JPH11102748A - Connector jointing structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide connector jointing structure with spatially advantageous, easy to fit operation, and reduced force of insertion. SOLUTION: In connector jointing structure for jointing female, male connectors 1, 7 whose connecting end surfaces 23c, 37a are faced by fitting, a frame 25, a lever 27, a push-engaging part 29 are formed in one connector housing 23, the frame 25 can move relative in the fitting direction to the connector housing 23, one end 27a of the lever 27 is rotatably supported with the frame 25, and the other end 27b is aslant projected forward from the connecting end surface 23c of one connector housing 23, the pushing engaging part 29 is engaged with the front side of the lever 27 in the intermediate part of the lever 27, and an insert-engaging part 39 of the lever 27 is installed in the other connector housing 37.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector connecting structure for connecting male and female connectors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional connector coupling structure, for example, a structure shown in FIG. 4 described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-34876 or a structure shown in FIG. There is.

[0003] In the connector shown in FIG. 4, a tip 5 a of a U-shaped lever 5 is rotatably supported in a cavity 3 of a female connector 1, and is engaged with a male connector 7 coupled to the female connector 1 with the lever 5. Locking projection 9 is provided.

By rotating the lever 5 toward the cavity 3, the male connector 7 can be fitted and moved into the cavity 3 of the female connector 1. By rotating the lever 5 in the opposite direction, the male connector 7 can be moved from the cavity 3. It can be moved in the direction to separate.

In this connector coupling structure, the male connector 7 can be fitted to the female connector 1 with low insertion force by the lever ratio of the lever length of the lever 5 to the length between the tip 5a and the locking projection 9.

FIG. 5 shows a cam member 11 having a tapered drive groove 13 and a sliding guide slot 15. The cam member 11 is fitted so as to surround the cavity 3 of the female connector 1, and the slide guide slot 15 is fitted to a pin 17 provided on a side surface of the cavity 3.

When the male and female connectors 1 and 7 are connected, the driven pin 1 provided on the side of the male connector 7
9 is fitted into the upper part of the tapered drive groove 13 as shown in FIG. Then, the driven pin 19 is pushed into the tapered drive groove 1 by pushing the cam member 11 in the P direction.
The male connector 7 can be fitted to the female connector 1 by moving downward by the drive of the third connector 3 and by moving downward in the sliding guide long hole 21 of the cavity 3.

[0008]

However, in any of the connector coupling structures, a work space for the coupling operation is required around the male and female connectors 1 and 7, and many working spaces are required around the male and female connectors 1 and 7. When parts are densely packed, the structure is disadvantageous in terms of space. In the example of FIG. 4, the lever 5 must be rotated, and in the example of FIG. 5, the cam member 11 must be operated in a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction of the male and female connectors 1, 7. In each case, the fitting operation is complicated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector coupling structure which is advantageous in terms of space, can be easily fitted, and can reduce the insertion force.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector coupling structure for coupling a male and female connector so as to be fitted to each other so that connection end faces thereof are opposed to each other. A frame, a lever, and a push engagement portion are provided, and the frame has a push operation portion protruding from a rear portion of the one connector housing, and a fitting direction with respect to the one connector housing for fitting. And the length in the fitting direction is substantially equal to or greater than the length of the one connector housing, and the lever is connected to the one connector housing side from the side of the frame in the fitting direction. And one end is rotatably supported by the frame, and the other end is forward of the connection end face of the one connector housing. The push engagement portion is disposed on the side surface near the connection end face of the one connector housing, and is engaged with the front side of the lever at an intermediate portion of the lever, and the other connector of the male and female connector is While being located on one edge side of the connection end surface in the housing,
An insertion engaging portion is provided for engaging and inserting the other end of the lever at the time of pushing.

