Connector device

Abstract

The present invention enables smooth fitting to a counterpart connector having a tilted posture.　A connector device (10) is provided with a bracket (30) to be attached to a support panel (50), and a movable member (11) that can be fitted to a counterpart connector (60). The movable member (11) is attached so as to be able to swing relative to the bracket (30) while using, as a fulcrum, a first shaft part (24) oriented to intersect the fitting direction to the counterpart connector (60). While the bracket (30) is interposed between the support panel (50) and the movable member (11), the movable member (11) is swingably attached to the bracket (30). This configuration enables smooth fitting to the counterpart connector (60) having a tilted posture.

Description

Connector device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a floating connector including a slide housing to which contacts are attached and a base housing that holds the slide housing so as to be relatively displaceable in both the depth direction and the width direction. This floating connector can absorb misalignment in a two-dimensional direction orthogonal to the fitting direction during the fitting process with a mating connector.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-093424

[0004] When the above floating connector is fitted in a state where the mating connector is tilted, it is difficult to correct the tilt. Therefore, it is difficult for this floating connector to smoothly fit with a mating connector whose posture is tilted.

[0005] The present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable smooth fitting with a mating connector whose posture is tilted.

[0006] The connector device of the present disclosure includes a bracket attached to a support panel and a movable member capable of fitting with a mating connector, and the movable member is attached to the bracket so as to be relatively swingable about a first shaft portion in a direction intersecting the fitting direction with the mating connector as a fulcrum.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, smooth fitting with a mating connector whose posture is tilted can be achieved.

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector device and mating connector of Embodiment 1, taken from a diagonal rearward angle before mating. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector device and mating connector, taken from a diagonal frontward angle before mating. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support panel. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bracket. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the movable member. Figure 6 is a side view showing the connector device and the mating connector tilted about an axis parallel to the first shaft portion before mating. Figure 7 is a side view showing the mated state of the connector device and the mating connector tilted about an axis parallel to the first shaft portion. Figure 8 is a front view showing the connector device and the mating connector tilted about an axis parallel to the second shaft portion before mating. Figure 9 is a front view showing the mated state of the connector device and the mating connector tilted about an axis parallel to the second shaft portion.

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Disclosure] Embodiments of the Disclosure will be listed and described first. Any combination of the following examples of embodiments, as long as they do not contradict each other, is also included as an embodiment for carrying out the invention. The connector device of the Disclosure comprises (1) a bracket attached to a support panel and a movable member that can be mated with a mating connector, wherein the movable member is attached to the bracket so as to be able to swing relative to it with respect to a first axis portion that intersects the mating direction with respect to the mating connector. The connector device of the Disclosure is configured such that a bracket is interposed between the support panel and the movable member, and the movable member is pivotably attached to the bracket. This allows for smooth mating with a mating connector whose orientation is tilted, even when it is difficult to provide a structure on the support panel to pivotally support the movable member.

[0010] (2) In (1), it is preferable that the bracket and the movable member are provided with a first posture holding portion that can hold the movable member in a first holding posture relative to the bracket, and releases the holding of the first holding posture by a pressing force acting on the movable member from the mating connector. In this disclosure, the first holding posture is defined as "a posture that the movable member can take within the swingable range of the movable member centered on the first shaft portion, excluding the state in which it is positioned at both ends of the swingable range."

[0011] With this configuration, before the movable member is mated with the mating connector, the first posture holding part can hold the movable member in a first holding position. This prevents the mating connector and the movable member from tilting their positions in directions perpendicular to both the mating direction and the axial direction of the first shaft, causing them to move away from each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge the part that corrects the orientation of the mating connector in an oblique position so that it can be mated with the movable member. When the obliquely oriented mating connector presses against the movable member, the movable member is released from the state in which it was held in the first holding position, and the movable member swings in accordance with the tilt of the mating connector and mates with the mating connector.

