JP6355985B2 - LIF connector lever mechanism and LIF connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an LIF connector lever mechanism and an LIF connector.

In recent years, an LIF connector having an LIF mechanism for fitting a male and female multipolar connector having a plurality of terminal fittings with a low insertion force (LIF) is used as an electronic component used in an automobile or the like (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
As an example of the LIF connector, a connector main body that is electrically coupled to the mating connector, a slidably provided on the connector main body, driven by a lever principle by a lever to guide the mating connector to the coupling position, and Examples include a LIF mechanism configuration having a slider that locks the mating connector at the coupling position.

JP 2002-298882 A

By the way, in the above-described LIF connector, in order to reduce the connector insertion force by applying the lever principle, in principle, it is necessary to increase the length between the lever force point and the starting point to some extent.
Generally, the length of the lever is longer than the width of the connector body (connector housing), and therefore, when the connector is fitted, the lever protrudes from the width of the connector body, which requires a large installation space. There was a point.

  An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a lever mechanism for an LIF connector and an LIF connector capable of reducing an installation space while maintaining a low insertion force of the LIF connector. There is.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an LIF connector lever mechanism according to an embodiment includes a connector housing having a first fulcrum protrusion and a second fulcrum protrusion, and a pivotable engagement with the first fulcrum protrusion, and an operating point. A first lever member having a projection guide; and a second engagement point pivotally engaged with the second fulcrum projection and slidably engaged with the second operation point projection guide; A second lever member having a guide locking groove in which the provided projection for projection is guided and locked, and the first lever member acts as a power point of the first lever member and is rotated by itself. An operation bar extending along the movement axis, and the operation bar is disposed at a predetermined rotation end position so as to be opposed to a predetermined proximity position with respect to an outer peripheral surface of the connector housing; Of the first lever member According dynamic operation, the are formed such that the distance is changed between the first fulcrum projection and the action point projection, the guide locking grooves, the first lever member toward the rotational end position side The guide path is set so that the distance from the center of rotation of the second lever member to the retracting projection gradually decreases as the lever is rotated .

In the above configuration, the action point projection guide is constructed as a long hole extending radially on a circle midpoint of the rotational axis of the first lever member, the rotating operation of the prior SL first lever member The locus of the action point projection at the time may pass between the rotating shaft of the first lever member and the rotating shaft of the second lever member.

  Further, the connector housing may be configured such that a surface facing the operation bar corresponds to a rotation locus of the operation bar when the operation bar is rotated.

  The first fulcrum protrusion and the second fulcrum protrusion are respectively disposed on a pair of opposing surfaces of the connector housing, and the first lever member is rotatably engaged with each of the first fulcrum protrusions. It has a pair of action point projection guide holes corresponding to the rotation engagement holes and the pair of surfaces, and a pair of the second levers are provided corresponding to the pair of surfaces. Also good.

Furthermore, LIF connector embodiment has a pull-boss of the male terminal or the female terminal, a first connector housing that houses either, one of the male terminals or the female terminals, either A second connector housing having a first fulcrum projection and a second fulcrum projection, and a first lever member rotatably engaging with the first fulcrum projection and having an action point projection guide And an action point protrusion that is rotatably engaged with the second fulcrum protrusion and is slidably engaged with the action point protrusion guide, and a retraction protrusion provided on another connector to be fitted. And a second lever member having a guide locking groove to be locked, and the first lever member acts as a power point of the first lever member and extends along its own rotation axis. Has an operation bar, The operation bar is disposed opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the second connector housing at a predetermined rotation end position at a predetermined proximity position, and the action point projection guide follows the rotation operation of the first lever member. The distance between the first fulcrum protrusion and the action point protrusion is changed, and the guide locking groove rotates the first lever member toward the rotation end position side. Accordingly, the guide path is set so that the distance from the rotation center of the second lever member to the retracting projection gradually decreases .

