JP2001332350A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable to easily judge whether a connector has been normally fitted or not, and facilitate so that display of mounting position of connector is easy to be confirmed. SOLUTION: A slidable slide key 3 is installed at a cable connector 1, and a fixed key 8 corresponding to the slide key 3 is installed at a male connector 7, and when the cable connector 1 is fitted into the male connector 7, the fixed key 8 interferes with the slide key 3, and the slide key 3 moves, the fitting confirmation of the connector is made by the fact that a column part 5 springs out from a hole 6, and the display of mounting position of connector is made by a mounting pattern of the slide key 3 that is seen from the rear face of the cable connector 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector used in a communication device or the like by fitting one connector to another connector, and more particularly to a connector structure capable of confirming fitting, indicating a mounting position, and preventing erroneous insertion. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector, for example, a cable connector and a male connector. A cable connector 31 is inserted into a male connector 32 in the direction of an arrow and fitted therein. Whether or not the fitting was normal was determined based on the sound at the time of fitting and the operational feeling.

Further, the mounting position, which is the destination display of the cable connector 31, corresponds to the display of a label 33 on the cable connector 31.

[0004]

However, it is difficult to confirm the fitting of the cable connector 31 by a feeling of operation.
After the cable connector 31 is mounted, there is a problem that the label 33 is hidden by the male connector 32 or the cable 34 and is difficult to confirm.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a movable slide key on one connector, a fixed key corresponding to the slide key on the other connector, and connects one connector to the other connector. When the fixed key interferes with the slide key when the connector is fitted to the connector, the fitting of the connector is confirmed in a state where the slide key is moved.

Further, the mounting position of the connector is displayed by changing the mounting position, number, and color of the slide key and the fixed key.

Further, a part of the plurality of mounted slide keys is immovable, and a fixed key is not mounted at a position corresponding to the immovable slide key, thereby preventing erroneous insertion of the connector. It is like that.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of a cable connector and a male connector as connectors for fitting one connector to another connector.

A groove 2 is provided on a side surface of the cable connector 1, and a slide key 3 is provided in the groove 2 so as to be movable in the insertion and removal directions of the cable connector 1.

The slide key 3 is formed, for example, in the shape of a quadrangular prism. On the side surface thereof, a projection 4 having a length shorter than that of the slide key 3 is formed, and at one end, for example, a column 5 is formed. .

An auxiliary groove is formed in the groove 2 as will be described later. A convex portion 4 is fitted in the auxiliary groove, and the slide key 3 is movably mounted in the groove 2.

The auxiliary groove is formed to be shorter than the length of the groove 2 in order to restrict the movement of the slide key 3, and the difference between the length of the auxiliary groove and the length of the convex portion 4 is the moving distance of the slide key 3.

The cable connector 1 has a groove 2
A hole 6 communicating with the slide key 3 is provided, and the cylindrical portion 5 which is the tip of the slide key 3 is configured to fit into the hole 6.

A fixed key 8 corresponding to the slide key 3 is mounted on the male connector 7 into which the cable connector 1 is fitted so that the projection 10 is fitted into the mounting groove 9.
The fixed key 8 can be formed integrally with the main body of the male connector 7. In addition, 11 is a cable.

The slide key 3 and the fixed key 8 can be formed of a synthetic resin or the like.
Although an example is shown, the number is not limited to this.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are simplified sectional views showing a method of mounting the slide key.

In FIG. 2, the slide key 3 is mounted on the groove 2 such that the projection 4 of the slide key 3 is fitted into the auxiliary groove 12 formed in the groove 2.

FIG. 3 shows one or a plurality of screw portions 13 formed integrally with the slide key 3, which are fixed with nuts 14 so that the screw portions 13 correspond to the auxiliary grooves 12. Slide from the front side of the slide key 3
To groove 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounted state of the first embodiment. When the cable connector 1 is mounted on the male connector 7, the slide key 3 and the fixed key 8 are provided at corresponding positions so as to interfere with each other. The key 3 comes into contact with the fixed key 7 and moves in the direction in which the cable connector 1 is removed, and the tip end, that is, the cylindrical portion 5 protrudes from the hole 6.

When the cable connector 1 and the male connector 7 do not fit properly, the cylindrical portion 5 of the slide key 3 does not protrude from the hole 6, so that an abnormal connection can be detected.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a specific example of the slide key and the fixed key.
The initial state (b) before the fitting of the male connector 7 and the male connector 7 is just before the fitting, and the state (c) after the fitting.

Protrusions 15 are provided at the top and bottom in the groove 2 of the cable connector 1, and the slide key 3 has depressions 16 on the upper and lower surfaces for engaging with the protrusions 15 in the initial state of (a). In addition, a hole 17 is provided in the rear part of the slide key 3 opposite to the tip part where the column part 5 is formed.

At the tip of the fixed key 8, there is provided a projection 18 which engages with the hole 17 when the connector is fitted.

The operation will be described. In the initial state of (a), the concave portion 16 of the slide key 3 is locked by the convex portion 15 in the groove 2, and the cylindrical portion 5 of the slide key 3 protrudes from the hole 6. There is no state.

