connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that improves mating feel without increasing the size of the housing. [Solution] The male connector 20 comprises a housing 21 and a lock arm 24 having an arm body 27, one end 27A of which is a fixed end and is fixed to the outer surface 23 of the male housing 21, and the other end 27B of which is a free end, and a locking projection 28 that protrudes from the arm body 27 and engages with the female housing 11 of the female connector 10. The male housing 21 has a contact projection 40 that contacts the arm body 27 when the arm body 27 is bent so that the free end 27B approaches the outer surface 23 of the male housing 21. The arm body 27 can bend further around the point of contact with the contact projection 40 so that the free end 27B approaches the outer surface 23 of the male housing 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to connect a male connector and a female connector to each other, a lock arm is provided on one of the male housing of the male connector and the female housing of the female connector. Further, an engaging portion is provided on the other of the male housing and the female housing, and a structure in which a claw portion provided on the lock arm is engaged with the engaging portion is widely known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the structure shown in Patent Document 1, one end of the lock arm is fixed as a fixed end to the male housing or the female housing. A locking projection is provided at the other end, which is the free end of the lock arm. The lock arm has a so-called cantilever structure that flexes as a whole with one end as a fulcrum. In such a structure, it is necessary for an operator to be able to determine by a feel or the like that the male housing and the female housing are fitted to each other and the male connector and the female connector are surely connected. In other words, it is necessary for the operator to be able to determine as a fitting feeling that the locking projection of the lock arm is engaged with the engaging portion. For this purpose, it is important that a large reaction force is generated when the lock arm is deformed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, if the reaction force when the lock arm is deformed is increased, excessive stress is generated at one end (fixed end) of the lock arm, and the lock arm cannot be restored, which may result in insufficient locking strength.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a connector that can suppress the stress generated at one end (fixed end) of the lock arm during lock deformation and improve the mating feel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the connector according to the present invention is characterized by the following: Housing and A connector comprising: an arm body having one end fixed to the outer surface of the housing and the other end being a free end; and a locking arm having a locking projection that protrudes from the arm body and engages with the mating housing of the mating connector, The housing has a contact projection that contacts the arm body when the arm body bends so that the free end approaches the outer surface of the housing. The arm body can bend around the point of contact with the contact projection so that the free end moves further closer to the outer surface of the housing. connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The connector according to the present invention has the effect of suppressing the stress generated at one end (fixed end) of the lock arm during lock deformation, thereby improving the mating feel.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by referring to the attached drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments"). [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is an overall perspective view showing the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention in a connected state. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line AA shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the lock arm showing the male and female housings fitted together. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts showing the lock arm and contact projection. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lock arm showing the state in which insertion of the female housing into the male housing has begun. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing the lock arm in a state where the female housing is inserted further into the male housing than in the state shown in Figure 6. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing the lock arm in a state where the female housing is inserted further into the male housing than in the state shown in Figure 7. [Figure 9] Figure 9(A) is a schematic diagram of Figure 4, and Figure 9(B) is a schematic diagram of Figure 6. [Figure 10] Figure 10(A) is a schematic diagram of Figure 7, and Figure 10(B) is a schematic diagram of Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> The connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the vertical direction shown in Figure 1 will be referred to as the "vertical direction D1," and the direction perpendicular to the "vertical direction D1" in which the female housing of the female connector and the male housing of the male connector are relatively mated will be referred to as the "mating direction D2." Furthermore, the male connector side along the "mating direction D2" will be referred to as the "front side," the female connector side as the "back side," and the direction perpendicular to the "vertical direction D1" and the "mating direction D2" will be referred to as the "width direction D3."

[0012] Figures 1 and 2 show a female connector 10 and a male connector 20 that are connected to each other. The female connector 10 (the mating connector) includes a female housing (the mating housing) 11, plate-shaped bus bars 12, 12 that are accommodated in plurality in the female housing 11, and connection portions 13, 13 provided on the respective bus bars 12, 12.

[0013] The female housing 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular tubular shape, and the male housing 21 of the male connector (connector) 20 can be inserted therein. The connection portions 13, 13 are formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, are erected along the thickness direction of the respective bus bars 12, 12, and are each connectable to an electric wire (not shown).

[0014] The male connector 20 includes a male housing 21, accommodation chambers 22, 22 provided inside the male housing 21, a lock arm 24 provided on an outer surface 23 of the male housing 21 in the width direction D3, a door-shaped protection portion 25 that protects the lock arm 24, and a back cover 26 that covers the front side in the fitting direction D2 of the accommodation chambers 22, 22. The accommodation chambers 22, 22 accommodate the tips of clip terminals 32. When the female connector 10 and the male connector 20 are connected, that is, when the female housing 11 and the male housing 21 are fitted to each other, the respective bus bars 12, 12 are sandwiched by the clip terminals 32 to be short-circuited.

