JP2006216375A - Method for detecting lock of connector, and the connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for detecting the lock of a connector and the connector which can certainly detect locking when it is perfectly connected without causing the increase of assembly labor, deterioration of workability, and product cost increase. <P>SOLUTION: The connector is composed of a pair of a plug 2 and a socket 3 which can be connected with each other. Either one of them has lock springs 8 and 9 with a lock engaging part 11 and the other has a fixed lock engaging part 18, and they have a locking mechanism to lock them in the state of perfect connection after the lock springs 8 and 9 are elastically deformed by the fixed lock engaging part 18. The lock engaging part 11 of the locking springs is engaged with the fixed lock engaging part 18, in the course of connector engaging motion and then elastically returned when the connector is perfectly connected. When the connector is perfectly connected, the lock springs 8 and 9 is elastically restored, a lock-detecting projection 12 integrated with the lock springs 8 and 9 pops out of a locking detection hole 19 of the socket 3 the connector to the outside of the connector and then locking is detected by recognizing the popped projection 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector comprising a pair of plugs and sockets that can be fitted to each other, and electrically connecting them by fitting them. Specifically, whether or not the plugs and sockets are normally locked in a completely fitted state. The present invention relates to a connector lock detection method and a connector for detecting and confirming the above.

  Conventionally, either a plug or a socket is provided with a lock spring made of a plate spring that is cantilevered and has a lock engagement portion, and the other is provided with a fixed lock engagement portion, and the lock spring is fitted to the plug and socket. Accordingly, after the elastic displacement by the fixed lock engaging portion, the lock engaging portion of the lock spring is engaged with the fixed lock engaging portion by elastically returning when the plug and the socket are completely fitted, and the plug and socket are A connector having a locking mechanism that locks in a fully fitted state is provided.

  However, even if the connector is equipped with a locking mechanism, a structure that relies only on the touch to detect whether or not it has been properly locked is overlooked. Even if the contact is taken and the inspection is passed, the contact between the terminals is lost due to vibration during transportation. This was a big problem in quality assurance. In order to solve such a problem, a lock detection method for visually performing lock detection has been proposed.

In a conventional lock detection method, a detection piece dedicated to lock detection is inserted into a socket having a fixed lock engagement portion in the vicinity of the fixed lock engagement portion so as to be movable up and down, and the lock spring provided in the plug is bent downward. With the elastic recovery upward, the detection piece is moved upward to automatically project the upper end outside the socket, and lock detection is performed by revealing the projection (see, for example, “Patent Document 1”).
Japanese Patent No. 2555741

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the conventional lock detection method realizes lock detection by visual observation by adding a separate lock detection part called a lock detection piece. Increases, decreases workability, and increases product costs. In addition, a locking means for holding the lock detection piece in the lowered position and the raised position is required, and the structure of the lock detection piece and the detection piece hole into which the lock detection piece is inserted is complicated, further reducing workability and product cost. It is in the point which invites up.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a connector lock detection method and a connector capable of performing lock detection visually without causing an increase in assembly man-hours, a decrease in workability, and an increase in product cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, a connector lock detecting method according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of plugs and sockets that can be fitted to each other, and a plate spring that is cantilevered in either one of the plugs and sockets. A lock spring having a lock engagement portion and a lock lock engagement portion on the other side, and the lock spring is elastically displaced by the lock lock engagement portion in accordance with the fitting operation of the plug and the socket, In a connector having a lock mechanism that locks the plug and the socket in a completely fitted state by engaging the lock engaging portion of the lock spring with the fixed lock engaging portion by elastically returning when the socket is completely fitted. Due to the elastic return of the lock spring when the socket is fully mated, the socket has a lock detection projection that is integrated with the lock spring. Jumping out from the lock detection hole to the outer surface of the socket, and detecting the locking of the locking mechanism by viewing the pop-out projections.

