KR101412322B1 - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To provide a connector for connecting a panel having a lock structure for preventing an excessive deformation of a lock arm for engaging a connector with a panel.

A connector for connecting a panel, which has a tubular connector housing (100) having a predetermined length and in which a contact terminal is disposed, is inserted into an opening (25) provided in the panel (20) 100 are provided in the middle of the outer surface of the connector housing and are provided on the side 140 facing the abutment member 158 abutting against the surface 22 of the panel when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel An arm body 152 having an elasticity in a vertical direction and an engaging portion 153 abutting against the rear surface 21 of the panel when the connector is inserted into the opening 25 of the panel, And a rib 157 installed on the opposite side surface of the connector housing as a regulating member for preventing excessive bending of the connector housing.

Description

Connector {CONNECTOR}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly, to a connector for panel connection inserted and connected to an opening formed in a panel.

Panel connecting connectors are used to connect the wirings located on the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle through panels such as automobile bodies, doors, and refrigerators. This connector is constituted by, for example, a plug connector and a receptacle connector which are fitted to each other, a socket contact is mounted inside the housing of the plug connector, and a wiring on the back side (inside) do. A pin contact is mounted inside the housing of the receptacle connector, and wirings on the surface side (outer side) of the panel are connected to the pin contact. A panel lock structure for fixing the receptacle connector to the panel is provided outside the housing of the receptacle connector. The panel lock structure generally comprises a flexible locking arm and a retaining piece formed thereon. In use, the receptacle connector is inserted into the mounting hole formed in the panel from the front side of the panel. Then, the locking arm passes through the mounting hole of the panel, and the retaining member stops on the edge of the mounting hole, so that the receptacle connector is fixed to the panel. Then, the plug connector is fitted to the receptacle connector on the panel direction side, thereby completing connection of the wiring on the front surface side and the back surface of the panel.

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-255659) discloses an invention of a " floating panel mounting structure for an electric connector ", which is a connector having a panel lock structure. The panel mounting structure is provided with an insulating housing of the electrical connector with a pair of locking portions passing through the holes formed in the panel from the rear side of the panel so that each locking portion includes a locking arm, a head, As shown in FIG. The slit of the lock arm is formed in a long direction, thereby giving the arm considerable flexibility and elasticity.

6 is a perspective view showing a panel lock structure of another conventional panel connecting connector. On the side surface 640 of the connector housing 600, a panel lock structure 650 is provided. The panel lock structure 650 includes a head portion 651 fixed to the side surface 640, a pair of arm bodies 652 extending rearward from the head portion 651, And an arm rear end portion 654 fixed to the side surface 640 at the rear end of the arm body 652. A gap 655 is formed between the pair of arm bodies 652, Is formed. The arm body 652 is fixed to the side surface 640 at the head portion 651 and the arm rear end portion 654 while the intermediate portion is separated from the side surface 640 so that it can be deformed in the vertical direction have.

When the connector housing 600 is inserted into the mounting hole provided in the panel in the direction of arrow A with the contact connected to the contact accommodating portion 660 inserted from the rear side, the arm body 652 is engaged with the engaging portion 653 come into contact with the edge of the mounting hole, the arm body 652 can be bent in the direction of the arrow B and can pass through the mounting hole. When the engaging portion 653 passes through the mounting hole, the arm body 652 returns to its original shape, and the engaging portion 653 is stopped by the edge of the mounting hole so that the connector housing 600 is firmly fixed to the panel .

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-255659 (paragraph [0015])

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 6-70174

However, when the panel lock structure of Patent Documents 1 and 6 is subjected to a large external force when the connector housing is handled or when the connector housing is mounted on the panel, the lock arm or the arm body is excessively bent and deformed, Depending on the material, permanent deformation is called, or cracked or broken, so that it can not be used.

