JPS6035976Y2 - Electrical connector panel mounting mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more specifically, to a panel mounting mechanism of an electrical connector that is mounted into an opening.

Conventionally, this type of electrical connector was mounted on a panel using a mechanism that allowed the connector to be mounted on the panel simply by inserting it into the opening without using separate screws, nuts, clips, etc. It is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 54-52697.

In this known electrical connector, at least one of the opposing outer walls of the insulating housing of the electrical connector includes:
The mounting of the panel is perpendicular to the side wall of the opening, and the mounting of the insulating housing is provided with ears that can be elastically deflected in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion into the opening. For installation, a groove is provided in the center of the ear to engage with the side edge wall of the opening, a locking ear is provided at the tip, and a locking ear is provided on the one outer wall of the insulating housing. is provided with a locking portion that can be engaged with the locking ear portion.

The mechanism for panel mounting of this known electrical connector is that the panel is mounted by simply inserting it into the opening, and due to the elasticity of the ears, its groove is mounted by engaging the side wall of the opening, thereby attaching the electrical connector to the panel. Although the electrical connector can be attached to the panel very easily since the electrical connector has already been attached, it has the following problems.

In other words, since the groove and attachment are a mechanism for locking the electrical connector to the panel by engagement with the side wall of the opening, it can cope with some variation in panel thickness, but if the panel thickness is 2. If the number of panels is doubled or tripled, it will not be possible to cope with this increase, and it will no longer be possible to attach electrical connectors to such thick or thin panels.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of such conventional mechanisms, and to make it possible to easily attach electrical connectors to panels, and to ensure that the attachment can be done reliably even when the thickness of the panel changes considerably. Panel mounting of electrical connectors is to provide a mechanism.

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with regard to embodiments of the present invention based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the relationship between an electrical connector equipped with a panel mounting mechanism and a panel as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 attached to the panel shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the electrical connector shown in FIG. be.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electrical connector of this embodiment has an insulating housing 10 made of, for example, a plastic material, and the insulating housing 10 includes a plurality of male contacts 11. is installed.

The upper wall 12 of the insulating housing 10 has grooves 13 and 1.
3' is formed, and each of these grooves 13, 13' has elastic locking tongues 14, 14 whose tips 15, 15' face toward the fitting side and are inclined outward. ' is provided.

At this tip 15, 15', the panel is attached to locking surfaces 15 having different heights in a stepped manner in a direction transverse to the direction of insertion into the opening and along the upper wall 12 of the insulating housing 10.
A.

15B, 15G and 15A', 15B', 15
C' is formed.

Similarly, in the lower wall 22 of the insulating housing 10, grooves 23,
23' is formed, and in each of these grooves 23, 23' there are elastic locking tongues 24, 24' whose tips 25° 25' face toward the fitting side and which are further inclined outward. It is provided.

Also at this tip 25, 25', the panel is attached with a step-like locking surface 25 having different heights in a direction transverse to the direction of insertion into the opening and along the lower wall 22 of the insulating housing 10.
A, 25B, 25C and 25A', 25B',
25C' is formed.

Further, the insulating housing 10 is provided with flanges 16 and 26, which serve as holding members and project from the upper wall 12 and the lower wall 22, respectively.

When installing an electrical connector with such a configuration into the opening 31 of the panel 30, as shown in FIG.
When the electrical connector is inserted into the interior, the locking tongues 14, 14', 24, 24' provided on the upper wall 12 and lower wall 22 of the insulating housing 10 are attached to the side edge wall 31' of the opening 31. These locking tongues 14.1 come into contact
4', 24, 24' are pushed by their side walls 31', causing their tips 15, 15', 25, 25' to move elastically inward.

When the electrical connector is further inserted into the opening 31 of the panel 30, the side edge wall 31' finally snaps into place with the locking tongue piece 14.
14', 24. Tip of 24' 15, 15', 25, 25
', and the locking tongue pieces 14, 14', 2
4.24' returns to its original state due to its own elasticity.

This state is shown in a cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, and as clearly shown in FIG. 14,1
4', 24, 24' tips 15.15', 25.25'
The highest position locking surface 15A, 15A', 2
5A and 25A', thereby ensuring that the electrical connector is securely attached to the panel 30.

Next, the installation of a panel thicker than the thickness of the panel 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to the case where the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 is installed in the opening.

FIG. 4A illustrates the shape of an attachment opening formed in such a thick panel 30A.

In this installation, the ends 15 of the locking tongues 14, 14', 24, 24' provided on the upper and lower walls of the insulating housing 10 of the electrical connector shown in FIG.
, 15', 25, 25' highest position locking surface 15A
, 15A', 25A, and R32 at the positions corresponding to 25A'
A is formed.

The width of this groove 32A is the locking surface 15A, 15A', 2
The width is slightly larger than that of 5A and 25A'.