[0012] (3) In (1) or (2), it is preferable that the bracket is provided with a second shaft portion whose axis is oriented in a direction intersecting both the fitting direction and the axial direction of the first shaft portion, and that the bracket is attached to the support panel so that it can swing relative to the second shaft portion with the second shaft portion as a pivot point. With this configuration, even if the mating connector is tilted around an axis parallel to the second shaft portion, the movable member can be swung in accordance with the tilt of the mating connector, and the mating connector and the movable member can be fitted together.

[0013] (4) In (3), it is preferable that the support panel and the bracket are provided with a second posture holding portion that can hold the bracket in a second holding posture relative to the support panel, and releases the holding of the bracket in the second holding posture by a pressing force acting on the movable member from the mating connector. In this disclosure, the second holding posture is defined as "a posture that the bracket can take within the swingable range of the bracket centered on the second axis portion, excluding the state in which the bracket is positioned at both ends of the swingable range."

[0014] With this configuration, before mating with the mating connector, the bracket can be held in the second holding position by the second attitude holding part. This prevents the mating connector and the movable member from tilting their positions in directions perpendicular to both the mating direction and the axial direction of the second shaft, causing them to move away from each other. This eliminates the need to enlarge the part used to correct the orientation of the angled mating connector so that it can be mated with the movable member. When the angled mating connector presses against the movable member, the bracket is released from the state in which it is held in the second holding position, so the bracket and the movable member swing in accordance with the tilt of the mating connector, and the movable member mates with the mating connector.

[0015] (5) In (3), the bracket preferably has a plate-shaped base having the second shaft portion, and a pair of plate-shaped arm portions extending from both side edges of the plate-shaped base in a direction intersecting the fitting direction of the movable member to the mating connector, wherein at least a part of the movable member is housed in a housing space partitioned by the plate-shaped base and the pair of plate-shaped arm portions, and the pair of plate-shaped arm portions have a pair of first support holes formed in each of the pair of first shaft portions formed on the movable member. With this configuration, since at least a part of the movable member is housed in the housing space of the bracket, the connector device can be made smaller compared to one in which the entire movable member is arranged outside the bracket.

[0016] [Details of Embodiments of the Disclosure] [Example 1] An embodiment 10 of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. The present invention is not limited to these examples and is shown by the claims, including all modifications within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims. In this embodiment 1, the front-to-back direction is defined as the F direction in Figures 1 to 7. The up-and-down direction is defined as the H direction in Figures 1 to 9. The left-to-right direction is defined as the R direction in Figures 1 to 5, 8, and 9.

[0017] The connector device 10 of this embodiment 1 is a device that is attached to, for example, the chassis of an automobile (not shown). The connector device 10 is a device that is fitted from below to a mating connector 60 attached to, for example, the body of an automobile (not shown). On the surface (bottom surface) of the mating connector 60 facing the connector device 10, a guide portion 61 is formed that protrudes toward the connector device 10. When the connector device 10 and the mating connector 60 are fitted with a misalignment in a two-dimensional direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the fitting direction, the guide portion 61 slides against the connector device 10, thereby correcting the misalignment in the two-dimensional direction (front-rear direction and left-right direction) between the connector device 10 and the mating connector 60.

[0018] The connector device 10 includes a movable member 11 attached to a support panel 50 and a bracket 30. The movable member 11 is configured with a housing 12 into which the mating connector 60 is fitted and a holder 20 that holds the housing 12. The housing 12 has a terminal holding portion 13 for holding terminal fittings (not shown) and a rectangular tubular fitting portion 14 extending upward from the terminal holding portion 13. A pair of protruding guide portions 15 are formed on both the left and right outer surfaces of the housing 12.

[0019] The holder 20 has a front wall portion 21 whose thickness direction is oriented in the front-rear direction, and a pair of symmetrical side wall portions 22 extending rearward from both left and right side edges of the front wall portion 21. Guide grooves 23 extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the inner surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 22. The housing 12 is supported so that the guided portion 15 can be accommodated in the guide grooves 23, thereby allowing relative displacement in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction and left-right direction) with respect to the holder 20.

