Connector device

Abstract

To make it possible to provide a connector device that can prevent a connector from being left in a partially engaged state.SOLUTION: A lock arm 24 has a first abutting surface 52 at a position where the lock arm can come into contact with a lock portion 76 during a mating process between a first connector 20 and a second connector. The first abutting surface 52 includes a sliding portion 54 that extends rearward from a contact start position where the contact with the lock portion 76 starts and on which the lock portion 76 slides. The sliding portion 54 is inclined with respect to a front-rear direction. When the lock portion 76 comes into contact with the first abutting surface 52 at the contact start position during the mating process between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30, a first terminal 21 and a second terminal 71 are arranged in a non-contact state. The lock arm 24 includes a second abutting surface 57 that can come into contact with the lock portion 76. The second abutting surface 57 is formed behind the first abutting surface 52, and has a larger inclination angle with respect to the front-rear direction than the first abutting surface 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured so that mating between the male connector and the female connector is completed when a protrusion of a flexible arm of the female connector climbs over a locking portion of the male connector. Similarly, the connector disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured so that mating between the male connector and the female connector is completed when a locking portion of a locking arm of the female connector flexes and climbs over a locked portion of the male connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-50268 [Patent Document 2] JP 2006-147291 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the connector of Patent Document 1, in a semi-mated state where the locking portion of the male connector and the protrusion of the flexible arm of the female connector start to come into contact, the male terminal and the female terminal can come into contact with each other. Therefore, when a continuity test is performed through the male terminal and the female terminal, this connector may be judged to be in a mated state because the male terminal and the female terminal are conductive, even though the connector is in a semi-mated state. In the connector of Patent Document 2, the lock arm has a flat surface between the front end and the locking portion along the front-rear direction, and there is a concern that the mating force may be large when the locking arm overcomes the locking portion.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a connector device that can prevent the connector from being left in a partially mated state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector device of the present disclosure comprises: A first connector and a second connector that are matable with each other are provided, the first connector has a first terminal, a first housing that accommodates the first terminal, and a lock arm that is formed in the first housing and is elastically deformable, the second connector has a second terminal, a second housing that accommodates the second terminal, and a lock portion that is formed in the second housing and that engages with the lock arm, the lock arm extends in a front-rear direction, which is a direction in which the first connector and the second connector are fitted together, and includes a deflection fulcrum portion at a front end portion thereof which is connected to the first housing; With the lock arm engaged with the lock portion, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in contact with each other, and the first connector and the second connector are held in a mated state, the lock arm has a first abutment surface at a position capable of contacting the lock portion during a mating process between the first connector and the second connector, the first contact surface includes a sliding portion that extends rearward from a contact start position where contact with the lock portion starts and against which the lock portion comes into contact and slides, The sliding portion is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, When the locking portion contacts the first contact surface at the contact start position during a process of fitting the first connector and the second connector, the first terminal and the second terminal are placed in a non-contact state, The lock arm has a second abutment surface capable of contacting the lock portion, The second contact surface is formed rearward of the first contact surface and has a larger inclination angle with respect to the front-rear direction than the first contact surface. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The present disclosure can provide a connector device that can prevent the connector from being left in a partially mated state. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first connector of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second connector of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector device of the first embodiment when it is in the contact initiation position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector device of embodiment 1 at a position where the locking portion starts to contact the second contact surface. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector device of the first embodiment in a mated state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and illustrated. [1] A connector device disclosed herein includes a first connector and a second connector that can be fitted to each other, the first connector having a first terminal, a first housing that accommodates the first terminal, and a lock arm formed in the first housing and elastically deformable, the second connector having a second terminal, a second housing that accommodates the second terminal, and a lock portion formed in the second housing to which the lock arm is engaged, the lock arm extending in a front-rear direction that is a mating direction between the first connector and the second connector, and having a bending fulcrum portion at a front end that is connected to the first housing, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in contact with each other when the lock arm is engaged with the lock portion, and the first connector and the second connector are maintained in a mated state, the locking arm has a first abutment surface at a position capable of contacting the locking portion during the mating process of the first connector and the second connector, the first abutment surface includes a sliding portion that extends rearward from a contact start position where contact with the locking portion begins and against which the locking portion slides, the sliding portion is inclined with respect to the front-to-rear direction, and during the mating process of the first connector and the second connector, when the locking portion contacts the first abutment surface at the contact start position, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in a non-contacting state, the locking arm has a second abutment surface capable of contacting the locking portion, the second abutment surface is formed rearward of the first abutment surface and has a larger inclination angle with respect to the front-to-rear direction than the first abutment surface.

