KR102454220B1 - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a connector assembly in which fastening of a terminal part is accurately and reliably performed. The connector assembly includes a plug housing, a terminal part including a plurality of terminals inserted into the plug housing, and a lower surface of the plug housing hingedly coupled to the plug housing, and rotating the hinge to insert and couple the terminal part into the plug housing. and a double lock member for detecting whether the position of the terminal part is deviated as it comes into contact with the contact position and coupling the terminal part to the original position.

Description

connector assembly {CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY}

The present invention relates to a connector assembly.

A connector is a kind of electrical component that selectively connects or blocks an electrical connection. For example, the connector can be used to connect a cable for a vehicle door. As the engine performance of the vehicle is improved and various convenience devices are mounted, along with the trend of high-end and multi-functionality, many electronic components and controllers are mounted in the vehicle, and power lines and control signal lines for various electronic components, and between the controllers A wiring harness including a communication line and the like, as well as cables, are installed in a predetermined arrangement. In particular, a multi-pole connector having a plurality of input and output terminals is mounted at one end of a wiring harness or a cable for electrical connection between controllers including various electronic devices. Multi-pole connectors are manufactured in different shapes according to the rated capacity of electrical equipment and the specifications of the wires used.

Accordingly, as a plurality of multi-pole connectors for connecting various wiring harnesses and the like are assembled in-line, the number of work hours is increased.

In consideration of this, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2012-0085051, a cap housing 10 including a plurality of terminals 15 and a mating connector 30 coupled to the cap housing 10 are provided. And, in order to ensure the correct position of the terminal 15, a multi-pole connector including a retainer (locking part, 14) for stably fixing the terminal 15 has been proposed. The retainer is inserted sideways into the plug and is usually held in place by two latches.

In order to satisfy the terminal holding force among the customer requirements, the retainer secondary locking must be done properly. However, in the current structure, there is no function to detect even if the retainer secondary lock is not properly performed, so various types of quality problems occur. In the previous structure, a problem of being pushed in due to the round shape of the corner of the retainer and the flow space, the secondary lock of the retainer was not properly detected and inserted in an unfastened state could occur. As a result, there is a possibility that the terminal may be defective in the finished product while it is not inserted.

In summary, due to manufacturing tolerances of the product, assembly frequently occurred in a state in which the retainer was not properly fastened, and as a result, the terminals were not properly fixed, separated, or incorrectly coupled.

According to embodiments of the present invention, it is an object to provide a connector assembly in which coupling is easy and the terminal part is accurately and reliably fastened.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

According to embodiments of the present invention for achieving the above object, a connector assembly is hinged to a plug housing, a terminal portion including a plurality of terminals inserted therein into the plug housing, and a lower surface of the plug housing, and a double lock member for detecting whether the position of the terminal part is deviated from the position of the terminal part as it comes into contact with the contact position of the terminal part as it is inserted and coupled to the plug housing by rotating the hinge and coupling the terminal part to the original position.

According to one side, the double lock member may be provided to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the plug housing is fastened to the mating connector. In addition, the double lock member may include a body portion provided on a lower surface of the plug housing, one surface contacting the terminal portion inside the plug housing, and hinge shafts provided on both sides of the body portion. In addition, the body portion has a length corresponding to the width on the lower surface of the plug housing, a cross section is bent based on a straight line connecting the hinge shaft, and when accommodated in the plug housing, one surface is the lower surface of the plug housing It is located on the same surface and the other surface bent from the one surface may be formed so as to be in contact with the terminal portion inside the body portion. For example, the other surface may be formed as a flat or curved surface. In addition, the body portion may be formed by bending the other surface by 90° with respect to the one surface. In addition, the double lock member is provided on both sides of the body portion and is provided with a primary locking portion that is hooked to the plug housing, and is provided at a free end exposed to the outside of the plug housing from the body portion so as to be caught by the plug housing. A secondary locking unit coupled thereto may be provided. For example, the primary locking part may have a protrusion shape protruding from the body part. In addition, the secondary locking part may have a protrusion shape protruding from the body part, and a plurality of the secondary locking parts may be provided along the free end part.

According to one side, the hinge shaft may be provided at a position adjacent to the contact position of the terminal part.

Various embodiments of the present invention may have one or more of the following effects.

As seen above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to detect whether the terminal part is not inserted or the position is deviated by using the double lock member of the hinge rotation method.

In addition, when assembling the mating connector, it is possible to completely insert the double-lock and non-inserted terminals by the mating connector or by the double-lock member itself.

