Lever-type connector

Abstract

The present invention aims to provide a lever-type connector that can prevent the locking arm from being released even if an unintended external force is applied to the lever in its initial position by the locking arm. [Solution] The lever-type connector 1 comprises a housing 3, a holder 5 that houses the housing, and a lever 6 that is pivotally supported by the housing and rotated on the housing. The lever has a plate-shaped lever body 61A that enters between the housing and the holder, a locking arm 65 provided on the lever body that can lock onto the edge 57 of the holder, and a displacement restricting part 66 that restricts the displacement of the locking arm. The locking arm has an arm 65A provided by cutting out the lever body, and a locking projection 65B that protrudes from the free end of the arm and can lock onto the edge of the holder. The displacement restricting part has a receiving surface 66A, and the receiving surface is configured to be inclined to protrude toward the locking arm as it moves in the direction Z2 in which the locking projection is released from the edge of the holder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lever-type connector.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a lever-type connector in which a lever is rotatably supported on a connector body holding terminals, and a mating connector is brought close to and fitted to the connector body when the lever rotates (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] FIG. 9 is a front view showing a conventional lever-type connector 101. This lever-type connector 101 includes a connector body 102 that mates with a mating connector (not shown), and a lever 103 that brings the connector body 102 close to and mates with the mating connector as it rotates.

[0004] The connector body 102 is configured to include an inner housing 104 that houses a plurality of female terminals, and a front mask 105 that houses the inner housing 104. The lever 103 is configured in a U-shape and includes a pair of side plates 103A that sandwich the inner housing 104, and a connecting plate (not shown) that connects the pair of side plates 103A. A locking arm 103D that locks to the inner edge 105a of the opening of the front mask 105 is provided on the side plate 103A of the lever 103. By locking the locking arm 103D to the inner edge 105a of the opening of the front mask 105, the rotation of the lever 103 is restricted, and the lever 103 is maintained in the initial position. The lever-type connector 101 is shipped and transported in a state where the lever 103 is in the initial position.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in conventional lever-type connectors 101, if an unintended external force is applied to the lever 103 during transport, the locking arm 103D is displaced as the lever 103 rotates, reducing the engagement allowance k of the locking arm 103D with respect to the inner edge 105a of the opening, making it difficult to maintain the lever 103 in its initial position.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a lever-type connector that can prevent the locking arm from being released even if an unintended external force is applied to the lever in its initial position by the locking arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the aforementioned problems and achieve the objective, the invention described in claim 1 is a lever-type connector comprising a housing, a holder housing the housing, and a lever pivotally supported by the housing and rotatable by the housing, wherein the lever has a plate-shaped lever body that enters between the housing and the holder, a locking arm provided on the lever body that can lock onto the edge of the holder, and a displacement restricting portion that restricts the displacement of the locking arm, wherein the locking arm has an arm provided by cutting out the lever body and a locking projection provided that protrudes from the free end of the arm and can lock onto the edge of the holder, and the displacement restricting portion has a receiving surface that can contact the locking arm when the locking arm is displaced, and the receiving surface is configured to be inclined to protrude toward the locking arm as the locking projection moves in the direction in which the locking of the holder is released. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the invention described in claim 1, even if an unintended external force is applied to the lever in its initial position by the locking arm, it is possible to prevent the locking of the locking arm from being released. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view showing a lever-type connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the lever constituting the aforementioned lever-type connector in the locked position. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the lever-type connector, showing the lever in the temporary locking position (initial position). [Figure 4] This is a view of the lever as seen from the direction of the rotation axis. [Figure 5] The diagram shows the lever as seen from arrow A in Figure 4, where (B) is a magnified view of the main part of (A). [Figure 6] The diagram shows the lever-type connector, where (A) is a diagram showing the lever in a temporary locking position, and (B) is a front view showing (A). [Figure 7] This is a magnified view of the main part of Figure 6(B). [Figure 8] This diagram illustrates the operation and effects of the aforementioned lever-type connector. [Figure 9] This is a front view showing a conventional lever-type connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, the "lever-type connector 1" according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the lever-type connector 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the lever 6 constituting the lever-type connector 1 in the fully locked position. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the lever-type connector 1, showing the lever 6 in the temporary locked position (initial position). Figure 4 is a view of the lever 6 from the rotation axis direction Z. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the lever 6, viewed from arrow A in Figure 4, and (B) is a magnified view of the main part of (A). Figure 6 is a diagram showing the lever-type connector 1, where (A) is a diagram showing the lever 6 in the temporary locked position, and (B) is a front view of (A). Figure 7 is a magnified view of the main part of Figure 6(B). Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation and effect of the lever-type connector 1.

