JPS6017809Y2 - Connector locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a connector locking mechanism for reliably locking a pair of connectors together.

Conventionally, in order to connect a pair of electrical connectors, only the base part is fixed to one connector, a movable connecting piece in the form of a cantilever arm with a locking part at the free end is provided, and the other connector is connected to the other connector. A locking mechanism that locks by cooperating with a provided counter-locking portion is often used.

However, depending on the dimensions of the connector, it may be necessary to make the connecting piece longer, and in that case, the position of the locking part may not match the required dimensions due to factors such as shrinkage of the material of the connecting piece during molding. They may form in unstable positions.

As a result, there is a high possibility that the locking mechanism will come off during use due to, for example, the posture of the connector or unexpected acceleration.

The purpose of this invention is to prevent the above-mentioned accidents by suspending the connecting piece by a supporting piece, thereby eliminating irregularities during molding, and further improving the reliability of the locking action during use. The purpose of the mechanism is to provide a cantilever arm-like connection in which a protrusion attached to the first connector is attached to the second connector of a pair of connectors consisting of a first and a second connector. A locking mechanism that is hooked onto an engaging portion provided at the tip of a piece, the protrusion of the first connector facing downward, and a connecting piece of the second connector having elasticity in the vertical direction. , a support piece having elasticity in the vertical direction is provided substantially parallel to the connection piece, the base of the support piece is integrally connected to the second connector by a bridge part, and the tip of the support piece and the connection piece are connected together. The intermediate portions of the pieces are connected by a rib, and the connecting piece is elastically suspended by the supporting piece so as to prevent excessive downward deformation.

The present invention will be explained in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment, in which 1 is a female connector made of, for example, synthetic resin, and a robust holding part 3 for holding a locking protrusion 2a is provided on the top surface of the female connector. There is.

The protrusion 2a is protruded from the inside of the holding portion 3 toward the connector main body 1a, and has a slope portion 4a on the entrance side.

Reference numeral 5 designates a male connector made of the same material, and a cantilevered arm-shaped connecting piece 6a that cooperates with the protrusion 2a to perform a locking action extends forward from above the main body 5a of the connector 5.

A groove 7 as an engaging part that engages with the protrusion 2a is provided at the tip of the vertically elastic connecting piece 6a, and when coupled, the connecting piece 6a is inserted between the female connector body 1a and the protrusion 2a. It can be inserted into.

Side wall portions 8a are provided on both sides of the base of the connecting piece 6a, and a bridge portion 9a is constructed between the rear ends of the side wall portions 8a.
A strip-shaped supporting piece 10a having elasticity in the vertical direction extends above the connecting piece 6a and substantially parallel to the connecting piece 6a.

The supporting piece 10a'' and the intermediate portion of the connecting piece 6a are connected by a rib lla.

In addition, 12a and 13a are the female connector 1 and the male connector 5.
This is an insertion hole for an electrical connection member provided in the insertion hole 12.
A also serves as a fitting hole for the male connector main body 5b.

In order to couple the protrusion 2a and the connecting piece 6a to have a locking effect, it is sufficient to fit the connectors 1 and 5 together and to insert the connecting piece 6a between the connector body 1a and the protrusion 2a. However, at that time, the tip of the connecting piece 6a is guided by the slope part 4a of the protrusion 2a, and the connecting piece 6a and the support piece 10a connected by the rib lla are bent downward and attached to the protrusion 2a.
It will slide under the lower part of a.

When the protrusion 2a reaches the groove 7 of the connecting piece 6a, the connecting piece 6a
The connecting piece 6a returns to its original position due to the restoring force of the supporting piece 10a, and the protrusion 2a engages with the groove 7, thereby locking as shown in FIG. 1C.

Along with this locking, the insertion holes 1 of each connector 1 and 5
Electrical connection members (not shown) housed inside 2a and 13a are electrically connected to each other.

Since the elastic force of the support piece 10a is added to the original elastic force of the connecting piece 6a, it becomes an extremely strong elastic force, and can be prevented by an unforeseen force other than an external force caused by the will to release the lock.
Connectors 1 and 5 are almost never separated.

Furthermore, the presence of the supporting piece 10a means that the connecting piece 6a is
Since it also plays the role of suspending the connecting piece 6a, the connecting piece 6a is prevented from solidifying while being deformed, and the connecting piece 6a is molded into a predetermined shape, making the locking action more reliable.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment, in which the female connector 1
The protrusion 2b provided in the insertion hole 12b is arranged on the entrance-side ceiling part of the insertion hole 12b, and the tip of the connecting piece 6b of the male connector 5 enters into the insertion hole 12b.

Similar to the first embodiment, the connecting piece 6b is suspended by the supporting piece 10b via the rib llb, and a notch 14 is provided at the tip thereof as an engaging part to engage with the protrusion 2b. .

In this embodiment as well, the operation and effect are almost the same as in the first embodiment, and the connectors 1 and 5 can be firmly locked together.

As mentioned above, the locking mechanism of the connector according to the present invention is
Because the connecting piece is suspended by the supporting piece,
The dimensional accuracy during molding becomes more accurate, and furthermore, by strengthening the elastic force of the connecting pieces, it is possible to prevent the connectors from unintentionally separating from each other in the connected state.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show embodiments of the locking mechanism of the connector according to the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows the second embodiment, and a is a perspective view of the female connector; B is a perspective view of the male connector, and C is a cross-sectional view showing how the connectors are connected to each other. Code 1 is a female connector, 1a and 1b are connector bodies, 2a
, 2b is a protrusion, 4a and 4b are sloped parts, 5 is a male connector,
5a and 5b are connector bodies, 6a and 6b are connection pieces, 7 is a groove portion, 8a and 8b are side wall portions, 9a and 9b are bridge portions, 10
a, 10b are support pieces, lla, llb are ribs, 12a,
12b, 13a, and 13b are insertion holes, and 14 is a notch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Of a pair of connectors that are separated from the first and second connectors, the protrusion attached to the first connector is attached to the retaining part provided at the tip of the cantilevered arm-shaped connecting piece attached to the second connector. The locking mechanism is adapted to be hooked onto the first connector, the protrusion of the first connector facing downward, and a supporting piece having elasticity in the vertical direction above the connecting piece of the second connector having elasticity in the vertical direction. provided substantially parallel to the connecting piece;
The base of the support piece is integrally connected to the second connector by a bridge part, and the tip of the support piece and the middle part of the connection piece are connected by a rib, so that the support piece connects the connection piece. A connector locking mechanism characterized by being elastically suspended to prevent excessive downward deformation.