JP2009026590A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce costs at the time of molding, and to suitably improve its operability. <P>SOLUTION: An inertial locking member 70 is detachably mounted on a female-side connector housing 30 of a connector. When the inertial locking member 70 is not mounted, both connector housings 10, 30 are retained at a regular fitting position by mutually locking a locking section 19 of a male-side connector housing 10 and a locking arm 41 of the female-side connector housing 30. When the inertial locking member 70 is mounted, the locking section 19 and the inertial locking member 70 butt each other with fitting resistance larger than fitting resistance between the locking section 19 and the locking arm 41, and both connector housings 10, 30 reach the regular fitting position by means of inertia force given by operation force exceeding the fitting resistance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known one that utilizes an inertia lock mechanism when locking a pair of connector housings that can be fitted to each other into a fitted state (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). This is a structure in which a lock portion is provided on one of the two connector housings and a lock arm having a lock projection on the other, and the lock projection hits the front surface of the lock portion during the fitting of the two connector housings. As a result, the fitting operation is once restricted. Then, by applying a large operating force exceeding the fitting resistance resulting from the contact from this state to both connector housings, the lock arm elastically bends in the direction in which the lock projection is disengaged from the front surface of the lock portion, and at the same time, this large force The operating force acts on both connector housings as an inertial force at once, and the two connector housings are surely brought to the proper fitting position with the momentum. Therefore, by using this inertia lock mechanism, it is possible to prevent half-fitting of the connector.
JP 2001-148269 A

  By the way, for example, in order to reduce the operation force at the time of fitting of both connector housings, there is a demand for using in an aspect that does not use the inertia lock mechanism. In this case, it is required that the basic configuration of the connector is the same and only the lock structure related to the inertia lock mechanism is changed to a non-inertia lock structure. However, in order to create two types of connectors that differ only in such a locking structure, it is necessary to prepare a separate mold for both inertial and non-inertial locking structures, which increases the cost. is there. In addition, there is a problem that workability is poor because the mold recombination work is involved.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce the cost at the time of molding a connector housing and improve workability.

  As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that, among the pair of connector housings that can be fitted to each other, one connector housing is provided with a lock portion, and the other connector housing is provided with: When the inertia lock member is detachably attached and the inertia lock member is not attached to the one connector housing, the lock portion and the lock receiver are provided. Are engaged with each other and the two connector housings are held in their proper mating positions, while the inertia lock member is in the mounted state with respect to the one connector housing, the mating of the two connector housings On the way, the lock part or a resistance part different from the lock part, and the inertia lock member, the lock part and the lock receiving part The two connector housings are configured to reach a normal mating position by an inertial force by applying an operating force exceeding the mating resistance resulting from the butting. However, it has characteristics.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the inertia lock member is attached to the one connector housing so as to be movable between an initial position and a movement completion position, and the lock portion or The resistance portion is characterized in that it abuts at the initial position but is disengaged at the movement completion position.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the inertia lock member is a fitting that is allowed to move to the movement completion position only when the two connector housings reach a proper fitting position. It is characterized by having a function as a combined detection member.

<Invention of Claim 1>
When the inertia lock member is not attached, a non-inertia lock mechanism can be operated by engaging the lock portion and the lock receiving portion. When the inertia lock member is attached, the lock portion or the resistance portion Since the inertia lock mechanism by engagement with the inertia lock member can be operated, it is possible to selectively use according to needs. In this case, the same connector housing is used both when the inertia lock member is not mounted and when the inertia lock member is mounted. Therefore, when forming the connector housing, a nested mold for inertia lock molding and non-inertia lock molding is used. It is not necessary to prepare each of them, and the cost can be reduced. In addition, workability is improved by eliminating the need to replace the mold.

<Invention of Claim 2>
With the inertia lock member kept in the movement completion position, the inertia lock member can be used for functions other than the inertia lock mechanism (such as a fitting detection function and a terminal metal fitting prevention function). Excellent.
<Invention of Claim 3>
Since the inertia lock member also has a function as a fitting detection member, it is possible to reliably avoid that both connector housings are left in the half-fitted state. Further, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a fitting detection member is provided separately from the inertia lock member.