[0012] The lever-type connector 1 shown in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a connector body 10 having a plurality of female terminals 2 (shown in Figure 1), an inner housing 3 (housing) that houses the plurality of female terminals 2, a front mask 5 (holder) that houses the inner housing 3, etc., a lever 6 that is pivotally supported by the inner housing 3 and rotates between a permanent locking position 6B (shown in Figure 2) and a temporary locking position 6A (shown in Figure 3, initial position), a displacement restricting part 66 (shown in Figures 1 and 3) provided on the lever 6 to restrict rotation (displacement) of the lever 6 due to unintended external forces, and a cover 7 for routing electric wires connected to the plurality of female terminals 2.

[0013] The lever 6 shown in Figure 2 is positioned in the permanent locking position 6B, and the lever 6 shown in Figure 3 is positioned in the temporary locking position 6A. The lever-type connector 1 is positioned with the lever 6 in the temporary locking position (initial position), and when brought close to a mating connector (not shown), the lever 6 is rotated to be positioned in the permanent locking position 6B and to be mated with the mating connector.

[0014] In this embodiment, the arrow X, arrow Y, and arrow Z are in directions orthogonal to each other. The fitting direction between the lever-type connector 1 and a mating connector (not shown) is the Y direction (referred to as the front-rear direction Y), the rotation axis direction of the lever 6 is the Z direction (referred to as the up-down direction Z), and the direction orthogonal to the Y direction and the Z direction is the X direction (referred to as the left-right direction X). Among the front-rear direction Y, the Y1 direction (the side of the mating connector of the lever-type connector 1) may be referred to as "front", and the opposite Y2 direction may be referred to as "rear". Also, among the up-down direction Z, the Z1 direction (the side of the first arm plate 61A) may be referred to as "up", and the Z2 direction (the side of the second arm plate 61B) may be referred to as "down".

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the connector body 10 includes an inner housing 3 that houses a plurality of female terminals 2, a spacer 4 supported by the inner housing 3 and locking to the female terminals 2, and a front mask 5 having a temporary locking receiving portion 57 and a main locking receiving portion 58 that are locked to a locking arm 65 of a lever 6 described later.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the female terminal 2 is housed in a terminal housing chamber 30 of the inner housing 3 described later in a state of being connected to the terminal of an electric wire (not shown). The electric wire connected to the female terminal 2 is drawn out rearward Y2 from each terminal housing chamber 30, inserted into an electric wire insertion port 7a of a cover 7 described later, and led out to one side in the left-right direction X.

[0017] The inner housing 3 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner housing 3 has an upper surface 3A and a lower surface 3B along the XY plane, a front surface 3C, a rear surface 3D, left and right side surfaces 3E, 3F continuous with the upper and lower surfaces 3A, 3B, a plurality of terminal housing chambers 30, and a spacer housing chamber (not shown). Rotation shafts 31 for pivotally supporting the lever 6 are provided on the upper surface 3A and the lower surface 3B, respectively. A spacer opening (not shown) into which a spacer 4 described later is inserted is formed on the lower surface 3B. Cover locking receiving portions 33 that are locked to housing locking portions 71 of a cover 7 described later and mask locking receiving portions 34 that are locked to housing locking portions 59 of the front mask 5 described later are provided on the left and right side surfaces 3E, 3F.

[0018] The plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 30 are provided side by side in the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X. Each terminal accommodating chamber 30 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape with the Y direction as the extending direction (axial direction of the cylinder) and accommodates each female terminal 2.

[0019] Each terminal accommodating chamber 30 is open at the front Y1 and the rear Y2. The opening at the front Y1 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the front side opening 30f) allows the mating terminal of the mating connector to be inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 30, and the electric wire connected to the female terminal 2 is drawn out from the opening at the rear Y2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the rear side opening). Further, a terminal lance (not shown) for locking to the female terminal 2 is provided on the inner surface of each terminal accommodating chamber 30. By this terminal lance and the spacer 4 described later, the female terminal 2 is doubly locked, and the female terminal 2 is restricted from coming out of each terminal accommodating chamber 30.

