connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of suppressing deformation of a temporal engagement part or the like after a temporal engagement cancel.SOLUTION: A first connector 2 constituting a connector 1 includes: a temporal engagement part 18 that is engaged to an opening; and a temporal engagement cancel part 27 that cancels an engagement of the opening and the temporal engagement part 18. A second connector 3 constituting the connector 1 includes a main engagement part 66 that is engaged to the opening. At a temporal engagement position where the temporal engagement part 18 is engaged to the opening, the connector 1 is fitted with the first connector 2 and the second connector 3, and is displaced to a main engagement position where the main engagement part 66 is engaged to the opening after the completion of the fitting of the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. At the main engagement position, the temporal engagement cancel part 27 does not interfere with the temporal engagement part 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a connector has been proposed that includes a first connector and a second connector and is locked to an opening formed in a panel of a vehicle or the like. One of the conventional connectors is configured such that the first connector is temporarily held (temporarily locked) in the opening of the panel so as to wait for fitting with the second connector, and then the connectors are fitted to each other, and thereafter, the connector is permanently held (permanently locked) in the opening of the panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the above-described conventional connector, the first connector is temporarily held in the opening of the panel by the temporary holding means of the first connector, and the temporary holding of the first connector in the opening of the panel is released by the temporary holding release means of the first connector. More specifically, the temporary holding means has an elastically deformable temporary holding piece and a locking portion provided on the temporary holding piece and locked to the opening of the panel, and the temporary holding release means interferes with the temporary holding piece to elastically deform it, thereby releasing the locking state between the opening of the panel and the locking portion. Thus, the conventional connector is configured to be temporarily held and then permanently held. However, in the conventional connector, even when it is permanently held in the opening of the panel, the temporary holding release means interferes with the temporary holding piece, so there is a risk that the temporary holding means and thus the first connector may be deformed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a connector that can suppress deformation of the temporary locking portion and the like after the temporary locking is released. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the connector according to the present invention is characterized by the following:

[0007] A connector comprising a first connector and a second connector that is mated to the first connector, which is locked into an opening in a panel, The aforementioned connector 1 is, A temporary locking portion that engages with the aforementioned opening, It has a temporary locking release part that releases the locking between the opening and the temporary locking part, The 2nd connector is, It has a locking portion that engages with the aforementioned opening, The connector in question is, The device is configured such that, at the temporary locking position where the temporary locking portion is locked in the opening, the mating of the first connector and the second connector begins, and after the mating of the first connector and the second connector is completed, the device is displaced to the permanent locking position where the permanent locking portion is locked in the opening. In the aforementioned locking position, the temporary locking release portion does not interfere with the temporary locking portion. It must be a connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The connector according to the present invention is described below. In this connector configuration, the temporary locking release portion of the first connector releases the locking between the panel opening and the temporary locking portion, causing the connector 1 to displace from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. The temporary locking release portion is configured not to interfere with the temporary locking portion at the permanent locking position. As a result, unlike conventional connectors in which the temporary locking release portion interferes with the temporary locking portion even after temporary locking is released, the connector 1 in this configuration can suppress deformation of the temporary locking portion and, consequently, deformation of the connector after temporary locking is released.

[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 a side view showing the configuration of the connector in the locking position according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view showing the connector in the temporary locking position shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the male and female connectors before mating. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the male and female connectors. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the frame shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the female housing shown in Figure 4. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lever shown in Figure 4. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the male housing shown in Figure 4. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the grommet shown in Figure 4. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a side view illustrating an example of the operation of the temporary locking release mechanism, showing the intermediate stages of displacement from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of Figure 10. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, the connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" are defined. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other.

[0012] <Connector 1> The connector 1 is, for example, a connector provided on a vehicle door, pillar, or the like. The connector 1 is configured to be temporarily locked (see FIG. 2) and permanently locked (see FIG. 1) to an opening of a vehicle panel P. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the connector 1 includes a male connector 2 (corresponding to the "first connector" of the present invention) and a female connector 3 (corresponding to the "second connector" of the present invention) that is fitted to the male connector 2.

[0013] <Male connector 2> Hereinafter, the male connector 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the male connector 2 includes a frame 10, a male housing 20 assembled to the frame 10, a lever 30 assembled to the frame 10, and a plurality of male terminals ......

[0014] First, the frame 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the frame 10 is integrally formed by a substantially rectangular columnar frame body 11 and substantially rectangular cylindrical hood portions 12 that extend in the front-rear direction so as to protrude forward and rearward of the frame body 11, respectively.

