JP2002270279A - Electrical connector having cover case and method of manufacturing cover case - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an electrical connector having a cover case without a locking hole. SOLUTION: An insulating housing 1 or a metal body 10 for holding a terminal is inserted from an opening into a cylindrical integrally formed cover case 20, and a locking means for preventing the housing or the metal body and the cover case from coming off from each other is provided. Cover, the cover case has a locking projection 26 on its inner surface.
27 is provided, and the housing or the metal body is provided with locking portions 14, 15 for locking with the locking projections 26, 27, and the locking projection and the locking portion abut each other. At times, the periphery of the locking projection or the locking portion is elastically deformed and brought to the locking position, then released from the elastic deformation and restored to the original shape, thereby locking with each other and preventing slippage.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electrical connector having a cover case and a method of manufacturing the cover case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an electrical connector of this type, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-149957 is known.

This known connector has a cylindrical cover case 50 made by molding an insulating material, as shown in FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings. In this example, a shield case made by bending a metal plate is assembled on a peripheral surface of a housing for holding a terminal, and the assembly (not shown) passes through an opening 51 of the cover case 50 and an arrow A.
Inserted and assembled from the direction. The cover case 50 is formed with a plurality of locking holes 52 penetrating in the thickness direction of the case. Locking claws formed by cutting and raising the shield case at positions corresponding to the locking holes 52 are provided. Engagement with the stop hole 52 prevents the assembly from coming off. The cover case 50 is provided with a lock arm 54 on a side portion of the cover case 50 for pressing and unlocking a lock arm of the shield case for locking engagement with a mating connector.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned known connector, there is a problem in that a locking hole penetrating the cover case is formed.

[0005] First, the appearance of the locking holes is not good because of the appearance of the locking holes.

Next, in order to prevent a reduction in strength due to the formation of the locking holes, the cover case must be at least locally thickened. But there are limitations.

[0007] Furthermore, dirt substances tend to accumulate in the locking holes.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and to provide an electric connector and a cover case having a cover case without a locking hole.

[0009]

An electrical connector according to the present invention comprises an insulating housing or a metal body for holding a terminal inserted into a cylindrical integrally formed cover case from an opening, and the housing or the metal body and the cover case are connected to each other. It is provided with locking means for preventing each other from coming off.

In the electric connector, according to the present invention, the cover case is provided with a locking projection on the inner surface, and the housing or the metal body is provided with a locking portion for locking with the locking projection. The locking projection and the locking portion are elastically deformed and brought to the locking position after the periphery of the locking projection or the locking portion is elastically deformed when they come into contact with each other, and then released elastically to recover to the original shape. Are locked to each other to prevent slipping.

According to the present invention, when the housing or the metal body is inserted and assembled into the cover case, the locking portion of the housing or the metal body engages with the locking projection on the inner surface of the cover case, and the detachment occurs. Is prevented. Since the locking projection of the cover case is formed on the inner surface, the outer surface is flat with no holes or protrusions, and the outer appearance of the cover case is not impaired. There is no invasion of material. Even if the locking portion is a locking hole, the metal body is made of metal, so that there is almost no reduction in strength. Further, processing is also easily performed.

In the present invention, the metal body may be formed by bending a metal plate and assembled to at least a part of the periphery of the housing.

In the present invention, the locking portion is formed on a metal body as an edge of the hole that engages with the locking projection, and the edge is elastically deformable and deformable. Alternatively, it may be formed on the metal body or the housing as a resiliently deformable locking arm.

When the locking projections are provided at a plurality of positions, it is preferable in terms of manufacturing the cover case that they are located on one of the inner surfaces of the cover case.

In the above connector, the metal body has a resiliently flexible lock arm for locking with the mating connector, the cover case has a release arm for pressing the lock arm to release the lock, and the cover case Is formed so that a slit borders the release arm in order to impart flexibility to the release arm, and the lock arm is released by pressing the lock arm through the release arm to give a bending deformation to the lock arm. The present invention can be applied to an electrical connector that is capable of performing the following.

In the cover case having such a release arm, the first slide mold is inserted into the outer mold from the direction in which the metal body is inserted into the cover case, and the slit is formed from the direction perpendicular to this direction. The second slide mold is inserted and arranged at the position, and after the cover case is molded, the slide molds can be easily manufactured by pulling out the slide molds from the outer mold in a direction opposite to the insertion direction.

[0017]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 to FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the above.

<First Embodiment> In FIG. 1, the electrical connector has a housing 1 for holding terminals (not shown), a metal body 10 attached to the housing 1, and a cover case 20 made of an electrically insulating material. .

The housing 1 has fitting recesses 2 and 3 for fitting with a mating connector at a front portion (left portion in the figure), and terminals are disposed therein. An intermediate portion of the housing 1 has a flange portion 4 for determining a position in the insertion direction when the housing 1 is inserted into the cover case 20, and comes into contact with the front end surface of the cover case 20. Further, a plate-shaped arm portion 5 extending rearward is provided at the rear portion, and is guided when inserted into the cover case 20. On the side of the arm 5,
A locking projection 6 is provided. The locking projection 6 locks the housing 1 when the housing 1 is assembled into the metal body from above. The locking projection 6 has a stepped locking surface 6A at the upper end and a slanted surface at the lower portion for entering the counterpart locking hole. An introduction surface 6B is formed.

