JP2004030983A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of making an insertion-coupling detection function surely performed. <P>SOLUTION: Even if a lock arm 36 is forced to be bent in a lock-releasing direction by a detection member 50 in a detecting position, a bending piece 53 comes in contact with a bending regulation part 40 to regulate the further bending of the lock arm 36. In other words, at the time of detaching connector housings 10, 20, the lock arm 36 can not be released from a lock part 26 unless the detection member 50 at a detection position is moved to a standby position. Both the connector housings 10, 20 are not detached by the detection member 50 left at the detection position, and if they are insertion-coupled again after the detachment, the detection member is always on standby at a standby position, so that there is no risk of insertion-coupling detection work being forgotten. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector having a fitting detection function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a connector having a fitting detection function, there is a connector proposed in JP-A-2001-110524. This connector is designed to draw the other connector housing to a fitted state by rotating a lever provided on one connector housing. Is locked to the lock portion of the other connector housing, so that both connector housings are locked in a properly fitted state.
[0003]
The lever is provided with a detection member provided with a bending piece so as to be movable between a standby position and a detection position. In a state where the lever has not reached the regular fitting position, the detecting member is held at the standby position by the bending piece abutting against the engaging portion of the lock arm. In a state where the lever is rotated to the regular fitting position, the bending piece is bent by being pushed by the lock portion and disengaged from the engagement portion, so that the detection member can be moved to the detection position. .
[0004]
That is, depending on whether the detection member can be moved from the standby position to the detection position after the rotation operation of the lever, it is determined whether the lever is rotated to the proper fitting position and both connector housings are properly fitted. Can be detected.
In the above connector, both connector housings may be temporarily detached for maintenance or the like. At the time of disengagement, first, the detection member at the detection position is moved to the standby position, and then the lock arm is elastically flexed in the release direction to be disengaged from the lock portion to be in the unlocked state. Rotate in the direction.
[0005]
As described above, when the detection member is returned from the detection position to the standby position before performing the unlock operation of the lock arm at the time of disengagement, the operation of moving the detection member at the time of re-engagement can be performed without forgetting. The combination detection function can be reliably exhibited.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the connector disclosed in the above conventional publication, in a state where both connector housings are locked and the detection member is moved to the detection position, the bending piece of the detection member elastically returns and covers the engagement portion of the lock arm, When the lock arm is to be bent in the unlocking direction, the engaging portion comes into contact with the bending piece to suppress the elastic bending of the lock arm. However, if the unlocking force applied to the lock arm is an excessive force exceeding the normal operating force, the bending piece may be elastically bent in the unlocking direction together with the lock arm. That is, the lock arm may be unlocked without moving the detecting member to the standby position.
[0007]
For this reason, when the two connector housings are detached, the detection member remains at the detection position, and as a result, there is a concern that the operation of moving the detection member when refitting may be forgotten.
The invention of the present application has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reliably exert a fitting detection function.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the locking arm provided on one connector housing of the two connector housings capable of fitting / removing and the locking portion provided on the other connector housing are locked to each other. The connector housing is locked in a properly fitted state, and the lock arm is elastically bent in the unlocking direction to release the lock with the lock portion, whereby the two connector housings are allowed to be detached. In one of the connector housings, a detecting member having a bending piece that is capable of elastically bending in the same direction as the elastic bending direction of the lock arm is moved between a standby position and a detection position. In the process of fitting the two connector housings, the distal end of the flexible piece abuts against the engaging portion of the lock arm, so that a waiting state is obtained. The position of the detection member is restricted from moving to the detection position, and in a state where the two connector housings are properly fitted, the detection member is resiliently bent so as to get over the engagement portion while the detection member is in the detection position. In the state where the detection member is moved to the detection position, the bending piece suppresses bending of the lock arm in the unlocking direction with respect to the engagement portion. In the state where the detecting member is at the detecting position, the detecting member is positioned so as to correspond to the bending piece from a side opposite to the engaging portion, and the detecting member Is provided with a flexure restricting means that does not correspond to the flexure piece as it moves to the standby position, and the lock arm bends in the unlocking direction while pushing the flexure piece by the engagement portion. The extent, that the locking arm abuts on the deflection piece the deformation preventing means before disengaged from the lock unit, and a configuration in which the deflection of more of the locking arm is restricted.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the bending piece has a locking claw that is locked to the engaging portion while being moved to the detection position, and the bending restriction is provided. The contact portion contacting the means is formed so as to protrude on the opposite side to the locking claw, and the detection member is point-symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to a movement direction between a standby position and a detection position. It was configured to be shaped.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the two connector housings are fitted and disengaged by a cam action accompanying the operation of the lever, and the rotation operation of the lever is performed. The portion is provided with the lock arm and the detection member.