[0015] The frame 10 defines a female housing housing space 13 that opens forward, formed by the frame body 11 and the portion of the hood 12 that protrudes forward of the frame body 11. Similarly, the frame 10 defines a male housing housing space (not shown) that opens rearward, formed by the frame body 11 and the portion of the hood 12 that protrudes rearward of the frame body 11. The female housing housing space 13 has the function of housing the housing body 51 of the female housing 50 of the female connector 3, and the male housing housing space has the function of housing the housing body 21 of the male housing 20.

[0016] Multiple terminal insertion points 14 are provided at various locations on the frame body 11, each penetrating in the front-to-back direction. Male terminals 40 are inserted through the terminal insertion points 14.

[0017] The front ends of both the left and right walls of the hood section 12 are provided with a notched first locking portion 15 that extends rearward from the front end. The first locking portion 15 is located in the upper region in the vertical direction, and the locking portion 33 of the lever 30 is locked to it before the lever 30 is operated.

[0018] The outer surface of the front end of both the left and right walls of the hood portion 12 is provided with a groove-shaped second locking portion 16 that is recessed inward. The second locking portion 16 is positioned below the first locking portion 15, and the locking portion 33 of the lever 30 is locked after the lever 30 is operated.

[0019] Guide portions 17 are provided on the outer surfaces of the front ends of both left and right walls of the hood portion 12, respectively, positioned below and adjacent to the first locking portion 15. The guide portions 17 have the function of guiding the displacement of the lever 30 when the lever 30 is operated.

[0020] The outer surfaces of both the vertical walls at the rear end of the hood portion 12 are provided with elastically deformable temporary locking portions 18 that engage with the opening of the panel P. The temporary locking portion 18 is integrally composed of a pair of arm pieces 18a that are spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a projection 18b that connects the pair of arm pieces 18a in the left-right direction and protrudes briefly toward the opening of the panel P in the vertical direction.

[0021] The outer surfaces of the portions of the pair of arm pieces 18a that extend in the front-rear direction are each provided with a pair of pressed portions 19 that are pressed by the temporary locking release portion 27 of the male housing 20 when the lever 30 is operated. The temporary locking portion 18 is elastically deformed when the pressed portions 19 are pressed by the temporary locking release portion 27. The temporary locking portion 18 also has the function of temporarily locking the connector 1 into the opening of the panel P. The frame 10 has now been described.

[0022] Next, the male housing 20 will be described. As shown in Figure 6, the male housing 20 is integrally composed of a roughly rectangular columnar housing body 21, a roughly rectangular wall-shaped bottom wall portion 22 located at the rear end of the housing body 21, and hood portions 23 extending forward from each of the four corners of the bottom wall portion 22.

[0023] Multiple terminal housing sections 24 are provided at various locations on the housing body 21, each penetrating in the front-to-back direction. The terminal housing sections 24 have the function of housing and holding male terminals 40.

[0024] At both the left and right ends of the front end of the housing body 21, there are locking portions 25 that extend forward. The locking portions 25 are locked to a locking portion (not shown) provided on the frame body 11 of the frame 10, and have the function of assembling the male housing 20 to the frame 10.

[0025] The left and right end faces of the housing body 21 are each provided with cam pins 26 that engage with the cam grooves 36 of the lever 30.

[0026] At both the upper and lower ends of the bottom wall portion 22, a pair of cantilever-shaped temporary locking release portions 27 are provided, each corresponding to a pair of pressed lower portions 19 of the frame 10, and extending forward. The temporary locking release portions 27 have the function of releasing the lock between the opening of the panel P and the temporary locking portion 18 of the frame 10. The male housing 20 has been described above.

[0027] Next, the lever 30 will be described. As shown in Figure 7, the lever 30 is integrally constructed from a pair of wall portions 31 that are spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a connecting portion 32 that connects the upper ends of the pair of wall portions 31 in the left-right direction.

[0028] Each of the pair of wall portions 31 is provided with a locking portion 33 that locks to a first locking portion 15 before the lever 30 is operated and to a second locking portion 16 after the lever is operated. The locking portion 33 is integrally provided with a cantilever-shaped flexible piece 34 and a projection 35 that protrudes inward. The locking portion 33 has the function of assembling the lever 30 to the frame 10.

[0029] Here, the operation of the lever 30 refers to the operation of pushing the lever 30 downward so as to displace the locking position of the locking portion 33 from a first locking position in which the locking portion 33 is locked to the first locked portion 15, to a second locking position in which the locking portion 33 is locked to the second locked portion 16.

