Cable Connectors

Abstract

The present invention provides a cable connector having a structure that can be mated with a counterpart connector only when the cable is in a regular insertion position, and imparting waterproof performance. The cable connector (10) comprises: a housing (20) having a cylindrical mating protrusion (220) inserted into a mating opening of a counterpart connector (100); and a retainer (30) that enables the mating protrusion (220) to be inserted into the counterpart connector (100) only when the cable (70) stored in the housing (20) is in a regular insertion position, the retainer (30) having a locking protrusion (322), when the cable (70) stored in the housing (20) is in an irregular insertion position, the locking protrusion (322) is in a position that prevents mating with the counterpart connector, and when the cable (70) is in a regular insertion position, the locking protrusion (322) can be moved to a position that allows mating with the counterpart connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cable connector having a unit for preventing incorrect connection of a cable. Background Art

[0002] An example of a coaxial cable connector is disclosed in the following patent document 1. The coaxial cable connector has a housing in which a coaxial cable is inserted, and a key portion and a locking portion that are engaged with a counterpart connector are formed at the cylindrical mating end of the housing. The key portion can only be connected to a counterpart connector having a corresponding key slot. In order to prevent the coaxial cable connector from being accidentally pulled out of the counterpart connector after being temporarily engaged with the counterpart connector, the locking portion is locked in the corresponding locking slot of the counterpart connector.

[0003] The coaxial cable connector of Patent Document 1 has a locking member for preventing axial movement of a contact assembly connected to a coaxial cable inserted into a housing, but does not have a so-called terminal position assurance mechanism (TPA mechanism) that prevents the coaxial cable from being mated with a mating connector when the coaxial cable is in an irregular insertion position.

[0004] Fig.10 An example of a conventional coaxial cable connector 90 is shown, which has a mechanism that prevents the coaxial cable connector 90 from being mated with a connector on the other side when a coaxial cable 930 inserted into a housing 910 is in an irregular insertion position. The conventional coaxial cable connector 90 has a housing 910 and a retainer 920. The housing 910 includes a housing body 911 and a cylindrical mating protrusion 912. A cable storage opening 913 that penetrates along the axial direction of the coaxial cable is formed inside the housing body 911 and the cylindrical mating protrusion 912. In addition, a retainer storage opening 916 that penetrates on one side of the radial direction of the cable storage opening 913 is formed in the housing body 911. In addition, a locking protrusion 915 that protrudes in the radial direction is provided from the housing body 911 to the outer surface of the cylindrical mating protrusion 912.

[0005] The retainer 920 has: an upper plate portion 921, two legs 922 arranged to hang downward from both sides thereof in the width direction, and two interference protrusions 923 protruding from the upper plate portion 921 in the mating direction, and a slot 924 for inserting the locking protrusion 915 of the shell 910 is provided between the two interference protrusions 923.

[0006] When the coaxial cable 930 is inserted into the cable receiving opening 913 to the normal insertion position, the two legs 922 of the retainer 920 are inserted deep into the retainer receiving opening 916, and the interference protrusion 923 is received in the retainer receiving opening 916 formed on the outer surface of the mating protrusion 912. When the assembly of the housing 910 and the retainer 920 is inserted into the mating connector in this state, the interference protrusion 923 is received in the surface of the retainer receiving opening 916 on the outer surface of the mating protrusion 912, and thus can be fully inserted into the mating opening of the mating connector.

[0007] On the other hand, when the coaxial cable 930 is not completely inserted into the cable storage opening 913, that is, when the coaxial cable 930 is in an irregular insertion position, the two legs 922 of the retainer 920 interfere with the protrusions of the core housing assembled around the coaxial cable 930, and the retainer 920 cannot be completely inserted into the retainer storage opening 916. At this time, the two interference protrusions 923 are located at a position radially away from the outer surface of the mating protrusion 912 by a certain distance. When the assembly of the housing 910 and the retainer 920 is inserted into the other side connector in this state, the interference protrusions 923 interfere with the housing around the mating opening of the other side connector, resulting in that the housing 910 and the retainer 920 cannot be mated with the other side connector.

[0008] Prior art literature

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-043798 Summary of the invention

[0010] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0011] In the above coaxial cable connector 90, when the coaxial cable 930 is in the normal insertion position, the interference protrusion receiving opening 917 is required for receiving the interference protrusion 923 of the retainer 920 within the outer surface of the fitting protrusion 912. Therefore, the coaxial cable connector 90 cannot be waterproof.

