Interlocking connector

Abstract

To reduce the size of a body.SOLUTION: A connector includes a plurality of housings 10, each having terminal accommodating chambers 12 for accommodating terminal fittings, arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the connector fitting direction, and a pair of clamping members 20 for clamping the plurality of housings 10 arranged in the arrangement direction in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the connector fitting direction, the housing 10 is provided with a first fitting portion 13 for fitting and connecting one of the clamping members 20, and a second fitting portion 14 for fitting and connecting the other clamping member 20, one of the clamping members 20 is provided with a first fitted portion 21A formed for each of the plurality of housings 10 arranged in the arrangement direction and with which the first fitting portion 13 is fitted and connected, and the other clamping member 20 is provided with a second fitted portion 21B formed for each of the plurality of housings 10 arranged in the arrangement direction and with which the second fitting portion 14 is fitted and connected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an interlocking connector. [Background technology]

[0002] A linked connector is a connector formed by connecting multiple housings together to form a single connector component. For example, two adjacent housings to be connected have a protrusion protruding from the connecting surface and a recess recessed into the connecting surface on the respective joint surfaces of the housing main bodies in which terminal accommodating chambers and the like are formed. In the linked connector, the two adjacent housings are connected together by sliding the protrusion of one housing into the recess of the other housing and sliding the protrusion of the other housing into the recess of the first housing. This type of linked connector is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-81847 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional interlocking connectors, the recesses and protrusions must be arranged in the housing body without affecting the internal structure of the housing body, such as the terminal accommodating chambers, and in order to secure the arrangement space for the recesses and protrusions, the housing body is expanded toward the mating housing to be connected. As a result, the size of the conventional interlocking connector becomes large in the direction in which the multiple housings are arranged.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector that can be made smaller in size in the direction in which a plurality of housings are arranged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a plurality of housings, each having a terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a terminal fitting, arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to a connector fitting direction, and a pair of clamping members for clamping the plurality of housings arranged in the arrangement direction in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the connector fitting direction, wherein the housings are provided with a first fitting portion for fitting and connecting one of the clamping members, and a second fitting portion for fitting and connecting the other of the clamping members, and one of the clamping members is provided with a first fitted portion formed for each of the plurality of housings arranged in the arrangement direction and with which the first fitting portion is fitted and connected, and the other clamping member is provided with a second fitted portion formed for each of the plurality of housings arranged in the arrangement direction and with which the second fitting portion is fitted and connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The connector of the present invention employs a coupling and holding structure in which the multiple housings are sandwiched between a pair of clamping members in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the connector mating direction, and does not have a coupling and holding structure in the arrangement direction to maintain the connection of the multiple housings as in the conventional connectors. Therefore, when viewed in the arrangement direction of the multiple housings, the connector of the present invention can be made smaller in size than conventional connectors. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mating connector according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the interlocking connector (excluding the lever member). [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the interlocking connector (excluding the lever member). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling connector (excluding the lever member) as viewed from a different angle. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the housing to be connected. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the lever member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a connector according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of the interlocking connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in Figures 1 to 4 indicates a connecting connector of this embodiment. This connecting connector 1 includes a plurality of housings 10 and a pair of clamping members 20 that sandwich and hold the housings 10 so as to line up and connect them (Figures 1 to 4). Furthermore, this connecting connector 1 includes a plurality of terminal-attached electric wires (not shown), each having a terminal fitting connected to an end of the electric wire. This connecting connector 1 connects each of the plurality of terminal fittings included in itself to the mating terminal fitting by mating and connecting the arranged plurality of housings 10 to the mating housing of a mating connector (not shown). The housings 10 and the clamping members 20 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0012] The housing 10 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The housing 10 has a housing main body 11 (FIGS. 1 to 5). The housing main body 11 is formed with one or more terminal accommodating chambers 12 for accommodating terminal fittings (FIGS. 1 to 5), and each of the terminal accommodating chambers 12 accommodates a terminal fitting.

[0013] In this housing 10, the terminal accommodating chamber 12 is formed linearly with both ends open on a single axis. In this housing 10, a mating terminal fitting inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 12 through the opening at one end is mated with and connected to the terminal fitting inside the chamber. In this housing 10, an electric wire is drawn out from the opening at the other end of the terminal accommodating chamber 12. The axial direction of the terminal accommodating chamber 12 of the housing 10 is the mating direction with the mating connector (hereinafter referred to as the "connector mating direction"). Multiple housings 10 are arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the connector mating direction (FIGS. 1 to 5).

[0014] In the following description, when the term "arrangement direction" is simply used, it refers to the arrangement direction of the plurality of housings 10.

