JP2772328B2 - connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a locking structure between a terminal and a connector housing so that the locking of the terminal can be easily released without using a jig.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a structure for locking a terminal inserted into a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing, FIGS.
0 is a connector a. That is, the connector a
Comprises a connector housing 1 and a terminal locking member 7,
Terminal housing chamber 2 provided inside connector housing 1
Is a double wall having an inner wall 3 and an outer wall 4, a hole 5 is provided on one side of the inner wall 3, and a terminal locking portion 6 is provided on the other side of the inner wall 3.
A cantilever-shaped terminal locking arm 6 having a is provided (see FIG. 10 ).

A stopper 3a is provided at the front end of the inner wall 3 to restrict the insertion depth of the terminal to be inserted ( FIG. 1 ) .
0 ). A spacer 7 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is attached to the front end surface of the housing 1. Double locking arm 8 having terminal locking portion 8a on the housing mounting surface side of spacer 7
Is erected.

A hole 9 provided in the spacer 7 is an insertion hole for a mating terminal (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-19180). In order to insert and lock the terminal 10 into the connector housing 1, first, the terminal 1
Insert 0.

The inserted terminal 10 has a locking hole 10a.
The terminal locking portion 6a of the terminal locking arm 6 fits into the terminal 10, the terminal 10 is locked, and the tip of the terminal 10 contacts the stopper 3a to maintain the position (see FIG. 10). Next, when the terminal locking member 7 is inserted from the front end of the connector housing 1, the slope of the terminal locking portion 8 a at the tip of the double locking arm 8 hits the rear end of the inner wall 3, and the double locking arm 8 is The terminal locking portion 8a enters while bending.
When the terminal 10 is dropped into the hole 5 and reaches above the locking hole 10b of the terminal 10, the terminal locking portion 8a is engaged with the locking hole 10b. Locked heavily.

[0006] Since the conventional example has a structure and operation as described above, the extracting terminal 10 from the connector assembled a, not jig (shown from first connector terminal insertion side of the terminal accommodating chamber 2 of the housing 1 ) Is inserted, the terminal locking portion 8a at the tip of the double locking arm 8 of the terminal locking tool 7 is displaced upward, and the locking hole 10b of the terminal 10 and the terminal locking portion 8a are displaced.
Must be released.

However, this operation must be performed simultaneously for each of the terminals 10 inserted into each of the terminal accommodating chambers 2 .
The terminal lock 7 cannot be pulled out, and it is extremely troublesome work, requires much labor, and is inefficient.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector capable of easily releasing a terminal housed in a connector.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a terminal accommodating chamber in which both front and rear ends are opened, and a hood is provided in the front. The connector hood includes a terminal locking member detachably mounted on the hood, the hood has a notch on one side wall, and the terminal locking member has an opening corresponding to the terminal receiving chamber. A frame-shaped main body, a side cover extending from one side of the frame-shaped main body to a cutout of the hood, and a T formed opposite to a side wall of the frame-shaped main body opposite to the cutout of the hood.
A resilient member having a U-shape and a flexible locking piece protruding from an opening edge of the opening to engage with a terminal in the terminal accommodating chamber, wherein the terminal locking tool is in a terminal axial direction with respect to the connector housing. At the time of mounting, the frame-shaped main body of the terminal locking member is biased and held by the elastic member toward the cutout side of the hood of the connector housing, and the flexible locking piece engages with the terminal to engage. Stop, and when the terminal locking tool is displaced from the notch side crossing the mounting direction against the elastic force of the elastic member, the flexible locking piece is displaced and Is adopted to release the engagement. Also,
As described in claim 2, the terminal locking tool includes a pair of locking arms on both sides of a side cover, and the hood has a locking projection that is engaged with the locking arm on an opposite edge of the notch. In addition, it is preferable that a locking projection for engaging with the elastic member is provided on a side wall opposite to the notch.

[0010]

According to the present invention, when the terminal locking tool mounted on the connector housing in the axial direction of the terminal is pushed in a direction intersecting the mounting direction, the elastic force of the elastic member is reduced. As the terminal locking tool is displaced against the movement, the respective flexible locking pieces are simultaneously displaced, and the engagement between each flexible locking piece and each terminal is released at the same time. The removed terminal can be easily taken out (claim 1). Also, as in claim 2, the side cover
A pair of locking arms are provided on both sides of the
To provide a locking projection that engages with the locking arm.
More secure terminal locking tool to connector housing
Can be locked.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows a connector A according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. That is, the connector A includes the connector housing 21 and the terminal locking members 29 that engage with the connector housing 21.

A plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 22 are formed inside the connector housing 21, and a hood 23, which is a receiving portion of the terminal locking member 29, is formed on the front surface thereof.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the bottom wall 2 of the terminal accommodating chamber 22 is formed.
4 has a slightly higher front half and a space S formed at the lower part of the front end thereof to secure a displacement space for a flexible locking piece 33 of a terminal locking tool 29 described later. In addition, an inclined stopper wall 24 is provided at the tip of the bottom wall 24.
a is provided.

In the upper and lower side walls 25, 25 'of the hood 23, a notch 26 is provided in the upper side wall 25 as a receiving portion of a side cover 34 of a terminal locking member 29, which will be described later. The edges along the notch 26 are formed to face each other. A pair of ribs 28, 28 are formed on the lower wall 25 'along the inner corner thereof, and each rib is provided with a locking projection 28a.

The terminal locking member 29 includes a frame-shaped main body 30, and the frame-shaped main body 30 is formed with an opening 31 corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber 22 and also serving as an insertion port for a mating terminal.
At the front end of the bottom plate 32 facing the connector housing 1, a flexible locking piece 33 having a locking projection 33a formed at the tip is projected.

Also, the frame-shaped main body 30 is moved forward from the upper frame edge.
A side cover 34 is continuously provided in a cantilever shape, and a pair of locking arms 36, 36 having an engagement protrusion 36 a are provided on both lower surfaces of the side cover 34 via slits 35. The engagement protrusion 36a of the engagement arm 36 constitutes an engagement means with the engagement protrusion 27 in the notch 26 of the connector housing 21, and the thickness of the engagement protrusion 27 is set to be larger than the thickness of the engagement protrusion 36a. ing.

[0016] is et al., Side cover of the frame-like main body 30
A T-shaped elastic section in the center of the lower frame opposite to 34
Material 37 is continuously provided, a pair of engaging portions 37a of the front end of the elastic member 37, 37a has a pair of locking projections 28a of the connector housing 21, and 28a respectively constitute the locking means (Fig. 2 (A)).

Reference numeral 38 denotes a bracket for mounting to another device such as an electric connection box ( not shown ), and reference numeral 39 denotes an engagement projection for locking at the time of insertion. First according to the present invention
Since the connector A of the embodiment is configured as described above, the terminal 41 to which the electric wire 40 is connected as shown in FIG.
Rear portion inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 from bulging group of terminals 41 of the
The front tapered surface 41b of the portion 41a is
It is kept in contact with.

Next, with the terminal 41 held,
With the side cover 34 of the terminal locking tool 29 facing the notch 26 of the connector housing 21 and the flexible locking piece 33 of the terminal locking tool 29 facing forward, insert it into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 of the connector housing 21 (FIG. 2 (A) and FIG. 2 (B)).

At this time, the flexible locking piece 33 of the terminal locking tool 29
Of the terminal 41 is engaged with an engaging hole 41c formed in the bulging base 41a of the terminal 41 to lock the terminal 41. On the other hand, the terminal locking member 29 is locked by engaging the engaging protrusion 36 a of the locking arm 36 of the side cover 34 with the locking protrusion 27 in the notch 26. The engagement portion 37a of the member 37 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 28a of the lower wall 25 'of the hood 23 and is engaged, so that the terminal engagement member 29 is engaged with the connector housing 21 as a result. Is stopped.

To remove the terminal 41 from the connector A,
As shown in FIG. 3A, the base end of the side cover 34 of the terminal locking tool 29 intersects the direction D , that is, the mounting direction.
Press in the direction . At this time, the engaging portion 37a of the elastic member 37 of the terminal locking member 29 is engaged with the locking protrusion 2 of the connector housing 21.
3A, the elastic member 37 is bent upward in FIG.
6a slides upward in a state of being engaged with the locking projection 27 of the connector housing 21. At this time, the locking projection 27
Is sufficiently thicker than the thickness of the engagement protrusion 36a, so that the engagement is not released.

Further, the flexible locking piece 33 of the terminal locking member 29
3B is displaced upward in FIG. 3B according to the displacement of the terminal locking member 29.
with a is located in the space S, the engaging hole of the terminal 41
Disengaged from 41c, the locking state between the locking projection 33a and the terminal 41 of the flexible locking piece 33 is released.