[0010]
Function and effect of the present invention
[Invention of claim 1]
When the lock arm is locked and the lock member is locked and the detection member is in the detection position, even if the lock arm attempts to bend in the unlocking direction, the bending piece abuts on the bending restriction means and the lock arm is further bent. Is regulated, so that the lock arm does not come off the lock portion. Therefore, when detaching both connector housings, the lock arm cannot be removed from the lock portion unless the detection member at the detection position is moved to the standby position.
[0011]
As described above, according to the present invention, since the two connector housings are not detached while the detection member remains at the detection position, when the two connector housings are fitted again after the detachment, the detection members must be in the standby position. It will be in the state of having done. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fitting detection operation from being forgotten due to the detection member remaining at the detection position.
[Invention of claim 2]
Since the detection member has a point-symmetric shape with respect to an axis parallel to the movement direction between the standby position and the detection position, the detection member can be used in an inverted posture. In the inverted state, the locking claw functions as a contact portion, and conversely, the contact portion functions as a locking claw.
[0012]
[Invention of claim 3]
Since the lock arm and the detection member are both provided in the rotation operation portion of the lever, they are arranged at positions close to each other. Therefore, at the time of unlocking, it is easy to shift from the operation of returning the detection member to the standby position to the operation of elastically bending the lock arm in the unlocking direction, and the operability is good.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
The connector according to the present embodiment includes a male connector housing 10 and a female connector housing 20 that can be fitted and disconnected from each other. The male connector housing 10 has a hood 11 projecting forward, in which a male terminal fitting (not shown) is projected forward (in a direction toward the female connector housing 20). I have. A pair of left and right cam followers 12 are formed to project from the outer peripheral surface of the hood portion 11.
[0015]
The female connector housing 20 includes a housing body 21 having a cavity 22 in which a female terminal fitting (not shown) is accommodated, and a tubular fitting portion 23 surrounding the housing body 21. The hood portion 11 of the male connector housing 10 is fitted into a circumferential gap between the housing body 21 and the cylindrical fitting portion 23. A pair of left and right support shafts 24 for supporting the lever 30 are formed to protrude from the outer periphery of the cylindrical fitting portion 23.
[0016]
The lever 30 is generally formed in a substantially gate shape by connecting the ends of a pair of left and right cam plate portions 31 by a connecting portion 32. The two cam plate portions 31 are fitted on the support shaft 24 of the cylindrical fitting portion 23, and thus the lever 30 is moved to the initial position along the outer periphery of the cylindrical fitting portion 23 (see FIGS. 1, 3, and 6). ) And a regular fitting position (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 7), and can rotate about 90 ° about the support shaft 24. When the two connector housings 10 and 20 are fitted together, the cam follower 12 of the male connector housing 10 enters the entrance of the cam groove 33 on the inner surface of the cam plate portion 31 with the lever 30 at the initial position. When the connector housing is rotated toward the proper fitting position, the two connector housings 10 and 20 are attracted to each other by the cam action due to the engagement between the cam groove 33 and the cam follower 12 to reach the proper fitting state. .
[0017]
A central portion of the connecting portion 32 in the width direction (a direction parallel to the rotation center axis of the lever 30) is a rotation operation portion 34 to which a finger is applied when the lever 30 is rotated. The rotating operation portion 34 has left and right side walls 34S and two upper and lower bridge portions 34A and 34B extending between the both side walls 34S, and is surrounded by the both side walls 34S and both upper and lower bridge portions 34A and 34B. The open space 35 is a form in which the lever 30 is tilted upward in the initial position and opened back and forth, that is, opened in the direction along the rotation direction of the lever 30. . In the following description of the structure of the lever 30, it is assumed that the lever 30 is in the initial position.
[0018]
In the open space 35, a lock arm 36 extending in a cantilever manner obliquely rearward and upward from the front end of the lower bridge portion 34B can be elastically bent substantially upward (in a direction approaching the upper bridge portion 34A). It is provided in. The lock arm 36 includes a pair of arm portions 37 arranged at an interval on the left and right, a lock release operation portion 38 connecting the extending ends of these arm portions 37, and a lock release operation on both arm portions 37. It is provided with an engagement portion 39 for connecting portions slightly closer to the base end than the portion 38. The turning operation part 34 faces the opening at the rear end side of the open space 35, and by touching the turning operation part 34, the lock arm 36 can be elastically bent obliquely upward, that is, in the unlocking direction. I can do it.
