Connector housing

Abstract

A connector housing is provided that has a latch portion for holding a latch on a latched member and that is suitable for elastic deformation while having the strength of a latch arm. The connector housing has a housing body and a latch arm. The latch arm has a latch arm body and a latch projection. The housing body is formed by injecting a first material 21A into a housing body portion 71 of a cavity 70 of a mold. The latch arm body is formed by injecting the same first material 21A as that in the housing body portion 71 into a latch arm body portion 721 of the cavity 70. The latch projection is formed by injecting a second material 22A into a latch projection portion 722 of the cavity 70. The second material 22A is a material having a higher rigidity than the first material 21A. Further, in a transition region T where the first material and the second material are in contact with each other, the mixing ratio of the first material and the second material changes continuously.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector housing having a latch arm. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a connector housing having a latch arm (for example, see Patent Document 1) that latches onto a latched member such as another housing to prevent the latched member from falling off has been widely used. The latch arm has a latch portion that extends from the housing body in a cantilever shape and latches onto the latched member at an intermediate portion of the cantilever.

[0003] In addition, Patent Document 2 discloses a connector housing that uses a two-color molding technique and includes a housing body made of a hard material and a hinge made of a soft material different from the hard material.

[0004] In addition, Patent Document 3 discloses a molding apparatus that injects different resin materials from a plurality of gates (injection ports) of a molding die.

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-137474;

[0008] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-186569;

[0009] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-177738. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] When latching onto a latched member such as another housing, the latch arm needs to elastically deform temporarily. Therefore, the latch arm is selected to be a somewhat soft material that elastically deforms under a moderate operating force.

[0012] Here, in order to meet the requirement of miniaturization of the connector housing, it is considered to shorten the length of the latch arm. In this case, the latch arm needs to obtain a sufficient amount of elastic deformation when the length is short. To meet this, a softer material is used.

[0013] On the other hand, regarding the latch portion that latches onto the latched member and is part of the latch arm, even when an inadvertent force acts, until a force of a predetermined strength, it is necessary to maintain the latch with the latched member. Therefore, if a soft material is used, there is a risk that the latch portion will crack or be damaged when an inadvertent force acts and the latch cannot be maintained.

[0014] As a means of forming the latch arm body and the latch portion from respectively suitable individual materials, it is considered to apply the two-color molding technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 to the latch arm. However, two-color molding involves two molding processes, thus becoming costly. Additionally, in two-color molding, the latch arm body and the latch portion are prone to separation at their joint portion, and the latch portion may be damaged when an inadvertent force is applied.

[0015] Furthermore, in the uploaded Patent Document 3, there is no disclosure of a connector housing.

[0016] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector housing having a latch arm that has the strength to hold the latch on the latched component and is suitable for elastic deformation at the same time.

[0017] Means for Solving the Problem

[0018] Regarding the connector housing of the present invention for achieving the above object, it is characterized by comprising:

[0019] a housing body; and

[0020] a latch arm having a latch arm body formed of a first material, extending from the housing body in a cantilever shape, and elastically deforming with respect to the housing body, and a latch portion formed of a second material having a higher rigidity than the first material and protruding from the latch arm body to latch the latched component.

[0021] In the boundary region between the first material and the second material, there is a transition region where the mixing ratio of the first material and the second material continuously changes.

[0022] The latch arm is formed of the first material that can easily undergo elastic deformation, and at the same time, the latch portion is formed of the second material having a higher rigidity than the first material. Thus far, it can be two-color molding.

[0023] In the case of the present invention, there is also a transition region where the mixing ratio of the first material and the second material continuously changes. In the case of the present invention, due to the existence of this transition region, the latch arm body and the latch portion are integrated and their separation is prevented with high reliability. That is, according to the present invention, a connector housing is constituted that has a latch arm having the strength to hold the latch on the latched component and is suitable for elastic deformation at the same time.

[0024] Here, preferably, the transition region where the first material and the second material contact is recessed into the latch arm body.

[0025] The transition region is recessed into the latch arm body, thereby maintaining the strength of the latch portion.

[0026] Furthermore, preferably, this transition region is recessed into the latch arm body in a tapered shape.

