JPH0142311Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention is a componentized electric device that connects or disconnects the unit A and the unit B by sliding the units A and B relatively toward or away from each other. The present invention relates to a connector that is applied to an equipment system and that automatically establishes an electrical connection between the above-mentioned two units when the two units are coupled.

Generally, this type of connector has a first unit with pin contacts that is attached to one unit.
and a second connector element having socket contacts, which is attached to the other unit. In such a connector, in order to automatically establish an electrical connection between both units when they are connected, a point that must be taken care of is that the pin contact should not remain protruding from the first connector element. This obstructs the sliding movement between the two units. Therefore, when the two units are not connected, the pin contact
It is necessary that the first connector element does not protrude from the connector element of the second connector element, but protrudes from the first connector element in order to be inserted into the socket contact of the second connector element when the coupling between the two units is effected.

Therefore, the applicants of the present application have already proposed a connector that satisfies the above-mentioned requirements and can automatically establish an electrical connection between the two units when they are coupled. 56-145531).

This connector has a first connector element with pin contacts, which is attached to one of the units mentioned above, and a second connector element with socket contacts, which is attached to the other unit mentioned above. and the first and second connector elements are moved relative to each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in which the pin contacts are inserted into and removed from the socket contacts. By sliding the pin contact toward or away from the pin contact, the pin contact and the socket contact can be connected or disconnected from each other. And the above first
The connector element includes a base member, a first movable member movable in the second direction relative to the base member, and a second movable member movable in the first direction relative to the first movable member. a movable member, a movable member connected to the base member (i.e., fixed to the base member);
or an outer plate (formed integrally with the base member). The base of the tip of the pin contact is fixed to the second movable member. Further, the second movable member is moved in a direction perpendicular to the first and second directions (that is, in a lateral direction).
receiving a force from the second connector element when the protruding protrusion and the first and second connector elements are slid apart from each other;
and a detachment protrusion protruding in the first direction. Further, the first movable member includes a first guide portion (i.e., a pin contact guide hole) penetrating in the first direction that guides the tip of the pin contact, and the first and second connectors. When the elements are slid relatively close to each other, the second
The first connector element receives a force from the connector element of
It has a fitting protrusion that protrudes in the direction, and a second guide part (i.e., a guide groove or a guide hole) that guides the protrusion in the first direction. Further, the outer plate has a third guide portion (i.e., a guide hole or a guide groove) that guides the tip of the protrusion. The third
The guide portion moves the second movable member to the second movable member as the first movable member moves in the second direction as the fitting protrusion is pushed by the second connector element. has a slope that allows access to the connector element.

The first connector element maintains the tip end of the pin contact in the first guide portion of the first movable member in the state at the time of disconnection, and A locking mechanism is provided for maintaining the protruding end surface of the detachment protrusion at a level below the sliding surface of the first movable member.

When the first and second connector elements are slid relatively close together, the tip of the pin contact protrudes from the sliding surface of the first movable member and contacts the socket contact. While being inserted and connected, the detachment protrusion protrudes from the level of the sliding surface of the first movable member and is inserted into the recess provided in the corresponding part of the second connector element, and vice versa. When the first and second connector elements are slid apart from each other, the detachment protrusion and the pin contact are returned to the state at the time of disconnection.

In this connector, the lock mechanism provided on the first connector element locks the protrusion provided on the second movable member and the protrusion provided on the third guide portion of the outer plate. It consists of a locking protrusion for locking. The resistance of this locking protrusion prevents the second movable member from moving easily. Therefore, if the first and second connector elements are repeatedly slid, the mutual protrusions will wear out and the locking effect will be lost. Furthermore, there is a disadvantage that the locking protrusion prevents the initial sliding movement of the first and second connector elements at the time of starting the sliding movement so that the first and second connector elements become relatively close to each other.