[0012] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide waterproof performance to a cable connector having a structure that allows mating with a mating connector only when the cable is in a normal insertion position.

[0013] Means for solving problems

[0014] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cable connector of the present invention comprises: a housing having a cylindrical fitting protrusion to be inserted into a fitting opening of a mating connector; and

[0015] a retainer that enables the fitting protrusion of the housing to be inserted into the mating connector only when the cable accommodated in the housing is in a normal insertion position,

[0016] The retainer has a locking protrusion, which is located at a position that prevents the cable from being mated with the other connector when the cable accommodated in the housing is in an irregular insertion position, and can be moved to a position where it can be mated with the other connector when the cable is in a regular insertion position.

[0017] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the engaging protrusion has a first locking protrusion protruding in the radial direction, and the locking protrusion of the retainer serves as a second locking protrusion. When the cable accommodated in the housing is in an irregular insertion position, the second locking protrusion is located at a position radially offset from the first locking protrusion to the outside, and when the cable is in a regular insertion position, the second locking protrusion is aligned with the first locking protrusion at the same height in the radial direction.

[0018] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the second locking protrusion of the retainer has an opening, and when the second locking protrusion and the first locking protrusion are aligned at the same height in the radial direction, the first locking protrusion is received in the opening.

[0019] In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that no opening is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical fitting protrusion.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention described above, it is possible to impart waterproof performance to the cable connector having a structure that allows it to be fitted with the mating connector only when the cable is in the normal insertion position.

[0022] According to the above aspect of the present invention, since the engaging structure with the mating connector can be locked by both the first locking projection and the second locking projection, the mating with the mating connector can be reliably maintained.

[0023] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the first locking protrusion is accommodated in the opening of the second locking protrusion, so that the second locking protrusion can be strengthened and prevented from being damaged when the second locking protrusion contacts the engaging structure of the mating connector.

[0024] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the interior of the cylindrical fitting protrusion can be easily waterproofed from the outside. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1(A) is a perspective view of the coaxial cable connector of this embodiment. Figure 1 (B) is an exploded perspective view of the coaxial cable connector according to the present embodiment.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the appearance of a housing of the coaxial cable connector according to the present embodiment.

[0027] Figure 3 (A) is Figure 2 A top view of the shell, Figure 3 (B) is Figure 2 A side view of the housing, Figure 3 (C) is viewed from the mating side Figure 2 The main view of the shell, Figure 3 (D) is through Figure 3 (A) Section along the IIID-IIID line Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a shell when viewed from the side.

[0028] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the external appearance of the holder of the coaxial cable connector according to the present embodiment.

[0029] Figure 5 (A) is Figure 4 A top view of the retainer, Figure 5 (B) is Figure 4 Side view of the retainer, Figure 5 (C) is Figure 4 The front view of the retainer, Figure 5 (D) is through Figure 5 (A) VD-VD line section Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a retainer when viewed from the side.

[0030] Figure 6 (A) is a side view of the coaxial cable connector when it is assembled and the coaxial cable is not in the proper insertion position. Figure 6 (B) is viewed from the mating side Figure 6 (A) is the front view of the coaxial cable connector when in a state, Figure 6 (C) is a section through the VIC-VIC line Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable connector in the state (A) when viewed from the side opposite to the mating side, Figure 6 (D) is through Figure 6 (B) VID-VID line section Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable connector in state (A) when viewed from the side.

[0031] Figure 7(A) is a perspective view of the appearance when the coaxial cable connector is about to be mated with the other connector when the coaxial cable is not in the proper insertion position. Figure 7 (B) is Figure 7 (A) is a side view, Figure 7 (C) is to Figure 7 A partial cross-sectional view of the main part of (B) when viewed from the side.

[0032] Figure 8 (A) is a side view of the coaxial cable connector when it is assembled and the coaxial cable is in the normal insertion position. Figure 8 (B) is viewed from the mating side Figure 8 (A) is the front view of the coaxial cable connector when in a state, Figure 8 (C) is a section through the VIIIC-VIIIC line Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable connector in the state (A) when viewed from the side opposite to the mating side, Figure 8 (D) is through Figure 8 (B) VIIID-VIIID line section Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable connector in state (A) when viewed from the side.

