JP4242378B2 - Electrical connector with locking mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connector with a lock mechanism that has a lock mechanism that locks the mounting state of a pair of connectors.

When an elastic arm for locking that swings to the side is provided on the side surface of the housing as the electrical connector, there is a problem that the electrical connector is enlarged to the side of the housing (for example, Patent Document 1).
Moreover, when an elastic arm for locking that swings up and down is provided on the upper surface of the housing as the electrical connector, there is a problem that the electrical connector becomes larger in size up and down.

Thus, it has been proposed to provide a locking elastic arm that swings laterally on the upper surface of the housing (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-47352 A JP 2005-93149 A

Moreover, it is desired that a soft operation feeling can be obtained as the lock member.
On the other hand, in an electrical connector in which an elastic arm for locking that swings sideways is provided on the upper surface of the housing, the displacement of the elastic arm is restricted so that the elastic arm does not bend upward. It is necessary to provide a restriction plate on the upper surface of the housing. However, in that case, a new problem that the elastic arm rides on the regulating plate is expected.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a soft operational feeling as an elastic arm in an electrical connector with a lock mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to reliably prevent the elastic arm from climbing in the electrical connector with a lock mechanism.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a lock mechanism that is provided on a relatively wide outer wall surface of a housing along a connecting direction to a pair of connectors and locks a mounting state with respect to the pair of connectors. The locking mechanism is opposed to the outer wall surface of the housing and extends in parallel with the outer wall surface, and a pair of side edges of the end portion of the supporting plate on the connection direction side, respectively, in a direction opposite to the connection direction. A pair of cantilevered elastic arms extending in a slanted direction, a lock claw provided on the outer surface of the middle part of each elastic arm in the longitudinal direction, and a distal end of each elastic arm Each elastic arm corresponds to a pair of restriction plates that extend from the support plate to both sides and restrict the corresponding elastic arms from bending and deforming in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall surface. On the regulation board The a pair of riding prevention portion for preventing each of the the riding preventing portion raising the corresponding resilient arm, in order to regulate the amount of deformation of the corresponding outer side, the outer wall surface of the housing and to Including a protrusion as a stopper provided on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the opposing regulating plate, and the surface on the opposite side of the connection direction of each of the protrusions through the opening formed in the corresponding elastic arm. It opens in the direction opposite to the direction (Claim 1).

  In the present invention, the lock claw provided on the outer side surface in the longitudinal direction of the pair of cantilevered elastic arms engages with the mating connector, whereby the lock can be achieved. Further, by operating the operation portions at the tips of the pair of elastic arms so as to approach each other (inwardly), the elastic arms can be bent and the lock by the lock claws can be released. In addition, even when an elastic arm that is easily bent is used to improve operability, the elastic arm can prevent the elastic arm from climbing onto the surface of the regulating plate.

In addition, each of the riding-up prevention portions includes a protrusion as a stopper for restricting a corresponding outward deformation amount of the corresponding elastic arm, and thus has the following advantages. That is , the protrusion as the stopper serves both as a function of restricting the amount of deformation in the direction in which the elastic arm is allowed to deform and a function of preventing the elastic arm from riding on the restricting plate, thereby simplifying the structure. it is possible.

Further, each said protrusion, opposite surface of the connecting direction, through an opening formed in the elastic arms that corresponds, Runode are opened in the opposite direction of the connecting direction, there are the following advantages. That is , the surface on the opposite side of the connecting direction of the protrusion as each stopper can be formed by using a mold that moves in the connecting direction along the outer wall surface of the housing. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a slide mold that moves in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall surface of the housing, and the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced.

Further, if the surface of each lock claw opposite to the connection direction is opened in the opposite direction of the connection direction through the opening formed in the corresponding elastic arm (Claim 2 ), the housing The surface of each lock claw on the opposite side of the connection direction can be formed using a mold that moves in the connection direction along the outer wall surface. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a slide mold that moves in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall surface of the housing, and the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a partially longitudinal side view showing a state before fitting connection of a female connector 1 as an electrical connector with a lock mechanism and a male connector 2 as a pair of connectors according to an embodiment of the present invention. . FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state before the female connector 1 and the male connector 2 are fitted and connected.

Referring to FIG. 1, female connector 1 is used as an element of a wire harness, and male connector 2 functions as a pin header that is surface-mounted on printed wiring board 3. Both the housing 4 of the female connector 1 and the housing 5 of the male connector 2 are formed of an insulating resin material such as nylon resin.
Connected to the housing 4 of the female connector 1 is a socket contact (female contact) 7 connected to the end of the electric wire 6 by crimping. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of receiving portions 8 for individually accommodating the socket contacts 7 are provided so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction of the housing 4. Although not shown, the socket contact 7 is provided with a lance that is locked to a locking portion of the inner wall of the receiving portion 8 to prevent the socket contact 7 from coming off.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 5 of the male connector 2 has a flat box shape having a fitting space portion 9 whose front surface is opened so that the front half of the housing 4 of the female connector 1 is fitted. Is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of pin contacts 11 disposed through the rear wall 10 of the housing 5 protrude from the inner back portion of the fitting space portion 9. The lead portion 12 of each pin contact 11 is surface-mounted on the printed wiring board 3 by a soldering portion 13, thereby configuring the male connector 2 that functions as a pin header.