In order to solve such a problem, Patent Document 2 discloses a protective cap for covering the entrance edge of a panel-mounting connector provided with a locking arm engaging with a device hole of a panel at an edge of an entrance of a hood portion, Wherein a cap body for covering an edge is provided with a mounting portion for mounting to the hood portion and a deformation preventing portion for contacting the locking arm when the locking arm is bent inward and regulating the curvature of the cap, .

It is possible to regulate the excessive deformation of the locking arm by attaching the protective cap for the panel mount connector to the connector housing when the connector is mounted on the panel. In this case, however, the cap must be prepared as a member separate from the connector housing .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for panel connection, which has a locking structure for preventing excessive deformation of the lock arm for engaging the connector with the panel.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems,

1. A connector for connecting panels, comprising: a connector housing having a tubular connector housing having a predetermined length in which a contact terminal is disposed,

An abutment member provided at an intermediate portion of the outer surface of the connector housing and abutting against the surface of the panel when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel,

An arm body provided on an opposite side surface and having an elasticity in a vertical direction and having an engaging portion abutting against the back surface of the panel when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel;

And a regulating member for preventing excessive bending of the arm body. The term " panel surface " refers to the side of the connector on which the connector of the present invention is inserted, and " back surface of panel " refers to the surface located on the back surface side of the panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention,

The regulating member is composed of a rib which is erected from the opposite side surface of the connector housing, and the rib is provided on a side where the arm body is bent when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a panel connecting connector according to the first or second aspect, wherein the arm body is disposed on each of the opposite side surfaces, The upper arm body and the lower arm body are connected to each other at a front end thereof so as to be U-shaped when viewed from the side, and at the same time, And the member is provided between the two arm bodies formed in the U-shape.

According to Claim 3 of the invention, the regulating member is connected to the U-shaped bottom portion of the two arm bodies formed in the U-shape.

According to Claim 5 of the present invention, the regulating member is formed of the same material as the connector housing.

According to claim 1 of the present invention, the regulating member is formed of a material different from that of the connector housing.

With the above arrangement, the present invention exhibits the following excellent effects. That is, according to the connector for panel connection of the present invention, when the arm body is bent by the external force applied to the arm body when the connector housing is handled, the deformation amount of the arm body is regulated by the regulating member. Similarly, when the connector is inserted into the opening formed in the panel and the engaging portion passes through the opening edge of the panel, the amount of deformation of the arm body is regulated by the regulating member even when the arm body is bent. This can prevent excessive deformation that damages the arm body.

According to the invention of the connector for panel connection described in claim 2, since the regulating member is formed as a simple shape as the rib, it becomes possible to easily manufacture the regulating member. Further, even when a certain portion of the arm body is deformed or curved, the deformation can be regulated.

According to the invention of the connector for panel connection described in claim 3, since the two arm bodies are connected to the U-shape when viewed from the side, insertion into the openings of the panel of the arm body can be smoothly performed. Further, since the abutment member and the engaging portions are provided in two, the connector can be securely engaged with the panel. At the same time, since the regulating member is formed between the two arm bodies, the regulating member is finished in one, and the configuration is simple and easy to manufacture.

According to the invention of the connector for panel connection described in claim 4, the regulating member is formed to be connected to the U-shaped bottom portion of the two arm bodies. As a result, the structure of the arm body and the regulating member becomes simple, and the manufacturing can be easily carried out.

According to the invention of the connector for panel connection described in claim 5, since the connector housing and the regulating member can be integrally formed from the same material, it becomes possible to easily manufacture the connector.

According to the invention of the connector for panel connection described in claim 6, since the connector housing and the regulating member are formed of different materials, for example, the connector housing is made of resin material such as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) And the regulating member is formed of a non-conductive metal material or the like, the arm body is formed of a material having a strength suitable for forming the connector housing, while the regulating member can be provided with a high strength do.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION [

Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the embodiments described below are intended to exemplify a receptacle connector as a connector for panel connection for embodying the technical idea of the present invention and do not intend to specify the present invention to the receptacle connector, The present invention is equally applicable to the panel connector for other embodiments.