[0027] A transition region is formed to taper into the latch arm body in a wedge shape, thereby further enhancing the strength of the latch portion.

[0028] The latch arm according to the present invention is typically a latch arm that latches with a mating housing that fits into the connector housing of the present invention.

[0029] However, the latch arm according to the present invention is not limited to a latch arm that latches with a mating housing, and may be, for example, a latch arm (housing spear portion) that catches on a contact member inserted into the connector housing of the present invention.

[0030] In addition, in the connector housing of the present invention, preferably, the first material and the second material are materials having different colors.

[0031] If the colors are different from each other, it is easy to confirm correct forming.

[0032] Effects of the Invention

[0033] According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a connector housing having a latch arm that has the strength to hold the latch on the latched member and is suitable for elastic deformation at the same time. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector.

[0035] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 the sectional view taken along the arrow X-X shown in

[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic view showing an outline of a manufacturing process of a connector housing of the connector shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 shown in Detailed Description of the Invention

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0038] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector.

[0039] In addition, Figure 2 is along Figure 1 the sectional view taken along the arrow X-X shown in

[0040] The connector 10 includes a connector housing 20 and a contact member 30 inserted into the connector housing 20 (see Figure 2 ).

[0041] A cable 40 is connected to the contact member 30, and the cable 40 extends to the outside of the connector housing 20. In addition, among these Figure 1 ,Figure 2 In [the figure], regarding the cable 40, only the part near the connector housing 20 is shown.

[0042] The connector housing 20 has a housing body 21 and a latch arm 22. This connector housing 20 corresponds to an example of the connector housing of the present invention.

[0043] Regarding the latch arm 22, its front end 22a is connected to the housing body 21, and with its front end 22a as a fixed end, it extends rearward in a cantilever shape. Moreover, this latch arm 22 includes: a latch arm body 221 that extends from the front end 22a as a fixed end to the rear end 22b as a free end; and a latch projection 222 that protrudes in the middle of this latch arm body 221.

[0044] A mating connector (not shown) is fitted into this connector 10 in the direction of arrow Z. In the middle of this fitting, the latch projection 222 is pressed by the housing of the mating connector. Then, this latch arm 22 elastically deforms in the Figure 2 direction of arrow Y shown in [the figure]. Then, if it becomes a fully fitted state, the latch arm 22 is released from being pressed by the mating connector and returns to its original shape. Thereby, the latch projection 222 is latched to the latched portion (not shown) of the mating connector, and the mating connector is locked in a state where it is not easily detached from this connector 10.

[0045] Here, in the housing body 21, as an example, a first type of resin material not mixed with glass is used. In the latch arm body 221 that constitutes the latch arm 22, the same first type of resin material as that of the housing body 21 is also used. On the other hand, for the latch projection 222 that constitutes the latch arm 22, as an example, a second type of material is used that has increased rigidity compared to the first type of resin material by mixing glass into the first type of resin material. Additionally, a material in which a pigment of a color that is clearly distinguishable from the housing body 21 and the latch arm body 221 is mixed may also be used for this latch projection 222. Furthermore, instead of mixing the pigment into the latch projection 222, the pigment may be mixed into the materials of the housing body 21 and the latch arm body 221.

[0046] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of the manufacturing process of the connector housing that constitutes Figure 1 , Figure 2 the connector shown in [the figure].

[0047] Here, a cavity 70 of a metal mold (not shown) for manufacturing the connector housing 20 is shown. The cavity 70 has a housing body portion 71 that forms the housing body 21 and a latch arm portion 72 that forms the latch arm 22. The latch arm portion 72 also has a latch arm main body portion 721 that forms the latch arm main body 221 and a latch projection portion 722 that forms the latch projection 222. Moreover, the metal mold has injection ports 71a, 72a that are connected to the respective housing body portion 71 and latch arm portion 72 and inject material into the metal mold. The injection port 72a connected to the latch arm portion 72 is provided at the tip of the latch projection portion 722.

[0048] In addition, here, two cylinders 51, 52 are provided. One cylinder 51 is connected to the injection port 71a. Moreover, the material 21A for the housing body 21 and the latch arm main body 22 is stored in the cylinder 51. In addition, the other cylinder 52 is connected to the injection port 72a. Moreover, the material 22A for the latch portion 222 is stored in this cylinder 52.