Therefore, when the male and female terminal fittings of the male and female connectors are brought close to each other for connection, the other end of the lever faces the insertion engaging portion of the other connector housing. When the pushing operation section is pushed in this state, the frame moves in the fitting direction with respect to one of the connector housings, and the lever rotates about the pushing engagement section as a fulcrum and simultaneously enters the insertion engagement section. When the frame is further pushed in, a further pressing force is applied from the frame to one end of the lever, and the lever pushes the push-in engagement portion in the fitting direction with the insertion engagement portion as a fulcrum. By such an operation, when the frame reaches the connection end face side of the other connector housing, the connection end face of one connector housing comes into contact with or close to the connection end face of the other connector housing, and the mating of the male and female connectors is performed. Is completed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector coupling structure according to the first aspect, wherein the frame has a length in a fitting direction equal to that of the one connector housing, and has a peripheral side wall surrounding the connector housing. It is characterized in that it is formed and provided with a notch for avoiding interference with the pushing engagement portion.

Therefore, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, when the fitting is completed by the pressing of the frame, the frame is entirely fitted to one connector housing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector coupling structure according to the first or second aspect, wherein the pushing engagement portion is a projection provided on a side surface of the one connector housing. .

Therefore, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect of the present invention, when the frame is pushed in, the lever surely presses the projection provided on the side surface of one connector housing in the fitting direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector coupling structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the lever and the push engagement portion are provided as a pair on both side surfaces of the one connector housing. A pair of the insertion engaging portions is provided on the other connector housing in correspondence with the pair of levers.

Therefore, in addition to the function of any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, since a pair of levers and a push engagement portion are provided on both side surfaces of one of the connector housings, the pair of levers is pushed by the frame. The pressing force can be evenly transmitted to the pressing engagement portions on both side surfaces via.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector coupling structure according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the other connector housing surrounds the periphery of the connection end face,
A cavity protruding forward of the connection end face and capable of fitting and housing the one connector housing and the frame, wherein the insertion engaging portion is formed by a through hole provided in a base of the cavity. .

Therefore, in addition to the function of any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, when the frame is pushed in and the male and female connectors are fitted, one connector housing and the frame are placed in the cavity of the other connector housing. It can be fitted and accommodated. Also, the other end of the lever can be engaged with and inserted into a through hole provided in the base of the cavity.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the connector coupling structure according to the fifth aspect, the one connector housing is a male connector having a female terminal fitting, and the other connector housing is a male terminal. It is characterized by being a female connector provided with metal fittings.

Therefore, in addition to the effect of the fifth aspect, the male connector having the female terminal fitting can be fitted into the cavity of the female connector having the male terminal fitting.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 shows a connector coupling structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a separated state before fitting, FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view before fitting, FIG.
(B) is a sectional view after fitting. Note that components corresponding to those in FIGS. 4 and 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. 1 and 2 illustrate the connector coupling structure, and details of the male and female connectors are slightly simplified.

In this embodiment, a female terminal fitting (not shown), which is one connector housing of the male and female connectors.
The connector housing 23 of the male connector 7 provided with the frame 25 is provided with a frame 25, a lever 27, and a projection 29 as a push engagement portion.

The frame 25 is connected to the connector housing 2.
3 has a rectangular cross-section so as to be slidably fitted to the peripheral surface of the base 3 and is formed by peripheral side walls 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d. The length of the frame 25 in the fitting direction, that is, the length in the vertical direction in FIGS. 1 and 2 is substantially equal to the length of one connector housing 23. Has become. Before the frame 25 is fitted, the pushing operation portion 33 is disposed so as to protrude from the rear portion of the connector housing 23. The frame 25 is provided with a notch 35 for avoiding interference with the projection 29.

The lever 27 is connected to the connector housing 23.
Are provided on the left and right side surfaces 23a, 23b of the connector housing 23 from the side surfaces 31a, 31b of the frame 25.
Are obliquely arranged on the side surfaces 23a and 23b of the. One end 27a of the lever 27 is connected to side surfaces 31a, 31 of the frame 25.
b and is rotatably supported, and the other end 27b projects obliquely forward of the connection end face 23c of the connector housing 23.

