A vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure and a connector locking method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure, comprising: a connector body (1), a cover plate (2) and a clip (3), wherein the connector body (1) is a two-step step-shaped structure, and comprises a first step and a second step from bottom to top, the second step is a hollow structure and is provided with a front-to-back through opening along the length direction of the step, a plurality of connection terminals (11) are arranged in a row inside the second step, and side plates (12) are provided on both sides of the first step; the cover plate (2) is arranged above the first step, and a rotating shaft (21) is provided at both ends of the cover plate (2); the clip (3) is made of elastic material, fixed on the side plate (12), and comprises a clip body (31) and an inwardly bent spring sheet (32) connected to the clip body (31), and when the cover plate (2) contacts the side wall surface of the second step, the inwardly bent spring sheet (32) is buckled on the side wall of the cover plate (2). Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the advantages of simple and reliable connection structure, adaptability to complex working conditions, etc.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle connector, in particular to a vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure and a connector locking method. Background Art

[0002] At present, the signal acquisition and power output connector components on the car body need to use a sheathed harness to connect for signal output. The sheathed harness needs to be riveted with terminals and wires, and then the riveted harness is inserted into the sheath to form a sheathed harness assembly. The current development direction of body connectors is lightweight, miniaturized, adaptable to complex environments, and easy to install. The current sheathed harness assembly form of automotive connectors no longer meets the requirements of body design, and the connection method through flat cables such as FPC has become the design direction of new connectors. In the process of designing new connectors, it is necessary to consider the speed of splicing between the connector body and the flat cable, as well as the reliability of the product after assembly. Moreover, for automotive connectors, they have high requirements for the reliability of connectors in complex environments, including deformation during sudden temperature changes and stress deformation caused by external forces. Therefore, the assembly structure design of automotive connectors is imminent. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure and a connector locking method.

[0004] A vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure is used for connecting flat cables, comprising: a connector body, a cover plate and a clip, wherein the connector body is a two-step stepped structure, including a first step and a second step from bottom to top, the second step is a hollow structure and is provided with a front-to-back through opening along the length direction of the step, a plurality of connection terminals are arranged inside the second step, side plates are provided on both sides of the first step, and the flat cable can be laid on the first step and connected to the connection terminals; the cover plate is arranged above the first step, and shafts are provided at both ends of the cover plate, the cover plate is movably connected to the side plate through the shaft and can rotate around the shaft, and the cover plate can be pressed above the flat cable by rotation; the clip is made of elastic material, fixed to the side plate, and comprises a clip body and an inwardly bent spring sheet connected to the clip body, and when the cover plate contacts the side wall surface of the second step, the inwardly bent spring sheet is buckled on the side wall of the cover plate.

[0005] Furthermore, a protruding insert is provided on the side wall of the cover plate, and a slot matching the insert is provided on the side wall of the second step, and the cover plate can move horizontally on the first step and insert the insert into the slot. This structure can prevent the cover plate from being deformed during a sudden temperature change and from being affected by stress deformation caused by external forces, thereby preventing the overall function of the product from being affected.

[0006] Furthermore, guide ribs are provided on both sides of the cover plate, and guide grooves are provided on the inner walls of the side plates. The cover plate can be flipped downward and pushed in a horizontal direction so that the guide ribs are stuck in the guide grooves.

[0007] Furthermore, a rail groove is provided on the side plate, and the rotating shaft is movably engaged in the rail groove, so that the rotating shaft can move horizontally along the rail groove.

[0008] Furthermore, the clip body is an elastic plate-shaped structure, and the clip body is vertically fixed to the side plate.

[0009] Furthermore, the inwardly curved spring piece is connected to the top of the clip body and is bent toward the middle of the first step, and the bent inwardly curved spring piece faces the horizontal direction.

[0010] Furthermore, the upper surface of the cover plate is provided with a notch matching the inward-bending spring piece, and the inward-bending spring piece can be buckled in the notch and limit the movement of the cover plate in two degrees of freedom.