[0019]
Further, a portion of the upper bridge portion 34A facing the open space 35 is a flexure restricting portion 40 (a flexure restricting means which is a component of the present invention). The flexure restricting portion 40 is positioned so as to correspond to the engaging portion 39 of the lock arm 36. In the space between the flexure restricting portion 40 and the engaging portion 39, the detecting member 50 is located at the detecting position. The flexure piece 53 of the detection member 50 enters as it moves. When the detecting member 50 moves to the standby position, the bending piece 53 retreats out of the space between the bending restricting portion 40 and the engaging portion 39.
[0020]
At the rear end of the female connector housing 20, a substantially L-shaped support portion 25 is formed projecting from the side, and a lock portion 26 is formed to project from a rear inclined surface of the support portion 25. The lock portion 26 has a guide surface 26A that is substantially upward (oblique to the rotation direction of the lever 30) and a lock that faces obliquely downward and rearward (in a direction substantially orthogonal to the rotation direction of the lever 30). The surface 26B is formed.
A detection member 50 for detecting the fitted state of the two connector housings 10 and 20 is provided on the rotation operation portion 34 of the lever 30 to detect the standby position (see FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 8). It is provided so as to be movable between positions (see FIGS. 5, 7, and 9). The detecting member 50 includes a support bar 51 extending in the left-right direction, a pair of left and right guide bars 52 extending from both ends of the support bar 51, and a bending piece projecting from the center of the support bar 51 in the width direction substantially in parallel with the guide bar 52. 53. The projecting directions of the guide bar 52 and the bending piece 53 are substantially the same as the projecting direction of the lock arm 36 and at the same time, are substantially parallel to the moving direction of the detecting member 50. Further, a pair of locking projections 54 are formed at the extending ends of the respective guide bars 52. Further, the bending piece 53 can be elastically bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the projecting direction (a direction substantially the same as the elastic bending direction of the lock arm 36). The locking claw 55 and the contact portion 56 are formed so as to project in opposite directions and symmetrically with each other. The detecting member 50 has a point-symmetrical shape with respect to an axis (not shown) substantially parallel to the moving direction (the projecting direction of the guide bar 52 and the bending piece 53) between the detecting position and the standby position. I have. That is, even when the detection member 50 is inverted by 180 ° about an axis parallel to the movement direction, the same configuration as before the inversion is maintained.
[0021]
The detection member 50 is guided by bringing the guide bar 52 into sliding contact with the side wall 34S and the upper and lower bridging portions 34A and 34B of the rotating operation portion 34, and the extended end portion of the guide bar 52 and the bending piece 53 are guided. The detection member 50 moves between a standby position where only the extending end is left in the open space 35 and a detection position where the entire detection member 50 is accommodated in the open space 35. Regardless of the position of the detection member 50, the bending piece 53 is located between the two arm portions 37 of the lock arm 36 and does not interfere with the arm portion 37 in the width direction.
[0022]
At the standby position, the locking projection 54 comes into contact with the retaining portion 41 formed in the upper bridge portion 34A in the open space 35, so that the detection member 50 is prevented from coming off the rotation operation portion 34 in the forward direction. I have. In addition, a relief groove 42 for avoiding interference with the lower locking protrusion 54 is formed in the lower bridge portion 34B. Further, the bending piece 53 and its locking claw 55 are located forward of the engaging portion 39 of the lock arm 36. Therefore, even if the detection member 50 attempts to move to the detection position side, the locking claw 55 abuts on the engagement portion 39 on the way, and the abutment prevents the movement of the detection member 50 to the detection position side. . As a result, the detection member 50 is held at the standby position. Further, the contact portion 56 of the bending piece 53 located on the opposite side to the locking claw 55 is located at a position displaced forward with respect to the bending restriction portion 40 (the upper bridge portion 34A). Further, the lock arm 36 can elastically bend in the lock release direction without interfering with the detection member 50.
[0023]
On the other hand, in a state where the detection member 50 is pushed into the detection position, the bending piece 53 is positioned so as to suppress the bending of the lock arm 36 in the unlocking direction with respect to the engagement portion 39, and the locking claw 55 is engaged. The detection member 50 is restricted from moving to the standby position side by being locked to the joint portion 39 from behind (behind the extending direction of the bending piece 53). Further, the contact portion 56 of the bending piece 53 on the side opposite to the locking claw 55 corresponds to the bending restriction portion 40. That is, the bending restricting portion 40 is positioned so as to correspond to the bending piece 53 from the side opposite to the engaging portion 39, in other words, is positioned ahead of the bending piece 53 in the unlocking direction of the lock arm 36.
