Connector Locking Mechanism

Abstract

To provide a connector lock mechanism that prevents an automobile start control device from being easily removed. [Solution] A connector locking mechanism (1) includes a plug that houses a terminal fitting to be connected to the end of an electric wire and has a protrusion and a protrusion operating portion (11), and a housing that has a protrusion receiving portion. The plug and housing can be locked by inserting the plug into an opening in the housing and fitting the protrusion into the protrusion receiving portion. When the plug and housing are locked, the protrusion operating portion can be pushed down to release the engagement between the protrusion and the protrusion receiving portion. The connector locking mechanism (1) further includes a locking member (30), and by inserting the locking member into an opening below the protrusion operating portion of the plug, it is impossible to push down the protrusion operating portion to release the engagement between the protrusion and the protrusion receiving portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A connector locking mechanism called a snap-in lock has been known in the past.

[0003] In such a connector locking mechanism, the plug can be locked to the housing by inserting the plug into the opening of the housing and fitting the protrusion of the plug into the protrusion receiving portion of the housing.

[0004] Furthermore, in this connector locking mechanism, when the plug and housing are locked together, the projection operating portion can be pressed down to release the engagement between the projection and projection receiving portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4191725 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In automobile start-up control devices that prevent theft and ride-away by interrupting the start of the automobile by interrupting the electrical circuit, the control device is often interposed via a connector having the above-mentioned connector lock mechanism.

[0007] However, there has been a problem in that the automobile starting control device can be easily removed because the lock between the plug and the housing can be released by pressing the protruding operating portion and the connector lock mechanism can be removed.

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a connector lock mechanism that prevents an automobile starting control device from being easily removed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A first feature of the present disclosure is a connector locking mechanism comprising: a plug that houses a terminal fitting to be connected to the end portion of an electric wire, the plug having a protrusion and a protrusion operating portion; and a housing that has a protrusion receiving portion; the plug and the housing can be locked by inserting the plug into an opening of the housing and fitting the protrusion to the protrusion receiving portion; and when the plug and the housing are locked, the protrusion operating portion can be pushed down to disengage the protrusion from the protrusion receiving portion; the connector locking mechanism further comprises a locking member; and by inserting the locking member into an opening at the bottom of the protrusion operating portion of the plug, it is made impossible to push down the protrusion operating portion to disengage the protrusion from the protrusion receiving portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector lock mechanism that prevents an automobile activation control device from being easily removed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a plug 10 that constitutes a connector lock mechanism 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a housing 20 that constitutes the connector lock mechanism 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the locking member 30 constituting the connector locking mechanism 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the plug 10 is inserted into the housing 20 in the connector lock mechanism 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the locking member 30 is inserted into the plug 10 in the connector locking mechanism 1 according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the locking member 30 is inserted into the plug 10 in the connector locking mechanism 1 according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the drawings, identical or similar parts are designated by identical or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the dimensional ratios and the like may differ from those of the actual parts. Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined with reference to the following description. Furthermore, parts in the drawings may have different dimensional relationships and ratios. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0013] (First embodiment) A connector lock mechanism 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of a plug 10 that constitutes the connector locking mechanism 1 of this embodiment, Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of a housing 20 that constitutes the connector locking mechanism 1 of this embodiment, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a locking member 30 that constitutes the connector locking mechanism 1 of this embodiment, Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which the plug 10 is inserted into the housing 20 in the connector locking mechanism 1 of this embodiment, and Figures 5 and 6 are diagrams showing an example of a state in which the locking member 30 is inserted into the plug 10 in the connector locking mechanism 1 of this embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector locking mechanism 1 according to this embodiment includes a plug 10, a housing 20, and a locking member 30. The plug 10 includes a plug housing 20 and a locking member 30. The plug housing 20 includes a plug 10, a housing 20, and a locking member 30. As shown in FIG.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the plug 10 has a protruding operation portion 11, a protruding portion 12, an opening 13, and a receiving portion 14.

