JPH1167346A - Fitting/removing structure for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fitting/removing structure for male and female connectors, in which inadvertent come off of fitting between the connectors can be surely prevented. SOLUTION: Locking means 14, 24 for holding the stand by and projecting state of a connector 20 are provided in a holder 10 and the connector 20, respectively. Another connector 30 is provided with a holding/releasing means 33 for holding the locked state of the locking means 14, 24 at the time of fitting of both the connectors 20, 30 or releasing the locked state. Both the connectors 20, 30 are freely slidable on a side of a body to be installed, with respect to the holder 10 at the time of fitting completion between both the connectors 20, 30. The locking means of the holder 10 consists of a flexible arm 14 having a locking portion 15. The locking means of the connector 20 consists of a flexible locking piece 24, having an engaging portion 25 which can be locked to or removed from the locking portion 15 of the flexible arm 14. The flexible locking piece 24 are made freely abuttable against side walls 11c, 11d in the vicinity of the flexible arm 14 of the holder 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector fitting / disconnecting structure which is used, for example, in a vehicle door and is suitable for fitting and removing multipolar female and male connectors with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a fitting structure of this kind of connector,
For example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-55262 shown in FIG. In the connector fitting structure disclosed in this publication, as shown in FIG. 11A, the electrical component 4 is provided on the male connector 1 which is inserted into the fitting hole 8a of the connector mounting plate 8 and stands by. The female connector 5 is fitted from the mounting opening 9a side of the instrument panel 9. The male connector 1 has a flexible locking piece 2, and locks a projection 2 a provided on the locking piece 2 into a fitting hole 8 a of a connector mounting plate 8 before fitting. It is. From this state, when the female connector 5 is inserted through the mounting opening 9a of the instrument panel 9 and fitted to the male connector 1 as shown in FIGS. 5 is properly fitted, the locking piece 2 bends downward and the hook 3 at the tip of the locking piece 2
Is fitted into the escape hole 6 of the female connector 5. When the electrical component 4 is further pushed in from this state, as shown in FIG. 11D, the male connector 1 is pushed to the assembly position, and the female connector 5 is inserted via the lock piece 4a of the electrical component 4 into the instrument panel. 9 is locked in the mounting opening 9a.

[0003]

However, in the conventional connector fitting structure, the locking piece 2 of the male connector 1 is not provided.
Since the tapered surface 2b is formed at the rear part of the projection 2a, the male connector 1 is easily retreated during the fitting of the connectors 1 and 5, and the connectors 1 and 5 are completely fitted. The work of assembling it in the correct position was difficult and lacked reliability. For this reason, when the mating of the two connectors 1 and 5 is released during maintenance or the like, the male connector 1 remains in a state of being lowered to the rear of the connector mounting plate 8. Could not fit.
Further, if the wire harness connected to the male connector 1 is pulled for some reason after the mating of the connectors 1 and 5, there is no locking means between the connectors 1 and 5, so that the mating of the connectors 1 and 5 is not performed. There was a risk that the connection would be lost. Further, since the connectors 1 and 5 are fitted only by the holding force of the female terminal (not shown) of the male connector 1 and the male terminal 7 of the female connector 5, the fitting force between the connectors 1 and 5 is insufficient.
It was weak against vibration, and it was easy for rattling and abnormal noise to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and can easily and surely engage and disengage both female and male connectors, and carelessly engage both connectors. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector fitting / removing structure capable of reliably preventing disconnection.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a female,
One of the male and female connectors is attached to the object to be mounted in a standby state protruding through a holder, and the other connector is detachably fitted to the one connector from the projection standby direction of the one connector, and The one connector is slidably provided on a holder, and the holder and the one connector are provided with locking means for holding a standby protruding state of the one connector. Holding means for holding the locking state of the locking means are provided, and holding releasing means for releasing the locking state of the locking means when the mating of the two connectors is completed. A connector fitting and disengaging structure in which the two connectors are slidable toward the object to be attached with respect to the holder when the fitting is completed, and The locking means of (1) is constituted by a flexible arm having a locking portion at the tip, and the locking means of the one connector is locked to and released from the locking portion of the flexible arm. The holder is constituted by a flexible locking piece, and the flexible locking piece is configured to be able to abut on a side wall near a flexible arm of the holder.

In this structure, unnecessary elastic deformation of the flexible locking piece of one connector to the side wall of the holder is prevented, and both connectors are fitted when the connectors are fitted and after the fitting is completed. Is securely prevented from being disengaged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the connector fitting / removing structure according to the first aspect, the width of the flexible locking piece is larger than the width of the locking portion of the flexible arm. Is set.

