Connector Housing Assembly and Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector housing assembly with improved operational safety.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a connector housing assembly including: a connector housing for receiving at least one electrical terminal; and a lever 20 for mating the connector housing with a mating connector along a mating direction, the lever 20 being pivotable and / or displaceable in relation to the connector housing depending on its position. For improved operational safety, the lever 20 is first displaceable from an initial position to a rotation start position before it is pivotable. The connector housing assembly furthermore includes a displacement start blocking structure 40 which is configured to block displacement from the initial position to the rotation start position and which is releasable when the connector housing is mated with the mating connector. The present invention additionally relates to a connector having such a connector housing assembly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector housing assembly and a connector including the connector housing assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] Connector housing assemblies are known from the prior art, which have a pivotable lever on the connector housing, which can be pivoted to mate or insert the connector housing with a mating connector in a mating direction, and which can also be locked by displacing the lever in translation.

[0003] However, with such known connector housing assemblies there is a risk that the lever will rotate prematurely when the mating connector is not yet in position along the mating direction. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector housing assembly with improved operational safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object is achieved according to the present invention by a connector housing assembly comprising a connector housing for receiving at least one electrical terminal and a lever for mating the connector housing with a mating connector along a mating direction, the lever being pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing depending on its position. In particular, the lever is initially displaceable from the initial position to the rotation start position before being able to pivot. In other words, in the initial position, the lever is only able to move to the rotation start position but is not able to pivot. The connector housing assembly further includes a displacement start prevention structure configured to prevent displacement from the initial position to the rotation start position and that is releasable when the connector housing is mated with a mating connector.

[0006] This aspect reliably prevents improper use because the lever must first be displaced before it can rotate. This prevents the lever from rotating when it is in an idle state, i.e., when it has not yet engaged with the mating connector. In addition, translational displacement can be prevented by the displacement start prevention structure, which can be released particularly upon mating with the mating connector. This more reliably prevents improper operation.

[0007] The invention can be further improved by the following features, which are advantageous on their own and can be combined randomly with one another:

[0008] The displacement start prevention structure preferably includes a housing-side engaging portion provided on the elastic arm portion of the connector housing.

[0009] This allows the displacement start prevention structure to be easily released by elastic deformation of the elastic arm portion. The elastic arm portion may be deformed particularly by contact with the mating connector. This contact with the mating connector may occur at the contact portion of the elastic arm portion.

[0010] The housing-side engaging portion is preferably provided at a position different from the contact portion of the resilient arm portion with the mating connector in the mating direction and / or in a direction intersecting the mating direction. In other words, the housing-side engaging portion and the contact portion with the mating connector are disposed at different positions.

[0011] This ensures that the housing-side engaging portion does not interfere with the mating connector, and therefore the mating connector can be reliably fitted to the connector housing.

[0012] According to a further aspect, the connector housing assembly further includes an end-of-displacement prevention structure configured to define a start-of-rotation position.

[0013] This allows a unique rotation start position, particularly a position after displacement, to be defined and further displacement to be prevented. In other words, the lever can be operated purely by rotation from the rotation start position, which simplifies operation.

[0014] According to yet another aspect, the lever may be slidable along an axis forming portion that forms an axis of pivoting movement during the displacement movement.

[0015] Thus, the translational movement of the lever can be at least partly guided by the shaft formation, and at the same time the number of components can be reduced.

[0016] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing assembly may further include a rotational guide structure configured to guide the rotational movement of the lever.

[0017] According to this aspect, the rotation guide structure can prevent translational motion, so that pure rotational motion can be obtained.

[0018] Preferably, the rotation guide structure includes a slideway along which the peripheral portion of the lever can slide.

[0019] This allows the lever to be easily guided, and in particular, there is no need to provide a guide link, for example, the outer periphery of the lever can be used for guiding instead.

[0020] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing assembly may further include a rotation prevention structure configured to prevent rotational movement before reaching a rotation start position.

[0021] This ensures that a pure translational displacement of the lever is obtained initially.

[0022] The rotation prevention structures are preferably provided at two different positions in the circumferential direction around the pivot axis.

[0023] This allows for better load distribution for the intended rotation.

[0024] It is preferable that at least a portion of the rotation guide structure is adjacent to at least a portion of the rotation prevention structure.

[0025] This allows for a particularly simple construction.The rotation guide structure and the rotation prevention structure can thus be formed by the connector housing part and may be continuous surfaces of the connector housing part.

[0026] According to yet another aspect, the maximum lever arm length of the lever at the rotation start position may be greater than that at the initial position.