1 and 2 are perspective views of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a state before the double lock member is fastened, and FIG. 2 is a view showing the double lock member is fastened.
3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along line I-I of the connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a state before the double lock member is fastened, and FIG. 4 is a state in which the double lock member is fastened. It is a drawing.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in the connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6A to 6C are views for explaining the operation of the double lock member when the terminal part is unstable in the connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7A to 7C are views for explaining the operation of the double lock member by the mating connector when the terminal part is unstablely seated in the connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are given the same reference numerals as much as possible even though they are indicated in different drawings. In addition, in describing the embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function interferes with the understanding of the embodiment of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only for distinguishing the elements from other elements, and the essence, order, or order of the elements are not limited by the terms. When it is described that a component is “connected”, “coupled” or “connected” to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but between each component another component It will be understood that may also be "connected", "coupled" or "connected".

Hereinafter, the connector assembly 10 according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 . For reference, FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a state before the double lock member 13 is fastened, and FIG. 2 is a double lock member ( 13) is a view of the fastened state. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along line I-I of the connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a state before the double lock member 13 is fastened, and FIG. 4 is a double It is a figure of the state in which the lock member 13 was fastened. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in the connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the connector assembly 10 includes a terminal part 12 including a plurality of terminals, a plug housing 11 , and a double lock member 13 .

The plug housing 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a terminal part 12 is inserted therein, and a cable insertion hole 112 through which the terminal part 12 and a cable (not shown) are connected is formed on the rear surface.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, parts coupled to the mating connector 20 (see FIGS. 7A to 7C ) in the plug housing 11 are referred to as 'front' and 'front', and the opposite side of the front is called 'rear' and 'rear', and a portion on which the double lock member 13 is provided among the side surfaces is referred to as 'bottom' and 'downward'. In addition, in FIGS. 1 and 2, axes with respect to the reference of the above directions are shown.

The terminal part 12 is composed of a plurality of terminals, and is disposed in parallel inside the plug housing 11 . A terminal accommodating part 111 accommodating the terminal part 12 is formed inside the plug housing 11 , and the terminal part 12 is primarily coupled to the inside of the terminal accommodating part 111 when inserted into the plug housing 11 . . However, in the connector assembly 10, a cable (not shown) is connected to the terminal part 12 at the rear of the plug housing 11. (12), an external force acts. In this case, since the coupling state between the terminal part 12 and the plug housing 11 is not firmly fixed, the terminal part 12 may be separated from the original position and pushed to the rear of the plug housing 11 .

In the present embodiments, a double lock member 13 for detecting whether the terminal part 12 is detached from the connector assembly 10, returning the detached terminal part 12 to its original position, and fastening the double lock is provided.

The double lock member 13 is provided on the lower surface of the plug housing 11 to be perpendicular to the direction in which the plug housing 11 is coupled to the mating connector, and is provided to rotate the hinge perpendicular to the mating direction of the mating connector. In addition, the double lock member 13 rotates the hinge and is inserted into the plug housing 11 to detect whether or not the terminal part 12 is detached, and returns the detached terminal part 12 to its original position. In detail, the double lock member 13 is provided on the lower surface of the plug housing 11 , the body part 130 bent at a predetermined angle to push the terminal part 12 in, and a hinge shaft coupled to the plug housing 11 . (132). For example, the double lock member 13 may be bent by 90°. In addition, the hinge shaft 132 is provided at both ends of the body 130 and is coupled to the plug housing 11 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the shape of the double lock member 13 may be substantially changed in various ways.

Here, the terminal part 12 has a predetermined bent shape, and a position in contact with the double lock member 13 from one side of the terminal part 12 is referred to as a 'contact position'. However, the present invention is not limited by the drawings, and the contact position between the terminal part 12 and the double lock member 13 and the shape of the terminal part 12 may be substantially changed. In addition, in the present embodiments, since the contact position of the terminal unit 12 is formed at the lower portion, the double lock member 13 is exemplified as being provided on the lower surface of the plug housing 11 , but depending on the contact position of the terminal unit 12 , the double lock member 13 is provided. It will be easily understood that the position at which the lock member 13 is provided is changed.

The hinge shaft 132 is provided at both ends of the body part 130 , and may be provided at a position adjacent to the contact position of the terminal part 12 . This is to facilitate press-contacting the terminal part 12 by the rotation of the hinge shaft 132 .