[0008] In this connector fitting / removing structure, the fitting of the two connectors is not disengaged even if an inadvertent load is applied to one of the connectors or the like.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before mating of a female connector and a male connector used in a mating structure of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door employing the connector fitting / removing structure, and FIG. 8 is a female and male connector having the connector fitting / removing structure employed in the vehicle door. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state before mounting.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the male connector (one connector) 20 of the synthetic resin male and female connectors 20 and 30 projects through a synthetic resin holder 10 in a standby state. To be attached to a door panel (attached body) 50. A female connector (the other connector) 30 is removably fitted to the male connector 20 which stands out from the holder 10. This female connector 3
0 is attached to a switch 41 of a switch unit 40 such as a power window switch unit via a substrate or the like (not shown). The switch unit 40 is provided with a switch mounting hole formed in a door trim (another body to be mounted) 60. (Switch mounting portion) 61.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the holder 10 includes upper and lower walls 11a and 11b and left and right side walls 11a and 11b.
A cylindrical body 11 formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape from c and 11d, and a mounting bracket 12 integrally formed from the lower wall 11b side of the cylindrical body 11 are formed. A pair of slits 13 is formed in the center of the left and right side walls 11c and 11d of the cylindrical body 11, and an L-shaped flexible arm is provided between the pair of slits 13 and 13. Locking means) 14 are integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of flexible arms (locking means) 14, 1
Projections (locking portions) 15 each having a trapezoidal cross section are integrally formed on the inside of the distal end of each of the projections 4, and a tapered surface 15 a is formed at the rear of each projection 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of stoppers 16 for restricting the amount of forward projection of the male connector 20 are provided at the center of the upper surface of the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10 and the front edge side of the inner surfaces of the lower walls 11a and 11b. , 16 are integrally formed. And
A clearance is provided around the entire circumference between the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10 and the hood 22 of the male connector 20 described later, and the hood 2 of the male connector 20 is provided in the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10.
2 is slidably supported. That is, male connector 2
0 and the female connector 30 when the mating is completed.
Reference numerals 0 and 30 are slidable downward on the door panel 50 side with respect to the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10 in the fitted state.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6, the male connector 20 includes a housing 21 having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 21a for accommodating female terminals (terminals) 27, and a hood 22 covering the housing 21. It is composed of The base 21b of the housing 21 is assembled by press fitting or the like while being centered on the base 22b of the hood 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hood 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape from upper and lower walls and left and right side walls, and functions as a guide for the holder 10 and the female connector 30. A pair of slits 23 are formed in the center of the left and right side walls of the substantially square cylindrical hood 22, respectively.
An inverted U-shaped flexible member having an engagement hole (engaging portion) 25 between each pair of slits 23, 23 which is engaged with and disengaged from the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10. The locking pieces (locking means) 24 are integrally formed. The width of each of the flexible locking pieces 24 is set to be larger than the width of the projection 15 of each of the flexible arms 14 of the holder 10. Left and right side walls (side walls) 11c, 11 near the respective flexible arms 14 of the cylinder 11
d can be freely contacted.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 is engaged with the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20, the male connector 20 projects a predetermined length from the holder 10 and It is arranged to wait for the fitting of the connector 30. That is, the protrusion 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and each flexible locking piece 2 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20
The retraction of the male connector 20 with respect to the holder 10 is restricted by the engagement of the male connector 20 with the engagement hole 25 of 4, and the standby state of the male connector 20 at the time of this engagement is the engagement / disengagement work position of the two connectors 20 and 30. I have. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, stopper receiving portions 26 are integrally formed at the center of the base side of the upper and lower walls of the hood 22 of the male connector 20, respectively. Then, the projections 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and each flexible locking piece 2 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20
4 and the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10
The stopper receiving portions 26 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20 are respectively locked by the respective stoppers 16 of the male connector 20.
Is restricted. further,
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, an electric wire 28 constituting the wire harness W is connected to the rear side of each female terminal 27 of the housing 21 of the male connector 20 by press contact or crimping.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 to 6, the female connector 30 has a base 31 side in a block shape having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 31a accommodating male terminals (terminals) 37. The front side is formed as a rectangular tube-shaped hood portion 32 which is integrally formed with the base portion 31 to expose each male terminal 37. When the hood 32 of the female connector 30 is engaged with the two connectors 20 and 30,
And between the hood 22 and the connectors 20, 30
Are electrically connected to each other. The flexible arms 1 of the holder 10 are provided at the front center of both outer surfaces of the hood 32 of the female connector 30.
4 and the holding means for holding the engagement state of the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the male connector 20 and each of the holders 10 at the time of completion of the mating of the two connectors 20 and 30 and at the time of disengagement. A projection 33 serving also as a holding release means for releasing the locked state of the projection 15 of the flexible arm 14 and the engagement hole 25 of each flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 is integrally formed. Each of the protrusions 33 is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape, and has a tapered surface (locking surface) 33a on the front side and a tapered surface (release surface) 33b on the rear side.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 10, the switch unit 40 includes a switch 41 and the switch 41.
Female connector 30 fixed via a board (not shown)
And a metal square that is attached to the upper side of both sides of the switch 41 by screws or the like, and locks the switch 41 attached to the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim (other body to be attached) 60 to the door trim 60. And each of the plate-shaped leaf springs (lock means) 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting clearance t 'between the switch 41 of the switch unit 40 and the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60.
The clearance t between the cylinder 11 of the holder 10 and the hood 22 of the male connector 20 is set to be larger than that (t> t '). Also, as shown in FIG.
A waterproof sheet 51 is attached to 0.

