Combined connector

Abstract

To provide a combined connector capable of suppressing displacement of combined connector housings so as to open to the right and left.SOLUTION: The combined connector 1 includes a first connector housing 10 and a second connector housing 30 combined with the first connector housing 10. An engagement rail 21,41 extending in a thickness direction of the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 is formed on a joining surface 19,39 of each of the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30. A hook-shaped lock portion 23 is formed at an end portion of the first connector housing 10 in the thickness direction. A lock receiving portion 43 to which the lock portion 23 is locked when the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 are combined by being slid in the extending direction of the engagement rail 21,41 is formed at an end portion of the second connector housing 30 in the thickness direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a mating connector. [Background technology]

[0002] A known connector includes a plurality of (for example, two) connector housings that are combined (so-called combined connectors) (see Patent Document 1). The combined connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which two housing members (connector housings) are combined at the left and right sides, and a plurality of male terminals to be connected to female terminals are housed inside. An engaging rail extending in the vertical direction is formed on each of the combined surfaces of the two housing members. The engaging rail is formed, for example, by a dovetail and a dovetail groove. One end side and the other end side of the engaging rail in the extension direction are inserted into each other and slid in the extension direction (vertical direction), thereby combining the two housing members so that they cannot move apart (horizontally). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-81847 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of combined connector, at least one of the engaging rails on the two connector housings may be shorter than the length of the connector housing in the thickness direction (vertical direction), which can cause the connector housings to easily move apart and increase rattle between them.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a combined connector that can prevent the combined connector housings from being displaced to the left or right. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A combined connector according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a first connector housing and a second connector housing combined with the first connector housing, and an engaging rail extending in the thickness direction of the first connector housing and the second connector housing is formed on each combined surface of the first connector housing and the second connector housing, a hook-shaped locking portion is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the first connector housing, and a lock receiving portion is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the second connector housing, with which the locking portion engages when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are slid in the extending direction of the engaging rail to combine the first connector housing and the second connector housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a combined connector that can prevent the combined connector housings from being displaced open to the left and right. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a combined connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the combined connector shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is an exploded perspective view of the combined connector shown in FIG. 1, seen from the opposite side to FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combined connector according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the first connector housing before being combined. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a front view of the first connector housing before being combined. [Figure 9]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the second connector housing before being combined. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the mating connector before sliding along the engagement rails. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the combined connector midway through sliding along the engagement rail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The combined connector according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of explanation and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] 1 to 5, the combined connector 1 according to this embodiment includes a first connector housing 10 and a second connector housing 30. This combined connector 1 has a structure in which the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30, which has a larger length (width) in the left-right direction than the first connector housing, are combined on the left and right.

[0011] Terminal accommodating chambers 11, 31 are formed inside the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30, respectively, and a plurality of terminals (not shown) are accommodated in the terminal accommodating chambers 11, 31. Furthermore, cam followers 33 that are inserted into cam grooves of a lever (not shown) are formed on both vertical side surfaces of the second connector housing 30. The combined connector 1 has the cam followers 33 inserted into the cam grooves, and is mated with the mating housing of the mating connector by rotating the lever, so that the multiple terminals are connected collectively with multiple mating terminals.

[0012] The first connector housing 10 is formed of, for example, an insulating material (for example, synthetic resin). The first connector housing 10 is also called a small-pole connector, and its length (width) in the left-right direction is smaller than that of the second connector housing 30.

[0013] The first connector housing 10 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 11 formed on the top, bottom, left and right sides. A spacer mounting opening (not shown) opens on one side (bottom) of the first connector housing 10. A spacer 15 is mounted in this spacer mounting opening (see FIGS. 1 to 4). Meanwhile, an exposure hole 17 is formed on the other side (top) of the first connector housing 10. This exposure hole 17 communicates with the spacer mounting opening formed on the bottom surface of the first connector housing 10.

[0014] An engagement rail 21 extending in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the first connector housing 10 is formed on the mating surface 19 of the first connector housing 10 where it is joined with the second connector housing 30. This engagement rail 21 is formed, for example, by a "dovetail groove" (see FIG. 7). A plurality of engagement rails 21 (two in the illustrated example) are formed at intervals in the mating direction (front-rear direction) with the mating connector. In this embodiment, the engagement rail 21 on the first connector housing 10 side is formed over almost the entire length in the vertical direction, from the bottom to the top of the first connector housing 10 (see FIG. 3).

[0015] The second connector housing 30 is formed of, for example, an insulating material (for example, synthetic resin). The second connector housing 30 is also called a large-pole connector, and its length (width) in the left-right direction is greater than that of the first connector housing 10.

[0016] The second connector housing 30 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 31 formed on the top, bottom, left and right sides. A spacer mounting opening (not shown) opens on one side (bottom) of the second connector housing 30. A spacer 35 is mounted in this spacer mounting opening (see FIGS. 1 to 4). Meanwhile, an exposure hole 37 is formed on the other side (top) of the second connector housing 30. This exposure hole 37 communicates with the spacer mounting opening formed on the bottom surface of the second connector housing 30.

[0017] An engagement rail 41 extending in the thickness direction (vertical direction) of the second connector housing 30 is formed on a mating surface 39 of the second connector housing 30 with the first connector housing 10. A plurality of engagement rails 41 (two in the illustrated example) are formed at intervals in the mating direction (front-rear direction) with the mating connector. The engagement rails 41 are formed, for example, by dovetailing (see FIG. 9). In this embodiment, the engagement rail 41 on the second connector housing 30 side is formed from the bottom to the middle of the second connector housing 30, and is not formed on the top of the second connector housing 30 (see FIG. 2).