Installation in this type of shape is possible using a panel 3O having an opening 31A.
To attach the electrical connector of FIG. Locking surface 15 of tongue pieces 15, 15', 25, 25'
A, 15A', 25A, 25A' enter, and the third
As shown in the figure, locking surfaces 15B, 15 at a lower position
When mounting the panel 30A, B', 25B, and 25B' engage with the side surface of the periphery of the opening 31A.

In this way, the panel 30A has the flange portion 16.26 and the locking surfaces 15B, 15 of the locking tongues 14.14', 24.24'.
B', 25B, and 25B', thereby ensuring that the electrical connector is securely attached to the panel 30A.

FIG. 4B shows an example of a panel of the same thickness as the panel of FIG. 4A, but with a different shape of attachment in the form of an aperture.

This panel 30B is installed on the side edge wall 31B' of the opening 30B.
Recesses 32B are formed at four locations.

The formation positions of these recesses 32B are determined by the locking tongue pieces 14, 14'
, 24.24' end locking surface 15.15A', 25A
, 25A' only.

Attachment of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 to such panel 30B is accomplished in the same manner as described with respect to panel 30A, and will not be described in detail again.

Next, the installation of a panel that is thicker than the panels 30A and 30B will be described with reference to the case where the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 is installed in the opening.

FIG. 5A illustrates the shape of the mounting aperture that would fit into such a thick panel 30C.

In this installation, the side edge wall 31C' of the opening 31C has the locking surfaces 15A of the tips 15.15', 25, 25' of the locking tongue pieces 14, 14', 24.24' of the electrical connector shown in FIG. ,
15B, 15A', 15B', 25A, 2
Grooves 32G are formed at positions corresponding to 5B, 25A', and 25B'.

The width of this groove 32C is the same as that of the locking surfaces 15A, 15B, and 15A'.
and 15B'.

The width is slightly larger than the sum of the widths of 25A and 25B, and 25A' and 25B'.

For installation in such a shape, a panel 30 having an opening 31C is used.
To attach the electrical connector shown in Figure 1 to C, panel 30
It would be possible to do it in the same way as described above regarding A, but in this case, the installation is done using the groove 32 formed in the opening 31C.
Locking surfaces 15A and 15B, 15A' and 15B', 25A and 25B of each locking tongue piece 15, 15', 25, 25' in C
, 25A' and 25B' enter, and the lowest position locking surfaces 15C, 15C', 25C, 25C' are spring/L/
30C is attached to the side surface around the opening 31C.

In this way, the panel 30C has the locking surfaces 15G, 1 of the flange portions 16, 26 and the locking tongues 14, 14', 24°24'.
5C', 25C, and 25C', thereby ensuring that the electrical connector is securely attached to the panel 30C.

FIG. 5B shows an example of a panel of the same thickness as the panel of FIG. 5A, but with a different shape of attachment in the form of an aperture.

This panel 30D is installed on the side edge wall 31D' of the opening 31D.
Concave portions 32D are formed at four locations.

The formation positions of these recesses 32D are those of the locking tongues 14, 14.
', 24.24' end locking surfaces 15A, 15B,
15A', 15B', 25A, 25 B,
It is said that only 25A' and 25B' can be inserted.

Attachment of the electrical connector of FIG. 1 to such panel 30D is accomplished in the same manner as described with respect to panel 30C, and will not be described in detail again.

FIG. 6 shows, in a partially perspective view, another embodiment of a locking tongue that can replace the locking tongues 14.14', 24.24' provided on the insulating housing 10 as described above.

This locking tongue piece 150 has step-shaped locking surfaces 150A, 150B, and 150C at its tip, and furthermore, cut grooves 151 are formed on the side surfaces at the same positions as the locking surfaces 150B and 150C. .152 is the most popular.

With this configuration of the locking tongue 150, the cut groove 151 or 152 provided on the locking tongue 150 can be cut in response to a large change in the thickness of the panel.
Using a tool such as nippers, cut a part of the tip, for example, the locking surface 150A, or the locking surface 150A and the locking surface 150B.
If you cut and remove that part, the opening for installing the panel will be the first one.
As shown in the figures, electrical connectors can be mounted and retained without forming grooves or recesses, particularly as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the invention in partial perspective view.

A recessed groove 180 is formed in the outer wall of the insulating housing of this electrical connector, and this recessed groove 180 includes a tongue piece 160 whose tip is oriented in the fitting direction, and a tongue piece 170 whose tip is oriented in the wiring direction. The tips of tongue piece 160 and tongue piece 170 face each other at groove 180, creating a gap 181 between them into which the panel is inserted.

The detailed structure of the tongue piece 160 and the tongue piece 170 may be the same as that of the locking tongue pieces 14, 14', 24, 24' described above, and the locking surfaces 160A, 160B, 160G and 1, respectively.
It has 7OA, 170B, and 170C.

