JP3033786B2 - Connector housing with latch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector housing with a latch mechanism, and more particularly to a connector housing having a latch mechanism for removably latching a pair of connector housings which can be inserted and removed from each other.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Connectors are often provided with a releasable latch mechanism to prevent the contacts of a pair of mating connectors from remaining partially mated and incomplete. Like that. The latch mechanism is a resilient latch arm integrally molded to extend along the fitting axis of the first housing, and has an inclined surface. . When the two housings are moved in the fitting direction, the inclined surface of the second housing causes the latch arm to gradually elastically deform at first, thereby generating a force against the fitting. When further fitting, the latch arm is pulled in the latch direction over the top of the inclined surface, and the latch surfaces of both housings are latched.

If an operator erroneously presses both housings to an incompletely fitted state, if the force is released at this point, the elasticity of the latch arm causes the two housings to separate (repel each other), and as a result, the two housings The half-fitted or partially-fitted state is effectively prevented. A second inclined surface is provided behind the apex of the first inclined surface, and the connector housings are inclined in opposite directions to attract the connector housings to each other in the fitting direction. It is also possible to provide a vector component of the force that assists in moving to.

An example of such a conventional connector is disclosed in US Pat.
It is disclosed in 5,527. According to this patent, a pair of latch arms extend rearwardly and are integrally molded into the housing, spaced apart and parallel to the rear. A lug having an inclined surface and a rearward catching surface rising from the arm near the inclined surface is formed on the opposite surface of the intermediate portion between both latch arms. When such a housing is fitted with a mating housing, when the two housings are gradually moved in the fitting direction, the latch arm is firstly engaged with the inclined surface of the second housing and elastically bent toward the housing. , Against movement in the fitting direction. However, when the engagement exceeds a predetermined position, i.e., beyond the apex of the ramp, the lugs engage the catch surfaces of the second housing and latch the two housings together.

In this example, the rear ends of the latch arms are integrally connected to the two latch arms by a column extending in a direction perpendicular to the latch arms, and the two latch arms warp like a beam spring fixed at both ends to apply a force. To the maximum. Thereby, the fitting is initially resisted, but thereafter the fitting is supported.

A structural disadvantage of this conventional connector housing is that when the rear end of the latch arm is pushed by hand toward the housing body, the lug disengages from the catch surface of the second housing, and when the tension is applied. The two housings are disconnected. Again, the column of the latch arm acts as a beam spring during the uncoupling operation, so that it is necessary to overcome substantially the same force that resisted or assisted the fit. This makes it very difficult to remove both housings manually. That is,
The removal force is at least as large as the fitting force.

[0007] The specification of Italian Patent Application No. 21786A / 88 discloses an effort to obtain a latching mechanism which reduces the withdrawal force.

According to this patent application, a contact means integrally formed on one of the housings is provided. The abutment means is aligned with the rear end of the latch arm in the lateral (perpendicular) direction during the fitting operation. This prevents mutual lateral movement. At the time of removal, the rear ends of the latch arms are deflected from each other by the engagement means being disengaged from the lateral alignment and the inclination of the second housing portion.

Therefore, the latch arm acts as a doubly supported beam at the front and rear ends only when the connector is fitted, and acts as a simple cantilever beam supported only at the front or rear end when the connector is unplugged. I do. As a result, the force required to flex the latch arm during removal can be significantly reduced, to an acceptable level compared to the force required during mating.

However, even with the connector housing with a latch mechanism proposed in this patent application, it is not possible to obtain a sufficiently effective prevention of half-fitting and an improvement in the removal operation. Therefore,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel connector housing with a latch function which can prevent a half-fitting and further improve the removal operation.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A connector housing with a latch mechanism according to the present invention is provided with a resiliently attached first and second connector housing for removably latching the first and second connector housings with each other. And a latch mechanism formed on the second connector housing and engaging with the latch member. The latch member comprises a pair of elastic latches that face forward in the fitting direction. Arm and
A projection provided outside the distal end of the latch arm; and an operation unit provided behind the latch arm, wherein the latch means is provided on both sides of a partition wall that enters between the pair of latch arms. A pair of first cam members formed divergently along the fitting direction, and a pair of second cam members protruding inward from a side wall of the second connector housing;
When the first and second connector housings are fitted together, the projections engage with the lower surface of the second cam member, thereby bending the pair of latch arms downward to cause the pair of latch arms to be bent. When the operating portion is depressed at the time of disengagement of the first and second connector housings, the protrusion is engaged with the pair of first cam members and is expanded, so that the protrusion is on the opposite side of the lower surface. Engaging with the inclined surface of the second cam member deflects the pair of latch arms upward to avoid engagement with the pair of latch arms and the pair of first cam members. Features.

