JPH08162209A - Lever type connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain miniaturization by preventing slipping out of an arm from support shafts without requiring a pressing-down wall, and restraining a length of the support shafts without penetrating the support shafts through the arm. CONSTITUTION: When a U-shaped lever 40 is installed by arranging a pair of support shafts 22 on side surfaces of a frame 20 as a housing, projections 22a and 22a are formed in the radial direction on the tips of the support shafts 22, and first diametrically expanded areas 42b and 42b whose diameter is partially expanded in an area to pass the projections 22a and 22a, are formed in an arm part 41 of the lever 40 together with a circular hole 42a capable of passing the cylindrical support shafts 22. The support shafts 22 on which the projections 22a and 22a and the first diametrically expanded areas 42b and 42b are positioned are inserted into a through hole 42, and when the lever 40 is rotated, even if force is applied to the lever 40, the arm part 41 does not slip out of the support shafts 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lever type connector.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lever type connector of this type is known as shown in FIG. In the drawing, a columnar support shaft 2 is formed on the upper and lower surfaces of a housing 1 so as to project. The lever 3 that is pierced by the support shaft 2 while sandwiching the housing 1 is formed in a U shape so that the housing 1 can be sandwiched from above and below.
Through holes 3b are formed in the arm portions 3a at both ends so as to correspond to the support shaft 2 and through which the support shaft 2 can be inserted. A pressing wall 4 is formed on the housing 1 so that the arm portion 3a can be pressed from the outside in the vertical direction.

The lever 3 is rotatably supported by sandwiching the housing 1 with the support shaft 2 inserted through the through hole 3b, and a groove formed in the arm portion 3a by a rotating operation is a projection formed on the mating connector. To assist the fitting operation with the lever principle. When pulling in the protrusion, the arm portion 3a tries to escape outward, so that the pressing wall 4
Contacts the outer surface of the arm portion 3a and regulates the outward movement thereof.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional lever-type connector, since the retaining wall 4 is formed outside the arm portion 3a to prevent it from coming off, the overall size of the housing 1 is increased. There was a problem that it would end up.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a lever-type connector which can be further downsized.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 sandwiches the housing with both arm portions of a lever formed in a U-shape, and rotates the housing of the mating connector. A lever-type connector that operates so as to be pulled in, and a housing that holds a terminal and a shaft member that is erected so as to align the shaft cores on both outer surfaces of the housing, and that has a radial direction on its outer peripheral surface. Supporting shaft formed with a locking portion projecting inward and partially expanding in diameter, and a through hole through which the supporting shaft can be inserted in the arm portions at both ends, the supporting shaft being formed into a U shape. And a lever having a partially enlarged region that allows the locking portion to pass through in the axial direction.

The invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
The lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the arm portion and the housing are concavo-convex members that regulate mutual rotation ranges, and regulate the angular range in which the engaging portion faces the enlarged area of the through hole. The concave-convex engaging mechanism is formed. Further, the invention according to claim 3 is
The lever-type connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the through hole of the lever has a first diameter-enlarged region in which the diameter of the lever is partially increased so that the locking portion can pass in the axial direction. It is configured to have a second diameter-expanded region that is expanded in an arc shape and is movable in the rotation direction when the locking portion has passed a predetermined distance.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the lever type connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engaging portion is formed by two projections projecting in mutually opposite directions with respect to the shaft core. I am doing it. Further, the invention according to claim 5 is such that a housing for holding the terminal, a support shaft erected on both outer surfaces of the housing so as to align the axes thereof, and a connector capable of sandwiching the outer surface of the housing. The lever is formed in a square shape and has a lever having a through hole through which the support shaft can be inserted in the arm portions at both ends, and the housing is sandwiched by both arm portions of the lever, and the housing of the mating connector is rotated by the rotating operation. Is a lever-type connector that operates so as to pull in, and the support shaft can penetrate the through hole only when the arm portion and the housing have a predetermined angle, and cannot be pulled out when rotated after the penetration. It is configured to engage.

