Connector housing assembly and connector

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector housing assembly (1) comprising: a connector housing (10) for receiving at least one electrical terminal; a lever (20) for mating the connector housing with a mating connector (30) along a mating direction (A), the lever (20) being pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing (10) depending on its position. In order to improve operational safety, the lever (20) can be first displaced from an initial position to a rotation starting position before it can be pivoted. The connector housing assembly (1) further includes a displacement start blocking structure (40) configured to block displacement from the initial position to the rotation start position, and the displacement start blocking structure (40) is releasable when the connector housing (10) is mated with the mating connector (30). The invention also relates to a connector having such a connector housing assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector housing assembly and a connector comprising the connector housing assembly. Background Art

[0002] Connector housing assemblies comprising a pivotable lever at the connector housing are known from the prior art. By pivoting the lever, the connector housing can be mated or plugged together with a mating connector along a mating direction. The lever can also be displaced in a translational manner to lock it.

[0003] However, this known connector housing assembly presents a risk of premature rotation of the lever when the mating connector is not yet in the predetermined position in the mating direction. Summary of the invention

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector housing assembly having improved operating safety.

[0005] According to the present invention, this object is met by a connector housing assembly, which includes: a connector housing for receiving at least one electrical terminal; a lever, which is used to make the connector housing mate with the mating connector along the mating direction, wherein the lever is pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing according to its position. In particular, the lever can first be displaced from an initial position to a rotation start position before it can be pivoted. In other words, in the initial position, the lever can only be moved to the rotation start position but cannot be pivoted. The connector housing assembly also includes a shift start blocking structure, which is configured to block the shift from the initial position to the rotation start position, and when the connector housing is mated with the mating connector, the shift start blocking structure is releasable.

[0006] According to this aspect, incorrect use can be reliably suppressed. This is because the lever must first be displaced before it can be rotated. This can prevent the lever from idling, that is, when the lever has not yet engaged with the mating connector. In addition, the translational displacement can be blocked by the displacement start blocking structure. In particular, it can be released by mating with the mating connector. This can more reliably prevent incorrect operation.

[0007] The invention can be further improved by the following configurations, which are advantageous per se and can be combined with one another at random.

[0008] The displacement start preventing structure preferably includes a housing-side engaging portion provided on the elastic arm portion of the connector housing.

[0009] Therefore, the displacement start blocking structure can be released in a simple manner by elastic deformation of the elastic arm portion. The elastic arm portion can be deformed in particular by contact with the mating connector. Such contact with the mating connector can occur at the contact portion of the elastic arm portion.

[0010] The shell side engagement portion is preferably arranged at a position in the mating direction and / or in a direction intersecting the mating direction, which is different from the contact portion of the elastic arm portion with the mating connector. In other words, the shell side engagement portion and the contact portion with the mating connector are located at different positions.

[0011] This can ensure that the mating connector can be reliably mated with the connector housing because the housing-side engaging portion does not hinder the mating connector.

[0012] According to another aspect, the connector housing assembly further includes: a shift end blocking structure configured to define a rotation start position.

[0013] This allows a single rotational start position, in particular a position after displacement, to be specified and further displacement to be blocked. In other words, the lever can be operated in a purely rotational manner from the rotational start position. This simplifies operation.

[0014] According to a further aspect, the lever can slide during the displacement movement along an axis forming a portion of the axis forming the axis of the pivoting movement.

[0015] Therefore, the translational movement of the lever can be at least partially guided by the axis forming part. At the same time, the number of components can be reduced.

[0016] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing assembly may further include a rotation guide structure configured to guide the rotational movement of the lever.

[0017] According to this aspect, a purely rotational movement can be achieved, since a translational movement can be prevented by the rotational guide structure.

[0018] Preferably, the rotation guide structure comprises a slideway, and the peripheral portion of the lever is slidable along the slideway.