FIG. 2B shows a state immediately before the cable connector 1 and the male connector 7 are fitted together, and the hole 17 and the projection 18 are on the verge of engagement.

When the cable connector 1 is fitted into the male connector 7, the state shown in FIG.
The projection 18 of the fixed key 8 is fitted into the lock 7 and locked. That is, the fixed key 8 interferes with the slide key 3.

The interference between the fixed key 8 and the slide key 3 causes the slide key 3 to move in the left direction in the drawing, that is, the direction in which the cable connector 1 is removed, and the engagement between the projection 15 and the recess 16 is released, and the cylindrical portion at the tip end 5 jumps out of hole 6. The normal fitting of the connector can be confirmed by the protrusion of the cylindrical portion 5.

When the cable connector 1 starts to be removed from the male connector 7, the slide key 3 is locked by the fixed key 8, so that only the cable connector 1 moves, and the convex portion 15 and the concave portion 16 are locked again. .

When the cable connector 1 is completely removed from the male connector 7, the slide key 3 and the fixed key 7 are separated from each other by releasing the engagement between the hole 17 and the projection 18.
Return to the original state of (a).

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional views for explaining another example of the slide key and the fixed key. FIG. 6A is an initial state before the cable connector 1 and the male connector 7 are fitted, and FIG. The state of is shown.

5 is different from FIG. 5 in that the means for locking the slide key 19 and the fixed key 20 is eliminated, and the compression spring 2 is provided at the base of the cylindrical portion 5 of the slide key 19 in the groove 2 near the hole 6.
1 is provided, and the others are the same.

When the cable connector 1 is fitted to the male connector 7, the tip of the fixed key 20 and the rear of the slide key 1 interfere with each other as shown in FIG. And the locking of the convex portion 15 and the concave portion 16 is released, and the cylindrical portion 5 at the tip of the slide key 19 protrudes from the hole 6. The normal fitting of the connector can be confirmed by the protrusion of the cylindrical portion 5.

When the male connector 7 removes the cable connector 1, the compression spring 21 urges the slide key 19 rightward in the drawing, that is, the insertion direction of the cable connector 1, so that the slide key 19 moves rightward. The projection 15 and the recess 16 are locked to return to the original state.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the normal fitting of the connector can be visually confirmed by the protrusion of the tip of the slide key 3. At this time, if the colors of the column portion 5 of the slide key 3 and the cable connector 1 are changed, the visibility is further improved.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the mounting positions of the connectors are indicated by four connectors.

The left side of the figure shows the mounting pattern of the slide key 3 as viewed from the back of the cable connector 1, and the right side shows the mounting pattern of the fixed key 8 as viewed from the front side of the male connector 7.

In this example, the mounting position is displayed by changing the number of the slide keys 3 and the corresponding fixed keys 8 for each of the mounting positions of the cable connector 1, for example, the first to fourth mounting positions.

Assuming that the mounting position of the slide key 3 and the fixed key 8 is address 1 at the upper left and the address 6 is lower right, the first mounting position of the cable connector 1 is at address 1. The same is also applied), and the fourth mounting position is displayed by mounting four slide keys 3 from addresses 1 to 4. In this case, up to six patterns can be displayed.

Instead of changing the numbers of the slide keys 3 and the fixed keys 8 for each mounting position of the cable connector 1, the mounting positions can be displayed by changing the mounting positions of the slide keys 3 and the fixed keys 8.

For example, by mounting one slide key 3 (same for the fixed key 8) at address 1, the first mounting position is displayed, and by mounting it at address 4, the fourth mounting position is displayed. The sixth mounting position can be displayed by mounting it at the address.

In addition to changing the number and mounting positions of the slide keys 3 described above, if the combination of changing the color is combined, the number of possible mounting positions of the cable connector 1 can be further increased.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the mounting position of the slide key 3 is displayed by a pattern in which the mounting position, the number, and the color are changed. The mounting position can be easily confirmed by the pattern of the slide key 3 even after the connector is mounted.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention, in which an erroneous insertion of a connector is prevented.

The description will be made on the assumption that the connection of the connector is confirmed and the mounting position is indicated by the slide key 3 on the left side of the cable connector 1, and the erroneous insertion is prevented by the slide key 23 on the right side.

On the left side, as in the first embodiment, a movable slide key 3 is mounted, and a fixed key 8 is mounted at a position corresponding to the male connector 7.

On the right side, the length of the convex portion 24 of the slide key 23 is made equal to the length of the auxiliary groove 12 (FIG. 2) in the groove 2, so that the slide key 23 is immovable. I have. Although the slide key 23 itself is formed long in the figure, it may be short.

The cylindrical portion 25 is the same as the first cylindrical portion 5, but the length of the cylindrical portion 25 is made short so as not to protrude from the hole 6 so that the slide key 23 cannot be moved. You may.

