WO2020218057A1

WO2020218057A1 - Connection device

Info

Publication number: WO2020218057A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/016273
Authority: WO
Inventors: 祐輝川瀬; 飯田　正和
Original assignee: Idec株式会社
Priority date: 2019-04-25
Filing date: 2020-04-13
Publication date: 2020-10-29

Abstract

According to the present invention, an operation unit (5) of a connection device (1) is in contact with an elastic member (4) in a connection state at a first position. The operation unit (5) is pushed into a second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member (4), thereby deforming the elastic member (4) to a non-connection state. The operation unit (5) has a first inclined surface (56) that is inclined downward in a direction away from a center line of a movement path (24). A case (2) has a second inclined surface (241) that is inclined in a vertical direction in parallel to the first inclined surface (56) in the movement path (24). In a state in which the operation unit (5) is located at the first position, the first inclined surface (56) is located at a position separated from the second inclined surface (241) toward the upper side. In a state in which the operation unit (5) is located at the second position, the first inclined surface (56) abuts the second inclined surface (241) from below. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a force that maintains a state (that is, the non-connection state) in which the operation unit (5) is pushed into the case (2).

Description

Connected device

The present invention relates to a connecting device to which an electric wire is connected.
[Refer to related applications]
The present application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent applications JP2019-084135, JP2019-08413, JP2019-084337, and JP2019-0843138 filed on April 25, 2019, and all of these applications. The disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

Conventionally, so-called push-in type connecting devices have been used as connecting devices to which electric wires are connected in control panels and the like. In the connection device, when the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole of the case, the electric wire is pressed against the conduction terminal by the leaf spring provided in the case and electrically connected.

For example, in Japanese Patent No. 6224836 (Reference 1) and US Pat. No. 9,905,943 (Reference 2), a rod-shaped operating element that can move forward and backward is provided for the housing, and the operating element is pushed into the housing by a screwdriver or the like. As a result, the leaf spring in the housing is elastically deformed and separated from the conductive terminal. Then, the electric wire is inserted between the leaf spring and the conductive terminal while maintaining the open state in which the leaf spring is separated from the conductive terminal. After that, by releasing the pushing of the operating element, the leaf spring elastically returns and sandwiches the electric wire with the conductive terminal.

However, in the connected devices of

Documents

1 and 2, in order to maintain the above-mentioned open state, it is necessary to keep the driver or the like pushed in with a relatively strong force with one hand, and the operability of the connected devices is maintained. Is not very expensive.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-116773 (Reference 3), by locking the operation unit in a state of being pushed into the case, the driver or the like is pulled out of the case to release the pressing force on the operation unit, but the open state is obtained. A technology that can maintain the above has been proposed.

By the way, in the connection device of Document 3, a screwdriver or the like is reinserted into the case in order to return the operation unit locked to the case to the original position and sandwich the electric wire between the elastic member and the conductive terminal. It is necessary to change the position of the operation unit to release the lock with the case. That is, in order to connect the electric wire to the connected device, it is necessary to insert the driver or the like into the case twice, which may complicate the operation procedure of the connected device. In the field of operating such a connected device, there are both a voice requesting improvement in operability of the connected device and a voice requesting simplification of the operation procedure.

The present invention is directed to a connecting device to which an electric wire is connected, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the force of maintaining the operation unit in a pushed state.

The connecting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a case, a conductive terminal portion fixed to the case, and an elastic member attached to the case and pressing an electric wire against the terminal portion by a restoring force to hold the electric wire. And an operation unit that changes the shape of the elastic member by moving along a moving path extending in the vertical direction provided in the case. The elastic member has a connection state in which the electric wire is sandwiched between the electric wire and the terminal portion and a non-connection state in which the electric wire is released from being sandwiched between the terminal portion by bending more than the connection state. It can be transformed between. The operation unit comes into contact with the elastic member in the connected state at the first position, and is pushed to the second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member. The elastic member is deformed into the unconnected state. The connected device further includes a holding force reducing mechanism that reduces the force for maintaining the operating unit in a state of being pushed into the case when the operating unit is located at the second position. According to the connected device, it is possible to reduce the force for maintaining the operation unit in the pushed state.

Preferably, the operating portion has a first inclined surface that inclines in a direction away from the center line of the moving path as it goes downward. The case has a second inclined surface that is inclined in the vertical direction in parallel with the first inclined surface in the movement path. The holding force reducing mechanism includes the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface. In the state where the operating portion is located at the first position, the first inclined surface is located at a position separated upward from the second inclined surface. In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the first inclined surface comes into contact with the second inclined surface from below.

Preferably, the restoring force of the elastic member in the non-connected state presses the first inclined surface upward with respect to the second inclined surface, and the second inclined surface partially satisfies the restoring force of the elastic member. Support

Preferably, the first inclined surface is provided at the upper end of the operating portion.

Preferably, the first inclined surface is provided below the upper end portion of the operating portion.

Preferably, one of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface has a convex portion, and the other surface of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface has the operating portion the first. It has a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state of being located at two positions.

Preferably, at least one of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface has a rough surface portion.

Preferably, the elastic member is a leaf spring.

Preferably, the elastic member is a leaf spring including a bent portion located at the upper end and a pair of arm portions extending downward on both left and right sides of the bent portion and increasing the distance in the left-right direction toward the lower end. .. The operation unit includes a pair of pressing units that are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction and extend in the vertical direction, and the distance in the left-right direction becomes smaller toward the upper side, or the distance in the left-right direction is constant. The holding force reducing mechanism includes the pair of arms and the pair of pressing portions. In the state where the operating portion is located at the first position, the lower end portion of at least one of the pair of pressing portions contacts the outer surface of at least one of the pair of arm portions. In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the pair of arm portions are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions in a state of being bent in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction.

Preferably, the restoring force of the elastic member in the non-connected state presses the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions in the left-right direction by the pair of arms, and the pair of pressing portions exerts the restoring force of the elastic member. Partially support.

Preferably, one of the pair of pressing portions and the pair of arms has a convex portion, and the other of the pair of pressing portions and the pair of arms has the operating portion located at the second position. It has a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in the state of being

Preferably, at least one of the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions and the outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions has a rough surface portion.

Preferably, in the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the angle formed by the pair of arms is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 180 °.

Preferably, in the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the lower ends of the pair of arms are located below the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions.

Preferably, the elastic member includes a fixed portion fixed to the case and a movable portion extending obliquely downward from the fixed portion. In the connection state, the operating portion contacts the movable portion, and the movable portion sandwiches the electric wire with the terminal portion. In the unconnected state, the movable portion bends downward from the connected state.

Preferably, the case is arranged below the movable portion of the elastic member in the connected state, separated in a thickness direction perpendicular to the movable region of the movable portion, extends in the vertical direction, and moves downward. It is provided with a pair of pressing portions in which the interval in the thickness direction decreases accordingly. The holding force reducing mechanism includes the movable portion of the elastic member and the pair of pressing portions. In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the movable portion is sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions, and the restoring force of the elastic member is applied between the movable portion and the pair of pressing portions. Friction resistance to resist occurs.

Preferably, the restoring force of the elastic member in the unconnected state is larger than the frictional resistance.

Preferably, one of the movable portion and the pair of pressing portions has a convex portion, and the other of the movable portion and the pair of pressing portions has the operating portion located at the second position. It has a concave part that fits with the convex part.

Preferably, at least one of the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions and both side surfaces of the movable portion in the thickness direction has a rough surface portion.

Preferably, the elastic member is a leaf spring.

Preferably, the elastic member is a leaf spring. The connecting device further includes an inclined contact surface that extends diagonally upward toward the lower end of the movable portion as it goes upward at a position that is separated downward from the movable portion of the elastic member in the connected state. The holding force reducing mechanism includes the movable portion of the elastic member and the inclined contact surface. In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the lower end portion of the movable portion comes into contact with the inclined contact surface, and the restoring force of the elastic member is applied between the movable portion and the inclined contact surface. Friction resistance to resist occurs.

Preferably, the lower end of the movable portion fits with the recess in a state where the inclined contact surface has a recess and the operating portion is located at the second position.

Preferably, the region of the inclined contact surface that comes into contact with the lower end portion of the movable portion, or the lower end portion of the movable portion has a rough surface portion.

The above-mentioned purpose and other purposes, features, embodiments and advantages will be clarified by the detailed description of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a perspective view of the connection device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is an exploded perspective view of the connected device. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of the connection device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is a perspective view of the connection device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is a perspective view of the connection device which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is an exploded perspective view of the connected device. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is a perspective view of the connection device which concerns on 5th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is an exploded perspective view of the connected device. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing of connected equipment. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged. It is sectional drawing which shows the part of connected equipment enlarged.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the connecting device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting device 1 cut at the positions III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connected device 1. The connecting device 1 is a push-in type connecting device to which the electric wire 91 is connected. The connecting device 1 is used, for example, as a terminal block such as a control panel. In FIG. 1, a thin plate-shaped end plate 11 is attached to the front side of the connecting device 1. Further, in FIG. 1, a state in which a plurality of connected devices 1 are connected is shown by a two-dot chain line. 2 to 4 show a state in which the electric wire 91 is not inserted into the connecting device 1. In FIG. 2, the configuration on the back side of the cross section is also shown.

In the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in FIG. 2 are also simply referred to as "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction". Further, in FIG. 2, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is also referred to as a "thickness direction". FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the connected device 1 at substantially the center in the thickness direction. The vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily have to coincide with the mounting direction when the connecting device 1 is used. Further, the vertical direction does not necessarily have to coincide with the direction of gravity.

The connecting device 1 includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The case 2 houses the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 inside. The case 2 is made of resin, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. Further, inside the case 2, two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4, and two operating portions 5 are housed. In other words, the connecting device 1 includes two sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The connecting device 1 may include one set or three or more sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation portion 5.

Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 is arranged corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 have the same shape and size, and are arranged in opposite directions. Focusing on the insertion hole 21 on the right side in FIG. 2, the terminal portion 3 is located on the right side of the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 and extends downward from the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21. The elastic member 4 extends from the lower end of the insertion hole 21 to the left side and further downward. The operation unit 5 is arranged on the left side of the insertion hole 21 and above the elastic member 4.

The terminal portion 3 is a conductive member fixed to the case 2. The terminal portion 3 is made of metal, for example. The right terminal portion 3 in FIG. 2 is electrically connected to the left terminal portion 3 in FIG. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the two terminal portions 3 are one connected member. Specifically, the lower ends of the two terminal portions 3 are connected by a conductive terminal connecting portion 32 extending in the left-right direction.

The elastic member 4 is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the elastic member 4 is a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4 is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4 may be formed of a conductive material or an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4 has, for example, a shape that is bent into a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2 with both ends facing substantially downward by sandwiching the central portion 41 between the cases 2. In the following description, the portion 22 of the case 2 that contacts the central portion 41 from below is referred to as a “support portion 22”. The support portion 22 extends substantially downward from the central portion 41 of the elastic member 4.

Focusing on the elastic member 4 on the right side in FIG. 2, the portion 42 of the elastic member 4 extending from the central portion 41 to the left side of the support portion 22 is sandwiched between the support portion 22 and another portion of the case 2. Therefore, it is fixed to the case 2. Further, among the elastic members 4, the portion 43 extending from the central portion 41 to the right side of the support portion 22 is in contact with the terminal portion 3 extending in the vertical direction. When the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the operating portion 5, it elastically deforms with the upper end portion of the support portion 22 as a fulcrum and bends downward. Further, when the downward pressing force on the portion 43 disappears, the portion 43 returns to its original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force. In the following description, the portion 42 and the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 will be referred to as a "fixed portion 42" and a "movable portion 43", respectively. The fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 are substantially line-symmetrical with respect to the center line passing through the central portion 41. The movable portion 43 extends obliquely downward from the upper end of the fixed portion 42.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 contacts the terminal portion 3 below the insertion hole 21 as described above, and the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 is closed from below. ing. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as an “insertion hole closed state”. The insertion hole closed state is a state before the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, an initial state before the connecting device 1 is used.

The elastic member 4 in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state) is slightly bent in the direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach each other. This makes it possible to prevent the elastic member 4 from falling off from the case 2. In addition, on the left side in FIG. 2, the elastic member 4 in a state without bending is shown by a chain double-dashed line. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 22 of the case 2 serves as a stopper that limits the bending of the elastic member 4 (that is, the bending of the elastic member 4) in the direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach each other. Fulfill.

The operation unit 5 is a substantially columnar or substantially plate-shaped member extending in the vertical direction. The operation unit 5 is located inside a hole portion (hereinafter, referred to as “movement path 24”) extending in the vertical direction provided in the case 2. The operation unit 5 can move in the vertical direction along the movement path 24. The movement path 24 opens to the upper surface 25 of the case 2 and extends substantially downward from the upper surface 25.