<Embodiment 1>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The connector of this embodiment includes a pair of male and female connector housings 10 and 30 that can be fitted to each other, a pair of male and female terminal fittings 11 and 31 that are attached to both connector housings 10 and 30, and a female connector housing 30 (this And an inertia lock member 70 detachably attached to the other connector housing of the invention. In the following description, in the front-rear direction, the fitting surface side of both connector housings 10 and 30 is the front.

  A male connector housing 10 (corresponding to one connector housing of the present invention) is formed of a synthetic resin material, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a block-shaped terminal housing capable of housing a male terminal fitting 11 is provided. And a cylindrical hood 13 that protrudes forward from the front surface of the terminal accommodating portion 12. A cavity 14 into which the male terminal fitting 11 can be inserted is formed in the terminal accommodating portion 12 along the front-rear direction, and the tab 11A of the male terminal fitting 11 inserted into the cavity 14 is provided in the hood portion 13. It is arranged to protrude.

  An opening hole 15 leading to the cavity 14 is provided in the rear part of the lower surface of the terminal accommodating part 12. The terminal accommodating portion 12 is provided with a hinge type retainer 16. The retainer 16 is integrally attached to the rear end portion of the lower surface of the terminal accommodating portion 12 via a flexible hinge 17 and can be rotated in the direction of opening and closing the opening hole 15 with the hinge 17 as a fulcrum. . A retainer protrusion 18 is provided at the upper end of the retainer 16 to prevent the male terminal fitting 11 from coming off. As the retainer 16 closes the opening hole 15, the retainer protrusion 18 becomes a male terminal fitting. 11 can be locked in a retaining state.

  A lock portion 19 that holds both the connector housings 10 and 30 in a fitted state protrudes from a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction of the outer surface of the upper wall of the hood portion 13. The front surface of the lock portion 19 is a collision surface 19A that slightly recedes toward the upper end (protruding end), and a lock arm 41 (described later) in the middle of fitting the connector housings 10 and 30 to the collision surface 19A. 45A) and the abutment surface 75A of the inertia lock member 70 can selectively contact each other. Similarly, the rear surface of the lock portion 19 is a locking surface 19B that slightly recedes toward the upper end (protruding end), and the connector housings 10 and 30 reach the proper fitting positions on the locking surface 19B. Sometimes the locking receiving surface 45B of the lock arm 41 can be locked.

  On the other hand, the female connector housing 30 is made of a synthetic resin material, and has a block-shaped housing main body 32 that can accommodate the female terminal fittings 31, and is positioned above the housing main body 32 and is more than the housing main body 32. And a large lock structure 33. The housing body 32 has the same configuration as that of the terminal accommodating portion 12 described above, and has a cavity 34 into which the female terminal fitting 31 can be inserted, and via a flexible hinge 35 at the rear end portion of the lower surface thereof. Thus, a retainer 36 that can be rotated in a direction to open and close the opening hole 37 is integrally formed. The retainer 36 is smaller than the retainer 16 of the male connector housing 10, and the retaining protrusion 38 is also smaller than the retaining protrusion 18 of the male connector housing 10.

  The lock structure 33 includes a lock arm 41 that can be bent. The lock arm 41 includes a support portion 42 that stands integrally with the upper surface of the housing main body 32 and an arm portion 43 that extends integrally with the upper end of the support portion 42 and extends in the front-rear direction, with the support portion 42 as a fulcrum. The portion 43 is elastically displaceable (oscillating displaceable).

