JPH10270118A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the waterproof performance of a fitting detection connector. SOLUTION: Whether female and male housings 1, 2 are normally fitted or not, is detected by an external circuit which detects whether a short-circuit terminal 19 interlocking with the deflecting operation of a lock arm 10 shorts one pair of detection terminals 7 provided on the housing 1 or not. The operation side of the lock arm 10 and a short-circuit terminal 19 are covered by a rubber-made seal cover 24 so that the same can be operated from outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a connector provided with a fitting detection terminal for electrically detecting whether or not a male and female connector is properly fitted. For example, one connector housing is provided with a pair of detection terminals, and the other connector housing is a short-circuit terminal that contacts the two detection terminals and short-circuits them when the two connector housings are properly fitted. This is a structure provided with a lock arm that locks the housing in a fitted state. Specifically, utilizing the fact that the lock arm bends and deforms while the two connector housings are mating, the short-circuit terminal is deformed so as to retract from the detection terminal in conjunction with the bending operation of the lock arm, and conversely. The return operation of the lock arm at the time of normal fitting is used to return the short-circuit terminal to short-circuit the detection terminal, thereby exhibiting the fitting detection function.

[0003]

However, in a connector of the type in which the engagement is detected by utilizing the bending operation of the lock arm, the structure tends to be open because the lock arm needs to be operated from the outside. Such a structure can be said to be unsuitable for places where waterproofing is required, but at present, there is nothing that can reliably meet the demand for waterproofing in this type of fitting detection structure. It was the current situation.

[0004] The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mating detection connector having a waterproof function.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when one of the male and female connector housings is mated with the other connector housing when the two connector housings are properly fitted. An engaging elastically deformable lock arm and a short-circuit terminal interlocking with the bending operation of the lock arm are provided, and the other connector housing is interlocked with the return operation of the lock arm when both connector housings are properly fitted. A connector provided with a detection terminal that comes into contact with the short-circuit terminal, wherein the one connector housing has a seal covering a distal end portion thereof and the short-circuit terminal while allowing a bending operation of the lock arm. A cover is attached.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the one connector housing is provided with a mounting portion for the seal cover so as to surround a distal end side of the lock arm. It is characterized by having.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lock arm and the short-circuit terminal are covered with the seal cover, and the inside becomes a waterproof space, so that water can be prevented from entering the inside. Further, since the seal cover does not hinder the bending operation of the lock arm, the fitting detection function is not impaired.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the mounting portion is protruded, the fitting margin of the seal cover has a fixed size.
As a result, the state of attachment of the seal cover is improved.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. -Embodiment 1- The female connector is shown on the right side of FIG. 2, and the male connector is shown on the left side. First, a male connector will be described. The male connector has a male housing 1 made of a synthetic resin, and a flange edge 4 for mounting projects on the outer surface thereof. It can be attached to the computer unit U. The male housing 1 is formed so as to be able to fit in the fitting space 5 of the female connector. A plurality of male terminal fittings 3 (not shown) are mounted in the inside. One end of each male terminal fitting 3 protrudes from the rear surface of the male housing 1 and is bent downward. The distal end is connected to the circuit board C, and the other end is arranged in the male housing 1 in parallel. I have.

In the male housing 1, a protection piece 6 is horizontally protruded from the rear wall to the opening surface.
A pair of detection terminals 7 (a pair on the front side and the back side in FIG. 1) are provided at a predetermined interval on the lower surface of the protection piece 6,
Each of them is led out of the male housing 1 in the same manner as the other male terminal fittings 3 and connected to the circuit board C in the same manner.

Further, an engaging projection 8 is provided in the male housing 1 above the protection piece 6 so as to extend in parallel therewith.
Is formed with a length from the back wall to the opening surface. An engagement projection 9 protrudes from the lower surface of the engagement projection 8, and when the male and female connectors are fitted, the lock arm 10 is pushed down. When the connector is fitted to the female connector, it is elastically engaged with the lock claw 18 of the lock arm 10 on the female connector side, so that the fitted state of the connectors can be maintained.

