JP2003017190A - Lever-type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an operator to be easily recognize having locked a lever. SOLUTION: An operating part 31 of a lever 30 for a female connector housing 25 is provided with a lock part 32, and a cam groove 35 is fitted on the inside of a leg part 33. The cam groove 35 consists of an operation area 36 and a play area 37, at a starting end of which latter, a protrusion 38 is erected inwardly. When both connector housings are insertion-coupled with each other, a cam pin 23 of a male connector housing 20 slides over the operation area 36 of the cam groove 35 with turning of the lever 30, and then, goes astride the protrusion 38 of the play area 37, so that, the lock part 32 and a lock rest part 29 are engaged to lock the lever 30. Since an increment of resistance for going astride the protrusion 38 is added in the play area 37, an operation force 43 greater than this is necessary, that diminishes difference from an operation force 40 in the operation area 36, so that an operator can recognize more easily that a lock is made.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lever-type connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a lever type connector, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-120862 is known. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lever 8 is arranged in a U shape so as to straddle the housing 6 of the female connector 3,
It is rotatable about the support shaft 7 into which the shaft hole 12 is fitted. A cam groove 11 that can guide the cam pin 2 of the male connector 1 is provided on the inner surface side of the pair of legs 9, and the operation region 11
A and play area 11B.

In the case of fitting both connectors, when the cam pin 2 is fitted into the starting end of the cam groove 11 and then the lever 8 is rotated, the cam pin 2 is guided to the cam groove 11 and is drawn to the vicinity of the support shaft 7. The cam pin 2 first slides in the operation area 11A from the start end of the cam groove 11 to the angular position where both connectors are normally fitted, and when the cam pin 2 reaches the end, both connectors are properly fitted. After that, operating area 1
In the play area 11B from the rear of 1A to the end of the cam groove 11, when the lock piece 10 is caught by the lock receiving portion 5 while only the lever 8 rotates, the rotation of the lever 8 is restricted and both connectors are prevented from coming off. It has become.

[0004]

By the way, the fitting of both connectors and the connection of the terminal fittings progress between the above-mentioned operation regions 11A. At this time, the frictional force due to the connection between the terminals housed in both connectors and the frictional force due to the fitting between the connectors gradually increase, and the operating region 11
Since these frictional forces peak at the end of A, the operating force of the lever 8 also peaks. Then, when the operation area 11A ends, these frictional forces do not act, so the operating force sharply decreases after this point, and thereafter only the operating force necessary for locking the lock piece 10 and the lock receiving portion 5 is obtained. Required. However, since the force required for locking these is smaller than the operating force in the operation area 11A, the lock piece 10 is locked to the lock receiving portion 5 as it is by the force of the lever 8 immediately after passing through the operation area 11A. Can be made to. Therefore, the operation feeling when the lever 8 is locked is poor, and it is difficult for the operator to recognize that the lever 8 is locked.

To solve such a problem, the lock piece 1
It is conceivable to increase the locking force between 0 and the lock receiving portion 5 to increase the operating force at the time of locking, but if this is done, a strong operating force is required when unlocking the lock and it becomes difficult to remove it. This method is difficult to implement and difficult to solve.

The present invention was completed in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which it is easy to recognize that an operator has locked the lever when the lever is locked.

[0007]

As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is such that one connector housing is provided with a cam pin in a protruding manner, and the other connector housing is provided with a lever for rotating operation. The lever is mounted so that it can be fitted with a cam groove that guides the cam pin in accordance with the turning operation of the lever to bring the connector housings into a fitted state. From the position to the predetermined angle position, it becomes an operation area to bring the both connector housings to the properly fitted state,
After this operation area, the range up to the end position allows only the turning operation of the lever without advancing the fitting of the connector housings to the lock mechanism provided in either of the connector housings. Is a lever-type connector that is a play area that brings the lever to a position that enables locking of the lever. It is characterized in that a resistance applying portion that adds resistance associated with sliding contact is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the resistance applying portion protrudes inward at a predetermined position of the opening edge of the cam groove and applies a predetermined resistance when the cam pin passes through. It is characterized by being a protrusion.