[0010] In the configuration of [1], when the locking portion contacts the first abutment surface at the contact start position during the mating process between the first connector and the second connector, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in a non-contact state. Therefore, when the locking portion contacts the first abutment surface at the contact start position, the first terminal and the second terminal are not electrically connected, and the semi-mating between the first connector and the second connector can be detected by a continuity test. In addition, since the sliding portion of the first abutment surface is inclined relative to the front-rear direction, the locking arm can be deflected at a relatively early stage in the mating process to reduce the force required for the mating operation. In addition, the locking arm has a second abutment surface whose inclination angle relative to the front-rear direction is larger than that of the first abutment surface. Therefore, when the locking portion passes through the second abutment surface, the mating can be easily completed in one go without stopping the mating midway, and the mating between the first connector and the second connector can be easily completed. In particular, the second contact surface is located farther away from the deflection fulcrum portion than the first contact surface, making it easier to reduce the insertion force when passing through the second contact surface. Therefore, the connector device can prevent the first connector and the second connector from being left in a partially mated state.

[0011] [2] In the connector device described in [1] above, it is preferable that the locking arm has a straight surface along the front-rear direction between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

[0012] In the configuration [2] above, when the locking portion contacts the straight surface, the degree of elastic deformation of the locking arm can be made gentler than in the case of the inclined surface. Therefore, the locking portion is more likely to face the second abutment surface behind the straight surface, and as the two connectors are mated, the locking portion is more likely to come into contact with the second abutment surface and press the second abutment surface in.

[0013] [3] In the connector device described in [1] or [2] above, it is preferable that the first terminal is a female terminal, the second terminal is a male terminal, the first housing has a front wall against which the first terminal can be abutted, the front wall has a through hole into which the second terminal is inserted, and when the locking portion contacts the first abutment surface at the contact starting position, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged apart via the through hole in the front wall.

[0014] In the above configuration [3], the first terminal and the second terminal are disposed apart from each other via the front wall, so that the first terminal and the second terminal can be reliably separated from each other.

[0015] [4] In the connector device described in any one of [1] to [3] above, it is preferable that the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in a non-contact state while the locking portion is sliding along the sliding portion.

[0016] In the above configuration [4], in the process of fitting the first connector and the second connector, the first terminal and the second terminal can be brought into contact with each other in a state closer to the completed fitting state.

[0017] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0018] [Embodiment 1] The connector device 10 of the first embodiment includes a first connector 20 and a second connector 30 that are matable with each other. The mating direction of both connectors 20, 30 is the front-rear direction. In the first embodiment, with regard to the front-rear direction, the positive side of the X-axis in Figs. 1 and 5 is defined as the front. With regard to the up-down direction, the positive side of the Z-axis in Figs. 1 and 5 is defined as the up. With regard to the left-right direction, the positive side of the Y-axis in Fig. 1 is defined as the right.

[0019] (First connector 20) As shown in FIG. 2, the first connector 20 is a female connector. The first connector 20 has a first terminal 21 and a first housing 22. The first housing 22 is a female housing. The first housing 22 is made of synthetic resin. The first housing 22 receives the first terminal 21. The first housing 22 is a single component having a flat shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the first housing 22 has a housing main body 23 and a lock arm 24.

[0020] The housing body 23 has a flat rectangular shape as a whole. As shown in Fig. 5, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 25 are formed in the housing body 23, penetrating the housing body 23 in the front-rear direction. The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 25 are formed in two upper and lower stages, aligned at a constant pitch in the left-right direction. A first terminal 21 fixed to a front end of an electric wire 26 is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 25.

[0021] 5, the housing body 23 is provided with a front wall 27. The front wall 27 constitutes a front wall of the multiple terminal accommodating chambers 25. The first terminals 21 can be abutted against the front wall 27. Through holes 28 corresponding to each terminal accommodating chamber 25 are formed in the front wall 27. The second terminals 71 are inserted into the terminal accommodating chambers 25 through the through holes 28.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3, the lock arm 24 is disposed in the center of the first housing 22 in the left-right direction. The lock arm 24 extends in the front-rear direction. The lock arm 24 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction. The lock arm 24 has a bending fulcrum portion 41, an arm main body portion 42, and an operation portion 43.