The operation unit 5 includes an upper end portion 51, a connecting portion 52, and a lower end portion 53. The upper end portion 51, the connecting portion 52, and the lower end portion 53 are one-connected members that are connected from the upper side to the lower side in this order. The operation unit 5 is made of resin, for example. The upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped portion. The upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 is a plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. An operation recess that is recessed downward is provided at the center of the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51. The connecting portion 52 extends downward from the lower end of the upper end portion 51, and connects the upper end portion 51 and the lower end portion 53. The connecting portion 52 is, for example, a substantially plate-shaped portion whose width in the thickness direction is larger than the width in the left-right direction. The lower end 53 extends downward from the lower end of the connecting 52. The lower end portion 53 is, for example, a substantially plate-shaped or substantially columnar portion.

The width of the upper end portion 51 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over the substantially total length of the upper end portion 51 in the vertical direction. The width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over the substantially total length of the connecting portion 52 in the vertical direction. The width of the lower end portion 53 in the left-right direction is substantially constant at the upper portion of the lower end portion 53, and gradually decreases from the upper portion toward the lower side. The width of the upper end portion 51 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction. The width of the upper end of the lower end 53 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the lower end of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction. The left and right side surfaces of the connecting portion 52 are substantially perpendicular to the left and right directions, and extend substantially parallel to the vertical direction.

Focusing on the operation unit 5 on the right side in FIG. 2, the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 projects to the left from the upper end of the connecting portion 52. A first inclined surface 56 extending diagonally downward to the left from the upper surface 511 is provided at the upper left end portion of the upper end portion 51. In other words, the first inclined surface 56 is oriented downward away from the center line of the movement path 24 (that is, a straight line extending in the vertical direction through the substantially center of the movement path 24 in the left-right direction and the thickness direction). It is an inclined surface. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the angle formed by the first inclined surface 56 of the operation unit 5 and the upper surface 511 is about 45 °. The angle is greater than 0 ° and less than 90 °.

The left side surface of the lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 extends downward substantially parallel to the upper end in the vertical direction, and then moves downward to the right. The elastic member 4 partially contacts the left side surface of the lower end 53. The lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 projects to the right from the lower end of the connecting portion 52. As a result, an operation step portion 55 projecting to the right is formed at the lower end of the connecting portion 52 (that is, the upper end of the lower end portion 53).

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the movement of the operation portion 5 upward is restricted. The lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5 is in contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 as described above, and the operation step portion 55 is pressed against the above-mentioned part of the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. As a result, the operation unit 5 is locked to the case 2, so that the operation unit 5 is prevented from moving upward from the position shown in FIG. When assembling the connecting device 1, the operating portion 5 is first arranged in the region where the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the non-flexible state (that is, the uncompressed state) should exist, and the elastic member 4 is assembled. Is attached to the case 2 in a bent state. As a result, the above structure is realized.

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5 is located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation portion 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the side surfaces 513 of the operation unit 5 in the thickness direction are located inside the case 2 of the side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. , Or, it is located on substantially the same plane as the area. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, the surface of the operation unit 5 is the surface of the case 2 in the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

The case 2 is provided with a second inclined surface 241 that is inclined in the vertical direction substantially parallel to the first inclined surface 56 in the movement path 24 below the upper surface 511 of the operation unit 5 shown in FIG. In the movement path 24 on the right side in FIG. 2, the second inclined surface 241 is located on the left side of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and extends in a direction away from the upper end portion 51 (that is, diagonally downward to the left) as it goes downward. .. The width of the movement path 24 in the left-right direction gradually increases as it goes downward at the position of the second inclined surface 241. In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, the second inclined surface 241 is located at a position separated downward from the first inclined surface 56. In the movement path 24 on the left side in FIG. 2, the second inclined surface 241 extends diagonally downward to the right.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 to 8. In the following, a state when the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the right side in the drawing will be described. When the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in the drawing, the operation of the worker is substantially the same except that the directions are opposite to each other.

First, the operation unit 5 is pushed toward the inside of the case 2 from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, and moves downward along the movement path 24. When the operation unit 5 is pushed in, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operation recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and points downward to the operation unit 5 via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply force. As the operation unit 5 moves downward, the elastic member 4 bends and the shape of the elastic member 4 is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the lower end portion 53 of the operating portion 5, and is separated from the terminal portion 3 to the left side. As a result, the lower end of the insertion hole 21 is opened. In the following description, the state of the connected device 1 shown in FIG. 5 is referred to as an “insertion hole open state”.

At the time of transition from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2 to the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 5, the operating portion 5 moves downward while maintaining contact with the elastic member 4, and the first inclined surface of the operating portion 5 The 56 and the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2 are located at substantially the same position in the vertical direction. At this time, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 pushes the lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5 to the right, and the operation portion 5 is slightly tilted. Specifically, the lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 moves to the right, which is the direction intersecting the movement path 24, and the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 moves to the left, which is the direction intersecting the movement path 24. .. As a result, the first inclined surface 56 of the operation unit 5 moves to the left while being in contact with the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2, and is located below the second inclined surface 241.

The second inclined surface 241 is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the first inclined surface 56 in the operation unit 5 in the slightly inclined state described above. However, since the inclination of the operation unit 5 is slight, the second inclined surface 241 is substantially parallel to the first inclined surface 56 even when the operation unit 5 is not tilted.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion in the vicinity of the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 in this state. The first inclined surface 56 is brought into contact with the second inclined surface 241 from below by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 and is pressed upward. As a result, the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2 partially supports the restoring force of the elastic member 4. Therefore, the force of the worker required to maintain the operation unit 5 in the downwardly pushed state is reduced. That is, in the connecting device 1, the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 constitute a holding force reducing mechanism 60 that reduces the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the case 2 in a pushed state. The restoring force of the elastic member 4 supported by the second inclined surface 241 is smaller than the total restoring force of the elastic member 4. Therefore, the operation unit 5 is not locked to the second inclined surface 241 only by the support by the second inclined surface 241.

In the connected device 1, the above-mentioned inclination of the operation unit 5 (that is, the movement of the upper end portion 51 to the left side) is performed in a short time, and the operator holding the flat-blade screwdriver feels a response (that is, due to the inclination). So-called click feeling) occurs. In addition, a sound (for example, a clicking sound) caused by the inclination of the operation unit 5 is also generated. Therefore, the worker can easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state.

Further, in the connected device 1, at substantially the same time as the above-mentioned inclination of the operation unit 5, the lower left end of the upper end 51 of the operation unit 5 is a stop surface provided in the movement path 24 of the case 2 and substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. Contact 242 from above. Thereby, it is possible to limit the excessive movement of the operation unit 5 downward. Further, the operator can more easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state by the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and the stop surface 242. You can also.

In the state where the insertion hole is open as shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the area around the operation unit 5. Located on the side). Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the operation unit 5 is the surface of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

In the state where the insertion hole is opened shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 4 is more bent than the elastic member 4 in the wire-connected state described later, and does not sandwich the electric wire with the terminal portion 3. In other words, the insertion hole open state, which is the state of the connecting device 1 shown in FIG. 5, is a “non-connection state” in which the pinching of the electric wire between the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released.

Subsequently, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connecting device 1 as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 5 while the elastic member 4 is maintained in the insertion hole open state. The electric wire 91 may be, for example, a single wire or a stranded wire. Further, the electric wire 91 may be a stranded wire provided with a rod-shaped crimp terminal or the like at the tip end portion. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is preferably 0.42 mm or more, for example. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is practically 2.3 mm or less. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways. Further, the diameter of the portion other than the tip end portion of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways.

The electric wire 91 is moved downward in the insertion hole 21 and is inserted between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state as shown in FIG. 7. After that, the force of the worker pushing the operation unit 5 is weakened, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4 becomes larger than the sum of the force of the worker and the bearing force of the second inclined surface 241. The movable portion 43 moves diagonally upward to the right and comes into contact with the electric wire 91 from the left side as shown in FIG. The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. As a result, the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In other words, the electric wire 91 is connected to the connecting device 1. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 8 is referred to as a “connection state”. As described above, the elastic member 4 in the connected state sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3.

In the connecting device 1, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is moved diagonally upward to the right to start moving the operating portion 5 upward. At this time, the first inclined surface 56 moves diagonally upward to the right along the second inclined surface 241 while maintaining the state of being in contact with the second inclined surface 241. The operation unit 5 moves upward from the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 7, and stops in a state where the lower end portion 53 is in contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. The first inclined surface 56 of the operation unit 5 in the connected state is located above the second inclined surface 241.

In the wiring state shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. Located in. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the wiring state shown in FIG. 8, the surface of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24) in the surface of the case 2. It is located or is located substantially in the same plane as the area.

In the connection state shown in FIG. 8, when the connecting device 1 is arranged so that the upper side in FIG. 8 is the lower side in the direction of gravity, the operation unit 5 is moved upward in the drawing from the elastic member 4 due to gravity. Separate. Then, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2 as in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, and the upward movement of the operation portion 5 is restricted. Therefore, it is prevented that the operation unit 5 moves upward from the position shown in FIG.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operation recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and brings the wire 91 to the operation unit 5 via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply a downward force. Then, the operation unit 5 is moved downward to open the insertion hole as shown in FIG. In the state where the insertion hole is open, as described above, the elastic member 4 bends and the movable portion 43 is separated from the electric wire 91 to the left side. In other words, the sandwiching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released. Further, when the operating portion 5 is inclined, the first inclined surface 56 of the operating unit 5 comes into contact with the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2 from below, and a part of the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is a second inclined surface. Supported by 241.

At this time as well, since the response and sound caused by the inclination of the operation unit 5 are generated as described above, the worker can easily put the connected device 1 in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state). Can be recognized. Further, it is more easily recognized that the connected device 1 is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state) due to the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and the stop surface 242. can do.

In the connecting device 1, the elastic member 4 can be deformed between the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 2, the insertion hole open state shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, and the connection state shown in FIG. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 8, the position of the operating portion 5 in contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state is referred to as a “first position”. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the position of the operation unit 5 in contact with the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state (that is, the non-connection state) is referred to as a “second position”. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the position of the operation portion 5 in which the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 is referred to as a “third position”.

The above-mentioned movement path 24 connects the third position, the first position, and the second position of the operation unit 5 in this order. The third position is located on the movement path 24 on the opposite side of the first position from the second position. At the second position, as described above, the first inclined surface 56 of the operating portion 5 abuts on the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2 from below. At the third position, the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the upward movement of the operation portion 5 (that is, the movement in the direction away from the second position) is restricted. At the third position, it is sufficient that a part of the operation unit 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, and the operation step portion 55 does not necessarily have to be locked to a part of the case 2.

As described above, the connecting device 1 to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The terminal portion 3 is conductive and is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2. The elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91. The operation unit 5 changes the shape of the elastic member 4 by moving along a movement path 24 extending in the vertical direction provided in the case 2. The elastic member 4 is in a connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 and a non-connected state in which the electric wire 91 is released from being sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 by being bent more than the connected state (that is,). It can be deformed with the insertion hole open state).

The operation unit 5 comes into contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state at the first position. The operating unit 5 deforms the elastic member 4 into a non-wired state by being pushed into the second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member 4. The connecting device 1 further includes a holding force reducing mechanism 60 that reduces the force for maintaining the operating unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 when the operating unit 5 is located at the second position. As a result, the force for maintaining the connected device 1 in the unconnected state can be reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1 can be improved.

As described above, preferably, the operation unit 5 has a first inclined surface 56 that inclines in a direction away from the center line of the movement path 24 as it goes downward. The case 2 has a second inclined surface 241 that is inclined in the vertical direction in parallel with the first inclined surface 56 in the movement path 24. The holding force reducing mechanism 60 includes a first inclined surface 56 and a second inclined surface 241. In the state where the operation unit 5 is located at the first position, the first inclined surface 56 is located at a position separated upward from the second inclined surface 241. When the operation unit 5 is located at the second position, the first inclined surface 56 comes into contact with the second inclined surface 241 from below.

In this way, the operating portion 5 pushed upward by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 comes into contact with the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2 via the first inclined surface 56, so that the operating portion 5 is brought into the case 2. The force to maintain in the pushed state (ie, unconnected state) can be reduced by a simple structure. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1 can be easily improved.

As described above, preferably, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state presses the first inclined surface 56 upward with respect to the second inclined surface 241 and the second inclined surface 241 restores the elastic member 4. Partially support the force. Therefore, when the electric wire 91 is connected to the connected device 1 in the unconnected state, the operation unit 5 can be easily moved from the second position to the first position by relaxing the force for pushing the operation unit 5 downward with a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. The electric wire 91 can be easily sandwiched between the movable portion 43 and the terminal portion 3 of the elastic member 4. Similarly, when the elastic member 4 is returned from the unconnected state (that is, the insertion hole open state) to the insertion hole closed state after the electric wire 91 is pulled out from the connecting device 1, the operation unit 5 is similarly moved by a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. By loosening the downward pushing force, the operation unit 5 can be easily moved from the second position to the third position. Therefore, when connecting the electric wire 91 or disconnecting the electric wire 91, it is not necessary to repeatedly insert a flat-blade screwdriver or the like into the moving path 24, so that the operability of the connected device 1 can be improved.