[0020] A first shaft portion 24 is formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 22, with its axis oriented in the left-right direction. The first shaft portion 24 is cylindrical in shape with its axis oriented in the left-right direction. A first locking portion 25 is formed on the upper surface of the first shaft portion 24, with the outer surface of the first shaft portion 24 recessed. A locking projection 26 is formed on the outer surfaces of the left and right side wall portions 22 at a position in front of the first shaft portion 24.

[0021] The bracket 30 is a single component having a plate-shaped base portion 31 with its thickness direction oriented in the front-rear direction, and a pair of plate-shaped arm portions 32 that extend cantilevered backward from both left and right edges of the plate-shaped base portion 31. Both the left and right plate-shaped arm portions 32 have first support holes 33 that penetrate the plate-shaped arm portions 32 in the left-right direction. The first support holes 33 are elongated oval in the vertical direction. A first lock portion 34 that protrudes downward is formed at the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the first support hole 33.

[0022] A first elastic retaining piece 35 is formed in front of the first support hole 33 on both the left and right plate-shaped arm portions 32. The first elastic retaining piece 35 is thinner than the area of ​​the plate-shaped arm portion 32 on which the first elastic retaining piece 35 is not formed, and is capable of elastic deformation in the left-right direction. The inner surface of the first elastic retaining piece 35 is continuous and flush with the area of ​​the inner surface of the plate-shaped arm portion 32 on which the first elastic retaining piece 35 is not formed. A retaining projection 36 is formed on the inner surface of the first elastic retaining piece 35.

[0023] The holder 20 is attached to the bracket 30 by fitting the first shaft portion 24 into the first support hole 33. During attachment, the pair of plate-shaped arm portions 32 are elastically deformed to expand. With the first shaft portion 24 fitted into the first support hole 33, the holder 20 is moved upward relative to the bracket 30, and the locking projection 26 of the holder 20 is locked onto the retaining projection 36 of the first elastic retaining piece 35 from above. By moving the holder 20 upward, the first locking portion 25 of the first shaft portion 24 fits into the first locking portion 34 of the first support hole 33, and the rotation of the first shaft portion 24 within the first support hole 33 is restricted.

[0024] The holder 20 is held in a first holding position relative to the bracket 30 by restricting the relative rotation of the first shaft portion 24 with respect to the bracket 30. The first holding position is a position that the holder 20 (movable member 11) can take within the swingable range of the holder 20 centered on the first shaft portion 24, excluding the position where it is positioned at both ends of the swingable range. For example, the first holding position may be set to a position where the holder 20 (movable member 11) is positioned in the middle of the swingable range. Alternatively, for example, the first holding position may be set to a position where the holder 20 (movable member 11) can be fitted without swinging, assuming that the mating connector 60 is to be fitted close to the connector device 10 without misalignment or tilting. For example, the first position holding portion 37 is composed of the first shaft portion 24, the first locking portion 25, the locking projection 26, the first support hole 33, the first locking portion 34, and the first elastic holding piece 35.

[0025] A mounting portion 40 is integrally formed on the front surface of the plate-shaped base portion 31. The mounting portion 40 has a second shaft portion 41, an elastic pressing portion 42, a pair of elastic retaining pieces 43, and a pair of second elastic retaining pieces 44. The second shaft portion 41 is a plate-shaped portion with its thickness direction oriented in the left-right direction. The upper end of the second shaft portion 41 functions as a second locking portion 45. The elastic pressing portion 42 is a portion that extends radially diagonally forward from the rear end of the second shaft portion 41. The pair of elastic retaining pieces 43 are portions that extend cantilevered diagonally backward from the front end of the second shaft portion 41. The elastic retaining pieces 43 are designed to be elastically deformable in the left-right direction. The pair of second elastic retaining pieces 44 are portions that extend cantilevered downward from the lower ends of the left and right outer surfaces of the second shaft portion 41. The second elastic retaining pieces 44 are designed to be elastically deformable in the up-down direction.

[0026] The support panel 50 is a portion oriented with its thickness in the front-to-back direction. The support panel 50 is fixed to the chassis of an automobile (not shown). The support panel 50 has a second support hole 51 that penetrates the support panel 50 in the front-to-back direction. The second support hole 51 has an elongated oval shape in the vertical direction. At the upper end of the second support hole 51, a second locking portion 52 is formed, which is a recess in the upward direction of the inner circumferential surface of the second support hole 51.