[0019] Thus, the lever can be guided in a simple manner. In particular, there is no need to provide a guide rod. For example, the outer periphery of the lever can instead be used for guiding.

[0020] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing assembly may further include a rotation blocking structure configured to block rotational movement before reaching a rotation start position.

[0021] In this way, a purely translational displacement of the lever can initially be reliably obtained.

[0022] The rotation blocking structure is preferably provided at two different positions in the circumferential direction around the pivot axis.

[0023] Thus, a better load distribution can be achieved for the attempted rotation.

[0024] At least a portion of the rotation guiding structure preferably abuts at least a portion of the rotation blocking structure.

[0025] Thus, the configuration can be made particularly simple.Thus, the rotation guiding structure and the rotation blocking structure can be formed by the connector housing part, wherein they can be a continuous surface of the connector housing part.

[0026] According to yet another aspect, the maximum lever arm length of the lever in the rotation start position may be greater than the maximum lever arm length in the initial position.

[0027] Since the force applied by the operator is reduced due to the leverage, efficient mating with the mating connector is possible.

[0028] Preferably, the lever has an eccentric control portion engageable with a mating connector for mating.

[0029] The eccentric control portion can engage with the engagement portion of the mating connector, thereby controlling the relative advancement rate between the connector housing and the mating connector in the mating direction with respect to the rotation angle of the lever. The force applied to the lever by the operator can then be used to transfer it to the mating connector at the eccentric control portion. Thus, the lever can be used to assist the mating process.

[0030] The eccentric control portion is preferably formed in a tooth shape.

[0031] The toothed eccentric control portion can achieve uniform cooperation with the mating connector. In addition, the toothed portion can be formed in a simple manner and makes the construction compact.

[0032] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing assembly may further include a retaining structure configured to retain the lever in a rotation start position.

[0033] Therefore, undesired rotation in the rotation start position can be prevented.Only when a predetermined force is applied, the rotation holding structure can be released and the rotation occurs.

[0034] According to yet another aspect, the lever and / or the connector housing may be injection molded.

[0035] This simplifies the manufacture of the lever and / or the connector housing. Furthermore, the above structure can be obtained in a simple manner. A thermoplastic plastic material can be used as the material.

[0036] According to still another aspect, the connector housing may include a guide portion configured to guide the mating connector in parallel with the mating direction.

[0037] Therefore, even when the lever is rotated, the translational movement of the mating connector can be reliably obtained.

[0038] Another aspect provides a connector comprising a connector housing assembly according to at least one of the preceding aspects.

[0039] This makes it possible to provide a connector with increased operational safety.

[0040] Depending on the application, the connector may include electrical contact elements, optical contact elements or optoelectronic contact elements which, when mated, connect to correspondingly formed complementary mating contacts of a mating connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show exemplary embodiments whose different features can be combined with each other as needed according to the above description. In particular, if the effects of these features are necessary for a particular application, the individual features can be added to the described embodiments according to the above explanation. On the contrary, if the technical effects of these features are not important in a particular application, the individual features can be omitted from the existing embodiments. Similar, identical and functionally identical elements in the accompanying drawings have the same reference numerals to the extent appropriate.

[0042] Figure 1 shows a view of the connector housing assembly viewed from the outside in the initial position of the lever;

[0043] Figure 2 The connector housing assembly is shown in a rotation start position of the lever;

[0044] Figure 3 The connector housing assembly is shown in a rotated position of the lever;

[0045] Figure 4 The connector housing assembly is shown in the end rotation position of the lever;

[0046] Figure 5 showing an enlarged view of a portion of the connector housing assembly in an initial position;

[0047] Figure 6 shows a view from the inside of the connector housing assembly in an initial position;

[0048] Figure 7 showing a view of the connector housing assembly viewed from the inside in a rotation start position; and

[0049] Figure 8A view of the connector housing assembly from the inside is shown in the rotated position of the lever. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figures 1 to 4 The connector housing assembly 1 is shown in the initial position, the rotation start position, the rotation position and the end position in sequence. The connector housing assembly 1 comprises a component connector housing 10 and a lever 20 .