[0015] In this interlocking connector 1, all of the multiple housings 10 may be the same part. Also, in this interlocking connector 1, the multiple housings 10 may include differently shaped parts for the terminal accommodating chambers 12. However, in this example, regardless of whether all of the housings 10 are the same part or whether multiple housings 10 include differently shaped parts, the outer shape of the housing main body 11 of all of the housings 10 is made to be the same shape.

[0016] The housing body 11 shown here is formed in a rectangular shape, and openings at both ends of the terminal accommodating chambers 12 are formed in two opposing parallel planes (FIGS. 1 to 5). Two housings 10 adjacent in the arrangement direction of the interlocking connector 1 shown here are arranged so that the different planes of the respective housing bodies 11 arranged opposite each other in the arrangement direction abut each other.

[0017] Specifically, this exemplary interlocking connector 1 has seven housings 10, which are made up of four differently shaped parts (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, and fourth housing 10D) (Figures 1 to 5).

[0018] In the first housing 10A, nine terminal accommodating chambers 12a of the same shape are arranged in a mesh of three rows and three columns (FIGS. 1 to 5). For ease of explanation, the direction in which the multiple housings 10 are arranged is referred to as a "row." In the second housing 10B, one terminal accommodating chamber 12b is arranged (FIGS. 1 to 5). In the third housing 10C, six terminal accommodating chambers 12a of the same shape are arranged in a mesh of three rows and two columns, and two terminal accommodating chambers 12c of the same shape are arranged in two rows and one column in the column direction (FIGS. 1 to 5). In the fourth housing 10D, two sets of two terminal accommodating chambers 12c of the same shape are arranged in two rows and one column in the column direction, with a cavity between them (FIGS. 2 to 5).

[0019] The clamping members 20 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The pair of clamping members 20 clamps the multiple housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D) arranged in the arrangement direction in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the connector fitting direction (FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0020] In this interlocking connector 1, a plurality of housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D) arranged in an arrangement direction are clamped by a pair of clamping members 20, and the pair of clamping members 20 is fitted and connected to each of the plurality of housings 10, thereby clamping the plurality of housings 10 with the pair of clamping members 20 while maintaining the arrangement.

[0021] Therefore, the housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D) are provided with a first fitting portion 13 into which one clamping member 20 is fitted and connected, and a second fitting portion 14 into which the other clamping member 20 is fitted and connected (FIGS. 3 to 5). One clamping member 20 is provided with a first fitted portion 21A formed for each of the housings 10 aligned in the arrangement direction and into which the first fitting portion 13 is fitted and connected (FIG. 4). The other clamping member 20 is provided with a second fitted portion 21B formed for each of the housings 10 aligned in the arrangement direction and into which the second fitting portion 14 is fitted and connected (FIG. 3).

[0022] The housing 10 shown here has a plurality of first fitting portions 13 and a plurality of second fitting portions 14 (FIGS. 3 to 5). Therefore, one clamping member 20 is formed with first fitted portions 21A equal in number to the first fitting portions 13 (FIG. 4). Also, the other clamping member 20 is formed with second fitted portions 21B equal in number to the second fitting portions 14 (FIG. 3).

[0023] Here, both of the pair of clamping members 20 may be the same part. Also, in this connecting connector 1, the pair of clamping members 20 may be differently shaped parts. The pair of clamping members 20 shown here are molded as the same part (FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, in the pair of clamping members 20 shown here, the first fitted portion 21A provided on one of them and the second fitted portion 21B provided on the other are shown separately, but the first fitted portion 21A and the second fitted portion 21B are the same in shape and arrangement. For this reason, hereinafter, the first fitted portion 21A and the second fitted portion 21B will be collectively referred to as the "fitted portion 21."

[0024] The clamping member 20 has a main body portion 23 that is disposed opposite and mated to the multiple housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, and fourth housing 10D) arranged in the arrangement direction (FIGS. 1 to 4). The main body portion 23 is formed in a flat plate shape, and one flat surface 23a is disposed opposite and mated to the multiple housings 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The main body portion 23 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The clamping member 20 is disposed such that one flat surface 23a of the main body portion 23 faces a flat surface 11a (hereinafter referred to as the "facing flat surface") that is positioned in the column direction of the housing main bodies 11 of each of the multiple housings 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0025] Therefore, in the housing 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D), the first fitting portion 13 is provided on one opposing flat surface 11a of the housing main body 11, and the second fitting portion 14 is provided on the other opposing flat surface 11a of the housing main body 11 (FIGS. 3 to 5). Then, in the clamping member 20, the fitted portions 21 (first fitted portion 21A, second fitted portion 21B) are provided on one flat surface 23a of the main body portion 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0026] One of the first fitting portion 13 and the fitted portion 21 (first fitted portion 21A) is a fitting protrusion, and the other is a fitting groove or fitting hole into which the fitting protrusion is fitted. Also, one of the second fitting portion 14 and the fitted portion 21 (second fitted portion 21B) is a fitting protrusion, and the other is a fitting groove or fitting hole into which the fitting protrusion is fitted.

