JPH11144804A - Squib connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a squib connector that can be inserted and pulled out from a cavity of a squib quickly and easily, and can be fixed with high reliability. SOLUTION: A squib connector 2 provides a housing 13 providing a fitting section 26 accepted by a cavity of a squib. At least a piece of latch 28 is provided at the end of the fitting section 26 of the housing 13 toward the external rear, and a lock section 8 of the cavity and the latch 28 are engaged selectively by a lock element 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a connector (hereinafter referred to as a squib connector) used in a gas generator such as an air bag system generally called a squib (SQUIB).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In automobile (or vehicle) applications such as airbags and seat belt pretensioners (temporary fastening devices), detonators are provided, which are generally called squibs. The squib is typically provided with a pair of contacts projecting into the cavity to receive and mate with a mating connector, commonly referred to as a squib connector. A typical squib connector assembly includes a short circuit element for shorting between pin contacts of an uncoupled squib. During plugging, this short-circuit contact is deflected by the squib connector to interrupt the short circuit. This short-circuit contact is often provided in a housing that is fastened to the squib housing.

[0003] Conventional squib connectors have resilient latches which engage the shoulders of the squib housing. These latches are cantilevered at one end of the connector housing and extend to the free end. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,575 and European Patent 73,693.
In the design disclosed in No. 4, the latch of the squib connector is an elastic cantilever that automatically latches on the shoulder of the squib housing, and a safety peg is inserted between the latch and the connector housing to release the connector accidentally ( (Removal of mating / unmating).

[0004] To remove the connector, the safety insertion element is removed and the connector is pulled upward. Here, the conical or tapered latch surface of the resilient latch arm assists inward deflection for latch disengagement. Since a certain resistance is applied to these latches, a relatively large force is required for removal. This risks damaging the latches and connectors, especially after several insertion and removal cycles. In order to reduce the insertion force during insertion, US Pat. No. 5,529,512
It is well known to positively bias the latch member outward during insertion of the safety element as disclosed in US Pat.

[0005]

However, conventional squib connectors lack the reliability of removal. If the elasticity of the latch decreases during the life of the connector,
The latch does not flex completely inward to the stop position during release of the coupling.

Also, in many squib connectors, the latch arm resiliently latches during coupling, however, as disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,609,498, for example, to release the coupling. Generally, special tools are required. However, the use of special tools is not preferred because maintenance services increase.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a squib connector which can be quickly and easily inserted and removed from a squib without using special tools, and which is particularly safe and robust. In particular, the connection reliability must be able to be maintained for the life of the connector and not be affected by the number of insertions and removals.

[0008]

A squib connector according to the present invention is provided with a latch at a fitting end of a housing, and a locking element engages or disengages the latch with a lock portion of a cavity of the squib. It is composed.

The lock element is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a cutout formed in the outer periphery of the housing so as to slide in the fitting direction and to insert the latch. The latch is bent by sliding the lock element. The locking recess is selectively engaged.

That is, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object of the present invention, according to the squib connector of the present invention, the squib connector has a fitting portion which is inserted into the cavity of the squib and is configured to be electrically connected thereto. . The mating part of this squib connector consists of a housing and at least one
Latches. The squib connector further includes a locking element movably mounted on the housing. The locking element has a locking portion that engages with each latch, and sets the latch in a locked position with respect to the squib. The locking element further includes a release portion, and the latch is configured to release the engagement of the squib with the complementary latch shoulder when the locking element is moved from the fully locked position to the unlocked position and the squib connector is moved from the squib at the time of decoupling. It is configured to operate a cam. This allows quick and easy release of the lock and allows it to be locked in the fully locked position without depending on the elasticity of the latch. High temperatures, vibrating or other factors that can affect the strength and elasticity of the connector housing material do not affect reliability, ease of insertion and removal of the squib connector.

The latch is cantilever-shaped and attached to an end of the connector near the fitting end of the fitting portion, and has a free end extending toward the squib connector insertion surface when the connector is mounted. May be. In this natural or free-standing position, the latch is in the disengaged position. When the latch is deflected outward, the locking element engages the squib latch shoulder during mating. Thereby, the insertion force is made relatively low, and the insertion release force is applied. The locking element is slidable in the fitting direction relative to the outer surface of the fitting so that the latch extends through a recess or notch in the locking element. The upper edge of the recess or notch acts as a lock and the lower edge of the notch or recess engages the latch when the locking element is slidably lifted from the fully locked position to the unlocked position. Acts as a release portion that bends in the direction.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a squib connector according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 and FIG. Connect the squib connector 2 to a gas generator (squib)
1 shows a state of being inserted into the connection portion of FIG. This squib 1
Has a cavity 3 extending from the connector receiving surface 4 into the squib 1. The squib 1 is further provided with a pair of contact pins 6 extending into the cavity 3.
The annular locking recess 8 on the side of the cavity 3 is
0 to lock the squib connector 2 there.
1 to 9 further comprise a short-circuit assembly 12 having an insulating housing 13 and a short-circuit terminal 14 mounted in the housing. The short-circuit terminal 14 is mounted in the housing, and short-circuits the pair of contact pins 6 when the coupling between the squib connector 2 and the squib 1 is released.

