JP2011048928A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector having a rattling prevention function is provided.
A male connector housing 60A having a hood portion 61, a female connector housing 10A fitted to the inner periphery of the hood portion 61, a lock arm 66 and a lock projection 16 for locking both connector housings, and left and right portions of the hood portion. A spring part and an engaging convex part 22 are provided at the inner wall and the front end parts of the left and right outer walls of the female connector housing, and elastically engage with each other when the two connector housings are fitted. . The spring portion is a wire spring in which one metal wire is bent into a U shape having a first straight portion 82 and a second straight portion 81, and an Ω-shaped curved portion 83 is formed in the middle of the first straight portion. 80 Ω-shaped curved portions 83 are formed. When the connector is fitted, the engagement protrusion 22 is engaged with the Ω-shaped bending portion 83, thereby preventing rattling.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector having a function of preventing rattling during fitting.

  Conventionally, a spring for preventing rattling is provided in one connector housing, and when the connector is fitted, the spring exerts an elastic reaction force on the other connector housing, thereby preventing rattling between the two connector housings. A connector having an anti-stick function is known.

  6 and 7 show an example of this type of connector described in Patent Document 1, for example.

  In the connector illustrated in FIG. 6, when both connectors 910 and 960 are fitted to the male connector housing 911 of the male connector 910 and the female connector housing 961 of the female connector 960, they are engaged with each other so as to maintain the fitted state. A lock protrusion 912 and a lock arm 962 are provided. Further, a metal spring 980 having a letter shape with the top portion 985 facing inward is assembled to the inner wall surface of the hood portion of the female connector housing 961.

  When the male connector 910 and the female connector 960 are fitted, the male connector 910 and the female connector 960 are locked to each other by the engagement of the lock protrusion 912 and the lock arm 962, and the hood portion of the female connector housing 961 The spring 980 provided on the inner wall surface of the male connector abuts against the outer wall surface of the male connector housing 911 of the male connector 910 to exert an elastic reaction force, thereby preventing rattling between the female connector housing 961 and the male connector housing 911. It is like that.

  Further, in the connector illustrated in FIG. 7, the male connector housing 911 is further provided with a concave portion 915 on the outer wall surface, and when the male connector 910 and the female connector 960 are properly fitted, the top portion 985 of the spring 980 is provided. Is fitted into the recess 915 so that the fitting force between the connectors 910 and 960 can be increased.

JP 2004-186078 A JP 2004-171911 A

  By the way, in the conventional connector described above, the spring 980 is arranged on the inlet side of the hood portion of the female connector housing 961, so that the force of the spring 980 acts as a sliding resistance from the initial stage when the connector is fitted. There has been a problem that the insertion force required for connector fitting becomes large from the beginning.

  Further, since the spring 980 generates an elastic reaction force by bending in a direction orthogonal to the inner wall surface of the hood portion of the female connector housing 961 (direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction), the spring 980 is bent. The space had to be secured in a direction perpendicular to the inner wall surface of the hood part, and the dimensions of the hood part increased accordingly, and the connector could be increased in size.

  Further, since the left and right springs 980 are each a single part, the number of parts increases, and it takes time to insert the left and right springs 980 into the left and right inner walls of the female connector housing 961. It was.

  In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention can suppress an increase in initial insertion force at the time of connector fitting (initial insertion force that tends to increase the burden of the fitting operation), and play at the time of connector fitting. It is possible to effectively prevent sticking, and it is possible to minimize the increase in the size of the connector as much as possible due to the need to secure a spring bending space. An object of the present invention is to provide a connector having a backlash prevention function with less trouble.

