KR20090073857A - Connector assembly and assembling method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector assembly and a coupling method thereof for improving the workability of a task binding the first and the second connector are provided to scatter the coherence required for the bond between connectors. Combination wings are extended due to both sides of a first connector(20). A combination slot(30) is formed in combination wings. A second connector in which a guide projection inserted into the matching slot is equipped is combined with the first connector. The second connector is rotated in the state where the guide projection is inserted into the matching slot. A second terminal elastically transforms a spring unit of a first terminal.

Description

Connector assembly and assembling method for the same}

The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly, to a connector assembly and a method of coupling thereof, in which a first connector and a second connector having a terminal installed inside the housing are coupled to each other to perform electrical connection.

The connector is a connecting mechanism for connecting the circuit devices so as to be electrically connected to each other. For example, the connector is provided with various wirings inside the vehicle, and is configured to supply electricity from a battery. Typically such a connector consists of a housing and a plurality of terminals inserted therein.

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a general connector.

According to this, the appearance and the skeleton of the connector 2 are formed by the housing 4. The housing 4 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

Inside the housing 4 is formed a terminal hole 6 into which a terminal (not shown) is inserted and seated. The terminal hole 6 is formed long in the front and rear through the housing (4). The terminal hole 6 is arranged in a number of left and right when viewed from the front.

However, the prior art as described above has the following problems.

The housing 4 is coupled while sliding with a separate housing (not shown) in which a plurality of terminals are inserted therein. That is, while the housing 4 and the separate housing are coupled, the terminals provided in each housing are coupled to each other to perform electrical connection.

As such, when the connectors are coupled to each other, the respective connectors are coupled to each other while sliding, and in this process, terminals provided therein are coupled to each other. In general, since the terminal is composed of a male and female and one end of the female terminal is elastically deformed and coupled to the male terminal, a force for elastically deforming a plurality of female terminals at one time is required. As such, when the connector is coupled, a large coupling force is required, thus making it difficult to combine the connector.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and to provide a connector assembly and a method of coupling thereof for distributing the coupling force required for coupling between connectors.

According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the object as described above, the present invention is the first terminal having a coupling portion at one end is formed therein is formed a spring portion capable of elastic deformation, the coupling slot is formed on each side A first connector; Guide protrusions inserted and guided into the coupling slots are protruded on both sides, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal is inserted therein, and the guide protrusions are rotated while being inserted into the coupling slots. The terminal 2 elastically deforms the spring portion, characterized in that it comprises a second connector coupled to the first connector while sliding in this state.

The first coupling portion into which the second connector is inserted is opened at one end of the first connector, and the second coupling portion corresponding to the first coupling portion is open at the other end of the second connector. It features.

The first connector may include a first housing; It characterized in that it comprises a coupling blade extending parallel to both ends of the first housing, the coupling slot is formed to be opened.

The coupling slot may include an insertion guide part in which the guide protrusion is inserted and guided; A rotation part provided at one end of the insertion guide part to allow the guide protrusion to rotate in one direction; It extends in the direction perpendicular to the insertion guide portion from the rotating portion, characterized in that it comprises a coupling portion which is coupled to the first connector and the second connector while the guide projection is moved.

One side of the first housing is characterized in that the front end of the second housing in the state coupled with the second housing is hooked to prevent the second housing is rotated in the direction to release the coupling is characterized in that it is provided.

The guide protrusion may include a guide part which is contacted when moving along the insertion guide part and the coupling part, and a round part that is contacted when the guide protrusion is rotated in the rotating part is formed as a curved surface.

The coupling blade is characterized in that the insertion guide for guiding the insertion position of the guide protrusion is formed to shield a portion of the insertion guide.

According to another feature of the invention, the present invention comprises the steps of inserting the first terminal and the second terminal inside the first housing and the second housing; Inserting a second housing in a vertical direction into a coupling slot formed in the first housing; Rotating the second housing to elastically deform the spring of the first terminal by the second terminal; And sliding the second housing to the first housing in a state where the spring portion of the first terminal is elastically deformed.

