JPH08130059A - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve workability in the case of engaging male and female connectors with each other. CONSTITUTION: A support shaft 32 is protruded in a side surface of a female connector 2, and a flat and rectangular head part 33 is formed at a protruded end of it. A slit of an engagement hole 35 in which the support shaft 32 is to be engaged is formed in a leg member 24 of a lever 3, and an insertion groove 36 through which the support shaft 32 is inserted toward a side edge of the leg member 24 is opened from there. A stepped surface 38, one stage lower, is formed on each side from the engagement hole 35 along the insertion groove 36, and both of a right and a left depth walls are formed as abutting walls 40a, 40b. In the case where the support shaft 32 is engaged in the engagement hole 35, the head part 33 is applied to the abutting walls 40a, 40b, so a rotation range of the female connector 2 on the lever 3 is regulated. In engaging an oscillation shaft 25 in a shaft bearing hole 12 of a male connector 1, such a rotation attitude as to let the female connector 2 collide with the male connector 1 can be prohitibed, thereby shaft support action of the oscillation shaft 25 can be performed smoothly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved lever type connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a multi-pole connector having terminals of several tens of poles, a large fitting force is required when fitting male and female connectors. Therefore, the lever principle is utilized to reduce the fitting force. The lever type connector designed is used.

Conventionally, as one example thereof, ones shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 are known. This lever-type connector includes a male connector 51, a female connector 52 and an operating lever 53 which are fitted to each other. The lever 53 has a rectangular frame in which a swing shaft 55 is extended between one ends of a pair of leg pieces 54, and the other end side is connected by an operating portion 56 so as to surround the outside of the female connector 52. It is formed into a shape. At the center of the length of each leg 54,
An elongated hole-like fitting hole 5 into which a support shaft 57 protruding from both side surfaces of the female connector 52 is fitted so as to be rotatable and slightly movable.
8 is formed, and the support shaft 57 is provided from each fitting hole 58.
An insertion groove 59 for laterally inserting is opened at the lower side edge of the leg piece 54 and is cut out. In addition, the support shaft 57
At the tip of the support shaft 57
A collar-shaped head 60 is formed to prevent the shaft from coming off in the axial direction. Further, a bearing hole 61 into which the swing shaft 55 of the lever 53 is fitted is provided on one end side in the length direction of the male connector 51.

At the time of assembly, first, as shown in FIG. 14, the support shaft 57 of the female connector 52 is fitted into the fitting hole 58 of the lever 53 through the insertion groove 59 so that the female connector 52 can be rotated on the lever 53. To support. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 15, the swing shaft 55 of the lever 53 is fitted into the bearing hole 61 of the mating male connector 51, the female connector 52 is butted against the male connector 51, and the lever 53 is brought close to the male connector 51. When the support shaft 57 is swung in the direction,
By being pushed by the inner surface of the side which is not opened while rotating in 8, the female connector 52 is drawn to the male connector 51 side, and as shown in FIG.
2 are fitted together.

[0005]

In such a lever type connector, the lever 53 has a certain angle on the female connector 52 between the time when the female connector 52 hits the male connector 51 and the time when the female connector 52 is completely fitted. It is necessary to relatively rotate within the range, and therefore the support shaft 57 and the fitting hole 58 are freely fitted together, but conventionally, the range of rotation of the female connector 52 is restricted. Instead, it was able to rotate freely over the entire circumference.

Therefore, when the female connector 52 is supported by the lever 53 and then the swing shaft 55 of the lever 53 is fitted into the bearing hole 61 of the mating male connector 51, as shown in FIG. When the female connector 52 is rotated, the female connector 52
Since it hits the fitting surface of the male connector 51 at a substantially right angle, the swing shaft 55 cannot be fitted into the bearing hole 61. Therefore, in such a case, the female connector 52 must be repositioned so that the female connector 52 is substantially parallel to the lever 53, and there is a drawback that work efficiency is reduced.

Further, the conventional ones have the following problems when the male and female connectors 51, 52 fitted with each other are to be disconnected. That is, in order to disengage both connectors 51 and 52 from the fitted state shown in FIG. 16, the lever 53 is swung in the direction opposite to that at the time of fitting, and at that time, the fitting hole 58 of the lever 53. The one opening corner (the portion indicated by reference numeral 65) on the side where the insertion groove 59 is opened presses the support shaft 57 of the female connector 52 in the arrow direction, whereby the female connector 52 is separated from the male connector 51. In that case, although a large resistance force acts on the opening corner portion 65 that presses the support shaft 57, conventionally, the insertion groove 59 is located below the leg piece 54 from the center of the fitting hole 58 in the longitudinal direction. Since it is opened toward the side edge on the side, and the margin for catching the opening corner portion 65 with respect to the support shaft 57 is small, the lever 53 is used to disconnect the connectors 51 and 52 as described above.
When swinging the support shaft 57, the opening corner portion 65 may be disengaged from the support shaft 57, and the support shaft 57 may slip out of the insertion groove 59. That is, there is a risk that the lever 53 and the female connector 52 may be disassembled and the connectors 51 and 52 may not be detached.