According to the connector fitting / removing structure of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the male connector 20 on the wire harness W side arranged on the door panel 50 and the door panel 50
When connecting to the female connector 30 of the switch unit 40 side attached via the door trim 60 to the
A waterproof sheet 51 is attached to the door panel 50, and then a wire harness W is wired to the door panel 50 from above the waterproof sheet 51, and then a door trim 60 is attached to the door panel 50 on which the wire harness W is wired. After attaching the female connector 30 of the switch unit 40 to the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60, the female connector 30 and the male connector 20 connected to the end of the wire harness W are fitted.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the male connector 20 on the wire harness W side is attached to the door panel 50 via the holder 10, and the male connector 20 is placed on the switch mounting hole 61 side of the door trim 60. When the switch unit 40 is mounted in the switch mounting hole 61, the female connector 30 on the switch unit 40 and the male connector 20 on the wire harness W are fitted. These two connectors 20, 3
0 to 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. As shown in FIG. 4, in the initial state in which the female connector 30 is fitted to the male connector 20, the male connector 20 is in a projecting standby state by the holder. 10 is held by the engagement state of the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 and the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the male connector 20. As shown in FIG.
While the female connector 30 is being fitted to the female connector 0, the flexible locking pieces 24 of the male connector 20 are elastically deformed outward by the pressing force of the projections 33 of the female connector 30. The engagement hole 25 of the flexible locking piece 24 is
Of the flexible arms 14 of the holder 10 and the engagement holes 25 of the flexible engagement pieces 24 of the male connector 20 respectively. The state is more reliably maintained.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the fitting of the female connector 30 is completed, the projections 33 of the female connector 30 are engaged with the engagement holes 2 of the flexible locking pieces 24 of the male connector 20.
Go inside 5. At this time, the tapered surface 33a of each projection 33 of the female connector 30 presses the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 outward, and each flexible arm 14 elastically deforms outward and bends. As a result, the locking state between the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and the engaging hole 25 of each flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 is released, and the two connectors are completely fitted. The reference numerals 20 and 30 slide down in the holder 10 together. When this slide is complete,
As shown in FIG. 6, the switch mounting hole 6 of the door trim 60 is provided.
1 is locked by the elastic biasing force of the leaf spring 42, and the mounting of the switch unit 40 to the door panel 50 is completed. At this time, the fitted connectors 20 and 30 are connected to the engagement holes 25 of the flexible locking pieces 24 of the male connector 20 and the projections 33 of the female connector 30.
And the flexible locking pieces 24 of the male connector 20 can be freely contacted with the left and right side walls 11c and 11d of the holder 10, and
Male connector 2 than the width of the protrusion 15 of the flexible arm 14 of FIG.
0, the width of each flexible locking piece 24 is set to be large, so that the wire harness W connected to the male connector 20 after some fitting of the two connectors 20, 30 is pulled or vibrated by some influence. Even if an inadvertent load force is applied, the fitting between the connectors 20 and 30 will not be disconnected.

Further, when the connectors 20 and 30 are detached from the fitted state of the connectors 20 and 30 shown in FIG. 6 during maintenance and inspection, the switch 41 of the switch unit 40 is turned off as shown in FIG. When pulled upward, the tapered surface 33b of each projection 33 of the female connector 30 presses the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 outward, and each flexible arm 14 bends outward. Thereby, each flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 is attached to the holder 1.
0, the projections 15 of the flexible arms 14 of the holder 10 and the flexible locking pieces 2 of the male connector 20.
4 is locked with the engagement hole 25 (this position is the same position as the protrusion standby position of the male connector 20 before fitting). Then, by pulling the switch 41 of the switch unit 40 further upward, the female connector 3 is
0 is smoothly separated. When the female connector 30 is fitted to the male connector 20 again after the maintenance and the like are completed,
Since the male connector 20 is at the protruding standby position where it protrudes from the holder 10, the female connector 30 can be easily fitted and attached to the male connector 20.