[0033] Fig. 9 (A) is a perspective view of the coaxial cable connector when it is about to be mated with the other party's connector with the coaxial cable in the normal insertion position. Fig. 9 (B) is Fig. 9 (A) is a side view, Fig. 9 (C) is from Fig. 9 The state (B) is a state in which the mating operation is further performed relative to the other side connector, and is a partial cross-sectional view when the main part is cut away and viewed from the side. Fig. 9 (D) is a partial cross-sectional view of the coaxial cable connector and the mating connector in a completely mated state, with the main parts cut away and viewed from the side.

[0034] Fig.10 (A) is a perspective view of the appearance of a conventional coaxial cable connector. Fig.10 (B) is Fig.10 (A) is a perspective view of the outer appearance of the housing of the coaxial cable connector. Fig.10 (C) is Fig.10 (A) is a perspective view of the appearance of a retainer of a coaxial cable connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The coaxial cable connector 10 of this embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the embodiment to be described below is an embodiment for describing an example of the coaxial cable connector of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the coaxial cable connector 10, and should also be equally applied to other coaxial cable connectors described in the claims.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 , the overall structure of the coaxial cable connector 10 is described. Figure 1 As shown in (A) of FIG. 1 , the coaxial cable connector 10 includes a housing 20 and a retainer 30. Figure 1 As shown in (B), the coaxial cable connector 10 includes: an outer contact 40, a center contact 50, a sleeve 60, a coaxial cable 70, and a core housing 80. The center contact 50 is connected to the center conductor of the coaxial cable 70. The sleeve 60 is connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable 70. The outer conductor of the coaxial cable 70 is folded back to cover the outer periphery of the sleeve 60, and the outer contact 40 is mounted around it. The core housing 80 is mounted around the outer contact 40.

[0037] In the following description, the direction in which the coaxial cable 70 extends is referred to as a mating direction, and in particular, the direction in which the coaxial cable connector 10 is mated and connected to the mating connector ( Figure 1 The left side of the paper) is called the front side of the mating direction, and the opposite side is called the rear side of the mating direction. Figure 1 The up-down direction on the paper in the figure is called the up-down direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the fitting direction and the up-down direction is called the width direction.

[0038] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 3 The housing 20 is described. The housing 20 includes a housing body 210 and a mating protrusion 220. The housing body 210 is substantially in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and includes: an upper surface 211, a bottom surface 212, a right side surface 213, a left side surface 214, a rear surface 215, and a front surface (no reference numeral). On the housing body 210, a cable storage opening 216 is formed from the rear surface 215 toward the front in the mating direction.

[0039] Furthermore, two retainer storage openings 217 are formed on the upper surface 211 of the housing body 210 at positions close to the right side 213 and the left side 214, respectively, penetrating the upper surface 211 in the up-down direction and respectively communicating with the cable storage opening 216. A retainer placement surface 218 is formed between the two retainer storage openings 217 along the mating direction.

[0040] The mating protrusion 220 is a cylindrical member extending in the mating direction, and is inserted into the mating opening of the mating connector 100 when mating with the mating connector 100. The mating protrusion 220 includes a cylindrical portion 221 formed so as to protrude forward in the mating direction from the front surface of the housing body 210. No outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 221 is formed. Fig.10 The opening is formed in the conventional coaxial cable connector 90. A mating opening 223 is formed from the front end 222 of the cylindrical portion 221 toward the rear in the mating direction. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 2 (D), the fitting opening 223 is internally connected to the cable storage opening 216 formed in the housing body 210 .

[0041] A first locking protrusion 224 is formed on the upper portion of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 221 of the mating protrusion 220, which protrudes in the radial direction, for example, upward. The first locking protrusion 224 is used to be locked with the corresponding engaging member 104 of the other-side connector 100, and the first locking protrusion 224 will be described later. In addition, a plurality of key protrusions 225 are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 221. The key protrusions 225 are inserted into corresponding key slots (not shown) formed in the other-side connector 100, so that the coaxial cable connector 10 can only be mated with the other-side connector having the corresponding key slot.

[0042] Next, refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 The retainer 30 will be described. The retainer 30 of the present embodiment retains the coaxial cable 70 in the housing body 210 when the coaxial cable 70 having a structure equipped with contacts described later is in a normal insertion position in the cable storage opening 216 of the housing body 210. The retainer 30 also includes a mechanism that allows the fitting protrusion 220 of the housing 20 to be inserted into the mating connector 100 only when the coaxial cable 70 is in the normal insertion position.

