JPH04147583A - Connector lock connection detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a connector mainly used for connecting automotive wire harnesses, and provides a lock connection detection device for a pair of connectors.

[Prior Art] In Fig. 15, a indicates a male connector housing, and b indicates a female connector housing.A cantilevered flexible lock arm C is provided on the surface of the male connector housing a and extends forward. An engagement hole d for a locking portion C8 of the flexible lock arm C is formed in the connector housing b.

In the above structure, female connector housings a, b
When connecting the flexible lock arm C, the locking portion Cl abuts against the tip of the engagement frame portion d of the female connector housing b and is displaced downward, and the locking portion C0 is inserted into the engagement hole d. By restoring it, the lock connection is completed and becomes a complete connection state.

In this state, the unlocking prevention piece e is attached to the flexible lock arm C.
are fitted to partially fill the gap f between the flexible lock arm C and the surface of the male connector housing 8, thereby preventing subsequent displacement of the flexible lock arm C and preventing unlocking.

In an incompletely connected state in which the locking portion c1 is not engaged with the engagement hole d, the flexible lock arm C remains displaced downward and the gap f remains narrow, preventing unlocking. It is impossible to connect the piece e to the flexible lock arm C, thereby detecting incomplete connection of the pair of connector housings (Utility Model Publication No. 59-29351).

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned prior art, the unlocking prevention piece e, which has the function of detecting incomplete connection, must be assembled to the flexible lock arm C when the pair of connector housings are connected, which requires a lot of effort for detection. However, it is also troublesome in terms of parts management.

The present invention has focused on this problem and has made it possible to easily detect complete connection of connectors.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises one connector housing having a flexible locking arm and the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and the flexible locking arm in the one connector housing. A lock coupling detection piece is provided on the surface where the flexible locking arm is provided, and a locking detection piece is locked by the elastic locking piece, and the other connector housing is provided with an engagement release operation piece for the elastic locking piece, and the flexible lock When the pair of connector housings are completely coupled with the arm engaged with the engagement portion, the lock connection detection piece can be removed by releasing the engagement of the elastic locking piece with the engagement release operation piece. The configuration was adopted.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, A is a male connector housing, B is a female connector housing, and C1 is a lock connection detection piece, each of which is made of synthetic resin material.

The male connector housing A1 is provided with a flexible locking arm 1 extending rearward via a rising base portion 1a at the front end, and is also provided with an operating portion 1b, a locking protrusion 1c, and a through hole 1d.

An engaging portion 3 for the locking protrusion IC is notched in the housing portion 2 of the female connector housing B1, and a flexible engagement release operation piece 4 is provided facing the engaging portion 3.

The lock connection detection piece C8 has an elastic locking piece 5b provided in a curved manner with respect to the base plate 5 through a folded part 5a, a locking protrusion 5c is provided on the elastic locking piece 5b, and the end of the base plate 5 is operated. Part 5
Provide d.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lock connection detection piece CI is previously connected to the male connector housing A1. That is,
The lock connection detection piece C7 is inserted into the gap between the flexible lock arm 1 and the male connector housing A from the folded part 5a side, and the locking projection 5c is flexible with the elastic locking piece 5b being slightly compressed. It engages with the through hole 1d of the lock arm 1.

When in use, male and female connector housings A, B
, the flexible locking arm 1 is displaced downward as the locking protrusion 1c abuts against the front end of the sleeve portion 2 of the female connector housing B1. When the protrusion 1c engages with the engagement hole 3, it is restored,
In this state, the engagement release operation piece 4 faces the through hole 1d (FIG. 3(b)).

Next, when the engagement release operation piece 4 is pushed down, its protrusion 4a enters the through hole ld, and the locking protrusion 5c moves into the through hole 1.
In order to drive the elastic locking piece 5b so that it comes off from d, as shown in Fig. 3 (
C)) In this state, pull out the lock connection detection piece C1 via the operating section 5d (Fig. 3(d)).

A tapered guide surface 4a+ is formed on the inside of the lower end of the projection 4a of the engagement release operation piece 4, and a tapered guide surface 1d+ is also formed on the outside of the through hole 1d, so that the male and female connector housings At and B+ are incompletely connected. At this time, the uncoupling operation piece 4 draws the connector housings A, , B toward each other via the tapered guide surfaces 4d+-1d+ to bring them into a fully fitted state. In addition, the tapered guide surface 4dl
, 1d, will function satisfactorily if it is in either one.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the male connector housing A2
Locking recesses 6a, 6a are formed in the standing walls 6, 6 on both sides of the flexible locking arm 1 at intervals, and locking recesses 6a, 6a are formed in the housing portion 2 of the female connector housing B2 on both sides of the flexible locking arm 1. A pair of disengagement operation pieces 7, 7 are provided extending in the coupling direction at a distance from each other, and a tapered drive portion 7a is formed on the inner surface of the front end of the engagement release operation piece 7.