[0027] The bracket 30 is attached to the support panel 50 by fitting the second shaft portion 41 into the second support hole 51. During attachment, the attachment portion 40 is passed through the second support hole 51 while elastically deforming the pair of elastic retaining pieces 43. With the attachment portion 40 attached to the second support hole 51, the elastic pressing portion 42 elastically presses against the rear surface of the support panel 50, and the pair of elastic retaining pieces 43 lock into the front surface of the support panel 50. In addition, the pair of second elastic retaining pieces 44 elastically press against the lower end of the inner circumferential surface of the second support hole 51, thereby pressing the bracket 30 upward relative to the support panel 50. This pressing action maintains the second locking portion 45 of the bracket 30 in a state of being fitted into the second lock portion 52 of the support panel 50, thus restricting the relative rotation of the bracket 30 with respect to the support panel 50.

[0028] The bracket 30 is held in a second holding position relative to the support panel 50 by restricting the rotation of the second shaft portion 41 relative to the support panel 50. The second holding position of the bracket 30 is a position that the bracket 30 can take within the swingable range of the bracket 30 centered on the second shaft portion 41, excluding the position where it is positioned at both ends of the swingable range. For example, the second holding position may be set to a position where the bracket 30 is positioned in the middle of the swingable range. Alternatively, for example, the second holding position may be set to a position where the bracket 30 can be fitted without swinging, assuming that the mating connector 60 is to be fitted close to the connector device 10 without misalignment or tilting. For example, the second position holding portion 57 is composed of the second shaft portion 41, the second locking portion 45, the second elastic holding piece 44, the second support hole 51, and the second locking portion 52.

[0029] As shown in Figure 6, in a side view of the connector device 10, when the mating connector 60 approaches the movable member 11 from above in an oblique position, the mating connector 60 interferes with the fitting portion 14 of the housing 12, causing the movable member 11 to change its orientation to match that of the mating connector 60. At this time, in addition to the pressing force in the front-rear direction, a downward pressing force also acts on the housing 12. This downward pressing force causes the locking projection 26 of the holder 20 to disengage from the holding projection 36 while elastically deforming the first elastic holding piece 35 of the bracket 30, and the movable member 11 (housing 12 and holder 20) is displaced downward relative to the bracket 30.

[0030] As the relative downward displacement of the movable member 11 causes the first locking portion 25 of the first shaft portion 24 to disengage from the first locking portion 34 of the bracket 30, releasing the movable member 11 from the state in which it was held in the first holding position, and allowing the movable member 11 to rotate relative to the bracket 30. From this state, as the mating with the mating connector 60 progresses, as shown in Figure 7, the movable member 11 swings around the axis of the first shaft portion 24 with the first shaft portion 24 as a pivot point in accordance with the inclination of the mating connector 60, and the housing 12 mates with the mating connector 60.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, in a front view of the connector device 10, when the mating connector 60 approaches the movable member 11 from above in an oblique position, the mating connector 60 interferes with the fitting portion 14 of the housing 12, causing the movable member 11 to change its orientation to match that of the mating connector 60. At this time, in addition to the pressing force in the left-right direction, a downward pressing force also acts on the housing 12. This downward pressing force causes the bracket 30 to be displaced downward relative to the support panel 50, while the second elastic retaining piece 44 is elastically deformed.

[0032] As the bracket 30 is displaced downward, the second locking portion 45 of the second shaft portion 41 separates from the second locking portion 52 of the support panel 50, releasing the bracket 30 from its second holding position, and allowing the bracket 30 and the movable member 11 to rotate relative to the support panel 50. From this state, as the mating with the mating connector 60 progresses, as shown in Figure 9, the bracket 30 and the movable member 11 swing around the axis of the second shaft portion 41, with the second shaft portion 41 as the pivot point, in accordance with the inclination of the mating connector 60, and the housing 12 engages with the mating connector 60.