  In the connector lock detection method according to the first aspect of the present invention, as in the second aspect, the lock spring and the set are fixed so that the protrusion protrudes from the two side surfaces adjacent to the plug insertion port of the socket to the outer surface of the connector. It is desirable to provide two sets of lock engaging portions and detect the lock of the lock mechanism by visually recognizing the two protruding protrusions.

  In order to achieve the above object, a connector according to a third aspect of the invention comprises a pair of plugs and sockets that can be fitted to each other, and one of the plugs and sockets comprises a plate spring that is cantilevered and locked. A lock spring having an engaging portion, and a fixed lock engaging portion on the other side. After the lock spring is elastically displaced by the fixed lock engaging portion in accordance with the fitting operation of the plug and the socket, the plug and the socket are completely The lock spring is used for lock detection in a connector with a lock mechanism that locks the plug and socket in a fully-fitted state by engaging the lock engagement portion of the lock spring with the fixed lock engagement portion by elastically returning when fitted. The projections protrude from the outer surface of the socket by the elastic return of the lock spring when the plug and socket are completely fitted. The lock detection hole provided in the socket for, characterized by being configured to detect the locking of the lock mechanism by viewing the projection jumped out from the lock detection hole to the outer surface of the socket.

  In the connector of the invention according to claim 3, as in claim 4, two lock springs are provided in the plug, and each of them is elastically displaced inward toward the inside with the front end when the plug is inserted as a fulcrum. It consists of a cantilevered leaf spring that elastically returns toward the socket, and two fixed lock engaging portions are provided on the socket, each facing inward from the two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface that opens the plug insertion port. The lock springs are elastically displaced inward by the fixed lock engaging portion in accordance with the fitting operation of the plug and the socket, and then elastically returned when the plug and the socket are completely fitted. The lock engagement part is engaged with the fixed lock engagement part to constitute a lock mechanism that locks the plug and the socket in a completely fitted state, and each lock spring is directed outward from the tip side. A slit that extends along the plug insertion / removal direction for projecting the protrusions on the outer surface of the socket by elastic recovery of the lock springs when the plug and socket are completely fitted together. It is desirable that the lock detection hole is formed on two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface that opens the plug insertion port of the socket, and the lock of the lock mechanism is detected by visually recognizing two protrusions protruding from each lock detection hole. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention, each lock spring is provided on the upper surface of the plug, and a step portion having an upper width narrower than a lower width of the socket is formed on the left and right side portions of the socket, and each protrusion is provided in each step portion. It is desirable to make it pop out.

  Furthermore, as in claim 6, each lock spring is provided on the upper surface of the plug, and the tip of each lock spring protrudes from the rear end when the plug is inserted to form a knob for gripping the plug. It is desirable.

  According to the lock detection method of the connector of the invention according to claim 1, according to the connector according to claim 3, the lock detection protrusion is provided integrally with the lock spring, and there is no increase in the number of parts, so the assembly man-hour is increased, Lock detection can be performed visually without degrading workability and increasing the cost of the product. As a result, complete mating (incomplete mating) of the connector can be reliably detected and confirmed visually, and the problem of connector quality assurance can be solved while improving productivity and reducing product cost. Can do.

  According to the connector lock detection method of the invention according to claim 2, and according to the connector of the invention according to claim 4, the lock detection is performed at two places instead of one place on the outer surface of the socket. In spite of being fitted in, it can be prevented that one protrusion for lock detection protrudes to the outer surface of the socket and is mistakenly recognized as being normally locked, and reliable lock detection can be performed. . In addition, such lock detection at two locations is effective for cables with a wide width, cables and boards, and connectors for connecting multiple cores between boards.