The metal body 10 is formed by stamping and bending a metal plate, and has a bottom plate portion 11 and a side plate portion 12.
And has a substantially U-shape. At the front of the bottom plate portion 11, two upright portions 13 formed by cutting and raising are provided to face each other.
A is formed. The upright portion 13 is located at a position in contact with the outer surface of the arm portion 5 of the housing 1 and has a locking hole 13A.
Is shaped and sized so that the above-described locking projection 6 provided on the arm portion 5 is fitted and locked. Also, bottom plate 1
A locking arm 14 is provided at an intermediate side portion on both sides of 1.
The locking arm 14 extends rearward and has lateral flexibility. The locking arm 14 is formed with a slope 14A that extends outward toward the rear and a step-like locking portion 14B at the front end of the slope 14A. The slope 14A receives from the cover case a force that causes the locking arm 14 to bend inward when the metal body 10 is inserted into the cover case 20,
The locking portions 14B have a function of locking with the corresponding locking portions of the cover case when the bending is released.

Further, a window-shaped locking hole 15 is formed in the rear portion of the bottom plate portion 11. The locking hole 15 also has a function of locking with the corresponding locking projection of the cover case when the metal body 10 is inserted into the cover case.

The bottom plate 11 is formed so that the connecting portion 16 with the side plate 12 is bent in an L-shape and lifts upward. This is to form a space below the connecting portion 16 to avoid interference with a corresponding portion (a lower guide portion 26 described later) when the metal body is inserted into the cover case.

At the front of the side plate 12 of the metal body 10,
A lock arm 17 extending forward is provided. The lock arm 17 is provided with a wing-like locking claw 17A that bends inward and locks at a corresponding portion of the mating connector when connected to the mating connector (not shown) so as to protrude laterally. .

The cover case 20 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular tube shape by molding from an insulating material. The upper and lower surfaces of the cover case 20 are flat and have no holes or the like. A front portion of the cover case 20 forms a rectangular tubular opening 21, and a rear portion is provided with a sleeve portion 22 through which a cable passes. Further, on both sides, release arms 23 having inward flexibility are provided. The release arm 23 has a slit 24 around its periphery except for the base at the rear of the release arm.
, Elastic deformation is possible. Pressing portion 2 that swells slightly to the side and presses release arm 23 inward
3A is formed. The release arm 23 is
When the lock arm 17 of the metal body 10 is pressed in the same direction by the pressing force at A, the bending is caused inward, thereby causing the bending and releasing the lock. The distance between the inner surfaces of the two release arms 23 is substantially equal to the distance between the outer surfaces of the two side plates 12 of the metal body 10.

A rail-shaped upper guide portion 2 extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper inner surface of the release arm 23 and the inner bottom surface of the cover case 20.
5 and a lower guide 26 are provided. The upper guide portion 25 and the lower guide portion 26 serve to guide the upper edge and the lower edge of the side plate portion 12 of the metal body 10 therebetween. The lower guide portion 26 has a groove 26A formed in the middle part in the front-rear direction, and a rounded step 26B near the front end of the groove 26A. The step 26B and the front end face of the groove 26A form a locking projection.

Further, at the rear (rear) of the inner bottom surface of the cover case 20, another type of locking projection 27 is formed. The locking projection 27 locks with the locking hole 15 of the metal body 10 described above. The front surface is a sloped portion 27A, and the rear surface is a stepped locking surface 27 perpendicular to the inner bottom surface of the cover case.
B is formed.

The electrical connector according to this embodiment is assembled in the following manner. First, the housing 1 for holding the terminals is assembled to the metal body 10. The housing 1 is disposed on the metal body 1 from above as shown by a dashed line P in FIG. 1, and the locking projections 6 of the housing 1 are elastically fitted into the locking holes 13 </ b> A of the metal body 10. Are fixed to each other. The connection of the cable to the terminal is performed before or after assembly of the housing and the metal body. Next, the cable is passed through the sleeve portion 22, and the assembly of the housing 1 and the metal body 10 is inserted into the cover case 20, as indicated by a dashed line Q in FIG. Insertion of the assembly proceeds while the side plate portion 12 of the metal body 10 is guided between the upper guide portion 25 and the lower guide portion 26 of the cover case 20, and is performed to a predetermined position. At this time, the locking arm 14 of the metal body 10 is attached to the cover case 2 by the slope 14A.
0, and bends inward under the pressing force from the step 26B.
The front edge of the locking hole 15 receives the force from the slope 27A of the locking projection 27 and bends upward to allow the insertion to proceed.
Further, when the cover case 20 is made thin, the inner bottom surface itself bends and the locking projection 27 is displaced, so that the locking hole 1 is formed.
5 is easily engaged. When the insertion reaches a predetermined position, the bending of the locking arm 14 and the front edge of the locking hole 15 is released, and the locking arm 14 has a locking portion 14B having a front end face of the groove 26B and a locking hole 15 having a front end. The edges are locked with the locking surfaces 27B, respectively, so that the metal body 10 is prevented from coming off the cover case 20.