  According to the LIF connector lever mechanism and the LIF connector of the embodiment, it is possible to reduce the installation space while maintaining the low insertion force of the LIF connector.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an example of a connector provided with the LIF connector lever mechanism of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of another connector coupled to the connector of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state before a drawing boss of another connector to be fitted is inserted into the insertion opening 13B. FIG. 5A is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5B is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5C is an explanatory diagram (part 3) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5D is an explanatory diagram (part 4) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5E is an explanatory diagram (part 5) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5F is an explanatory diagram (part 6) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5G is an explanatory diagram (part 7) of the connector fitting operation. FIG. 5H is an explanatory diagram (part 8) of the connector fitting operation.

Next, preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an example of a connector provided with the LIF connector lever mechanism of the embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of another connector coupled to the connector of FIG.
1 to 3, the arrow X direction is the fitting direction (positive direction: fitting side, negative direction: separation side), the arrow Y direction is the width direction, and the arrow Z direction is the height direction (hereinafter, each figure). The same).
The connector 10 roughly includes a connector housing 11, a first lever member 12, and a pair of second lever members 13.

  The connector housing 11 is provided with a first fulcrum boss (first fulcrum protrusion) 11A on each of the side surface parts 11S1 and 11S2. Further, a second fulcrum boss (second fulcrum protrusion) 11B is projected from each of the side surface portions 11S1 and 11S2 of the connector housing 11.

On the front surface of the connector housing 11, a male guide wall portion 11C that guides when coupled to another connector 100 and a pair of male guide wall portions 11C that are surrounded by the male guide wall portion 11C and that house the round female terminals 11D are accommodated. Terminal portion 11E.
Further, on both sides of the connector housing 11, guide grooves 11F into which guide arms provided on the other connectors 100 are inserted are provided.
Cables CB <b> 1 and CB <b> 2 extend from the inside of the connector housing 11 from below in FIG. 1 of the connector housing 11.

The first lever member 12 is engaged with a first fulcrum boss 11A projecting from the connector housing 11 so as to be rotatable, and extends in the first direction d1 from the center of the engagement hole 12A. A pair of link arms 12B, an operation bar 12C from one link arm 12B to the other link arm 12B, and a second direction d2 intersecting the first direction d1 from the center of the engagement hole 12A And an action point boss guide hole 12D that functions as an action point projection guide.
Here, since the boss guide hole 12D is configured as a long hole, the boss guide hole 12D is easy to manufacture and can reliably guide.

  The second lever member 13 includes an engagement hole 13A that rotatably engages with one second fulcrum boss 11B that protrudes from the connector housing 11, and a pull-in boss of another connector 100 to be coupled (fitted). The distance from the center of the second fulcrum boss 11B to the drawing boss 101 is gradually shortened as the insertion opening 13B into which the screw is inserted and the drawing boss 101 inserted through the insertion opening 13B are inserted toward the back. The guide locking groove 13C in which the guide path of the drawing protrusion is set as described above, and the hook receiving portion 13D that is formed along both sides of the guide locking groove 13C and engages with the hook portion 102 provided on the drawing boss 101. And an action point boss 13E that engages with the action point boss guide hole 12D of the first lever member.

Here, the structure of another connector will be described with reference to FIG.
The other connector 100 supports the pull-in boss 101 at the tip, and a pair of guide arms 103 that guide the pull-in boss 101 to a predetermined position by inserting the tip into a guide groove 11F provided in the connector housing 11. The male guide wall portion 11C of the connector 10 is inserted when the connector 10 is coupled to guide the female guide wall portion 104, and the female guide wall portion 104C is surrounded by the female guide wall portion 104C. A pair of terminal portions 106.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state before a drawing boss of another connector to be fitted is inserted into the insertion opening 13B.

  The operator rotates the first lever member 12 counterclockwise CCW in FIG. 4 prior to inserting the connector 10 in the X-axis positive direction with respect to the other connector 100 to be fitted and fitting it. The action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 is in contact with the lower end of the action point boss guide hole 12D.