The lock connection detection piece C2 has forked elastic locking pieces 8a and 8a continuous to the base plate 8, and has a locking protrusion 8b on the outside of the elastic locking piece 8a and a tapered driven portion 8C at the tip. .

The board portion 8 is provided with an operation portion 8d in the same manner as described above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lock connection detection piece C2 is previously connected to the male connector housing A2 with the locking protrusion 8b of the elastic locking piece 8a connected to the locking recess 6a of the upright wall 6.

When connecting the pair of connector housings A2 and B2 (Fig. 6(a), Fig. 7(a))
In an incompletely connected state in which
The elastic locking piece 8a is engaged with the tapered driven portion 8C of the elastic locking piece 8a to slightly displace the elastic locking piece 8a inward (FIG. 6(b), FIG. 7(b)), and the flexible opening - In the fully connected state where the pick arm 1 is restored, the elastic locking piece 8a is further driven and the locking protrusion 8b is disengaged from the locking recess 6b (see Fig. 6).
C), FIG. 7(C)), in this state, pull out the lock connection detection piece C2 via the operating section 8d.

If the connection is incomplete, the projection 1g provided on the lower surface of the flexible lock arm 1 engages with the projection 8g on the base plate 8 of the lock connection detection piece C2, as shown in FIG. 7(b). Prevents the lock coupling detection piece C2 from being pulled out backwards.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the male connector housing A3
A pair of upright housing parts 6', 6' are provided with an intermediate accommodation groove 9 on the upper surface and protrude in the front-rear direction, and a bridge is provided between the rear ends of the upright housing parts 6', 6'. A flexible locking arm 1' is formed extending forward through the base portion 1a', forming a gap with the surface of the male connector housing A. A through hole 1d' for an anchorage is formed at the free end of the flexible lonfirm 1', and a notch 1e' is formed at the rear of the bridge base 1a'.

A locking protrusion 3' is formed within the sleeve portion 2' of the female connector housing B3.

The lock connection detection piece C3 has an elastic locking piece 5b' facing rearward at the front end of the base plate 5', a locking protrusion 50' at its free end, and an operating section at the end of the base plate 5'. It has 5d'.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lock connection detection piece C3 connects the locking protrusion 50' to the engagement through hole 1d' of the flexible lock arm 1'.
The male connector housing A3 is previously coupled to the male connector housing A3 while being engaged with the male connector housing A3.

When the pair of connector housings A3 and B are connected, the engagement through-hole Id' of the flexible Ronfirm l' engages with the locking protrusion 3' in the housing part 2', but in an incompletely coupled state ( In FIG. 10(a), the free end of the flexible locking arm 1' is displaced downward to restrain the lock coupling detection piece C8, and in the fully coupled state (FIG. 10b)), the locking protrusion 3
' is engaged in the engagement through hole 1d' and the locking protrusion 5c
By pressing ', the engagement of the elastic locking piece 5b' with the engagement through hole 1d' is released, and the lock connection detection piece C3 can be immediately pulled out (FIG. 10(C)).

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the male connector housing A
4 is a pair of upright housings 6', 6 forming a housing groove 9;
It has a flexible locking arm 1' with an operating part 1b by a base part 1a'' rearwardly of the housing 6', and an upright housing 6';
6' is formed with locking recesses 5a and 5a' facing the housing groove 9, and a locking protrusion 3' is formed in the sleeve body part 2' of the female connector housing B4 following the notch 3a' at the front end. It also has a pair of disengagement operation pieces 7, 7 having a tapered drive portion 7a formed on the inner surface of the front end similar to that shown in FIG.

The lock connection detection piece C4 is connected to the operation part 8 as in the case of FIG.
A bifurcated elastic locking piece 8 is continuously connected to the base plate 8' having a diameter d'.
a', 8a, a locking protrusion 8b' and a tapered driven portion 8c', and a forked elastic locking piece 8a', 8a.
'Movement prevention protrusion 8 on the forward extension part 8e' provided in between.
f'.

As shown in FIG. 12, the lock connection detection piece C4 is previously connected to the male connector housing A4 with the locking protrusion 8b' of the elastic locking piece 8a' connected to the locking recess 6a' of the upright housing 6'. In this state, the locking protrusion 8f' is located in front of the tip If' of the flexible lock arm 1'.