[0020] The spacer accommodating chamber is a part of the terminal accommodating chamber 30 and accommodates the spacer 4 described later.

[0021] The rotation shaft 31 is provided on each of the upper surface 3A and the lower surface 3B and is configured to pivotally support the lever 6 by being inserted into the bearing portions 63A, 63B of the lever 6 described later.

[0022] The spacer 4 is inserted into a spacer opening formed in the lower surface 3B of the inner housing 3, thereby being accommodated in the spacer accommodating chamber. The spacer 4 is provided so as to be displaceable between a temporary locking position and a main locking position. When the spacer 4 is in the temporary locking position, each female terminal 2 is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 30, and each female terminal 2 is engaged with the lance, whereby each female terminal 2 is primarily locked. By displacing this spacer 4 from the temporary locking position to the main locking position, each female terminal 2 engages with the spacer 4 and is secondarily locked.

[0023] The front mask 5 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in Figure 1, the front mask 5 is formed in a box shape having an upper wall 51 and a lower wall 52 along the XY plane, a front wall 53 continuous with the upper and lower walls 51 and 52, left and right side walls 54, 54, and a receiving opening 55 for receiving the inner housing 3. It also includes an exposed opening 56 that exposes the tip side of the lever 6, which will be described later, a temporary locking receiving portion 57 (edge) provided on the periphery of the exposed opening 56 and which is locked to the locking arm 65 provided on the lever 6 at a temporary locking position 6A, and a permanent locking receiving portion 58 that is locked to the locking arm 65 at a permanent locking position 6B.

[0024] The front wall 53 is provided with a communication hole 530 at a position that communicates with the front opening 30f of each terminal housing chamber 30 in the inner housing 3. The left and right side walls 54, 54 are provided with housing locking portions 59 that lock into the mask locking receiving portion 34 of the inner housing 3.

[0025] The exposed opening 56 is formed by cutting out the upper wall 51 and the front wall 53, and is configured to expose the entrance to the cam groove 64 of the lever 6 (described later) and the locking arm 65. A temporary locking receiving portion 57 is provided around the periphery of this exposed opening 56, which is to be locked by the locking arm 65 of the lever 6.

[0026] The temporary locking receiver 57 is located Y2 rearward from the front end of the front mask 5 and is configured to include a plane that encompasses the left-right direction X and the up-down direction Z.

[0027] The locking receiver 58 is located at one end in the left-right direction X and at the rear end of the front mask 5, and is provided on the periphery of a rectangular opening that allows the locking arm 65 of the lever 6, which will be described later, to be exposed.

[0028] The lever 6 is made of insulating synthetic resin. As shown in Figure 4, the lever 6 is configured in a gate-like (C-shape) configuration and comprises a first arm plate 61A (lever body) and a second arm plate 61B (the other of a pair of arm plates) which are provided facing each other and sandwich the inner housing 3 between them, and a connecting part 62 which connects the first arm plate 61A and the second arm plate 61B.

[0029] The first arm plate 61A is formed in a plate shape and extends along the XY plane (i.e., in the same direction as the upper surface 3A of the inner housing 3 and the upper wall 51 of the front mask 5).

[0030] The first arm plate 61A is provided with a bearing portion 63A that fits onto the pivot shaft 31 of the inner housing 3, a cam groove 64 through which the guide projection of the mating connector is inserted, a locking arm 65 that locks onto the front mask 5, and a displacement restricting portion 66 that restricts rotation (displacement) of the lever 6 due to unintended external forces.

[0031] The first bearing portion 63A is formed as a through-hole, through which the pivot shaft 31 of the inner housing 3 is inserted. As a result, the lever 6 is pivotally supported relative to the inner housing 3 with the pivot shaft 31 and the bearing portion 63A (63B) as its center. Note that the bearing portion 63A does not have to be a through-hole, and may be formed as a recess on the inner surface of the first arm plate 61A. Alternatively, the bearing portion 63A of the first arm plate 61A may be formed as a convex shape, and the pivot shaft 31 of the inner housing 3 may be formed as a through-hole or as a recess.