One of these tongues 16G and 170 corresponds to the locking tongues 14.14', 24.24' in the embodiment described above, and the other corresponds to the flange portion 16.2 as the holding member in the embodiment described above. This corresponds to 26.

If the panel mounting is a mechanism configured in this way, the connector can be attached to the panel from the front or the back of the panel, and the thickness of the panel is also determined by the difference between the tongue pieces 160 and the tongue pieces 170. The gap 181 between the tips, that is, the difference in dimensions a, b, c, is the difference between the respective locking surfaces 160A, 1
This is twice the level difference between 60B, 160C, 170A, 170B, and 17OC, which is an extremely large difference, so that it can accommodate a considerably large change in panel thickness.

These tongue pieces 160 and 170 are also preferably provided with cut grooves 161, 162 and 171, 172 as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment in which the panel mounting mechanism of the present invention is applied to a circular connector.

As shown in Figure 8, the insulating housing 2 of the circular connector
00, a plurality of female contact holes 201 are formed, and grooves 20 are formed at two opposing locations on the cylindrical outer part 202.
3, 203' are formed, and these grooves 203, 2
03' is provided with a locking tongue piece 204.

The configuration of the locking tongue piece 204 is similar to that of the locking tongue piece in the embodiment described above, so it will not be described in detail again.

The insulating housing 200 is further formed with a flange portion 206 as a holding member so as to protrude from the insulating housing 200 and the side wall.

In order to prevent rotation of the panel of the insulating housing 200, a protruding guide 210 is formed at a position 90 degrees apart from the concave grooves 203 and 203'. , a guide groove 232 is formed at a position corresponding to the protruding guide 210.

The method of attaching this circular connector to the panel 230 is the same as that described in connection with the previous embodiment, and therefore will not be described repeatedly.

The panel mounting mechanism of the electrical connector of the present invention is constructed as described above, so even if the thickness of the panel changes significantly, the presence of the stepped locking surface ensures that the panel is always mounted around the opening. Since the panel can be held between the parts,
It is possible to always securely attach and hold the connector without causing looseness.

Furthermore, a locking tongue piece is provided in the groove of the insulating housing,
The locking surface provided at the tip of the locking tongue piece is formed in a step-like manner in a direction transverse to the insertion direction into the opening and along the side wall of the insulating housing. It is possible to install panels of various thicknesses without significantly increasing the dimensions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrical connector with a panel mounting mechanism as an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the electrical connector of Fig. 1 mounted on a panel, and Fig. 3 is a more FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the thick panel; FIGS. 4A and B are partial plan views showing various shapes of openings for mounting the panel; FIG.
Figures A and B are partial plan views showing various shapes of openings for mounting thicker panels, Figure 6 is a partial perspective view showing another embodiment of the locking tongue, and Figure 7 is another implementation of the invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the present invention. 10...Insulating housing, 12...Upper side wall, 13.13'...Concave groove, 14,14'.
...Latching tongue piece, 15.15'...Tip,
15A, 15B, 15C, 15A', 15B',
15C'... Locking surface, 16... Flange portion, 22... Lower wall, 24, 24'...
...Locking tongue piece, 25.25'...Tip, 25
A. 25B, 25C, 25A', 25B', 25
C'...Latching surface, 26...Flange, 30...Panel, 31...Mounting opening, 31'... Side edge wall, 30A, 30B, 30
C, 30D...Panel, 31A, 31B, 3
IC, 31D... Installation is through opening, 3IA', 3
1B', 31 C', 31 D'...Side edge wall, 32A, 32C...Groove, 32B, 32D.
...Recessed portion, 150...Locking tongue piece, 150
A, 150B, 150C... Locking surface, 151° 152... Cut groove, 160° 170... Tongue piece.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The panel mounting mechanism of the electrical connector is provided with a groove in the side wall of the insulating housing of the electrical connector, and when the insulating housing is inserted into the panel mounting opening, the electrical connector is mounted in the opening. a locking tongue adapted to be elastically deflectable towards the side wall of the insulating housing by an edge and having a tip for engaging one side of the panel at the periphery of the opening; is provided in the recessed groove, and further provided with a holding member on the side wall of the insulating housing that cooperates with the tip of the locking tongue and whose attachment engages with the other side of the panel around the opening, At least two step-like locking surfaces having different heights are formed at the tip of the locking tongue in a direction that extends along the side wall of the insulating housing and crosses the insertion direction of the panel into the opening. The mounting of a panel having a selected thickness corresponding to the holding member and one of the locking surfaces is carried out by sandwiching the panel at the periphery of the opening, and The locking surface located at a higher position than the selected one locking surface is inserted into a groove or a recess formed around the opening so that the electrical connector can be attached to the panel. Panel mounting features a mechanism.