections 17 and 18 of the first housing 1 are arranged in the locking groove 2 of the second housing 2.
Since the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are prevented from rattling because they do not move in the parts 6 and 27, the electrical connection can be reliably retained and the durability can be improved.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the second embodiment. The upper and lower side walls 12a, 13a of the locking projections 17, 18 of the first embodiment have slits 31, one end of which is open.
32 is formed, and the portion where the locking projections 17 and 18 are formed between the slits 31 and 32 is a plate-shaped flexible portion 33.

The second embodiment can obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and in addition, when the first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are fitted and removed, the flexible portion is used. 33 bends outward as shown in FIG. 7, and the housings 1 and 2 can be easily inserted into and removed from each other.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the third embodiment. The upper and lower side walls 12a, 13a of the locking projections 17, 18 of the first embodiment have slits 34, 3 with both ends closed.
5 is formed, and a flexible portion 36 is formed between the slits 34 and 35.

In this third embodiment, the housings 1, 2 are
When fitting in and out of the same space, the flexible portion 36 bends outward as shown in FIG. 9, and the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

Although the locking projections 17 and 18 are provided in the first housing 1 and the locking grooves 26 and 27 are provided in the second housing 2, they may be provided in reverse. In this case, the slits 3 are formed above and below the locking grooves 26, 27.
1, 32 or slits 34, 35 will be provided.
Further, although the locking grooves 26 and 27 are provided in a part of the side walls 22a and 23a of the second housing 2, the side walls 22a and 23 are provided.
If it is provided in the entire area of a, the locking projections 17 and 18 can be reliably engaged with the locking grooves 26 and 27 even when the assembly error is large.

Further, although the housing is fixed to the mounting body in the embodiment, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the case where the housing is not fixed to the mounting body.

[0020]

As described above, in the connector locking mechanism according to the present invention, since the locking grooves are continuously provided in the double row in the fitting direction, the connector is mounted on one of the mounted body and the mounted body. , Even when the other housing is mounted on the other side, when the mounting body is assembled to the mounted body, it is necessary to absorb the assembly error and securely engage the locking projection of the other housing with the locking groove. You can

Further, since the locking groove is formed so that the locking projection of the housing on the other side closely engages, it is possible to prevent the locking projection from moving within the locking groove and eliminate rattling. It is possible to reliably maintain the electrical connection and improve the durability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment with a part cut away.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a mating housing.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a housing.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing a state in which housings are shallowly coupled to each other.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing a state where the housings are deeply coupled to each other.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Housing 3 Attached body 17, 18 Locking protrusion 26, 27 Locking groove 31, 32, 34, 35 Slit 33, 36 Flexible part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a connector in which housings are fitted to each other and coupled, a claw-shaped locking projection is formed on one housing, and a locking groove for engaging the locking projection is formed on the other housing in a fitting direction. The connector locking mechanism is characterized in that it is continuously provided in a double row. 2. The lock mechanism for a connector according to claim 1, wherein slits formed in the fitting direction are formed above and below the locking projection.