The object of the invention is to provide a first connector element as described above with a locking mechanism which eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector as described above with a first connector element as described above with a locking mechanism which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first connector element 10 with pin contacts according to an embodiment of the invention is attached to the sliding surface of one of the units.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first connector element 10 includes a base member 11 fixed to a square hole provided in the sliding surface of one unit, and a base member 11 fixed in the second direction (the second direction) with respect to the base member 11. (D ₁ direction in Figure 1)
a first movable member 12 movable in the first direction, a second movable member 13 movable in the first direction (vertical direction in FIG. and an outer plate 14. The pin contact 15 has a base 1 of a tip portion (contact portion) 15a.
5b is fixed to the second movable member 13, and the connection part 1
A base 15d of the base member 5e is fixed to the base member 11. Cylindrical projections 13a are provided on both sides of the second movable member 13. The protrusion 13a is the first
A guide groove 12a extending in the vertical direction provided in the movable member 12 and a guide hole 14 provided in the outer plate 14.
It can move guided by a. 1 and 3 show the first connector element 10 in an unfitted state after assembly. In the unfitted state, the flexible intermediate portion 1 of the pin contact 15
5c is in a bent state as shown in FIG.

In the unfitted state, the tip end 15a of the pin contact 15 is housed in the pin contact guide hole 12c of the first movable member 12, and the disengagement protrusion 13b of the second movable member 13 The protruding end surface of the movable member 12 is set to be below the level of the sliding surface of the first movable member 12. In order to maintain this state, the first
The connector element 10 is equipped with a locking mechanism. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this locking mechanism includes a step 13c provided on a part of the protruding end surface of the detachment protrusion 13b, and a Y-shaped elastic arm 141 provided on the outer plate 14. including. Both ends of this Y-shaped elastic arm 141 have projecting pieces 142, 14 projecting inward from different heights.
3 each. The higher protruding piece 142 is
It has a tapered portion 142a. At the time of disconnection as shown in FIG. 1, the lower protruding piece 143 is engaged with the step 13c. Note that 12d in FIG. 2 is a guide hole that guides the detachment protrusion 13b in the first direction.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide hole 14a of the outer plate 14 preferably has the same shape as the locus drawn by the protrusion 13a when moving the second movable member 13; It may be.

In FIG. 2, 11a is a positioning protrusion, and 14d is a positioning hole, which are used for positioning the base member 11 and the outer plate 14.

Now, the second connector element 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 is attached to a square hole provided in the sliding surface of the other unit. Second
The collector element 20 has a socket contact 21 (FIG. 5) and a recess 22 into which the detachment protrusion 13b of the first connector element 10 is inserted.

This second connector element 20 is shown in FIG.
Fitting protrusion 12 of first movable member 12 in FIG.
Press b to move in the lateral direction, that is, in the _D1 direction, and the mating state is achieved. FIG. 5 shows this fitted state. To explain the operation in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, as the first movable member 12 moves in the _D1 direction, the protrusion 13a of the second movable member 13 moves onto the outer plate 14. The second movable member 13 moves along the guide hole 14a, and the second movable member 13 rises. As a result, the tip 15a of the pin contact 15 protrudes from the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 and is inserted into and connected to the socket contact 21. Further, the detachment protrusion 13b also protrudes from the level of the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 and is connected to the second connector element 20.
It is inserted into the recess 22 provided in the corresponding part.

Conversely, when disconnecting, the second connector element 2
0 is moved in the opposite direction to the _D1 direction. As a result, the detachment protrusion 13b receives a force in the direction opposite to the _D1 direction, so that the protrusion 13a moves into the guide hole 1 of the outer plate 14.
The second movable member 13 moves in the direction opposite to the direction _D1 while sinking.
Also, since the guide groove 12a of the first movable member 12 receives force from the protrusion 13a in the direction opposite to the _D1 direction,
D Move in the opposite direction of ₁ direction. Then, when the protruding end surface of the disengagement protrusion 13b sinks to the level of the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 (that is, when it returns to the initial unfitted state), the first and second connector elements This means that the withdrawal is complete.