[0009]

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, a support shaft is erected on both outer side surfaces of the housing holding the terminals so as to align the shaft cores, and a diameter is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A locking portion is formed which projects in the direction and partially expands in diameter. On the other hand, the lever is formed in a U shape so that the outer surface of the housing can be held, and the arm portions at both ends are formed with through holes through which the support shaft can be inserted. In this case, the through hole is formed with a partially expanded region through which the locking portion can pass in the axial direction. When the housing is sandwiched between both arm portions of the lever, the support shaft passes through the through hole. At this time, the locking portion projecting in the radial direction is passed through while facing the area formed to expand the through hole. . When the lever is rotated after the support shaft penetrates the through hole, the locking portion abuts on the edge of the non-expanded portion of the through hole even when the arm portion tries to move outward.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the mutual rotation range is restricted by the concave and convex engaging mechanism formed in the arm portion and the housing. Here, since the angle range where the locking portion faces the enlarged area in the through hole is regulated, if the support shaft is forcibly rotated after passing through the through hole to change the angle, after that, The locking part does not return so as to form an angle facing the same expanded area.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, a first expanded region and a second expanded region are formed in the through hole of the lever in correspondence with the locking portion. I am doing it. Here, the first expanded diameter region is formed to allow the locking portion to pass in the axial direction, and the second expanded diameter region allows movement in the rotation direction when the locking portion has passed a predetermined distance. Therefore, the diameter is increased in an arc shape. Therefore, when the locking portion does not completely penetrate the through hole, it can move in both arc-shaped regions at the time of passing through the first expanded region and entering the second expanded region.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, the support shaft is formed with two projections projecting in mutually opposite directions with respect to the shaft center, and when passing through the through hole. , The protrusions protruding from both sides of the support shaft come into contact with the edge of the through hole to prevent it from coming off. Further, in the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, when the housing is sandwiched by both arm portions of the lever and the housing of the mating connector is pulled in by a rotating operation, the arm portion and the housing The support shaft can penetrate the through hole only when is at a predetermined angle, and when the support shaft is rotated after being aligned with the angle, the support shaft is engaged and cannot be pulled out.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the arm can be prevented from coming off the support shaft without the need for a pressing wall, it is possible to provide a lever-type connector which can be further downsized. . According to the second aspect of the present invention, the arm can be easily prevented from coming off the support shaft by restricting the rotation range of the lever and the housing. Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the support shaft does not have to penetrate the arm, the length of the support shaft can be suppressed and the size can be further reduced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4,
It can be easily and effectively prevented from coming off.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing a lever-type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the same. The female connector 10 has a frame-shaped frame 20 having two housing holes 21 penetrating in parallel with each other, and a female terminal (not shown) held in the housing hole 2 of the frame 20.
It is composed of two connector portions 30 and 30 supported inside 1, and a lever 40 mounted on the outside of the frame 20. The lever-type connector of the present embodiment is a so-called frame type, and is intended to improve the workability of harness assembly work such as terminal insertion and to make the connector common so that the number of terminals used can be changed depending on the number of connectors. In addition, the housing is separated into the connector portion 30 and the frame 20.

Support shafts 22, 22 are provided on both sides of the frame 20.
Is formed to project. The two support shafts 22 and 22 are formed so as to project in a cylindrical shape with their axes aligned, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, projections 22a and 22a protruding in the radial direction are formed at the tips thereof. There is. The projections 22a, 22
a project from the opposite direction by 180 degrees, and the protrusion 22a constitutes a locking portion. In this embodiment, a pair of protrusions 22 projecting in opposite directions from each other by 180 degrees.
Although the locking portions are formed by a and 22a, the number and direction are not limited to the pair of protrusions 22a and 22a, and the number and direction thereof are not limited to one and may be three directions.

The lever 40 is formed in a U shape so that both side surfaces of the frame 20 on which the support shafts 22 and 22 are formed can be sandwiched, and the arm portions 41 at both ends are formed.
A through hole 42 through which the support shaft 22 can be inserted is formed in the. The through hole 42 is formed at the center of a circular hole 42a through which the columnar support shaft 22 can penetrate, and the first expanded region 42b which partially expands the circular hole 42a and allows the projection 22a to pass therethrough. Has been formed. The first enlarged diameter regions 42b are formed one by one in 180 degrees opposite directions corresponding to the respective protrusions 22a, 22a. This first expanded region 42
Since b is formed corresponding to the protrusions 22a, at least the number of protrusions 22a is required. In the present embodiment, the first expanded diameter region 42b is formed in a linear shape, but it may be formed in a spiral shape.