As described above, the first inclined surface 56 is preferably provided at the upper end of the operation unit 5. As a result, the first inclined surface 56 can be made visible, so that the timing at which the operation unit 5 reaches the second position from the third position (that is, the timing at which the force for pushing the operation unit 5 is reduced) and the like can be set. , It can be grasped relatively easily and intuitively. Therefore, the operability of the connected device 1 can be further improved. Further, when the first inclined surface 56 is colored in a color different from that of the surrounding portion, the color of the first inclined surface 56 cannot be seen because the operation unit 5 is located at the second position, so that the operation unit 5 becomes invisible. It is easier to visually grasp that the second position has been reached.

As described above, the elastic member 4 is preferably a leaf spring. As a result, the structure of the connected device 1 can be simplified. As a result, the manufacturing of the connected device 1 can be facilitated.

In the connected device 1, as shown in FIG. 9, a convex portion 561 may be provided on the first inclined surface 56 of the operation unit 5, and a concave portion 243 may be provided on the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2. The concave portion 243 fits with the convex portion 561 in a state where the operating portion 5 is located at the above-mentioned second position. As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the case 2 in the pushed state can be further reduced.

Further, in the connecting device 1, a convex portion may be provided on the second inclined surface 241 of the case 2, and a concave portion may be provided on the first inclined surface 56 of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the connecting device 1, one of the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 has a convex portion, and the other surface of the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 has a convex portion. It is preferable to have a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state where the operating portion 5 is located at the second position. As a result, as described above, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1 can be further improved. Even in this case, when the force for pushing the operating portion 5 is relaxed, the operating portion 5 moves upward and the movable portion 43 moves upward to the right due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4.

In the connected device 1, as shown by a thick line in FIG. 10, the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 may have a

rough surface portion

562, 244 having a surface roughness larger than that of the surrounding portion. .. Since the frictional resistance between the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 increases due to the contact between the rough surface portion 562 and the rough surface portion 244, the operating portion 5 is maintained in a pushed state into the case 2. The force can be further reduced.

In the connecting device 1, it is sufficient that the rough surface portion is provided on at least one of the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241. Even in this case, since the frictional resistance between the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 increases, the operation unit 5 is maintained in a state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, in a non-connected state). The force can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1 can be further improved. Even when the frictional resistance is increased, if the force for pushing the operating portion 5 is relaxed, the operating portion 5 moves upward due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and the movable portion 43 moves upward to the right. Moving.

Next, the connecting device 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 11 and 12 are sectional views showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the operation unit 5a of the connected device 1a. The connected device 1a is substantially the same as the connected device 1 except that the first inclined surface 56a and the second inclined surface 241a are provided at positions different from the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 shown in FIG. Has a structure. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the configurations of the connected equipment 1a corresponding to the configurations of the connected equipment 1.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the operation unit 5a on the right side of the connected device 1a is located in the first position (that is, a wiring state), and FIG. 12 shows a state in which the operation unit 5a is located in the second position (that is, non-connection state). (Connection state) is shown. The operation portion 5a has a first inclined surface 56a at the right end portion (that is, the end portion on the side far from the connecting portion 52) of the operation step portion 55. The first inclined surface 56a is provided below the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5a. The first inclined surface 56a faces diagonally downward to the right from the operation step portion 55. In other words, the first inclined surface 56a is a surface that inclines in a direction away from the center line of the movement path 24 as it goes downward. The case 2 has a second inclined surface 241a that is inclined in the vertical direction in parallel with the first inclined surface 56a in the movement path 24.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the operation unit 5a is located at the first position, the first inclined surface 56a is located at a position separated upward from the second inclined surface 241a. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the operating portion 5a is located at the second position, the first inclined surface 56a comes into contact with the second inclined surface 241a from below. As a result, similarly to the connected device 1 shown in FIG. 6, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5a in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state shown in FIG. 12) can be reduced. That is, in the connected device 1a, the first inclined surface 56a and the second inclined surface 241a constitute a holding force reducing mechanism 60a that reduces the force for maintaining the operating portion 5a in the case 2 in a pushed state. Thereby, the operability of the connected device 1a can be improved.

In the connecting device 1a, similarly to the connecting device 1, the first inclined surface 56a is pressed upward against the second inclined surface 241a by the restoring force of the elastic member 4 in the non-connected state, and the second inclined surface 241a is elastic. It is preferable to partially support the restoring force of the member 4. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1a can be improved as in the connected device 1.

As described above, it is preferable that the first inclined surface 56a is provided below the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5a. As a result, since the first inclined surface 56a is located inside the case 2, it is possible to prevent it from colliding with a flat-blade screwdriver or the like used for pushing the operating portion 5a and being damaged.

In the connecting device 1a, it is preferable that the elastic member 4 is a leaf spring as in the connecting device 1. As a result, the structure of the connected device 1a can be simplified. As a result, the connection device 1a can be easily manufactured.

In the connecting device 1a, as in the connecting device 1, one of the first inclined surface 56a and the second inclined surface 241a has a convex portion, and the other of the first inclined surface 56a and the second inclined surface 241a has a convex portion. It is preferable that the surface has a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state where the operating portion 5a is located at the second position. As a result, similarly to the connected device 1, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5a in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1a can be further improved.

In the connecting device 1a, as in the connecting device 1, a rough surface portion may be provided on at least one of the first inclined surface 56a and the second inclined surface 241a. As a result, similarly to the connected device 1, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5a in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1a can be further improved.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connecting device 1b according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1b. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1b cut at the position of XV-XV in FIG. The connecting device 1b is a push-in type connecting device to which the electric wire 91 is connected. The connected device 1b is used, for example, as a terminal block such as a control panel. In FIG. 13, a thin plate-shaped end plate 11 is attached to the front side of the connecting device 1b. Further, in FIG. 13, a state in which a plurality of connected devices 1b are connected is shown by a two-dot chain line. 14 and 15 show a state in which the electric wire 91 is not inserted into the connecting device 1b. In FIG. 14, the configuration on the back side of the cross section is also shown. In the following description, among the configurations of the connected device 1b, those corresponding to the configuration of the connected device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in FIG. 14 are also simply referred to as "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction". Further, in FIG. 14, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is also referred to as a "thickness direction". FIG. 14 shows a cross section of the connected device 1b at substantially the center in the thickness direction. The vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily have to coincide with the mounting direction when the connected device 1b is used. Further, the vertical direction does not necessarily have to coincide with the direction of gravity.

The connecting device 1b includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4b, and an operating portion 5b. The case 2 houses the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4b, and the operation portion 5b inside. The case 2 is made of resin, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. Further, inside the case 2, two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4b, and two operating portions 5b are housed. In other words, the connecting device 1b includes two sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4b, and an operating portion 5b. The connecting device 1b may include one set or three or more sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4b, and an operation portion 5b.

Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4b, and the operation portion 5b is arranged corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4b, and the operating portion 5b have the same shape and size, and are arranged in opposite directions. Focusing on the insertion hole 21 on the right side in FIG. 14, the terminal portion 3 is located on the right side of the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 and extends downward from the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21. The elastic member 4b extends diagonally upward to the left from the lower end of the insertion hole 21, and further extends diagonally downward to the left. The operation unit 5b is arranged on the left side of the insertion hole 21 and above the elastic member 4b.

The terminal portion 3 is a conductive member fixed to the case 2. The terminal portion 3 is made of metal, for example. The right terminal portion 3 in FIG. 14 is electrically connected to the left terminal portion 3 in FIG. In the example shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the two terminal portions 3 are connected members. Specifically, the lower ends of the two terminal portions 3 are connected by a conductive terminal connecting portion 32 extending in the left-right direction.

The elastic member 4b is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the elastic member 4b is a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4b is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4b may be formed of a conductive material or an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4b has, for example, a shape that is bent into a substantially V shape or a substantially U shape at the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. That is, the central portion 41 is a bent portion located substantially in the center of the elastic member 4b in the longitudinal direction. The elastic member 4b is fixed to the case 2 with the central portion 41 located at the upper end. The elastic member 4b is attached to the case 2 with both ends facing substantially downward by fixing the central portion 41 to the case 2. In the following description, the portion 22 of the case 2 that contacts the central portion 41 from below is referred to as a “support portion 22”. The support portion 22 has a substantially columnar shape centered on a central axis facing the thickness direction.

The elastic member 4b includes a pair of arm portions 42b extending diagonally downward from the central portion 41 on both the left and right sides of the central portion 41. The distance between the pair of arms 42b in the left-right direction increases downward. The pair of arm portions 42b are substantially axisymmetric with respect to the center line passing through the central portion 41. In the state shown in FIG. 14, the angle formed by the pair of arm portions 42b is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 180 °. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the angle is greater than 90 °.

Focusing on the elastic member 4b on the right side in FIG. 14, the arm portion 42b extending from the central portion 41 to the right side of the support portion 22 of the elastic member 4b is in contact with the terminal portion 3 extending in the vertical direction. When the pair of arm portions 42b is pushed downward by the operating portion 5b, the pair of arm portions 42b are elastically deformed with the upper end portion of the support portion 22 as a fulcrum, and are bent in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction. Further, when the downward pressing force on the pair of arms 42b disappears, the pair of arms 42b returns to the original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force.

In the state shown in FIG. 14, the tip of one arm 42b of the elastic member 4b contacts the terminal 3 below the insertion hole 21 as described above, and the lower end of the insertion hole 21 is pressed from below. It is closed. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 14 is referred to as an “insertion hole closed state”. The insertion hole closed state is a state before the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, an initial state before the connecting device 1b is used. The elastic member 4b in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state) is slightly bent in the direction in which the pair of arm portions 42b approach each other. This makes it possible to prevent the elastic member 4b from falling off from the case 2.

The operation unit 5b is a substantially columnar member extending in the vertical direction. The operation unit 5b is located inside a hole portion (hereinafter, referred to as “movement path 24”) extending in the vertical direction provided in the case 2. The operation unit 5b can move in the vertical direction along the movement path 24. The movement path 24 opens to the upper surface 25 of the case 2 and extends substantially downward from the upper surface 25.

The operation unit 5b includes an upper end portion 51, a connecting portion 52, and a pair of pressing portions 53b. The upper end portion 51, the connecting portion 52, and the pair of pressing portions 53b are connected members that are connected from the upper side to the lower side in this order. The operation unit 5b is made of, for example, resin. The upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5b is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped portion. The upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 is a plane substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. An operation recess that is recessed downward is provided at the center of the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51. The connecting portion 52 extends downward from the lower end of the upper end portion 51, and connects the upper end portion 51 and the pair of pressing portions 53b. The connecting portion 52 is, for example, a substantially plate-shaped portion whose width in the thickness direction is larger than the width in the left-right direction.

The pair of pressing portions 53b extend diagonally downward on both the left and right sides from the lower end of the connecting portion 52. In other words, the pair of pressing portions 53b are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction and extend substantially in the vertical direction. The distance between the pair of pressing portions 53b in the left-right direction increases toward the bottom. In other words, in the pair of pressing portions 53b, the distance in the left-right direction (that is, the distance in the left-right direction between the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b) becomes smaller toward the upper side. The inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b are inclined surfaces that are inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively. In the insertion hole closed state, the lower end of one of the pair of pressing portions 53b is the outer surface (that is, FIG. 14) of one of the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b in the left-right direction. Contact the top surface inside). Further, when the outer surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b come into contact with a part of the case 2, the upward movement of the operating portion 5b is restricted. In the insertion hole closed state, the lower ends of both of the pair of pressing portions 53b may come into contact with the outer surfaces of both of the pair of arm portions 42b. In other words, in the insertion hole closed state, at least one lower end of the pair of pressing portions 53b comes into contact with at least one outer surface of the pair of arm portions 42b.

The width of the upper end portion 51 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over the substantially total length of the upper end portion 51 in the vertical direction. The width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction is substantially constant over the substantially total length of the connecting portion 52 in the vertical direction. The width of the upper end portion 51 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the connecting portion 52 in the left-right direction. Focusing on the operation unit 5b on the right side in FIG. 14, the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b projects to the left from the upper end of the connecting portion 52. The distance between the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions 53b in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the lower ends of the connecting portions 52 in the left-right direction. The left and right side surfaces of the connecting portion 52 are substantially perpendicular to the left and right directions, and extend substantially parallel to the vertical direction.

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 14, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5b is located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operating portion 5b in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5b is located inside the case 2 (that is, below the region) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the region around the operating portion 5b. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, both side surfaces 513 of the operation portion 5b in the thickness direction are located inside the case 2 of the side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation portion 5b. , Or, it is located on substantially the same plane as the area. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5b. In other words, in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 14, the surface of the operation unit 5b is the surface of the case 2 in the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5b (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1b will be described with reference to FIGS. 14, 16 to 18. In the following, a state when the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the right side in the drawing will be described. When the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in the drawing, the operation of the worker is substantially the same except that the directions are opposite to each other.