Since this release operation is performed simultaneously for the other terminals 41, the terminals 41 may be appropriately removed from the terminal accommodating chamber 22 of the connector housing 21. A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. That is, the terminal locking member 29 'has a frame-shaped main body 30' longer in the front-rear direction than the terminal locking tool 29 of the first embodiment, and the rear end face 30a 'of the frame-shaped main body 30' is fitted to the connector housing 21. At this time, the connector housing 21 is set to be flush with the front end face . Further, the side cover 34 of the first embodiment is used.
A longer side cover 34 'is continuously provided in a cantilever manner from the upper frame edge of the frame-shaped main body 30 to the front, and has engagement projections 36a on both lower surfaces of the side cover 34 via slits 35. A pair of locking arms 36 ', 36' is provided, and the locking arm 36 'is also set longer than that of the first embodiment.

The rest of the configuration is the same as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. Therefore, only the differences in the operation from the first embodiment will be described below. The electric wires 4
In a state in which the terminal 41 to which the terminal 0 is connected is inserted, the terminal 41 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 22 of the connector housing 21 with the flexible locking piece 33 of the terminal locking tool 29 ′ facing forward.

At this time, the flexible locking piece 3 of the terminal locking member 29 '
The third engaging projection 33a engages with the engaging hole 41a of the terminal 41 to lock the terminal 41. Therefore, when the wire harness is transported to a predetermined place in this state, the terminals are not separated and the efficiency is high. That is, the connector housing 21 and the terminal locking member 29 ' can be used instead of the protective cap of the wire harness.

When the wire harness arrives at a predetermined place, the terminal harness 29 'can be operated to easily take out the wire harness with the terminal as in the first embodiment. Next, a double locking connector A 'according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 (A), (B) and (C).

FIG . 5 is an exploded perspective view of the connector A '.
FIG. 6A is a front view of the same. (B) is (A)
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line GG of FIG. (C) is a side sectional view of (A). As shown in FIG. 5, the double locking connector A 'includes a connector housing 51, a terminal locking member 29 mounted on the hood 23 of the connector housing 51, a terminal insertion side at a rear end of the connector housing 51, and a hood. 23
And a terminal double locking tool 53 slidably inserted into an opening 52 formed in the middle of the terminal 52.

That is, the double locking connector A 'is configured such that the terminal locking member 29 is mounted on the connector housing 51, similarly to the connector A of the first invention, and the terminal double locking member 53 is provided. Is different from the connector A of the first embodiment only in the configuration of a portion that is slidably inserted into the opening 52. Therefore, only the differences will be described below.

The connector housing 51 has a longitudinal section at an intermediate portion between the edge on the side where the terminal 57 is inserted and the hood 23.
Openings 52 are formed leaving the left and right side walls in the direction, and the bottom wall 55 and the partition wall of each terminal accommodating chamber 54 are interrupted and cut off at the positions of the openings 52 (see FIG. 6B).

The terminal double locking member 53 is a comb-like member,
As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of comb-shaped pieces 53b are protruded from the connecting portion 53a, and locking projections 53c are formed at required locations facing the comb-shaped pieces 53b so as to face the terminals 57 with an interval therebetween. ing. The final locking projection 53 is provided at the rear end of the outer comb-like piece 53b.
d is formed, and the final locking projection of the connector housing 51 is formed.
An engagement protrusion 51a is formed at a position facing 53d (see FIG. 6C).

The comb teeth 53b are connected to the connector housing 5
1 is slidably inserted in the opening 52 in the vertical direction.
Is done . The temporary locking projection 51b is connected to the connector housing 51.
An engagement concave portion 53e is formed on the lower side of the connector housing 51 on the front contact surface where the outer comb-shaped piece 53b contacts the outer comb-shaped piece 53b. (See FIG. 6C).

The side cover 34 of the terminal locking member 29 is extended so that the tip end 34a reaches below the edge of the comb-like piece 53b of the terminal double locking member 53. Third according to the present invention
Since the embodiment is configured as described above, at the time of assembling, first, the opening 5
2, the comb-shaped piece 53b of the terminal double locking tool 53 is inserted.

At this point, when the insertion is stopped when the sliding becomes tight, the final locking projection 53d abuts against the engaging projection 51a of the connector housing 51 as shown in FIG. The projection 51b is engaged with the lower end of the engaging recess 53e, and the terminal double locking tool 53 is held at the temporary locking position.

Next, the terminal 57 with the electric wire 56 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 54. Next, as in the first embodiment,
When the terminal locking member 29 is inserted from the front of the connector housing 51, the locking projection 33a of the flexible locking piece 33 of the terminal locking member 29 engages with the engagement hole 57a of the terminal 57, and
(See FIG. 6B).