The body portion 130 is formed to have a width or a length corresponding to the width of the lower surface of the plug housing 11 , and a cross section thereof is bent at a predetermined angle. For example, the body 130 may have a shape in which a cross-section is bent by approximately 90°. However, the bent angle of the body portion 130 is not limited to 90°, and may have substantially various angles. In addition, although the body 130 exemplifies that the surface in contact with the terminal portion 12 is formed in a flat plane, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the surface in contact with the terminal portion 12 is a convex shape with a predetermined curved surface. It is also possible to have As shown in the drawings, the body 130 has a long bar or rod shape with a relatively small cross section. However, the present invention is not limited by the drawings, and the shape of the double lock member 13 may be substantially changed in various ways.

The double lock member accommodating part 113 is formed in the lower surface of the plug housing 11 by being recessed to a predetermined depth so that the double lock member 13 can be accommodated, and the double lock member receiving part 113 is the plug housing 11 . It is formed to communicate with the terminal accommodating part 111 from the inside. As shown in the drawing, when the body portion 130 is completely accommodated in the plug housing 11 , one surface 131 and the lower surface of the plug housing 11 do not protrude from the lower surface of the plug housing 11 . are located on the same plane. In addition, the other surface 133 bent from one surface 131 of the body portion 130 is formed to contact the contact position of the terminal portion 12 inside the plug housing 11 .

The body portion 130 has a primary locking portion 134 engaged with the plug housing 11 is formed at both ends. For example, the primary locking part 134 is formed to protrude a predetermined height from both ends of the body part 130 , and is engaged with the primary locking part 114 on the plug housing side. In addition, the secondary locking part 135 is formed to protrude a predetermined height at a plurality of positions along an end (hereinafter, referred to as a 'free end') exposed to the outside of the plug housing 11 from the body part 130, and is formed on the plug housing side. It is engaged with the secondary locking part 115 .

According to the present embodiments, the double lock member 13 and the plug housing ( 11) can improve the bonding force. In addition, after the double lock member 13 is fastened, it is possible to prevent the terminal part 12 from being separated by an external force transmitted from the cable and to stably maintain a fixed state.

Here, since the double lock member 13 has a shape longer than the width or width, when the double lock member 13 is fastened while the terminal part 12 is not fastened in place, the double lock member 13 ) may not be completely inserted into the plug housing 11 and the center of the double lock member 13 may be convexly deformed. However, in the present embodiments, since the plurality of secondary locking parts 135 are provided along the free end of the double lock member 13, the double lock member 13 is not fastened to the correct position as described above. Since it holds the central portion of the double lock member 13 from being convexly deformed even after fastening the double lock member 13, it is possible to prevent deformation of the central portion of the double lock member 13 from occurring. Here, the number and position of the secondary locking parts 135 may be substantially variously changed according to the length and width of the double lock member 13 to hold the middle of the double lock member 13 .

Hereinafter, the operation of the double lock member 13 in the connector assembly 10 according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 7C . For reference, FIGS. 6A to 6C are views for explaining the operation of the double lock member 13 when the terminal part 12 is unstablely seated in the connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7A to 7C are views for explaining the operation of the double lock member 13 by the mating connector 20 when the terminal part 12 is unstablely seated in the connector assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. admit.

As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C , when the terminal part 12 is not seated in its proper position, the contact position of the terminal part 12 protrudes backward a predetermined length from the inside of the plug housing 11 . In this case, when the double lock member 13 is rotated, as shown in FIG. 6B , the other surface 133 of the body part 130 comes into contact with the protruding part of the terminal part 12 and interference occurs while the double lock member is rotated. (13) is not completely accommodated in the double lock member accommodating part 113 of the plug housing 11, and a repulsive force is generated from the terminal part 12. Accordingly, the user can detect whether the position of the terminal part 12 is deviated, that is, an abnormal assembly state, through a change in the repulsive force while the double lock member 13 is rotated.

When the terminal part 12 is in an abnormally assembled state, the user applies force to the double lock member 13 to continue rotating it, and the other surface 133 of the body part 130 comes into contact with the part from which the terminal part 12 is pushed out and pressurizes it. Thus, the terminal part 12 is pushed into the correct position. Even if the operator does not detect whether the terminal part 12 is out of position, if the double lock member 13 is fully fastened, as shown in FIG. 6C , the double lock member 13 fixes the terminal part 12 . There is no risk of failure due to non-tightening of the terminal part 12 because it is pushed into position.

According to the present embodiments, the double lock member 13 rotates in a direction in which the other surface 133 pushes the terminal part 12 into the proper position when the hinge rotates. In addition to whether the position of the terminal part 12 is deviated, the terminal part 12 may be fastened to the correct position. This requires less force compared to the case where the double lock member 13 is vertically coupled with respect to the plug housing 11 or the terminal part 12 to push the terminal part 12 into position. Therefore, the operator can easily and easily fasten the terminal part 12 to the correct position with little force.