[0027] The first fitting portions 13 shown here are cylindrical fitting protrusions protruding from one of the opposing flat surfaces 11a of the housing main body 11, and a plurality of first fitting portions 13 are provided on the opposing flat surface 11a (FIGS. 3 to 5). Here, four first fitting portions 13 are provided on the opposing flat surface 11a. The four first fitting portions 13 are divided into pairs, for example, with the two first fitting portions 13 of one pair being arranged at a first distance from one side of the opposing flat surface 11a in the connector fitting direction, and the two first fitting portions 13 of the other pair being arranged at a first distance from the other side of the opposing flat surface 11a in the connector fitting direction. Of the two first fitting portions 13 in each pair, one is arranged at a second distance from one side of the opposing flat surface 11a in the arrangement direction, and the other is arranged at a second distance from the other side of the opposing flat surface 11a in the arrangement direction. Furthermore, the two first fitting portions 13 are arranged with a gap between them in the arrangement direction.

[0028] The second fitting portions 14 shown here are cylindrical fitting protrusions of the same shape as the first fitting portions 13 that protrude from the other opposing flat surface 11a of the housing body 11, and a plurality of them are provided on that opposing flat surface 11a. Here, four second fitting portions 14 are provided on that opposing flat surface 11a in the same arrangement as the four first fitting portions 13 on the opposite side.

[0029] The mating portions 21 (first mating portion 21A, second mating portion 21B) shown here are cylindrical mating groove portions formed by recessing one flat surface 23a of the main body portion 23, and are provided for each first mating portion 13 (in other words, for each second mating portion 14) of the multiple housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D) arranged in the arrangement direction, in accordance with the arrangement of each first mating portion 13 (in other words, for each second mating portion 14).

[0030] In this connecting connector 1, multiple housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D) are arranged side by side in an arrangement direction (FIGS. 1 to 5). In this connecting connector 1, one clamping member 20 is assembled to each housing 10 by fitting one mated portion 21 (first mated portion 21A) into each first mating portion 13 on one opposing flat surface 11a of each housing 10. In the same manner, in this connecting connector 1, one mated portion 21 (second mated portion 21B) is fitted into each second mating portion 14 on the other opposing flat surface 11a of each housing 10, and the other clamping member 20 is assembled to each housing 10. As a result, in this connecting connector 1, the pair of clamping members 20 clamp the plurality of housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, fourth housing 10D) arranged in the arrangement direction.

[0031] The interlocking connector 1 of this embodiment employs a connecting and holding structure in which the plurality of housings 10 are sandwiched between a pair of clamping members 20 in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the connector fitting direction, and does not have a connecting and holding structure in the arrangement direction to maintain the connection of the plurality of housings 10 as in the conventional case. Therefore, when viewed in the arrangement direction of the plurality of housings 10, the interlocking connector 1 of this embodiment can be made smaller in size than conventional connectors.

[0032] Furthermore, in the interlocking connector 1 of this embodiment, the housing bodies 11 of the multiple housings 10 (first housing 10A, second housing 10B, third housing 10C, and fourth housing 10D) have the same external shape, and the first mating portions 13 and second mating portions 14 of the same shape are provided on the respective opposing flat surfaces 11a in the arrangement from the side portions described above. Furthermore, in the pair of clamping members 20, mated portions 21 (first mated portion 21A, second mated portion 21B) are provided on one flat surface 23a of the main body portion 23 in accordance with the shape and arrangement of the first mating portion 13 and second mating portion 14 of each housing 10. Therefore, the interlocking connector 1 of this embodiment can interlock multiple housings 10 of various shapes in a variety of arrangement patterns within the range of the conditions.

[0033] The interlocking connector 1 illustrated here generates a mating assist force when mating the connector with a mating connector. Therefore, this interlocking connector 1 further includes a lever member 30 that applies the mating assist force to the pair of clamping members 20 (FIGS. 1 and 6). This lever member 30 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0034] The lever member 30 has a first arm portion 31 that applies a fitting assist force to one of the clamping members 20, and a second arm portion 32 that applies a fitting assist force to the other clamping member 20 (FIGS. 1 and 6). The lever member 30 rotates relative to the pair of clamping members 20, with one end of each of the first arm portion 31 and the second arm portion 32 acting as an axis.

