JPS6220670B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a connector comprising opposing female and male housing bodies containing electrical connectors,
The locking mechanism that secures the bonded state has been improved.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional locking mechanism of this type has a locking protrusion c on the outer peripheral surface a of the male housing A.
and a locking arm b extending in the axial direction, and the locking arm b is fitted into a fitting chamber f connected to the housing part e of the female housing B, and the locking arm b is fitted into the locking hole g. A structure in which a locking protrusion c is engaged with the locking projection c has been proposed.

However, according to the above configuration, even if the male and female housings A and B are not fully engaged due to insufficient fitting, the internal electrical connector (not shown)
There is a risk that the abnormality will not be detected and overlooked by a normal energization test. Furthermore, since the locking arm b is formed on the outer circumferential surface a of the housing, it is easily subjected to external forces, and if an electric wire or the like enters between the photo d and the outer circumferential surface a and is pulled, the locking arm may be damaged or the housing may be damaged. There was a malfunction that caused the unit to detach.

The present invention has been made with attention to the above points, and by providing an elastic locking arm corresponding to the locking arm in the sleeve of the female housing,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism for a connector which is not affected by external force and can securely connect female and male housings.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the female and male housings separated. In the figure, C is a male housing integrally molded from a synthetic resin material, and a plurality of accommodation chambers 1 for electrical connectors are provided inside.

On the upper and lower outer peripheral surfaces 2, 2 of this housing C,
A pair of locking protrusions 3, 3 are provided respectively in parallel with the axis. The locking protrusion 3 is chevron-shaped, and has a front inclined portion 3a and a rear inclined portion 3b formed at the front and rear.

Reference numeral D designates a female housing made of synthetic resin material, and a housing chamber (not shown) corresponding to the housing chamber 1 is provided in the rear half of the housing.

The housing portion 4 in the front half of the housing D is further provided with fitting frames 5, 5 extending continuously from the lower peripheral walls 4a, 4a and allowing the locking protrusions 3, 3 to enter therein. That is, the width h of the fitting frame 5 is larger than the width h' between the outer surfaces of the locking protrusions 3, and the height i
is sufficiently larger than the height i' of the locking protrusion 3, and an opening 5a is provided at the rear to facilitate molding and die cutting.

The frame bottom 5b of the fitting frame 5 is provided with an elastic locking arm 6 that engages with the locking protrusion 3 in the axial direction.

This elastic locking arm 6 has a wide front descending slope piece 6.
a, and a narrow rear descending support piece 6b connected to the rear end of the piece 6a, and the intermediate part between the pieces 6a and 6b is bent inward (to the side opposite to the frame bottom 5b), and both ends are bent. is fixed to the frame bottom 5b so that the intermediate portion is elastically displaced toward the frame bottom 5b.
Further, the width j of the front descending inclined piece 6a is approximately equal to the width h' between the outer surfaces of the locking protrusions 3, 3, and the width k of the rear descending support piece 6b is equal to the distance k between the locking protrusions 3, 3. ′. Note that 6c is the molding of the elastic locking arm 6;
This is a hole for die cutting.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

First, when the male housing C is inserted into the female housing D, the locking protrusions 3, 3 abut the forward downwardly inclined pieces 6a of the elastic locking arms 6 and enter into the fitting frame 5.

At this time, the middle part of the elastic locking arm 6 is displaced toward the frame bottom 5b by the locking protrusion 3, and the apex O of the locking protrusion 3 is in contact with the bending point O' of the elastic locking arm 6. The amount of displacement is maximum at . (Fig. 3A) Therefore, since the elastic return force of the elastic locking arm 6 acts in the opposite direction to the insertion direction of the housings C and D,
While the apex O of the locking protrusion 3 is in abutment with the forward downwardly inclined piece 6a, the housings C and D are always subjected to force in the direction of separating from each other.

Therefore, as shown in Figure 3 A, the apex O and the bending point
If the female and male electrical connectors E and F installed in the housings C and D are positioned in such a way that they start contacting each other at the position where the housings C and D come into contact with each other, it is possible to It is possible to prevent electrical connection from being made in the fitted state.