[0027] This reduces the force applied by the operator due to the leverage, making it possible to efficiently mate with the mating connector.

[0028] Preferably, the lever has an eccentric control portion that is engageable with a mating connector for mating.

[0029] The eccentric control can engage with the mating portion of the mating connector, thereby controlling the relative speed of travel between the connector housing and the mating connector in the mating direction with respect to the rotation angle of the lever. At this time, the force applied to the lever by the operator can be used to transmit to the mating connector at the eccentric control, thereby facilitating the mating process.

[0030] The eccentric control portion is preferably formed in the shape of a tooth.

[0031] The tooth-shaped eccentric control portion can achieve uniform mating with the mating connector. Furthermore, the tooth can be easily formed and the structure can be made compact.

[0032] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing assembly may further include a retention structure configured to retain the lever in the rotation start position.

[0033] This makes it possible to prevent undesired rotation at the rotation start position, and only when a predetermined force is applied can the rotation holding structure be released and rotation occur.

[0034] According to yet another aspect, the lever and / or the connector housing may be injection molded.

[0035] This simplifies the manufacturing of the lever and / or the connector housing. In addition, the above-mentioned structure can be easily obtained. Thermoplastic materials may be used as materials.

[0036] According to yet another aspect, the connector housing may include a guide portion configured to guide the mating connector parallel to the mating direction.

[0037] This ensures that the mating connector can move in a translational manner even when the lever is rotated.

[0038] A further aspect provides a connector comprising a connector housing assembly according to at least one of the preceding aspects.

[0039] This makes it possible to provide a connector with improved operational safety.

[0040] Depending on the application, the connectors may include electrical, optical, or opto-electrical contact elements that, when mated, connect to correspondingly formed complementary mating contacts in the mating connector.

[0041] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments, the various features of which may be combined with one another as needed in accordance with the above description. In particular, individual features may be added to the described embodiments in accordance with the above description if the effects of these features are necessary for a particular application. Conversely, individual features may be omitted from existing embodiments if the technical effects of these features are not important in a particular application. Similar, identical, and functionally identical elements in the drawings are, where appropriate, labeled with the same reference numerals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 shows the connector housing assembly as seen from the outside with the lever in the initial position. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are views showing the connector housing assembly at the start position of the lever rotation. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows the connector housing assembly with the lever in a rotated position. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are views showing the connector housing assembly with the lever in an end rotation position. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of the connector housing assembly in an initial position. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a view of the connector housing assembly from the inside in the initial position. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a view of the connector housing assembly from the inside in the start of rotation position. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a view of the connector housing assembly from the inside with the lever in the rotated position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] 1 to 4 show the connector housing assembly 1 in the initial position, the rotation start position, the rotated position, and the end position, in that order. The connector housing assembly 1 includes components of a connector housing 10 and a lever 20.

[0044] The connector housing assembly 1 may be used, for example, in a connector for high voltage applications. The connector includes at least one electrical terminal received within the connector housing 10.

[0045] Therefore, the connector housing 10 functions as a housing. It has a substantially parallelepiped shape. It has two wall portions 11. The two wall portions 11 are side walls arranged on opposite sides, receive at least one terminal therebetween, and are arranged opposite each other in a lateral direction. The lateral direction is perpendicular to the mating direction A shown in Figures 1 to 4. The mating direction A is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the electrical terminals.

[0046] Each side wall 11 has a shaft forming portion 12 defining a central pivot axis 13. The shaft forming portion 12 protrudes from the outer surface of the side wall 11 and functions as a support portion for a lever 20.

[0047] The connector housing portion 10 further comprises a resilient arm portion 14 formed as a cantilever and offset from the rest of the side wall portion 11. As can be seen in Figure 5, the arm portion 14 comprises a protrusion 14a that protrudes in the direction of the pivot axis on the arm portion facing away from the mating connector 30 in the mating direction A. The resilient arm portion 14 further comprises a contact portion 14b with the mating connector 30. In this example, this is formed by two protrusions on the inner surface of the arm portion 14, as can be seen in Figure 7. In a direction perpendicular to the mating direction A and the lateral direction, the protrusion 14a is positioned closer to the pivot axis 13 than the contact portion 14b, and is positioned closer to the connector housing 10 in the mating direction A.

[0048] As can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, the connector housing part 10 is provided with housing-side rotation prevention features 15, one of which is provided on the outer surface of the side wall part 11 and the other on the inner surface. These rotation prevention features 15 are substantially aligned in the circumferential direction (here perpendicular to the mating direction A and the pivot axis), meaning that they have contact surfaces facing in the circumferential direction. The rotation prevention features 15 are provided at two positions in the circumferential direction, in particular symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis 13.