[0015] As shown in Figure 3, in the female connector 10, a locking portion 15 is formed by partially cutting off a wall portion 14 in the width direction D3 of the female housing 11. The locking portion 15 includes a female vertical surface 16 facing the back side in the fitting direction D2, a female inclined surface 17 facing the front side in the fitting direction D2, and a female flat surface 18 facing the center of the female housing 11 between the female vertical surface 16 and the female inclined surface 17. The female vertical surface 16 is provided substantially perpendicular to the fitting direction D2. The female inclined surface 17 is provided on an inclined surface that approaches the center of the female housing 11 as it goes toward the back side in the fitting direction D2. The female flat surface 18 is provided perpendicular to the width direction D3.

[0016] <Lock Arm> As also shown in FIG. 4, the lock arm 24 has an arm body 27, a locking projection 28 provided on the arm body 27, and an operation portion 29 provided on the arm body 27. One end 27A of the arm body 27 is fixed as a fixed end on the inner side in the fitting direction D2 of the outer surface 23 of the female housing 11, and the other end 27B extends as a free end toward the front side in the fitting direction D2.

[0017] The locking projection 28 is provided so as to project in a direction away from the outer surface 23 in the width direction D3 of the male housing 21. The locking projection 28 has a substantially wedge shape having a male inclined surface 30 facing the inner side in the fitting direction D2 and a male vertical surface 31 facing the front side in the fitting direction D2. The male inclined surface 30 is provided on an inclined surface that projects toward the front side in the fitting direction D2. The male vertical surface 31 is provided perpendicular to the fitting direction D2.

[0018] The operation portion 29 is provided on the other end 27B side of the arm body 27 with respect to the locking projection 28 of the arm body 27. The operation portion 29 is in a plate shape that can be pressed by an operator's finger or the like so that the other end 27B curves toward the male housing 21 about one end 27A of the arm body 27. The operation portion 29 is protected by the above-described protection portion 25 so as not to be operated unintentionally. FIG. 4 described above is schematically shown in FIG. 9(A).

[0019] As also shown in FIG. 5, a contact projection 40 is provided on the outer surface 23 in the width direction D3 of the male housing 21. The contact projection 40 is continuously provided from one end 27A (fixed end) of the arm body 27 toward the front side in the fitting direction D2. When the arm body 27 deflects with one end 27A as a center (fulcrum) and the other end 27B toward the outer surface 23 of the female housing 21, and the amount of deflection of the arm body 27 becomes constant, an end portion 40A on the front side in the fitting direction D2 of the contact projection 40 and the lower surface (side surface in the width direction D3) 27C of the arm body 27 come into contact with each other.

[0020] <Operation of the lock arm> Next, the operation of the lock arm 24 when connecting the female connector 10 and the male connector 20 will be explained. As shown in Figure 6, when the male housing 21 is inserted into the female housing 11, the female bevel 17 of the locking portion 15 in the female housing 11 and the male bevel 30 of the locking projection 28 in the male housing 21 come into relative sliding contact. As a result, the arm body 27 begins to bend with one end 27A as the pivot point and the other end 27B approaching the outer surface 23 of the female housing 21. A schematic representation of Figure 6 is shown in Figure 9(B).

[0021] Next, when the male housing 21 is further inserted into the female housing 11, as shown in Figure 7, the portion of the male inclined surface 30 that slides against the female inclined surface 17 gradually moves towards the top. Consequently, the end portion 40A of the contact projection 40 on the male housing 21 comes into contact with the lower surface 27C of the arm body 27. Furthermore, when the male housing 21 is further inserted into the female housing 11, the arm body 27 begins to bend in the middle, with the contact point between the end portion 40A of the contact projection 40 and the lower surface 27C of the arm body 27 acting as a pivot point, so that the other end 27B approaches the outer surface 23 from the contact point on the lower surface 27C. A schematic representation of Figure 7 is shown in Figure 10(A).

[0022] If the male housing 21 is further inserted into the female housing 11, as shown in Figure 8, the locking portion 15 and the locking projection 28 will overcome each other, and at the same time, the arm body 27 will return to its initial shape, and the locking projection 28 will engage with the locking portion 15 so that the female vertical surface 16 and the male vertical surface 31 face each other. This completes the mating of the female housing 11 and the male housing 21, and the female connector 10 and the male connector 20 are connected. A schematic representation of Figure 8 is shown in Figure 10(B).

[0023] The lock arm 24 first bends as a whole, with one end 27A as the pivot point. Next, the lock arm 24 partially bends with the contact point (pivot point) being the contact point between the end 40A of the contact projection 40 and the lower surface 27C of the arm body 27. That is, when the male housing 21 is inserted into the female housing 11, the lock arm 24 initially bends over a length L1 from one end 27A to a position corresponding to the male vertical surface 31 of the locking projection 28. Next, the lock arm 24 bends over a length L2 from the contact point between the contact projection 40 and the arm body 27 to a position corresponding to the male vertical surface 31. Therefore, as the arm body 27 bends, the pivot point of the arm body 27's bending shifts midway. Thus, since the lock arm 24 has two pivot points, the stress applied to the pivot points (one end 27A, the contact point with the contact projection 40) when the lock arm 24 deforms is distributed, and the stress generated at one end 27A can be suppressed. In addition, by shortening the distance from the pivot point to the locking projection 28 from dimension L1 to dimension L2, a large reaction force can be generated when the lock arm 24 deforms, improving the fitting feel.