[0023] 5, the flexure fulcrum portion 41 constitutes the front end portion of the lock arm 24, and is connected to the front end portion of the outer wall surface (upper surface) 29 of the housing main body portion 23. The arm main body portion 42 is in the form of a flat plate that is long in the front-rear direction. The arm main body portion 42 extends in a cantilever manner rearward from the flexure fulcrum portion 41 along the outer wall surface 29 of the housing main body portion 23. The operating portion 43 protrudes rearward and upward from the rear end of the arm main body portion 42. The operating portion 43 is used to perform a pressing operation on the lock arm 24 to release the lock.

[0024] 5, the upper surface of the arm main body 42 is provided with a front upper surface 51, a first contact surface 52, and a straight surface 53. The front upper surface 51 constitutes the front end portion of the upper surface of the arm main body 42. The front upper surface 51 is a flat surface that extends along the front-rear direction when the lock arm 24 is not elastically deformed.

[0025] The first abutment surface 52 is continuous rearward with the front upper surface 51. The first abutment surface 52 is provided at a position where it can come into contact with a locking portion 76 of the second housing 72, which will be described later, during the process of mating the first connector 20 and the second connector 30. The first abutment surface 52 is inclined in the front-to-rear direction so as to be inclined upward toward the rear.

[0026] The first contact surface 52 includes a sliding portion 54 that extends rearward from a contact start position where contact with a lock portion 76 of the second housing 72, which will be described later, starts, and along which the lock portion 76 slides. The sliding portion 54 constitutes a rear end portion of the first contact surface 52. The sliding portion 54 is inclined in the front-to-rear direction so as to be inclined upward toward the rear.

[0027] The straight surface 53 is continuous rearward with the first contact surface 52. The straight surface 53 is provided between the first contact surface 52 and a second contact surface 57, which will be described later. The straight surface 53 is a flat surface that extends along the front-rear direction when the lock arm 24 is not elastically deformed.

[0028] 5, a protrusion 55 and a rear upper surface 56 are provided on the upper surface of the arm body 42. The protrusion 55 protrudes upward from a position behind the straight surface 53. The protrusion 55 has a rectangular shape in a plan view. A second contact surface 57 is provided on the front surface of the protrusion 55.

[0029] The second abutment surface 57 is formed behind the first abutment surface 52. The second abutment surface 57 is connected to the straight surface 53 rearward. The second abutment surface 57 is inclined so as to have an upward inclination toward the rear. The inclination angle of the second abutment surface 57 with respect to the front-rear direction is larger than the inclination angle of the first abutment surface 52 with respect to the front-rear direction. The inclination angle of the second abutment surface 57 with respect to the front-rear direction (horizontal direction) is an angle close to a right angle. Here, the inclination angle of the second abutment surface 57 with respect to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 57 and a straight line parallel to the front-rear direction is an angle at which the angle between the second abutment surface 52 ...

[0030] The rear upper surface 56 is continuous rearward with the protrusion 55. The rear upper surface 56 is a flat surface that extends along the front-rear direction when the lock arm 24 is not elastically deformed.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the first terminal 21 is a female terminal. The first terminal 21 is formed integrally by punching a conductive metal plate into a predetermined shape and then bending the same. As shown in FIG. 5, the first terminal 21 has a main body 61, a resilient contact piece 62, and a crimping portion 63. The main body 61 is in the shape of a square tube. The second terminal 71 is inserted into the main body 61. The resilient contact piece 62 is disposed within the main body 61. The resilient contact piece 62 extends rearward from the front end of the main body 61. The crimping portion 63 is fixed to the front end of the electric wire 26.

[0032] (Second connector 30) The second connector 30 is a male connector as shown in Fig. 2. The second connector 30 functions as a board connector mounted on a circuit board 31 (see Fig. 5). The second connector 30 has a second terminal 71 and a second housing 72.