The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve workability when fitting both connectors. . In addition to the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 2 prevents the connector supported by the connector from being detached when the lever is swung, and ensures the detachment or fitting work of both connectors. With the goal.

[0009]

As a means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 provides a support shaft projecting on either side of one of the male and female connectors on the side of the lever. The lever is rotatably supported by being fitted into the fitting hole provided at the position, and one end of the lever is pivotally supported by the corresponding end of the other connector so that the lever swings. In a lever-type connector in which both connectors are engaged and disengaged with each other, the rotation range of the connector on the lever is set in the support shaft and the fitting hole from when the connectors are butted to when they are completely fitted. This is characterized in that a rotation restricting portion for restricting the rotation within a required rotation range is provided between the two.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, an insertion groove for laterally inserting the support shaft of the connector is opened in the fitting hole of the lever toward the side edge of the lever. At the time of mating or disengaging operation with a lever, one of the opening corners with respect to the insertion groove of the mating hole presses the support shaft to disengage or fit both connectors.
The insertion groove is characterized in that the opening position is set so that the opening corner on the side that exerts a pressing force on the support shaft has a sufficient catching margin to prevent the support shaft from coming off. Have.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the connector is supported by the lever, the rotation restricting portion of the connector restricts the rotation range on the lever to the necessary minimum. Therefore, even if the connector rotates, the facing angle with the mating connector is small, and after facing the connector, the connector is rotated in the allowed rotation direction to achieve the fitting.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the opening corner of the fitting hole presses the support shaft of the connector by the swinging operation of the lever, the opening corner is caught enough to prevent the support shaft from coming off. The lever and the connector are securely held in the assembled state without being disengaged from the support shaft by being caught in the margin.

[0013]

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the work of pivotally supporting the lever to the mating connector can be smoothly carried out, and the fitting work of both connectors can be carried out efficiently. There is.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above effects, it is possible to prevent the lever and the connector from being disassembled during the swinging operation of the lever, and to reliably perform the disengagement or fitting operation of both connectors. be able to.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> FIGS. 1 to 10 show a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lever-type connector of this embodiment includes a male connector 1 and a female connector 2 which are fitted to each other, and an operating lever 3.

The male connector 1 has a rectangular shape in plan view, and a rectangular tube portion 5 having an open upper surface is formed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the male connector 1, and the fitting projection 19 of the mating female connector 2 is fitted therein. It is a fitting recess 6 that fits. In the bottom of the square tube portion 5, not-shown terminal accommodating holes are formed in line, and the male terminal fittings 7 are inserted into the respective terminal accommodating holes from the lower surface side, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tab 8 is accommodated in the fitting recess 6 in a state of protruding.

On one side in the length direction outside the square tube portion 5 (on the left side in FIG. 2), a shaft support portion 10 is formed so as to stand up with a groove 11 in between, and the width direction at the upper end thereof. A bearing hole 12 for fitting and supporting a swing shaft 25, which will be described later, of the lever 3 is formed in the central portion of the. This bearing hole 12
Is formed in the shape of a long hole that is long in the horizontal direction and opens on the groove 11 side. On the other side (right side in FIG. 2) of the rectangular tube portion 5,
Locking part 14 provided with hook part 15 protruding outward at the upper end
Is also formed so as to stand up with the groove 16 interposed therebetween.

One of the female connectors 2 is formed in a stepped block shape having a slightly larger lower surface side, and the lower surface thereof has a fitting groove 1 into which the square tube portion 5 of the male connector 1 is fitted.
8 is formed along the entire circumference, and the inner portion of the fitting groove 18 serves as a fitting projection 19 that fits into the fitting recess 6 of the male connector 1, and the outside of the fitting groove 18 Is a hood portion 20 that covers the outside of the rectangular tube portion 5.