<Second Embodiment> A second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a locking arm 1 of a metal body 10 in the first embodiment of FIG.
There is a feature in that 4 is deformed and there is no locking hole 15 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The locking arm 34 has a very simple shape, extends straight rearward, has a rounded shoulder 34A, and has the function of the slope 14A in FIG. ing.

<Third Embodiment> In the above-described embodiment, the engagement with the cover case is made between the metal body.
The present embodiment is characterized in that it is formed between the housing and the housing.

As in the case of the first embodiment, the housing 1 is provided with the locking projection 6 of the housing and the metal body 10 with the locking hole 13A.
Form an assembly with the metal body 10. The housing 1 has a lower arm portion of an arm portion 5 and a locking arm 1 of a metal body 10 shown in FIG.
A lock arm 7 having the same shape as that of the lock arm 4 is provided. The locking arm 7 is locked to the front end face of the groove 26A of the cover case 20, similarly to the locking arm 14 of FIG. Further, the housing 1 is provided with a plate-shaped portion 8 extending from a rear portion thereof, and a locking hole 9 is formed therein. The locking hole 9 locks with the locking protrusion 27 of the cover case 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cover case 20 of FIG. 1 can be used as it is.

In the present embodiment, the metal body 10 has a U-shaped curved portion 18 at the rear of the side plate portion 12, and the curved portion 1
8 and communicate with the standing portion 13.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 4 shows a method of manufacturing the cover case 20 in the above embodiment as a fourth embodiment.

In order to mold the cylindrical cover case 20 with resin, an outer die (not shown) for defining the outer surface of the cover case 20 and a first slide metal shown in FIG. A mold 31 and two second slide molds 32 are used.

The first slide mold 31 is inserted into the outer mold from the direction Q of the opening of the cover case, and the two second slide molds 32 are inserted from the side direction R. Therefore, the first slide mold 31 and the second slide mold 32 are
The front end faces in the insertion direction are shaped stepwise so as to form a lower guide portion 26 and a locking projection 27 provided on the cover case. At this time, the second slide mold 32
Are inserted from slits 24 (see FIG. 1) formed above and below the release arm 23 of the cover case.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 4B, after the cover case is molded, the first slide mold 31 and the second slide mold 32 are pulled out in the directions opposite to the directions Q and R.
Take out the cover case as a product from the outer mold.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, the assembly comprising the housing and the shield is locked with the locking projection provided on the inner surface of the cover case to prevent the assembly from falling off. The cover case is not provided with a locking hole unlike the conventional case, so that the appearance is good, there is no decrease in strength, and the prevention of the ingress of sewage substances can be improved, thereby increasing the commercial value of the connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention before assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a metal body and a cover case of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connector according to a third embodiment before assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a mold for molding a cover case;
(A) shows the state before the mold is assembled, and (B) shows the state after the mold is assembled.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector cover case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 10 Metal body 14,15 Locking part 15 Engagement hole 17 Lock arm 20 Cover case 23 Release arm 24 Slit 26,27 Locking projection

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An insulating housing or a metal body for holding a terminal is inserted into an opening of a cylindrically formed cover case through an opening, and the housing or the metal body and the cover case are provided with locking means for preventing them from coming off from each other. In the electrical connector, the cover case is provided with a locking protrusion on the inner surface, and the housing or the metal body is provided with a locking portion for locking with the locking protrusion. At the time of abutment with each other, the periphery of the locking projection or the locking portion is elastically deformed and brought to the locking position, then released elastically and recovered to its original shape, thereby locking and removing each other. An electrical connector having a cover case, wherein prevention is provided. 2. The electrical connector having a cover case according to claim 1, wherein the metal body is formed by bending a metal plate and is assembled on at least a part of a periphery of the housing. 3. The locking portion is formed on a metal body as an edge of a hole engaged with the locking projection, and the edge is elastically deformable and deformable. An electrical connector comprising the cover case according to claim 2. 4. The electrical connector having a cover case according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is formed on a metal body or a housing as a locking arm capable of elastically deforming. 5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the locking projection is located on a plane of one of the inner surfaces of the cover case. 6. The metal body has an elastically flexible lock arm that locks with a mating connector, the cover case has a release arm that presses the lock arm to release the lock, and the cover case releases the lock. A slit is formed so as to border the release arm in order to impart flexibility to the arm, and the lock can be released by pressing the lock arm via the release arm and giving a bending deformation to the lock arm. An electrical connector having the cover case according to claim 1. 7. The method for manufacturing a cover case of an electrical connector according to claim 6, wherein a first slide mold is inserted and arranged in the outer mold from a direction of inserting the metal body into the cover case.
The second slide mold is inserted and arranged at the slit position from a direction perpendicular to this direction, and after the cover case is molded, both slide molds are pulled out from the outer mold in the direction opposite to the insertion direction. Method for manufacturing a cover case of an electrical connector.