[0011] Furthermore, the clip also includes an outwardly curved spring piece, which is connected to the top of the clip body and has a bending direction opposite to that of the inwardly curved spring piece.

[0012] Furthermore, a boss is provided on the lower surface of the cover along the width direction of the first step, and when the cover is rotated downward, the protruding pieces arranged on both sides of the flat cable can be inserted into the boss.

[0013] A locking method for a vehicle connector comprises the following steps:

[0014] S1: Place the flat cable on the connector body, and flip the cover on the connector body downward so that the flat cable is covered and clamped, and the protruding pieces on both sides of the flat cable are inserted into the bosses under the cover, so that the flat cable is fixed; S2: After flipping the cover downward, push the cover in the horizontal direction so that the guide ribs on the front of the cover are inserted into the guide grooves on the front of the connector body, thereby achieving a primary locking and snapping of the cover; S3: Continue to push the cover in the horizontal direction so that the insert strip at the front end of the cover is inserted into the slot on the connector body, and at the same time, the inwardly bent spring pieces on the clips on both sides of the connector body are buckled on both sides of the cover, thereby achieving a secondary locking and snapping of the cover.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0016] 1) In this technical solution, a clip is used to lock the lock, shaft, guide groove and guide ribs on the upper surface of the cover plate, forming a secondary locking mechanism with a simple structure, which reduces the production difficulty of the entire connector. Moreover, the secondary lock structure is stable and realizes reliable and stable limiting in two degrees of freedom, ensuring the stability of the vehicle connector under various complex working conditions and avoiding deformation during sudden temperature changes and stress deformation caused by external forces that affect the overall function of the product.

[0017] 2) The connector in this technical solution adopts a two-step assembly process of covering and pushing, in which the cover plate is first flipped over so that the cover plate is pressed on the flat cable and the guide ribs can be inserted into the guide grooves, and then the cover plate is pushed forward so that the cover plate moves horizontally forward, and finally the inner-bend spring piece is buckled in the notch. At the same time, the guide ribs have reached the operating stroke and can no longer be pushed forward, thereby completing the overall assembly. If disassembly is required, it is only necessary to use a rod-shaped tool to press the outer-bend spring piece so that the clip body is deformed outward, so that the inner-bend spring piece is also deformed outward, causing it to disengage, and then the cover plate 2 can be pulled horizontally to complete the disassembly. The transfer process designed in this way not only simplifies the transfer process, but also significantly improves the reliability of the connector under complex working conditions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of the vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure in the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a specific schematic diagram of the guide groove structure and the rail groove structure in the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 It is a specific schematic diagram of the clamp structure in the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 It is a detailed deconstruction schematic diagram of the flat cable clamping boss in the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a specific structural diagram of the slot and the inserting strip cooperation limiting structure in the present invention.

[0023] In the figure: 1. connector body, 11. connecting terminal, 12. side plate, 121. guide groove, 122. rail groove, 14. slot, 2. cover plate, 21. shaft, 22. notch, 23. insert, 24. boss, 25. guide rib, 3. clip, 31. clip body, 32. inner bending spring piece, 33. outer bending spring piece, 4. flat cable, 41. convex piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0025] Example

[0026] The vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure is used for connecting a flat cable 4 , and includes a connector body 1 , a cover plate 2 and a clip 3 .

[0027] The connector body 1 part: see Figure 1 It is a two-step structure, which includes a first step and a second step from bottom to top. The second step is a hollow structure and has an opening that passes through the front and back along the length of the step. A plurality of connection terminals 11 are arranged inside the second step. Side panels 12 are provided on both sides of the first step. The flat cable 4 can be laid on the first step and connected to the connection terminals 11. The side panels 12 are provided with rail grooves 122, and the rotating shaft 21 is movably engaged in the rail grooves 122, so that the cover plate 2 can move horizontally. See Figure 2 .