  The arm portion 43 is provided with an assembly space 44 (see FIG. 5) in which the inertia lock member 70 is mounted, penetrating in the front-rear direction. In addition, a lock receiving body 45 extending in the width direction (a direction orthogonal to the fitting direction) is provided at a lower portion of the front end of the arm portion 43 and at a front position of the assembly space 44. The lower end portion of the front surface of the lock receiving body 45 is a receiving surface 45A that is cut out in an arc shape downward, and along the fitting direction of the collision surface 19A of the lock portion 19 during the fitting of the connector housings 10 and 30. Thus, the bending operation of the lock arm 41 can be smoothly guided. The rear surface of the lock receiving body 45 is a locking receiving surface 45B that is slightly inclined forward as it goes upward, and when the two connector housings 10 and 30 reach the proper fitting position, the locking surface 19B of the locking portion 19 is reached. It is designed to lock firmly with each other.

  A pressing portion 46 capable of pressing the rear end portion of the inertia lock member 70 is provided along the width direction at a position covering the rear portion of the assembling space 44 at the rear end upper portion of the arm portion 43. An operation portion 47 that is pressed by a finger or the like when releasing the locking state of the lock arm 41 is provided in a pair on the right and left sides immediately after the pressing portion 46 and at the rearmost end portion of the arm portion 43. Yes. A guide groove 48 of the inertia lock member 70 is provided at the rear end portion of the arm portion 43 and directly below the pressing portion 46. The guide grooves 48 are paired on the left and right at positions facing the assembly space 44 on both side surfaces of the inner wall of the arm portion 43, and are provided to extend in the front-rear direction.

  In addition, the lock structure portion 33 includes a protective wall 49 that protects the lock arm 41. The protective wall 49 is composed of a pair of left and right side walls 51 that rises upward and continues to both side edges of the upper end of the housing body 32, and a connecting wall 52 that connects the front edge parts of the upper ends of the side walls 51. Both side walls 51 are configured to project forward while connecting the base to the rear end portion of the housing body 32, and are arranged so as to cover the entire arm portion 43 of the lock arm 41 from both sides. Further, the connecting wall 52 is disposed so as to cover the front end portion (including the lock receiving main body 45) of the arm portion 43 from above. The protective wall 49 (the connecting wall 52 and the side walls 51) prevents the lock arm 41 from being inadvertently bent and deformed by foreign matter being caught on the lock receiving body 45.

  Next, the inertia lock member 70 will be described. The inertia lock member 70 is formed separately from the female connector housing 30 and is formed of a synthetic resin material, and has an elongated rod shape in the front-rear direction as a whole. The inertia lock member 70 is selectively mounted on the female connector housing 30 in accordance with the needs of the user, and in the mounted state, the inertia lock member 70 moves relative to the lock arm 41 and forward from the initial position. The completed movement position can be moved in the front-rear direction.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the inertia lock member 70 includes a base 71 that extends along the front-rear direction, a knob 72 that projects from the upper surface of the rear end of the base 71, A receiving portion 73 provided on the lower surface of the rear end, a pair of left and right guide pieces 74 provided along the rear edge of the base portion 71, and movement restricting portions 75 and 76 provided on the lower surface of the front end portion of the base portion 71. It consists of. The base 71 is in the form of a belt plate having a longitudinal length that exceeds the longitudinal length of the lock arm 41 and the housing body 32, and can be bent up and down with its middle portion in the longitudinal direction as a fulcrum. The knob 72 has substantially the same width as the base 71, and the inertia lock member 70 can be moved while picking it with a finger.

  The receiving portion 73 has a cap shape having an arm entry recess 77 that is open toward the front, is not engaged with the lock arm 41 (arm portion 43) in the initial position, and is in the arm entry recess 77 in the movement completion position. The rear end portion of the lock arm 41 (arm portion 43) is advanced to restrict its play. The guide piece 74 is configured to extend in the front-rear direction while projecting to the side edges of the base 71, and is slidable in the guide groove 48 of the lock arm 41, thereby guiding the front-rear movement of the inertia lock member 70. It has become.