Next, the operation of the locking mechanism provided in the first connector element 10 will be explained. In connectors that are mated and uncoupled by sliding in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion and withdrawal of contacts, the first
When the connector element 10 is in the unfitted state shown in FIG. 1, the pin contacts 15 must not protrude from the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 (which is an insulator).

This is because the second connector element 20 shown in FIG. 4 slides on the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 of the first connector element 10 in the _D1 direction,
The surface of the fitting extrusion part 23 of the second connector element 20 matches the surface of the fitting protrusion 12b of the first movable member 12, and the first movable member 12 is not moved until it further slides in that state. The sliding starts, and at the same time, the second movable member 13 also starts moving upward.

That is, when the second connector element 20 slides on the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 and the pin contact 15 protrudes onto the sliding surface of the first movable member 12, the second connector element 20 slides on the sliding surface of the first movable member 12. The surface of the fitting extrusion part 23 of 20 hits the pin contact 15, and the first connector element 10 is destroyed.

To prevent this phenomenon, a locking mechanism is provided. This locking mechanism, as shown in FIG. shape arm 14
It is formed by molding 1. On this occasion,
Both ends of the Y-shaped arm 141 are bent to protrude inward from different heights to form protruding pieces 142 and 143. When the first and second connector elements 10 and 20 are slid relative to each other, the higher protruding piece 142 receives a force from the second connector element 20 and forms a Y-shaped elastic arm. Tapered part 1 that allows both tips of 141 to move outward
42a. The lower protruding piece 143
In the unfitted state shown in the figure, it is in a position where it engages with the step 13c, and furthermore, it must be lower than the sliding surface of the first movable member 12.

In the first connector element 10 assembled in this state, the step 13c of the second movable member 13
When the lower protruding piece 143 of the Y-shaped elastic arm 141 is completely caught by the second movable member 13, the upward movement of the second movable member 13 is forcibly prevented.

Next, the movement when releasing this lock mechanism will be explained. When the second connector element 20 shown in FIG. 4 slides on the sliding surface of the first movable member 12 in the _D1 direction, the above-mentioned fitting extrusion part 23 engages with the fitting protrusion 12b. , the lock release part (tapered part) 24 provided on the side surface of the second connector element 20 and the tapered part 142a of the higher protruding piece 142 of the arm 141 engage with each other. When the second connector element 20 further slides,
The arm 141 is pushed outward by the action of the lock release portion 24 and the tapered portion 142a. As a result, the lower protruding piece 143 also moves outward, so that the lower protruding piece 143 is removed from the step 13c. When the second connector element 20 further slides, the fitting protrusion 12b and the fitting push-out part 23 engage as described above, and the first movable member 1
2 begins to move in the _D1 direction, and at the same time the second movable member 13 also begins to move upward.

Next, regarding detachment, when the second connector element 20 is slid in the direction opposite to the _D1 direction, the first movable member 1 is moved by the action of the detachment protrusion 13b.
2 and the second movable member 13 return to their original positions (that is, the unfitted positions). When the second connector element 20 is further slid, the higher protruding piece 142 of the arm 141 is disengaged from the lock release part 24, and at the same time, the lower protruding piece 143 is moved away from the second movable member 13 due to the elastic force of the arm 141. step 13c
It enters, locks, and securely locks.

As explained above, by using the first connector element 10 equipped with the locking mechanism according to the present invention, the sliding of the second connector element 20 is not hindered and the locking effect can be maintained even if sliding is repeated. Furthermore, it can maintain a locked state even when subjected to vibrations and shocks. In addition, the lock mechanism of the present invention does not require any additional parts for the lock mechanism.
This can be achieved by changing the shape of conventional parts. Furthermore, if the first connector element 10 with the locking mechanism according to the present invention is used, the second connector element 2
It is possible to automatically release or lock the lock according to the sliding movement with respect to the pin contact, and it is possible to prevent the first connector element from being destroyed due to the protrusion of the pin contact.