[0030] Each of the pair of wall portions 31 is provided with a cam groove 36 into which the cam pin 26 of the male housing 20 engages. The cam groove 36 is formed in a substantially curved shape from the starting end 37 at the lower and rear end to the ending end 38 at the upper and front end. The lever 30 has now been described.

[0031] The frame 10, male housing 20, and lever 30 that constitute the male connector 2 have been described above. The male connector 2 requires the male housing 20 and lever 30 to be assembled to the frame 10, and the male terminal 40 to be housed and held in the male housing 20.

[0032] First, multiple male terminals 40 are inserted into the multiple terminal housings 24 of the male housing 20 from the rear, and the multiple male terminals 40 are housed and held in the multiple terminal housings 24, and the male housing 20 is assembled to the frame 10 from the rear. In this state, the front ends of the male terminals 40 are inserted into the terminal insertion portions 14 of the frame 10.

[0033] Then, the lever 30 is assembled from above the frame 10 so that the locking portion 33 of the lever 30 is locked to the first locking portion 15 of the frame 10, and the cam pin 26 of the male housing 20 is inserted into the starting end 37 of the cam groove 36 of the lever 30. This completes the male connector 2 (see Figure 3). Note that the order of the manufacturing process for the male connector 2 is not limited to the above, and the best method is selected as appropriate. The male connector 2 has now been described.

[0034] <Female connector 3> The female connector 3 will be described below with reference to Figures 4 and 8-9. As shown in Figure 4, the female connector 3 consists of a female housing 50, a grommet 60 assembled to the female housing 50, and a plurality of female terminals 70 housed and held in the female housing 50. The female housing 50 and grommet 60 that make up the female connector 3 will be described in order below. Note that the female terminals 70 are general female terminals that mate and electrically connect with the male terminals 40, so their description will be omitted.

[0035] First, as shown in Figure 8, the female housing 50 is integrally constructed from a roughly rectangular columnar housing body 51, a roughly rectangular wall-shaped bottom wall portion 52 positioned at the front edge of the housing body 51, and a roughly rectangular cylindrical hood portion 53 extending rearward from the bottom wall portion 52.

[0036] The female housing 50 is formed by the housing body 51, the bottom wall portion 52, and the hood portion 53, which define a frame housing space 54 that opens to the rear. The frame housing space 54 has the function of housing the frame body 11 of the frame 10.

[0037] Multiple terminal housing sections 55 are provided at various locations on the housing body 51, each penetrating in the front-to-back direction. The terminal housing sections 55 have the function of housing and holding female terminals 70.

[0038] On both the left and right ends of the housing body 51, protruding portions 56 are provided that extend outward and in the front-rear direction, corresponding to the first locking portions 15 of the frame 10. The protruding portions 56 have the function of entering the first locking portions 15 and releasing the locking between the first locking portions 15 and the locking portion 33 of the lever 30.

[0039] On the outer surfaces of both the left and right walls of the hood portion 53, a pair of locking portions 57 are provided, spaced apart in the vertical direction. The locking portions 57 have the function of engaging the locking portion (not shown) of the grommet 60, thereby assembling the grommet 60 into the female housing 50. The female housing 50 has now been described.

[0040] Next, the grommet 60 will be described. As shown in Figure 9, the grommet 60 is integrally composed of a bottomed, roughly rectangular cylindrical mounting portion 61, a corrugated tube-shaped wire insertion portion 62, and a connecting portion 63 that connects the mounting portion 61 and the wire insertion portion 62. The mounting portion 61 has the function of being assembled to the bottom wall portion 52 of the female housing 50. The wire insertion portion 62 has the function of being an insertion passage for the wire (not shown) connected to the female terminal 70.

[0041] The bottom wall portion 64 of the mounting portion 61 is provided with a hole 65 that penetrates in the front-to-back direction. This connects the mounting portion 61, the wire insertion portion 62, and the connecting portion 63.

[0042] The outer surface of the peripheral wall of the mounting portion 61 is provided with an annular locking portion 66 that is recessed inward. This locking portion 66 has the function of locking the connector 1 into the opening of the panel P. The grommet 60 has now been described.

[0043] The female housing 50 and grommet 60 that constitute the female connector 3 have been described above. The female connector 3 requires that the female terminals 70 be housed and held in the female housing 50, and that the grommet 60 be assembled to the female housing 50.