[0033] The second housing 72 is a male housing. The second housing 72 is made of synthetic resin. The second housing 72 holds the second terminals 71. As shown in FIG. 4, the second housing 72 is a single component having a flat shape. The second housing 72 has a terminal holding portion 73 and a hood portion 74. The terminal holding portion 73 is wall-shaped. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal holding portion 73 holds a plurality of second terminals 71. The hood portion 74 protrudes in the shape of a flat rectangular tube from the outer periphery of the terminal holding portion 73 rearward (toward the first connector 20).

[0034] As shown in Fig. 4, a lock portion 76 is provided on the inner surface (lower surface) of an upper wall portion 75 constituting the hood portion 74. A lock arm 24 of the first housing 22 is engaged with the lock portion 76. The lock portion 76 protrudes downward from the inner surface of the upper wall portion 75. The lock portion 76 has a rectangular shape when viewed from below.

[0035] 6, a lower surface 77 of the locking portion 76 is a flat surface along the front-rear direction. A rear surface 78 of the locking portion 76 is inclined relative to the front-rear direction so as to be inclined upward toward the rear.

[0036] The second terminal 71 is formed by punching a plate material into a rod shape and bending it. The second terminal 71 has a terminal connection portion 81 and a board connection portion 82. The terminal connection portion 81 extends in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal connection portion 81 is press-fitted into the terminal holding portion 73. A tab at the tip of the terminal connection portion 81 is disposed within the hood portion 74. The board connection portion 82 is bent into an L-shape. The board connection portion 82 extends downward from the base end of the terminal connection portion 81 outside the second housing 72 (hood portion 74). The board connection portion 82 is connected to the circuit board 31.

[0037] (Mating of both connectors 20, 30) When the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are mated, the first housing 22 is inserted into the hood portion 74 of the second housing 72. In the process of mating the first connector 20 and the second connector 30, the lock portion 76 contacts the first abutment surface 52 at the contact start position, as shown in FIG. 5. When the lock portion 76 is at the contact start position, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 are arranged in a non-contact state. Specifically, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 are arranged apart from each other without entering the through hole 28 of the front wall 27.

[0038] As the mating of the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 progresses further, the locking portion 76 slides on the sliding portion 54 of the first abutment surface 52. Because the sliding portion 54 is inclined upward toward the rear, as the mating of the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 progresses, the locking arm 24 elastically deforms to approach the outer wall surface 29 of the first housing 22. Even while the lower surface of the locking portion 76 slides on the sliding portion 54, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 remain in a non-contact state.

[0039] As the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are further mated, the locking portion 76 comes into contact with the straight surface 53. As the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are further mated, the locking portion 76 comes into contact with the second abutment surface 57, as shown in Fig. 6. When the locking portion 76 passes the protrusion 55 of the locking arm 24, the locking portion 76 is quickly brought into a properly mated state (see Fig. 7) due to inertia. The second abutment surface 57 has a larger inclination angle than the first abutment surface 52, and so when the locking portion 76 passes the second abutment surface 57, the locking portion 76 is likely to quickly reach a properly mated state (see Fig. 7) without stopping the mating.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7, with the protrusion 55 of the lock arm 24 locked with the lock portion 76, the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 are maintained in a mated state, resulting in a properly mated state.

[0041] (Effects of the connector device 10 of the first embodiment) In the connector device 10 of the first embodiment, when the locking portion 76 contacts the first contact surface 52 at the contact start position during the mating process between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 are arranged in a non-contact state. Therefore, when the locking portion 76 contacts the first contact surface 52 at the contact start position, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 are not electrically connected, and the semi-fitting between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 can be detected by a continuity test. In addition, since the sliding portion 54 of the first contact surface 52 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, the locking arm 24 can be deflected at a relatively early stage in the mating process to reduce the force required for the mating operation. In addition, the locking arm 24 has a second contact surface 57 whose inclination angle with respect to the front-rear direction is larger than that of the first contact surface 52. Therefore, when the lock portion 76 passes over the second abutment surface 57, the mating can be easily completed in one go without stopping midway, and the mating between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 can be easily completed. In particular, the second abutment surface 57 is located farther away from the deflection fulcrum portion 41 than the first abutment surface 52, and is easily displaced when passing over the second abutment surface 57, making it easier to reduce the insertion force. Therefore, the connector device 10 can prevent the first connector 20 and the second connector 30 from being left in a partially mated state.