The method of not forming the column portion 25, the hole 6
Any method can be applied, such as a method in which no slide key 23 is provided, a method in which the slide key 23 is fixed to the cable connector 1 with an adhesive, and the like.

On the other hand, on the right side of the male connector 7, no fixed key 8 is provided at a position corresponding to the immovable slide key 23.

The operation of the thus constructed connector will be described. The cable connector 1 is fitted to the male connector 7. If at least one fixed key 8 exists at a position corresponding to the immovable slide key 23, the slide key 23 and the fixed key 8 interfere with each other, and the slide key 23
Cable connector 1 is a male connector 7
Cannot be fitted. This can prevent erroneous insertion of the connector.

Slide key 2 that cannot be moved as shown in FIG.
If there is no fixed key 8 corresponding to 3, the cable connector 1 and the male connector 7 are normally fitted as shown in FIG. 9 and the left slide key 3 and the fixed key 8 interfere. As a result, the cylindrical portion 5 of the slide key 3 protrudes from the hole 6 and a normal fitting can be confirmed.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a mounting position display pattern according to the third embodiment, showing an example of six connectors.

The mounting pattern of the movable slide key 3 and the immovable slide key 23 as viewed from the back side of the cable connector 1 is shown on the left side of the figure, and the mounting pattern of the fixed key 8 as viewed from the front side of the male connector 7 is shown on the right side. It is.

In this example, the mounting position of the connector is displayed by mounting the slide key 3 on the left side of the cable connector 1, so the example of six patterns is shown, but the number of patterns is increased by the combination of colors. Is also possible.

Although the slide keys 3 and 23 attached to the cable connector 1 are shown as being capable of six in total, the number may be determined as needed.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, a part of the cable connector 1, for example, one slide key 23 is configured to be immovable, and By not providing the fixed key 8 at the position of the male connector 7 corresponding to the possible slide key 23, erroneous insertion of the connector can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, the cable connector 1 and the male connector 7 have been described. However, as long as one connector is fitted with the other connector, the present invention can be applied regardless of the name.

Also, an example is shown in which the male connector 7 is provided with a partition wall in order to separate the mounting positions of the cable connector 1.
The shape of the housing of the male connector 7 is not limited to such an example.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, a movable slide key is provided on one connector, and a fixed key corresponding to the movable slide key is provided on the other connector. The fitting can be visually confirmed in the state, and the mounting position of the connector can be easily confirmed by the mounting pattern of the slide key.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a mounting method of a slide key.

FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a mounting method of a slide key.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view for explaining a slide key and a fixed key.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining a slide key and a fixed key.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a mounting position display pattern according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cable connector 2 Groove 3,19,23 Slide key 4,24 Convex part 5,25 Cylindrical part 6 Hole 7 Male connector 8,20 Fixed key 12 Auxiliary groove 15 Convex part 16 Concave part 17 Hole part 18 Protrusion part 21 Compression spring

Claims (9)

[Claims] A connector has a groove formed on a side surface thereof, and a slide key movable in a direction in which the connector is inserted and withdrawn in the groove, and a fixed key corresponding to the slide key is mounted on the other connector. A connector, wherein when the one connector is fitted to the other connector, the fixed key interferes with a slide key, and the fitting of the connector is confirmed in a state where the slide key is moved. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided from the back surface of said one connector to the groove, and a normal fitting of the connector is confirmed by a tip of the slide key protruding from the hole. The connector described. 3. A convex portion is provided in a groove of the one connector, a concave portion for engaging the convex portion with the slide key in an initial state, and a hole in a rear portion opposite to a tip portion of the slide key. A protrusion for locking the hole with the hole is provided at the tip of the fixed key. When the connector is fitted, the hole of the slide key and the protrusion of the fixed key are locked to lock the slide key. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the connector moves, and the engagement between the protrusion in the groove and the recess of the slide key is released, and the tip of the slide key jumps out of the hole. 4. A connector provided with a convex portion in a groove of the one connector, a concave portion for locking the convex portion in the initial state on the slide key, a compression spring in a groove near the hole, and a connector. 3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the engagement between the convex portion in the groove and the concave portion of the slide key is disengaged and the compression spring biases the slide key in a connector insertion direction. 5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a color of the slide key is different from that of the one connector. 6. The one connector and the other connector are configured such that a plurality of slide keys and fixed keys can be respectively mounted thereon, and the mounting positions of the connectors are displayed by changing the mounting positions of the slide keys and the fixed keys. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector is used. 7. The one connector and the other connector are configured such that a plurality of slide keys and fixed keys can be mounted, respectively, and the mounting positions of the connectors are displayed by changing the numbers of the slide keys and fixed keys. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The one connector and the other connector are configured so that a plurality of the slide keys and a plurality of fixed keys can be respectively mounted thereon, and a mounting position of the connector is displayed by changing a color of the slide key. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein 9. A plurality of slide keys and a plurality of fixed keys are respectively mounted on the one connector and the other connector, and a part of the plurality of mounted slide keys is immovable. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the fixed key is not provided at a position corresponding to a possible slide key to prevent erroneous insertion of the connector.