[0049] Then, the timing of opening the valves 61, 62 is adjusted, and the materials 21A, 22A are injected into the cavity 70 of the metal mold. Thus, the material 21A for the housing body 21 and the latch arm main body 221 is injected into the housing body portion 71 and the latch arm main body portion 721 of the cavity 70. In addition, the material 22A for the latch projection 222 is injected into the latch projection portion 722 of the cavity 70.

[0050] Thus, in the boundary region where the two materials 21A, 22A come into contact before hardening, a transition region T in which the two materials 21A, 22A are mixed is formed. The transition region T becomes a region where the deeper it sinks into the latch arm main body portion 721, the higher the ratio of the material 21A that constitutes the latch arm main body 221, and the closer it is to the latch projection portion 722 side, the higher the ratio of the material 22A that constitutes the latch projection 222.

[0051] Here, in the case of the present embodiment, first, the two materials 21A, 22A are injected in such a manner that the two materials 21A, 22A come into contact at the boundary between the latch arm main body portion 721 and the latch projection portion 722. Subsequently, after the regions on the outer sides of the injected materials 21A, 22A that are in contact with the metal mold are moderately cured, the pressure of the cylinder 52 that injects the material 22A is increased and the material 22A is pressed into the latch arm main body portion 721. Thus, a transition region T that is recessed into the latch arm main body portion 721 in a substantially wedge shape (i.e., a tapered shape) is formed. As a result, compared with the case where the two materials 21A, 22A are poured in such a manner that the two materials 21A, 22A come into contact at the boundary between the latch arm main body portion 721 and the latch projection portion 722, a transition region T with a larger area is formed, and the strength of the latch portion 222 can be further increased.

[0052] Accordingly, a connector housing 20 is formed such that a latch arm body 221 is made of a material 21A suitable for elastic deformation and a latch projection 222 is made of a material 22A with high rigidity. Moreover, unlike a connector housing formed by two-color molding, the connector housing 20 has a transition region T where the material continuously changes. Therefore, an accident in which the latch projection 222 is damaged by the latch arm body 221 is prevented with high reliability.

[0053] The latch arm body 221 and the latch projection 222 have different colors. Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm that the materials are well mixed in the transition region T.

[0054] In addition, here, a material whose rigidity is adjusted by whether or not glass is mixed is exemplified. However, this is an example, and the amount of glass mixed can be changed, or individual admixtures can be mixed. Alternatively, the resin material itself can be used as individual resin materials.

[0055] In addition, here, a latch arm that latches with the housing of a mating connector is mentioned and described. However, the latch arm according to the present invention is not limited to a latch arm that latches with the housing of a mating connector. For example, the latch arm according to the present invention can also be a latch arm (a contact lance 23 (see Figure 2 )) that engages with a contact inserted into the connector housing to prevent the contact from falling off.

[0056] Reference Signs

[0057] 10 Connector

[0058] 20 Connector Housing

[0059] 21 Housing Body

[0060] 21A Material for the Housing Body and the Latch Arm Body (First Material)

[0061] 22 Latch Arm

[0062] 221 Latch Arm Body

[0063] 222 Latch Projection (Latch Portion)

[0064] 22A Material for the Latch Projection (Second Material).

Claims

1. A connector housing, characterized in that, Comprising: A housing body; And A latch arm having a latch arm body formed of a first material and extending from the housing body in a cantilever shape and elastically deforming relative to the housing body, and a latch portion formed of a second material having a higher rigidity than the first material and protruding from the latch arm body to latch a latched component, In the transition region between the first material and the second material, there is a transition region where the mixing ratio of the first material and the second material continuously changes.

2. The connector housing according to claim 1, wherein The transition region where the first material contacts the second material is recessed into the latch arm body.

3. The connector housing according to claim 2, characterized in that, The transition region is recessed into the latch arm body in a tapered shape.

4. The connector housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The latch arm is a latch arm that latches with a mating housing that fits into the connector housing.

5. The connector housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first material and the second material are materials with different colors.

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