  Further, the movement restricting portions 75 and 76 are suspended from the front end of the base portion 71 to restrict the return operation of the inertia lock member 70 to the initial position, and are located behind the inertia lock main body 75 and the inertia lock body 75. The main body 75 includes a temporary fixing portion 76 that is arranged in parallel with a gap therebetween and restricts the movement of the inertia lock member 70 to the movement completion position. The front surface of the inertia lock body 75 slightly recedes as it goes to the lower end (projection end). However, the front surface of the inertia lock body 75 is a butting surface 75A that stands up from the receiving surface 45A of the lock receiving body 45. The receding restricting surface 75B is vertically cut. Further, the lower half of the front surface of the temporary fixing portion 76 is a tapered surface 76A that is notched downward.

  When the inertia lock member 70 is in the initial position, the lock receiving body 45 is fitted in the gap between the inertia lock body 75 and the temporary fixing portion 76, that is, the lock receiving main body 45 is interposed between the inertia lock main body 75 and the temporary fixing portion 76. As a result, the inertia lock member 70 is restricted from moving back and forth. In this state, the inertia lock main body 75 is located in front of the lock receiving main body 45 (front of the female connector housing 30 in the fitting direction), and the inertia lock main body 75 is pushed while the two connector housings 10 and 30 are being fitted. The contact surface 75A can come into contact with the collision surface 19A of the lock portion 19 on the counterpart side.

  Here, when the inertia lock member 70 is bent and deformed due to the contact between the inertia lock main body 75 and the lock portion 19, the engagement state between the movement restricting portions 75 and 76 and the lock receiving main body 45 is dissociated and the inertia. The movement of the lock member 70 is allowed. On the other hand, when the inertia lock member 70 is in the movement completion position, the inertia lock member 70 is moved forward and returned elastically, and the temporary fixing portion 76 goes around the front of the lock receiver main body 45 to lock the lock receiver main body 45. It is possible to abut on the front and back.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, the operation of fitting both the connector housings 10 and 30 in a state where the inertia lock member 70 is mounted to use the inertia lock mechanism will be described. When the inertia lock member 70 is mounted, the inertia lock member 70 is inserted into the assembly space 44 of the lock arm 41 from the rear. When the inertia lock member 70 is assembled at the initial position, the lock receiving main body 45 is sandwiched between the inertia lock main body 75 and the temporary fixing portion 76 to restrict the movement operation of the inertia lock member 70 and the guide piece 74 is The guide arm 48 slides into the guide groove 48 of the lock arm 41, and the pressing portion 46 of the lock arm 41 covers the rear end portion of the base 71 from above. In this state, the inertia lock member 70 is restricted from moving forward (moving completion position) when the front surface of the temporary fixing portion 76 comes into contact with the locking receiving surface 45B of the lock receiving main body 45, and the inertia lock main body 75 The backward movement restricting surface 75B abuts against the front surface of the lock receiving main body 45, so that backward movement is restricted. Further, in this state, the knob portion 72 is disposed at a position protruding rearward from the rear end of the housing body 32.

  Subsequently, the fitting operation of both the connector housings 10 and 30 is started, and the housing main body 32 of the female connector housing 30 is inserted into the hood portion 13 of the male connector housing 10. In the process of fitting, the collision surface 19A of the lock portion 19 abuts against the abutment surface 75A of the inertia lock member 70, and as shown in FIG. The fitting operation is once restricted.

  In this state, when a large operating force exceeding the fitting resistance of both the connector housings 10 and 30 is applied, the inertia lock member 70 is separated from the collision surface 19A of the lock portion 19. Thus, as the fitting resistance caused by the contact between the lock portion 19 and the inertia lock member 70 disappears, the large fitting operation force applied to both the connector housings 10 and 30 engages both the connector housings 10 and 30. It acts as a large inertial force that approaches in the direction, and the two connector housings 10 and 30 move at a stroke toward the normal fitting position by this inertial force. During this time, the inertia lock body 75 of the inertia lock member 70 rides on the upper end of the lock portion 19 and the base portion 71 is elastically displaced upward. Further, the lock receiving body 45 of the lock arm 41 is also ridden on the upper end of the lock portion 19, and the arm portion 43 is elastically displaced upward. Since the fitting resistance caused by the elastic deflection of the lock arm 41 and the like is smaller than the fitting resistance caused by the contact between the inertia lock member 70 and the lock portion 19, the inertial force applied to both the connector housings 10 and 30. Thus, the connector housings 10 and 30 are surely brought to the proper fitting positions.