Next, the female connector will be described. Like the male connector, the female connector has a female housing 2 made of synthetic resin, and its outer peripheral wall has a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 11 capable of receiving the male housing 1. Has become. Further, inside the hood portion 11, a terminal accommodating portion 12 and a detection chamber 13 described later are provided.
Are formed, and a plurality of cavities 14 corresponding to the male terminal fittings 3 are formed in the terminal accommodating portion 12 along the front-rear direction. Female terminals (not shown) for each cavity 14
Are mounted, each of which is elastically locked by a lance which can be deformed and deformed, so that when the male and female housings 1 and 2 are properly fitted, the male and female terminal fittings are electrically connected. The outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 12 forms an annular fitting space 5 into which the male housing 1 can enter between the terminal housing portion 12 and the hood portion 11, and a seal ring 16
Is fitted. And in front of it, retainer 1
7 is provided to prevent the seal ring 16 from being pulled out when the male housing 1 is pulled out of the female housing 2, and a part of the seal ring 16 enters the above-described bending area of the lance, whereby the lance is bent. , Thereby strengthening prevention of the female terminal fitting from coming off. In addition,
A seal rubber plug (not shown) is fitted to the electric wire connected to each female terminal fitting so as to ensure the sealing performance of each cavity 14 on the electric wire insertion side.

A detection chamber 13 for accommodating the lock arm 10 and the short-circuit terminal is formed inside the terminal accommodating portion 12 (in the illustrated example, at the center).
3 is formed so as to penetrate the female housing 2 back and forth.

The lock arm 10 is formed in the shape of a cantilever extending horizontally rearward from the fitting surface side of the female housing 2 as a starting end, and is capable of bending in the vertical direction in the figure. However, in order to prevent interference between the protective piece 6 and the detection terminal 7 during the process of fitting the male and female housings 1 and 2, the lock arm 1 is used.
The starting portion of 0 is branched in a bifurcated manner so that the protective piece 6 and the like pass therethrough. A lock claw 18 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the lock arm 10 so as to protrude therefrom. When the lock arm 10 returns at the time of the engagement, the engagement with the lock hole 9A is made.

The short-circuit terminal 19 is arranged below the lock arm 10. The short-circuit terminal 19 has an installation piece 20 on the lower surface, and is folded in a forked shape from the front edge to form a pair of flexible pieces 21 having spring properties. And
The whole of the short-circuit terminal 19 corresponds to the folded portion of the front edge thereof in the detection chamber 1.
3 is pressed into the corresponding wall surface to prevent it from falling off. Further, the rear ends of the two bending pieces 21 are bent so as to protrude upward in a mountain shape to form a connecting projection 22 for responding to the bending operation of the lock arm 10. The protruding portions 22 are bridged at their tips. Further, a pair of contact portions 23 are formed on the upper surface of both bending pieces 21 on the front side of the connecting protrusion 22 so as to be in contact with both detection terminals 7 only when both housings are properly fitted. It becomes possible to detect that both housings are properly fitted by short-circuiting both detection terminals 7.

The distal end of the lock arm 10 projects outside the female housing 2 from the rear opening surface of the detection chamber 13 and serves as an operating end for unlocking. On the other hand, the opening surface of the detection chamber 13 including the operation end portion is covered with a seal cover 24 made of rubber (preferably having heat resistance and corrosion resistance depending on the use environment). For this purpose, the opening edge of the detection chamber 13 projects outward and along the entire circumference to form a mounting edge 25. Further, in the illustrated one, the mounting edge 25 has a hook-shaped cross section, and the mounting edge of the seal cover 24 is fitted in a press-fitting manner and is hooked over the entire circumference, thereby making it difficult to come off. I'm trying. Further, in the present embodiment,
An adhesive is applied to the mounting edge 25 to enhance the fixing force and realize the watertightness of the seal cover 24. Furthermore, the seal cover 24 has good flexibility, and the pressing operation of the lock arm 10 can be indirectly performed from the surface thereof.

Embodiment 1 is configured as described above. Explaining the operation, when fitting both connectors, first, the tip of the male housing 1 is made to enter the fitting space 5 of the female housing 2. In this fitting process, as shown in FIG. 2, the engaging projection 9 of the male connector comes into contact with the lock claw 18 of the lock arm 10, so that the lock arm 10 bends and deforms in the direction in which it is pushed down. In conjunction with this, since the connecting projection 22 of the short-circuit terminal 19 is pushed,
Both bending pieces 21 bend downward. Therefore, in this state, since both contact portions 23 are also displaced downward, there is no contact with the detection terminal 7.

When the fitting of the two housings progresses to the normal fitting state, the lock claw 18 gets over the engaging projection 9.
Then, the lock arm 10 returns to the original state by its own elastic force. As a result, the connecting projection 22 is released from its pressed state, so that the two bending pieces 21 also return due to their own elasticity, the contact portion 23 comes into contact with the two detection terminals 7, and the two detection terminals 7 are short-circuited, This is detected by an external circuit, and it is electrically detected that both housings are properly fitted. However, if the fitting operation is stopped halfway without the two housings being properly fitted, since the bending piece 21 is kept pressed down together with the lock arm 10, the two detection terminals 7 are not short-circuited. The half-fitted state can be reliably detected.