The top end of the first connector is formed such that the upper end of the first coupling portion into which the second connector is inserted, and the second coupling part corresponding to the first coupling portion is formed at the front end of the second connector so that the lower end is opened. It features.

One side of the first housing is characterized in that the front end of the second housing in the state coupled with the second housing is hooked to prevent the second housing is rotated in the direction to release the coupling is characterized in that it is provided.

In the present invention, when the first connector and the second connector are coupled to each other, the first connector while the second connector is rotated to deform the spring portion of the first terminal and the first terminal is moved in a linear direction in the state of elastic deformation. The combination with Therefore, the coupling force necessary for coupling the first and second connectors is distributed, so that the operation becomes easy. Thus, according to this invention, there exists an effect that the workability of the operation | work which couples a 1st and 1st connector is improved.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a connector assembly and a coupling method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of a connector assembly according to the present invention.

As shown in these figures, the appearance and skeleton of the first connector 20 are formed by the first housing 22. The first housing 22 is made of an insulating material and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first coupling part 23 is formed at the front end of the first housing 22. The first coupling part 23 is formed to open one end, that is, the upper end or the lower end of the first housing 22.

A plurality of terminal seating portions 24 are formed to be partitioned inside the first housing 22. The terminal seating portion 24 is a portion in which the first terminal 40 to be described below is inserted and seated. The terminal seating part 24 is formed to penetrate in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 22. Although not shown in detail in the figure, the terminal seat 24 is provided with a fixing device such as a lance for fixing the first terminal 40 separately.

The first housing 22 has a pair of coupling wings 26 are formed in parallel. The coupling wings 26 are formed to extend in parallel to one side at both ends of the first housing 22. The coupling blade 26 is preferably formed integrally with the first housing 22.

On the other hand, the coupling blade 26 is formed with a coupling slot 30 to guide the guide protrusion 56 of the second housing 52 is inserted. The coupling slot 30 serves to guide the guide protrusion 56 when the first connector 20 and the second connector 50 are coupled to each other so that the second connector 50 can be rotated and coupled. do.

The coupling slot 30 is provided with an insertion guide portion 30a into which the guide protrusion 56 is first inserted when the second connector 50 is coupled to the first connector 20. The insertion guide portion 30a is formed to be opened downward so that the guide protrusion 56 is inserted therein. The insertion guide part 30a is formed up and down of the first housing 22.

Then, one end of the insertion guide portion (30a) is provided with a rotating portion (30b) for rotation in the state where the guide projection 56 is located. The rotation part 30b is formed in a curved surface corresponding to the shape of the round part 57 of the guide protrusion 56 so that the guide protrusion 56 can be smoothly rotated. In the rotating part 30b, the guide protrusion 56 is rotated by approximately 90 °.

Next, a coupling part 30c extending from the rotation part 30b in a direction perpendicular to the insertion guide part 30a is provided. The coupling part 30c is a section that is moved when the second connector 50 is coupled with the first connector 20 in a rotated state.

An insertion guide rib 32 protrudes from one side of the outer surface of the coupling blade 26. The insertion guide rib 32 is provided at a point where the insertion of the guide protrusion 56 is started to shield a part of the insertion guide part 30a. The insertion guide 32 serves to guide the insertion position so that the guide protrusion 56 can be inserted smoothly from the starting point when the guide protrusion 56 is inserted.

One side of the first housing 22 is provided with a hook rib 34 protruding from the front end side of the second housing 52 in a state in which the second housing 52 is coupled. The hanger rib 34 is formed integrally with the first housing 22, and the second housing 52 is disengaged by engaging the front end of the second housing 52 as shown in FIG. It serves to prevent the rotation in the direction.