First, the operation unit 5b is pushed toward the inside of the case 2 from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 14, and moves downward along the movement path 24. When the operation unit 5b is pushed in, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operation recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b, and points downward to the operation unit 5b via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply force. As the operation unit 5b moves downward, the elastic member 4b bends and the shape of the elastic member 4b is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16, the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b are pushed downward by the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b, and the distance between the pair of arm portions 42b in the left-right direction is increased. It becomes smaller. In other words, the pair of arms 42b approach each other in the left-right direction. The right arm portion 42b is separated from the terminal portion 3 to the left side. As a result, the lower end of the insertion hole 21 is opened. In the following description, the state of the connected device 1b shown in FIG. 16 is referred to as an “insertion hole open state”. In the state shown in FIG. 16, the angle formed by the pair of arm portions 42b is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 180 °. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the angle is less than 90 °.

In the state where the insertion hole is opened as shown in FIG. 16, the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operation portion 5b in a state of being bent in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction. The inner surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b come into contact with the outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions 42b. Further, the lower ends of the pair of arm portions 42b are located below the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions 53b. A restoring force that tries to return diagonally upward acts on the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b. The inner surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b are pressed in the left-right direction (that is, in the direction away from each other) by the component force in the horizontal direction (that is, the left-right direction) of the restoring force. Since the pair of pressing portions 53b are formed so as not to be substantially elastically deformed, the horizontal component force of the restoring force of the elastic member 4b is received by the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b. That is, the restoring force of the elastic member 4b is partially supported by the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b. Therefore, the force with which the elastic member 4b pushes the operation portion 5b upward is reduced, and the force of the worker required to maintain the operation portion 5b in the downward pushed state is reduced. That is, in the connecting device 1b, the pair of arm portions 42b and the pair of pressing portions 53b constitute a holding force reducing mechanism 60b that reduces the force for maintaining the operating portion 5b in the case 2 in a pushed state. The restoring force of the elastic member 4b supported by the pair of pressing portions 53b is smaller than the total restoring force of the elastic member 4b. Therefore, the state in which the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b are located between the pair of pressing portions 53b is not maintained only by the pinching by the pair of pressing portions 53b.

In the connected device 1b, the friction between the inner side surface of the pair of pressing portions 53b and the outer surface of the pair of arm portions 42b causes resistance to the hand of the worker holding the flat-blade screwdriver pushing the operating portion 5b. Therefore, the worker can easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state.

Further, in the connected device 1b, substantially at the same time as the transition to the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 16, the lower end of the upper end portion 51 of the operation portion 5b is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction provided in the movement path 24 of the case 2. It contacts the stop surface 242 from above. Thereby, it is possible to limit the excessive movement of the operation unit 5b downward. Further, the operator can more easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state by the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b and the stop surface 242. You can also.

In the state where the insertion hole is open as shown in FIG. 16, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the area around the operation unit 5b. Located on the side). Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5b may be located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operating portion 5b in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5b. In other words, in the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 16, the surface of the operation unit 5b is more of the case 2 than the area of the surface of the case 2 around the operation unit 5b (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

In the state where the insertion hole is opened as shown in FIG. 16, the elastic member 4b is more bent than the elastic member 4b in the connected state described later, and does not sandwich the electric wire with the terminal portion 3. In other words, the insertion hole open state, which is the state of the connecting device 1b shown in FIG. 16, is a “non-connection state” in which the pinching of the electric wire between the elastic member 4b and the terminal portion 3 is released.

Subsequently, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connecting device 1b as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 16 while the elastic member 4b is maintained in the insertion hole open state. The electric wire 91 may be, for example, a single wire or a stranded wire. Further, the electric wire 91 may be a stranded wire provided with a rod-shaped crimp terminal or the like at the tip end portion. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is preferably 0.42 mm or more, for example. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is practically 2.3 mm or less. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways. Further, the diameter of the portion other than the tip end portion of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways.

The electric wire 91 is moved downward in the insertion hole 21 and is inserted between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4b in the insertion hole open state as shown in FIG. After that, the force of the worker pushing the operating portion 5b is weakened, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4b becomes larger than the sum of the force of the worker and the supporting force of the pair of pressing portions 53b. The pair of arm portions 42b moves diagonally upward and, as shown in FIG. 18, are released from being pinched by the pair of pressing portions 53b.

Further, the right arm portion 42b of the elastic member 4b contacts the electric wire 91 from the left side. The arm portion 42b presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. As a result, the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In other words, the electric wire 91 is connected to the connecting device 1b. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 18 is referred to as a “connection state”. As described above, the elastic member 4b in the connected state sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. In the connecting device 1b, due to the diagonally upward movement of the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b, the operation portion 5b moves upward from the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. Stops in contact with the outer surface of the arm portion 42b.

In the wiring state shown in FIG. 18, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the area around the operation unit 5b. Located in. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5b may be located on substantially the same plane as the region around the operating portion 5b in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5b. In other words, in the wiring state shown in FIG. 18, the surface of the operation unit 5b is inside the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5b (that is, the area around the movement path 24) in the surface of the case 2. It is located or is located substantially in the same plane as the area.

In the connection state shown in FIG. 18, when the connecting device 1b is arranged so that the upper side in FIG. 18 is the lower side in the direction of gravity, the operation unit 5b is moved upward in the drawing from the elastic member 4b due to gravity. Separate. Then, the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b are locked to a part of the case 2 as in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 14, and the upward movement of the operating portion 5b is restricted. Therefore, it is prevented that the operation unit 5b moves upward from the position shown in FIG.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1b, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operating recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5b, and makes the operating portion 5b via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply a downward force. Then, the operation unit 5b is moved downward to open the insertion hole as shown in FIG. In the state where the insertion hole is open, as described above, the elastic member 4b bends and the right arm portion 42b is separated from the electric wire 91 to the left side. In other words, the sandwiching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4b and the terminal portion 3 is released. Further, the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b are sandwiched by the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b, and a part of the restoring force of the elastic member 4b is supported by the pair of pressing portions 53b.

At this time as well, the worker can easily recognize that the connected device 1b is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state). Further, it is more easily recognized that the connected device 1b is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state) due to the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5b and the stop surface 242. can do.

In the connecting device 1b, the elastic member 4b can be deformed between the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 14, the insertion hole open state shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, and the connection state shown in FIG. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 18, the position of the operating portion 5b in contact with the elastic member 4b in the connected state is referred to as a “first position”. Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the position of the operating portion 5b that comes into contact with the elastic member 4b in the insertion hole open state (that is, the non-connection state) is referred to as a “second position”. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the position of the operating portion 5b in which the pair of pressing portions 53b are locked to a part of the case 2 is referred to as a "third position".

The above-mentioned movement path 24 connects the third position, the first position, and the second position of the operation unit 5b in this order. The third position is located on the movement path 24 on the opposite side of the first position from the second position. At the second position, as described above, the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b are sandwiched by the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b. At the third position, the pair of pressing portions 53b are locked to a part of the case 2, so that the upward movement of the operating portion 5b (that is, the movement in the direction away from the second position) is restricted. At the third position, it is sufficient that a part of the operating portion 5b is locked to a part of the case 2, and the pair of pressing portions 53b do not necessarily have to be locked to a part of the case 2.

As described above, the connecting device 1b to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4b, and an operating portion 5b. The terminal portion 3 is conductive and is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4b is attached to the case 2. The elastic member 4b presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91. The operation unit 5b changes the shape of the elastic member 4b by moving along a movement path 24 extending in the vertical direction provided in the case 2.

The elastic member 4b is in a connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 and a non-connected state in which the electric wire 91 is released from being sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 by being bent more than the connected state (that is,). It can be deformed with the insertion hole open state). The operation unit 5b comes into contact with the elastic member 4b in the connected state at the first position. The operating unit 5b deforms the elastic member 4b into a non-wired state by being pushed into the second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member 4b. The connecting device 1b further includes a holding force reducing mechanism 60b that reduces the force for maintaining the operating unit 5b in a state of being pushed into the case 2 when the operating unit 5b is located at the second position. As a result, the force for maintaining the connected device 1b in the unconnected state can be reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1b can be improved.

As described above, preferably, the elastic member 4b is a leaf spring including a bent portion (that is, a central portion 41) located at the upper end and a pair of arm portions 42b. The pair of arm portions 42b extend downward on both the left and right sides of the central portion 41. The distance between the pair of arms 42b in the left-right direction increases downward. The operation unit 5b includes a pair of pressing units 53b that are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction and extend in the vertical direction. The distance between the pair of pressing portions 53b in the left-right direction becomes smaller toward the upper side. The holding force reducing mechanism 60b includes a pair of arm portions 42b and a pair of pressing portions 53b. When the operating portion 5b is located at the first position, at least one lower end of the pair of pressing portions 53b comes into contact with the outer surface of at least one of the pair of arm portions 42b. In the state where the operating portion 5b is located at the second position, the pair of arm portions 42b are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 53b in a state of being bent in the direction of approaching each other in the left-right direction. As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5b in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be reduced by a simple structure. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1b can be easily improved.

As described above, in the connected device 1b, preferably, the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b are pressed in the left-right direction by the pair of arm portions 42b by the restoring force of the elastic member 4b in the unconnected state, and the pair of pressing portions 53b partially supports the restoring force of the elastic member 4b. Therefore, when the electric wire 91 is connected to the connected device 1b in the unconnected state, the operation unit 5b can be easily moved from the second position to the first position by relaxing the force for pushing the operation unit 5b downward with a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. The electric wire 91 can be easily sandwiched between the arm portion 42b and the terminal portion 3 of the elastic member 4b. Similarly, when the elastic member 4b is returned from the unconnected state (that is, the insertion hole open state) to the insertion hole closed state after the electric wire 91 is pulled out from the connecting device 1b, the operation unit 5b is similarly moved by a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. By loosening the downward pushing force, the operation unit 5b can be easily moved from the second position to the third position. Therefore, when connecting the electric wire 91 or disconnecting the electric wire 91, it is not necessary to repeatedly insert a flat-blade screwdriver or the like into the moving path 24, so that the operability of the connected device 1b can be improved.

As described above, in the state where the operating portion 5b is located at the second position, the angle formed by the pair of arm portions 42b is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 180 °. As a result, in the elastic member 4b sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 53b, the restoring force of the elastic member 4b is a horizontal component supported by the pair of pressing portions 53b and a vertical component that pushes the operating portion 5b upward. And have. Therefore, the force for maintaining the operating portion 5b in the case 2 in the pushed state (that is, the unconnected state) can be reduced, and the pair of arm portions 42b when the force for pushing the operating portion 5b is relaxed can be slanted. It can be moved upwards. In this case, in the state where the operation unit 5b is located at the second position, the lower ends of the pair of arm portions 42b may be at the same position as the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions 53b, and the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions 53b. It may be located above or below.

As described above, in the state where the operation portion 5b is located at the second position, the lower ends of the pair of arm portions 42b are located below the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions 53b. As a result, in the elastic member 4b sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 53b, the restoring force of the elastic member 4b is a horizontal component supported by the pair of pressing portions 53b and a vertical component that pushes the operating portion 5b upward. And have. Therefore, the force for maintaining the operating portion 5b in the case 2 in the pushed state (that is, the unconnected state) can be reduced, and the pair of arm portions 42b when the force for pushing the operating portion 5b is relaxed can be slanted. It can be moved upwards. In this case, the angle formed by the pair of arm portions 42b may be 0 ° in the state where the operating portion 5b is located at the second position. In the connected device 1b, when the operation unit 5b is located at the second position, the angle formed by the pair of arm portions 42b is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 180 °, and the lower ends of the pair of arm portions 42b are formed. It is preferable that at least one of the pair of pressing portions 53b located below the lower ends is satisfied.

In the connected device 1b, as shown in FIG. 19, the distance between the pair of pressing portions 53b in the left-right direction (that is, the distance in the left-right direction between the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b) extends over substantially the entire length in the vertical direction. It may be substantially constant. As illustrated in FIG. 19, when the operating portion 5b is located at the second position, the lower ends of the pair of arm portions 42b are located below the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions 53b. The pair of arm portions 42b are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 53b in a state of being bent in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction. As a result, similarly to the above, it is possible to reduce the force for maintaining the operation unit 5b in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state). As a result, the operability of the connected device 1b can be improved. That is, in the connected device 1b, the operation units 5b are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction and extend in the vertical direction, and the distance in the left-right direction becomes smaller toward the upper side, or the distance in the left-right direction is constant. The pressing portion 53b may be provided.