≪ Example 1 >

A case in which the panel connecting connector of the present invention is applied to the receptacle connector will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. FIG. 2 is a top view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 (b) is a side view and FIG. 2 2 (C) is a bottom view, Fig. 2 (d) is a front view, and Fig. 2 (e) is a rear view.

1 and 2, the receptacle connector 10 is inserted from one side (the side of the front face 22) of the panel 20 and is provided on the opposite side (the back side 21 side) of the panel And is connected to a plug connector (not shown). The receptacle connector 10 is composed of a connector housing 100 and a pin contact 170 accommodated in the housing. The panel 20 is provided with an opening 25 for installing the receptacle connector 10 as a panel for separating the inside and outside of the refrigerator / freezer compartment of a car body, a door or a refrigerator of an automobile.

The connector housing 100 comprises a top surface 101, a bottom surface 102, a front surface 103, a rear surface 104 and a pair of opposed side surfaces 140, And a plurality of contact receiving openings (160) penetrating the housing (100). The pin contact 170 is accommodated in each of the contact receiving openings 160. Although four contact receiving openings 160 are provided in this embodiment, the number of contact receiving openings 160 may be appropriately changed depending on the use. For example, two or more contact receiving openings 160 may be used. In the present embodiment, the forward direction refers to the direction in which the receptacle connector 10 is inserted into the panel 20, and the rear direction refers to the opposite direction.

A panel lock structure 150 is provided on each of the opposing sides 140, 140 of the connector housing 100. The panel lock structure 150 includes a U-shaped head portion 151 projecting laterally at the front end or the center of the front portion of the side surface 140, a U-shaped head portion 151 extending rearward from the upper and lower ends of the head portion 151 And a pair of arm main bodies 152A and 152B. The upper arm main body 152A has an inclined surface rising in a forward direction on the upper surface and a step-shaped engaging portion And an arm rear end 154A fixed to the rear end or rear portion of the side surface 140 at the rear end of the arm body 152A. Likewise, the lower arm body 152B has a stepped engagement portion 153B formed on its lower surface such that the front portion thereof is inclined downward and the rear portion thereof is formed in a stepped shape, And an arm rear end portion 154B fixed to the rear end portion or the rear portion of the side surface 140. [ The pair of arm bodies 152A and 152B extend substantially in parallel, and gaps (intervals) 155 are formed therebetween. 2 (a) and 2 (c), the head portion 151 and the arm rear ends 154A and 154B are fixed to the side surface 140. On the other hand, the arm body 152A 152B are separated from the side surface 140 by the slit 159, the central portions of the arm bodies 152A, 152B are resilient in the vertical direction.

Openings 156A and 156B are formed in the engaging portions 153A and 153B, respectively. The formation of the openings 156A and 156B does not have to form the openings 156A and 156B but the flexibility and elasticity of the arm bodies 152A and 152B are increased and the engaging portions 153A and 153B are inserted into the panel This portion can be smoothly deformed and inserted into the panel mounting hole. If the openings 156A and 156B are formed, flexibility and elasticity may increase while the strength may be weakened. However, since the amount of deformation of the engaging portions 153A and 153B is regulated by the rib 157 described later, 153A, and 153B are not damaged.

The panel lock structure 150 includes ribs 157 serving as regulating members extending in a straight line from the center of the U-shaped bottom portion of the head portion 151 rearward. The ribs 157 are formed from the head portion 151 to the vicinity of the center of the arm bodies 152A and 152B in the gaps (intervals) 155 formed between the arm bodies 152A and 152B, 10 is inserted into the panel, the amount of displacement of the arm body 152A, 152B when the arm body 152A is bent in the direction of the gap (interval) 155 is regulated.