  According to the connector of the invention of claim 4, when the plug is inserted and removed, the lock detection protrusion tip is slidably fitted into the slit-like lock detection hole extending along the plug insertion and removal direction, thereby detecting the lock. The projections function as plug insertion / extraction guides. In addition, when the plug is inserted into the socket in the reverse direction, the lock detection projection on the front end when the plug is incorrectly inserted engages with the socket. Has the function of preventing incorrect insertion. Further, the connector of the invention according to claim 3 is the same, but the lock spring is elastically displaced from the elastic return state by pushing the protrusion protruding to the outer surface of the socket inward, and the lock engagement portion of the lock spring is fixed. Since the lock can be released by being released from the lock engagement portion, the lock detection projection functions as a lock release button. In this way, when the lock detection protrusion is integrated with the lock spring, the lock detection protrusion can function as a plug insertion / removal guide, prevention of erroneous insertion, and a lock release button. By increasing the number of functions of the projections, the function of the connector can be added and improved without increasing the number of parts and complicating the structure.

  According to the connector of the invention according to claim 5, since the lock detection protrusion is protruded in the step portions on the left and right side portions of the socket, the lock detection can be performed visually without increasing the size of the connector. In addition, since the lock detection projections do not mix with the electronic components around the connector, the visibility of the lock detection projections is improved, and the lock detection can be performed more easily and reliably by visual inspection. Furthermore, the unlocking using the lock detection projection can be easily performed without causing an obstacle to the electronic components around the connector.

  According to the connector of the invention of claim 6, the plug can be gripped in a state in which the lock spring is elastically displaced inward, that is, in the unlocked state, for example, by pinching the knob part from the left and right outer sides with the thumb and forefinger. As a result, plugs can be easily inserted and removed, connectors with imperfect locks can be reduced, and connectors with improper locks can be easily normalized, improving workability during assembly and continuity testing. be able to.

  Hereinafter, a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the arrow ab direction in FIG. 1 is the vertical direction (thickness direction), the arrow cd direction is the left-right direction (width direction), and the arrow ef direction is the front-rear direction unless otherwise specified. It will be described as (length direction = plug insertion / removal direction which is a connector fitting / separating direction).

  The connector 1 of this embodiment is composed of a pair of plugs 2 and sockets 3 that can be fitted to each other.

  The plug 2 includes an insulating plug body 4 formed in a rectangular shape and a conductive connection terminal 5. The connection terminal 5 is integrally attached to the plug body 4 by press-fitting or insert molding. A notch 6 is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the plug body 4 such that the thickness of the rear half (front side when the plug is inserted) of the plug body 4 is thinner than the thickness of the front side (rear side when the plug is inserted). Has been.

  A plate spring body 7 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the plug body 4. The leaf spring body 7 is formed in a substantially “m” shape in plan view, and has a posture in which the closing side faces rearward (plug insertion direction) and the opening side faces front (plug removal direction). The front half of the central leaf spring piece 7a in the leaf spring body 7 is the upper left and right sides of the thick portion in front of the notch 6 of the plug body 4. From the front end of the plug body 4 to the rear end thereof, the central leaf spring piece 7a is erected perpendicularly to the left and right central portions of the upper surface of the plug body 4. It extends in the front-rear direction (plug insertion / removal direction). The left and right leaf spring pieces 7b and 7c in the leaf spring body 7 are continuously and integrally connected to the rear end of the central leaf spring piece 7a at the rear end, After extending from the center of the rear end of the plug body 4 to the left and right symmetrically on the outside, it extends to the front end of the plug body 4 substantially parallel to the central leaf spring piece 7a. Thus, each is configured to be elastically displaced inward and to return elastically outwardly with the rear end on the upper surface of the plug body 4 as a fulcrum. That is, the left and right leaf spring pieces 7b and 7c of the leaf spring body 7 are provided on the upper surface of the plug 2, and each of them is elastically displaced inwardly with the rear end (front side when the plug is inserted) as a fulcrum. The lock springs 8 and 9 are constituted by cantilevered plate springs that elastically return toward the outside. Hereinafter, the leaf spring pieces 7b and 7c are referred to as lock springs 8 and 9, respectively.