  The connector according to the first aspect of the present invention is such that the first connector housing and the second connector housing that are fitted to each other by sliding in the front-rear direction are locked and fitted in a state in which both the connector housings are completely fitted. Locking means for maintaining the state is provided, and the first connector housing is provided with a hood portion that receives the second connector housing when the connector is fitted, and the back portions of the left and right inner walls of the hood portion; As both the connector housings are fitted to the distal end portions of the left and right outer walls of the second connector housing, which are advanced to the positions facing the rear portions of the left and right inner walls of the hood portion when the connectors are fitted. A spring portion and an engagement portion that are elastically engaged with each other, and each of the spring portions includes one metal wire, two first straight portions parallel to each other, and the two first portions. A plane that has a second linear portion that connects one end of the line portion, and a plane in which the first linear portion and the second linear portion exist together in the middle of each first linear portion; It is constituted by the Ω-shaped bending portion of a wire spring that forms an Ω-shaped bending portion that curves in an Ω-shape within a vertical plane, and the Ω-shaped bending portion as the spring portion is provided on the left and right sides of the first connector housing. The first straight portion is inserted forward into the insertion hole from the rear end of the insertion hole formed in the side portion, and the second straight portion is formed in a holding groove formed in the rear end portion of the first connector housing. By engaging and attaching the wire spring to the first connector housing, the hood portion is positioned and arranged along the inner side wall at the back of the left and right inner side walls of the hood portion. , The Ω-shaped curved portion in connection with the connector fitting operation In the stage of bending over and deforming in a plane along the inner wall on the left and right sides of the card portion, and at the stage where the locking means locks, press contact with the inclined portion on the rear side of the Ω-shaped curved portion As a result, the left and right outer walls of the second connector housing serve as engaging convex portions that receive the elastic reaction force of the Ω-shaped curved portion in two directions, the front in the connector fitting direction and the direction orthogonal thereto. It is provided in the front-end | tip part.

  According to the present invention, the spring portion (Ω-shaped curved portion) and the engagement portion (engagement convex portion) for preventing rattling are engaged with each other for the first time (the first position) Since it is provided at the back of the hood portion of the first connector housing and the distal end portion of the second connector housing, it is possible to suppress an increase in insertion force at the initial stage of connector fitting, which tends to increase the burden of fitting. .

  Further, at the stage of complete connector fitting, the elastic reaction force due to the spring part (Ω-shaped curved part) is applied to the second connector housing side in the two directions perpendicular to the front and the connector fitting direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rattling in various directions between the two connector housings while strengthening the connector fitting holding force.

  In addition, when the connector is fitted, the Ω-shaped curved portion disposed as the spring portion is bent and deformed in a plane along the left and right inner walls of the hood portion. It is no longer necessary to ensure in a direction perpendicular to the left and right inner walls. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the dimension of the first connector housing outward in order to secure the bending space of the spring portion, and the connector can be made compact.

  In other words, since the spring portion is bent in the direction along the inner wall of the first connector housing, the bending space of the spring portion is not secured in the direction orthogonal to the inner wall of the first connector housing. It is sufficient that the first connector housing is secured in a direction along the inner wall. In this case, since it is easy to secure the bending space of the wire spring in the direction along the inner wall of the first connector housing, it is not necessary to specially increase the size of the connector housing. Can contribute.

  Further, since the spring portions disposed on the left and right inner side walls of the first connector housing are constituted by Ω-shaped curved portions formed on one wire spring, one spring component (wire spring) is moved backward. Thus, the incorporation of the two spring portions can be completed simply by assembling into the first connector housing. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the trouble of assembling the spring parts can be reduced.

It is a perspective view which shows the state before the fitting of the connector of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state after the fitting of the connector. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the wire spring used for the connector. It is a side view which shows the state at the time of the fitting of the connector. It is the figure which looked at the state at the time of fitting of the connector from the back of a male connector. It is a top view which shows the example of the connector provided with the conventional rattling prevention function. It is a figure which shows the conventional modification, (a) is a top view of a male connector, (b) is a top view which shows the fitting state of a male / female connector.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view showing a state before the connector of the embodiment is fitted, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state after the connector is fitted, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a wire spring used for the connector. 4 is a side view showing a state when the connector is fitted, and FIG. 5 is a view of the state when the connector is fitted as seen from the rear of the male connector.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the connector of this embodiment includes a female connector 10 and a male connector 60 that is fitted to the female connector 10. The arrow X in FIG. 1 is the front-rear direction along the connector fitting direction, the arrow Y is the left-right direction orthogonal to the connector fitting direction, the arrow Z is orthogonal to the connector fitting direction (front-rear direction X), and the left-right direction Y An orthogonal vertical direction is shown.

  The female connector 10 has a terminal fitting 14 (see FIG. 5) housed and fixed inside a resin female connector housing (second connector housing) 10A having an annular peripheral wall 11 having an oblong cross section that is horizontally long in the left-right direction. It is.

  A lock protrusion 16 as one element of the locking means is provided on the outer peripheral upper portion of the annular peripheral wall 11, and a pair of parallel protrusions extending in the connector fitting direction (front-rear direction X) are provided on the left and right sides of the lock protrusion 16 respectively. Guide ribs 17 are provided.

  Further, ribs 20 extending in the connector fitting direction project from the left and right outer walls (outer walls of the second connector housing) of the annular peripheral wall 11, and the lower surface of the front end of the rib 20 in the connector fitting direction. On the (outer wall of the second connector housing), an engagement convex portion 22 having a triangular shape in side view is provided.