In the connected device 1b, as shown in FIG. 20, a convex portion 531 may be provided on the inner surface of the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b, and a concave portion 421 may be provided on the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b. .. The concave portion 421 fits with the convex portion 531 of the pressing portion 53b in a state where the operating portion 5b is located at the above-mentioned second position (that is, in a non-connection state). As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5b in the case 2 in the pushed state can be further reduced. The convex portion 531 may be provided only on one pressing portion 53b, and the concave portion 421 may be provided only on one arm portion 42b.

Further, in the connecting device 1b, the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operating portion 5b may be provided with a concave portion, and the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b may be provided with a convex portion. In other words, in the connected device 1b, one of the pair of pressing portions 53b and the pair of arm portions 42b has a convex portion, and the other of the pair of pressing portions 53b and the pair of arm portions 42b has the operating portion 5b. It is preferable to have a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state of being located at the second position (that is, a non-connection state). As a result, as described above, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5b in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1b can be further improved. Even in this case, when the force for pushing the operating portion 5b is relaxed, the operating portion 5b moves upward and the pair of arm portions 42b moves diagonally upward due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4b.

In the connected device 1b, as shown by a thick line in FIG. 21, a rough surface portion 532 may be provided on the inner side surface of the pair of pressing portions 53b, and a rough surface portion 422 may be provided on the outer surface of the pair of arm portions 42b. The rough surface portion 532 and the rough surface portion 422 are regions having a surface roughness larger than that of the surrounding portions, respectively. When the rough surface portion 532 and the rough surface portion 422 come into contact with each other, the frictional resistance between the pair of pressing portions 53b and the pair of arm portions 42b increases, so that the operating portion 5b is maintained in the state of being pushed into the case 2. The force can be further reduced. The rough surface portion 532 may be provided only on one pressing portion 53b, and the rough surface portion 422 may also be provided on only one arm portion 42b.

In the connected device 1b, at least one of the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 53b and the outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions 42b may have a rough surface portion. Even in this case, since the frictional resistance between the pair of pressing portions 53b and the pair of arm portions 42b increases, the operating portion 5b is maintained in a state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, in a non-wired state). The force can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1b can be further improved. Even in this case, when the force for pushing the operating portion 5b is relaxed, the operating portion 5b moves upward and the pair of arm portions 42b moves diagonally upward due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4b.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the connecting device 1b provided with the elastic member 4c having a shape different from the above example. In the elastic member 4c, a pair of intermediate portions 43b are provided between the central portion 41 and the pair of arm portions 42b. Each of the pair of intermediate portions 43b extends obliquely upward from the central portion 41. The pair of arm portions 42b extend obliquely downward from the upper end portions of the pair of intermediate portions 43b. The pair of intermediate portions 43b may extend diagonally downward from the central portion 41 and then bend upward and extend diagonally upward. In other words, in the elastic member 4c, the portion between the pair of arm portions 42b is curved or wavy with the central portion 41 as the center in the left-right direction.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the connecting device 1d according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1d. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1d cut at the position of XXV-XXV in FIG. 24. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the connected device 1d. The connecting device 1d is a push-in type connecting device to which the electric wire 91 is connected. The connected device 1d is used, for example, as a terminal block such as a control panel. In FIG. 23, a thin plate-shaped end plate 11 is attached to the front side of the connecting device 1d. Further, in FIG. 23, a state in which a plurality of connected devices 1d are connected is shown by a two-dot chain line. 24 to 26 show a state in which the electric wire 91 is not inserted into the connecting device 1d. In FIG. 24, the configuration on the back side of the cross section is also shown. In the following description, among the configurations of the connected device 1d, those corresponding to the configuration of the connected device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in FIG. 24 are also simply referred to as "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction". Further, in FIG. 24, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is also referred to as a "thickness direction". FIG. 24 shows a cross section of the connected device 1d at substantially the center in the thickness direction. The vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily have to coincide with the mounting direction when the connected device 1d is used. Further, the vertical direction does not necessarily have to coincide with the direction of gravity.

The connecting device 1d includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The case 2 houses the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 inside. The case 2 is made of resin, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 24, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. Further, inside the case 2, two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4, and two operating portions 5 are housed. In other words, the connecting device 1d includes two sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The connecting device 1d may include one set or three or more sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation portion 5.

Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 is arranged corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 have the same shape and size, and are arranged in opposite directions. Focusing on the insertion hole 21 on the right side in FIG. 24, the terminal portion 3 is located on the right side of the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 and extends downward from the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21. The elastic member 4 extends from the lower end of the insertion hole 21 to the left side and further downward. The operation unit 5 is arranged on the left side of the insertion hole 21 and above the elastic member 4.

The terminal portion 3 is a conductive member fixed to the case 2. The terminal portion 3 is made of metal, for example. The right terminal portion 3 in FIG. 24 is electrically connected to the left terminal portion 3 in FIG. 24. In the example shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the two terminal portions 3 are connected members. Specifically, the lower ends of the two terminal portions 3 are connected by a conductive terminal connecting portion 32 extending in the left-right direction.

The elastic member 4 is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. In the example shown in FIGS. 24 to 26, the elastic member 4 is a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4 is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4 may be formed of a conductive material or an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4 has, for example, a shape that is bent into a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2 with both ends facing substantially downward by sandwiching the central portion 41 between the cases 2. In the following description, the portion 22 of the case 2 that contacts the central portion 41 from below is referred to as a “support portion 22”. The support portion 22 extends substantially downward from the central portion 41 of the elastic member 4.

Focusing on the elastic member 4 on the right side in FIG. 24, the portion 42 of the elastic member 4 extending from the central portion 41 to the left side of the support portion 22 is sandwiched between the support portion 22 and another portion of the case 2. Therefore, it is fixed to the case 2. Further, among the elastic members 4, the portion 43 extending from the central portion 41 to the right side of the support portion 22 is in contact with the terminal portion 3 extending in the vertical direction. When the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the operating portion 5, it elastically deforms with the upper end portion of the support portion 22 as a fulcrum and bends downward. Further, when the downward pressing force on the portion 43 disappears, the portion 43 returns to its original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force. In the following description, the portion 42 and the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 will be referred to as a "fixed portion 42" and a "movable portion 43", respectively. The fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 are substantially line-symmetrical with respect to the center line passing through the central portion 41. The movable portion 43 extends obliquely downward from the upper end of the fixed portion 42.

In the state shown in FIG. 24, as described above, the tip of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 contacts the terminal portion 3 below the insertion hole 21, and the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 is closed from below. ing. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 24 is referred to as an “insertion hole closed state”. The insertion hole closed state is a state before the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, an initial state before the connecting device 1d is used.

The elastic member 4 in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state) is slightly bent in the direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach each other. This makes it possible to prevent the elastic member 4 from falling off from the case 2. On the left side in FIG. 24, the elastic member 4 in a non-flexible state is shown by a chain double-dashed line.

Focusing on the operation unit 5 on the right side in FIG. 24, the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 projects to the left from the upper end of the connecting portion 52. The left side surface of the lower end portion 53 of the operation unit 5 extends downward substantially parallel to the upper end in the vertical direction, and then goes to the right side as it goes downward. The elastic member 4 partially contacts the left side surface of the lower end 53. The lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 projects to the right from the lower end of the connecting portion 52. As a result, an operation step portion 55 projecting to the right is formed at the lower end of the connecting portion 52 (that is, the upper end of the lower end portion 53).

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the movement of the operation portion 5 upward is restricted. The lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5 is in contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 as described above, and the operation step portion 55 is pressed against the above-mentioned part of the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. As a result, the operation unit 5 is locked to the case 2, so that the operation unit 5 is prevented from moving upward from the position shown in FIG. 24. When assembling the connecting device 1d, the operation unit 5 is first arranged in the region where the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the non-flexible state (that is, the uncompressed state) should exist, and the elastic member 4 Is attached to the case 2 in a bent state. As a result, the above structure is realized.

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the side surfaces 513 of the operation unit 5 in the thickness direction are located inside the case 2 of the side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5. , Or, it is located on substantially the same plane as the area. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24, the surface of the operation unit 5 is the surface of the case 2 in the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the connecting device 1d cut at the position of XXVII-XXVII in FIG. 24. As shown in FIGS. 24 and 27, the case 2 includes a pair of pressing portions 23 located below the operating portion 5. The pair of pressing portions 23 are arranged at positions separated downward from the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the state where the insertion hole is closed. In the example shown in FIG. 27, the pair of pressing portions 23 separate a part of both side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2 from the surrounding portions except for the upper end 235, and the lower end 236 is closer to each other in the thickness direction. This is the part bent inward.

The pair of pressing portions 23 are arranged apart from each other in the thickness direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to the movable region of the movable portion 43). Each pressing portion 23 is a strip-shaped member whose thickness in the thickness direction is smaller than the width in the left-right direction, and extends substantially parallel to the vertical direction. The spacing in the thickness direction of the pair of pressing portions 23 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “the spacing of the pair of pressing portions 23”) gradually decreases toward the bottom. The distance between the pair of pressing portions 23 is larger than the width of the elastic member 4 in the thickness direction at the upper end 235 of the pressing portions 23. Further, the distance between the pair of pressing portions 23 is smaller than the width of the elastic member 4 in the thickness direction at the lower end 236 of the pressing portions 23. Each pressing portion 23 is a resin spring that can be elastically deformed in the thickness direction.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1d will be described with reference to FIGS. 24, 27 to 31. In the following, a state when the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the right side in the drawing will be described. When the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in the drawing, the operation of the worker is substantially the same except that the directions are opposite to each other.

First, the operation unit 5 is pushed toward the inside of the case 2 from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24, and moves downward along the movement path 24. When the operation unit 5 is pushed in, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operation recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and points downward to the operation unit 5 via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply force. As the operation unit 5 moves downward, the elastic member 4 bends and the shape of the elastic member 4 is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 28, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the lower end portion 53 of the operating portion 5, and is separated from the terminal portion 3 to the left side. As a result, the lower end of the insertion hole 21 is opened. In the following description, the state of the connected device 1d shown in FIG. 28 is referred to as an “insertion hole open state”.

At the time of transition from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24 to the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 28, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the operating portion 5 from the position shown in FIG. 27 and curved. It passes between the upper ends 235 of the pair of pressing portions 23 (see FIG. 27). When the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is located between the upper ends 235 of the pair of pressing portions 23, the movable portion 43 does not come into contact with the pair of pressing portions 23. The movable portion 43 descends between the pair of pressing portions 23, and comes into contact with the pair of pressing portions 23 at a position where the distance between the pair of pressing portions 23 is substantially the same as the width of the movable portion 43 in the thickness direction. The pair of pressing portions 23 come into contact with both side surfaces of the movable portion 43 in the thickness direction from the width direction of the substantially band-shaped movable portion 43. Then, the movable portion 43 is further lowered to open the insertion hole, so that the movable portion 43 is sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 23 in the thickness direction, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29. At this time, the pair of pressing portions 23 are elastically deformed in the direction in which they are separated from each other in the thickness direction. Further, a frictional resistance is generated between the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23 against the restoring force of the elastic member 4 (that is, the force for moving the movable portion 43 upward).

In the connecting device 1d with the insertion hole open, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is partially supported by the pair of pressing portions 23 of the case 2 due to the frictional resistance generated. Therefore, the force of the worker required to maintain the operation unit 5 in the downwardly pushed state is reduced. That is, in the connecting device 1d, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and the pair of pressing portions 23 constitute a holding force reducing mechanism 60d that reduces the force for maintaining the operating portion 5 in the case 2 in a pushed state. The restoring force of the elastic member 4 supported by the pair of pressing portions 23 is smaller than the total restoring force of the elastic member 4. In other words, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 in the open insertion hole state is larger than the frictional resistance generated between the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23. Therefore, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is not locked to the pair of pressing portions 23 only by the frictional resistance.

In the connected device 1d, the pinching of the movable portion 43 by the pair of pressing portions 23 causes resistance to the hand of the worker holding the flat-blade screwdriver that pushes the operation portion 5. Therefore, the worker can easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state.

Further, in the connected device 1d, substantially at the same time as the above-mentioned pinching of the movable portion 43, the lower end of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5 is provided on the stop surface 242 provided in the movement path 24 of the case 2 and substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction. Contact from above. Thereby, it is possible to limit the excessive movement of the operation unit 5 downward. Further, the operator can more easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state by the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and the stop surface 242. You can also.

In the state where the insertion hole is open as shown in FIG. 28, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the area around the operation unit 5. Located on the side). Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 28, the surface of the operation unit 5 is the surface of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

In the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 28, the elastic member 4 is more bent than the elastic member 4 in the connection state described later, and does not sandwich the electric wire with the terminal portion 3. In other words, the insertion hole open state, which is the state of the connecting device 1d shown in FIG. 28, is a “non-connection state” in which the pinching of the electric wire between the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released.