[0024]
Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.
In a state where both connector housings 10 and 20 are detached, the lever 30 is held at the initial position and the detection member 50 is held at the standby position. From this state, when the two connector housings 10 and 20 are brought close to each other to engage the cam groove 33 with the cam follower 12 and the lever 30 is rotated to the proper fitting position, the two connector housings 10 and 20 are in the properly fitted state. .
[0025]
Immediately before the lever 30 reaches the proper fitting position, the engaging portion 39 of the lock arm 36 comes into contact with the guide surface 26A of the lock portion 26, and the inclination causes the engaging portion 39 to ride on the lock portion 26 while the lock arm 36 Are elastically bent in the unlocking direction. Then, at the same time when the lever 30 reaches the regular fitting position, the lock arm 36 elastically returns, and the engaging portion 39 is locked on the lock surface 26B of the lock portion 26, so that the lever 30 is locked at the regular fitting position. At the same time, both connector housings 10 and 20 are locked in a properly fitted state.
[0026]
When the lever 30 is rotated to the regular fitting position, the lock portion 26 is interposed between the engagement portion 39 and the locking claw 55 of the bending piece 53, and the guide surface 26A of the lock portion 26 is locked. Corresponds to claw 55. In this state, when the detection member 50 at the standby position is pressed toward the detection position, the inclination of the guide surface 26A causes the locking claw 55 to slide on the guide surface 26A and the bending piece 53 to the upper bridge portion. It is elastically bent toward 34A and rides on the lock portion 26 and the engagement portion 39. Then, when the detection member 50 reaches the detection position, the bending piece 53 elastically returns, the locking claw 55 is locked to the engagement portion 39, and the return of the detection member 50 to the standby position is regulated. Is held.
[0027]
When the lever 30 has not reached the proper fitting position, the lock portion 26 is not interposed between the engagement portion 39 and the locking claw 55, so that even if the detection member 50 is pushed toward the detection position, Since the pawl 55 hits the engaging portion 39, it cannot be pushed into the detection position. That is, after the rotation operation of the lever 30, whether or not the detection member 50 can be pushed into the detection position determines whether or not the lever 30 is properly fitted, that is, both the connector housings 10, 20 are properly fitted. Can be detected.
[0028]
When detaching the fitted connector housings 10 and 20, the detection member 50 at the detection position is first pulled out to the standby position, and then the lock arm 36 is unlocked. When returning the detection member 50 to the standby position, if the support bar 51 is pinched and the detection member 50 is pulled strongly, the locking piece 55 is elastically bent by the inclined surface of the locking claw 55 and the engaging portion 39, and the locking claw is bent. 55 gets on the engaging portion 39 and the locking between the locking claw 55 and the engaging portion 39 is released. When the lock arm 36 is elastically bent in the unlocking direction after the detection member 50 has moved to the standby position, the engagement portion 39 is disengaged from the lock portion 26 and the lock of the lever 30 is released. If the lever 30 is rotated toward the initial position while maintaining the release state, both connector housings 10 and 20 are detached.
[0029]
Now, at the time of disengagement, the normal operation procedure is to perform the unlocking operation of the lock arm 36 after the detection member 50 is moved to the standby position as described above, but the operation will be performed in the reverse procedure. In such a case, it cannot be separated. That is, even if the lock arm 36 is bent in the unlocking direction while the detection member 50 is in the detection position, as shown in FIG. The contact portion 56 of the flexure piece 53 abuts against the flexure restricting portion 40, and further abutment of the lock arm 36 in the unlocking direction is prevented by this contact. Are kept locked. Therefore, when detaching the connector housings 10 and 20, the lock arm 36 cannot be removed from the lock portion 26 unless the detection member 50 at the detection position is moved to the standby position.
[0030]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the two connector housings 10 and 20 are not detached while the detection member 50 remains at the detection position. Therefore, when the two connector housings 10 and 20 are fitted again after the detachment, The detection member 50 is always in a standby state at the standby position. Therefore, the fitting is caused by the fact that the detection member 50 remains at the detection position (the detection member 50 does not protrude from the rotary operation part 34 and is not returned to the standby position where its presence is conspicuous). It is avoided that the detection operation is forgotten. Therefore, the fitting detection function by the detection member 50 can be reliably exhibited.
[0031]
Further, since the detection member 50 has a point-symmetric shape with respect to an axis parallel to the movement direction between the standby position and the detection position, the detection member 50 can be assembled and used even in an inverted posture. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the direction of the detection member 50 when assembling the detection member 50 to the rotation operation unit 34, and the workability is good. In the inverted state, the locking claw 55 functions as the contact portion 56, and conversely, the contact portion 56 functions as the locking claw 55.