The squib connector 2 includes an insulating housing 1
The insulating housing 16 receives a contact (terminal) 24 from the conductor insertion end 20 and extends to a mating end 22 that connects to the pin contact 6. This housing 16
The squib has a fitting portion that can be inserted into the squib cavity. The squib connector 2 is further provided with a cantilever-shaped 1 attached to a mounting end 29 near the fitting end 22 of the housing 16.
A pair of latches 28 are provided. The latches 28 extend therefrom to the locking shoulder 30, ie to the free end of the latch arm 28. These latches 28 are integrally molded with the housing 16 and are symmetrically arranged on the opposite side of the squib connector 2.

The squib connector 2 further includes a locking element 32 slidably mounted on the outer surface 34 of the housing 16. The lock element 32 is provided so as to be slidable in the insertion / removal direction (P) of the squib connector 2.
The locking element 32 is provided on the complementary notch member 3 of the housing 16.
A latch member 36 capable of coupling with (coupling with) 8;
The locking element 32 is fixed in the completely locked position shown in FIG. The locking element latch members 36 and 38 are provided with complementary notches 3
8 and recesses 36 to impart elasticity to the side wall 39 of the locking element 32 to provide sufficient outward flexure (bias) for the concave and convex engagement. The locking element side wall 39 further includes a notch 40 near the mating end 22 through which the latch arm 28 of the housing 16 extends. When the lock element 32 slides to the fully locked position in the fitting direction P, the lock portion 42 engages with the latch arm 28 and bends outward. The lock portion is formed on the upper edge of the notch 40. Flexing the latch arm 28 outward causes the latch shoulder 30 to engage the corresponding squib latch shoulder 10, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the self-standing position of the latch arm 28, there is substantially no engagement between the latch shoulder 30 and the squib latch shoulder 10, resulting in low insertion and removal forces. Let's do it. Although the latch shoulders 10, 30 slightly engage during the initial insertion shown in FIG. 7, the insertion of the squib connector 2 into the squib 1 is easy. With a slight initial latch, the operator can feel the full insertion of the squib connector 2 and the locking element can be engaged.

The lock element 32 further has a release section 44. The release portion 44 is formed at the lower edge of the notch 40. The release portion 44 is used to release the latch arm 28 when the engagement is released.
Operate the cam inward. In particular, when the locking element 32 is lifted in the fitting direction P from the completely locked position to the unlocked position when sliding, the above-described cam operation is performed (see FIG. 7).

The latch arm 28 is the squib lock shoulder 1.
When the engagement position is 0 and the natural position is released, the release unit 44 does not cam the latch arm inward. If the connector material loses elasticity or the latch shoulders engage slightly in the free-standing position of the latch, or if the latch plastically deforms outward (for example, if the connector is damaged by applying excessive pulling force), the release Reference numeral 44 positively flexes the latch arm 28 inward to facilitate removal of the squib connector 2. Low insertion and removal forces and reliable insertion and removal over the entire service life of the squib connector will be obtained.

Next, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. The locking element 32 is further provided with a shunt actuating member 46 on the probe inserted between the spring arm 48 of the short-circuit terminal 14 and the squib pin contact 6. Thus, the short-circuit terminal 48 is bent so as not to contact the pin. Therefore, the short circuit is deactivated only when the lock element 32 moves to the completely locked position.

The preferred embodiment of the squib connector of the present invention has been described above in detail. However, it will be understood that modifications can be made in accordance with the particular application without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0021]

According to the squib connector of the present invention, since the fixing to the squib does not depend on the elasticity of the housing material, the squib has advantages that latching can be surely performed and insertion / removal is quick and easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a squib connector of the present invention connected to a squib.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the squib connector and the squib in FIG. 1 in an unlocked position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the squib connector and the squib shown in FIG. 1 at the time of partial fitting.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the squib connector and the squib in FIG. 1 when completely fitted and locked.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 4 when unlocked;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 in a completely locked state.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lock element used in the squib connector of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Squib 2 Squib connector 3 Cavity 6 Pin 8 Lock part (recess) 13 Housing 24 Contact 26 Fitting part 28 Latch 32 Lock element

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Rupert Harry Stephen Hanak UK N 64 El H, London Compton Avenue Bevryu House (no address) Garston Blair Road, Hertfordshire 142 (72) Inventor Michael Joseph Gerald Wellan SGS 189 PES, Bedfordshire, Biggles Wade, Langford, Cambridge Road 35

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A squib connector in which a contact which is removably received in a cavity of a squib and is electrically connected to a pin in the cavity is fixed to a housing, wherein the housing has an end opposite to a fitting end with the squib. At least one latch standing upright and engaging the locking recess of the cavity of the squib; and a locking element for engaging and disengaging the latch with the locking recess. Squib connector. 2. A squib connector in which a contact, which is removably received in a cavity of the squib and is electrically connected to a pin in the cavity, is fixed to the housing, at least one of the squib connectors standing outside and rearward from the fitting end of the housing. A plurality of latches, a substantially cylindrical lock element which is slidably disposed on the outer periphery of the housing and has a notch through which the latch is inserted, and slides the lock element with respect to the housing, A squib connector for selectively engaging the latch with a lock portion of the squib.