The first terminal 40 is inserted into and seated in the terminal seat 24 of the first housing 22. One end of the first terminal 40 is provided with a coupling portion 41 which is substantially coupled to the second terminal 60 to be described below. In addition, the coupling portion 41 is provided with a spring portion 42 which is elastically deformed when coupled with the second terminal 60. The spring part 42 is a part formed by bending a part of the coupling part 41. In this embodiment, the first terminal 40 is used as the female terminal in this embodiment.

On the other hand, the second connector 50 is coupled to the first connector 20. The outer housing and the skeleton of the second connector 50 are formed by the second housing 52. The second housing 52 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is made of an insulating material. A second coupling part 53 corresponding to the first coupling part 23 is formed at the front end of the second housing 52. The second coupling portion 53 is formed by opening one end of the second housing 52. In other words, a portion corresponding to the other end of the opened end of the first coupling portion 23 is formed to be opened.

The inside of the second housing 52 is formed so that the terminal seating portion 54 into which the second terminal 60 is inserted and seated is partitioned. The terminal seating portion 54 is formed to penetrate in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 52.

Guide protrusions 56 protrude from both sides of the second housing 52, respectively. The guide protrusion 56 is inserted into the coupling slot 30 and guides the coupling of the second connector 50 when the second connector 50 is coupled to the first connector 20. Do it.

The guide protrusion 56 is rectangular when viewed from the side, and round ends 57 are formed at both ends of the curved surface. The round part 57 is a part formed to rotate the guide protrusion 56 in the rotating part 30b of the coupling slot 30. And, both ends of the round portion 57 is not formed to form a guide portion (58). The guide portion 58 is a portion that substantially contacts the coupling slot 30 when the guide protrusion 56 is inserted into the coupling slot 30 and guided. The guide portion 58 is formed in a plane unlike the round portion 57. That is, the round part 57 is in contact with the coupling slot 30 only in the rotating part 30b.

The second terminal 60 is inserted and seated in the terminal seating portion 54 of the second housing 52. The second terminal 60 elastically deforms the spring part 42 when coupled with the first terminal 40. In this embodiment, the second terminal 60 is used as the male terminal in this embodiment.

Hereinafter will be described in detail the operation of the connector assembly and coupling method according to the present invention having the configuration as described above.

3A to 3D are operational state diagrams illustrating a process of coupling a connector assembly according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a preferred embodiment of a method of coupling a connector assembly according to the present invention.

As shown in these figures, first, the worker inserts the first and second terminals 40 and 60 into the first housing 22 and the second housing 52, respectively, and seats them (S10). The first and second terminals 40 and 60 are inserted into and seated in the terminal seating portions 24 and 54, respectively.

And, the operator places the second housing 52 in the lower portion of the coupling blade 26 as shown in FIG. 3a. In this case, the second housing 52 is positioned perpendicular to the first housing 22. In this state, the guide protrusion 56 is guided by the insertion guide rib 32 to start the insertion into the coupling slot 30. The second housing 52 is inserted in a state where the second terminal 60 is positioned to face upward (S20).

The guide protrusion 56 is moved along the insertion guide portion 30a of the coupling slot 30 to move the second housing 52. At this time, the portion substantially guided to the insertion guide portion (30a) is the guide portion 58 of the guide projection (56). That is, the guide portion 58 formed in the plane on both sides of the movement direction of the guide protrusion 56 is moved along the insertion guide portion (30a).

In this way, the guide protrusion 56 which is moved along the insertion guide part 30a is inserted until it is located in the rotating part 30b. This state is shown in FIG. 3B. In addition, the round part 57 of the guide protrusion 56 allows the second housing 52 to rotate while being in contact with the rotating part 30b. The second housing 52 is rotated by 90 ° with respect to the first housing 22, as shown in FIG. 3C. At this time, the second terminal 60 elastically deforms the spring portion 42 by pressing the spring portion 42 of the first terminal 40 (S30).