  A notch 10 is formed at the lower edge of the front half of each of the lock springs 8 and 9 so that the plate width of the lock springs 8 and 9 is narrower at the front half than at the rear half. A slit-like gap is formed between the upper surface of the thick portion on the front side of the notch 6 and the lock springs 8 and 9, and is formed at the lower edge of the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the lock springs 8 and 9 by the notch 10. The forward-facing step formed constitutes the lock engaging portion 11. The lock springs 8 and 9 are integrally provided with a lock detection projection 12. The lock detection protrusion 12 is formed of a claw-like protrusion that protrudes horizontally outward from the outer surface of the front end of the lock springs 8 and 9.

  On the other hand, the socket 3 is a rectangular insulating socket body in which a plug insertion opening 13 is formed on one side surface and a storage space 14 for storing the plug 2 inserted through the plug insertion opening 13 is formed therein. 15 and a conductive connection terminal 16. This connection terminal 16 is also integrally attached to the socket body 15 by press-fitting or insert molding. Further, on the left and right side surfaces adjacent to one side surface of the socket body 15 where the plug insertion opening 13 is formed, an upward stepped portion 17 that makes the upper width of the socket body 15 narrower than the lower width is formed over the entire length. When the socket 3 is viewed from the plug insertion direction, the cross-sectional outer shape of the socket body 15 and the shapes of the plug insertion port 13 and the plug storage space 14 are formed in a convex shape, and the plug body 4 is plugged through the lower wide portion of the plug insertion port 13. The leaf spring body 7 is housed in the upper narrow portion of the plug housing space 14 through the upper narrow portion of the plug insertion opening 13 while being housed in the lower wide portion of the housing space 14.

  The socket 3 is integrally provided with two fixed lock engaging portions 18 constituting a lock mechanism for locking the plug 2 and the socket 3 in a completely fitted state by the lock springs 8 and 9. . The fixed lock engaging portion 18 is a claw-like projecting piece projecting horizontally from the middle in the longitudinal direction on the left and right side surfaces (left and right side walls) above the step portion 17 of the socket body 15. It consists of Further, the socket 3 is provided with two lock detection holes 19 for causing the lock detection protrusion 12 to jump out to the outer surface of the socket 3 (the outer surface of the connector 1). This lock detection hole 19 penetrates into and out of the socket body 15 extending rearward (plug insertion direction) from the front end on the left and right side surfaces above the stepped portion 17 of the sonnet body 15 (plug insertion / removal direction). It is composed of slits.

  The protruding length of the fixed lock engaging portion 18 and the protruding length of the lock detecting projection 12 are such that when the lock springs 8 and 9 are elastically displaced inward by the fixed lock engaging portion 18, Is set so as to be slidably fitted into the lock detection hole 19.

  When the plug 2 and the socket 3 configured as described above are fitted, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plug 2 is inserted in a normal insertion posture in which the front-rear direction and the front-back direction are oriented in a normal direction. When the plug body 4 is inserted into the plug insertion port 13 of the socket 3, the plug body 4 is inserted into the inside of the lower wide portion of the plug storage space 14 through the lower wide portion of the plug insertion port 13, and the leaf spring body 7 is inserted into the plug insertion port 13. Is inserted into the inside of the upper narrow portion of the plug housing space 14, and the connection terminal 5 on the plug 2 side and the connection terminal 16 on the socket 3 side are brought into contact and electrically connected. With the insertion of the plug 2 (the fitting operation of the plug 2 and the socket 3), the lock springs 8 and 9 on the plug 2 side are pressed by the fixed lock engaging portions 18 on the socket 3 side and elastically displaced inward. Then, the lock detection projection 12 is housed and concealed in the upper narrow portion of the plug housing space 14 with its tip end slidably fitted in the lock detection hole 19 on the socket 3 side. . When the plug 2 is further inserted into the socket 2, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rear end portion of the plug body 4 forms the plug insertion port 13 of the socket body 15 at the innermost portion of the plug housing space 14. However, the notch 10 of each lock spring 8, 9 corresponds to each fixed lock engagement portion 18, and at the same time, the lock spring 8, 9 is automatically elastically restored toward the outside, and the front end of each lock spring 8, 9 is pressed against the inner surface of the upper narrow portion of the socket body 4, thereby locking the lock spring 8, 9. The joint portion 11 engages with each fixed lock engaging portion 18 to prevent the plug 2 from being completely removed from the fully inserted position, and the plug 2 is locked in the fully inserted state with respect to the socket 3. In the fully mated state Tsu is click.