[0051] The connector housing assembly 1 may be used, for example, in a connector for high voltage applications. The connector comprises at least one electrical terminal received in an interior of the connector housing 10 .

[0052] Therefore, the connector housing 10 has a housing function. It has a substantially parallelepiped shape. It includes two wall portions 11, which are corresponding oppositely disposed side wall portions, receive at least one terminal therebetween, and are disposed opposite to each other in the transverse direction. The transverse direction is perpendicular to Figures 1 to 4 The mating direction A is shown in FIG. The mating direction A is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrical terminal.

[0053] Each side wall portion 11 includes an axis forming portion 12 defining a pivot axis 13 at the center thereof. The axis forming portion 12 protrudes from the outer surface of the side wall portion 11 and serves as a supporting portion for the lever 20.

[0054] The connector housing portion 10 further includes a resilient arm portion 14 which is formed cantilevered and offset from the remainder of the side wall portion 11. Figure 5 As shown, the arm portion 14 includes a protrusion portion 14a, which protrudes in the direction of the pivot axis on the arm portion, which faces away from the mating connector 30 in the mating direction A. The elastic arm portion 14 also includes a contact portion 14b with the mating connector 30. In the present case, it is formed on the inner side of the arm portion 14 by two protrusions, such as Figure 7 In the direction perpendicular to the mating direction A and the lateral direction, the protruding portion 14a is located closer to the pivot axis 13 than the contact portion 14b and farther in the mating direction A on the connector housing 10 side.

[0055] from Figure 5 and Figure 6 As can be seen in the figure, the connector housing part 10 comprises housing-side rotation blocking parts 15, one arranged on the outer side of the side wall part 11 and the other arranged on the inner side of the side wall part 11. The rotation blocking parts 15 are basically aligned in the circumferential direction (currently perpendicular to the mating direction A and the pivot axis). This means that they have contact surfaces pointing in the circumferential direction. The rotation blocking parts 15 are arranged at two positions in the circumferential direction, in particular axially symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis 13.

[0056] In addition, the connector housing 10 includes a housing-side rotation guide portion 16, each rotation guide portion 16 is also arranged on a different side of the side wall portion 11 in the transverse direction. They are configured as a slideway extending substantially in the circumferential direction. It should be noted that the two rotation guide portions 16 are also arranged in the circumferential direction, preferably axially symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis 13. The rotation blocking portion 15 and the rotation guide portion 16 are each formed by a connector housing portion. Therefore, their surfaces are continuous with each other, and they share at least one coupling portion.

[0057] In addition, if Figure 7 As shown, the retaining projection 17 is provided at the side wall portion 11. It projects in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and the lateral direction, and is positioned farther from the pivot axis 13 than the projection portion 14a and the contact portion 14b in the said direction. In the mating direction, it is positioned farther on the connector housing 10 side.

[0058] Although not shown, the lever 20 has an overall U-shape having two legs disposed opposite to each other in the lateral direction and a connecting portion connected in the lateral direction.

[0059] Each leg has a lever support portion 21 at an end portion disposed opposite to the connecting portion. The lever support portion 21 is an elongated hole having substantially the diameter of the axis forming portion 12 in the width direction and formed to be longer in the longitudinal direction.

[0060] When viewed in the transverse direction (along the pivot axis 13 ), the end portion is formed to be predominantly circular and merges into an extension portion which extends to the connecting portion.

[0061] The end portion comprises an eccentric control portion 22 at the periphery of the circular portion. It is toothed and comprises currently two teeth 22a, 22b in the circumferential direction.

[0062] Furthermore, a locking protrusion 24 a is provided on the outer side of the lever 20 , the locking protrusion 24 a protruding away from the pivot axis.

