JP2593897Y2 - Connector unit locking device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) This invention is a connector unit for a wire harness or the like attached to a body subject to vibration, such as a vehicle body of an automobile, for preventing the connector unit from coming off. Related to a lock device.

(Prior Art) A connector unit includes a socket, a plug to be inserted into the socket, and a lock device for preventing the plug from being removed from the socket after the plug is inserted into the socket.

Various types of such lock devices are known, but generally, the lock device is provided with a locking claw protruding from the outer surface of the socket and a protruding protrusion from the outer surface of the plug, and the plug is mounted on the socket. At the same time as it is inserted, it consists of a locking piece that is releasably locked to the locking claw.

This lock piece is made of an integral molded product made of synthetic resin,
It has a support leg protruding from the outer surface of the plug, and a pair of arm pieces extending from the support leg along the outer surface of the plug along both sides in the plug insertion / removal direction, and one of the arm pieces has a connection portion with the support leg. The lock arm is a fulcrum and can be elastically rotated.

That is, an engagement hole cooperating with the locking claw on the socket side is formed at the distal end of the lock arm, and when the plug is inserted into the socket, the distal end of the lock arm is resiliently connected to the lock arm. After riding on the locking claw with the rotational displacement, the locking claw is locked in the engaging hole, thereby preventing the plug from being removed from the socket, that is, locking.

On the other hand, the other of the arm pieces is formed as a lock release lever for releasing the lock.

Therefore, put your finger on the tip of this lock release lever,
By depressing the lock release lever, the distal end of the lock arm, that is, elastic rotation displacement such that the locking hole comes out of the locking claw can be given to the lock arm, thereby releasing the lock, that is, Thus, the engagement between the locking hole and the locking claw can be released.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the lock device described above, since the support leg and the lock arm and the lock release lever extending in the directions opposite to each other have a T-shaped structure, these locks are used. The connecting portion between the arm and the unlocking lever and the supporting leg has relatively high rigidity. Therefore, when giving elastic rotation displacement to the lock arm, a large concentrated stress acts on the connecting portion. Become. Therefore, when the plug is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the socket, the connecting portion between the lock arm and the unlock lever and the supporting leg is fatigued, and as a result, there is a problem that the connecting portion is easily damaged.

This invention was made based on such circumstances, and its purpose is to reduce the concentrated stress applied to the connecting portion between the lock arm and the support leg, to provide excellent durability and secure unlocking. The object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for a connector unit that can perform the following.

(Means for Achieving the Object) According to the present invention, there is provided a connector unit comprising a socket and a plug which is removably inserted into and removed from the socket. A locking claw protruding from one of the outer surfaces and a protrusion protruding from one of the other outer surfaces of the socket and the plug. The lock piece is made of a synthetic resin and is integrally molded, and has a support leg protruding from the outer surface of one of the socket and the plug, and a bent portion formed on the support leg. A lock arm extending in the plug insertion / removal direction along the other outer surface and capable of elastically rotating and displacing with the bent portion as a fulcrum; Provided,
When the plug is inserted into the socket, after the tip of the lock arm rides on the locking claw with the elastic rotation displacement of the lock arm, a locking recess for locking the locking claw, Continuing with the tip, extending along the lock arm and beyond the support leg in the opposite direction to the lock arm,
A lock release lever that has a finger hook at the tip and pushes down the finger hook to elastically rotate the lock arm and push up the tip of the lock arm,
The other outer surface of the socket and the plug is provided with a stopper that is located closer to the distal end of the lock arm than the support leg and that comes into contact with the unlock lever when the finger hook of the unlock lever is pressed down. A locking device for a connector unit is provided.

(Operation) According to the above-described locking device, when the plug is inserted into the socket, the distal end of the lock arm rides on the locking claw while being elastically displaced. Of the plug engages with the locking claw, thereby preventing the plug from being removed from the socket. Also, when removing the plug from the socket, push down the finger latch of the lock release lever, contact the lock release lever with the stop, and further push down the finger latch to generate a reaction force at the tip of the lock arm, The engagement of the locking recess with the locking claw can be released by elastically rotating and displacing the lock arm to push up the tip of the lock arm, and then the plug can be removed from the socket.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a connector unit 1 provided with the locking device of the present invention. The connector unit 1 includes a socket 2 and a plug 3 that can be inserted into and removed from the socket 2.
The plug 3 and the plug 3 are each formed of a synthetic resin.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of conductive cables are respectively connected to both the socket 2 and the plug 3. The conductive cables on the socket 2 side and the plug 3 side are connected to the socket 2 and the plug 3, respectively. When plug 3 is inserted into
They are electrically connected to each other through internal connector holes and connector pins.

In the case of this embodiment, a locking claw 4 is provided on the outer surface of the socket 2.
Are protruded integrally. Socket 2 in locking claw 4
The end face located on the plug mounting port 5 side of the plug mounting port 5
Is formed on the tapered surface 6 inclined toward the outside.