  One male connector 60 is obtained by housing and fixing a terminal fitting (not shown) inside a resin male connector housing (first connector housing) 60A.

  The male connector housing 60A and the female connector housing 10A are fitted to each other by sliding in the front-rear direction (X direction), and the locking means (the lock projection 16 and a later-described lock member 16 are described later) in a state in which the connector housings 60A and 10A are completely fitted. When the lock arm 66) is locked, the completely fitted state can be maintained.

  A hood portion 61 that covers the outer periphery of the annular peripheral wall 11 of the female connector housing 10 </ b> A when the connector is fitted is provided on the outermost peripheral portion of the male connector housing 60 </ b> A, and the female connector housing 10 </ b> A is provided on the inner peripheral side of the hood portion 61. A columnar male connector main body (not shown) having a terminal accommodating chamber 64 and fitted inside the annular peripheral wall 11 is provided through an annular space (not shown) into which the annular peripheral wall 11 is inserted. The hood part 61 is a rear end part in the connector fitting direction, and is integrally connected to the rear end part of the male connector main part.

  Further, when the male connector 60 and the female connector 10 are completely fitted to the upper portion of the hood portion 61 of the male connector housing 60A, both the connector housings 10A and 60A are locked by engaging with the lock protrusion 16. A locking arm (locking means) 66 is provided. Note that the guide rib 17 can guide the fitting operation by sliding to the left and right sides of the lock arm 66 when the connector is fitted.

  Further, pocket portions 70 for accommodating first straight portions 82 of wire springs 80 to be described later are provided at the rear portions in the connector fitting direction on both the left and right sides of the hood portion 61 of the male connector housing 60A.

  The left and right inner walls of the hood portion 61 are provided with slide grooves 76 that continue to the pocket portion 70, and the ribs 20 on the female connector housing 10A side are slidably fitted into the slide grooves 76. .

  Therefore, both the connector housings 10A and 60A are fitted to the inner wall of the pocket portion 70 (corresponding to the inner wall of the first connector housing) and the distal ends of the left and right outer walls of the female connector housing 10A. Sometimes the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side face each other.

  Therefore, when the connector housings 10A and 60A are fitted to the inner side wall of the pocket portion 70, the ratchet spring portion that elastically engages with the engagement convex portion 22 (the Ω of the wire spring described later). A curved portion 83) is assembled. Accordingly, the spring portion (Ω-shaped curved portion 83) and the engaging convex portion 22 are engaged for the first time at the end of fitting between the connector housings 10A and 60A.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the wire spring 80 constituting this spring portion will be described.

  The wire spring 80 has a U-shape having one metal wire having two first straight portions 82 that are parallel to each other and a second straight portion 81 that connects one ends of the two first straight portions 82. And an Ω-shaped bending portion 83 that is bent into an Ω-shape in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the first linear portion 82 and the second linear portion 81 exist in the middle of each first linear portion 82. Is formed. The left and right spring portions inside the pocket portion 70 are constituted by Ω-shaped curved portions 83 of the wire spring 80.

  The pocket portion 70 of the male connector housing 60A is constituted by a slot-like spring insertion hole 71 into which the first straight portion 82 of the wire spring 80 can be inserted. A holding groove 75 for holding the spring 80 is provided.

  The wire spring 80 has the first straight portion 82 inserted forward from the rear end of the spring insertion hole 71 into the insertion hole 71, and the second straight portion 81 is inserted into the rear end of the male connector housing 60A. By being engaged with the holding groove 75, the male connector housing 60 </ b> A is mounted, whereby the Ω-shaped curved portion 83 formed in the middle of the first straight portion 82 of the wire spring 80 is replaced with the hood portion 61. Positioned and arranged along the inner side wall as a spring part at the back of the left and right inner side walls.

  Further, the engagement convex portion 22 on the female connector 10 side gets over the Ω-shaped curved portion 83 while bending and deforming in the plane along the left and right inner walls of the hood portion 61 in accordance with the connector fitting operation. , 16 is in a state where it is pressed and brought into contact with the inclined portion on the rear side of the Ω-shaped bending portion 83 at the position over which it is moved, whereby the elastic reaction force of the Ω-shaped bending portion 83 is moved forward in the connector fitting direction. And it is received in two directions orthogonal to it.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  When the male connector 60 is fitted to the female connector 10, the annular peripheral wall 11 of the female connector 10 enters the annular space 62 on the outer periphery of the main portion 63 of the male connector housing 60 </ b> A, and the hood portion 61 of the male connector 60 is connected to the annular peripheral wall 11. Fits outside. Then, the engaging protrusion 22 and the rib 20 of the female connector housing 10A slide on the slide groove 76 of the male connector housing 60A, and the lock arm 66 engages with the lock protrusion 16 at the end of connector fitting. Both connectors 10, 60 are locked together. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4, the engagement convex portion 22 on the female connector housing 10A side passes over the spring portion (Ω-shaped curved portion 83) on the male connector housing 60A side while bending and overtakes it. Engage with the inclined portion on the rear side of the Ω-shaped curved portion 83 in a pressed contact state.