[0028] Cover 2 part: see Figure 1 , arranged above the first step, the cover plate 2 has shafts 21 at both ends, the cover plate 2 is movably connected to the side plate 12 through the shafts 21 and can rotate around the shafts 21, and the cover plate 2 can be pressed on the flat cable 4 by rotating, see Figure 2 The upper surface of the cover plate 2 is provided with a notch 22 matching the inner curved spring piece 32. The inner curved spring piece 32 can be buckled in the notch 22 and limit the movement of the cover plate 2 in two degrees of freedom. Figure 3 The side wall of the cover plate 2 is provided with a raised inserting strip 23, and the side wall of the second step is provided with a slot 14 matching the inserting strip 23. When the cover plate 2 is pushed inward horizontally, the raised inserting strip 23 is inserted into the slot 14 to complete the locking and limiting. Figure 5 The lower surface of the cover plate 2 is provided with a boss 24 along the width direction of the first step. When the cover plate 2 is rotated downward, the protrusions 41 provided on both sides of the flat cable 4 can be inserted into the boss 24. Figure 4 The cover plate 2 is provided with guide ribs 25 on both sides, and the inner wall of the side plate 12 is provided with guide grooves 121 , and the guide ribs 25 can be inserted into the guide grooves 121 when the cover plate 2 is turned downward.

[0029] The clip 3 part: is made of elastic material, fixed on the side plate 12, including a clip body 31 and an inward bending spring piece 32 connected to the clip body 31. When the cover plate 2 contacts the side wall of the second step, the inward bending spring piece 32 is buckled on the side wall of the cover plate 2. The clip body 31 is an elastic plate-like structure, and the clip body 31 is vertically fixed on the side plate 12. The inward bending spring piece 32 is connected to the top of the clip body 31 and bends toward the middle of the first step, and the bent inward bending spring piece 32 faces the horizontal direction. The clip 3 also includes an outward bending spring piece 33, which is connected to the top of the clip body 31 and is opposite to the bending direction of the inward bending spring piece 32.

[0030] In the specific use process, the flat cable 4 is placed on the connector body 1, and the gold finger on the FPC flat cable is connected to the connection terminal 11, and the cover plate 2 on the connector body 1 is flipped down, so that the flat cable 4 is covered and clamped, and the convex pieces 41 on both sides of the flat cable 4 are inserted into the bosses 24 under the cover plate 2, so that the flat cable 4 is fixed; after the cover plate is flipped down, the cover plate 2 is pushed horizontally, so that the guide ribs 25 at the front of the cover plate 2 are inserted into the guide grooves 121 at the front of the connector body 1, so as to achieve a primary locking and buckling of the cover plate 2; then the cover plate is pushed horizontally, so that the insertion strip 23 at the front end of the cover plate 2 is inserted into the slot 14 on the connector body 1, and at the same time, the inner bending spring pieces 32 on the clips 3 on both sides of the connector body 1 are buckled on both sides of the cover plate 2, so as to achieve a secondary locking and buckling of the cover plate 2. In this way, the overall assembly is completed. If disassembly is required, it is only necessary to use a rod-shaped tool to press the outer bending spring piece 33, so that the clip body 31 is deformed outward, so that the inner bending spring piece 32 is also deformed outward, so that it is released, and then the cover plate 2 is pulled horizontally to complete the disassembly. The transfer process designed in this way not only simplifies the transfer process, but also significantly improves the reliability of the connector under complex working conditions.