The present invention provides, among other things, a latch mechanism for securing a mating housing of an electrical connector, the connector comprising a central support disposed laterally on one of the housings, for example, on the top surface, and an axially extending portion therefrom. It has a top member that extends to both. The support portion and the top member are integrally molded on a housing surface with a dielectric material such as plastic. The dielectric material is relatively rigid, but the front and rear extensions of the top member are flexible enough to be pivotable about a central support.

The forward extension of the top member, ie, the portion extending toward the mating second housing, is a pair of substantially parallel latch arms, the front ends of which are inward and the Produces a narrow opening at the bottom. Further, at each front end, a protruding projection is formed. Further, a C-shaped metal spring member is provided to support the top member, and performs a latching action.

A mating second housing is provided along its surface with a latching cavity or chamber, into which the forward extension of the top member is inserted. The chamber has an upstanding central bulkhead, which is provided with a flared ramp which, when engaged with both housings, serves to widen the latch arm spacing. Further, an inwardly extending inclined surface is provided along the inner wall of the chamber. When both housings are engaged, the latch arm acts to ride up the flared sloping surface and gradually widen the gap. At the same time, the upstanding projection of this portion rides up along the lower surface of the inwardly extending inclined portion, and the front extension, ie, the latch arm of the top member, is bent downward by the engagement of the first and second housings.

The removal force is reduced by the cooperation of these elements. As a result, the latch arm rides on the upper surface of the inwardly extending inclined surface and prevents the rising central portion from entering the chamber. The operation and effect that the fitting force is large and the removal force is small will be apparent from the detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings below.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention described below relates to a latch mechanism used to secure a pair of interfitting housings. An electrical connector of the type to which the present invention relates generally comprises a pair of mating housings, each housing including electrical contacts for mating contact with complementary contacts of the other housing. Such contacts are mounted and secured within terminal cavities of the housing. Further, when vibration or impact is applied, there is a possibility that the connector may be disengaged and eventually the circuit may be interrupted, so that a means for fixing the mating housings is usually taken. . Since the present invention is to provide a novel latch mechanism, since a plurality of cavities and contacts mounted inside the cavities are all well known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

First, a description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows a latch mechanism, in which a first latch member 10 and a complementary fitting element 12 are shown. The first latch member 10 and the fitting element 12 are mounted on a complementary fitting housing. A flat C-shaped metal spring member 14 is disassembled from the first latch member 10. The function of the spring member 14 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

The first latch member 10 has a laterally disposed central support member or pedestal 20 and a top member 22.
The top member 22 is a pair of parallel and forward facing latch arms 24.
And a rib-facing portion 26 facing rearward. The latch member 10 including its components is integrally molded with the first housing (H1), and all of them are formed of a relatively hard dielectric material such as plastic.

Each forward facing latch arm 24 is characterized by including an end projection 30 having a tapered slope 32 at a front end 34 thereof. Further, these projections 30 project outward from the side surfaces 35, as is apparent from FIG. As best shown in FIG. 1, the front ends 34 converge toward each other, forming a narrow opening 36 therebetween. Finally, a continuous slot 38 is formed from the front end of one latch arm 24 to the front end of the other latch arm. A C-shaped, preferably flat, sheet metal spring 14 is inserted into this slot 38. This is shown exploded in FIG. 1 and shown in plan view in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the open end 42 is tapered inward and is fixed at a predetermined position with respect to the latch member 10. It will be apparent from the following description that the purpose of the metal spring 14 is to support the latch member 10 during mating and unmating.

Returning to FIG. 1, the rearward ribbed portion 26 is separated from the latch arm 24 by a partition plate 50. At the time of the removing operation shown in FIG. 4C, the rib portion 26 is pushed down, and the already fitted housing is removed (unfitting). In order to prevent the latch mechanism 10 from being unduly bent to the breaking point, a stopper 54 may be provided below the rib portion 26. The distance between the rib 26 and the stopper 54 is within the elastic limit of the latch mechanism 10 and is sufficient to allow the latch arm 24 to be lifted and released for removal. This operation will be described later.