On the other hand, from the outer surface of the plug 3, a lock piece 7 is integrally provided and protruded. The lock piece 7 is provided with a pair of support leg portions 8, 8 which are separated in a direction orthogonal to the plugging / unplugging direction of the plug 3 and constitute support legs. Each support leg 8 has
The lock arms 10 are connected to each other via the bent portions 9, and these lock arms 10 can be elastically rotated and displaced around the bent portions 9. The lock arms 10, 10 constitute a lock arm, and extend toward the socket 2 along the outer surface of the plug 3. As is clear from FIG. 2, the pair of lock arms 10, 10 are parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, in this embodiment, an interval at which the locking claw 4 can be fitted. The distal ends are connected to each other by a connecting piece 11. Accordingly, in the case of this embodiment, the connecting piece 11 forms a locking recess 12 in cooperation with the pair of lock arms 10, 10. Further, the lower edge of the distal end of the connecting piece 11 corresponds to the tapered surface 5 of the locking claw 4, ie, a tapered surface parallel to the tapered surface 5.
13 are formed. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each bent portion 9 has a curved shape for smoothly connecting the lock arm 10 and the support leg 8.

The connection area between the connection piece 11 and each lock arm 10 is formed on a triangular wing 14 protruding outward, respectively.
An unlocking lever 15 is connected to these wings 14. The lock release lever 15 has a pair of release lever portions 16 connected to each wing portion 14, and each release lever portion 16
It extends beyond the support leg 8 in parallel with the lock arm 10 on the adjacent side and in the opposite direction to the lock arc 10. The distal ends of the pair of release levers 16 are mutually connected by a finger hook 17. The finger hook 17 has an L-shaped cross section as seen in FIG. 1 and protrudes from the upper surface of the release lever 16. An auxiliary rib 18 extending along the release lever portion 16 is formed on the upper surface of each release lever portion 16, and the reinforcing rib 18 has a finger hook portion as shown in FIG. Upper surface of 17 and release lever 16
Is formed in a tapered shape so as to be continuous with both of the upper surfaces.

Further, on the outer surface of the plug 3, stop portions 19, 19 are provided so as to be located on the distal end side of the lock arm portion 10 with respect to the support leg portion 8 and at least immediately below the central portion of each release lever portion 16. ing. A predetermined gap is provided between each stop portion 19 and the corresponding release lever portion 16, and by pressing the finger hook portion 17 downward, usually, by the amount of this gap,
The lock release lever 15, that is, the release lever portion 16
19, it can be pushed down until it abuts. Then, from the state where the release lever portion 16 is in contact with the stop portions 19, 19, when the finger hook portion 17 is further pressed down,
A reaction force corresponding to the operation force of the finger hook 17 can be generated in the connecting piece 11 having the locking recess 12. In FIG. 3, the stopper 19 is omitted.

In the connector unit including the lock device having the above-described configuration, when the plug 3 is inserted into the socket 2,
After the connecting piece 11 of the lock piece 7 in the plug 3 comes into contact with the locking claw 4 on the socket 2 side, the pair of lock arms 1
As shown in FIG. 4, the claw 4 rides over and passes through the locking claw 4 with the elastic rotation displacement of 0 and 10. At this time, the finger hook 17 of the lock piece 7 is connected to the connecting piece 11 via a pair of release levers 16, and is further opposite to the supporting leg 8 on the side opposite to the connecting piece 11. Since it is positioned, it is pushed down conversely as the connecting piece 11 is pushed up. Thereafter, a pair of lock arms 10, 10
Is returned to the original position by its own return force, whereby the locking claw 4 is fitted into the locking recess 12 on the locking piece 7 side as shown in FIG. , Ie, the lock is completed at the same time as the plug 3 is inserted.

On the other hand, in order to remove the plug 3 from the socket 2 from the inserted state of the plug 3 shown in FIG. 1, the finger hook 17 of the lock piece 7 of the plug 3 is pressed down with a finger. On the contrary, since the connecting piece 11 is pushed up as shown in FIG. 4 while elastically rotating and displacing the pair of lock arms 10, the locking recess 12 on the lock piece 7 side is formed. Of the plug 3 on the plug 3 side can be released. Further, as described above, when the finger hook 17 is pushed down, the release lever 16 is brought into contact with the stoppers 19, 19 as shown in FIG. 5, and the finger hook 17 is further pushed down. Since a reaction force can be generated in the connecting piece 11 having the locking recess 12 in accordance with the operating force of the finger hook 17, when the locking between the locking recess 12 and the locking claw 4 is strong, However, these can be reliably released. Thereby, the plug 3 can be removed from the socket 2.