The diameter of the through hole 42 is enlarged at a position approximately half the thickness of the arm portion 41. That is, the inner diameter of the arm portion 41 is a circular hole whose inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the first enlarged diameter region 42b from the position of about half the plate thickness to the outer surface, and this portion is the second enlarged portion. It is a diameter region 42c. The first expanded region 42
The plate thickness of the portion where b is formed corresponds to the length from the root of the support shaft 22 to the portion where the projection 22a is formed.

In this embodiment, the through hole 42 is a double hole having a step portion in the middle thereof, but the second expanded area 42c is not necessarily required, and the arm portion 41 is not necessary.
Of the circular hole 42a and the first expanded region 42b in the entire thickness of
You can also leave it alone. Of course, in this case, the length of the support shaft 22 is set longer. The arm portion 41 rotates along the outer side surface of the frame 20, but the small protrusion 23 is provided within this rotation range on the outer side surface of the frame 20.
Is formed so as to project, and an arc-shaped groove 43 centered on the axial center of the through hole 42 is also formed in the arm portion 41 at a position facing the small protrusion 23. The small projection 23 has a height that slightly interferes with the arm portion 41, and within a range where the small projection 23 enters the groove 43, the lever 4
0 can be easily rotated with respect to the frame 20, but the groove 43
Since the small protrusion 23 rides on the portion where the ridge is not formed, the rotation range is substantially regulated. However, depending on the shape of the arm portion 41, rotation is allowed even in a range where the arm portion 41 does not overlap the small protrusion 23. In this embodiment, the small projection 23 is formed on the frame 20 side and the groove 43 is formed on the arm portion 41 side.
However, a groove may be formed on the frame 20 side to form a protrusion on the arm portion 41 side. It is also possible to form an arcuate cutout on the outer peripheral surface of the arm portion 41 of the lever 40, and to form the frame 20 with a small projection 23 within the range of the cutout so as to have another shape. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the small projection 23 may be an inclined surface so that one side rotates easily but the other side does not rotate easily.

Like the groove 43, the arm portion 41 also has a small hole 44 formed therein. At the position where the small protrusion 23 is inserted into the small hole 44, the lever 40 is temporarily held in the same position. By providing the temporary holding state, an appropriate click feeling is generated during the turning operation. Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the projections 22a, 22a of the support shaft 22 and the first expanded regions 42b, 42b of the through hole 42 are aligned in the same direction, and the arm portions 41, 41 are spread and covered on the frame 20. When the axis of the support shaft 22 coincides with the circular hole 42a of the through hole 42, the arm part 41 that has been widened is returned to insert the support shaft 22 into the through hole 42. At this time, the protrusion 2
2a and 22a pass through the first enlarged diameter regions 42b and 42b to reach the second enlarged diameter region 42c. At this point, the small protrusion 23 has entered the arc-shaped groove 43 formed in the lever 40. Next, when the lever 40 is rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 5, the small protrusion 23 relatively moves to the end of the groove 43 and comes into contact with the edge. At this time, the operator obtains a slight click sensation, and when a little force is applied, the small projection 23 sneaks into the inner surface of the arm portion 41 of the lever 40. Then, when the lever 40 further rotates and the small hole 44 faces the small protrusion 23, the small protrusion 23 moves the small hole 44.
It goes inside and the lever 40 is held in this position without returning (solid line in FIG. 6). That is, the protrusion 22
The arm portions 41 are naturally prevented from coming off by preventing the a and 22a from easily returning to the angular range where they face the first expanded diameter regions 42b and 42b. The small protrusions 23 may be wedge-shaped so that they do not come back. Further, the opening edge portion of the small hole 44 on the groove 43 side may be made to project in a wedge shape as shown in FIG. Further, the position where the small protrusion 23 enters the small hole 44 is the fitting preparation position where the drawing groove 45 faces the housing of the mating connector. On the other hand, when the lever 40 rotates around the support shaft 22, the protrusion 22
a and 22a are the second expanded area 42c in the through hole 42.
It rotates and moves relatively within. Therefore, the first expanded region 4
The positions of 2b, 42b and the protrusions 22a, 22a are displaced. Then, even if the arm portion 41 tries to spread along the support shaft 22, the protrusions 22a, 22a are pressed from the outside and cannot be removed. That is, while rotating from the solid line position shown in FIG. 6 to the alternate long and two short dashes line position, the protrusions 22 a, 22 a form the circular hole 4 in the through hole 42.
Since the arm portion 41 faces the edge portion on the outer side of 2a, even if the arm portion 41 bends outward and tries to escape, the arm portion 41 acts to press it. As a result, the arm portion 41 of the lever 40 can be prevented from coming off the support shaft 22. In the present embodiment, the protrusions 22a, 22a formed at the tip of the support shaft 22 enter the second enlarged diameter region 42c of the through hole 42, and are contained within the thickness of the arm portion 41 as shown in FIG. There is. Therefore, it does not project in the lateral width direction, and it is possible to further reduce the size.

