WO2013088767A1

WO2013088767A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: WO2013088767A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/067961
Authority: WO
Inventors: 和亜希武田
Original assignee: 住友電装株式会社
Priority date: 2011-12-14
Filing date: 2012-07-13
Publication date: 2013-06-20
Also published as: JP2013125644A

Abstract

The present invention generates a large impact sound. This connector (1) is provided with: a locking arm (12) that extends in a cantilevered manner from a reciprocating fulcrum section (14) continuous with a first housing (10), elastically bends, with the reciprocating fulcrum section (14) as the fulcrum, when fitting two housings (10, 30) together, and elastically recovers when both housings (10, 30) attain a normal fitted state, locking the second housing (30), and thus locking both housings (10, 30) in the normal fitted state; a press-operation surface (20) that is formed at the extending end of the locking arm (12) and that is for causing the locking arm (12) to elastically bend in the direction of lock release; and an impact section (35) that is formed at the second housing (30), and that, when the locking arm (12) elastically recovers, causes an impact by making surface contact with the press-operation surface (20).

Description

connector

The present invention relates to a connector.

Patent Document 1 discloses a connector that generates a striking sound when two housings are properly fitted. In this connector, a lock arm that extends in a cantilever manner is provided on the female housing, and a striking portion is formed at a position near the free end of the lock arm. The male housing is formed with a hood portion into which the female housing is fitted, and the engaging portion formed in the hood portion has a striking portion when both housings are properly fitted and the lock arm is elastically restored. A hitting sound is generated by collision.

JP 2008-016260 A

In the above connector, the free end portion of the lock arm is an operation portion for unlocking the lock arm, but the striking portion is closer to the swing fulcrum side (base end side) than the operation portion. The elastic energy of the lock arm is not utilized to the maximum because it is placed in the position. In addition, since the locking portion is a portion that the lock arm rides over while being elastically bent during the fitting process of both housings, in order to reduce the fitting resistance caused by the elastic bending of the lock arm, the engagement portion is engaged in the fitting direction. The formation range of the stop is kept relatively small. When the striking part collides with the locking part, the larger the contact area between the two, the greater the striking sound. Therefore, the connector of Patent Document 1 cannot generate a sufficiently large striking sound.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to generate a loud hitting sound.

As means for achieving the above object, the present invention provides:
A first housing;
A second housing engageable with the first housing;
In the form of a cantilever extending from a swing fulcrum portion connected to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing are elastically bent with the swing fulcrum portion as a fulcrum in the fitting process, When the first housing and the second housing reach the normal fitting state, the lock arm locks the first housing and the second housing in the normal fitting state by elastically returning and locking to the second housing. When,
A push operation surface formed at an extended end of the lock arm, for elastically bending the lock arm in the unlocking direction;
And a striking portion that is formed in the second housing and causes the pushing operation surface to collide in a surface-contact state when the lock arm is elastically restored.

Since the pushing operation surface, which is the impact sound generation site, is arranged at the extended end of the lock arm, the elastic energy stored when the lock arm is elastically bent is maximized as the elastic energy for generating the impact sound. It is utilized in. Further, the push operation surface is formed relatively wide in order to facilitate the push operation of the operator. Therefore, according to the present invention, a loud striking sound can be generated.

The top view showing the state which the 1st housing and the 2nd housing fitted normally in the connector of Example 1 AA line sectional view of FIG. Top view of the first housing BB sectional view of FIG. Plan view of the second housing CC sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing showing the state which the 1st housing and the 2nd housing fitted normally in the connector of Example 2 Top view of the first housing DD sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing showing the state which the 1st housing and the 2nd housing fit normally in a reference example Sectional view of the second housing

In the present invention, the striking portion may be cantilevered from a thin hinge-like base end portion.
According to this configuration, since the striking portion extends from the thin hinge-like base end portion in a cantilevered manner, it easily vibrates using the hinge-like base end portion as a fulcrum when the pushing operation surface collides. Become. Thereby, the impact sound becomes a high-frequency sound, that is, a sound that is easily perceived by the operator.

In the present invention, the hitting portion may be plate-like so that it can vibrate with the hinge-like base end portion as a fulcrum.
According to this configuration, since the hitting portion has a plate shape, the hitting portion is more likely to vibrate as compared with a case where the hitting portion is in a block shape.

The present invention is formed on the lock arm and formed opposite to the main body portion connected to the swing fulcrum portion and the lock arm, with a resonance space between the extension end portion of the main body portion, You may provide the plate-shaped part by which the surface on the opposite side to the said resonance space is the said push operation surface.
According to this configuration, when the push operation surface collides with the hitting portion, the plate-like portion vibrates, and the hitting sound generated by the vibration is amplified in the resonance space.