In addition, when the double lock member 13 is fully fastened to the plug housing 11 , the double lock member 13 and the terminal part 12 are fixed by the primary locking part 134 and the secondary locking part 135 . Since the fixed state is maintained, it is possible to prevent the terminal part 12 from being displaced by the force transmitted by the cable after fastening the cable to the connector assembly 10 .

6A to 6C illustrate that the terminal part 12 is fastened by the double lock member 13 itself, and FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate that the double lock member 13 is fastened by the mating connector 20 . did. The operation of the double lock member 13 by the mating connector 20 is also the same as in FIGS. 6A to 6C described above. However, when the user inserts the plug housing 11 into the mating connector 20 rather than rotating and pressing the double lock member 13 , the double lock member 13 is rotated by the mating connector and the There is some difference in that the reverse rotation of the double lock member 13 is prevented by the connector 20 .

Also in FIGS. 7A to 7C , when the terminal part 12 is not fastened to the correct position, it is detected whether the position of the terminal part 12 is deviated by the repulsive force generated while the plug housing 11 is inserted into the mating connector 20 . can do. And when the terminal part 12 is assembled in an abnormal state, by inserting the plug housing 11 into the mating connector 20 all the way, the double lock member 13 is completely fastened to the plug housing 11, thereby fixing the terminal part 12. pushed into position.

For reference, reference numeral 21 in FIGS. 7A to 7C denotes the end 21 of the mating connector 20 .

According to the present embodiments, by using the hinge-rotating double lock member 13, it is possible to detect whether the terminal part 12 is not inserted, thereby preventing the occurrence of defects. In addition, when assembling the mating connector 20, the double lock can be completely fastened by the mating connector 20 or the double lock member 13 itself, and the uninserted terminal part 12 can be completely inserted into the terminal part. By ensuring that the defective product in the unfastened state in (12) is completely fastened, the defective product can be modified into a good product without a separate additional process. And there is no additional cost with the same number of work processes as the existing mass-produced products.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described with reference to the limited embodiments and drawings, various modifications and variations are possible by those skilled in the art from the above description. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and/or the described components of the system, structure, apparatus, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or other components Or substituted or substituted by equivalents may achieve an appropriate result.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

10: connector assembly
11: plug housing
111: terminal receiving part
112: cable entry
113: double lock member receiving part
114: housing side primary locking part
115: housing side secondary locking part
12: terminal part
13: no double lock
130: body part
131: one side
132: hinge shaft
133: ride
134: primary locking unit
135: secondary locking unit
20: mating connector
21: end

Claims (10)

a plug housing having a terminal accommodating portion formed therein and having a double lock member accommodating portion formed on a lower surface thereof;
a terminal unit including a plurality of terminals inserted into the terminal receiving unit; and
a double lock member including a hinge shaft provided inside the double lock member accommodating part, and a body part formed with one surface and the other surface bent with respect to the hinge shaft;
including,
The double lock member is
When a force is applied to the one surface protruding outward from the double lock member accommodating part, the body part is hinged and inserted into the double lock member accommodating part,
A connector assembly in which the other surface is brought into contact with the contact position of the terminal part and a force is applied in a direction in which the terminal part is inserted, thereby detecting whether the position of the terminal part is deviated, and pushing the displaced terminal part into a regular position to couple it.
According to claim 1,
and the double lock member is provided to rotate in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the plug housing is fastened to the mating connector.
3. The method of claim 2,
The hinge shaft is a connector assembly provided on both sides of the body portion.
4. The method of claim 3,
The body portion may have a length corresponding to a width on a lower surface of the plug housing.
5. The method of claim 4,
The other surface of the connector assembly is formed of a flat or curved surface.
5. The method of claim 4,
The body portion is a connector assembly in which the other surface is bent by 90° with respect to the one surface.
4. The method of claim 3,
The double lock member is
A primary locking portion provided on both sides of the body portion to engage and engage the plug housing is provided;
and a secondary locking portion provided at a free end of the body portion exposed to the outside of the plug housing and engaged with the plug housing.
8. The method of claim 7,
The primary locking part connector assembly having a protrusion shape protruding from the body part.
8. The method of claim 7,
The secondary locking part has a protrusion shape protruding from the body part, and a plurality of connector assemblies are provided along the free end part.
4. The method of claim 3,
The hinge shaft is provided at a position adjacent to a contact position of the terminal part.

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