  In a state where the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 is in contact with the lower end of the action point boss guide hole 12D, the link arm 12B extends in a direction perpendicular to the top surface 11U of the connector housing 11. Is inclined by a predetermined angle θ. Even if a downward force is applied to the first lever member 12 from the upper direction in FIG. 4, the force is applied only in the rotational direction (clockwise direction CW) in which the connector 10 and the connector 100 are fitted. This is to prevent the connector 10 and the connector 100 from coming off.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of the connector fitting operation.
FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining a state immediately after a drawing boss of another connector to be fitted is inserted into the insertion opening 13B.
From the state shown in FIG. 4, the operator holds the connector 10 so that the tips of the pair of guide arms 103 of the other connector 100 are inserted into the guide grooves 11 </ b> F of the connector 10.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5A, the operator inserts the retracting boss 101 provided at the tip of the pair of guide arms 103 of the other connector 100 into the respective insertion openings 13 </ b> B of the pair of second lever members 13. Then, the guide arm 103 is pushed so that the tip of the guide arm 103 comes into contact with the inner wall of the guide groove 11F.
As a result, the retracting boss 101 at the tip of the guide arm 103 comes into contact with the guide locking groove 13 </ b> C of the second lever member 13.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state immediately after the first lever member starts to rotate.
The operator turns the first lever member 12 clockwise CW in FIG. 5B from the state where the pull-in boss 101 is pushed in until it comes into contact with the guide locking groove 13C of the second lever member 13.

  As a result, the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 rises while being in contact with the action point boss guide hole 12D of the first lever member 12, as shown in FIG. 5B. Accordingly, the second lever member 13 rotates counterclockwise CCW, and the retractable boss 101 is relatively guided to the back of the guide locking groove 13C.

FIG. 5C is a diagram (part 1) illustrating a state in which the first lever member is being rotated.
At this time, as described above, the guide locking groove 13C has the center of the second fulcrum boss 11B (= the second lever member 13 of the second lever member 13) as the retracting boss 101 inserted from the insertion opening 13B is inserted toward the back. Since the guide path is set so that the distance from the rotation center) to the retracting boss 101 is gradually shortened, the connector housing 11 is in the left direction (fitting direction; X axis positive direction side) in FIG. 5C. It will be moved and will be gradually inserted into the connector 100.

FIG. 5D is a diagram (part 2) illustrating a state in which the first lever member is being rotated.
When the operator further rotates the first lever member 12 in the clockwise direction CW in FIG. 5D, the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 moves to the position of the action point boss guide hole 12D of the first lever member 12. Reaching the upper part, the second lever member 13 is further rotated counterclockwise CCW, and the retraction boss 101 is relatively guided further into the guide locking groove 13C.

  At this time, the surface 11X of the connector housing 11 facing the operation bar 12C of the first lever member 12 has a shape corresponding to the turning locus of the operation bar 12C. More specifically, the first lever member 12 has an R-shaped cross section from the top surface 11U to the back surface 11BK of the connector housing 11 when viewed from the rotational axis direction.

As a result, the operation bar 12 </ b> C is rotated in a state of being close along the peripheral surface of the connector housing 11.
The surface of the operation bar 12C facing the connector housing 11 is farthest from the peripheral surface of the connector housing at the time before the start of the rotation operation shown in FIG. It gradually shortens according to the pivoting motion. That is, the operation bar 12C gradually approaches the peripheral surface of the connector housing.

FIG. 5E is a diagram (No. 3) for explaining a state in which the first lever member 12 is being rotated.
When the operator further turns the first lever member 12 clockwise CW in FIG. 5E, the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 acts as shown in FIG. 5E. From the top of the point boss guide hole 12D, this time, the point boss guide hole 12D descends while abutting. Also in this case, the second lever member 13 is further rotated counterclockwise CCW, and the retracting boss 101 is relatively guided further to the guide locking groove 13C.

FIG. 5F is a diagram (part 4) illustrating a state in which the first lever member 12 is being rotated.
When the operator further rotates the first lever member 12 clockwise CW in FIG. 5F, the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 is inserted into the action point boss guide hole 12D as shown in FIG. 5F. The second lever member 13 is further rotated counterclockwise CCW, and the retraction boss 101 is relatively guided further into the guide locking groove 13C.