The housing 4 of the female connector 1 has an upper surface 14 as a relatively wide outer wall surface along the connecting direction X <b> 1 to the male connector 2, and locks the mounting state on the male connector 2 on the upper surface 14. The locking mechanism 15 is provided.
The lock mechanism 15 includes a support plate 16 formed integrally with the housing 4 and a pair of elastic arms 17 supported by the support plate 16. Each elastic arm 17 includes a lock claw 18, An operation unit 19 is provided.

  On both ends of the upper surface 5a of the front end portion of the housing 5 of the male connector 2, a pair of locking projections 20 with which the lock claws 18 of the pair of elastic arms 17 are respectively engaged are integrally formed. Specifically, each lock claw 18 is locked in a locking groove 21 formed on the inner surface of the corresponding locking projection 20. An inclined cam surface 18 a is provided on the outer surface of each lock claw 18.

The support plate 16 faces the upper surface 14 (wide outer wall surface) of the housing 4 of the female connector 1 and extends parallel to the upper surface 14. A predetermined gap is provided between the upper surface 14 of the housing 4 of the female connector 1 and the support plate 16, and when the connectors 1 and 2 are connected, the upper wall of the housing 5 of the male connector 2 is It is introduced into the gap.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pair of elastic arms 17 are arranged in the direction X2 opposite to the connection direction X1 from the pair of side edges 16b of the end portion 16a of the support plate 16 on the connection direction X1 side. It extends in a slanted direction (so as to open outward in a V shape).

  Further, the lock claw 18 includes a protrusion formed on the outer side surface 17a at the middle portion of the corresponding elastic arm 17 in the longitudinal direction. The height of the lock claw 18 is set lower than that of the elastic arm 17. Each operation part 19 is extended outward from the outer side surface 17a of the front-end | tip part of a corresponding elastic arm 17, and makes a semi-ellipse disk shape. The operation unit 19 is operated when the elastic arm 17 is bent to release the locking claw 18 from the locking projection 20.

  A pair of restricting plates 22 extend from the support plate 16 to both sides. In the present embodiment, the pair of restricting plates 22 and 22 are configured to be continuous in a single plate shape that covers the half of the support plate 16 on the opposite direction X2 side. Each restricting plate 22 is located above the corresponding elastic arm 17 in a free state, and restricts the elastic arm 17 from being bent and deformed in a direction Y1 (corresponding to the upper direction) orthogonal to the upper surface 14 of the housing 4. .

Further, at the side end portion of the upper surface 14 of the housing 4 of the female connector 1, there are projections 23 as a pair of climbing prevention portions for preventing each elastic arm 17 from climbing on the corresponding upper surface 22 a of the regulating plate 22. Is formed. Each protrusion 23 functions as a stopper for restricting the deformation amount of the corresponding elastic arm 17 to the corresponding outer side Z1, Z2.
The operation portion 19 of each elastic arm 17 is formed with a groove-shaped opening 24 penetrating the operation portion 19 in the connection direction X1, and the surface 23a (connection direction) of the corresponding projection 23 on the opposite direction X2 side. X1) and the surface 18b of the corresponding locking claw 18 in the opposite direction X2 (the surface opposite to the connecting direction X1) are opened in the opposite direction X2 through the opening 24. Yes. The opening 24 is also open toward the upper surface 14 of the housing 4.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the first mold 25 that moves in the connecting direction X1 along the upper surface 14 of the housing 4 is used, and the protrusions 23 serving as the stoppers are on the opposite side of the connecting direction X1. The surface 23a and the surface 18b of the lock claw 18 opposite to the connection direction X1 can be formed. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a slide mold that moves in the direction Y1 orthogonal to the upper surface 14 of the housing 4, and the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the first mold 25 is a first mold for forming a part of the upper surface 14 of the housing 4 of the female connector 1 and the lower surface of the elastic arm 17 (the surface facing the upper surface 14 of the housing 14). A second portion 27 for forming a V-shaped void portion between the support plate 16 of the housing 4 and the elastic arm 17, and the opening 24 and the outer surface of the elastic arm 17. While forming, the prismatic third portion 28 for forming the surface 23a of the protrusion 23 (climbing prevention portion, stopper) and the outer surface of the elastic arm 17 are formed, and the surface 18b of the lock claw 18 is formed. And a fourth portion 29 having a prismatic shape.