[0009]

<Advantages and effects of the invention><Invention of claim 1> When fitting both connector housings, when the lever is rotated while the cam pin is guided to the starting end of the cam groove, the cam pin moves along the cam groove. Be induced. Then, when the cam pin reaches the end position of the operation area of the cam groove, the fitting of both connector housings is completed. After that, when the lever is further rotated, the cam pin displaces in the play area of the cam groove.
During this time, since the lever is in sliding contact with the resistance applying portion, the resistance is further added to the normal operating force of the lever. That is, the resistance in the play area is the sum of the resistance for locking the lever to the lock mechanism and the resistance for the lever to slide in contact with the resistance applying portion, and an operating force higher than these is required in the play area. Therefore, by providing the resistance applying part, the difference between the operating force required in the operating area and the operating force required in the play area is reduced, so that the situation where the lever is locked to the lock mechanism as it is by the inertial force passing through the operating area is mitigated. As a result, the operation feeling at the time of locking is improved, and the operator can easily recognize that the lock is applied.

<Invention of Claim 2> Since the resistance applying portion can be set with a simple structure in which the projection is provided on the opening edge of the cam groove, the existing structure can be slightly modified. Also, since a protrusion is formed near the center of rotation of the lever,
There is also an advantage that the timing of resistance application can be easily set.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a male connector housing 20 (one connector housing) and a female connector housing 25 (the other connector housing) that can be fitted to each other. Describing from the male connector housing 20, a plurality of male terminal fittings 21 are housed inside, and a hood portion 22 is arranged so as to cover the periphery thereof. The hood portion 22 is formed in a state where the front is opened, and a pair of cam pins 23 is formed to project on both outer side surfaces thereof.

Next, the female connector housing 25 comprises a housing 26, a cover 28 and a lever 30. Although not shown in detail, the housing 26 has an accommodating portion formed therein for accommodating a plurality of female terminal fittings. When the hood portion 22 of the male connector housing 20 is fitted, female and male terminal fittings can be connected. .

A cover 28 is attached to the rear surface of the housing 26, and serves to bundle electric wires (not shown) extending from the rear surface in one direction. The cover 28 is formed with a lock receiving portion 29 (lock mechanism) for locking the lever 30. The lock receiving portion 29 is the cover 28
Is formed in a hook shape on the upper surface of the lever, and the lever 30 can be locked in a state where both connector housings are fitted.

A pair of support shafts 27 project from both side surfaces of the housing 26, and a lever 30 is attached thereto. The cover 28 can be removed from the housing 26.

The lever 30 comprises a pair of leg portions 33 and an operating portion 31 connecting them, and is formed in a U-shape so as to straddle the housing 26. A shaft hole 34 is opened at the side of the leg portion 33, and supports the support shaft 2 of the housing 26.
7, the lever 30 is mounted rotatably around the support shaft 27. A lock portion 32 is provided at a central portion in the length direction of the operation portion 31 so as to be elastically bendable, and is formed in a hook shape capable of engaging with the lock receiving portion 29.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the leg portion 33 is provided.
A cam groove 35 is provided on the inner surface side of the so that the cam pin 23 can be fitted and guided. Further, the cam groove 35 has a shaft hole 34.
The cam pin 23 is formed in a substantially arc shape so as to approach the shaft hole 34 from the side edge opposite to the side on which the cam pin 23 is formed.
To accept. Therefore, although not shown in detail, the lever 30 is provided with a lever holding mechanism for holding the lever 30 at a predetermined position before the connector housings are fitted to each other. 35A is the cam pin 23
The starting end 35A is held so that the sheet can be received as it is.

As shown in FIG. 3, the starting end 35A of the cam groove 35 is formed.
To the angular position where both connector housings are properly fitted (in the state where the male and female terminal fittings are completely connected) to each other, and the play area 37 to the angular position from the end to the end of the cam groove 35. Has become. The play area 37 is an area where the distance from the center of the shaft hole 34 is constant. That is, the fitting operation of both connector housings proceeds while the cam pin 23 slides in the operation area 36, and reaches the regular fitting position at the end of the operation area 36. The play area 37 thereafter is an area in which the lever 30 idles while the fitting of both connector housings is stopped, and only the lock portion 32 and the lock receiving portion 29 are locked.