[0044] First, multiple female terminals 70 are inserted into the multiple terminal housing sections 55 of the female housing 50 from the front, and the multiple female terminals 70 are housed and held in the multiple terminal housing sections 55.

[0045] Then, the grommet 60 is assembled from the front of the female housing 50 so that the locking portion (not shown) of the grommet 60 is locked into the locking portion 57 of the female housing 50. This completes the female connector 3 (see Figure 3). Note that the order of the manufacturing process for the female connector 3 is not limited to the above, and the best method can be selected as appropriate. This concludes the explanation of the female connector 3.

[0046] <Manufacturing method for connector 1> The manufacturing method for connector 1 is described below. To manufacture connector 1, it is necessary to temporarily lock the male connector 2 into the opening of panel P, mate the male connector 2 and the female connector 3, and then permanently lock the female connector 3 (connector 1) into the opening of panel P.

[0047] First, the male connector 2 is inserted into the opening of the panel P, and the temporary locking portion 18 of the frame 10 on the male connector 2 is locked into the opening of the panel P (see Figure 3, corresponding to the "temporary locking position" of the present invention). In this state, the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are brought relatively close in the front-rear direction, and the housing body 51 of the female housing 50 of the female connector 3 is inserted into the female housing housing space 13 of the frame 10 on the male connector 2 and housed (see Figure 2).

[0048] When insertion of the housing body 51 into the female housing storage space 13 begins, the protruding portion 56 of the female housing 50 enters the first locking portion 15 (i.e., the cut-out space) of the frame 10. Then, during the insertion of the housing body 51 into the female housing storage space 13, the protruding portion 56 comes into contact with the projection 35 of the locking portion 33 on the lever 30, and the flexible piece 34 of the locking portion 33 is elastically deformed so that the projection 35 is pushed out of the cut-out space. As a result, the locking between the locking portion 33 and the first locking portion 15 is released.

[0049] Then, the lever 30 is operated (i.e., pushed downward) to engage the locking portion 33 with the second locking portion 16 of the frame 10. This operation of the lever 30 moves the cam pin 26 of the male housing 20 from the starting end 37 to the ending end 38 of the cam groove 36 of the lever 30. As the cam pin 26 moves (by so-called cam action), the male housing 20 is pulled forward so as to approach the female housing 50 and is housed in the male housing housing space (not shown) of the frame 10, and the male terminal 40 and the female terminal 70 are mated. As a result, the male connector 2 and the female connector 3 are mated (see Figure 9).

[0050] As the male housing 20 is pulled forward towards the female housing 50, the temporary locking release portion 27 of the male housing 20 enters the opening of the panel P, the temporary locking release portion 27 is pushed downward by the edge of the opening of the panel P, and furthermore, the pressed portion 19 of the frame 10 is pushed downward by the temporary locking release portion 27 (see arrow in Figure 11). As a result, the temporary locking portion 18 of the frame 10 is elastically deformed, and the locking between the opening of the panel P and the temporary locking portion 18 is released.

[0051] Then, by pushing the female connector 3 into the opening (rear) of the panel P, the main locking portion 66 of the grommet 60 on the female connector 3 is locked into the opening of the panel P (see Figure 1, corresponding to the "main locking position" in the present invention). This completes the connector 1.

[0052] When connector 1 is in the permanent locking position, the temporary locking release portion 27 is no longer pressed against the edge of the opening of panel P, and therefore does not press down on the pressed portion 19. In other words, in the permanent locking position, the temporary locking release portion 27 does not interfere with the temporary locking portion 18. The manufacturing method of connector 1 has now been described.

[0053] <Effects and Actions> According to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the temporary locking release portion 27 of the male connector 2 releases the locking between the opening of the panel P and the temporary locking portion 18, causing the connector 1 to displace from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. The temporary locking release portion 27 is configured not to interfere with the temporary locking portion 18 at the permanent locking position. As a result, unlike conventional connectors in which the temporary locking release portion interferes with the temporary locking portion even after temporary locking is released, the connector 1 can suppress deformation of the temporary locking portion 18 and other components, and consequently deformation of the connector 1, after temporary locking is released.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the connector 1 of this embodiment, the temporary locking portion 18 is configured to be elastically deformable, and the temporary locking release portion 27 is configured to press the pressed portion 19 provided on the temporary locking portion 18 by operating the lever 30. This makes it possible to release the lock between the opening of the panel P and the temporary locking portion 18, and to ensure that the temporary locking release portion 27 does not interfere with the temporary locking portion 18 after the temporary locking has been released, with a simple structure.