  Further, when the plug 2 and the socket 3 are locked in a completely fitted state as described above, the lock detection projection 12 is locked by the elastic return of the lock springs 8 and 9 as shown in FIGS. The plug 2 protrudes from the detection hole 19 into the outer surface of the socket 3 in the left and right step portions 17 of the socket body 15, and the plug 2 is attached to the socket 3 by visually recognizing the two protrusions 12 for detecting the lock. It can be detected and confirmed that it is normally locked in the fully inserted state, and by this lock detection, it can be detected and confirmed that the plug 2 and the socket 3 are in a completely fitted state.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the insertion amount of the plug 2 into the socket 3 is insufficient, the lock springs 8 and 9 are elastically inward by the fixed lock engaging portions 18. Since it is displaced, the lock detection projection 12 is housed and held inside the upper narrow portion of the plug housing portion 14, and does not protrude to the outer surface of the socket 3. By visually recognizing the non-protrusion of 3 on the outer surface, it is possible to detect and confirm that the plug 2 is not properly locked with the socket 3 in an incompletely inserted state (lock deficiency). Thus, it can be detected and confirmed that the plug 2 and the socket 3 are in an incompletely fitted state.

  When separating the completely fitted plug 2 and socket 3, for example, the upper narrow part of the socket body 15 is sandwiched from the left and right outer sides by the thumb and forefinger, and the left and right side parts of the socket body 15 from the lock detection hole 19 The lock springs 8 and 9 are moved from the elastic return state to the inner side by pushing the lock detection protrusion 12 protruding from the outer surface of the socket 3 into the inside of the upper narrow portion of the plug housing portion 14. The lock engagement portions 11 of the lock springs 8 and 9 are disengaged from the fixed lock engagement portions 18 and the lock can be released. By pulling the plug 2 from the socket 3 in the unlocked state, the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be easily separated.

  As described above, the connector 1 according to the present embodiment allows the lock detection protrusion 12 provided integrally with the lock springs 8 and 9 to be plugged out by visually checking the protrusion (protrusion) / non-protrusion to the outer surface of the socket 3. Whether the socket 2 and the socket 3 are normally locked in the fully fitted state can be reliably confirmed visually. Since the lock detection projection 12 is provided integrally with the lock springs 8 and 9 and the number of parts is not increased, the assembly man-hour of the connector 1 is not increased, workability is lowered, and the cost of the product is not increased. .

  In addition, since the lock detection is performed at two places instead of one place on the outer surface of the socket 3, for example, one protrusion 7 or 8 for lock detection even though the plug 2 and the socket 3 are fitted in an inclined state. Can be prevented from jumping out to the outer surface of the socket 3 and being mistakenly recognized as being normally locked, and a highly reliable lock detection can be performed.

  The lock detection projection 12 provided integrally with the lock springs 8 and 9 not only functions as a lock release button when separating the completely fitted plug 2 and socket 3 as described above, but also the plug 2 At the time of insertion / extraction, the tip end of the protrusion 12 is slidably fitted into a slit-like lock detection hole 19 extending along the plug insertion / extraction direction to guide the plug 2 in the insertion / extraction direction, and also functions as an insertion / extraction guide for the plug 2 In addition, when the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 3 in the reverse direction, the lock detection projection 12 present at the front end when the plug is erroneously inserted is formed in the upper narrow portion of the socket body 15. Since it engages with the left and right side surfaces (side walls) in the insertion direction, it also has a function of preventing erroneous insertion of the plug 2. Thus, when the lock detection protrusion 12 is provided integrally with each of the lock springs 8 and 9, the lock detection protrusion 12 is detected in addition to the lock detection button, the insertion / extraction guide, The function of the connector 1 can be added and improved without increasing the number of parts and complicating the structure.