When a pair of connector housings A, B are connected (FIGS. 13(a) and 14(a)), in an incompletely connected state where the flexible locking arm 1' is displaced downward, the tip end If' enters the rear side of the movement prevention protrusion 8f' and completely prevents it from being pulled out, and the tapered drive portion 7a of the engagement release operation lever 7 moves the tapered shape of the elastic locking piece 8a' in the lock connection detection piece C4. It engages with the driven portion 80' and slightly displaces the elastic locking piece 8a' inward (Fig. 13 (with), Fig. 14 G)), and the flexible lock arm 1' is completely restored. In the connected state, the elastic locking piece 8a' is further driven and the locking protrusion 8b' is completely removed from the locking recess 6b' (Fig. 13(C), Fig. 14(C)), and the operation is performed in this state. Pull out the lock connection detection piece C4 via the portion 8d'.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention comprises one connector housing having a flexible locking firm and the other connector housing having an engaging portion for the flexible locking arm, and the flexible locking arm in the one connector housing is provided. A lock connection detection piece is provided on the surface of the connector housing to be locked by the elastic locking piece, and the other connector housing is provided with an engagement release operation piece for the elastic locking piece, and the flexible lock arm When the pair of connector housings engaged with the connector housings are completely coupled, the locking connection detection piece can be removed by releasing the locking of the elastic locking piece using the engagement release operation piece. Therefore, complete fitting of the connector can be easily and quickly confirmed by pulling out the lock connection detection piece, and the removed lock connection detection piece can be reused by being incorporated into another connector housing.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one connector housing with a lock connection detection piece assembled, and Fig. 3 4 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment; FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one of the connector housings with the above lock connection detection piece assembled. Figures 6(a), 6(b), and 75(C) are cross-sectional views showing the process of connecting the same pair of connector housings, and 75(a), 75(b), and 75(C) are the process of connecting the same pair of connector housings. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment; FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one connector housing with the above locking connection detection piece assembled; FIG. 1O (a), (b), and (C) are cross-sectional views showing the process of joining the pair of connector housings as described above, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment, and FIG. A partially cutaway perspective view of one of the connector housings in the assembled state; FIGS. 13(a), (b), and (C) are cross-sectional views showing the process of joining the pair of connector housings, and FIG. 14(a) ( B) (C) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the process of connecting a pair of connector housings, FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional example, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the same. AI, At 9As La A-, B+ jBt
jBsB, ... Connector housing, C+ *
C! p C3yC4...Lock combination detection piece, 1,
1'... Flexible lock arm, 3... Engaging portion, 5b,
5b', 8a, 8a'... elastic locking pieces, 4, 7.
...Engagement release operation piece. Figure 10

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) Consisting of one connector housing having a flexible lock arm and the other connector housing having an engaging portion of the flexible lock arm, in one connector housing provided with the flexible lock arm, a lock connection detection piece is provided. is pre-locked by its elastic locking piece, the other connector housing is provided with an engagement release operation piece for the elastic locking piece, and the flexible lock arm is engaged with the engaging portion. When the connector housing is completely connected, the lock connection detection piece is configured to be removable by releasing the lock of the elastic locking piece using the engagement release operation piece. Combined detection device. (2) The elastic locking piece of the lock connection detection piece engages with the through hole of the flexible lock arm of one connector housing, and the disengagement operation piece of the other connector housing faces the through hole when fully connected. A connector lock connection detection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) A tapered guide surface is provided on at least one of the protrusion that is provided on the disengagement operation piece and enters the through hole, and the protrusion entry side of the through hole, so that the engagement can occur when the pair of connector housings are incompletely connected. The device for detecting lock connection of a connector according to claim 2, wherein the device is driven to the fully connected state by operating the connection release operation piece. (4) The forked elastic locking pieces in the lock connection detection piece engage with the upright walls on both sides of the flexible lock arm of one connector housing, and when the connector housing is fully connected, the engagement release operation piece of the other connector housing 2. The connector lock connection detection device according to claim 1, wherein the forked elastic locking piece is disengaged via a tapered driven portion at its tip. (5) The connector lock connection detection device according to claim 4, wherein the flexible lock arm that is displaced when the pair of connector housings are incompletely connected prevents the lock connection detection piece from being removed. . (6) Consisting of one connector housing having a flexible locking arm with an engagement through-hole formed therein, and the other connector housing having a locking protrusion for the engagement through-hole of the flexible locking arm; A locking connection detection piece is provided with its elastic locking piece being locked in the engagement through hole, and when the pair of connector housings are completely connected with the flexible locking arm engaged with the locking protrusion, the locking detection piece is provided. A lock connection detection device for a connector, characterized in that the lock connection detection piece can be removed immediately by a protrusion disengaging the elastic locking piece from the engagement through hole.