[0032] The cam groove 64 is formed in the first arm plate 61A as a slit with a concave cross-section, through which the guide projection of the mating connector is inserted, and is configured to have a shape (track) that brings the guide projection closer to the first bearing portion 63A when the lever 6 is rotated. When the lever 6 is rotated, the guide projection of the mating connector moves within the cam groove 64, bringing the mating connector closer to the connector body 10, and the locking arm 65 locks into the locking receiving portion 58, so that the mating connector and the connector body 10 are fitted together.

[0033] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the locking arm 65 is provided at the end of the first arm plate 61A away from the connecting portion 62, and is provided adjacent to the wall that constitutes the entrance to the cam groove 64 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "displacement restricting portion 66") via a slit S. That is, the locking arm 65 and the displacement restricting portion 66 are provided in adjacent positions with the slit S in between.

[0034] As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the locking arm 65 is configured to have a cantilever-shaped arm 65A that can bend in the vertical direction Z, a locking projection 65B that protrudes upward Z1 (opposite side from the second arm plate 61B) from the free end of the arm 65A, and a contact surface 65C provided on the arm 65A that can contact the receiving surface 66A of the displacement restricting part 66, which will be described later.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, the arm 65A is formed by forming a slit S in the first arm plate 61A. The slit S is formed by cutting out the edge of the first arm plate 61A away from the connecting portion 62, and extends linearly toward the connecting portion 62.

[0036] As shown in Figures 5(A) and 5(B), the displacement restricting section 66 is a side wall that constitutes the entrance to the cam groove 64, and is configured to have a receiving surface 66A (shown in Figure 5(B)) that comes into contact with the contact surface 65C of the locking arm 65 when the locking arm 65 is displaced.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5(B), this receiving surface 66A is provided in a position opposite to the contact surface 65C of the locking arm 65, and has an inclined surface that protrudes toward the locking arm 65 as it moves downward Z2 (in the direction in which the locking of the locking arm 65 is released).

[0038] As shown in Figure 8, when an unintended external force is applied to the lever 6 in the temporary locking position 6A, the receiving surface 66A approaches the locking arm 65 and contacts the contact surface 65C of the locking arm 65. The inclination of the receiving surface 66A restricts the downward displacement Z2 of the locking arm 65. With such a receiving surface 66A provided, the displacement of the locking arm 65 is restricted so that the engagement allowance k is secured, and the state in which the locking arm 65 is locked to the temporary locking receiving portion 57 is maintained.

[0039] As shown in Figure 1, the second arm plate 61B is provided with a second bearing portion 63B that fits onto the pivot shaft 31 of the inner housing 3.

[0040] The cover 7 is made of an insulating synthetic resin. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cover 7 has a wire insertion opening 7a and a mounting opening 7b for the inner housing 3, and comprises a cover body 70 that covers the rear surface Y2 of the inner housing 3, and a housing locking portion 71 provided on the cover body 70 that locks into the cover locking receiving portion 33 of the inner housing 3.

[0041] Next, the assembly procedure for the lever-type connector 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

[0042] First, the inner housing 3 is brought close to the first arm plate 61A and the second arm plate 61B of the lever 6, and the inner housing 3 is sandwiched between the first arm plate 61A and the second arm plate 61B. As a result, the bearing portions 63A and 63B are pivotally supported on each pivot shaft 31, and the lever 6 is pivotally supported on the inner housing 3. In this way, the inner housing 3 with the lever 6 is assembled.

[0043] Next, the inner housing 3 with the lever 6 is brought close to the housing opening 55 of the front mask 5 and inserted. This connects the front opening 30f of each terminal housing chamber 30 in the inner housing 3 with the communication hole 530, and the mask locking receiving portion 34 of the inner housing 3 locks into the housing locking portion 59 of the front mask 5. The lever 6 is also positioned in the main locking position 6B, where the locking projection 65B is locked into the main locking receiving portion 58 of the front mask 5. In this way, the inner housing 3 with the lever 6 is housed in the front mask 5.

[0044] Next, the spacer 4 is positioned in the temporary locking position of the inner housing 3, and the female terminals 2 connected to the electric wires are inserted into the terminal housing chamber 30 of the inner housing 3 from the rear opening toward the front Y1. This locks the female terminals 2 into the terminal lances. After this, the spacer 4 is displaced from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. As a result, each female terminal 2 is double-locked by the terminal lance and the spacer 4, preventing the female terminals 2 from coming out of each terminal housing chamber 30. At this time, the electric wires connected to the female terminals 2 are pulled out from the inner housing 3.