The normal fitting of the housing is the latch arm 24
Is fixed to the complementary fitting element 12. The mating element 12 includes a pair of side walls 62, preferably a rear wall and an upper wall 6.
4, having a housing cavity 60 formed by 66. The cavity 60 is divided into two parts by a central partition wall 68. In this regard, a taper 70 is provided in the fitting direction as more clearly shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. Furthermore,
The central partition wall 68 is formed with a pair of inclined surfaces (first cam members) 72 diverging in the fitting direction so as to end with a lateral wall surface 74. An inclined projection (second cam member) 76 facing each side wall 62 is formed to protrude inward. Each inclined projection
76 has an upper slope 78, a front lower surface 80 and a rear lower surface 82.
In cross section, the inclined projection 76 has a substantially inverted triangular shape in the axial direction, that is, in the fitting direction.

The operation will be described. With the spring 14 secured within the slot 38, the first latch member 10 is moved toward the complementary mating element 12 (see FIG. 4A). First, the inclined surface of the end projection 30
32 contacts and rides along the front lower surface 80. This causes the latch arm 24 to bend downward. Immediately thereafter, the latch arm 24 is splayed with the opening
And expands to the maximum angle indicated by point E in FIG. 5A.
At the point of maximum bending of the latch arm 24, considerable elastic energy is stored there. When the latch arm 24 exceeds point G, the stored energy is released to support the complete and final engagement of the latch mechanism 10. Latch arm
Simultaneously with the expansion or bending of 24, the end projections 30 continue to contact and slide with the rear lower surface 82 through the junction of the front and rear lower surfaces 80,82. At this point, latch arm 24 begins to bend upward.

FIG. 4B shows the fixed or latched position. Here, the latch arm 24 passes through the lateral wall 24 and returns to a normal position without bending. The end projection 32 is opposed to the inclined projection 76
Pass through. In summary, this mating action is
Large enough force is needed to overcome the downward and outward bending of 24.

As shown in FIG. 4C, in order to release the fitting, that is, to remove the fitting, the rib portion 26 is pushed down with a finger or the like. As a result, the latch arm 24 moves upward due to the turning operation around the pedestal 20. This action raises the latch arm 24 above the lateral wall 74 so as to avoid contact of the latch arm 24 with the inclined surface 72. When the first latch member 10 is pulled in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4C, the protrusion 30 protruding from the side surface 35 rides on the upper inclined surface 78. If you continue to pull further, the extension will ride upward, and the latch arm 24
Bend upward until released from 76. In summary, the withdrawal force is the force required to overcome the resistance of the latch arm 24 to bend upwards, which is less than the force that engages the latch member.

[0025]

As is evident from the above description, the connector housing with the latch mechanism of the present invention, when fitted (inserted), causes the pair of latch arms to be mutually opened and closed by the cam surface and pushed down to be fully fitted to the predetermined position. As long as they do not fit, a repulsion force against the fitting is generated to prevent a half (or incomplete) fitting. Further, at the time of disengagement (removal), the latch arm is passed through a different path from that at the time of engagement, so that the operation is relatively easy. Therefore, the present invention is particularly suitable for a connector used in an environment where large vibration and impact are applied, such as a vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a latch mechanism according to the present invention for use with a pair of mating connector housings.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one connector housing that includes a portion of the latch mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the latch arm of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a metal spring member used for reinforcing the latch arm of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1A.

4A to 4C are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation process of the latch mechanism of FIG. 1;

5A and 5B are top views of the latch mechanism corresponding to FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Latch member 12 Fitting element (latch means) 24 Latch arm 26 Rib (operation part) 30 Projection 62 Side wall 68 Partition wall 72 Inclined surface (first cam member) 76 Inclined protrusion (second cam member) 78 Upper slope (inclined) Surface) 80 bottom surface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References Japanese Utility Model Hei 1-166977 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 1-1111480 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 13/639

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] The first and second connector housings mating with each other are detachably latched to each other.
In a connector housing having a latch mechanism formed of a latch member elastically formed on a connector housing and latch means formed on the second connector housing and engaging with the latch member, the latch member faces forward in the fitting direction. A pair of resilient latch arms, a projection provided outside the distal end of the latch arm, and an operation unit provided rearward of the latch arm, wherein the latch means is provided between the pair of latch arms. A pair of first cam members formed on both sides of the partition wall that enters into the housing along the fitting direction, and a pair of second cam members protruding inward from the side wall of the second connector housing. When the first and second connector housings are fitted together, the projections engage with the lower surface of the second cam member, thereby causing the pair of latch arms to engage with each other. When the operating portion is depressed when the pair of latch arms are engaged with the pair of first cam members and expanded, and the first and second connector housings are disengaged from each other, By engaging the protrusion with the inclined surface of the second cam member opposite to the lower surface,
A connector housing with a latch mechanism, wherein the pair of latch arms is bent upward to avoid engagement with the pair of latch arms and the pair of first cam members.