  When the two connector housings 10 and 30 reach the proper mating positions, as shown in FIG. 3, the lock portion 19 passes through the lock receiving main body 45 and the lock arm 41 is elastically restored. The stop surface 19B and the locking receiving surface 45B of the lock arm 41 face each other, and the connector housings 10 and 30 are held in the fitted state (disengagement restricted state). At this time, the temporary fixing portion 76 of the inertia lock member 70 is disengaged from the lock receiving main body 45 and brought into contact with the upper end of the lock portion 19, and the base portion 71 of the inertia lock member 70 is brought into contact with the rear end portion along with this contact. Is elastically deformed into a bow shape while being pressed by the pressing portion 46.

  When the inertia lock member 70 is pushed toward the movement completion position from the above state, the temporary fixing portion 76 passes through the lock portion 19 and the lock receiving main body 45 and the base portion 71 is elastically restored to reach the movement completion position. The rear surface of the temporary fixing portion 76 and the front surface of the lock receiving body 45 face each other, and the return operation of the inertia lock member 70 to the initial position is restricted. In addition, at this movement completion position, the inertia lock member 70 covers the lock receiving body 45 and the lock portion 19, and the rear end portion of the arm portion 43 of the lock arm 41 is fitted into the arm entry recess 77, so that both connectors The detachment operation of the housings 10 and 30 is also restricted. When the inertia lock member 70 reaches the movement completion position, the knob portion 72 of the inertia lock member 70 and the operation portion 47 of the lock arm 41 are continuously arranged in a horizontal line in the width direction.

  On the other hand, when both the connector housings 10 and 30 are retained before reaching the proper fitting position, the engagement between the movement restricting portions 75 and 76 of the inertia lock member 70 and the lock receiving body 45 of the lock arm 41 is achieved. Since the state is not released, that is, the lock receiving main body 45 remains sandwiched between the inertia lock main body 75 and the temporary fixing portion 76, the inertia lock member 70 cannot be moved to the movement completion position. When the pushing operation of the inertia lock member 70 is restricted in this way, both the connector housings 10 and 30 are deeply fitted to reach the proper fitting position, and the inertia lock member 70 is brought to the movement completion position again. To do. That is, according to this aspect, the fitting state of both the connector housings 10 and 30 can be detected based on whether or not the inertia lock member 70 can be moved.

  Subsequently, in the case where the inertia lock mechanism is not required, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation of fitting the two connector housings 10 and 30 without attaching the inertia lock member 70 to the female connector housing 30 is performed. explain. In this case, when the fitting operation of both the connector housings 10 and 30 is started, as shown in FIG. 6, the collision surface 19 </ b> A of the lock portion 19 comes into contact with the lock receiving body 45 of the lock arm 41, thereby slightly fitting resistance. However, the fitting resistance at this time is reduced when the receiving surface 45A of the lock receiving main body 45 is obliquely contacted with the collision surface 19A of the lock portion 19 in the fitting direction. The fitting resistance caused by the contact with the portion 19 does not increase. Therefore, if both the connector housings 10 and 30 are pushed in the fitting direction with a lighter operating force than the case of the inertia lock member 70, the connector housings 10 and 30 are properly connected with the bending operation of the arm portion 43 of the lock arm 41. It is possible to easily reach the fitting position. In this proper fitting position, as shown in FIG. 7, the locking receiving surface 45B of the lock receiving body 45 and the locking surface 19B of the lock portion 19 face each other so that the connector housings 10 and 30 are fitted. It will be held in a combined state (withdrawal restriction state).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
When the inertia lock member 70 is not attached to the female connector housing 30, a non-inertia lock mechanism by the engagement between the lock portion 19 and the lock arm 41 can be applied. In the mounted state, the inertia lock mechanism by the engagement of the lock portion 19 and the inertia lock member 70 can be operated, so that it can be used properly according to needs.