It goes without saying that the present invention also includes modifications to the above-described embodiments. For example, in the first connector element 10 shown in FIG. 3, the flexible portion of the pin contact 15 is eliminated, the pin contact 15 is not attached to the base member 11, and the pin contact
A hole may be provided in the base member 11 for the movement of 5.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 are views for explaining the connector according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first connector element in an unmated state, and the second
3 is a sectional view showing the internal structure of the first connector element 10 of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second connector element 10, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view showing the fitted state of the first and second connector elements. 10...first connector element, 11...
Base member, 12...first movable member, 12a...
...Guide groove, 12b... Fitting protrusion, 12c...
Pin contact guide hole, 12d...Guide hole, 1
3...Second movable member, 13a...Protrusion, 13b
... Detachment protrusion, 13c... Step, 14... Outer plate, 14a... Guide hole, 141... Y-shaped elastic arm, 142... Higher protrusion piece, 142
a...Tapered part, 143...Lower protruding piece, 1
5...Pin contact, 15a...Tip, 15
b... Root of tip, 20... Second connector element, 21... Socket contact, 22...
...Concave part, 23... Fitting extrusion part, 24...
...Lock release section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] a first connector element having a pin contact; and a second contact element having a socket contact; in a second direction perpendicular to the
The connector is configured such that the pin contact and the socket contact are connected or disconnected by sliding the connector elements relatively toward each other or away from each other, wherein the first connector element is connected to or disconnected from the socket contact. ,
a base member, a first movable member movable in the second direction relative to the base member, a second movable member movable in the first direction relative to the first movable member; an outer plate connected to a base member, a base of a tip end of the pin contact is fixed to the second movable member, and the second movable member is perpendicular to the first and second directions. a protrusion protruding in the first direction; and a detachment protrusion protruding in the first direction that receives a force from the second connector element when the first and second connector elements are slid apart from each other. and a protrusion;
The first movable member includes a first movable member that extends in the first direction and guides the tip of the pin contact.
a fitting protrusion protruding in the first direction that receives a force from the second connector element when the first and second connector elements are slid so as to be relatively close to each other; , a second guide part that guides the protrusion in the first direction, and the outer plate has a third guide part that guides the tip of the protrusion, the third guide part , as the first movable member moves in the second direction due to the fitting protrusion being pushed by the second connector element, the second movable member is connected to the second collector element. The first connector element has a slope that allows the pin contacts to be brought close to each other, and the first connector element has a slope such that the tip end of the pin contact is housed in the first guide portion of the first movable member when the connection is disconnected. the first and second connector elements; When the pin contact is slid relatively close to each other, the tip of the pin contact protrudes from the sliding surface of the first movable member to be inserted and connected to the socket contact, and the detachment protrusion The part protrudes from the level of the sliding surface of the first movable member and is inserted into the recess provided in the corresponding part of the second connector element, and conversely moves the first and second connector elements relative to each other. When you slide it away from the target,
In the first connector element of the connector in which the detachment protrusion and the pin contact are returned to the state at the time of disconnection, the locking mechanism is attached to a part of the protruding end surface of the detachment protrusion. and a Y-shaped elastic arm provided on the outer plate;
Both ends of the letter-shaped elastic arm have protruding pieces that protrude inward from different heights, and the higher protruding piece is arranged to bring the first and second collector elements closer together. It has a tapered part that can move both ends of the Y-shaped elastic arm outward by receiving a force from the second connector element when it is slid, and when the connection is disconnected, the lower protrusion The piece engages with the step,
When the first and second collector elements are slid so as to be relatively close to each other, the higher protruding piece is pushed outward by the second connector element, so that the lower protruding piece is pushed outward by the second connector element. A connector element characterized in that the piece is disengaged from the step.