[0043] The retainer 30 includes a retainer body 310 and a snap-fitting portion 320. The retainer body 310 includes an upper plate portion 311 and two legs 312 formed in a manner of hanging downward from both ends in the width direction thereof. A cable storage space 313 is provided between the two legs 312. The snap-fitting portion 320 includes a connecting portion 321 protruding forward from the front end of the upper plate portion 311 in the mating direction, and a second locking protrusion 322 protruding upward from the front side of the connecting portion 321. A first locking protrusion storage opening 323 penetrating in the up-down direction is formed in the locking protrusion 322. The first locking protrusion storage opening 323 is an opening for accommodating the first locking protrusion so that the first locking protrusion 224 and the second locking protrusion 322 are aligned at the same height in the radial direction when the coaxial cable 70 is in the normal insertion position. The first locking protrusion storage opening 323 will be described later. Therefore, the length of the first locking protrusion receiving opening 323 in the fitting direction is the length that can accommodate the first locking protrusion 224 of the housing 20 , and the size of the first locking protrusion receiving opening 323 in the width direction is the width of the first locking protrusion 224 .

[0044] Reference Figure 6 to Figure 9 , the assembly of the coaxial cable connector 10 and the mating with the mating connector 100 are described. After the center contact 50, the outer contact 40 and the coaxial cable 70 are connected, and the core housing 80 is assembled around a part of the outer contact 40, the coaxial cable 70 and the contacts assembled to the coaxial cable 70 are inserted into the cable storage opening 216 of the housing 20 from the rear side of the mating direction. Figure 6 As shown in (D), the outer contact 40 is received in the fitting opening 223 inside the fitting protrusion 220. A gap of a predetermined width is formed between the inner surface of the fitting opening 223 and the outer contact 40, and a terminal of the other connector 100 can be received.

[0045] like Figure 6 As shown in (D), the core housing 80 includes a core body 810. The core body 810 is equipped with a wire seal 811 for maintaining a watertight state between the coaxial cable 70 and the core body 810, and a connector seal 812 for maintaining a watertight state at the fitting portion of the fitting opening 223 of the coaxial cable connector 10. In addition, the core body 810 is provided with an alignment groove 813 for aligning the coaxial cable 70 in a manner that is annularly recessed along the outer peripheral surface of the core body 810.

[0046] exist Figure 6In (D), the insertion position of the coaxial cable 70 into the cable storage opening 216 is an irregular insertion position where the alignment groove 813 does not reach below the retainer storage opening 217 of the housing body 210. In this state, the case where the retainer 30 is assembled to the housing 20 is described. At this time, the two legs 312 of the retainer 30 are inserted from the retainer storage opening 217 into the cable storage opening 216, but as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown in (C), the downward movement of the leg portion 312 is blocked by the core body 810 of the core case 80. Therefore, the retainer 30 cannot be fully inserted downward.

[0047] At this time, the upper plate portion 311 of the retainer body 310 of the retainer 30 is not coplanar with the upper surface 211 of the housing body 210, but is in a state of protruding upward from the upper surface 211. In addition, the second locking protrusion 322 of the retainer 30 is located at a position radially outwardly away from the outer peripheral surface of the mating protrusion 220 by a predetermined distance, and as described later, it is a position that prevents mating with the mating connector 100. In addition, the second locking protrusion 322 of the retainer 30 is located at a position offset radially outwardly from the first locking protrusion 224 of the housing 20, that is, a position offset above the first locking protrusion 224. At this time, the first locking protrusion receiving opening 323 of the second locking protrusion 322 is in a state of partially receiving the first locking protrusion 224.

[0048] In this state, if Figure 7 (A)~ Figure 7 As shown in (C), the coaxial cable connector 10 is to be mated with the counterpart connector 100. Figure 7 As best shown in (C), the second locking protrusion 322 located above the first locking protrusion 224 abuts against the locking frame 104 at the distal end of the locking arm 103 protruding rearward in the mating direction in the engaging opening 102 of the mating housing 101 of the mating connector 100. Thus, when the coaxial cable 70 is in an irregular insertion position, the coaxial cable connector 10 cannot be mated to the mating connector 100.

[0049] Figure 8 (A)~ Figure 8 (D) shows the state where the coaxial cable 70 is inserted into the cable storage opening 216 of the coaxial cable connector 10 to the normal insertion position. At this time, the alignment groove 813 of the core housing 80 assembled to the coaxial cable 70 reaches directly below the retainer storage opening 217 of the housing body 210. In this state, when the retainer 30 is assembled to the housing 20, the two legs 312 of the retainer 30 are stored from the retainer storage opening 217 to the depth of the cable storage opening 216. At this time, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 (C) Figure 8As shown in FIG. 8 (D), the leg portion 312 is inserted into the alignment groove 813 of the core case 80 .