Subsequently, with the elastic member 4 maintained in the insertion hole open state, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connecting device 1d as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 28. The electric wire 91 may be, for example, a single wire or a stranded wire. Further, the electric wire 91 may be a stranded wire provided with a rod-shaped crimp terminal or the like at the tip end portion. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is preferably 0.42 mm or more, for example. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is practically 2.3 mm or less. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways. Further, the diameter of the portion other than the tip end portion of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways.

The electric wire 91 is moved downward in the insertion hole 21 and is inserted between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state as shown in FIG. After that, the force of the worker pushing the operation unit 5 is weakened, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is the frictional resistance generated between the force of the worker and the frictional resistance (that is, between the movable part 43 and the pair of pressing parts 23). ), The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 moves diagonally upward to the right, and the pair of pressing portions 23 is released from sandwiching the movable portion 43. In other words, the movable portion 43 is separated from the pair of pressing portions 23 and is in a non-contact state.

Further, as shown in FIG. 31, the movable portion 43 contacts the electric wire 91 from the left side. The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. As a result, the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In other words, the electric wire 91 is connected to the connecting device 1d. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 31 is referred to as a “connection state”. As described above, the elastic member 4 in the connected state sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. Further, in the elastic member 4 in the connected state, the movable portion 43 is located at a position separated upward from the pair of pressing portions 23, and is not in contact with the pair of pressing portions 23.

In the connected device 1d, the operating portion 5 moves upward from the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 30 due to the movement of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 diagonally upward to the right, and the lower end portion 53 is the elastic member 4. Stops in contact with the movable portion 43 of.

In the wiring state shown in FIG. 31, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. Located in. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the wiring state shown in FIG. 31, the surface of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24) in the surface of the case 2. It is located or is located substantially in the same plane as the area.

In the connection state shown in FIG. 31, when the connecting device 1d is arranged so that the upper side in FIG. 31 is the lower side in the direction of gravity, the operation unit 5 is moved upward in the drawing from the elastic member 4 due to gravity. Separate. Then, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2 as in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24, and the upward movement of the operation portion 5 is restricted. Therefore, it is prevented that the operation unit 5 moves upward from the position shown in FIG. 24.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1d, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operation recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and brings the wire 91 to the operation unit 5 via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply a downward force. Then, the operation unit 5 is moved downward to open the insertion hole as shown in FIG. In the state where the insertion hole is open, as described above, the elastic member 4 bends and the movable portion 43 is separated from the electric wire 91 to the left side. In other words, the sandwiching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released. Further, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 23, and a part of the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is supported by the pair of pressing portions 23.

At this time as well, since the response caused by the pinching of the movable portion 43 occurs as described above, the worker can easily recognize that the connected device 1d is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state). be able to. Further, it is more easily recognized that the connected device 1d is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state) due to the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and the stop surface 242. can do.

In the connecting device 1d, the elastic member 4 can be deformed between the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 24, the insertion hole open state shown in FIGS. 28 and 30, and the wiring state shown in FIG. 31. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 31, the position of the operating portion 5 in contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state is referred to as a “first position”. Further, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 30, the position of the operation unit 5 in contact with the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state (that is, the non-connection state) is referred to as a “second position”. Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the position of the operation portion 5 in which the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 is referred to as a “third position”.

The above-mentioned movement path 24 connects the third position, the first position, and the second position of the operation unit 5 in this order. The third position is located on the movement path 24 on the opposite side of the first position from the second position. At the second position, as described above, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is sandwiched by the pair of pressing portions 23. At the third position, the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the upward movement of the operation portion 5 (that is, the movement in the direction away from the second position) is restricted. At the third position, it is sufficient that a part of the operation unit 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, and the operation step portion 55 does not necessarily have to be locked to a part of the case 2.

As described above, the connecting device 1d to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The terminal portion 3 is conductive and is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2. The elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91. The operation unit 5 changes the shape of the elastic member 4 by moving along a movement path 24 extending in the vertical direction provided in the case 2. The elastic member 4 is in a connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 and a non-connected state in which the electric wire 91 is released from being sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 by being bent more than the connected state (that is,). It can be deformed with the insertion hole open state). The operation unit 5 comes into contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state at the first position. The operating unit 5 deforms the elastic member 4 into a non-wired state by being pushed into the second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member 4. The connected device 1d further includes a holding force reducing mechanism 60d that reduces the force for maintaining the operating unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 when the operating unit 5 is located at the second position. As a result, the force for maintaining the connected device 1d in the unconnected state can be reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1d can be improved.

As described above, preferably, the elastic member 4 includes a fixed portion 42 fixed to the case 2 and a movable portion 43 extending diagonally downward from the fixed portion 42. In the connected state, the operation unit 5 comes into contact with the movable portion 43, and the movable portion 43 sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. In the non-connected state, the movable portion 43 bends downward from the connected state. Thereby, the operability of the connected device 1d can be further improved.

As described above, preferably, the case 2 includes a pair of pressing portions 23. The pair of pressing portions 23 are arranged below the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the connected state, separated in the thickness direction perpendicular to the movable region of the movable portion 43, and extend in the vertical direction. The distance between the pair of pressing portions 23 in the thickness direction becomes smaller toward the bottom. The holding force reducing mechanism 60d includes a movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and a pair of pressing portions 23. In the state where the operating portion 5 is located at the second position, the movable portion 43 is sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions 23, and resists the restoring force of the elastic member 4 between the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23. Friction resistance occurs. As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be reduced by a simple structure. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1d can be easily improved.

As described above, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 in the unconnected state is preferably larger than the frictional resistance described above. Therefore, when connecting the electric wire 91 to the connected device 1d in the unconnected state, the operation unit 5 can be easily moved from the second position to the first position by relaxing the force for pushing the operation unit 5 downward with a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. The electric wire 91 can be easily sandwiched between the movable portion 43 and the terminal portion 3 of the elastic member 4. Further, when the elastic member 4 is returned from the unconnected state (that is, the insertion hole open state) to the insertion hole closed state after the electric wire 91 is pulled out from the connected device 1d, the operation unit 5 is similarly moved by a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. By loosening the downward pushing force, the operation unit 5 can be easily moved from the second position to the third position. Therefore, it is not necessary to repeatedly insert a flat-blade screwdriver or the like into the movement path 24 when connecting the electric wire 91 or disconnecting the electric wire 91, so that the operability of the connected device 1d can be improved.

As described above, the elastic member 4 is preferably a leaf spring. Thereby, the structure of the connected device 1d can be simplified. As a result, the manufacturing of the connected device 1d can be facilitated.

In the connected device 1d, as shown in FIG. 32, convex portions 44 are provided on both side surfaces of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the thickness direction, and the inner side surfaces (that is, movable) of the pair of pressing portions 23 in the thickness direction. A recess 231 may be provided on the surface in contact with the portion 43). Each concave portion 231 fits with the convex portion 44 in a state where the operating portion 5 is located at the above-mentioned second position. As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the case 2 in the pushed state can be further reduced.

Further, in the connecting device 1d, a concave portion may be provided in the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4, and a convex portion may be provided in the pair of pressing portions 23. In other words, in the connected device 1d, one of the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23 has a convex portion, and the other of the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23 has the operating portion 5 in the second position. It is preferable to have a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a positioned state (that is, a non-connected state). As a result, as described above, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1d can be further improved. Even in this case, when the force for pushing the operating portion 5 is relaxed, the operating portion 5 moves upward and the movable portion 43 moves upward to the right due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4.

In the connected device 1d, as shown by a thick line in FIG. 33, rough surface portions 45 are provided on both side surfaces of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the thickness direction, and the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 23 in the thickness direction ( That is, the rough surface portion 232 may be provided on the surface in contact with the movable portion 43). The rough surface portion 45 and the rough surface portion 232 are regions having a surface roughness larger than that of the surrounding portions, respectively. When the rough surface portion 45 and the rough surface portion 232 come into contact with each other, the frictional resistance between the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23 increases, so that the force for maintaining the operating portion 5 in the case 2 in a pushed state is increased. It can be further reduced.

In the connected device 1d, it is sufficient that at least one of the side surfaces of the movable portion 43 in the thickness direction and the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing portions 23 has rough surface portions. Even in this case, since the frictional resistance between the movable portion 43 and the pair of pressing portions 23 increases, the force for maintaining the operating portion 5 in the case 2 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) is applied. It can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1d can be further improved. Even when the frictional resistance is increased, if the force for pushing the operating portion 5 is relaxed, the operating portion 5 moves upward due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4, and the movable portion 43 moves upward to the right. Moving.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the connecting device 1e according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1e. FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of the connected device 1e cut at the position of XXXVI-XXXVI in FIG. 35. FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view of the connected device 1e. The connecting device 1e is a push-in type connecting device to which the electric wire 91 is connected. The connected device 1e is used, for example, as a terminal block of a control panel or the like. In FIG. 34, a thin plate-shaped end plate 11 is attached to the front side of the connecting device 1e. Further, in FIG. 34, a state in which a plurality of connected devices 1e are connected is shown by a two-dot chain line. 35 to 37 show a state in which the electric wire 91 is not inserted into the connecting device 1e. In FIG. 35, the configuration on the back side of the cross section is also shown. In the following description, among the configurations of the connected devices 1e, those corresponding to the configurations of the connected devices 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the following description, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in FIG. 35 are also simply referred to as "vertical direction" and "horizontal direction". Further, in FIG. 35, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is also referred to as a "thickness direction". FIG. 35 shows a cross section of the connected device 1e at substantially the center in the thickness direction. The vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the thickness direction do not necessarily have to coincide with the mounting direction when the connected device 1e is used. Further, the vertical direction does not necessarily have to coincide with the direction of gravity.

The connecting device 1e includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The case 2 houses the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 inside. The case 2 is made of resin, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 35, the case 2 is provided with two insertion holes 21 into which electric wires can be inserted. Further, inside the case 2, two terminal portions 3, two elastic members 4, and two operating portions 5 are housed. In other words, the connecting device 1e includes two sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The connecting device 1e may include one set or three or more sets of terminal portions 3, an elastic member 4, and an operation portion 5.

Each set of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 is arranged corresponding to the insertion hole 21. The two sets of the terminal portion 3, the elastic member 4, and the operation portion 5 have the same shape and size, and are arranged in opposite directions. Focusing on the insertion hole 21 on the right side in FIG. 35, the terminal portion 3 is located on the right side of the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 and extends downward from the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21. The elastic member 4 extends from the lower end of the insertion hole 21 to the left side and further downward. The operation unit 5 is arranged on the left side of the insertion hole 21 and above the elastic member 4.

The terminal portion 3 is a conductive member fixed to the case 2. The terminal portion 3 is made of metal, for example. The right terminal portion 3 in FIG. 35 is electrically connected to the left terminal portion 3 in FIG. 35. In the example shown in FIGS. 35 to 37, the two terminal portions 3 are connected members. Specifically, the lower ends of the two terminal portions 3 are connected by a conductive terminal connecting portion 32 extending in the left-right direction.

The elastic member 4 is an elastically deformable member attached to the case 2. As shown in FIGS. 35 to 37, the elastic member 4 is a substantially strip-shaped leaf spring. The elastic member 4 is made of metal, for example. The elastic member 4 may be formed of a conductive material or an insulating material such as a resin. The elastic member 4 has, for example, a shape that is bent into a substantially L-shape, a substantially V-shape, or a substantially U-shape at the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2 with both ends facing substantially downward by sandwiching the central portion 41 between the cases 2. In the following description, the portion 22 of the case 2 that contacts the central portion 41 from below is referred to as a “support portion 22”. The support portion 22 extends substantially downward from the central portion 41 of the elastic member 4.

Focusing on the elastic member 4 on the right side in FIG. 35, the portion 42 of the elastic member 4 extending from the central portion 41 to the left side of the support portion 22 is sandwiched between the support portion 22 and another portion of the case 2. Therefore, it is fixed to the case 2. Further, among the elastic members 4, the portion 43 extending from the central portion 41 to the right side of the support portion 22 is in contact with the terminal portion 3 extending in the vertical direction. When the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the operating portion 5, it elastically deforms with the upper end portion of the support portion 22 as a fulcrum and bends downward. Further, when the downward pressing force on the portion 43 disappears, the portion 43 returns to its original state (that is, elastically returns) due to the restoring force. In the following description, the portion 42 and the portion 43 of the elastic member 4 will be referred to as a "fixed portion 42" and a "movable portion 43", respectively. The fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 are substantially line-symmetrical with respect to the center line passing through the central portion 41. The movable portion 43 extends obliquely downward from the upper end of the fixed portion 42.

In the state shown in FIG. 35, the tip of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 contacts the terminal portion 3 below the insertion hole 21 as described above, and the lower end portion of the insertion hole 21 is closed from below. ing. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 35 is referred to as an “insertion hole closed state”. The insertion hole closed state is a state before the electric wire is inserted into the insertion hole 21, that is, an initial state before the connecting device 1e is used.