The present invention provides a lock protrusion formed on the lock arm and locked to the second housing by locking the first housing and the second housing in a properly fitted state.
It is a space for molding the lock protrusion, and may include a die-cutting space that functions as the resonance space.
According to this configuration, since the die cutting space functions as a resonance space, the shape of the lock arm is simplified compared to the case where the die cutting space and the resonance space are formed as independent spaces.

<Example 1>
A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 1 of this embodiment includes a first housing 10 and a second housing 30. The 1st housing 10 and the 2nd housing 30 are fitted by making it approach in the state where each front end was made to oppose.

The first housing 10 is made of synthetic resin, and a well-known female terminal first metal fitting (not shown) is inserted therein. Accordingly, the first housing 10 is referred to as a female housing. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper surface (outer surface) of the first housing 10 has a shape in which a substantially central portion in the width direction is recessed, and is open to the front and rear end surfaces of the first housing 10. 11 is formed. A lock arm 12 is housed in the housing recess 11 along the upper surface of the first housing 10 (the bottom surface of the housing recess 11).

The lock arm 12 has a main body 13 extending in the front-rear direction (a direction parallel to the fitting direction of the first housing 10 and the second housing 30) as a whole, and a swing fulcrum 14 formed at the front end of the main body 13. And an operation portion 15 formed at the rear end portion of the main body portion 13. The swing fulcrum portion 14 is continuous with the outer surface of the first housing 10. Accordingly, the lock arm 12 is formed integrally with the first housing 10 and extends rearwardly from the swing fulcrum portion 14 in a cantilevered manner. In addition, the operation unit 15 is disposed at the extended end of the lock arm 12. A lock projection 16 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 13.

The lock arm 12 is always held at the lock position (see FIGS. 2 and 4) by the rigidity of the swing fulcrum portion 14 (when the

housings

10 and 30 are not fitted). Further, the lock arm 12 is tilted downward with the swing fulcrum 14 as a fulcrum (in a direction intersecting with the fitting direction of both the

housings

10 and 30, and is operated with the main body 13 on the outer surface of the first housing 10. It can be elastically bent to the unlocking position in the direction in which the portion 15 is approached.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation portion 15 is formed wider than the main body portion 13, and the rear end of the operation portion 15 is disposed at substantially the same position as the rear end of the first housing 10 in the front-rear direction. . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the operation portion 15 includes a plate-like portion 17 disposed so as to face the rear end portion of the upper surface of the main body portion 13 with a space therebetween, and both left and right sides of the plate-like portion 17. A pair of symmetrical side walls 18 connecting the edge and the left and right side edges of the main body 13 are provided.

A space surrounded by the upper surface of the main body 13, the plate-like portion 17, and the left and right side wall portions 18 is a resonance space 19 that is open to both front and rear end surfaces of the operation portion 15. The resonance space 19 is originally a die-cutting space for molding the lock protrusion 16, but in this embodiment, the resonance sound 19 is generated by resonating and amplifying the hitting sound generated by the vibration of the plate-like portion 17. It functions as a space.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the upper surface of the plate-like portion 17 (the surface opposite to the surface facing the resonance space 19) is for the operator to elastically displace the lock arm 12 from the locked position to the unlocked position. A push operation surface 20 is provided for performing a push operation. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the push operation surface 20 includes a striking surface 21 and a pair of symmetrical inclined surfaces 22. The striking surface 21 is disposed in the center in the width direction (the direction intersecting both the fitting direction of the

housings

10 and 30 and the elastic deflection direction of the lock arm 12), and forms a flat shape.

When the lock arm 12 is in the locked position, the striking surface 21 is parallel to the fitting direction of the two

housings

10 and 30 and is in the locked position when the lock arm 12 is elastically returned from the unlocked position to the locked position. It is almost perpendicular to the displacement direction (upward) just before reaching. The striking surface 21 functions as a fitting detection means for notifying the operator that both

housings

10 and 30 are properly fitted. The inclined surfaces 22 are arranged on both left and right edge portions in the width direction, and are inclined so as to descend downward in the width direction outward from the side edges of the striking surface 21 (in a direction approaching the outer surface of the first housing 10). Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second housing 30 is formed in a rectangular tube shape from the terminal holding portion 31 and the terminal holding portion 31 to the front (direction approaching the first housing 10 when both the

housings

10 and 30 are fitted). And a protruding hood portion 32. The terminal holding portion 31 holds a plurality of second terminal fittings (not shown) having a known male shape, and a tab at the tip of the second terminal fitting is surrounded by a hood portion 32. A locking projection 34 that protrudes downward (inside the hood portion 32) is formed on the upper wall portion 33 constituting the hood portion 32.