[0024] <Effects of the Embodiment> As described above, according to the male connector (connector) 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the arm body 27 can bend so that the other end 27B approaches the outer surface 23 of the female housing 21, and then the arm body 27 can bend further so that the other end 27B approaches the outer surface 23 of the housing, centered on the contact point with the contact projection 40. In the lock arm 24, the center (fulcrum) of the bending of the arm body 27 is switched midway. Since the lock arm 24 has two fulcrums, the stress applied to the fulcrums when the lock arm 24 deforms is distributed, and the stress generated at one end 27A can be suppressed. In addition, by shortening the distance from the fulcrum to the locking projection 28 from dimension L1 to dimension L2, a large reaction force can be generated when the lock arm 24 deforms, and the mating feel can be improved.

[0025] Furthermore, according to the male connector (connector) 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the arm body 27 is bent so that the other end 27B approaches the outer surface 23 of the female housing 21 and comes into contact with the contact projection 40. After the arm body 27 bends around the contact point of the contact projection 40, the arm body 27 returns to its original position, and the locking projection 28 is locked into the locking portion 15 of the female housing 11. This provides a good mating feel.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the connector embodiment of the present invention, since the contact projection 40 is provided from one end (fixed end) 27A of the arm body 27 to the contact point, the mold molding of the male housing 21 can be made easier compared to the case where the contact projection 40 is provided only in the necessary parts.

[0027] <Other forms> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0028] Here, the features of the embodiments of the connector according to the present invention described above are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [3].

[0029] [1] Housing (21) and, In a connector (20) comprising an arm body (27) having one end (27A) fixed to the outer surface (23) of the housing (21) and the other end (27B) being a free end, and a locking arm (24) having a locking projection (28) protruding from the arm body (27) and engaging with the mating housing (11) of the mating connector (10), The housing (21) has a contact projection (40) that contacts the arm body (27) when the arm body (27) bends so that the free end (27B) approaches the outer surface (23) of the housing (21). The arm body (27) can bend around the contact point with the contact projection (40) so that the free end (27B) moves closer to the outer surface (23) of the housing (21). Connector (20).

[0030] With the connector (20) configured as described in [1] above, the center (fulcrum) of the bending of the arm body (27) switches midway. Since the lock arm (24) has two fulcrums, the stress on the fulcrums is distributed when the lock arm (24) deforms, and the stress generated at one end (27A) can be suppressed. In addition, by shortening the length dimension (L2) from the fulcrum to the locking projection (28), a large reaction force can be generated when the lock arm (24) deforms, improving the mating feel.

[0031] [2] In the connector (20) described in [1] above, When the mating housing (11) of the mating connector (10) is fitted into the housing (21), the arm body (27) bends so that the free end (27B) approaches the outer surface (23) of the housing (21) as the mating housing (11) rides up onto the locking projection (28), and contacts the contact projection (40). The arm body (27) then bends around the contact point of the contact projection (40), and then returns to its original position so that the locking projection (28) is locked into the mating housing (11). Connector (20).

[0032] According to the connector (20) described in [2] above, the arm body (27) is designed to bend so that the other end (27B) approaches the outer surface (23) of the female housing (21), and contacts the contact projection (40). After the arm body (27) bends around the point of contact with the contact projection (40), the arm body (27) returns to its original position, and the locking projection (28) is locked into the locking portion (15) of the female housing (11). This provides a good mating feel.

[0033] [3] In the connector (20) described in [1] above, The abutment projection (40) is provided extending from the fixed end (27A) of the arm body (27) to the abutment location. Connector (20).

[0034] With the connector (20) configured as described in [3] above, the mold molding of the male housing 21 can be made easier compared to the case where contact protrusions (40) are provided only in the necessary parts. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10 Female connector (mutual connector) 11 Female Housing (Opponent Housing) 20 Male connectors (connectors) 21 Female Housing (Housing) 23 External surface 24 Lock Arm 27 Arm body 27A One end (fixed end) 27B Other end (free end) 28 Locking protrusion 40 Contact protrusion

Claims

1. Housing and A connector comprising: an arm body having one end fixed to the outer surface of the housing and the other end being a free end; and a locking arm having a locking projection that protrudes from the arm body and engages with the mating housing of the mating connector, The housing has a contact projection that contacts the arm body when the arm body bends so that the free end approaches the outer surface of the housing. The arm body can bend around the point of contact with the contact projection so that the free end moves further closer to the outer surface of the housing. connector.

2. In the connector according to claim 1, When the mating housing of the mating connector is fitted into the housing, the arm body bends so that the free end approaches the outer surface of the housing when the mating housing rides up the locking projection, and contacts the contact projection. The arm body then bends around the contact point of the contact projection, and then returns to its original position so that the locking projection is locked into the mating housing. connector.

3. In the connector according to claim 1, The aforementioned contact projection is provided extending from the fixed end of the arm body to the contact point. connector.

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