[0063] The rotation blocking part 25 on the lever side is formed to protrude on the outside and inside in the transverse direction. The two rotation blocking parts 25 formed in this way are basically aligned in the circumferential direction (at present perpendicular to the mating direction A and the pivot axis). This means that they have a contact surface pointing in the circumferential direction. The rotation blocking part 25 is arranged at two positions in the circumferential direction, in particular axially symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis 13.

[0064] The lever-side rotation blocking portions 25 are respectively adjacent to the lever-side rotation guiding portions 26. The rotation guiding portions are also provided in two positions in the circumferential direction and correspond to the housing-side rotation guiding portions 16 on the periphery thereof extending in the circumferential direction.

[0065] In addition, if Figure 7 As shown, the lever-side retaining projection 27 is provided to protrude on the inner side of the lever 20. It is located farther from the pivot axis 13 than the locking projection 24a, the rotation blocking portion 25 and the rotation guiding portion 26 in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction A and the lateral direction.

[0066] Mating connector 30 in Figures 1 to 4 The connector 10 is relatively movable in the mating direction A in the middle. It includes an arm 31 pointing in the mating direction. At its end portion on the connector housing side, teeth 32a, 32b are arranged on the side facing the pivot axis 13 and spaced apart in the mating direction A.

[0067] The function and effect are now described.

[0068] In addition, the connector housing assembly includes a displacement start preventing structure 40. It includes a protruding portion 14a and a locking protrusion 24a, which are arranged opposite to each other in the mating direction (in the longitudinal direction of the elongated hole), and thus prevent the lever 20 from being displaced in the mating direction. Figure 1 The connector is displaced from its initial position along the elongated hole to the connector housing side (upward in the figure).

[0069] Only when the arm 31 of the mating connector 31 contacts the contact portion 14b of the elastic arm portion 14, the elastic arm portion 14 is bent outward, and the displacement start blocking structure 40 is released. The tooth 32a can contact the lever 20 to perform the displacement. Therefore, the connector housing assembly can be configured so that the mating connector 30 performs the displacement movement.

[0070] The rotation blocking structure 50 blocks the rotation of the lever 20 at least in the initial position, but not until the rotation start position. It includes a rotation blocking portion 15 on the housing side and a rotation blocking portion 25 on the lever side, which are each arranged opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and thus block the rotation. It should be noted that in Figure 5 , a portion of the side wall portion 11 where the rotation blocking structure 50 is formed has been cut away so that the rotation blocking structure 50 is exposed.

[0071] The lever 20 can then be moved upwards. The end-of-displacement blocking structure defines the end of the displacement and thus the position of the lever 20 at which the Figure 2It includes an end portion of the elongated hole and an end portion of the axis forming portion 12, each of which is on the mating connector side.

[0072] When moving from the initial position to the rotation start position, the boundary of the elongated hole forms a partial slide along the axis Figure 5 The distance D in the lever 20 is guided in this way. At the same time, the rotation blocking parts 15, 25 are also displaced relative to each other in a translational manner by a distance D. This releases the rotation blocking structure 50. The maximum lever length (the distance between the pivot axis 13 and the connecting part of the lever 20) is increased due to the displacement.

[0073] In the rotation start position, the retaining projection 17 is arranged at a position spaced from the pivot axis 13 opposite to the retaining projection 27 on the lever side in the mating direction, so that rotation is initially prevented. Thus, a retaining structure 60 with respect to the rotation position is formed. Since the retaining projections 17, 27 include corresponding portions inclined in the mating direction A, they can slide along each other so that rotation starts.

[0074] exist Figure 3 , the lever 20 can then be rotated / pivoted by the operator to mate with the mating connector 30. The rotation guide structure 70 comprises rotation guide portions 16, 26, each of which adjoins the end portions of the rotation blocking portions 15, 25 in the displacement direction in the circumferential direction. The rotational movement can be guided in this way. In this embodiment, the rotation guide structure 70 is at least partially formed by the rotation blocking structure 50.