  Further, the lock detection projection 12 provided integrally with the lock springs 8 and 9 is projected from the lock detection hole 19 to the outer surface of the socket 3 in the step 17 on the left and right sides of the socket body 15. The lock detection can be performed visually without incurring an increase in the size of 1. Further, when the socket 3 is mounted on the board, the lock detection protrusion 12 does not mix with the electronic components around the socket 3, so that the visibility of the lock detection protrusion 12 is good and the lock detection Can be performed more easily and reliably by visual inspection. Furthermore, unlocking using the lock detection protrusion 12 can be easily performed without causing an obstacle to the electronic components around the socket 3.

  Next, another connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those of the connector 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof is omitted, and different parts will be described.

  In the other connector 100, the central leaf spring piece 7 a and the lock springs 8 and 9 in the leaf spring body 7 of the plug 2 are respectively arranged so that the front end portion (tip portion) is ahead of the front end portion of the plug 2 (plug removal). The center leaf spring piece 7a and the front ends of the left and right lock springs 8 and 9 are projected from the plug insertion port 13 of the socket 3 when the plug 2 and the socket 3 are completely fitted. It is configured as follows.

  In addition, a central projecting piece 20 is formed integrally with the upper edge of the front half of the center leaf spring piece 7a so that the plate width of the center leaf spring piece 7a is wider than the latter half. A guide hole 21 made of a slit in the front-rear direction (plug insertion / removal direction) penetrating from the front end to the inside (outside) of the socket body 15 extends rearward (plug insertion direction) from the front end. When the plug is inserted and removed, the central protruding piece 20 is slidably fitted into the guide hole 21 so that the central protruding piece 20 guides the plug 2 in the insertion and removal direction. Act as a guide. The lock detecting projection 12 positions the plug 2 and the socket 3 in the vertical direction and guides the plug 2 in the insertion / removal direction, and the central projecting piece 20 positions the plug 2 and the socket 3 in the horizontal direction. The plug 2 is guided in the insertion / removal direction, and the protrusions 12 for detecting the lock and the central projecting piece 20 prevent the plug 2 and the socket 3 from rattling in the vertical and horizontal directions. 3 can be more smoothly fitted / separated.

  Further, the upper edge of the front projecting end of the lock springs 8 and 9 projecting forward (in the direction of plug removal) from the front end of the plug 2 has a plate width of the projecting end of the front side of each lock spring 8 and 9. The left and right projecting pieces 22 that are wider than the rear plate width are integrally formed, and the front protruding ends projecting forward (in the direction of plug removal) from the front ends of the plugs 2 of the lock springs 8 and 9. In addition, a knob 23 is formed on the upper part so that the projecting piece 22 is continuously and integrally formed. For example, the lock springs 8 and 9 are elastically inward by sandwiching the knob 23 from the left and right outer sides with the thumb and forefinger. Since the plug 2 can be gripped in the displaced state, that is, in the unlocked state, the plug 2 can be easily inserted / removed, that is, the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be fitted / separated, and the connector 100 with insufficient lock can be reduced. And can , The connector 100 of the lock deficiencies can also normalize easily, thereby improving workability in assembly and conduction test. The two types of lock release buttons by the lock detection protrusion 12 and the knob 22 can be used properly depending on the type and mounting form of the connector 100, and are excellent in convenience. Further, since the projecting piece portion 23 is continuously and integrally connected to the upper portion of the picking portion 22, it is easy to pick, and when the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 3 in the reverse direction, the plug is erroneously inserted. Since the knob 22 existing at the front end of the time engages with the top surface of the socket body 15 in the insertion direction, it also has a function of preventing the plug 2 from being erroneously inserted. For this reason, the lock detection protrusion 12 and the knob 22 can have a function of preventing double erroneous insertion.