[0031] The above technical solutions only reflect the preferred technical solutions of the technical solutions of the present invention. Some changes that may be made to certain parts thereof by technicians in this technical field all reflect the principles of the present invention and fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure, used for connecting a flat cable (4), characterized in that: include: The connector body (1) has a two-step structure, which includes a first step and a second step from bottom to top, the second step is a hollow structure and is provided with a front-to-back through opening along the length direction of the step, a plurality of connection terminals (11) are arranged in a row inside the second step, and side panels (12) are provided on both sides of the first step, and the flat cable (4) can be placed on the first step and connected to the connection terminals (11); A cover plate (2): arranged above the first step, with rotating shafts (21) provided at both ends of the cover plate (2). The cover plate (2) is movably connected to the side plate (12) via the rotating shafts (21) and can rotate around the rotating shafts (21). The cover plate (2) can be pressed onto the flat cable (4) by rotating. The clip (3) is made of elastic material and is fixed on the side plate (12). It includes a clip body (31) and an inwardly curved elastic sheet (32) connected to the clip body (31). When the cover plate (2) contacts the side wall surface of the second step, the inwardly curved elastic sheet (32) is buckled on the side wall of the cover plate (2). A protruding insertion strip (23) is provided on the side wall surface of the cover plate (2), a slot (14) matching the insertion strip (23) is provided on the side wall of the second step, and the cover plate (2) can be moved in the horizontal direction on the first step so that the insertion strip (23) is inserted into the slot (14); Guide ribs (25) are provided on both sides of the cover plate (2), and guide grooves (121) are provided on the inner walls of the side plates (12); the cover plate (2) can be turned downward and pushed in a horizontal direction so that the guide ribs (25) are inserted into the guide grooves (121); The lower surface of the cover plate (2) is provided with a boss (24) along the width direction of the first step, and when the cover plate (2) is rotated downward, the protrusions (41) provided on both sides of the flat cable (4) can be inserted into the boss (24); The process of use includes the following steps: The flat cable (4) is placed on the connector body (1), and the cover plate (2) on the connector body (1) is flipped downward so that the flat cable (4) is covered and clamped, and the protruding pieces (41) on both sides of the flat cable (4) are snapped into the bosses (24) below the cover plate (2), so that the flat cable (4) is fixed; after the cover plate is flipped downward, the cover plate (2) is pushed in a horizontal direction so that the guide ribs (25) at the front of the cover plate (2) are snapped into the guide grooves (121) at the front of the connector body (1), thereby achieving a primary locking and fastening of the cover plate (2); the cover plate is further pushed in the horizontal direction so that the insertion strip (23) at the front end of the cover plate (2) is inserted into the slot (14) on the connector body (1), and at the same time, the inwardly bent spring pieces (32) on the clips (3) at both sides of the connector body (1) are snapped onto the two sides of the cover plate (2), thereby achieving a secondary locking and fastening of the cover plate (2).

2. The vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side plate (12) is provided with a rail groove (122), and the rotating shaft (21) is movably engaged in the rail groove (122), so that the rotating shaft (21) can move horizontally along the rail groove (122).

3. The vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clip body (31) is an elastic plate-shaped structure, and the clip body (31) is vertically fixed on the side plate (12).

4. The vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inwardly bent spring piece (32) is connected to the top of the clip body (31) and is bent toward the middle of the first step, and the bent inwardly bent spring piece (32) faces the horizontal direction.

5. The vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The upper surface of the cover plate (2) is provided with a notch (22) matching the inwardly curved elastic sheet (32); the inwardly curved elastic sheet (32) can be buckled in the notch (22) and restrict the movement of the cover plate (2) in two degrees of freedom.

6. The vehicle connector with a secondary lock structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The clip (3) further comprises an outwardly curved spring piece (33), wherein the outwardly curved spring piece (33) is connected to the top of the clip body (31) and has a bending direction opposite to that of the inwardly curved spring piece (32).

7. A locking method for a vehicle connector having a secondary locking structure as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1: placing the flat cable (4) on the connector body (1), and flipping the cover plate (2) on the connector body (1) downwards, so that the flat cable (4) is covered and clamped, and the protruding pieces (41) on both sides of the flat cable (4) are inserted into the bosses (24) below the cover plate (2), so that the flat cable (4) is fixed; S2: the cover plate is flipped downward and pushed in a horizontal direction to push the cover plate (2) so that the guide rib (25) at the front of the cover plate (2) is inserted into the guide groove (121) at the front of the connector body (1), thereby achieving a one-time locking and fastening of the cover plate (2); S3: The cover plate is pushed further in the horizontal direction so that the insert strip (23) at the front end of the cover plate (2) is inserted into the slot (14) on the connector body (1). At the same time, the inwardly bent spring pieces (32) on the clips (3) on both sides of the connector body (1) are buckled on both sides of the cover plate (2), thereby realizing secondary locking and buckling of the cover plate (2).

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