A projection 38 is formed so as to project inward on the outer peripheral surface side of the cam groove 35 at the start end of the play area 37.
As a result, the groove width of the cam groove 35 becomes narrower, and the cam pin 23
The frictional resistance can be imparted to the lever 30 when passing through.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, in order to fit both connector housings, the cam pin 23 of the male connector housing 20 is inserted into the cam groove 35 of the female connector housing 25.
Fit the starting end 35A of the. When the lever 30 is rotated toward the rear side of the housing 26 in this state, the cam pin 2
3 slides in the operating region 36 while contacting the outer peripheral surface side of the cam groove 35, and the fitting progresses so that both connector housings are attracted to each other. The cam pin 23 is in the operating area 36.
When reaching the end point, both connector housings are properly fitted.

When the lever 30 is further rotated, the play area 3
Since the projection 38 is formed on the cam pin 7, the cam pin 23 rides over this and reaches the end of the play area 37. At the same time, when the lock portion 32 bends downward and engages with the lock receiving portion 29, the lever 30 is locked and the lever 30 is locked. The rotation of 30 is restricted and the fitting work of both connector housings is completed.

The operating force of the lever 30 will now be described. In the operating region 36, the operating force 40 is generated by the frictional force of the fitting of both connector housings and the frictional force of connecting the terminal fittings. Is the start end 3 of the operating area 36
It gradually increases from 5 A and peaks at the end of the operating region 36. Further, since the frictional force as described above does not act in the play area 37 after this, the required operation force is reduced as compared with the operation area 36. However, since the projection 38 is provided, a resistance in which the cam pin 23 rides over the projection 38 is added to the resistance when the lock portion 32 and the lock receiving portion 29 are locked, so that an operating force exceeding this is required. Has become. Therefore, the operating force 43 required in the play area 37 is
Locks the lock portion 32 to the lock receiving portion 29 as shown in FIG.
It is the sum of the operating force 41 to be locked to and the operating force 42 required when the cam pin 23 gets over the projection 38.

Therefore, the difference between the operation force 40 of the lever 30 in the operation area 36 and the operation force 43 of the lever 30 in the play area 37 is reduced as compared with the conventional case, and the operation area 36 is slid as it is. The situation in which the lever 30 is locked by rotating the lever 30 in the play area 37 is mitigated, and the operator can easily recognize that the lever 30 is locked and the operation feeling is also improved.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above-described embodiment, the lever 30 is formed on the female connector housing 25 side.
It may be formed on the 0 side.

(2) In the above embodiment, since the projection 38 is provided in the cam groove 35 near the center of rotation of the lever 30, it is easy to set the timing for applying resistance. However, in the present invention, the projection 38 is not necessarily formed on the cam groove 35.
Need not be provided, for example, lever 30 may have play area 37
A protrusion capable of rubbing against the lever 30 when entering may be provided on the housing 26 side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of both connector housings according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lever.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sliding process of a cam groove of a lever and a cam pin.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in lever operating force in an operation area and a play area.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a lever-type connector in a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where a cam pin is inserted into a cam groove.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Male connector housing (one connector housing) 23 ... Cam pin 25 ... Female connector housing (other connector housing) 29 ... Lock receiving portion (lock mechanism) 30 ... Lever 35 ... Cam groove 36 ... Operating area 37 ... Play area 38 … Protrusion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A cam pin is projectingly provided on one of the connector housings, and a lever is rotatably attached to the other connector housing, and the cam pin is attached to the lever in accordance with the turning operation of the lever. A cam groove is formed which guides the two connector housings into a fitted state by guiding, and this cam groove is an operation area from the start end position to a predetermined angle position to bring the both connector housings into a properly fitted state. A lock mechanism provided in either of the two connector housings that allows only the turning operation of the lever without advancing the fitting of the connector housings to each other in the range from the operation area to the end position. A lever-type connector that is a play area that brings the lever to a position that enables locking to the lever. The lever-type connector is provided with a resistance applying portion that adds resistance due to the sliding contact to an operating force of the lever by slidingly contacting the lever after entering the play area. 2. The lever according to claim 1, wherein the resistance applying portion is a protrusion that protrudes inward at a predetermined position of an opening edge of the cam groove and applies a predetermined resistance when the cam pin passes through. Expression connector.