[0035] A first rotating shaft 24A and a first guide shaft 25A are provided on the other flat surface 23b of one clamping member 20, and are arranged parallel to each other (FIGS. 1 to 3). The first arm 31 is provided with a bearing 33A for the first rotating shaft 24A and a first guide portion 34A that guides the first guide shaft 25A to regulate the rotation trajectory of the first rotating shaft 24A around its axis (FIGS. 1 and 6). The bearing 33A and the first guide portion 34A are provided at one end of the first arm 31. The other flat surface 23b of the other clamping member 20 is provided with a second rotating shaft 24B that is arranged coaxially with the first rotating shaft 24A, and a second guide shaft 25B that is arranged coaxially with the first guide shaft 25A (FIG. 4). The second arm 32 is provided with a bearing 33B for the second rotating shaft 24B and a second guide 34B that guides the second guide shaft 25B to regulate the rotation trajectory of the second rotating shaft 24B around its axis (FIGS. 1 and 6). The bearing 33B and the second guide 34B are provided at one end of the second arm 32.

[0036] Bearings 33A and 33B shown here are formed in an arc shape so that lever member 30 can rotate eccentrically around first rotation shaft 24A and second rotation shaft 24B. Also, first guide portion 34A and second guide portion 34B shown here are formed in an arc shape so that lever member 30 can rotate eccentrically.

[0037] This lever member 30 has an operating portion 35 to which an operator applies force when rotating the lever member 30 relative to the pair of clamping members 20 (FIGS. 1 and 6). This operating portion 35 is a connecting portion that connects the other ends of the first arm portion 31 and the second arm portion 32 to each other.

[0038] In this linked connector 1, the pair of clamping members 20 are clamped from the outside by the first arm portion 31 and the second arm portion 32 of the lever member 30, and even if the pair of clamping members 20 move in a direction away from the multiple housings 10, the movement of the pair of clamping members 20 can be locked by the first arm portion 31 and the second arm portion 32 of the lever member 30. Therefore, the linked connector 1 of this embodiment can continue to more firmly maintain the mated connection state between the multiple housings 10 and the pair of clamping members 20 by the lever member 30. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Interlocking connector 10. Housing 10A 1st housing 10B Second Housing 10C Third Housing 10D 4th Housing 12, 12a, 12b, 12c terminal housing 13 First fitting part 14 Second fitting part 20 Clamping member 21 mating part 21A 1st mated part 21B 2nd mated part 23 Main part 23a One plane 23b The other plane 24A First rotating shaft 24B Second rotation axis 25A First guide shaft 25B Second guide shaft 30 Lever member 31 First arm 32 Second arm section 33A,33B Bearing part 34A First guide part 34B Second guide part

Claims

1. a plurality of housings each having a terminal receiving chamber for receiving a terminal fitting, the housings being arranged in an arrangement direction perpendicular to the connector fitting direction; a pair of clamping members that clamp the housings arranged in the arrangement direction in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and the connector fitting direction; Equipped with the housing is provided with a first fitting portion into which one of the clamping members is fitted and connected, and a second fitting portion into which the other of the clamping members is fitted and connected, one of the clamping members is provided with a first fitted portion formed for each of the plurality of housings arranged in the arrangement direction and into which the first fitting portion is fitted and connected; A connecting connector characterized in that the other clamping member is provided with a second mating portion formed for each of the plurality of housings arranged in the arrangement direction, and into which the second mating portion is mated and connected.

2. 2. The interlocking connector according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a plurality of said first mating portions and a plurality of said second mating portions.

3. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member has a flat main body portion with one flat surface facing and mating with the plurality of housings aligned in the arrangement direction.

4. a lever member for applying a mating assist force to the pair of clamping members when mating the connector with a mating connector; the lever member has a first arm portion that applies the fitting assist force to one of the clamping members and a second arm portion that applies the fitting assist force to the other of the clamping members, a first rotation shaft and a first guide shaft arranged in parallel to each other are provided on the other plane of one of the clamping members; a second rotation shaft arranged coaxially with the first rotation shaft and a second guide shaft arranged coaxially with the first guide shaft are provided on the other plane of the other clamping member, the first arm portion is provided with a bearing portion for the first rotating shaft and a first guide portion that guides the first guide shaft so as to regulate the rotation locus of the first rotating shaft around its axis, The connecting connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the second arm portion is provided with a bearing portion for the second rotating shaft and a second guide portion that guides the second guide shaft to regulate the rotational trajectory of the second rotating shaft around its axis.

5. 5. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of housings are all the same part, or include parts with different shapes having different terminal accommodating chambers.

6. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pair of clamping members are the same part.

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