The elastic member 4 in the insertion hole closed state (that is, the initial state) is slightly bent in the direction in which the fixed portion 42 and the movable portion 43 approach each other. This makes it possible to prevent the elastic member 4 from falling off from the case 2. On the left side in FIG. 35, the elastic member 4 in a non-flexible state is shown by a chain double-dashed line.

Focusing on the operation unit 5 on the right side in FIG. 35, the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 projects to the left from the upper end of the connecting portion 52. The left side surface of the lower end portion 53 of the operation unit 5 extends downward substantially parallel to the upper end in the vertical direction, and then goes to the right side as it goes downward. The elastic member 4 partially contacts the left side surface of the lower end 53. The lower end 53 of the operation unit 5 projects to the right from the lower end of the connecting portion 52. As a result, an operation step portion 55 projecting to the right is formed at the lower end of the connecting portion 52 (that is, the upper end of the lower end portion 53).

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the movement of the operation portion 5 upward is restricted. The lower end portion 53 of the operation portion 5 is in contact with the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 as described above, and the operation step portion 55 is pressed against the above-mentioned part of the case 2 by the restoring force of the elastic member 4. As a result, the operation unit 5 is locked to the case 2, so that the operation unit 5 is prevented from moving upward from the position shown in FIG. 35. When assembling the connecting device 1e, the operation unit 5 is first arranged in the region where the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the non-flexible state (that is, the uncompressed state) should exist, and the elastic member 4 Is attached to the case 2 in a bent state. As a result, the above structure is realized.

In the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is located inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 36, the side surfaces 513 of the operation unit 5 in the thickness direction are located inside the case 2 of the side surfaces 26 in the thickness direction of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5. , Or, it is located on substantially the same plane as the area. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35, the surface of the operation unit 5 is the surface of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

The case 2 includes a movable end locking portion 23e located below the operating portion 5. The movable end locking portion 23e is a thin plate-shaped member extending substantially in the left-right direction from the lower end portion of the support portion 22 toward the terminal portion 3 vertically below the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. The vertical thickness of the movable end locking portion 23e is smaller than the length in the horizontal direction. The movable end locking portion 23e is a resin spring that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction. In the state shown in FIG. 35, the movable end locking portion 23e is located at a position separated downward from the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4.

Focusing on the movable end locking portion 23e on the right side in FIG. 35, the left end portion of the movable end locking portion 23e is connected to the lower end portion of the support portion 22. The upper surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e is an inclined surface that moves upward as it moves away from the lower end portion of the support portion 22 (that is, as it approaches the terminal portion 3 in the left-right direction). The upper surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e extends diagonally upward in a direction approaching the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 as it goes upward. In the following description, the upper surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e is also referred to as an “inclined contact surface 234”.

Next, the flow of connecting the electric wire to the connecting device 1e will be described with reference to FIGS. 35, 38 to 40. In the following, a state when the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the right side in the drawing will be described. When the electric wire is connected to the insertion hole 21 on the left side in the drawing, the operation of the worker is substantially the same except that the directions are opposite to each other.

First, the operation unit 5 is pushed toward the inside of the case 2 from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35, and moves downward along the movement path 24. When the operation unit 5 is pushed in, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operation recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5, and points downward to the operation unit 5 via the flat-blade screwdriver. Apply force. As the operation unit 5 moves downward, the elastic member 4 bends and the shape of the elastic member 4 is changed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 38, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the lower end portion 53 of the operating portion 5, and is separated from the terminal portion 3 to the left side. As a result, the lower end of the insertion hole 21 is opened. In the following description, the state of the connected device 1e shown in FIG. 38 is referred to as an “insertion hole open state”.

At the time of transition from the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35 to the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 38, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is pushed downward by the operating portion 5 and curved, and the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 is bent. It contacts the inclined contact surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e. Then, when the movable portion 43 is further pushed by the operating portion 5, the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 moves substantially to the left along the inclined contact surface 234. The movable end locking portion 23e is pressed by the movable portion 43 and elastically deforms downward. A frictional resistance is generated between the lower end of the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234 against the restoring force of the elastic member 4 (that is, the force for moving the movable portion 43 upward).

In the connecting device 1e with the insertion hole open, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is partially supported by the inclined contact surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e due to the frictional resistance. Therefore, the force of the worker required to maintain the operation unit 5 in the downwardly pushed state is reduced. That is, in the connecting device 1e, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and the inclined contact surface 234 constitute a holding force reducing mechanism 60e that reduces the force for maintaining the operating portion 5 in the case 2 in a pushed state. The restoring force of the elastic member 4 supported by the inclined contact surface 234 is smaller than the total restoring force of the elastic member 4. In other words, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 in the open insertion hole state is larger than the frictional resistance generated between the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234. Therefore, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is not locked to the inclined contact surface 234 only by the frictional resistance.

In the connected device 1e, the friction between the lower end of the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234 causes resistance to the hand of the worker holding the flat-blade screwdriver that pushes the operating portion 5. Therefore, the worker can easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state.

Further, in the connected device 1e, at substantially the same time as the contact between the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234, the lower end of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5 is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction provided in the moving path 24 of the case 2. It contacts the stop surface 242 from above. Thereby, it is possible to limit the excessive movement of the operation unit 5 downward. Further, the operator can more easily recognize the completion of the transition from the insertion hole closed state to the insertion hole open state by the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and the stop surface 242. You can also.

In the state where the insertion hole is opened as shown in FIG. 38, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 than the area around the operation unit 5. Located on the side). Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. 38, the surface of the operation unit 5 is the surface of the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24). It is located inside or substantially on the same plane as the area.

In the state where the insertion hole is opened shown in FIG. 38, the elastic member 4 is more bent than the elastic member 4 in the connected state described later, and does not sandwich the electric wire with the terminal portion 3. In other words, the insertion hole open state, which is the state of the connecting device 1e shown in FIG. 38, is a “non-connection state” in which the pinching of the electric wire between the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released.

Subsequently, the electric wire 91 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 of the connecting device 1e as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 38 while the elastic member 4 is maintained in the insertion hole open state. The electric wire 91 may be, for example, a single wire or a stranded wire. Further, the electric wire 91 may be a stranded wire provided with a rod-shaped crimp terminal or the like at the tip end portion. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is preferably 0.42 mm or more, for example. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 is practically 2.3 mm or less. The diameter of the tip of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways. Further, the diameter of the portion other than the tip end portion of the electric wire 91 may be changed in various ways.

The electric wire 91 is moved downward in the insertion hole 21 and is inserted between the terminal portion 3 and the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state as shown in FIG. 39. After that, the force of the worker pushing the operation unit 5 is weakened, and the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is the force of the worker and the frictional resistance (that is, the frictional resistance generated between the movable part 43 and the inclined contact surface 234). When it becomes larger than the total of, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 moves diagonally upward to the right and is separated upward from the inclined contact surface 234.

Further, as shown in FIG. 40, the movable portion 43 contacts the electric wire 91 from the left side. The movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. As a result, the electric wire 91 and the terminal portion 3 are electrically and mechanically connected. In other words, the electric wire 91 is connected to the connecting device 1e. In the following description, the state shown in FIG. 40 is referred to as a “connection state”. As described above, the elastic member 4 in the connected state sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. Further, in the elastic member 4 in the connected state, the movable portion 43 is located at a position separated upward from the inclined contact surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e, and is not in contact with the inclined contact surface 234.

In the connected device 1e, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is moved diagonally upward to the right, so that the operating portion 5 moves upward from the insertion hole open state shown in FIG. Stops in contact with the movable portion 43 of.

In the wiring state shown in FIG. 40, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 (that is, below the area) of the upper surface 25 of the case 2 with respect to the area around the operation unit 5. Located in. Alternatively, the upper surface 511 of the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 may be located on substantially the same plane as the area around the operation unit 5 in the upper surface 25 of the case 2. The same applies to the other surfaces of the operation unit 5. In other words, in the wiring state shown in FIG. 40, the surface of the operation unit 5 is inside the case 2 rather than the area around the operation unit 5 (that is, the area around the movement path 24) in the surface of the case 2. It is located or is located substantially in the same plane as the area.

In the connection state shown in FIG. 40, when the connecting device 1e is arranged so that the upper side in FIG. 40 is the lower side in the direction of gravity, the operation unit 5 is moved upward in the drawing from the elastic member 4 due to gravity. Separate. Then, the operation step portion 55 of the operation portion 5 is locked to a part of the case 2 as in the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35, and the upward movement of the operation portion 5 is restricted. Therefore, it is prevented that the operation unit 5 moves upward from the position shown in FIG. 35.

When removing the electric wire 91 from the connecting device 1e, for example, a worker brings the tip of a normal flat-blade screwdriver or the like into contact with the operating recess of the upper end portion 51 of the operating portion 5, and the flat-blade screwdriver is used to reach the operating portion 5. Apply a downward force. Then, the operation unit 5 is moved downward to open the insertion hole as shown in FIG. 39. In the state where the insertion hole is open, as described above, the elastic member 4 bends and the movable portion 43 is separated from the electric wire 91 to the left side. In other words, the sandwiching of the electric wire 91 by the elastic member 4 and the terminal portion 3 is released. Further, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 comes into contact with the inclined contact surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e, and a part of the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is supported by the inclined contact surface 234.

Also at this time, similarly to the above, resistance is generated due to friction between the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234, so that the worker can see that the connecting device 1e is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state). It can be easily recognized that it has become. Further, it is more easily recognized that the connected device 1e is in the insertion hole open state (that is, the unconnected state) due to the response and / or the generation of sound due to the contact between the upper end portion 51 of the operation unit 5 and the stop surface 242. can do.

In the connecting device 1e, the elastic member 4 can be deformed between the insertion hole closed state shown in FIG. 35, the insertion hole open state shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, and the connection state shown in FIG. In the following description, as shown in FIG. 40, the position of the operating portion 5 in contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state is referred to as a “first position”. Further, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39, the position of the operating portion 5 in contact with the elastic member 4 in the insertion hole open state (that is, the non-connection state) is referred to as a “second position”. Further, as shown in FIG. 35, the position of the operation portion 5 in which the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2 is referred to as a “third position”.

The above-mentioned movement path 24 connects the third position, the first position, and the second position of the operation unit 5 in this order. The third position is located on the movement path 24 on the opposite side of the first position from the second position. At the second position, as described above, the lower end of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 comes into contact with the inclined contact surface 234 of the movable end locking portion 23e. At the third position, the operation step portion 55 is locked to a part of the case 2, so that the upward movement of the operation portion 5 (that is, the movement in the direction away from the second position) is restricted. At the third position, it is sufficient that a part of the operation unit 5 is locked to a part of the case 2, and the operation step portion 55 does not necessarily have to be locked to a part of the case 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 35, the movable end locking portion 23e having the inclined contact surface 234 is a part of the case 2, but the inclined contact surface 234 does not necessarily have to be provided in the case 2, and the case 2 of the connecting device 1e. It may be provided in a portion other than the above. For example, as shown in FIG. 41, a part of the terminal connecting portion 32 may be cut up to form a conductive movable end locking portion 23f. Specifically, below the operation unit 5 on the right side, a substantially rectangular region of the terminal connection unit 32 located in the central portion in the thickness direction is separated from the surrounding portions except for the left end portion, and the right end portion is The left edge of the region is bent to move upwards. As a result, the movable end locking portion 23f extending diagonally upward to the right from the terminal connecting portion 32 toward the terminal portion 3 is formed, and the upper surface of the movable end locking portion 23f becomes the inclined contact surface 234f.

Also in this case, similarly to the above, in the connection state (see FIG. 40) in which the operating portion 5 is located at the first position, the inclined contact surface 234f is located at a position separated downward from the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4. .. Further, as shown in FIG. 41, in the non-connected state (that is, the insertion hole open state) in which the operating portion 5 is located at the second position, the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 comes into contact with the inclined contact surface 234f, and the movable portion 43 A frictional resistance against the restoring force of the elastic member 4 is generated between the surface and the inclined contact surface 234f.

As described above, the connecting device 1e to which the electric wire 91 is connected includes a case 2, a terminal portion 3, an elastic member 4, and an operating portion 5. The terminal portion 3 is conductive and is fixed to the case 2. The elastic member 4 is attached to the case 2. The elastic member 4 presses the electric wire 91 against the terminal portion 3 by the restoring force and sandwiches the electric wire 91. The operation unit 5 changes the shape of the elastic member 4 by moving along a movement path 24 extending in the vertical direction provided in the case 2. The elastic member 4 is in a connected state in which the electric wire 91 is sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 and a non-connected state in which the electric wire 91 is released from being sandwiched between the terminal portion 3 by being bent more than the connected state (that is,). It can be deformed with the insertion hole open state). The operation unit 5 comes into contact with the elastic member 4 in the connected state at the first position. The operating unit 5 deforms the elastic member 4 into a non-wired state by being pushed into the second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member 4. The connected device 1e further includes a holding force reducing mechanism 60e that reduces the force for maintaining the operating unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 when the operating unit 5 is located at the second position. As a result, the force for maintaining the connected device 1e in the unconnected state can be reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1e can be improved.