In the process in which both the

housings

10 and 30 are fitted, the lock projection 16 of the lock arm 12 interferes with the locking projection 34, so that the lock arm 12 is elastically displaced from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the

housings

10 and 30 reach the proper fitting state, the lock protrusion 16 passes through the locking protrusion 34, so that the lock arm 12 is elastically returned to the lock position, and as shown in FIG. 16 and the locking projection 34 are locked. Due to the locking of the locking protrusion 16 and the locking protrusion 34, both the

housings

10 and 30 are locked in a proper fitting state.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second housing 30 is formed with a square flat plate hitting portion 35 as fitting detection means for notifying the operator that both

housings

10 and 30 are properly fitted. ing. The striking portion 35 has a form extending in a cantilevered manner from the upper wall portion 33 of the hood portion 32. The portion connecting the striking portion 35 and the hood portion 32 is a hinge-like base end portion 36 that is thinned by notching the upper and lower surfaces into a groove shape in the width direction over the entire width. Therefore, the striking part 35 is connected to the upper wall part 33 (hood part 32) via the hinge-like base end part 36, and has a form extending from the hinge-like base end part 36 in a cantilever manner. The striking portion 35 can vibrate (elastically deform) in the vertical direction with the hinge-like base end portion 36 as a fulcrum.

The hinge-like base end portion 36 is disposed so as to continue to the front end of the locking projection 34 at a position slightly behind the frontmost end (opening end) of the hood portion 32 (upper wall portion 33) in the front-rear direction. . The front end of the striking part 35 protrudes further forward than the foremost end of the hood part 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the striking portion 35 is allowed to be relatively displaced (vibrated) with respect to the upper wall portion 33 in the region from the foremost end of the hood portion 32 to the hinge-like base end portion 36. A pair of left and right slits 37 are formed.

The positional relationship of the striking portion 35, the hinge-like base end portion 36, and the striking surface 21 in a state where both the

housings

10, 30 are properly fitted will be described. Since the front-rear direction is based on the first housing 10, the front-rear direction (notation) of the striking portion 35 and the hinge-like base end portion 36 is opposite to the above. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the length dimension of the striking portion 35 is shorter than the striking surface 21 (push operation surface 20) in the front-rear direction. The front end of the push operation surface 20 (striking surface 21) is located in the vicinity of the hinge-like base end portion 36, and the rear end of the push operation surface 20 (striking surface 21) is located behind the projecting end of the striking portion 35. To do. Further, the striking part 35 has substantially the same width as the full width dimension of the push operation surface 20, and is therefore wider than the striking surface 21.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the fitting of both

housings

10 and 30 is started and the first housing 10 enters the hood portion 32, the lock projection 16 interferes with the locking projection 34, so that the lock arm 12 moves from the lock position to the lock release position. Elastically displaced. At this time, an elastic restoring force (elastic energy) is stored in the lock arm 12.

When the

housings

10 and 30 reach the proper fitting state, the lock protrusion 16 passes through the locking protrusion 34, so that the lock arm 12 is elastically moved from the unlock position to the lock position by the stored elastic restoring force. Return. When the lock arm 12 is elastically restored, the lock projection 16 and the latch projection 34 are latched, and both the

housings

10 and 30 are locked in a proper fitting state by this latching action. When the

housings

10 and 30 are properly fitted and the lock arm 12 is elastically restored, the striking surface 21 (pushing operation surface 20) of the operation portion 15 collides with the lower surface of the striking portion 35, and a striking sound is generated. At the moment when the lock arm 12 is elastically restored and the striking surface 21 collides with the striking portion 35, the protruding end (lower end) of the locking projection 34 may collide with the upper surface of the main body portion 13 of the lock arm 12. Well, you may try not to collide. Even if the striking surface 21 collides with the striking portion 35, the inclined surface 22 does not contact the striking portion 35.

The connector 1 according to the present embodiment has a cantilever shape extending from a swing fulcrum portion 14 connected to the first housing 10, and the swing fulcrum portion 14 is used as a fulcrum in the fitting process of both

housings

10 and 30. A lock arm 12 that is elastically bent and elastically recovers when both

housings

10 and 30 reach a normal fitting state and engages with the second housing 30, thereby locking both

housings

10 and 30 in a normal fitting state; Formed on the extended end of the lock arm 12 and formed on the striking surface 21 (pushing operation surface 20) for elastically bending the lock arm 12 in the unlocking direction and the second housing 30, the lock arm 12 is elastically restored. And a striking portion 35 that causes the striking surface 21 to collide in a state of contact with the surface.