FIG. 5G is a diagram (No. 5) for explaining a state in which the first lever member 12 is being rotated.
When the operator further rotates the first lever member 12 in the clockwise direction CW in FIG. 5G, the operation bar 12C of the first lever member 12 is placed on the surface 11X from the top surface 11U of the connector housing 11 to the back surface 11BK. And at this point, it is approaching a state substantially parallel to the back surface 11BK.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5G, the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 is further lowered while being in contact with the action point boss guide hole 12D, and the second lever member 13 is further rotated counterclockwise CCW. Accordingly, the retracting boss 101 is relatively guided further into the guide locking groove 13C.
During the rotation operation of the first lever member shown in FIGS. 5C to 5G, the rotation locus of the action point boss 13E (action point protrusion) is the rotation axis (first fulcrum boss of the first lever member). [The first fulcrum protrusion] passes through the center of 11A and is parallel to the Y axis) and the rotation axis of the second lever member (the second fulcrum boss [second fulcrum protrusion] 11B passes through the center and is parallel to the Y axis) The movement of the link formed by the first lever member 12 and the second lever member 13 is not wasted, and the rotation operation of the first lever member 12 and The rotation operation of the second lever member 13 can be performed smoothly, and consequently the connector fitting operation can be performed smoothly.

FIG. 5H is a diagram illustrating a state where the first lever member has reached the rotation end position.
When the operator further rotates the first lever member 12 clockwise CW in FIG. 5G, the action point boss 13E of the second lever member 13 comes into contact with the action point boss guide hole 12D as shown in FIG. 5H. Then, it further descends and reaches the lower end of the action point boss guide hole 12D.
At this time, the second lever member 13 is further rotated counterclockwise, and the retracting boss 101 is relatively guided to the innermost part of the guide locking groove 13C.
As described above, in accordance with the turning operation of the first lever member 12 shown in FIGS. 5A to 5H, the action point boss guide hole 12D (action point protrusion guide) is connected to the first fulcrum boss 11A (first fulcrum protrusion). Since the distance to the action point boss 13E (action point protrusion) is changed, the first lever member 12 can be rotated without difficulty.

As described above, since the distance from the center of the second fulcrum boss 11B to the retracting boss is the shortest at the innermost part of the guide locking groove 13C, the connector housing 11 is the longest as shown in FIG. The connector 10 is moved to the left, and the connector 10 is completely inserted into the connector 100.
Therefore, it is possible to reliably achieve electrical coupling.

  At this time, the operation bar 12C of the first lever member 12 of the connector housing 11 is in a position facing the back surface of the connector housing 11, and the connector housing 11 and the operation bar 12C are in a proximity state.

  Therefore, in FIG. 5H, the thickness in the left-right direction of the connector 10 is the thickness in the left-right direction of the connector housing 11 + the thickness of the operation bar 12C + the separation distance (play) between the connector housing 11 and the operation bar 12C. Since the operating arm does not extend greatly in the left-right direction and it is not necessary to secure a work space, it is possible to greatly reduce the space (saving installation space).

  As described above, according to the LIF connector lever mechanism and the LIF connector of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the installation space while maintaining the low insertion force of the LIF connector.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the embodiment is an exemplification, and various modifications can be made to each of those components and combinations thereof, and such a modification is also within the scope of the present invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above description, the connector housing 11 is provided with a pair of first fulcrum bosses 11A (first fulcrum protrusions) and a second fulcrum boss 11B (second fulcrum protrusions), and the first lever member 12 is connected to the pair of first bosses. A boss boss guide hole of the first lever member 12 is engaged with each of the fulcrum bosses 11A so that the second lever member 13 can be pivotally engaged with the pair of second fulcrum bosses 11B of the connector housing. The action point boss 13E (action point protrusion) of the second lever member 13 is slidably engaged with the action point protrusion guide 12D, but a pair of first bosses are provided at the center of the connector housing. A lever member, a second lever member, and a guide groove may be provided, and a guide arm 103 having a pull-in boss inserted into the guide groove may be provided at the center of another connector. . In this case, the operation lever may be provided in a T-shape on the link arm portion of the first lever member in appearance.