Next, the terminal double locking tool 53 is further pushed into the connector housing 51 to be in the final locking position (see FIG. 7A). At this time, the final locking projection 53d of the terminal double locking tool 53 is positioned below over the engaging projection 51a, and the temporary locking projection 51b comes into contact with the upper end of the engaging recess 53e. (See FIG. 7B).

Further, the comb-like piece 5 of the terminal double locking tool 53
The edge of the locking projection 53c of 3b is engaged with the edge of the stabilizer 57b of the terminal 57, and the terminal 57 is double locked. Furthermore, the lower end of the terminal double locking tool 53 comes into contact with the distal end 34a of the side cover 34 of the terminal locking tool 29, and the assembly is completed.

The connector A 'assembled as described above
To remove the terminal 57, as shown in FIG.
The base end portion 34b of the side cover 34 of the terminal locking device 29 D
Press in the direction . At this time, the terminal locking tool 29 operates in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the locking projection 33a of the flexible locking piece 33 of the terminal locking tool 29 separates from the engaging hole 57a of the terminal 57. ,
The locked state between the locking projection 33a of the flexible locking piece 33 and the terminal 57 is released.

Further, the side cover 3 of the terminal locking member 29
4 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.
Push up the lower end of the terminal double locking tool 53 to make the final locking projection 5
3d is located on the engagement projection 51a, and the temporary locking projection 51b
Is engaged with the lower end of the engaging recess 53e (temporary locking position).
And the comb-shaped piece 53b of the terminal double locking tool 53
Is released from the edge of the stabilizer 57b of the terminal 57 to release the double locking state.

That is, by pushing the terminal locking member 29 in the direction D , the double locking can be simultaneously released as described above, and the terminal 57 is appropriately connected to the terminal accommodating chamber 53 of the connector housing 51.
Just pull it out of it.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, the terminal housed in the connector housing can be locked without using a jig.
By operating the terminal lock attached to the connector,
It features a connector that can be released simultaneously and easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 3 (A) is a front view of a state in which the lock is released,
(B) is a sectional view.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a front view of a connector according to a third embodiment ,
(B) is a sectional view taken along line GG of (A) , and (C) is a sectional view of the position holding means of the terminal double locking device.

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view in the same fully locked state,
(B) is sectional drawing in the position holding means part of a terminal double locking tool.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view in the unlocked state. (B) is sectional drawing in the position holding means part of a terminal double locking tool.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, A 'connector 21, 51 connector housing 22, 54 terminal receiving chamber 23 hood 24, 32, 55 bottom wall 25 upper side wall 25' lower side wall 26 notch 27, 28a, 53c locking projection 28 rib 29, 29 'terminal Locking tool 30, 30 'Frame-shaped main body 31 Opening 33 Flexible locking piece 34, 34' Side cover 35 Slit 36, 36 'Locking arm 36a, 51a Engagement projection 37 Elastic member 37a Engagement part 40, 56 Electric wire 41, 57 Terminal 41c Engaging hole 51b Temporary locking projection 52 Opening 53 Terminal double locking tool 53a Connecting part 53b Comb-shaped piece 53d Full locking projection 53e Engaging recess 57a Engaging hole 57b Stabilizer

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector housing having a terminal housing chamber having front and rear ends opened therein and having a hood at the front, and a terminal locking member detachably mounted on the hood, wherein the hood has one side wall. A notch, the terminal locking member has a frame-shaped main body having an opening corresponding to the terminal accommodating chamber, a side cover extending from one side of the frame-shaped main body to the cutout of the hood, and the other side. And a T-shaped elastic member formed to face a side wall opposite to the notch of the hood, and a flexible member projecting from an opening edge of the opening and engaging with a terminal in the terminal receiving chamber. When the terminal locking member is attached to the connector housing in the terminal axis direction, the frame-shaped main body of the terminal locking member is cut by the elastic member to cut the hood of the connector housing.
While being urged and held to the notch side, the flexible locking piece engages and locks with the terminal, and the terminal locking tool is moved from the notch side against the elastic force of the elastic member. A connector characterized in that when displaced crossing the mounting direction, the flexible locking piece is displaced and disengaged from the terminal. 2. The terminal locking device has a pair of locking arms on both sides of a side cover, and the hood has locking projections on opposite edges of the notch, the locking projections engaging with the locking arms. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising a locking protrusion on the side wall opposite to the notch, the locking protrusion engaging with the elastic member.