As described above, the locking state of the flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and the flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 is determined by the protrusions 33 of the female connector 30.
Since the fitting of the connectors 30 is securely maintained until the fitting of the connectors 30 is completed, the fitting of the connectors 20 and 30 can be guaranteed, and the reliability can be improved. In addition, both connectors 20, 3
When the fitting of 0 is completed, the locking state of the flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and the flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 is released by the projection 33 of the female connector 30. It can be seen that the fitting of both connectors 20, 30 has been completed at the time when 20, 30 are slid downward, and it is possible to easily confirm the fitting state of both connectors 20, 30. Therefore, both connectors 20 and 30 can be aligned and smoothly fitted together,
In a state where both connectors 20 and 30 are fitted, the connector can be easily slid with respect to the holder 10 and attached to the door panel 50. Thereby, vibration and the like can be prevented, vibration resistance can be improved, and generation of abnormal noise can be prevented. In addition, at the position where the connectors 20 and 30 have completely slid with respect to the holder 10 in the fitted state, the mounting tolerance between the door panel 50 and the door trim 60 can be absorbed. Occurrence of vibration and the like and generation of abnormal noise can be reliably prevented.

Further, the protrusion 15 of the flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and the engagement hole 25 of the flexible engagement piece 24 of the male connector 20 are locked, so that the retracted position of the male connector 20 during the stand-by state is set. Because of the restriction, both connectors 20 and 30 can be easily fitted. Further, the flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and the flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 are collectively disposed at one place, and the holding means and the holding release means of the female connector 30 are formed by the same projection 33. With this configuration, the size of the entire connector can be further reduced. Further, the stopper 16 of the holder 10 and the stopper receiving portion 26 of the male connector 20 are locked so that the male connector 20
The position of the front protruding standby is restricted, so that both connectors 2
The fitting position and the disengaging position of 0, 30 can always be the same position, and the detaching operation and re-engaging operation of both connectors 20, 30 during maintenance and inspection can be performed reliably and easily.

According to the above embodiment, the holder 10
Of the male connector 20 with respect to the holder 10 is restricted by the engagement between the stopper 16 on the front side of the holder 10 and the stopper receiving portion 26 on the rear side of the male connector 20. As shown only in FIG. 10, the retracted position may be restricted by engagement between the stopper 17 on the rear side of the holder 10 and the stopper receiving portion 26 on the rear side of the male connector 20.

[0025]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the flexible locking piece of one connector is made to be able to abut on the side wall of the holder. Unnecessary elastic deformation of the stopper on the side wall side of the holder can be prevented, and disconnection of both connectors can be reliably prevented when both connectors are fitted and after fitting is completed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the width of the flexible locking piece of one connector is set to be larger than the width of the locking portion of the flexible arm of the holder. Even if an inadvertent load force is applied to the connector or the like, disengagement of the two connectors can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before fitting of a female connector and a male connector used for a connector fitting / removing structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hood of the male connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state before the two connectors are fitted to each other.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of fitting of the two connectors.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the two connectors are being fitted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connectors have been completely fitted.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door adopting the connector fitting / removing structure.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before the female and male connectors of the connector fitting / removing structure employed in the switch of the vehicle door are mounted.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view when the fitting of the two connectors is completed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state where the switch mounting of the vehicle door is completed.

11A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional female and male connector before fitting, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the same connector when fitting.
(C) is a cross-sectional view of the two connectors in the middle of being mounted in their proper positions, and (d) is a cross-sectional view of the two connectors when the mounting is completed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Holder 11c, 11d Left and right side wall (side wall) 14 Flexible arm (locking means) 15 Projection (locking part) 20 Male connector (one connector) 24 Flexible locking piece (locking means) 25 Engagement Hole (engaging portion) 30 Female connector (other connector) 33 Projection (holding and releasing means) 50 Door panel (attached body)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. One of a female connector and a male connector is attached to an object to be mounted in a standby state protruding via a holder, and the other connector is connected to the one connector from the one connector's projection standby direction. The connector is slidably provided, and the one connector is slidably provided on the holder,
These holders and one connector are provided with locking means for holding the one connector in a standby protruding state, and the locking state of each locking means is held when the two connectors are fitted to the other connector. A holding means is provided, and a holding release means for releasing the locked state of each of the locking means when the fitting of the two connectors is completed is provided. A connector fitting and disengaging structure which is slidable on a holder side with respect to a holder, wherein the locking means of the holder is constituted by a flexible arm having a locking portion at a tip, and the one connector Is constituted by a flexible locking piece having an engaging portion which is locked to and released from the locking portion of the flexible arm. On the side wall near the sex arm A mating / unmating structure for a connector characterized by being freely contactable. 2. The connector fitting and disengaging structure according to claim 1, wherein the width of the flexible locking piece is set to be larger than the width of the locking portion of the flexible arm. Characteristic connector fitting / removal structure.