[0055] <Other forms> Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc., as appropriate. In addition, 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.

[0056] 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]. [1] A connector (1) that is secured to an opening in a panel (P), comprising a first connector (male connector 2) and a second connector (female connector 3) that is mated to the first connector, The aforementioned connector 1 (male connector 2) is, A temporary locking portion (18) that is locked into the opening, It has a temporary locking release part (27) that releases the locking between the opening and the temporary locking part (18), The aforementioned second connector (female connector 3) is It has a locking portion (66) that is locked into the opening, The connector (1) is, The device is configured such that, at the temporary locking position where the temporary locking portion (18) is locked in the opening, the mating of the first connector (male connector 2) and the second connector (female connector 3) begins, and after the mating of the first connector (male connector 2) and the second connector (female connector 3) is completed, it is displaced to the permanent locking position where the permanent locking portion (66) is locked in the opening. In the aforementioned locking position, the temporary locking release portion (27) does not interfere with the temporary locking portion (18). Connector (1). [2] In the connector (1) described in [1] above, The aforementioned connector 1 (male connector 2) is, The frame (10) having the temporary locking portion (18), It further includes a lever (30) that is operablely mounted on the frame (10) and which, by operation, engages the first connector (male connector 2) and the second connector (female connector 3), The temporary locking portion (18) is provided with a pressed portion (19), The temporary locking release part (27) is configured to press the pressed part (19) by the operation of the lever (30). Connector (1). [3] In the connector (1) described in [2] above, In the aforementioned temporary locking position, when the lever (30) is operated with the second connector (female connector 3) inserted into the first connector (male connector 2), the first connector (male connector 2) and the second connector (female connector 3) are fitted together and the temporary locking with the opening is released by the temporary locking release part (27). After the temporary locking is released, the second connector (female connector 3) is pushed into the opening to be permanently locked into the opening. Connector (1).

[0057] In the connector configurations described in [1] to [3] above, the temporary locking release portion of the first connector releases the locking between the panel opening and the temporary locking portion, causing the connector 1 to displace from the temporary locking position to the permanent locking position. The temporary locking release portion is configured not to interfere with the temporary locking portion at the permanent locking position. As a result, unlike conventional connectors in which the temporary locking release portion interferes with the temporary locking portion even after temporary locking is released, the connector 1 in this configuration can suppress deformation of the temporary locking portion and, consequently, deformation of the connector after temporary locking is released.

[0058] Furthermore, with this connector configuration, the temporary locking portion is configured to be elastically deformable, and the temporary locking release portion is configured to press the pressed portion provided on the temporary locking portion by operating the lever. This makes it possible to release the lock between the panel opening and the temporary locking portion, and to ensure that the temporary locking release portion does not interfere with the temporary locking portion after the temporary locking has been released, with a simple structure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 1 Connector 2 Male connectors (first connector) 3 Female connector (second connector) 10 frames 15 First locked part 16 Second locked part 18 Temporary locking part 19 Pressed part 20 Male Housing 26 cam pin 27 Temporary locking release section 30 Lever 33 Locking part 36 cam groove 40 Male terminals 50 Female Housing 56 Projection part 60 grommets 66 Main locking part 70 Female terminals P Panel

Claims

1. A connector comprising a first connector and a second connector that is mated to the first connector, which is locked into an opening in a panel, The first connector is, A temporary locking portion that engages with the opening, It has a temporary locking release part that releases the locking between the opening and the temporary locking part, The second connector is, It has a locking portion that engages with the aforementioned opening, The connector in question is, The device is configured such that, at the temporary locking position where the temporary locking portion is locked in the opening, the mating of the first connector and the second connector begins, and after the mating of the first connector and the second connector is completed, the device is displaced to the permanent locking position where the permanent locking portion is locked in the opening. In the aforementioned locking position, the temporary locking release portion does not interfere with the temporary locking portion. connector.

2. In the connector according to claim 1, The first connector is, The frame having the temporary locking portion, It further includes a lever that is operably mounted on the frame and which, when operated, engages the first connector and the second connector. The temporary locking portion is provided with a pressed portion, The temporary locking release part is configured to press the pressed portion by the operation of the lever. connector.

3. In the connector according to claim 2, In the aforementioned temporary locking position, the operation of the lever with the second connector inserted into the first connector causes the first connector and the second connector to be fitted together and the temporary locking with the opening to be released by the temporary locking release part. After the temporary locking is released, the second connector is pushed into the opening to be permanently locked into the opening. connector.

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