JP3739128B2 - Connector holding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector holding mechanism for holding a connector movably on a dash panel or the like of an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when an assembly such as an instrument panel is assembled to an assembly such as a dash panel of an automobile, it is necessary to connect the connectors attached to each other. Connectors may be attached to the assembly or assembly with errors, so it is difficult to automatically connect the connectors during assembly. Manual work is common.
[0003]
Therefore, in order to improve the troublesome task of manual operation, the present applicant has filed an application for a connector holding mechanism that automatically couples connectors when the assembly is assembled to the assembly. In this connector holding mechanism, as shown in FIG. 7, the connector 1 is attached to the panel 2 via a holder 3, and the connector main body 1 a is movable up and down and left and right by the four flexible holding pieces 3 a of the holder 3. The flange portion 1b of the connector 1 is held so as to be movable back and forth in the gap 4 between the panel 2 and the flange portion 3b of the holder 3.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the connector holding mechanism according to this application has an advantage that it can be easily coupled with a mating connector (not shown) while moving up and down, left and right, and back and forth. There is a possibility that the connector 1 moves back and forth and becomes rattled. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, when a connection terminal (not shown) connected to the wire harness W is accommodated in the connector 1, the connector 1 is inclined by the weight of the wire harness W, and the neutral position of the connector 1 is moved. There is a possibility that the front end of the connector 1 may exceed the allowable range of mounting errors.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a connector holding mechanism that can be held in a neutral position without rattling the connector.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Connector holding mechanism according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the present connector for coupling with a mating connector located in front, a connector holding mechanism for holding via the holder to the panel, the mating connector and In a state before the coupling, the flexible holding piece at the rear part of the holder and having a base part on the holder holds the rear part of the main connector movably up and down, right and left, and back and forth with respect to the holder. The front connector is prevented from being pulled out forward, a flange portion provided at an intermediate portion of the main connector is brought into contact with the back surface of the panel, and a front portion of the main connector is protruded forward from a connector insertion hole of the panel. a biasing means between said holder is provided, while maintaining the present connector using the attachment piece provided on said holder to said panel and said By the biasing means of the connector, characterized in that biases the mating connector.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment, and shows a state in which a connector 12 is attached to a dash panel 11 of an automobile via a holder 13, for example. The panel 11 is provided with a connector insertion hole 11a for allowing the connector 12 to be inserted in the vertical and horizontal directions with a margin, and a plurality of holder mounting holes 11b for attaching the holder 13.
[0008]
As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2, the connector 12 includes a connector main body 12a that accommodates a connection terminal (not shown) to which the wire harness W is connected. The flange portion 12b is provided with recesses 12c around the top, bottom, left, and right of the flange portion 12b. And 12 d of latching protrusions are provided in the rear end of the connector main body 12a, for example in four places up and down, right and left.
[0009]
On the other hand, the holder 13 has a frame-shaped holder main body 21, and the inside of the holder main body 21 has a connector insertion hole 22. At the top, bottom, left, and right of the holder body 21, mounting pieces 23 that are inserted into the holder mounting holes 11b of the panel 11 are integrally projected toward the front. On both side edges of the mounting piece 23, there are formed restricting projections 23a that abut the surface of the panel 11 and restrict the forward movement of the holder 13, and the front portion of the mounting piece 23 passes through the holder mounting hole 11b. Locking projections 23b that are locked to the back surface of the panel 11 and prevent the mounting pieces 23 from coming out of the mounting holes 11b are formed.
[0010]
In addition, on the top, bottom, left, and right of the rear surface of the holder body 21, flexible holding pieces 24 that protrude obliquely inward and hold the connector body 12a are provided. The rear end portion of the flexible holding piece 24 is a contact portion 24 a that contacts the connector main body 12 a substantially in parallel. The rear end of the contact portion 24 a is locked to the locking protrusion 12 d of the connector 12. Is prevented from coming out of the holder 13. Further, two mounting pins 25 are provided on the front surface of the holder body 21, for example, two above and below, and a leaf spring 26 for urging the connector 12 forward is attached to the holder 13 via the mounting pins 25. Yes.
[0011]