An abutment member 158 is provided at the upper end and the lower end of the side surface 140 rearward of the position where the engaging portions 153A and 153B are provided, respectively. The abutment member 158 constitutes a part of the panel lock structure 150. The abutment member 158 has an abutment surface 158a which faces the engaging portions 153A and 153B with a predetermined gap therebetween. The distance between the engaging portions 153A and 153B and the abutment surface 158a is equal to the thickness of the panel into which the receptacle connector 10 is inserted.

The connector housing 100 and the above-described panel lock structure 150 are all formed of the same material. By doing so, it is possible to integrally form the connector housing 100 and the panel lock structure 150, so that the receptacle connector 10 can be easily manufactured.

Alternatively, the connector housing 100 and the head 151, the arm bodies 152A and 152B, the engaging portions 153A and 153B, the female rear ends 154A and 154B, and the abutting member 158 may be PBT And the rib 157 may be formed of another material such as a non-conductive metal material. The arm bodies 152A and 152B and the engaging portions 153A and 153B are made of a material having a strength suitable for forming the arm housing 152A and 152B and the engaging portions 153A and 153B of the connector housing 100 And the rib 157 can be provided with a high strength.

Next, the installation of the receptacle connector 10 of this embodiment to the opening 25 of the panel 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 3 illustrating the attachment of the receptacle connector to the opening of the receptacle connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 (a) c) is the figure after insertion. The receptacle connector 10 is inserted into the opening 25 in the direction of the arrow A from the front side of the panel 20 after holding the pin contact 170 connecting the wiring to the respective contact receiving openings 160 3 (a)).

When the receptacle connector 10 is inserted into the opening 25 of the panel 20, the engaging portion 153A of the panel lock structure 150 contacts the upper opening edge 25A of the opening 25 of the panel 20 do. When the receptacle connector 10 is further moved in the direction of the arrow A in this state, the engaging portion 153A and the upper arm body 152A are bent downward (arrow B). Similarly, when the receptacle connector 10 is moved in the direction of the arrow A in a state in which the engaging portion 153B of the panel lock structure 150 is in contact with the opening lower edge 25B of the opening 25 of the panel 20, The arm 153B and the lower arm body 152B are cold-turned upward (arrow B). When the receptacle connector 10 is further moved in the direction of the arrow A and the outermost portions of the engaging portions 153A and 153B pass through the opening 25, the warping of the engaging portions 153A and 153B The engagement portion 153A is returned upward and the engagement portion 153B is returned downward so that the arm bodies 152A and 152B return to their original positions and the engaging portions 153A and 153B Is in contact with the back surface 21 of the panel 20 and is engaged. At this time, the abutment surface 158a of the abutment member 158 abuts against the surface 22 of the panel 20. The panel 20 is held by the engagement portions 153A and 153B and the abutment surface 158a of the abutment member 158 so that the receptacle connector 10 is fixed to the panel 20 .

A corresponding plug connector (not shown) is connected to the receptacle connector 10 fixed to the panel 20 from the side of the side surface 21 facing the panel 20, It is possible to connect the wirings of the first and second transistors

4 shows a side view of the receptacle connector when an inappropriate external force is applied to the panel lock structure 150 of the receptacle connector 10 of the present embodiment. 4, when a large external force F is applied to the upper engaging portion 153A or the arm main body 152A, the head portion 151 and the arm rear end 154A The engaging portion 153A and the arm body 152A are bent and deformed toward the lower side of Fig. 4, although they are not moved because they are fixed to the connector housing 100. Fig. However, since the ribs 157 serving as the restricting members are provided in the gaps (intervals) 155 between the arm bodies 152A and 152B from the head portion 151 to the vicinity of the center of the arm bodies 152A and 152B , The engaging portion 153A and the arm main body 152A come into contact with the rib 157 and are prevented from moving further downward. As a result, it is possible to prevent the engaging portion 153A and the arm main body 152A from being excessively deformed and being connected to permanent deformation, breakage or damage. The same applies to the case where a large external force is applied to the engaging portion 153B or the arm main body 152B which is directed upward substantially upward. The movement of the engaging portion 153B and the arm body 152B in the upward direction is restricted by the rib 157 so that excessive deformation does not occur.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the panel lock structure of the receptacle connector 10 of this embodiment. Fig. 5 (a) shows a state in which the regulating member is not connected to the rib head, Fig. 5 And is tapered toward the center of the arm body. The panel lock structure 150 'of FIG. 5 (a) has the same structure except that the panel lock structure 150 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is different from the rib 157' And description of such members will be omitted. The rib 157 'of the panel lock structure 150' is formed to protrude laterally near the center of the gap 155 between the pair of arm bodies 152A and 152B. The front end portion of the rib 157 'is not connected to the head portion 151 but is terminated near the engaging portions 153A and 153B unlike the rib 157 described in FIGS.