[0033] The connector device 10 of this embodiment 1 includes a bracket 30 attached to a support panel 50 and a movable member 11 that can be mated with a mating connector 60. The movable member 11 is attached to the bracket 30 so as to be able to swing relative to it, with a first shaft portion 24 in the left-right direction intersecting the mating direction (up-down direction) with the mating connector 60 as the pivot point. In this embodiment 1, the bracket 30 is interposed between the support panel 50 and the movable member 11, and the movable member 11 is attached to the bracket 30 so as to be able to swing. This makes it possible to smoothly mate with a mating connector 60 that is tilted, even if it is difficult to provide a structure on the support panel 50 to support the movable member 11 in a swingable manner.

[0034] The bracket 30 and the movable member 11 are provided with a first posture holding portion 37. The first posture holding portion 37 can hold the movable member 11 in a first holding position relative to the bracket 30, and the holding of the first holding position is released by a downward pressing force acting on the movable member 11 from the mating connector 60. The first holding position is a position that the movable member 11 (holder 20) can take within the swingable range of the holder 20 centered on the first shaft portion 24, and is set excluding the state in which it is positioned at both ends of the swingable range.

[0035] Before the movable member 11 engages with the mating connector 60, the first posture holding portion 37 can hold the movable member 11 in a first holding position. This prevents the mating connector 60 and the movable member 11 from tilting their positions toward each other in the front-rear direction, which is perpendicular to both the engagement direction and the axial direction of the first shaft portion 24. Therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge the portion used to correct the orientation of the diagonally positioned mating connector 60 so that it can engage with the movable member 11. When the diagonally positioned mating connector 60 presses against the movable member 11, the movable member 11 is released from the state in which it was held in the first holding position, and the movable member 11 swings in accordance with the tilt of the mating connector 60 and engages with the mating connector 60.

[0036] Furthermore, if the first holding position is such that the movable member 11 is positioned in the middle of its swingable range, or if the movable member 11 is in a position where it can be fitted without swinging, assuming that the mating connector 60 is positioned close to the connector device 10 without misalignment or tilting, then it is easier to avoid a situation where the mating connector 60 and the movable member 11 tilt their positions toward each other in the front-rear direction, which is perpendicular to both the fitting direction and the axial direction of the first shaft portion 24. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the need to enlarge the part used to correct the orientation of the diagonally positioned mating connector 60 so that it can be fitted with the movable member 11.

[0037] The bracket 30 is provided with a second shaft portion 41 whose axis is oriented in a direction that intersects both the fitting direction and the axial direction of the first shaft portion 24. The bracket 30 is mounted to the support panel 50 so that it can swing relative to the second shaft portion 41 with the second shaft portion 41 as a pivot point. With this configuration, even if the mating connector 60 is tilted around an axis parallel to the second shaft portion 41, the movable member 11 can be swung in accordance with the tilt of the mating connector 60, thereby fitting the mating connector 60 and the movable member 11.

[0038] The support panel 50 and the bracket 30 are provided with a second posture holding portion 57. The second posture holding portion 57 can hold the bracket 30 in a second holding position relative to the support panel 50. The second posture holding portion 57 releases the bracket 30 from the second holding position due to a downward pressing force acting on the movable member 11 from the mating connector 60. The second holding position is a position that the bracket 30 can take within the swingable range of the bracket 30 centered on the second shaft portion 41, and is set excluding the state in which the bracket 30 is positioned at both ends of the swingable range.

[0039] With this configuration, the bracket 30 can be held in the second holding position by the second posture holding part 57 before mating with the mating connector 60. This prevents the mating connector 60 and the movable member 11 from tilting their postures toward each other in the left-right direction (axis direction of the first shaft part 24) which is perpendicular to both the mating direction and the axis direction of the second shaft part 41. This eliminates the need to enlarge the part used to correct the orientation of the tilted mating connector 60 so that it can be mated with the movable member 11. When the tilted mating connector 60 presses against the movable member 11, the bracket 30 is released from the state in which it is held in the second holding position, so the bracket 30 and the movable member 11 swing in accordance with the tilt of the mating connector 60, and the movable member 11 mates with the mating connector 60.