[0075] The teeth 22 a , 22 b of the eccentric control portion 22 engage with the teeth 32 a , 32 b and displace the connector housing assembly 10 in the mating direction A relative to the mating connector 30 .

[0076] It is advantageous for the connector housing 10 to include a guide portion that guides the mating connector 30 in the mating direction A.

[0077] exist Figure 4 In the embodiment, the rotation end position of the lever 20 has finally been reached. The lever 20 can be locked to the connector housing 10 by a locking structure at the rotation end position.

[0078] In this embodiment, the housing side engaging portion is a protruding portion 14a. However, it may also be formed as a recessed portion.

[0079] Reference numerals

[0080] 1Connector housing assembly

[0081] 10Connector housing

[0082] 11 Side wall part

[0083] 12 Axis forming part

[0084] 13 Rotation axis

[0085] 14 Elastic arm part

[0086] 14a Projection (shell side engagement portion)

[0087] 14b Contact part

[0088] 15 Rotation blocking part on the housing side

[0089] 16 Rotation guide on housing side

[0090] 17 Retaining projection on the housing side

[0091] 20 Leverage

[0092] 21 Lever support part

[0093] 22 Eccentric control part

[0094] 22a, b teeth

[0095] 24a Locking protrusion

[0096] 25 Rotation blocking portion on the lever side

[0097] 26 Rotation guide on the lever side

[0098] 27 Retaining protrusion on the lever side

[0099] 30 Mating connector

[0100] 31 Arm of mating connector

[0101] 32a, 33b are teeth of the mating connector

[0102] 40 Shift starts blocking structure

[0103] 50 Rotation blocking structure

[0104] 60 Keep Structure

[0105] 70 Rotation guide structure

[0106] A. Mating direction

[0107] D Shift Path

Claims

1. A connector housing assembly (1), comprising: A connector housing (10) for receiving at least one electrical terminal; A lever (20) for mating the connector housing with a mating connector (30) along a mating direction (A), wherein the lever (20) is pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing (10) according to the position of the lever; The lever (20) can first be displaced from an initial position to a rotation start position before being able to pivot. The connector housing assembly (1) further includes a shift start blocking structure (40), which is configured to block the shift from the initial position to the rotation start position, and when the connector housing (10) is mated with the mating connector (30), the shift start blocking structure (40) is releasable.

2. The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1, in, The displacement start preventing structure (40) includes a housing side engaging portion (14a) provided on an elastic arm portion (14) of the connector housing (10).

3. The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 2, in, The housing side engaging portion (14a) is arranged at a position in the mating direction (A) and / or in a direction intersecting the mating direction (A) that is different from a contact portion (14b) of the elastic arm portion (14) with the mating connector (14).

4. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Also included is a shift end blocking structure configured to define the rotation start position.

5. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in, The lever (20) is slidable during the displacement movement along an axis forming portion (12) forming the pivoting movement axis (13).

6. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, Also included is a rotation guide structure (70), which is configured to guide the rotational movement of the lever (20).

7. The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 6, in, The rotation guide structure (70) includes a slideway, and a peripheral portion of the lever (20) can slide along the slideway.

8. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, Also included is a rotation blocking structure (50) configured to block rotational movement before reaching the rotation start position.

9. The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 6 or 7 and 8, in, At least a portion of the rotation guiding structure (70) abuts at least a portion of the rotation blocking structure (50).

10. The connector housing assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in, The maximum lever arm length of the lever (20) in the rotation start position is greater than the maximum lever arm length in the initial position.

11. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in, The lever (20) includes an eccentric control portion (22) that is engageable with the mating connector (30) for mating.

12. The connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 11, in, The eccentric control portion (22) is formed in a tooth shape.

13. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a retaining structure (60), the retaining structure (60) being configured to retain the lever (20) in the rotation start position.

14. The connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in, The connector housing (10) includes a guide portion configured to guide the mating connector (30) parallel to the mating direction.

15. A connector comprising a connector housing assembly (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

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