[0049] Furthermore, the connector housing 10 is provided with housing-side rotation guides 16, which are also provided on different sides of the side wall 11 in the lateral direction. They are configured as slideways extending substantially in the circumferential direction. It should be noted that the two rotation guides 16 are likewise provided axially symmetrically in the circumferential direction, preferably with respect to the pivot axis 13. The rotation prevention portion 15 and the rotation guide 16 are each formed by a connector housing portion. Their surfaces are therefore continuous with one another and they share at least one joint.

[0050] 7, a retaining projection 17 is provided on the side wall portion 11. This projection 17 projects in a direction perpendicular to the mating direction and the lateral direction, and is positioned farther from the pivot axis 13 in this direction than the projection 14a and the contact portion 14b. In the mating direction, this projection 17 is positioned closer to the connector housing 10.

[0051] Although not shown, the lever 20 has a general U-shape with two legs arranged laterally opposite each other and a connecting portion connecting laterally.

[0052] Each leg has a lever support portion 21 at the end opposite the connecting portion. The lever support portion 21 is an elongated hole that has substantially the same diameter as the shaft forming portion 12 in the width direction and is longer in the longitudinal direction.

[0053] When viewed laterally (along the pivot axis 13), this end is generally circular in shape and joins an extension that extends to a connection portion.

[0054] The end portion is provided with an eccentric control portion 22 around the circumference of the circular portion, which is toothed, here with two teeth 22a, 22b along the circumference.

[0055] Furthermore, a locking projection 24a is provided on the outer surface of the lever 20, projecting away from the pivot shaft.

[0056] The lever-side rotation prevention portions 25 are formed on the outer and inner surfaces so as to protrude laterally. The two rotation prevention portions 25 thus formed are substantially aligned in the circumferential direction (here perpendicular to the mating direction A and the pivot axis). This means that they have contact surfaces facing in the circumferential direction. The rotation prevention portions 25 are provided at two positions in the circumferential direction, in particular axially symmetrically with respect to the pivot axis 13.

[0057] The lever-side rotation prevention portions 25 are adjacent to the lever-side rotation guide portions 26. These rotation guide portions are also provided at two positions in the circumferential direction and correspond to the housing-side rotation guide portions 16 on their circumferential peripheries.

[0058] 7, a lever-side retaining projection 27 is provided to protrude from the inner surface of the lever 20. In a direction perpendicular to the mating direction A and the lateral direction, this is positioned farther from the pivot axis 13 than the lock projection 24a, the rotation prevention portion 25, and the rotation guide portion 26.

[0059] 1 to 4, the mating connector 30 moves relatively toward the connector housing 10 in the mating direction A. It has an arm 31 facing the mating direction. At its end on the connector housing side, teeth 32a, 32b are provided on the side facing the pivot shaft 13 and are spaced apart in the mating direction A.

[0060] Here, the functions and effects will be described.

[0061] Furthermore, the connector housing assembly includes a displacement start prevention structure 40. This includes a protrusion 14a and a locking projection 24a that are disposed opposite each other in the mating direction (the longitudinal direction of the slot) and thereby prevent displacement of the lever 20 along the slot toward the connector housing (upward in the drawing) in the initial position in FIG.

[0062] Only when the arm 31a of the mating connector 31 comes into contact with the contact portion 14b of the resilient arm portion 14 does the resilient arm portion 14 bend outward and the displacement start prevention structure 40 is released. The tooth 32a comes into contact with the lever 20, allowing displacement to be performed. Thus, the connector housing assembly may be configured to allow the mating connector 30 to perform a displacement movement.

[0063] A rotation prevention structure 50 prevents rotation of the lever 20 at least in the initial position, but here up to the rotation start position. It comprises a housing-side rotation prevention portion 15 and a lever-side rotation prevention portion 25, which are arranged circumferentially opposite each other and thereby prevent rotation. Note that in Figure 5, a portion of the side wall 11 on which the rotation prevention structure 50 is formed has been cut away to expose the rotation prevention structure 50.

[0064] The lever 20 may then be moved upward. The displacement end prevention structure defines the displacement end, and therefore the position / attitude of the lever 20 at the rotation start position of Fig. 2. This includes the end of the slot and the end of the shaft forming portion 12, each on the mating connector side.