Next, when the male housing C is further pressed and the apex O crosses the bending point O', the rear descending support piece 6b enters between the locking protrusions 3, 3, the elastic locking arm 6 returns, and the housing C and D are locked,
Electrical connectors E and F are in complete contact. (Fig. 3 B) When disassociating the housings C and D, if both are pulled out, the engagement between the rear inclined portion 3b of the locking protrusion 3 and the forward descending slope piece 6a of the elastic locking arm 6 can be avoided. Due to this, the elastic locking arm 6 is bent toward the frame bottom 5b,
easily achieved.

The above has described an example in which the rear end of the rear descending support piece 6b of the elastic locking arm 6 is fixed to the frame bottom 5b.
The free end _6b1 may be used without being fixed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the free end _6b1 of the rear descending support piece 6b slides back to the frame bottom 5b and the elastic locking arm 6 is bent, so that the locking operation of the housings C and D is not possible. It becomes easier. Further, after the fitting, the elastic locking arm 6 returns to the rear in the same manner as described above.

5 and 6 show other embodiments of the locking protrusion and the resilient locking arm.

In FIG. 5, one locking protrusion 3' is provided on the upper and lower outer circumferential surfaces 2, 2 of the male housing C, respectively, in parallel with the axis, and on the frame bottom 5b of the fitting frame 5 of the female housing D. , an elastic locking arm 6' having a uniform width is provided. This elastic locking arm 6' is
As before (see Figure 2), the front descending slope piece 6
a' and a rear descending support piece 6b', and the support piece 6b' has a locking hole 6d for the locking protrusion 3'.
has been drilled. Note that 5c is a hole for punching out a locking hole 6d formed in the frame bottom 2b.

In this case, locking between the housings C and D is achieved by fitting the locking protrusion 3' into the locking hole 6d of the elastic locking arm 6', which makes the locking more reliable. In addition, only one locking protrusion 3' is required, and the structure of the elastic locking arm 6' can be strengthened.

In FIG. 6, an elastic locking arm 6'' is provided substantially parallel to the frame bottom 5b via an inclined rising base 6e at the front end, and a locking hole 6d' is bored for the locking projection 3'. .This elastic locking arm 6'' and the frame bottom 5b
The distance 1 between the locking projection 3' and the locking projection 3' is approximately the same as the height of the locking projection 3'. Note that 5c' is a punched hole for the locking hole 6d'.

In this case as well, in addition to achieving the same effects as described above, the structure of the elastic locking arm 6'' is simple and manufacturing becomes easier.

In the above example, the locking protrusions 3, 3', elastic locking arms 6, etc. are provided on both the inner and outer surfaces of the housing. There is no problem in setting it up.

As described above, the present invention provides a connector for fitting a pair of opposing female and male housings to electrically connect electrical connectors housed in each housing, including: An elastic locking arm that is fixed at least at the front end and is displaced toward the inner wall of the housing when locked, and a locking protrusion that engages with the elastic locking arm is provided on the outer periphery of the male housing. Therefore, since the elastic locking arm is built into the housing and is not affected by external force, the female and male housings can be reliably held together. Since the male housing is disposed so as to be displaced toward the inner wall when locked in a fixed state, it is easy to insert the male housing into the housing, and the space inside the housing can be effectively used to improve elasticity. It has the feature that the locking arm can be displaced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional example, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in a separated state, Fig. 3 A and B are partial vertical sectional views showing its operating state, and Fig. 4 6 to 6 are explanatory diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. C...male housing, D...female housing,
3, 3'... Locking protrusion, 4... Mantle body part, 6, 6',
6″...Elastic locking arm.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a connector that engages a pair of opposing female and male housings to electrically connect electrical connectors housed in each housing, at least the front end is fixed and locked to the inner wall of the sleeve of the female housing. A lock for a connector characterized in that an elastic locking arm is provided that is displaced toward the inner wall of the housing portion, and a locking protrusion that engages with the elastic locking arm is provided on the outer periphery of the male housing. mechanism.