In the fitting projection 19 of the female connector 2,
A terminal accommodating hole (not shown) that extends from the upper surface of the female connector 2 to the lower surface of the fitting projection 19 is formed in alignment with the terminal accommodating hole of the male connector 1, and as shown in FIG. Each of the female terminal fittings 22 is inserted from the upper surface side and accommodated therein. Therefore, by fitting the fitting protrusions 19 of the female connector 2 into the fitting recesses 6 of the male connector 1, the corresponding male and female terminal fittings 2 housed in the fitting recesses 6 are received.
Two and seven are fitted and connected to each other.

The lever 3 is provided with a pair of leg pieces 24 arranged at intervals so as to sandwich the left and right surfaces of the female connector 2 described above. Each leg piece 24 is formed in a shape in which the central portion in the length direction is bent downward in a V shape, and the male connector 1 described above is provided between one end side (left side in FIG. 2) of each leg piece 24. A swing shaft 25 that is rotatably fitted in the bearing hole 12 is formed integrally with the swing shaft 25, and a finger catching portion 27 is provided between the other ends of the leg pieces 24. Are connected by a connecting portion 26. As shown in FIG. 2, on the inner surface side of the central portion of the connecting portion 26 in the width direction, a space is provided between the bottom portion side and the connecting portion 26 to stand up, and the upper end side faces the connecting portion 26 side. The locking plate 28 is formed so that it can be flexibly deformed in the closing direction, and the connecting portion 2 of the locking plate 28 is formed.
On the surface opposite to the side corresponding to 6, there is formed a projection 29 that is locked to the hook 15 of the locking portion 14 of the male connector 1 described above. A pressing portion 30 is provided at the upper end of the locking plate 28 for pressing the locking plate 28 in the closing direction to release the engaged state.

At the center of the left and right side faces of the female connector 2,
Each of the support shafts 32 is formed so as to project outward. Each support shaft 32 has a height equal to the thickness of the leg piece 24 of the lever 3, and the protruding end thereof has the female connector 2
Head 33 which is elongated and substantially rectangular along the length direction of
The both ends in the length direction are formed so as to project to both sides of the support shaft 32.

A fitting hole 3 into which the support shaft 32 of the female connector 2 is fitted is formed in the central portion in the longitudinal direction of both leg pieces 24 of the lever 3.
5 is formed. The fitting hole 35 is provided on the base end side (the swing shaft 2) of the bent two sides 24a and 24b of the leg piece 24.
5 is formed in the shape of an elongated slot in a direction parallel to the side 24a (on the side where 5 is provided).

From the fitting hole 35, the support shaft 32 described above is provided.
Insertion groove 3 for laterally inserting the fitting into the fitting hole 35
6 is formed so as to open at one side edge (the lower side edge in FIG. 2) of the leg piece 24. The insertion groove 36 has a width that is slightly narrower than the diameter of the support shaft 32 at the back side portion (the entrance portion of the fitting hole 35) that communicates with the fitting hole 35, and is directed toward the side edge of the leg piece 24. It is gradually widened. Especially this insertion groove 36
Is, as shown in detail in FIG.
Is formed so as to be located on a line orthogonal to the major axis Y, passing through a point B slightly displaced leftward in the drawing from the center point A of the major axis Y of the fitting hole 35. Therefore, the fitting hole 35
Of the opening corners 35a, 35b on both sides of the insertion groove 36, the opening corner 35b on the swinging end side of the leg piece 24 projects more inward than the other 35a.

In the regions on both sides from the fitting hole 35 on the outer surface of the leg piece 24 to the insertion groove 36, a stepped surface 38 is formed which is lowered by the thickness of the head 33 of the support shaft 32. There is. When the support shaft 32 is inserted into the fitting hole 35 through the insertion groove 36, the stepped surface 38 is locked to the head 33 of the support shaft 32 so that the support shaft 32 does not come off in the axial direction. It fulfills the function of prevention.

Of the stepped surface 38, of the wall surface 39a around the stepped surface 38 on the left side of FIG.
Is parallel to the side 24a on the base end side and the side surface extends at a right angle to the back surface. On the other hand, among the wall surfaces 39b around the stepped surface 38 on the right side, the back surface is parallel to the side 24b on the swing end side of the leg piece 24, and the side surface extends at a right angle from the back surface, and then on the left side on the way. It is bent parallel to the side surface of the wall surface 39a. The inner surfaces of the left and right wall surfaces 39a and 39b are respectively the support shaft 32.
First and second abutment walls 40a, 4 against which the head 33 of the
It is 0b.