The first mold 25 that moves in the connecting direction X1 and the second mold 30 that moves in the direction X2 opposite to the connecting direction X1 are used in combination, and as shown in FIG. A cavity 31 for forming the protrusion 23 is formed between the tip surface of the third portion 28 and the corresponding portion of the second mold 30.
Further, the main part of the elastic arm 17 including the lock claw 18 by the cavity 32 surrounded by the first part 26 and the fourth part 29 of the first mold 25 and the corresponding part of the second mold 30. Is to be formed. The surface 18 b of the lock claw 18 is formed by the distal end surface of the prismatic fourth portion 29.

  In the above configuration, first, the inclined cam surface 18a of each lock claw 18 is moved in accordance with the operation in which the front half of the housing 4 of the female connector 1 is inserted into the fitting space 9 of the housing 5 of the male connector 2. Abuts against the corresponding locking projection 20, and the elastic arm 17 is once bent inward, and further, the housing 4 is inserted into the fitting space portion 9, so that the elastic arm 17 is elastically restored by the elastic restoring force. The locking claw 18 engages with the locking groove 21 of the locking projection 20 while expanding in the direction. Thereby, both housings 3 and 4 are locked.

According to the present embodiment, the protrusion 23 as the ride-up preventing portion functions as a stopper for the expansion of the elastic arm 17 and restricts the deformation amount (expansion angle) of the elastic arm 17, so that the elastic arm 17 is easily bent. Even when a thing is adopted and operability is improved, it is possible to reliably prevent each elastic arm 17 from riding on the upper surface 22a of the corresponding restriction plate 22.
Further, since the projection 23 combines the function of restricting the amount of deformation in the direction in which the deformation of the elastic arm 17 is allowed and the function of preventing the elastic arm 17 from riding on the restriction plate 22, the structure is simplified. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the protrusion 23 as the riding-up preventing portion and the stopper is formed on the upper surface 14 of the housing 4, but instead of this, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the housing 4 The protrusion 230 may be provided on the facing surface 22 b of the regulating plate 22 facing the upper surface 14. Note that both the protrusion 23 and the protrusion 230 may be provided.

It is a partially longitudinal side view showing a state before fitting connection of a female connector as an electrical connector with a lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention and a male connector as a pair of connectors. It is a perspective view which shows the state before the fitting connection of a female connector and a male connector. It is a top view of a female connector. It is a schematic exploded perspective view which shows the principal part of the housing of a female connector, and the 1st and 2nd type | mold for shape | molding this. It is a perspective view which shows the combination state of a 1st and 2nd type | mold. (A) And (b) is the top view and side view of a female connector as an electrical connector with a locking mechanism concerning another embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Female connector (Electric connector with locking mechanism)
2 Male connector (a pair of connectors)
4 Housing 6 Electric wire 7 Socket contact 8 Receiving part 14 Upper surface (wide outer wall surface)
15 Locking mechanism 16 Support plate 16a End (connection side end)
16b Side edge 17 Elastic arm 17a Outer surface 18 Lock claw 18a Inclined cam surface 18b Surface on the opposite side (surface on the opposite side in the connecting direction)
19 Operation part 20 Locking protrusion 21 Locking groove 22 Restriction board 23 Protrusion (Climbing prevention part. Stopper)
23a Surface on the opposite side (surface on the opposite side of the connecting direction)
24 opening

Claims (2)

Provided on the relatively wide outer wall surface of the housing along the connecting direction to the paired connector, and provided with a lock mechanism that locks the mounting state on the paired connector,
The locking mechanism is formed by a support plate facing the outer wall surface of the housing and extending in parallel with the outer wall surface, and a pair of side edges of an end portion of the support plate on the connection direction side. A pair of cantilevered elastic arms extending in a slanted direction, locking claws provided on the outer surface of the middle part of each elastic arm in the longitudinal direction, and extending to the tip of each elastic arm An operation unit
A pair of restricting plates that extend from the support plate to both sides and restrict the corresponding elastic arms from bending and deforming in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall surface;
A pair of climbing prevention portions for preventing each elastic arm from climbing on the corresponding regulation plate ,
Each of the climbing prevention portions is provided with a stopper provided on at least one of the outer wall surface of the housing and the facing surface of the regulating plate facing the housing in order to regulate the deformation amount of the corresponding elastic arm to the corresponding outer side. Including protrusions as
An electrical connector with a lock mechanism , wherein a surface of each of the protrusions opposite to the connecting direction is opened in an opposite direction of the connecting direction through an opening formed in a corresponding elastic arm . In Claim 1 , The surface on the opposite side of the said connection direction of each said lock claw is open | released in the direction opposite to the said connection direction through the said opening part formed in the corresponding elastic arm. Electrical connector with locking mechanism.

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