[0018] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, a hook-shaped locking portion 23, also called a hook lock, is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the first connector housing 10 (the upper end portion in the illustrated example). A plurality of locking portions 23 (two in the illustrated example) are formed at intervals in the mating direction with the mating connector (front-rear direction). The locking portion 23 is also formed at the end portion (upper end portion) of one of the two engaging rails 21. This locking portion 23 is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the first connector housing 10 (the end portion of the engaging rail 21), and a latching portion 25 (see Figure 6) is formed at the tip of the hook-shaped locking portion 23.

[0019] 5, 6, 9, and 10, a lock receiving portion 43, also called a hook lock receiving portion, is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the second connector housing 30 (the upper end portion in the illustrated example). A plurality of lock receiving portions 43 (two in the illustrated example) are formed at intervals in the mating direction (front-to-back direction) with the mating connector. This lock receiving portion 43 is formed at the end portion (the upper end portion) in the thickness direction of the second connector housing 30, and an opening 45 (see FIG. 6) into which the engaging portion 25 of the lock portion 23 is inserted is formed at the upper end of the lock receiving portion 43.

[0020] The operation of joining the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 will now be described.

[0021] First, as shown in Fig. 11 , the combining surface 19 of the first connector housing 10 is positioned above the combining surface 39 of the second connector housing 30. Next, as shown in Fig. 12 , the engaging rail 21 formed on the combining surface 19 of the first connector housing 10 is engaged with the engaging rail 41 formed on the combining surface 39 of the second connector housing 30. Then, when the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 are slid in the extending direction of the engaging rails 21, 41 to be combined, the engaging portion 25 of the locking portion 23 is caught in the opening 45 of the lock receiving portion 43, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 . The locking portion 23 of the first connector housing 10 is fitted into and engaged with the lock receiving portion 43 of the second connector housing 30, thereby obtaining the combined connector 1 shown in Fig. 1 .

[0022] The locking portion 23 of the first connector housing 10 is caught and fitted into the lock receiving portion 43 of the second connector housing 30. This prevents the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 from opening left and right, even if a force acts to pull the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 apart left and right.

[0023] In the combined connector 1, even if one of the engaging rails 21, 41 of the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 is short, it is possible to prevent the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 from opening left and right. Furthermore, misalignment in the pitch between the terminals in the terminal accommodating chambers 11, 31 of the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 is reduced, and even when mating with a mating connector, interference between the terminals is suppressed, thereby achieving a good mating state.

[0024] As described above, the combined connector 1 according to this embodiment includes a first connector housing 10 and a second connector housing 30 combined with the first connector housing 10. Engagement rails 21, 41 extending in the thickness direction of the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 are formed on the respective combination surfaces 19, 39 of the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30. A hook-shaped locking portion 23 is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the first connector housing 10. A lock receiving portion 43 is formed at the end portion in the thickness direction of the second connector housing 30. The locking portion 23 is engaged with the lock receiving portion 43 when the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 are combined by sliding the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 in the extending direction of the engagement rails 21, 41.

[0025] By combining the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 by sliding them in the extending direction of the engaging rails 21, 41, the locking portion 23 of the first connector housing 10 is caught and fitted into the lock receiving portion 43 of the second connector housing 30. This makes it possible to prevent the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 from opening left and right, even if a force is applied so as to pull the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 apart left and right.

[0026] As described above, according to this embodiment, a combined connector 1 can be provided that can prevent the combined connector housings (first connector housing 10, second connector housing 30) from displacing open to the left and right.

[0027] In the combined connector 1, at least one of the locking portion 23 and the lock receiving portion 43 may be formed at the end portion of the engaging rails 21, 41.

[0028] In this embodiment, the locking portion 23 is formed at the terminal end (upper end) of the engaging rail 21 of the first connector housing 10. By configuring the locking portion 23 and the lock receiving portion 43 in this manner, it is possible to more efficiently prevent the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 from opening to the left or right.

[0029] In the combined connector 1, a plurality of locking portions 23 and a plurality of lock receiving portions 43 may be formed.

[0030] In this embodiment, two locking portions 23 and two lock receiving portions 43 are formed at an interval in the fitting direction (front-rear direction) with the mating connector. By configuring the locking portions 23 and the lock receiving portions 43 in this manner, it is possible to more efficiently prevent the first connector housing 10 and the second connector housing 30 from opening left and right.

[0031] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1. Combining connector 10 First connector housing 19 Combined surface 21 Engagement rail 23 Rock Club 30 Second connector housing 39 Combined surface 41 Engagement rail 43 Lock receiving part

Claims

1. a first connector housing; a second connector housing combined with the first connector housing, an engaging rail extending in a thickness direction of the first connector housing and the second connector housing is formed on each of the joining surfaces of the first connector housing and the second connector housing; a hook-shaped locking portion is formed at an end portion of the first connector housing in the thickness direction, a lock receiving portion for engaging the locking portion when the first connector housing and the second connector housing are slid in the extending direction of the engaging rail to combine the first connector housing and the second connector housing, at an end portion in the thickness direction of the second connector housing; Combined connector.

2. 2. The combined connector according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said locking portion and said lock receiving portion is formed at an end portion of said engaging rail.

3. 3. The combined connector according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said locking portions and a plurality of said lock receiving portions are formed.

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