The protrusion 29 is located at a position substantially at the center of the lever 27 so as to engage with the front side of the lever 27. Near the connection end surface 23c of the connector housing 23, both side surfaces 23a and 23
b.

As the other connector housing of the male and female connectors, a male terminal fitting 41 is accommodated in a connector housing 37 of the female connector 1, and each male tab 41a of the male terminal fitting 41 protrudes from its connection end face 37a. or,
The connector housing 37 is provided with a cavity 3 surrounding the male tab 41a around the connection end face 37a and protruding forward from the connection end face 37a. The length of the cavity 3 in the fitting direction is substantially equal to the length of the one connector housing 23 and the frame 25. The through hole 39 as the insertion engagement portion is provided in the cavity 3.
Is formed on the base 3a, and is located on one end side of the connection end face 37a.

When the male and female connectors 1 and 7 are fitted together, the male connector 7 having the frame 25, the lever 27, and the projection 29 as shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the female connector 1 as shown in FIG. Inserted into the cavity 3, the connection end surface 23c
On the male tab 41a of the female connector 1. In this state, the other end 27b of the lever 27 is close to the connection end surface 37a in the cavity 3 and the through hole 39
Facing.

In this state, the pushing operation section 33 of the frame 25 is
Is pushed in the fitting direction of the male and female connectors 1 and 7, the pushing force is transmitted to one end 27a of the lever 27, and the lever 27
Is rotated about the protrusion 29 as a fulcrum, and the other end 27b is
9 and slightly engaged.

When the pushing operation portion 33 of the frame 25 is further pressed, the lever 27 is rotated by the pressing force applied to one end of the lever 27 with the engagement with the through hole 29 as a fulcrum, and the projection 27 at the intermediate portion is rotated. The pressing force in the fitting direction is transmitted.

With this pressing force, the connector housing 23 moves in the fitting direction with respect to the other connector housing 37, and the female terminal fitting in the connector housing 23 is coupled to the male tab 41 a of the male terminal fitting 41. at the same time,
The frame 25 slides with respect to the one connector housing 23 in the fitting direction.

When the pressing of the frame 25 is completed and the frame 25 comes into contact with or comes close to the connection end face 37a of the other connector housing 37, the projection 29 also comes close to the connection end face 37a by the pressing force of the lever 27, and the male and female connectors 1, 7 Are completed, the two connection end surfaces 23c and 37a abut or approach each other. The other end 27b of the lever 27 passes through the through hole 39. When the frame 25 is pushed in,
The notch 35 avoids the protrusion 29 to prevent the interference.

As described above, when the male and female connectors 1 and 7 are fitted together, the fitting can be completed only by pushing the frame 25 in the fitting direction. It requires very little space, and is extremely advantageous in terms of space even when many parts are densely packed.

In the fitting operation, since the frame 25 is simply pushed in linearly, the fitting operation becomes extremely easy.

Further, in this embodiment, the insertion force of the male and female connectors 1 and 7 can be reduced. This will be described in comparison with the general structure of FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a structure in which the male and female connectors 1 and 7 are simply fitted without providing a special structure.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the stroke from when the male connector 7 starts to be fitted into the cavity 3 of the female connector 1 until the fitting is completed is g, whereas the fitting load starts to be applied. From the time when the male and female terminal fittings k and h start to be joined, the stroke until the fitting is completed is as small as j.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
(A), the fitting load starts to be applied from the beginning when the frame 25 is pushed in, and the stroke is changed to j.
To g. By utilizing this, the lever ratio of leverage due to the length of the lever 27 and the length between the projection 29 and the through hole 39 can be increased, and the insertion force can be greatly reduced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the lever 27 and the projection 29 may be provided on the female connector 1 side, and the cavity 3 and the through hole 39 may be provided on the male connector 7 side.

The frame 25 may have a structure longer than the connector housing 23.