As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, the plate spring 26 is, for example, a metal plate, has a pin insertion hole 26a for inserting the mounting pin 25, which abuts against the base portion 26b on the front of the holder body 21, the base portion An inclined portion 26c that extends obliquely forward from both ends of 26b and can be bent forward and backward, and a connector abutting portion 26d that extends substantially parallel to the base portion 26b from the end of the inclined portion 26c and contacts the flange portion 12b of the connector 12 And has. The leaf spring 26 is fixed to the holder 13 by melting the mounting pin 25 protruding from the pin insertion hole 26a.
[0012]
When the connector 12 is held by the holder 13 having the leaf spring 26, the rear portion of the connector main body 12 a is pushed between the flexible holding pieces 24 of the holder 13. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4, the up / down / left / right flexible holding pieces 24 hold the connector main body 12a so as to be movable in the up / down / left / right and front / rear directions, and the leaf spring 26 urges the flange portion 12b forward. At this time, the end portion of the flexible holding piece 24 of the holder 13 is locked to the locking protrusion 12d of the connector 12, and the connector 12 is prevented from coming out of the holder 13 forward.
[0013]
Next, when attaching the holder 13 holding the connector 12 to the panel 11, all the attachment pieces 23 of the holder 13 are pushed into the holder attachment holes 11 b of the panel 11. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 5, the restricting protrusion 23 a of the mounting piece 23 abuts on the surface of the panel 11, and the engaging protrusion 23 b is engaged with the back surface of the panel 11. At this time, the panel 11 presses the flange portion 12 b of the connector 12, the connector 12 slightly moves backward against the urging force of the leaf spring 26, and the flange portion 12 b deforms the leaf spring 26. As a result, the holder 13 holds the connector 12 on the panel 11 so as to be movable up and down, right and left, and rearward, and urges the connector 12 toward the panel 11 by the leaf spring 26 to prevent rattling.
[0014]
Further, even when the connection terminal with the wire harness W is accommodated in the connector 12, since the leaf spring 26 biases the flange portion 12 b of the connector 12, the connector 12 does not tilt. Accordingly, since the holder 13 holds the connector 12 at a neutral position within an allowable range of attachment error, the connector 12 can be easily coupled while changing its posture following the insertion direction of the mating connector (not shown).
[0015]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the holder 31 of the second embodiment. A flexible arm 33 having a spring property instead of the leaf spring 26 of the first embodiment is integrally formed above and below the rear surface of the holder body 32. Is provided. The flexible arm 33 is provided with a base portion 33a, an inclined portion 33b, and a connector contact portion 33c corresponding to the base portion 26b, the inclined portion 26c, and the connector contact portion 26d of the leaf spring 26, respectively.
[0016]
The second embodiment can reduce the manufacturing cost of the leaf spring 26 and the work cost for attaching the leaf spring 26 in the first embodiment, and also has the same effect as the first embodiment. Obtainable.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the connector holding mechanism according to the present invention holds the connector movably by the flexible holding piece having the base portion on the holder, so that the posture of the connector is made to follow the insertion direction of the mating connector. Can be changed. Also, since the holder is provided with a biasing means for biasing the connector in the coupling direction, and the flexible holding piece prevents the connector from coming out forward, the rattling of the connector before coupling with the mating connector is prevented. And tilting can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector and a holder.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a holder and a leaf spring.
FIG. 4 is a plan view in which a connector is held by a holder.
FIG. 5 is a plan view in which a holder is attached to a panel.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a conventional example.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Panel 12 Connector 13, 31 Holder 23 Mounting piece 24 Flexible holding piece 26 Leaf spring 33 Flexible arm

Claims (2)

A connector holding mechanism for holding the connector, which is coupled to the mating connector located in the front, to the panel via the holder, in a state before being coupled to the mating connector, at the rear portion of the holder and to the holder A flexible holding piece having a base part holds the rear part of the main connector movably up and down, left and right and front and rear with respect to the holder and prevents the main connector from coming out forward, and is provided at an intermediate part of the main connector. The flange portion is in contact with the back surface of the panel, the front portion of the main connector protrudes forward from the connector insertion hole of the panel, and biasing means is provided between the main connector and the holder, and the holder is attached to the panel. The main connector is directed toward the mating connector by the biasing means in a state where the main connector is held using the mounting piece provided on Connector holding mechanism, characterized in that the energizing.   The connector holding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the biasing means is a metal spring.

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