As described above, preferably, the elastic member 4 includes a fixed portion 42 fixed to the case 2 and a movable portion 43 extending diagonally downward from the fixed portion 42. In the connected state, the operation unit 5 comes into contact with the movable portion 43, and the movable portion 43 sandwiches the electric wire 91 with the terminal portion 3. In the non-connected state, the movable portion 43 bends downward from the connected state. Thereby, the operability of the connected device 1e can be further improved.

As described above, the elastic member 4 is preferably a leaf spring. The connecting device 1e further includes an inclined contact surface 234. The inclined contact surface 234 extends obliquely upward in a direction closer to the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 as it goes upward at a position separated downward from the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 in the connected state. The holding force reducing mechanism 60e includes a movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and an inclined contact surface 234. In the state where the operating portion 5 is located at the second position, the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 comes into contact with the inclined contact surface 234, and resists the restoring force of the elastic member 4 between the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234. Friction resistance occurs. As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be reduced by a simple structure. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1e can be easily improved.

As described above, the restoring force of the elastic member 4 in the unconnected state is preferably larger than the frictional resistance described above. Therefore, when connecting the electric wire 91 to the connected device 1e in the unconnected state, the operation unit 5 can be easily moved from the second position to the first position by relaxing the force for pushing the operation unit 5 downward with a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. The electric wire 91 can be easily sandwiched between the movable portion 43 and the terminal portion 3 of the elastic member 4. Further, when the elastic member 4 is returned from the unconnected state (that is, the insertion hole open state) to the insertion hole closed state after the electric wire 91 is pulled out from the connecting device 1e, the operation unit 5 is similarly moved by a flat-blade screwdriver or the like. By loosening the downward pushing force, the operation unit 5 can be easily moved from the second position to the third position. Therefore, it is not necessary to repeatedly insert a flat-blade screwdriver or the like into the movement path 24 when connecting the electric wire 91 or disconnecting the electric wire 91, so that the operability of the connected device 1e can be improved.

In the connected device 1e, as shown in FIG. 42, the recess 231 may be provided on the inclined contact surface 234. The lower end of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 is fitted into the recess 231 in a state where the operating portion 5 is located at the above-mentioned second position (that is, in a non-connection state). As a result, the force for maintaining the operation unit 5 in the state of being pushed into the case 2 (that is, the unconnected state) can be further reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1e can be further improved. Even in this case, when the force for pushing the operating portion 5 is relaxed, the operating portion 5 moves upward and the movable portion 43 moves upward to the right due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4.

In the connected device 1e, as shown by a thick line in FIG. 43, a rough surface portion 232 is provided in a region of the inclined contact surface 234 that comes into contact with the lower end portion of the movable portion 43, and the rough surface portion 45 is provided at the lower end portion of the movable portion 43. It may be provided. The rough surface portion 232 and the rough surface portion 45 are regions having a surface roughness larger than that of the surrounding portions, respectively. When the rough surface portion 232 and the rough surface portion 45 come into contact with each other, the frictional resistance between the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234 increases, so that the force for maintaining the operating portion 5 in the case 2 in the pushed state is further increased. It can be reduced.

In the connected device 1e, it is sufficient that the region of the inclined contact surface 234 that comes into contact with the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 or the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 has a rough surface portion. Even in this case, since the frictional resistance between the movable portion 43 and the inclined contact surface 234 increases, the force for maintaining the operating portion 5 in the case 2 in the pushed state (that is, the unconnected state) is further increased. It can be reduced. As a result, the operability of the connected device 1e can be further improved. Even when the frictional resistance is increased, when the force for pushing the operating portion 5 is relaxed, the operating portion 5 moves upward and the movable portion 43 moves upward due to the restoring force of the elastic member 4. To do.

Various changes can be made in the above-mentioned

connected devices

1, 1a, 1b, 1d, 1e.

For example, in the

connected devices

1, 1a, 1b, 1d, 1e, the shapes of the terminal portion 3, the

elastic members

4, 4b, and the

operation portions

5, 5a, 5b may be changed in various ways. For example, in the connecting

devices

1, 1a, 1d, the elastic member 4 may be a member other than the leaf spring (for example, a string-wound spring).

In the connected device 1, the surface of the operation unit 5 located at the first position, the second position, and the third position may protrude outward from the area around the operation unit 5 on the surface of the case 2. The same applies to the

connected devices

1a, 1d, and 1e. In the connected device 1b, the surface of the operation unit 5b located at the first position, the second position, and the third position may protrude outward from the area around the operation unit 5b on the surface of the case 2.

In the connected device 1, the operation unit 5 located at the second position does not necessarily have to be inclined in the left-right direction from the operation unit 5 located at the first position, and is substantially the same as the operation unit 5 located at the first position. It may be a posture. The same applies to the connected device 1a.

In the connecting device 1, the first inclined surface 56 and the second inclined surface 241 may be provided with both the above-mentioned convex portions and concave portions that are fitted to each other and the above-mentioned rough surface portion. The same applies to the connected device 1a.

In the connecting device 1b, both the above-mentioned convex portions and concave portions that are fitted to each other and the above-mentioned rough surface portion are formed on the inner surface of the pair of pressing portions 53b of the operation portion 5b and the pair of arm portions 42b of the elastic member 4b. It may be provided.

In the connecting device 1d, the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and the pair of pressing portions 23 may be provided with both the above-mentioned convex portions and concave portions that are fitted to each other and the above-mentioned rough surface portion.

In the connecting device 1e, the rough surface portion may be provided on the lower end portion of the movable portion 43 of the elastic member 4 and / or the inclined contact surface 234, and the recessed portion 231 may be provided on the inclined contact surface 234.

In the connected device 1, the position of the first inclined surface 56 on the operation unit 5 and the position of the second inclined surface 241 on the case 2 may be changed in various ways. The same applies to the connected device 1a.

The above-mentioned connecting

devices

1, 1a, 1b, 1d, 1e may be used for connecting electric wires in various devices. For example, the

connected devices

1, 1a, 1b, 1d, 1e may be used as a relay socket, an operation switch, or the like.

The above-described embodiment and the configurations in each modification may be appropriately combined as long as they do not conflict with each other.

Although the invention has been described in detail, the above description is exemplary and not limited. Therefore, it can be said that many modifications and modes are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1,1a, 1b, 1d, 1e Connected equipment 2 Case 3

Terminal part

4,4b,

4c Elastic member

5,5a, 5b Operation part 23 Pressing part 24 Movement path 41 Central part 42 Fixed part 42b Arm part 43 Movable part 44 Convex Part 45 Rough surface part 51 (Operating part) Upper end part

53b Pressing part

56, 56a First inclined

surface

60, 60a, 60b, 60d, 60e Holding force reduction mechanism 91 Electric wire 231 Recessed surface 232 Rough surface part 234, 234f

Inclined contact surface

241, 241a 2nd inclined surface 243 concave part 244 rough surface part 421 concave part 422 rough surface part 531 convex part 532 rough surface part 561 convex part 562 rough surface part

Claims

It is a connecting device to which electric wires are connected.
With the case
The conductive terminal part fixed to the case and
An elastic member that is attached to the case and holds the electric wire by pressing it against the terminal portion by restoring force.
An operation unit that changes the shape of the elastic member by moving along a movement path extending in the vertical direction provided in the case.
With
The elastic member has a connection state in which the electric wire is sandwiched between the electric wire and the terminal portion and a non-connection state in which the electric wire is released from being sandwiched between the terminal portion by bending more than the connection state. Can be transformed between
The operating portion comes into contact with the elastic member in the connected state at the first position, and is pushed to the second position below the first position while maintaining the contact state with the elastic member. The elastic member is deformed into the unconnected state,
The connected device further includes a holding force reducing mechanism that reduces the force for maintaining the operating unit in a state of being pushed into the case when the operating unit is located at the second position.
The connected device according to claim 1.
The operation unit has a first inclined surface that inclines in a direction away from the center line of the moving path toward the bottom.
The case has a second inclined surface that is inclined in the vertical direction in parallel with the first inclined surface in the movement path.
The holding force reducing mechanism includes the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface.
In the state where the operation unit is located at the first position, the first inclined surface is located at a position separated upward from the second inclined surface.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the first inclined surface comes into contact with the second inclined surface from below.
The connected device according to claim 2.
The restoring force of the elastic member in the unconnected state presses the first inclined surface upward with respect to the second inclined surface.
The second inclined surface partially supports the restoring force of the elastic member.
The connected device according to claim 2 or 3.
The first inclined surface is provided at the upper end of the operating portion.
The connected device according to claim 2 or 3.
The first inclined surface is provided below the upper end portion of the operating portion.
The connected device according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
One of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface has a convex portion and has a convex portion.
The other surface of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface has a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state where the operating portion is located at the second position.
The connected device according to any one of claims 2 to 6.
At least one of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface has a rough surface portion.
The connected device according to any one of claims 2 to 7.
The elastic member is a leaf spring.
The connected device according to claim 1.
The elastic member is
The bent part located at the upper end and
A pair of arms extending downward on both left and right sides of the bent portion and increasing the distance in the left-right direction toward the downward direction
It is a leaf spring equipped with
The operation unit is provided with a pair of pressing units that are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction and extend in the vertical direction, and the distance in the left-right direction becomes smaller or the distance in the left-right direction is constant toward the upper side.
The holding force reducing mechanism includes the pair of arms and the pair of pressing portions.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the first position, at least one lower end portion of the pair of pressing portions comes into contact with the outer surface of at least one of the pair of arm portions.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the pair of arm portions are sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions in a state of being bent in a direction approaching each other in the left-right direction.
The connected device according to claim 9.
Due to the restoring force of the elastic member in the unconnected state, the inner surfaces of the pair of pressing portions are pressed in the left-right direction by the pair of arms.
The pair of pressing portions partially support the restoring force of the elastic member.
The connected device according to claim 9 or 10.
One of the pair of pressing portions and the pair of arms has a convex portion,
The other of the pair of pressing portions and the pair of arm portions has a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state where the operating portion is located at the second position.
The connected device according to any one of claims 9 to 11.
At least one of the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions and the outer surfaces of the pair of arm portions has a rough surface portion.
The connected device according to any one of claims 9 to 12.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the angle formed by the pair of arms is larger than 0 ° and smaller than 180 °.
The connected device according to any one of claims 9 to 13.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the lower ends of the pair of arms are located below the lower ends of the pair of pressing portions.
The connected device according to claim 1.
The elastic member is
The fixing part fixed to the case and
A movable part extending diagonally downward from the fixed part,
With
In the connection state, the operating portion contacts the movable portion, and the movable portion sandwiches the electric wire between the terminal portion and the movable portion.
In the unconnected state, the movable portion bends downward from the connected state.
The connected device according to claim 15.
The case is arranged below the movable portion of the elastic member in the connected state at a distance in the thickness direction perpendicular to the movable region of the movable portion, extends in the vertical direction, and becomes thicker as it goes downward. Equipped with a pair of pressing parts that reduce the distance between directions
The holding force reducing mechanism includes the movable portion of the elastic member and the pair of pressing portions.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the movable portion is sandwiched between the pair of pressing portions, and the restoring force of the elastic member is applied between the movable portion and the pair of pressing portions. Friction resistance to resist occurs.
The connected device according to claim 16.
The restoring force of the elastic member in the unconnected state is larger than the frictional resistance.
The connected device according to claim 16 or 17.
One of the movable portion and the pair of pressing portions has a convex portion,
The other of the movable portion and the pair of pressing portions has a concave portion that fits with the convex portion in a state where the operating portion is located at the second position.
The connected device according to any one of claims 16 to 18.
At least one of the inner side surfaces of the pair of pressing portions and both side surfaces of the movable portion in the thickness direction has a rough surface portion.
The connected device according to any one of claims 16 to 19.
The elastic member is a leaf spring.
The connected device according to claim 15.
The elastic member is a leaf spring.
The connecting device further includes an inclined contact surface that extends diagonally upward toward the lower end of the movable portion at a position separated downward from the movable portion of the elastic member in the connected state.
The holding force reducing mechanism includes the movable portion of the elastic member and the inclined contact surface.
In the state where the operating portion is located at the second position, the lower end portion of the movable portion comes into contact with the inclined contact surface, and the restoring force of the elastic member is applied between the movable portion and the inclined contact surface. Friction resistance to resist occurs.
The connected device according to claim 21.
The restoring force of the elastic member in the unconnected state is larger than the frictional resistance.
The connected device according to claim 21 or 22.
The inclined contact surface has a recess,
The lower end of the movable portion fits with the recess in a state where the operating portion is located at the second position.
The connected device according to any one of claims 21 to 23.
The region of the inclined contact surface that comes into contact with the lower end portion of the movable portion, or the lower end portion of the movable portion has a rough surface portion.