[0050] Thus, the upper plate portion 311 of the retainer body 310 of the retainer 30 is coplanar with the upper surface of the housing body 210. Furthermore, the first locking protrusion receiving opening 323 of the second locking protrusion 322 of the retainer 30 is in a state of completely accommodating the first locking protrusion 224. At this time, the upper surfaces of the first locking protrusion 224 and the second locking protrusion 322 are aligned at the same height in the radial direction, that is, aligned in a coplanar manner, and when viewed as a whole, a locking protrusion is formed protruding from the surface of the cylindrical portion 221 of the mating protrusion 220. That is, the second locking protrusion 322 of the retainer 30 is located at a position so-called placed on the outer peripheral surface of the mating protrusion 220 of the housing 20, and can be moved to a position where it can be mated with the connector on the other side as described later.

[0051] In this state, if Fig. 9 (A)~ Fig. 9 As shown in (C), the coaxial cable connector 10 is to be mated with the counterpart connector 100. Fig. 9 As best shown in (C), the first locking protrusion 224 and the second locking protrusion 322 are inserted into the lower part of the engagement frame 104 of the end portion of the engagement arm 103 protruding toward the rear in the mating direction in the engagement opening 102 of the mating side housing 101 of the mating side connector 100. The first locking protrusion 224 and the second locking protrusion 322 have an inclined surface that is inclined in a manner of rising from the front in the mating direction toward the rear in the mating direction, and the inclined surface contacts the engagement frame 104 and moves toward the front in the mating direction, thereby displacing the engagement arm 103 upward.

[0052] Next, the coaxial cable connector 10 is moved further forward in the mating direction to be mated with the mating connector 100. Fig. 9 As shown in (D), the engagement frame 104 of the mating connector 100 passes over the first locking protrusion 224 and the second locking protrusion 322 and is locked, thereby achieving a completely mating state.

[0053] The above describes the structure of the coaxial cable connector 10 and the operation when mating with the mating connector 100. In addition, the coaxial cable connector 10 of this embodiment adopts a male connector structure and the mating connector 100 adopts a female connector structure, but the functions of male and female may be reversed.

[0054] In the above embodiment, as the locking protrusion, the first locking protrusion 224 and the second locking protrusion 322 cooperate with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the locking protrusion can be provided only on the retainer 30, and the locking protrusion is not formed on the fitting protrusion 220 of the housing 20.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the structure of the coaxial cable connector for connecting a coaxial cable to the other connector 100 as a cable is described, but the present invention is not limited to the above example and can also be applied to a cable connector for connecting a general cable to the other connector 100.

[0056] [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] According to the above structure, a small and waterproof coaxial cable connector compliant with the FAKRA standard can be provided. In addition, the retainer 30 may be distributed in the market in a state of being pre-assembled in the housing 20 or may be distributed separately from the housing 20 .

Claims

1. A cable connector, comprising: A housing having a fitting protrusion and a first locking protrusion, wherein the fitting protrusion is cylindrical and is inserted into the fitting opening of the other connector and has no opening formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the first locking protrusion protrudes radially from the fitting protrusion and is locked with the engaging part of the other connector when fitting with the other connector; and a retainer that enables the fitting protrusion of the housing to be inserted into the mating connector only when the cable accommodated in the housing is in a normal insertion position, The retainer has a second locking protrusion. When the cable accommodated in the housing is in an irregular insertion position, the second locking protrusion is located in a position that prevents engagement with the other party's connector by being radially offset from the first locking protrusion. When the cable is in a regular insertion position, the second locking protrusion can be moved to a position where it can be engaged with the other party's connector. When it is in the position where it can be engaged with the other party's connector, when engaged with the other party's connector, the second locking protrusion is locked with the engaging part of the other party's connector together with the first locking protrusion.

2. The cable connector according to claim 1, wherein: When the cable is in a normal insertion position, the second locking protrusion is aligned with the first locking protrusion at the same height in the radial direction.

3. The cable connector according to claim 2, wherein: The second locking protrusion of the retainer has an opening in which the first locking protrusion is received when the second locking protrusion is aligned with the first locking protrusion at the same height in the radial direction.

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