That is, as shown in FIG.
When the female connector 2 is rotatably supported on the lever 3 by being fitted into the fitting hole 35, the head 33 of the support shaft 32 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. First abutment wall 40
It is regulated by hitting a, and at that time, the female connector 2 takes a posture in which it is parallel to the side 24a of the leg piece 24 on the base end side.
Further, the counterclockwise rotation of the support shaft 32 is restricted by the head 33 hitting the second abutting wall 40b, as shown in FIG. 10, and the range in which the female connector 2 can rotate is the leg. Piece 2
4 is kept within a range until it takes a posture in parallel with the side 24b on the swinging end side. This rotation range is from the time when the male and female connectors 1 and 2 are butted to the time when they are completely fitted.
It is equal to the rotation range in which the female connector 2 has to rotate relative to the lever 3.

The present embodiment has the above-mentioned structure, and the assembling procedure will be described subsequently. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the support shafts 32 of the female connector 2 are connected to the leg pieces 24 of the lever 3.
By inserting the insertion groove 36 into the fitting hole 35 of
The female connector 2 is rotatably supported in a loosely temporarily fixed state with respect to the lever 3. Subsequently, the swing shaft 25 of the lever 3 is fitted into the bearing hole 12 of the mating male connector 1. At this time, as described above, the rotation range of the female connector 2 on the lever 3 is as shown in FIG. 5 and a slight range between the rotational postures shown in FIG.

Therefore, if the female connector 2 is in the rotation restricting posture on the one side shown in FIG. 5, the lever 3 does not come into contact with the male connector 1 as shown in FIG.
The swing shaft 25 can be fitted in the bearing hole 12 of the male connector 1. On the other hand, when the female connector 2 is in the rotation restricting posture on the other side shown in FIG. 10, the end portion 2a of the female connector 2 hits the fitting surface of the male connector 1, but the female connector 2 and the male connector Since the angle formed by the connector 1 is small, if the female connector 2 is brought closer to the male connector 1 side together with the lever 3, the female connector 2 will be centered on the support shaft 32 after its end 2a hits the male connector 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the lever 3 is turned clockwise to change its direction to allow the lever 3 to approach, and subsequently, the swing shaft 25 is attached to the bearing hole 1.
It becomes possible to fit in 2.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the male connector 1
When the lever 3 is swung to the male connector 1 side by abutting the female connector 2 with the female connector 2, the support shaft 32 of the female connector 2 receives a force from the inner surface of the non-open side of the fitting hole 35 and is pushed down. Then, the lower end of the hood portion 20 of the female connector 2 is tightly fitted to the outer side of the upper end of the rectangular tube portion 5 of the male connector 1, and subsequently the support shaft 32 moves in the fitting hole 35 in its major axis direction. While relatively rotating, the female connector 2 is guided by the fitting of the hood portion 20 and the rectangular tube portion 5 and is guided by the male connector 1.
It is drawn straight to the side. Along with that, female connector 2
The fitting protrusion 19 is fitted straight into the fitting recess 6 of the male connector 1.

When the lever 3 is swung just before the connectors 1 and 2 are completely fitted together, as shown in FIG. 8, the protrusion 29 provided on the locking plate 28 of the lever 3 causes the male connector to move. It hits the hook portion 15 of the first locking portion 14, and then the locking plate 28
When the projection 29 passes through the hook 15 while flexibly deforming in the closing direction, the locking plate 28 is opened by the restoring elasticity and the projection 29 is locked to the lower surface of the hook 15, as shown in FIG. The lever 3 is held so as not to swing in the opposite direction, and at this time, both connectors 1 and 2 are completely fitted, and
The male and female terminal fittings 7 and 22 housed in the are normally fitted and connected.

When the male and female connectors 1 and 2 that have been fitted are to be separated, from the state shown in FIG. 9, the protrusion 29 is removed from the hook 15 by pressing the pressing portion 30 and closing the locking plate 28. , The lever 3 is rocked in the direction opposite to that at the time of fitting. When the lever 3 swings, in FIG. 8, one opening corner portion 35b of the fitting hole 35 acts to push up the support shaft 32 and pull the female connector 2 away from the male connector 1. In that case, Opening corner 35b for applying pressure
Receives a large resistance from the support shaft 32. However, as described above, the opening corner portion 35b has the other opening corner portion 35b.
Since it protrudes inward much more than a and presses against the support shaft 32 with a large catching margin, the opening corner portion 35b does not slip off the outer periphery of the support shaft 32 and remains as it is. The support shaft 32 can be pushed to separate the female connector 2.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the female connector 2 is supported by the lever 3, the rotation range of the female connector 2 can be kept to a necessary minimum. Therefore, the lever 3 is pivotally supported on the male connector 1. In this case, the female connector 2 does not collide with the male connector 1 and hinder their work, and thus the work can be performed smoothly.