According to the locking device described above, since only the lock arm 10 is connected to each support leg 8, the area of the bent portion 9 between the lock arm 10 and the support leg 8 is It has a relatively flexible structure. Therefore, when the plug 3 is inserted into the socket 2 and when the plug 3 is removed from the socket 2, the pair of lock arms 10, 10 is subjected to a rotational displacement as shown in FIG. However, excessive concentrated stress does not act on the region of the bent portion 9. Therefore,
Even if the plug 3 is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the socket 2, fatigue at each bent portion 9 is greatly reduced. As a result, breakage from each bent portion 9 is prevented, and the lock pieces 7, That is, the durability of the lock device can be improved. Moreover, in the case of the above-described embodiment, each bent portion 9
Has a curved shape, and furthermore, the entirety of the lock arm portion 10 connected from the support leg portion 8 via the bent portion 9 is an elongated bent rod. , And the concentrated stress applied to each bent portion 9 can be further reduced.

In addition, since the stopper 19 is provided on the outer surface of the plug 3, normally, each release lever 16 is prevented from being excessively pressed down, while the locking recess 12 of the plug 3 is normally prevented. When the engagement between the socket 2 and the locking claw 4 is strong and hard to be released, the finger-hook portion 17 is pressed down to bring the release lever 16 into contact with the stoppers 19, 19,
Further, the finger hook 17 is pushed downward, and a reaction force corresponding to the operation force of the finger hook 17 is generated in the connecting piece 11 having the locking recess 12, so that the locking recess 12 and the locking claw 4 The lock can be released reliably.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications are possible. For example, the support leg and the lock arm are not necessarily formed by one pair of the support leg and the lock arm. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may include one support leg and one lock arm. In this case, the locking recess cooperating with the locking claw may be provided at the tip of the lock arm. Alternatively, the lock piece may be provided on the outer surface of the socket, and the locking claw may be provided on the outer surface of the plug.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, the lock leg cooperating with the locking claw is connected like a cantilever from the support leg of the lock device of the present invention, and a finger hook is attached to the tip of the lock arm. With respect to the lock release lever having the lock arm, the lock arm is connected to the distal end of the lock arm, so that only the lock arm is connected to the support leg. Therefore, since the bent portion region between the lock arm and the support leg can be made to have a relatively flexible structure, the concentrated stress applied to the bent portion when the plug is inserted into the socket and when the lock is released is reduced. Thus, the durability of the lock device can be significantly improved by preventing damage from the bent portion.

Further, when the finger-holding portion of the lock arm is pressed down to release the lock, the stop portion is provided so as to be located closer to the distal end portion of the lock arm than the support leg so as to abut the lock release lever. When the finger release portion is pressed down to bring the lock release lever into contact with the stop portion, and then the finger release portion is further pressed down, the locking recess is pushed up by the reaction force, whereby the locking recess and the locking claw are formed. Can be reliably released.

[Brief description of the drawings]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a connector unit having a lock device, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a lock piece of the lock device, and FIG. Is a partially cutaway perspective view, FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the lock device, and FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation of the stopper of the lock device. 2 ... socket, 3 ... plug, 4 ... locking claw, 7 ...
Lock piece, 8 support leg, 9 bending part, 10 lock arm part, 11 connection piece part, 12 locking recess, 16
Release lever part, 17 ... finger hook part, 19 ... stop part.

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A connector unit comprising a socket and a plug removably inserted into and removed from the socket, a locking claw protruding from one of the outer surfaces of the socket and the plug, and one of the other of the socket and the plug. When the plug is inserted into the socket,
A locking piece that is releasably locked to the locking claw to prevent the plug from being removed from the socket, and the entire locking piece is made of a synthetic resin integrally molded product, and the outer surface of either the socket or the plug And a lock arm connected to the support leg via a bent portion, extending along the other outer surface in the plug insertion / removal direction, and capable of elastically rotating and displacing the bent portion as a fulcrum. When the plug is inserted into the socket provided at the tip of the lock arm, the tip of the lock arm rides on the locking claw while elastically rotating and displacing the lock arm. A locking recess that locks and extends to the tip of the lock arm, extends along the lock arm beyond the support leg in the opposite direction to the lock arm, and has a finger hook at the tip. A lock release lever that elastically rotates and displaces the lock arm and pushes up the tip of the lock arm, and the other outer surface of either the socket or the plug is located closer to the tip of the lock arm than the support leg. A lock device for a connector unit, wherein a stopper portion is provided to come into contact with the lock release lever when the finger hook portion of the lock release lever is pressed down. 2. The support leg comprises a pair of support legs separated in a direction perpendicular to the plug insertion / removal direction, and the lock arm extends from each of the support legs via a bent portion and extends in parallel with each other. A pair of lock arms and a connecting piece for connecting the tips of the lock arms to each other and forming a locking recess in cooperation with the lock arms between the pair of lock arms. The locking device for a connector unit according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A lock release lever connected to a connecting piece of a lock arm, and a pair of release levers extending outside the lock arm along the corresponding lock arm, and connecting the tips of these release levers to each other. The locking device for a connector unit according to claim 2, further comprising a finger hook portion.