[0017] 1, the protrusion operating portion 11 and the protrusion 12 are configured to move in conjunction with each other. For example, in the connector lock mechanism 1, when the protrusion operating portion 11 is pressed down, the protrusion 12 also moves downward in conjunction with it.

[0018] The accommodating portion 14 is configured to accommodate a terminal fitting to be connected to an end portion of the electric wire L.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 20 has a projection receiving portion 21 and an opening 22.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the projection receiving portion 21 has a groove shape, and has a shape that allows the projection portion 12 to fit therein.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the locking member 30 has a hook portion 31. As shown in Fig. 3, the hook portion 31 has a shape that extends from the side surface of the locking member 30. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the hook portion 31 has a shape that widens outward from the front portion 30A of the locking member 30 toward the rear portion 30B.

[0022] In the connector lock mechanism 1 according to this embodiment, the plug 10 and the housing 20 can be locked together by inserting the plug 10 into the opening 22 of the housing 20 and fitting the protrusion 12 into the protrusion receiving portion 21.

[0023] Furthermore, in the connector locking mechanism 1 according to this embodiment, when the plug 10 and the housing 20 are locked together, the protrusion operating portion 11 can be pressed down to disengage the protrusion portion 2 from the protrusion receiving portion 21.

[0024] Here, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, by inserting the locking member 30 into the opening 13 at the bottom of the protrusion operating portion 11 of the plug 10, it becomes impossible to push down the protrusion operating portion and thereby disengage the protrusion from the protrusion receiving portion.

[0025] With this configuration, the automobile start control device cannot be easily removed.

[0026] 6, when attempting to pull out locking member 30 from opening 13 below protrusion operating portion 11 of plug 10, hook portion 31 is configured to be caught inside plug 10. This configuration has the effect that once locking member 30 is inserted into opening 13 of plug 10, it will not easily come out.

[0027] Furthermore, when the plug 10 and the housing 20 are engaged, the hook portion 31 of the locking member 30 is covered by the outer periphery of the housing 20, and it is not possible to release the hooked state using a tip tool or the like.

[0028] 5, rear portion 30B of locking member 30 may have a flat shape. This configuration has the effect of preventing locking member 30 from being pulled out of opening 13 of plug 10 by being caught or pinched with a tool or the like.

[0029] This also has the effect of making it difficult to imagine from the outside that the locking member 30 has been inserted, making it difficult to analyze why the engagement between the plug 10 and the housing 20 cannot be released.

[0030] The locking member 30 may be formed from a material of a similar color to the plug 10. In this case, it becomes even more difficult to tell from the outside that the locking member 30 is a separate member inserted later, which has the effect of making it even more difficult to analyze the reason why the engagement between the plug 10 and the housing 20 cannot be released.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described in detail using the above-described embodiments, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. The present invention can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the description of the claims. Therefore, the description in this specification is for illustrative purposes only and does not have any limiting meaning on the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10...Plug 11...Protrusion operation part 12...Protrusion 13...Aperture 14...Storage section 20…Housing 21...Protrusion receiving part 22…Aperture 30... Locking member 30A…front part 30B…Back part 31...Hook part

Claims

1. a plug that houses a terminal fitting to be connected to an end portion of an electric wire and has a protrusion and a protrusion operating portion; a housing having a projection receiving portion; The plug and the housing can be locked together by inserting the plug into the opening of the housing and fitting the protrusion into the protrusion receiving portion. A connector lock mechanism in which the engagement between the protrusion and the protrusion receiving portion can be released by pressing down the protrusion operating portion while the plug and the housing are locked, Further comprising a locking member, A connector locking mechanism in which the locking member is inserted into an opening at the bottom of the protrusion operating portion of the plug, making it impossible to push down the protrusion operating portion and disengage the protrusion from the protrusion receiving portion.

2. The locking member has a hook portion, 2. The connector lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the hook portion is configured to hook onto an interior of the plug when the locking member is to be pulled out from the opening below the protruding operation portion of the plug.

3. 3. The connector locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rear portion of the locking member has a flat shape.

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