Further, when the fitted connectors 1 and 2 are to be separated, the lever 3 is swung in the opposite direction so that the fitting hole 3 is released.
The female connector 2 is separated by pressing the support shaft 32 at the opening corner portion 35b of FIG.
Since b presses against the support shaft 32 with a large catching margin, even if a large resistance force is received from the support shaft 32, the opening corner portion 35b does not come off from the support shaft 32, that is, the lever 3 and the female member. Since the connector 2 and the connector 2 are securely held in the assembled state, the detaching work of the connectors 1 and 2 can be surely performed.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment shows a modified example of the structure of the portion that restricts the rotation range of the female connector 2 on the lever 3.

In this embodiment, the restriction projection of triangular cross section having a constant apex angle is formed on the inner surface of the fitting hole 35 provided in the leg piece 24 of the lever 3 on the side where the insertion groove 36 is not opened. 42 is formed, a fan-shaped notch 45 having an angle larger than the apex angle of the restriction protrusion 42 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 44 projecting from the female connector 2. The structure in which the support shaft 44 is fitted into the fitting hole 35 so as to be rotatable and freely movable along the major axis direction in a state where the restriction protrusion 42 is fitted into the cutout portion 45. Has become.

In such a structure, the rotation of the support shaft 44 in the clockwise direction is caused by the notch surface 45a on the left side of the support shaft 44 hitting the slope on the left side of the restriction projection 42, and also in the counterclockwise direction. The rotation is restricted by the right cutout surface 45b of the support shaft 44 hitting the right slope of the restriction protrusion 42. As a result, the female connector 2 has the side 24a on the base end side of the leg piece 24 of the lever 3 as shown by the solid line in FIG.
Between the rotation posture in parallel with the rotation posture and the rotation posture in parallel with the side 24b on the swinging end side of the leg piece 24, that is, the male and female connectors 1 and 2 are projected. The female connector 2 can be rotated only in the range in which the lever 3 must relatively rotate between the mating and the complete fitting. The effect is similar to that of the first embodiment.

<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. In addition to the above, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

(1) Insertion groove 36 for laterally fitting the support shaft 32 of the female connector 2 into the fitting hole 35 of the lever 3.
On the contrary to the above-mentioned embodiment, it is possible to form by opening at the upper side edge of the leg piece 24. (2) Which of the male and female connectors 1 and 2 is supported by the lever 3 is arbitrary.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway exploded front view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing details of a shape near a fitting hole.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing details of a fitting portion between a fitting hole and a support shaft.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a state in which a female connector is supported by a lever and one rotation restricting posture is taken.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a state in which a lever is pivotally supported by a male connector.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a state in which male and female connectors are butted.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state immediately before complete fitting of both connectors.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a state in which both connectors are completely fitted.

FIG. 10 is an exploded front view of the female connector in the other rotation restricting posture.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view showing the structure of the rotation restricting portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a rotation restriction range of the female connector.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a lever according to a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state where a female connector is supported by a lever.

FIG. 15 is a front view of a state in which a lever is pivotally supported on a male connector.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which both connectors are fitted together.

FIG. 17 is a front view of the female connector in a rotated state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Male connector 2 ... Female connector 3 ... Lever 12 ... Bearing hole 25 ... Oscillation shaft 32 ... Support shaft 33 ... Head part (rotation regulation part) 35 ... Fitting hole 35b ... Opening corner part 36 ... Insertion groove 40a, 40b ... Abutting wall (rotation restricting portion) 42 ... Restricting protrusion (rotation restricting portion) 44 ... Support shafts 45a, 45b ... Notched surface (rotation restricting portion)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A male or female connector is rotatably supported on a lever by fitting a support shaft projecting on a side surface of the connector into a fitting hole provided at an intermediate position of the lever. A lever-type connector in which one end of a lever is swingably supported on a corresponding end portion of the other connector, and the two connectors are engaged and disengaged by swinging the lever, Rotation that restricts the rotation range of the connector on the lever to the shaft and the fitting hole within the rotation range required from the abutting of the both connectors to the complete fitting A lever-type connector that is provided with a regulating portion. 2. An insertion groove for laterally inserting a support shaft of the connector is opened in a fitting hole of the lever toward a side edge of the lever, and at the time of fitting or releasing operation by the lever, One of the opening corners of the fitting hole with respect to the insertion groove presses the support shaft to disengage or fit the two connectors, and the insertion groove applies a pressing force to the support shaft. 2. The lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the opening position is set so that the opening corner on the side to be actuated has a sufficient catching margin to prevent the support shaft from coming off.