[0042] In the connector device 10 of the first embodiment, the lock arm 24 has a straight surface 53 along the front-rear direction between the first abutment surface 52 and the second abutment surface 57. With this configuration, the degree of elastic deformation of the lock arm 24 can be made gentle when the lock portion 76 contacts the straight surface 53. Therefore, the lock portion 76 is more likely to face the second abutment surface 57 located behind the straight surface 53, and the lock portion 76 is more likely to come into contact with the second abutment surface 57 and to press the second abutment surface 57 when the mating of the two connectors 20, 30 progresses.

[0043] In the connector device 10 of the first embodiment, the first housing 22 has a front wall 27 against which the first terminal 21 can be abutted and stopped. When the locking portion 76 contacts the first abutment surface 52 at the contact start position, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 are spaced apart via the through hole 28 of the front wall 27. With this configuration, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 can be reliably separated from each other when the locking portion 76 contacts the first abutment surface 52 at the contact start position.

[0044] In the connector device 10 of the first embodiment, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 are arranged in a non-contact state while the lock portion 76 is sliding on the sliding portion 54. With this configuration, the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71 can be brought into contact with each other in a state closer to the completed mating state during the mating process between the first connector 20 and the second connector 30. This makes it easier to prevent the connector device 10 in a semi-mated state from being determined to be in a properly mated state based on a continuity test between the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 71.

[0045] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is indicated by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments. In the above-described first embodiment, the inclination angle of the second contact surface 57 with respect to the front-rear direction is an angle close to a right angle, but it may be a right angle. In the first embodiment, the terminal accommodating chambers 25 are arranged in two upper and lower stages in the first housing 22, but they may be arranged in one stage or three or more upper and lower stages. In the above embodiment 1, the first connector 20 is configured as a female connector and the second connector 30 is configured as a male connector, but the first connector 20 may be configured as a male connector and the second connector 30 may be configured as a female connector. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10: Connector device 20: First connector 21: 1st terminal 22: 1st Housing 23: Housing body 24: Lock Arm 25: Terminal compartment 26: Electric wire 27: Front wall 28: Through hole 29: Exterior wall 30: Second connector 31: Circuit Board 41: Flexure support 42: Arm body 43: Operation section 51: Front top surface 52: 1st contact surface 53: Straight surface 54: Sliding part 55: Protrusion 56: Upper rear surface 57: Second contact surface 61: Main body 62: Elastic contact piece 63: Crimping part 71: 2nd terminal 72: Second Housing 73: Terminal holding part 74: Food Section 75: Upper wall 76: Rock Club 77: Bottom surface 78: Rear 81: Terminal connection 82: PCB connection part

Claims

1. A first connector and a second connector that are matable with each other are provided, The first connector has a first terminal, a first housing that receives the first terminal, and a lock arm that is formed on the first housing and is elastically deformable, the second connector has a second terminal, a second housing that receives the second terminal, and a lock portion that is formed on the second housing and that engages with the lock arm, the lock arm extends in a front-rear direction, which is a direction in which the first connector and the second connector are fitted together, and includes a deflection fulcrum portion at a front end portion thereof which is connected to the first housing; With the lock arm engaged with the lock portion, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in contact with each other, and the first connector and the second connector are held in a mated state, the lock arm has a first contact surface at a position capable of contacting the lock portion during a mating process between the first connector and the second connector, the first contact surface includes a sliding portion that extends rearward from a contact start position where contact with the lock portion starts and against which the lock portion comes into contact and slides, The sliding portion is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, When the locking portion contacts the first contact surface at the contact start position during a process of fitting the first connector and the second connector, the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in a non-contact state, the lock arm has a second abutment surface capable of contacting the lock portion, The second contact surface is formed rearward of the first contact surface and has a larger inclination angle with respect to the front-rear direction than the first contact surface.

2. 2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the lock arm has a straight surface extending along the front-rear direction between the first contact surface and the second contact surface.

3. The first terminal is a female terminal, the second terminal is a male terminal, the first housing includes a front wall against which the first terminal can be abutted; the front wall is provided with a through hole into which the second terminal is inserted, The connector device according to claim 1 , wherein when the locking portion contacts the first contact surface at the contact initiation position, the first terminal and the second terminal are spaced apart from each other via the through hole in the front wall.

4. The connector device according to claim 1 , wherein the first terminal and the second terminal are arranged in a non-contact state while the locking portion is sliding on the sliding portion.

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