The panel lock structure 150 "of FIG. 5 (b) is the same as the panel lock structure 150 of FIGS. 1 and 2 except that the rib 157 is not provided and the restricting member 157" Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the same members, and a description of such members will be omitted. The regulating member 157 "of the panel lock structure 150" is moved from a position corresponding to the arm rear end portions 154A, 154B to the arm (not shown) in the gap (interval) 155 between the pair of arm bodies 152A, 152B And is tapered toward a position corresponding to the vicinity of the center of the main bodies 152A and 152B. With this configuration, there is no regulating member between the engaging portions 153A and 153B when the engaging portions 153A and 153B and the arm main bodies 152A and 152B are deformed. However, the arm main bodies 152A and 152B, 153B and the arm bodies 152A, 152B by restricting the tapered upper surfaces and the lower surfaces of the regulating members 157. In this case, the arm portions 152A, 152B and the regulating member 157 "are in surface contact with each other, the pressure applied to the arm bodies 152A, 152B can be effectively dispersed, and deterioration of the arm bodies 152A, 152B can be prevented.

1 is an external perspective view of a receptacle connector and a panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the receptacle connector of Fig. 1, Fig. 2 (a) is a top view, Fig. 2 ) Is a rear view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in Fig. 3 illustrating the mounting of the receptacle connector to the opening of the receptacle connector in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 (a) Is the figure after insertion.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of the receptacle connector when an inappropriate external force is applied to the panel lock structure of the receptacle connector of Fig. 1; Fig.

Fig. 5 shows a modified example of the panel lock structure of the receptacle connector of this embodiment. Fig. 5 (a) shows a state in which the ribs are not connected to the head part, Fig. 5 And is tapered toward the center.

6 is a perspective view showing a panel-lock structure of a conventional panel connector.

<Description of Symbols>

10 receptacle connector

20 panels

22 surface

25 aperture

100 connector housing

140 side

150 panel lock structure

151 head portion

152A, 152B Arm body

153A and 153B,

154A, 154B Female rear end

155 Gaps (spacing)

157 ribs

158 abutment member

Claims (6)

A connector for a panel connector having a tubular connector housing having a predetermined length in which a contact terminal is disposed, the connector being inserted into and connected to an opening formed in the panel, An abutment member provided at an intermediate portion of the outer surface of the connector housing and abutting against the surface of the panel when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel, An arm body provided on an opposite side surface and having an elasticity in a vertical direction and having an engaging portion abutting against a back surface of the panel when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel, And a regulating member for preventing excessive bending of the arm body, Wherein the regulating member is erected on the opposite side surface of the connector housing and is provided on a side where the arm body is bent when the connector is inserted into the opening of the panel. The method according to claim 1, And the regulating member is formed of a rib. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the arm body is disposed on each of the opposite side surfaces in two at the top and bottom, The upper arm body and the lower arm body are connected to each other at a front end to form a U-shape when viewed from the side, And the regulating member is provided between the two arm bodies formed in the U-shape. The method of claim 3, Wherein the regulating member is formed to be connected to a U-shaped bottom portion of the two U-shaped arm bodies. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the regulating member is formed of the same material as the connector housing. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the regulating member is formed of a material different from that of the connector housing.

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