  In the above description, the action point boss guide hole 12D is formed as a long hole (through hole) as the action point protrusion guide, but the action point boss 13E (action point protrusion) of the second lever member 13 is externally applied. It can also be configured as a long groove whose front side is closed so that it cannot be visually recognized.

10 connector 11 connector housing 11A first fulcrum boss (first fulcrum protrusion)
11B 2nd fulcrum boss (2nd fulcrum protrusion)
11C Male guide wall portion 11D Round female terminal 11E Terminal portion 11F Guide groove 12 First lever member 12A Engagement hole 12B Link arm 12C Operation bar 12D Action point boss guide hole (action point protrusion guide)
13 2nd lever member 13A Engagement hole 13B Insertion opening part 13C Guide latching groove 13D Reed receiving part 13E Action point boss (action point protrusion)

Claims (5)

A connector housing having a first fulcrum protrusion and a second fulcrum protrusion;
A first lever member rotatably engaged with the first fulcrum protrusion and having an action point protrusion guide;
An action point protrusion that is rotatably engaged with the second fulcrum protrusion, and is slidably engaged with the action point protrusion guide, and a retracting protrusion provided on another connector to be fitted are guided. A second lever member having a guide locking groove to be locked;
With
The first lever member has an operation bar that acts as a force point of the first lever member and extends along a rotation axis of the first lever member, and the operation bar is located at a predetermined rotation end position at the connector. It is arranged opposite to a predetermined proximity position with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the housing,
The action point protrusion guide is formed such that the distance between the first fulcrum protrusion and the action point protrusion changes according to the turning operation of the first lever member .
As the guide locking groove rotates the first lever member toward the rotation end position, the distance from the rotation center of the second lever member to the retracting projection gradually decreases. The guide route is set so that
LIF connector lever mechanism. The action point protrusion guide is configured as a long hole extending on a radius of a circle having the rotation center axis of the first lever member as a middle point ,
Locus of the action point projection during rotational operation of the prior SL first lever member is adapted to pass between the rotational axis of the second lever member and the rotation axis of said first lever member ,
The lever mechanism for a LIF connector according to claim 1. The connector housing is configured such that when the operation bar is rotated, a surface facing the operation bar corresponds to a rotation locus of the operation bar.
The LIF connector lever mechanism according to claim 1 or 2. The first fulcrum protrusion and the second fulcrum protrusion are respectively disposed on a pair of opposing surfaces of the connector housing,
The first lever member has a rotation engagement hole that is rotatably engaged with each of the first fulcrum protrusions, and a pair of action point protrusion guides corresponding to the pair of surfaces,
The second lever member is provided in a pair corresponding to each of the pair of surfaces.
LIF connector lever mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A first connector housing having a lead-in boss and containing either a male terminal or a female terminal;
Among the male terminals or the female terminals, as well as accommodating the other one, a second connector housing having a first fulcrum projection and a second fulcrum projection,
A first lever member rotatably engaged with the first fulcrum protrusion and having an action point protrusion guide;
An action point protrusion that is rotatably engaged with the second fulcrum protrusion, and is slidably engaged with the action point protrusion guide, and a retracting protrusion provided on another connector to be fitted are guided. A second lever member having a guide locking groove to be locked;
With
The first lever member has an operation bar that acts as a force point of the first lever member and extends along a rotation axis of the first lever member, and the operation bar is at a predetermined rotation end position, and 2 is disposed opposite to the outer peripheral surface of the connector housing at a predetermined proximity position,
The action point protrusion guide is formed such that the distance between the first fulcrum protrusion and the action point protrusion changes according to the turning operation of the first lever member .
As the guide locking groove rotates the first lever member toward the rotation end position, the distance from the rotation center of the second lever member to the retracting projection gradually decreases. The guide route is set so that
LIF connector.

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