[0040] Furthermore, if the second holding position is such that the bracket 30 is positioned in the middle of its swingable range, or if the bracket 30 is in a position where it can be fitted without swinging, assuming that the mating connector 60 is positioned close to the connector device 10 without misalignment or tilting, then it is easier to avoid a situation where the mating connector 60 and the movable member 11 tilt their positions toward each other in the left-right direction, which is perpendicular to both the fitting direction and the axial direction of the second shaft portion 41. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the need to enlarge the part used to correct the orientation of the diagonally positioned mating connector 60 so that it can be fitted with the movable member 11.

[0041] The bracket 30 has a plate-shaped base 31 having a second shaft portion 41 and a pair of plate-shaped arm portions 32. The pair of plate-shaped arm portions 32 are cantilevered extensions from the left and right side edges of the plate-shaped base 31 in a direction that intersects with the fitting direction (up and down direction) of the movable member 11 to the mating connector 60 (rearward direction). At least a part of the movable member 11 is housed in the housing space 38 partitioned by the plate-shaped base 31 and the pair of plate-shaped arm portions 32. The pair of plate-shaped arm portions 32 have a pair of first support holes 33 that individually house a pair of first shaft portions 24 formed on the movable member 11. With this configuration, at least a part of the movable member 11 is housed in the housing space 38 of the bracket 30, so the connector device can be made smaller compared to one in which the entire movable member 11 is arranged outside the bracket 30.

[0042] [Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above in the description and drawings, but is shown in the claims. The present invention includes the meaning of equivalences to the claims and all modifications within the claims, and also includes the following embodiments: - The first shaft portion may be formed on the bracket. - The movable member may not have a first posture-holding portion for holding the bracket in a first holding position. - The connector device may not have a second shaft portion. - The bracket may not have a second posture-holding portion for holding the support panel in a second holding position. - The mounting portion of the bracket may be a separate component from the plate-shaped base portion.

[0043] 10...Connector device 11...Movable member 12...Housing 13...Terminal holding part 14...Mating part 15...Guided part 20...Holder 21...Front wall part 22...Side wall part 23...Guide groove 24...First shaft part 25...First locking part 26...Locking projection 30...Bracket 31...Plate-shaped base part 32...Plate-shaped arm part 33...First support hole 34...First locking part 35...First elastic retaining piece 36...Retaining projection 37...First posture holding part 38...Housing space 40...Mounting part 41...Second shaft part 42...Elastic pressing part 43...Elastic retaining piece 44...Second elastic retaining piece 45...Second locking part 50...Support panel 51...Second support hole 52...Second locking part 57...Second posture holding part 60...Mating connector 61...guiding section

Claims

1. A connector device comprising a bracket attached to a support panel and a movable member that can be mated with a mating connector, wherein the movable member is attached to the bracket so as to be able to swing relative to it with respect to a first axis portion that intersects the mating direction with respect to the mating connector.

2. The connector device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket and the movable member are provided with a first posture holding part that can hold the movable member in a first holding position relative to the bracket, and releases the holding of the first holding position by a pressing force acting on the movable member from the mating connector.

3. The connector device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bracket is provided with a second shaft portion whose axis is oriented in a direction intersecting both the fitting direction and the axial direction of the first shaft portion, and the bracket is mounted to the support panel so as to be able to swing relative to it with the second shaft portion as a pivot point.

4. The connector device according to claim 3, wherein the support panel and the bracket are provided with a second posture holding part that can hold the bracket in a second holding position relative to the support panel, and releases the holding of the bracket in the second holding position by a pressing force acting on the movable member from the mating connector.

5. The connector device according to claim 3, wherein the bracket comprises a plate-shaped base having the second shaft portion, and a pair of plate-shaped arm portions extending from both side edges of the plate-shaped base in a direction intersecting the fitting direction of the movable member to the mating connector, wherein at least a part of the movable member is housed in a housing space partitioned by the plate-shaped base and the pair of plate-shaped arm portions, and the pair of plate-shaped arm portions are formed in a pair of first support holes for individually housing a pair of first shaft portions formed in the movable member.

Images