Incidentally, a sealed state is secured between the two housings by a seal ring 16, and each cavity 14 is secured by a seal rubber plug. In addition, the detection chamber 13 is covered with a sea cover, so that intrusion of water from here is surely avoided. Therefore, it is suitable for use in places where high waterproofness is required. Moreover, when the seal cover 24 is mounted, the mounting edge is extended in a flange shape, so that the protruding length is secured as a mounting margin, so that a stable mounting state can be realized.

Further, in this embodiment, although the entire lock arm 10 is covered with the seal cover 24, the lock arm 10 can be operated from above, so that the lock release function is not impaired yet. Both housings can be easily separated. Embodiment 2 FIGS. 4 to 7 show Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the type of the lock arm 50 is changed, and therefore, only the short-circuit terminal 19 is accommodated in the detection chamber. On the other hand, the male connector is the same as that of the first embodiment except that an engaging projection 55 that engages with the lock arm 50 is formed on the upper surface of the male housing 1. And the description is omitted.

The female housing 51 has a terminal accommodating portion 52, in which a plurality of cavities 53 accommodating a number of female terminal fittings (not shown) corresponding to the male terminal fittings 3 respectively penetrate in the front-rear direction. It is formed. A female terminal fitting (not shown) connected to an electric wire is inserted into each cavity 53, and each is elastically locked by a flexible deformable lance 54 formed in each cavity 53. The male and female terminal fittings are electrically connected when 51 is properly fitted. The rear end side of each cavity 53 communicates with a sealing cylinder 56 projecting cylindrically from the rear surface of the female housing 51. Each sealing cylinder 56 is fitted with an electric wire connected to a female terminal fitting. Watertightness is ensured by a sealing rubber stopper (not shown) attached.

On the other hand, a rectangular cylindrical hood portion 57 is formed on the front side (the side facing the male housing) of the female housing 51 so as to cover the terminal accommodating portion 52.
A fitting space 58 into which the male housing 11 fits is formed between the hood portion 57 and the terminal accommodating portion 52. Further, a rubber seal ring 16 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 52 so as to ensure the sealing performance at the fitting portion between the two housings 1 and 51 when the male housing 1 is fitted. I have. In addition, seal ring 1
Embodiment 6 is different from Embodiment 1 in that a retainer 17 is disposed in front of the sixth embodiment.
The same effects are obtained.

In the first embodiment, the lock arm 50 is housed in the detection chamber formed inside the housing 2, whereas in the second embodiment, the lock arm 50 is formed on the upper surface of the female housing 51.

That is, a pair of outer protection walls 59 are provided upright along the front-rear direction at the center of the upper surface of the female housing 51. The front ends of the outer protective walls 59 are connected to each other by a connecting piece 60, and the lower side thereof is open so that the engaging projection 8 on the male housing 1 side can pass therethrough. Further, the outer protective wall 59 is formed from the upper surface to the rear surface of the female housing 51, and the portion provided on the rear surface is higher than the extension wall 6 provided on the upper surface.
It is 1. A support piece 62 is provided upright on the upper surface of the female housing 51 and between the outer protection walls 59. The support piece 62 is provided with a lock arm 50. Slits 63 are interposed between the support piece 62 and both outer protection walls 59 so that the lock arm 50 can bend and deform. .

That is, since the lock arm 50 is supported at a substantially central position by the support piece 62, the lock arm 50 can be bent and deformed in a seesaw shape around the support piece 62.
That is, the rear side of the lock arm 50 from the support piece 62 is the operation side, and the front side is the lock side. And
A lock hole 64 is opened at the tip on the lock side, and when the male and female housings 1 are properly fitted, the male housing 1 is closed.
With the engagement protrusion 55 on the side. Further, a stopper 65 protrudes left and right so that the operation side is not excessively bent.

On the other hand, a detection chamber 66 for accommodating the short-circuit terminal 19 is formed below the portion of the terminal accommodating portion 52 where the lock arm 50 is provided, penetrating in the front-rear direction. When the housing 1 is fitted, the detection terminal 7 and the protection piece 6 on the male housing 1 are allowed to enter.

An inner protective wall 67 is provided on the rear surface of the female housing 51 between the two extension walls 61. The inner protective wall 67 has a substantially U-shape that opens upward and backward, is formed slightly lower and slightly shorter than the outer protective wall 59, and the inside thereof communicates with the detection chamber 66. Furthermore, although the upper edge of the inner protective wall 67 is located along the height of the lock arm 50,
A portion corresponding to the stopper portion 65 is cut out in a step-like shape to form a step edge 68, which comes into contact with the stopper portion 65 to restrict the lock arm 50 from being operated beyond a predetermined bending angle. ing.