In this way, the frame 2 is used as the housing.
When a pair of support shafts 22 are provided on the side surface of 0 and the U-shaped lever 40 is mounted, the protrusions 22a and 22a are formed at the tip of the support shaft 22 in the radial direction, and the arm portion 41 of the lever 40 is formed. In addition to the circular hole 42a that allows the columnar support shaft 22 to pass therethrough, the regions through which the protrusions 22a, 22a pass are partially expanded first expanded regions 42b, 42.
b is formed. Therefore, the support shaft 22 in which the protrusions 22a, 22a and the first enlarged diameter regions 42b, 42b are aligned with each other
When the lever 40 is inserted into the through hole 42 and the lever 40 is rotated, the arm portion 41 does not come out of the support shaft 22 even if a force is applied to the lever 40.

Thereafter, when the housing of the mating connector is faced, the convex portion of the housing enters the groove 45 of the lever 40, and when the lever 40 is rotated, the housing of the mating connector is pulled by the groove 45.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lever-type connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a lever-type connector.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of a lever-type connector.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a lever-type connector.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a lever-type connector.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a lever-type connector.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a small protrusion and a small hole.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional lever-type connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Female connector 20 ... Frame 22 ... Spindle 22a ... Projection 23 ... Small projection 30 ... Connector part 40 ... Lever 41 ... Arm part 42 ... Through hole 42a ... Circular hole 42b ... First diameter expansion area 42c ... Second Expansion area 43 ... Groove 44 ... Small hole

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A lever-type connector which operates so that the housing is sandwiched by both arm portions of a lever formed in a U-shape, and the housing of the mating connector is pulled in by a rotating operation. A shaft member that is erected on the outer side surface so that the shaft cores are aligned with each other, and a support shaft that has a locking portion that partially protrudes in the radial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member. A part that is formed in a U-shape that can hold the side surface, and through which through holes through which the support shaft can be inserted are passed through the arm portions at both ends, and through which the locking portion can pass through in the axial direction. And a lever having a region where the diameter of the lever is increased. 2. The lever-type connector according to claim 1, wherein the arm portion and the housing are concavo-convex members for restricting rotation ranges of the arm portion and the housing, and the locking portion has a diameter expansion in the through hole. The lever-type connector is characterized in that a concave-convex engagement mechanism is formed to regulate an angular range facing the area. 3. The lever-type connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the through hole of the lever has a partially expanded first expanded portion that allows the engaging portion to pass in the axial direction. A lever-type connector having a diameter region and a second diameter expansion region that is expanded in an arc shape so as to be movable in a rotational direction when the locking portion has passed a predetermined distance. 4. The lever-type connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking portion is formed by two protrusions projecting in mutually opposite directions with respect to a shaft core. Lever type connector. 5. A housing for holding a terminal, a support shaft erected on both outer side surfaces of the housing so as to align their axes, and a U-shape capable of holding the outer side surface of the housing. In addition, the arm parts at both ends are equipped with levers that have through holes that allow the spindle to be inserted, and the housing is sandwiched between both arm parts of the lever, and the housing of the mating connector is pulled in by a rotating operation. In the lever connector, the support shaft can penetrate the through hole only when the arm portion and the housing have a predetermined angle, and the support shaft cannot engage with the withdrawal when rotated after the penetration. Characteristic lever type connector.