It is an external appearance perspective view before the fitting of the connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part cross-section bottom view of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view at the time of the perfect fitting of the connector of FIG. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a cross section of the main part of FIG. 3. It is an external appearance perspective view at the time of the incomplete fitting of the connector of FIG. It is a principal part cross-section bottom view of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view before the fitting of the other connector which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part cross-section bottom view of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view at the time of the perfect fitting of the connector of FIG. It is a principal part cross-section bottom view of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view at the time of the incomplete fitting of the connector of FIG. It is a principal part cross-section bottom view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Connector 2 Plug 3 Socket 5 Connection terminal 8, 9 Lock spring 11 Lock engagement part 12 Projection for lock detection 16 Connection terminal 17 Step part 18 Fixed lock engagement part 19 Lock detection hole 22 Knob part

Claims (6)

  It consists of a pair of plugs and sockets that can be fitted to each other, and one of the plugs and sockets is provided with a lock spring having a lock engagement part made of a cantilevered plate spring, and the other with a fixed lock engagement part The lock spring is elastically displaced by the fixed lock engaging portion in accordance with the fitting operation of the plug and the socket, and is then elastically restored when the plug and the socket are completely fitted, thereby fixing the lock engaging portion of the lock spring to the fixed lock engaging portion. A connector with a locking mechanism that engages with the joint and locks the plug and socket in a fully fitted state, and is integrated with the lock spring by elastic return of the lock spring when the plug and socket are completely fitted. The detection protrusion protrudes from the lock detection hole provided on the socket to the outer surface of the socket, and this protrusion is visually recognized. Connector lock detection method characterized by detecting the locking of the locking mechanism by the.   Two sets of lock springs and fixed lock engaging parts are provided so that the protrusions protrude from the two side surfaces adjacent to the socket insertion port of the socket to the outer surface of the socket. The connector lock detection method according to claim 1, wherein the lock is detected.   It consists of a pair of plugs and sockets that can be fitted to each other, and one of the plugs and sockets is provided with a lock spring having a lock engagement part made of a cantilevered plate spring, and the other with a fixed lock engagement part The lock spring is elastically displaced by the fixed lock engaging portion in accordance with the fitting operation of the plug and the socket, and is then elastically restored when the plug and the socket are completely fitted, thereby fixing the lock engaging portion of the lock spring to the fixed lock engaging portion. In a connector with a lock mechanism that engages with the joint and locks the plug and socket in a fully fitted state, the lock spring is integrated with a lock detection projection, and the lock spring when the plug and socket are fully fitted The socket has a lock detection hole that allows the protrusion to protrude from the outer surface of the socket by elastic recovery of the socket. Connector being characterized in that configured to detect the lock of the lock mechanism by viewing the projection jumped out on the outer surface of the bets.   Two lock springs are provided on the plug. Each of the lock springs is a cantilever plate spring that elastically displaces inward from the front end when the plug is inserted and returns elastically outward. Two joints are provided in the socket, each projecting inwardly from the two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface that opens the plug insertion slot, and each lock spring is moved along with the fitting operation of the plug and socket. After elastically displacing inward by the fixed lock engaging part, the lock engaging part of each lock spring is engaged with the fixed lock engaging part by elastically returning when the plug and socket are completely fitted, and the plug and socket The lock spring is configured to lock in a fully-fitted state, and each lock spring is integrally provided with a lock detection protrusion protruding outward from the tip side. Side surface that opens the plug insertion port of the socket with a slit-like lock detection hole extending along the plug insertion / removal direction for projecting each projection to the outer surface of the socket by elastic return of each lock spring when the socket is completely fitted 4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the connector is configured to detect the lock of the lock mechanism by visually recognizing two protrusions protruding from each lock detection hole.   4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein each of the lock springs is provided on the upper surface of the plug, a step portion having an upper width narrower than a lower width of the socket is formed on the left and right side portions of the socket, and each protrusion is protruded into each step portion. .   5. The lock spring according to claim 3, wherein each lock spring is provided on an upper surface of the plug, and a tip portion of each lock spring is projected from a rear end portion when the plug is inserted to form a knob for gripping the plug. Connector.

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