According to this configuration, the striking surface 21 (pushing operation surface 20), which is a striking sound generation site, is disposed at the extended end of the lock arm 12, so that the elastic energy stored in the lock arm 12 during elastic deformation is stored. However, it is utilized to the maximum extent as elastic energy for generating the hitting sound. Therefore, the hitting sound is loud. Further, since the push operation surface 20 is formed relatively wide in order to facilitate the push operation by the operator, a large hitting sound is generated.

Moreover, since the hit | damage part 35 is a form which protruded in the cantilever form from the thin hinge-like base end part 36, when the pushing operation surface 20 collides, it becomes easy to vibrate using the hinge-like base end part 36 as a fulcrum. . Thereby, the impact sound becomes a high-frequency sound, that is, a sound that is easily perceived by the operator.

Further, the lock arm 12 is disposed opposite to the resonance space 19 between the main body portion 13 connected to the swing fulcrum portion 14 and the extending end portion of the main body portion 13, and is opposite to the resonance space 19. Is provided with a plate-like portion 17 serving as a push operation surface 20 (striking surface 21). According to this configuration, when the push operation surface 20 collides with the hitting portion 35, the plate-like portion 17 vibrates, and the hitting sound generated by the vibration is amplified in the resonance space 19, so that the hitting sound is Furthermore, it becomes larger.

<Example 2>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the connector 2 of the second embodiment, the lock arm 41 of the first housing 40 and the locking protrusion 51 of the second housing 50 are configured differently from the first embodiment. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numeral is given to the same configuration, and the description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted.

While the lock protrusion 12 is formed on the lock arm 12 of the first embodiment, the lock arm 41 of the second embodiment has a lock hole 42 that penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface of the main body 13. Is formed. Further, the locking projection 51 of the second embodiment has a larger protruding dimension from the upper wall portion 33 of the hood portion 32 than the locking projection 34 of the first embodiment. Therefore, in a state where both the

housings

40 and 50 are properly fitted and the lock arm 41 is elastically returned to the locked position, the protruding end portion (lower end portion) of the locking projection 51 enters the lock hole 42 and is locked. It becomes. Then, both the

housings

40 and 50 are locked in a proper fitting state by the locking of the lock hole 42 and the locking projection 51.

In addition, the operation portion 15 of the lock arm 12 of the first embodiment is formed with a resonance space 19 using a die-cutting space for molding the lock protrusion 16, but the lock arm 41 of the present embodiment has a resonance space 19. The operation portion 43 is not formed with the lock protrusion 16. Therefore, since the die-cutting space is unnecessary, neither the space corresponding to the resonance space 19 of the first embodiment nor the portion corresponding to the plate-like portion 17 of the first embodiment is formed in the operation portion 43.

Further, the push operation surface 20 of the first embodiment is configured by the striking surface 21 that contacts the striking portion 35 and the pair of left and right inclined surfaces 22 that do not contact the striking portion 35. The push operation surface 44 is flat over the entire area and functions as the striking surface 45.

<Reference example>
Next, a reference example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector 3 of this reference example has a basic structure of the first housing 60 that is the same as that of the first housing of the first embodiment, and is characterized by the locking protrusion 73 of the second housing 70. A striking sound is generated at the stop protrusion. Therefore, the hitting surfaces 21 and 45 described in the

connectors

1 and 2 of the first and second embodiments are not formed in the connector 3 of the present reference example. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numeral is given to the same configuration, and the description of the structure, operation, and effect is omitted.

The first housing 60 has a lock arm 61 having a configuration in which a main body 63 is cantilevered from a swinging fulcrum 62 connected to the upper surface of the first housing 60 in a cantilevered manner. An operation part 64 for elastically displacing the lock arm 61 from the lock position to the lock release position is formed at the extending end of the main body part 63. A lock projection 65 is formed on the upper surface of the main body 63 so as to protrude from a position between the swing fulcrum 62 and the operation unit 64 in the front-rear direction. A region between the lock protrusion 65 and the operation unit 64 in the upper surface of the main body 63 is a striking surface 66.