It is also possible to provide two levers 27 on one side and arrange them in an X-shape. The protrusions 29 need not necessarily be protrusions, but may be any as long as they can transmit the pressing force. The protrusions 29 may be disposed at a position not in the center of the connector housing 23 but in a position offset.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the male and female connectors can be connected only by pushing the frame in the fitting direction, so that there is no need for a space for the fitting operation around the male and female connectors, and a large number of parts can be provided. It is extremely advantageous in terms of space even when it is dense. Further, at the time of the fitting operation, since the frame is simply pushed in the fitting direction, the fitting operation is extremely easy. Furthermore, by increasing the moving distance of the frame relative to the moving distance of the one connector housing, it is possible to increase the lever ratio of the lever action using the lever, thereby reducing the insertion force of the male and female connector fitting. Can be planned.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, when the male and female connectors are fitted, the frame does not protrude from one of the connector housings, so that the frame is compact. Therefore, the structure is advantageous in terms of space.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the pushing force of the frame can be reliably transmitted by the projection, and the fitting of the male and female connectors can be performed more reliably. it can.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to third aspects, the pushing force of the frame is evenly transmitted to both side surfaces of the one connector housing, so that the fitting operation is smoothly performed. Can be performed.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to fourth aspects, the one connector housing and the frame are fitted and accommodated in the cavity of the other connector housing, so that a more compact structure is achieved. It is possible to adopt a simple fitting form.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the effect of the fifth aspect of the invention can be achieved between the male connector having the female terminal fitting and the female connector having the male terminal fitting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a male and female connector before fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a male and female connector before fitting, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view after fitting.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a general male and female connector before fitting, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the general male and female connector immediately before coupling.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector coupling structure according to a conventional example.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a separated state of a connector coupling structure according to another conventional example, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a coupling operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Female connector 3 Cavity 3a Base 7 Male connector 23 Connector housing 23a, 23b Side surface 23c Connection end surface 25 Frame 27 Lever 27a One end 27b Other end 29 Projection (push engagement part) 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d Peripheral side wall 33 Push operation Portion 35 Notch portion 37 Connector housing 37a Connection end surface 39 Through hole (insertion engagement portion) 41 Male terminal fitting

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A connector coupling structure in which male and female connectors are coupled to each other so as to be fitted to each other so that connection end faces thereof are opposed to each other. The frame has a pushing operation portion protrudingly arranged at a rear portion of the one connector housing, and is relatively movable in the fitting direction with respect to the one connector housing for fitting, and The length is substantially equal to or longer than the length of the one connector housing, and the lever is arranged obliquely in a fitting direction from a side surface of the frame to a side surface of the one connector housing,
One end is rotatably supported by the frame, and the other end projects obliquely forward of the connection end face of the one connector housing, and the push engagement portion is disposed on a side surface near the connection end face of the one connector housing. At the middle of the lever, engages with the front side of the lever, is located at one end side of the connection end surface in the other connector housing of the male and female connectors, and engages the other end of the lever when pushed. And a connector coupling structure provided with an insertion engagement portion for insertion. 2. The connector coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame has a length in a fitting direction equal to that of the one connector housing, and is formed of a peripheral side wall surrounding the connector housing. A connector coupling structure, wherein a notch portion is provided to avoid interference with the pushing engagement portion. 3. The connector coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the push engagement portion is a projection provided on a side surface of the one connector housing. 4. The connector coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the lever and the push engagement portion are provided in a pair on both side surfaces of the one connector housing, and the insertion engagement portion is provided. Is in the other connector housing,
A connector coupling structure provided as a pair corresponding to the pair of levers. 5. The connector coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the other connector housing surrounds a periphery of the connection end face and protrudes forward from the connection end face. A connector coupling structure comprising a cavity capable of fitting and housing a housing and a frame, wherein the insertion engaging portion is formed by a through hole provided in a base of the cavity. 6. The connector coupling structure according to claim 5, wherein the one connector housing is a male connector having a female terminal fitting, and the other connector housing is a female having a male terminal fitting. A connector coupling structure characterized by being a connector.