  In this fitting process, the spring 80 bends so that the first straight part 82 approaches the second straight part 81 side. Accordingly, the spring portion (Ω-shaped curved portion 83) on the male connector housing 60A side is elastically reacted with respect to the engagement convex portion 22 on the female connector housing 10A side in the front direction in the connector fitting direction and in the upper direction perpendicular thereto. Applying a force, thereby suppressing rattling of the connector housings 10A and 60A in various directions while strengthening the connector fitting holding force.

  In this case, the position (male connector housing 60A) where the spring portion (Ω-shaped curved portion 83) and the engagement convex portion 22 for preventing rattling are engaged with each other for the first time at the end of the mating of the connector housings 60A and 10A. Since it is provided at the back of the hood 61 and the tip of the female connector housing 10A, it is possible to suppress an increase in insertion force at the initial stage of connector fitting, which tends to increase the burden of fitting.

  In addition, when the connector is fitted, the Ω-shaped curved portion 83 disposed as the spring portion is bent and deformed in a plane along the left and right inner walls of the hood portion 61, so that the bending space of the spring portion is reduced. It is not necessary to ensure in the direction (left-right direction Y) orthogonal to the left and right inner walls of the hood portion 61. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the dimension of the male connector housing 60A outward in order to secure the bending space of the spring portion, and the connector can be made compact.

  Further, since the spring portion (Ω-shaped bending portion 83) disposed on the left and right inner walls of the male connector housing 60A is constituted by the Ω-shaped bending portion 83 formed in one wire spring 80, one spring By assembling the spring component (wire spring) to the male connector housing 60A from the rear, the assembly of the two spring portions can be completed. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the trouble of assembling the spring parts can be reduced.

  Moreover, in this connector, since the spring part is comprised with the metal spring, there is no spring sag by the heat | fever, vibration, etc. like a resin spring, and long-term reliability can be maintained.

10A female connector housing (second connector housing)
16 Locking protrusion (locking means)
22 engaging projection 60A male connector housing (first connector housing)
66 Lock arm (locking means)
71 Insertion hole 80 Wire spring 81 Second straight part 82 First straight part 83 Ω-shaped curved part

Claims (1)

The first connector housing and the second connector housing that are fitted to each other by sliding in the front-rear direction are provided with locking means for locking the two connector housings in a fully fitted state and maintaining the fitted state. The first connector housing is provided with a hood portion that receives the second connector housing when the connector is fitted, and the back of the left and right inner walls of the hood portion and the left and right sides of the hood portion when the connector is fitted. A spring portion that elastically engages with each other as the two connector housings are fitted to the distal end portions of the left and right outer walls of the second connector housing that enter a position facing the inner wall of the inner wall of the second connector housing. Engagement portions are provided,
The spring portion bends one metal wire into a U-shape having two first straight portions parallel to each other and a second straight portion connecting one ends of the two first straight portions, In addition, a wire spring in which an Ω-shaped curved portion that is curved in an Ω-shape in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which both the first linear portion and the second linear portion exist is formed in the middle of each first linear portion. It is constituted by the Ω-shaped curved portion,
The Ω-shaped curved portion as the spring portion is inserted into the insertion hole forward from the rear end of the insertion hole formed in the left and right side portions of the first connector housing, and the first By engaging two linear portions with a holding groove formed at the rear end portion of the first connector housing and attaching the wire spring to the first connector housing, the back of the left and right inner walls of the hood portion Positioned along the inner wall of the portion,
On the other hand, the engaging portion climbs over the Ω-shaped curved portion while bending and deforming in the plane along the left and right inner walls of the hood portion in accordance with the connector fitting operation, and the locking means is locked. In this state, the Ω-shaped curved portion is in a state of being pressed and contacted with the inclined portion on the rear side of the Ω-shaped curved portion. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the engaging convex portions received in two directions are provided at tip portions of left and right outer walls of the second connector housing.

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