A locking projection 73 is formed on the upper wall portion 72 constituting the hood portion 71 of the second housing 70. In the first embodiment, the protruding end surface of the locking projection 34 (that is, the lower end surface that can collide with the upper surface of the main body 13 when both the

housings

10 and 30 are properly fitted) is the end closest to the lock projection 16 in the front-rear direction. It is located at the edge (that is, the end edge on the swing fulcrum 14 side opposite to the extended end side of the lock arm 12). On the other hand, the projecting end surface of the locking projection 73 of the second embodiment has a striking projection projecting from a position closer to the extended end portion (operation portion 64) of the lock arm 61 than the end edge closest to the lock projection 65. A portion 74 is formed.

When both the

housings

60 and 70 are properly fitted and the lock arm 61 is elastically restored, the upper surface of the main body 63 collides with the striking protrusion 74 and a striking sound is generated. The position where the impact sound is generated is closer to the extended end of the lock arm 61 than the position where the impact sound is generated by the locking protrusion 34 of the first embodiment, so that the elastic energy stored in the lock arm 61 is correspondingly increased. It is used more effectively as a hitting sound.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the first and second embodiments, the hitting portion is formed in the hood portion, but the hitting portion may be formed in a portion other than the hood portion.
(2) In the first and second embodiments, the hinge-like base end portion of the hitting portion is arranged behind the front end (opening end) of the hood portion in the front-rear direction. In this case, it may be arranged at the same position as the front end of the hood part or a position ahead of the front end of the hood part.
(3) In the first and second embodiments, the striking portion is configured to easily vibrate, but the striking portion may be configured to hardly vibrate.
(4) In the first and second embodiments, the hitting portion is plate-shaped, but the hitting portion may be a thick block shape.
(5) In the said Example 1, 2, although the hit | damage part was made into the form which protrudes in a cantilever shape, the hit | damage part may not be a protrusion form.
(6) In the first and second embodiments, the length of the striking portion is shorter than that of the push operation surface in the front-rear direction, but the length of the striking portion may be the same as that of the push operation surface. It may be longer than the surface.
(7) In the first and second embodiments, the striking portion is wider than the striking surface, but the striking portion may be narrower than the striking surface or the same width as the striking surface.
(8) In Examples 1 and 2 above, the width of the striking part is substantially the same as the full width of the operation part (pushing operation surface), but the width of the striking part is larger than the full width of the operation part. Alternatively, it may be smaller than the full width dimension of the operation unit.
(9) In the first embodiment, the die cutting space for forming the lock protrusion is used as the resonance space. However, a resonance space may be formed separately from the die cutting space.
(10) In the first embodiment, the resonance space is formed in the lock arm. However, the lock arm may not have the resonance space.
(11) The resonance space described in the first embodiment may be formed in the lock arm of the second embodiment.
(12) In the first and second embodiments, the first housing in which the lock arm is formed is the female housing, and the second housing in which the striking portion is formed is the male housing. You may form in a housing and may form a striking part in a female side housing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Connector 10 ... 1st housing 12 ... Lock arm 13 ... Main-body part 14 ... Swing fulcrum part 17 ... Plate-shaped part 19 ... Resonance space 20 ... Push operation surface 30 ... 2nd housing 35 ... Impacting part 36 ... Hinge-like base End 2 ... Connector 40 ... First housing 41 ... Lock arm 44 ... Push operation surface 50 ... Second housing

Claims

A first housing;
A second housing engageable with the first housing;
In the form of a cantilever extending from a swing fulcrum portion connected to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing are elastically bent with the swing fulcrum portion as a fulcrum in the fitting process, When the first housing and the second housing reach the normal fitting state, the lock arm locks the first housing and the second housing in the normal fitting state by elastically returning and locking to the second housing. When,
A push operation surface formed at an extended end of the lock arm, for elastically bending the lock arm in the unlocking direction;
A connector, comprising: a striking portion formed on the second housing and causing the push operation surface to collide in a surface contact state when the lock arm is elastically restored.
2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the striking portion has a shape protruding from a thin hinge-like base end portion in a cantilever manner.
3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the striking portion is plate-shaped so that it can vibrate with the hinge-like base end portion as a fulcrum.
A main body formed on the lock arm and connected to the swing fulcrum;
A plate-like portion formed on the lock arm, disposed opposite to the extending end portion of the main body portion with a resonance space therebetween, and the surface opposite to the resonance space is the push operation surface; The connector according to claim 1, further comprising:
A lock protrusion formed on the lock arm and locked to the second housing by locking the first housing and the second housing in a normal fitting state;
The connector according to claim 4, further comprising a die-cutting space that is a space for molding the lock protrusion and serves as the resonance space.