[0045] Next, the mounting opening 7b of the cover 7 is brought close to the inner housing 3 with the lever 6, and the wires pulled out from the inner housing 3 are inserted into the wire insertion opening 7a of the cover 7. This locks the cover locking receiver 33 with the housing locking part 71. In this way, the cover 7 is assembled to the inner housing 3 with the lever 6. At this time, the wires pulled out from the inner housing 3 are led out to one side in the left-right direction X.

[0046] Next, the lever 6 is rotated from the permanent locking position 6B to the temporary locking position 6A. The lever 6 releases the locking arm 65 from the permanent locking receiving portion 58 on the front mask 5, and the lever 6 becomes rotatable. As it rotates further, the locking arm 65 locks onto the temporary locking receiving portion 57 on the front mask 5, as shown in Figure 2 (see Figures 6(A) and 6(B)).

[0047] In this state, the locking arm 65 is locked to the temporary locking receiver 57, thereby restricting the rotation of the lever 6. At this time, the locking arm 65 is in its natural state without elastic deformation and, as shown in Figure 7, has a predetermined engagement allowance k and is locked to the temporary locking receiver 57.

[0048] In this way, the lever 6 is positioned in the temporary locking position 6A (initial position), and the lever-type connector 1 is ready for shipment. This completes the assembly of the lever-type connector 1. This lever-type connector 1 is shipped with the lever 6 in the temporary locking position 6A.

[0049] Here, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, in a lever-type connector 1A(1) where the lever 6 is in the temporary locking position 6A (initial position), even if an unintended external force is applied to the lever 6 during transport, as shown in Figure 8, the receiving surface 66A of the displacement restricting part 66 approaches the locking arm 65 and contacts the contact surface 65C of the locking arm 65. The inclination of the receiving surface 66A restricts the downward Z2 displacement of the locking arm 65, thereby stopping the displacement of the locking arm 65. With such a receiving surface 66A provided, the displacement of the locking arm 65 is restricted so that the engagement allowance k is secured, and the state in which the locking arm 65 is locked to the temporary locking receiving part 57 is maintained.

[0050] According to the embodiment described above, the displacement restricting part 66 has a receiving surface 66A that can contact the locking arm 65 when the locking arm 65 is displaced, and the receiving surface 66A is configured to be inclined so as it moves downward Z2 (in the direction in which the locking projection 65B is released from the temporary locking receiving part 57), it approaches the locking arm 65. In this way, even if an unintended external force is applied to the lever 6 while the locking arm 65 is locked to the temporary locking receiving part 57, the locking arm 65 will contact the receiving surface 66A of the displacement restricting part 66A, and the inclination of the receiving surface 66A will restrict the downward Z2 displacement of the locking arm 65, thereby preventing the locking arm 65 from being released from the temporary locking receiving part 57.

[0051] Furthermore, while the best configurations and methods for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in the above description, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention is particularly illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments described above in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and objectives of the present invention. Therefore, the limiting descriptions of shape, material, etc. disclosed above are provided as examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. Accordingly, descriptions of components with some or all of these limitations removed are included in the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1. Lever-type connector 3. Inner Housing (Housing) 5. Front mask (holder) 57 Temporary locking receiver (edge) 6 Lever 61A First arm plate (lever body) 65 Locking arm 65A arm 65B Locking protrusion 66 Displacement Control Section 66A Receiving surface

Claims

[Claim 1] Housing and A holder that houses the housing, A lever-type connector comprising a lever pivotally supported in the housing and rotatable within the housing, The lever comprises a plate-shaped lever body that enters between the housing and the holder, a locking arm provided on the lever body that can be locked onto the edge of the holder, and a displacement restricting part that restricts the displacement of the locking arm. The locking arm comprises an arm provided by cutting out a section of the lever body, and a locking projection that protrudes from the free end of the arm and can be locked onto the edge of the holder. The displacement restricting portion has a receiving surface that can contact the locking arm when the locking arm is displaced. The lever-type connector is characterized in that the receiving surface is inclined to protrude toward the locking arm as the locking projection moves in the direction in which the locking projection is released from its engagement with the edge of the holder.

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