[0032]
Further, since both the lock arm 36 and the detection member 50 are provided in the rotation operation part 34 of the lever 30, they are arranged at positions close to each other. Therefore, at the time of unlocking, it is easy to shift from the operation of returning the detection member 50 to the standby position to the operation of elastically bending the lock arm 36 in the unlocking direction, and the operability is good.
[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Can be implemented with various modifications.
[0033]
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the detection member has a point-symmetrical shape with respect to an axis parallel to the moving direction between the standby position and the detection position. However, according to the present invention, the detection member is not a point-symmetrical shape but is inverted. It may be in a form that cannot be used in the state.
(2) In the above embodiment, the deflection restricting means is provided on the lever. However, according to the present invention, the deflection restricting means may be provided on a member (the male connector housing or the female connector housing) other than the lever.
[0034]
(3) In the above embodiment, the detection member is provided on the lever, that is, the connector housing on the lock arm side. However, according to the present invention, the detection member may be provided on the connector housing on the lock portion side.
(4) In the above embodiment, the lock arm is provided on the lever and the lock portion is provided on the female connector housing. However, according to the present invention, the lock portion is provided on the lever and the lock arm is provided on the female connector housing. You may.
[0035]
(5) In the above embodiment, the detection member is provided on the lever, but according to the present invention, the detection member may be provided on the female connector housing.
(6) In the above embodiment, the lever is provided on the female connector housing. However, according to the present invention, the lever may be provided on the male connector housing.
(7) In the above embodiment, both the lock arm and the detection member are provided on the lever. However, according to the present invention, one of the lock arm and the detection member is provided on the lever, and the other is a member other than the lever (male side). (A connector housing or a female connector housing).
[0036]
(8) In the above embodiment, both connector housings are fitted / removed by rotating the lever. However, the present invention is also applied to a case where two connector housings are fitted / removed without using the lever. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female connector housing of Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a lock arm and a detection member. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state where a lever is at an initial position. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the state where the lever is rotated to the regular fitting position. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view of the state where the detection member is moved to the detection position from the state of FIG. [FIG. 7] (a) Partial enlarged view of FIG. 5 (b) Partial enlarged sectional view showing a state where the lock arm is bent in the unlocking direction while the detection member is at the detection position [ FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a state where the detection member is at a standby position. FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged horizontal sectional view showing a state where the detection member is moved to a detection position.
10 Male connector housing 20 Female connector housing 30 Lever 34 Rotating operation part 36 Lock arm 39 Engaging part 40 Deflection restricting part (deflection restricting means)
50 detection member 53 bending piece 55 locking claw 56 contact portion

Claims (3)

The two connector housings are normally fitted by locking the lock arm provided on one connector housing of the two connector housings capable of fitting / removing with the lock portion provided on the other connector housing. Locked in
By releasing the lock with the lock portion by elastically bending the lock arm in the lock release direction, detachment of the two connector housings is allowed,
In one of the connector housings, a detecting member having a flexure piece that is capable of elastically flexing in the same direction as the elastic flexing direction of the lock arm can move between a standby position and a detecting position. Provided in
In the fitting process of the two connector housings, the detection member at the standby position is restricted from moving to the detection position by the distal end of the bending piece abutting against the engagement portion of the lock arm,
In a state where the two connector housings are properly fitted, the detection member is allowed to move to the detection position while elastically bending so that the bending piece gets over the engagement portion,
In a state where the detection member has moved to the detection position, the bending piece is positioned so as to suppress bending of the lock arm in the unlocking direction with respect to the engagement portion,
In a state where the detection member is at the detection position, the engagement portion is positioned so as to correspond to the bending piece from the opposite side, and the bending piece is moved along with the detection member moving to the standby position. Has a non-compliant deflection control means,
In the process in which the lock arm bends in the unlocking direction while pushing the flexible piece by the engaging portion, the flexible piece abuts on the bending restraining means before the lock arm comes off the lock portion. A connector configured to restrict further bending of the lock arm. A locking claw that is locked to the engaging portion while being moved to the detection position is formed on the bending piece so as to protrude, and a contact portion that abuts on the bending restriction unit is the locking claw. Is formed to protrude to the opposite side,
The connector according to claim 1, wherein the detection member has a point-symmetric shape with respect to an axis parallel to a movement direction between a standby position and a detection position. The two connector housings are fitted and disengaged by a cam action accompanying operation of a lever,
The connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lock arm and the detection member are provided in a rotation operation portion of the lever.

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