[0065] When moving from the initial position to the rotation start position, the edge of the slot slides along the axis forming portion by a distance D in FIG. 5, thereby guiding the translational movement. At the same time, the rotation prevention portions 15, 25 are also displaced by translation relative to each other by the distance D, thereby releasing the rotation prevention structure 50. Due to this displacement, the maximum lever length (the distance between the pivot axis 13 and the connection portion of the lever 20) increases.

[0066] In the rotation start position, the retaining lug 17 is located opposite the lever-side retaining lug 27 in the mating direction A and at a distance from the pivot axis 13, so that rotation is initially prevented, thereby forming a retaining structure 60 for the rotation position. The retaining lugs 17, 27 have corresponding inclined portions in the mating direction A so that they can slide along each other so that rotation can be initiated.

[0067] 3, the lever 20 may then be rotated / pivoted by an operator to mate with the mating connector 30. The rotation guide structure 70 includes rotation guide portions 16, 26 that are adjacent to the ends of the rotation prevention portions 15, 25 in the displacement direction in the circumferential direction, respectively, thereby guiding the rotational movement. In this embodiment, the rotation guide structure 70 is at least partially formed by the rotation prevention structure 50.

[0068] The teeth 22a, 22b of the eccentric control portion 22 engage with the teeth 32a, 32b, displacing the connector housing assembly 10 in the mating direction A relative to the mating connector 30.

[0069] Here, it is advantageous that the connector housing 10 has a guide portion for guiding the mating connector 30 in the mating direction A.

[0070] 4, the lever 20 has finally reached the rotation end position. The lever 20 may be locked to the connector housing 10 by a locking structure at the rotation end position.

[0071] In this embodiment, the housing-side engaging portion is a protrusion 14a, although it may also be formed as a recess. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 Connector Housing Assembly 10 Connector housing 11 Side wall 12 Shaft forming part 13 Rotation axis 14 Elastic arm part 14a Protrusion (housing side engagement portion) 14b Contact part 15 Rotation prevention part on housing side 16 Rotation guide part on housing side 17 Housing side retaining projection 20 Lever 21 Lever support 22 Eccentricity control section 22a, b teeth 24a Locking protrusion 25 Lever side rotation prevention part 26 Rotation guide part on the lever side 27 Lever side retaining protrusion 30 Mating connector 31 Arm of mating connector 32a, b Teeth of mating connector 40 Displacement initiation prevention structure 50 Anti-rotation structure 60 Retention structure 70 Rotation guide structure A Mating direction D Displacement path

Claims

1. A connector housing assembly (1), a connector housing (10) for receiving at least one electrical terminal; a lever (20) for mating the connector housing with a mating connector (30) along a mating direction (A), the lever (20) being pivotable and / or displaceable relative to the connector housing (10) depending on its position; Equipped with The lever (20) is initially displaceable from an initial position to a rotation start position before being able to pivot; The connector housing assembly (1) further includes a displacement start prevention structure (40) configured to prevent displacement from the initial position to the rotation start position and which is releasable when the connector housing (10) is mated with the mating connector (30), The displacement start prevention structure (40) includes a housing-side engaging portion (14a) provided on the elastic arm portion (14) of the connector housing (10). Connector housing assembly (1).

2. The housing-side engaging portion (14a) is provided at a position different from a contact portion (14b) of the elastic arm portion (14) with the mating connector (30) in the fitting direction (A) and / or a direction intersecting the fitting direction (A). A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

3. further comprising a displacement end prevention structure configured to define the rotation start position; A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

4. said lever (20) being slidable along an axis forming part (12) which forms an axis (13) of pivoting movement during the displacement movement; A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

5. The connector housing assembly (1) of claim 1, further comprising a rotational guide structure (70) configured to guide the rotational movement of the lever (20).

6. The rotation guide structure (70) has a slideway along which the periphery of the lever (20) can slide. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 5.

7. and a rotation prevention structure (50) configured to prevent rotational movement before the rotation start position is reached. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

8. Further comprising a rotation guide structure (70) configured to guide the rotational movement of the lever (20); At least a portion of the rotation guide structure (70) is adjacent to at least a portion of the rotation prevention structure (50). A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 7.

9. The maximum lever arm length of the lever (20) at the rotation start position is greater than that at the initial position. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

10. The lever (20) includes an eccentric control portion (22) that is engageable with the mating connector (30) for mating. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

11. The eccentric control portion (22) is formed in a tooth shape. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 10.

12. The lever (20) further includes a retaining structure (60) configured to retain the lever (20) at the rotation start position. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

13. The connector housing (10) includes a guide portion configured to guide the mating connector (30) in a direction parallel to the mating direction. A connector housing assembly (1) according to claim 1.

14. A connector comprising the connector housing assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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