The short-circuit terminal 19 is accommodated in the detection chamber 66,
The structure itself and the fixing method are the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the connecting projection 22 is located slightly below the operation end side of the lock arm 50, and in the process of fitting the two housings, the two bending pieces 21 bend in conjunction with each other due to the bending operation of the lock arm 50. Although the contact portion 23 is not in contact with the detection terminal 7, the contact portion 23 causes the detection terminal 7 to be short-circuited by the return operation of the bending piece 21 when both housings are properly fitted.

Further, a seal cover 69 made of rubber (preferably having heat resistance and corrosion resistance depending on the use environment as in the first embodiment) is attached to the inner protective wall 67 by an adhesive so as to cover the entirety. Have been. The seal cover 69 has a box shape with one surface opened, and is fitted into the inner protective wall 67 from the rear thereof, and the entire opening edge thereof is a rear wall surface (the support piece 62 and the rear surface of the female housing 51). So that you can hit it. As a result, the inside of the inner protection wall 67, that is, the operation side of the lock arm 50, the short-circuit terminal 19, and the like, is provided with waterproofness for the entire detection chamber 66, but the seal cover 69 has good flexibility. There is no hindrance to the operation of the lock arm 50 from above. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation side and the base of the lock arm 50 are also connected to both inner protection walls 67 (the connection point is 65).
A). This is when the seal cover 69 is covered
Without providing such a connection point 65A, the lock arm 50
If the gap between the inner protective wall 67 and the inner protective wall 67 reaches the support piece 62, if the seal cover 69 is inadequately covered, there is a danger of flooding from here.
Providing such a connection portion 65A contributes to ensuring the sealing performance.

The second embodiment is constructed as described above. When both connectors are fitted together, the tip of the male housing 1 is inserted into the fitting space 58 of the female housing 51. In this fitting process, the engaging projection 8 is moved to the outer protective walls 5.
9, the engagement protrusion pushes up the lock side of the lock arm 50. Conversely, since the operation side of the lock arm 50 is displaced downward, the connecting protrusion 22 of the short-circuit terminal 19 is pushed, and both the bending pieces 21 are bent downward. Therefore,
In this state, since both contact portions 23 are also displaced downward,
There is no contact with the detection terminal 7.

However, when the fitting of the two housings progresses to reach a regular fitting state, the engaging projection 55 fits into the lock hole 64 and the lock arm 50 returns to the original state.
In response, the short-circuit terminal 19 also returns to the original state. For this reason, since both contact portions 23 contact both detection terminals 7 and short-circuit between the two detection terminals 7, the external circuit electrically detects that the two housings are properly fitted.

However, when the two housings are not properly fitted, the lock arm 50 is held in a bent state, so that the short-circuit terminal 19 is bent in conjunction with this, and the detection terminal is bent. No short circuit between 7 is performed. Thus, it is electrically detected that both housings have not been properly fitted.

In the second embodiment as well, a watertight state is ensured by the seal ring 16 at the fitting portion between the two housings, and the cavities 53 are ensured by the seal rubber plugs. In addition, the detection chamber 66 is also sealed. Because the whole is covered with the cover 69 in a watertight manner,
In any case, water is prevented from entering the housing. Further, even when the operation side of the lock arm 50 is covered with the seal cover 69, the lock release operation can be performed from outside the same as in the first embodiment.

The present invention can be variously modified.
The following modifications are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

In any of the embodiments, the seal cover 69 is fixed to the housing side with an adhesive. However, the seal cover 69 can also be formed by means such as heat welding. Any means can be used as long as it is possible.

The short-circuit terminal 19 is not limited to the one shown in the figure, but may be of any type as long as it is linked to the bending operation of the lock arm 50.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state before fitting of the connector;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state after fitting.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state before fitting of the connector;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state after fitting.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the female housing with the seal cover removed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Male housing 2, 51 ... Female housing 7 ... Detection terminal 10, 50 ... Lock arm 19 ... Short circuit terminal 24, 69 ... Seal cover 25 ... Mounting edge (mounting part) 67 ... Inner protective wall (mounting part)

Claims (2)

[Claims] An elastically deformable lock arm which engages with the other connector housing when the two connector housings are properly fitted to each other, and which is interlocked with the bending operation of the lock arm. A short-circuit terminal that is provided with a detection terminal that contacts the short-circuit terminal in conjunction with the return operation of the lock arm when the two connector housings are properly fitted. A connector, wherein a seal cover is attached to the one connector housing to cover a distal end portion thereof and the short-circuit terminal while allowing a bending operation of the lock arm. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a mounting portion of the seal cover projects from the one connector housing so as to surround a distal end side of the lock arm.