Next, the second housing 52 is slid toward the first housing 22 (S40). At this time, the guide portion 58 of the guide protrusion 56 is moved along the coupling portion 30c of the coupling slot 30 to guide the insertion of the second housing 52. Referring to FIG. 4, the tip of the second housing 52 is hooked to the hanger rib 34 while the second housing 52 is completely inserted into the first housing 22. Therefore, the second housing 52 is prevented from being rotated in the direction of releasing the coupling of the terminals 40 and 60.

In this way, the state in which the first connector 20 and the second connector 50 are coupled is shown in FIG. 3D. Looking at the coupling process of the first and second connectors 20 and 50 described above, the coupling between the terminals 40 and 60 is made by the rotation force generated while the second connector 50 is rotated. In addition, since the coupling of the first and second connectors 20 and 50 is performed while the spring portion 42 of the first terminal 40 is primarily elastically deformed, the coupling force necessary for the coupling is dispersed. As a result, even if a large number of terminals (40, 60) are provided in the connector (20, 50), the coupling operation is easy because the overall coupling force is small.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but is defined by the claims, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims. It is self evident.

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a general connector.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a preferred embodiment of the connector assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 3a to 3d is an operating state showing the process of coupling the connector assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view in a state in which the connector assembly according to the present invention is coupled.

Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the method of coupling the connector assembly according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

20: first connector 22: first housing

23: first coupling portion 24: terminal seating portion

26: coupling blade 30: coupling slot

30a: insertion guide 30b: rotating part

30c: coupling portion 32: insertion guide

34: Girl rib 40: Terminal 1

42: spring portion 50: second connector

52: second housing 53: second coupling portion

54: terminal seat 56: guide protrusion

57: round part 58: guide part

60: Terminal 2

Claims (10)

A first connector having a coupling part at one end of which a spring portion capable of elastic deformation is formed is inserted therein, and coupling slots formed at both sides thereof; Guide protrusions inserted and guided into the coupling slots are protruded on both sides, and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal is inserted therein, and the guide protrusions are rotated while being inserted into the coupling slots. And a second connector elastically deforms the spring portion, and includes a second connector coupled to the first connector while sliding in this state. The method of claim 1, The first coupling portion into which the second connector is inserted is opened at one end of the first connector, and the second coupling portion corresponding to the first coupling portion is open at the other end of the second connector. Characterized by a connector assembly. The method of claim 2, wherein the first connector, A first housing; And a coupling blade extending in parallel at both ends of the first housing and configured to open the coupling slot. The method of claim 3, wherein the coupling slot, An insertion guide part in which the guide protrusion is inserted and guided; A rotation part provided at one end of the insertion guide part to allow the guide protrusion to rotate in one direction; And a coupling part extending from the rotation part in a direction perpendicular to the insertion guide part and configured to engage the first connector and the second connector while the guide protrusion is moved. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, One side of the first housing is a connector assembly characterized in that the front end of the second housing in the state coupled with the second housing is hooked to prevent the second housing is rotated in the direction to release the coupling . The method of claim 5, wherein the guide protrusion, And a guide part contacted when moving along the insertion guide part and the coupling part, and a round part contacted when the guide protrusion is rotated in the rotating part is formed in a curved surface. The method of claim 6, The coupling blade is a connector assembly, characterized in that the insertion guide rib for guiding the insertion position of the guide protrusion is formed to shield a portion of the insertion guide portion. Inserting a first terminal and a second terminal into the first housing and the second housing; Inserting a second housing in a vertical direction into a coupling slot formed in the first housing; Rotating the second housing to elastically deform the spring of the first terminal by the second terminal; And sliding the second housing to the first housing in a state in which the spring portion of the first terminal is elastically deformed. The method of claim 8, The top end of the first connector is formed such that the upper end of the first coupling portion into which the second connector is inserted, and the second coupling part corresponding to the first coupling portion is formed at the front end of the second connector so that the lower end is opened. Method of coupling the connector assembly characterized in that. The method according to claim 8 or 9, One side of the first housing is a connector assembly characterized in that the front end of the second housing in the state coupled with the second housing is hooked to prevent the second housing is rotated in the direction to release the coupling How to combine.

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