  In the above case, the same connector housing is used both when the inertia lock member 70 is not attached and when the inertia lock member 70 is attached. Therefore, when forming the connector housing, a telescopic metal for inertia lock molding and non-inertia lock molding is used. It is not necessary to prepare each mold, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, workability is improved by eliminating the need to replace the mold.

In addition, with the inertia lock member 70 held at the movement completion position, the inertia lock member 70 can exhibit a function different from the inertia lock mechanism (in the above case, a fitting detection function), which is versatile. Excellent.
And since the inertia lock member 70 has a fitting detection function, it can avoid reliably that both connector housings 10 and 30 are left in a semi-fitted state. In this case, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a fitting detection member is provided separately from the inertia lock member 70.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the process of fitting the two connector housings, the inertia lock member comes into contact with the resistance portion provided separately from the lock portion in the mating connector housing (male connector housing in the first embodiment). It may be set such that both connector housings reach the normal fitting position by the inertia force by applying the operating force exceeding the resulting fitting resistance.
(2) The inertia lock member is detachably attached to the female connector housing (the other connector housing), has an abutting surface that can come into contact with the lock portion or the resistance portion, and can be engaged with both by inertia force. The connector housing is not particularly limited as long as it brings the connector housing to a proper fitting position. For example, a dedicated member having no function such as a fitting detection function may be used. Further, the inertia lock member may be configured by a retainer that prevents the terminal fitting inserted into the cavity by being pushed into the movement completion position.
(3) When the inertia lock member is a dedicated member or the like and relative displacement with respect to the female connector housing (the other connector housing) is restricted, the lock portion is May be one that holds the inertia lock member.
(4) The lock portion may be provided so as to be elastically deformable, and the lock receiving portion may be provided fixedly.
(5) The inertia lock member may be detachably attached to the male connector housing.

In Embodiment 1, when the inertia lock member is in a mounted state, a side sectional view showing a state before both connector housings are fitted together Side sectional view showing the state where the lock part and the inertia lock member are in contact with each other during the fitting of both connector housings Side sectional view showing the state where both connector housings have reached the proper mating position Side sectional view showing the state where the inertia lock member is moved to the movement completion position Side sectional view showing a state before both connector housings are fitted when the inertia lock member is not attached. Side sectional view showing the state where the lock part and the lock arm are in contact with each other during the mating of both connector housings Side sectional view showing the state where both connector housings are held in their proper mating positions Bottom view of inertia lock member

Explanation of symbols

10: Male connector housing (one connector housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Male terminal metal fitting 13 ... Hood | hood part 19 ... Lock | rock part 30 ... Female side connector housing (other connector housing)
31 ... Female terminal fitting 32 ... Housing body 41 ... Lock arm (lock receiving part)
45 ... Lock receiving body 70 ... Inertia lock member 71 ... Base 75 ... Inertia lock body 75A ... Abutting surface

Claims (3)

Of the pair of connector housings that can be fitted to each other, one connector housing is provided with a lock portion, and the other connector housing is provided with a lock receiving portion and an inertia lock member is detachably mounted. ,
When the inertia lock member is not attached to the one connector housing, the lock portion and the lock receiving portion are engaged with each other, and the two connector housings are held in the proper fitting positions. While
When the inertia lock member is in the mounted state with respect to the one connector housing, the lock portion or a resistance portion different from the lock portion and the inertia lock member during the fitting of the two connector housings However, the two connector housings are properly connected by an inertial force by applying an operating force that exceeds the fitting resistance caused by the contact, with a fitting resistance larger than the fitting resistance between the lock portion and the lock receiving portion. It is comprised so that it may reach to the fitting position of.   The inertia lock member is attached to the one connector housing so as to be movable between an initial position and a movement completion position, and the lock part or the resistance part abuts at the initial position, but at the movement completion position. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is disengaged.   The inertia lock member also has a function as a fitting detection member that is allowed to move to the movement completion position only when the two connector housings reach a proper fitting position. The connector according to claim 2.

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