JPH1167340A - Fitting/removing structure for connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fitting/removing structure for male and female connectors, in which both the connectors can be easily fitted with each other and connecting deficiency or disconnection of a wire harness can be surely prevented. SOLUTION: A male connector 20 is fixed to a body 50 to be fixed in a stand by state in which it projects via a holder 10, and the a female connector 30 is be freely removably from the connector 20 in the direction where the connector 20 projects in the stand by state. In this case, the connector 20 is slidably disposed in the holder 10 to be fitted with the other connector 30, thereby allowing both the connectors 20, 30 to be freely slid able on a side of the body 50 to be fixed with respect to the holder 10, in the state in which the fitting is completed. The holder 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape, and both the connectors 20, 30 fitted into the cylindrical holder 10 are disposed freely slidably.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector fitting / disconnecting structure which is used, for example, in a vehicle door and is suitable for fitting and removing multipolar female and male connectors with each other.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional vehicle door, a power window switch unit is provided by fitting a connector on a wire harness routed on a door panel and a connector on a switch unit side attached to the door panel via a door trim. And other switch units were installed on the door trim side. This vehicle connector installation procedure
Referring to FIG. 11, first, a wire harness 2 is routed on a door panel 1, a waterproof sheet 3 is attached to the door panel 1, and a switch unit 4 such as a power window switch unit is attached to a door trim 5. Then, the wire harness 2 routed to the door panel 1
The connector 7 on the switch unit 4 side is fitted to the connector 6 connected to the end of the door trim, and finally the door trim 5 is attached to the door panel 1.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional method for mounting a connector for a vehicle, after the switch unit 4 is mounted on the door trim 5, the connector is connected to the end of the wire harness 2 arranged on the door panel 1. 6 is fitted with the connector 7 of the switch unit 4 side,
The fitting operation of both connectors 6 and 7 is a groping operation (see FIG. 1).
(1) The groping work portion is indicated by reference numeral A), and the workability was poor. A connector 6 is attached to the end of the long wire harness 2.
Therefore, after the connector 7 on the switch unit 4 side is fitted to the connector 6 connected to the end of the wire harness 2 arranged on the door panel 1, when the door trim 5 is attached to the door panel 1, the wire harness is used. 2, the wire harness 2 causes poor connection or breakage of the electric wire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to easily fit both female and male connectors, and to reliably prevent poor connection and disconnection of electric wires. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector fitting / removing structure that can be used.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a female,
A connector in which one of the male and female connectors is attached to an object to be mounted in a standby state protruding via a holder, and the other connector is detachably fitted to the one connector from the one connector in a standby standby direction. In the fitting / removing structure, the one connector is slidably provided in the holder, and after the other connector is fitted to the one connector, the two connectors are fitted to the holder in a completely fitted state. It is characterized by being slidable toward the mounting body.

[0006] In this connector fitting / disengaging structure, the female and male connectors are easily fitted together, and the fitting is easily confirmed, thereby improving workability. In addition, since it is not necessary to draw out the electric wires, biting of the electric wires is prevented, so that poor connection of the electric wires, disconnection, and the like are reliably prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector fitting / removing structure according to the first aspect, wherein the holder is formed in a cylindrical shape,
The two fitted connectors are slidably provided in the cylindrical holder.

In this connector fitting / removing structure, the fitted connectors are linearly slid toward the body to be mounted, so that the time required for the work for mounting to the body to be mounted is reduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the connector fitting / removing structure according to the first aspect, wherein the switch attached to the other connector is attached to a switch attachment hole provided in another attached body. The switch attached to the switch attachment hole is made lockable by a lock means.

[0010] With this connector fitting / removal structure, the mounting tolerance between the mounted body and the other mounted body is absorbed, and the generation of abnormal noise is reliably prevented without rattling or vibration of both connectors. You.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before mating of a female connector and a male connector used in a connector mating structure of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state before mating of the female and male connectors. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door employing the connector fitting / removing structure, and FIG. 8 is a female and male connector having the connector fitting / removing structure employed in the vehicle door. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state before mounting.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the male connector (one connector) 20 of the male and female connectors 20, 30 made of synthetic resin projects through a synthetic resin holder 10 in a standby state. To be attached to a door panel (attached body) 50. A female connector (the other connector) 30 is removably fitted to the male connector 20 which stands out from the holder 10. This female connector 3
0 is attached to a switch 41 of a switch unit 40 such as a power window switch unit via a substrate or the like (not shown). The switch unit 40 is provided with a switch mounting hole formed in a door trim (another body to be mounted) 60. (Switch mounting portion) 61.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the holder 10 includes upper and lower walls 11a and 11b and left and right side walls 11a and 11b.
A cylindrical body 11 formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape from c and 11d, and a mounting bracket 12 integrally formed from the lower wall 11b side of the cylindrical body 11 are formed. A pair of slits 13 is formed in the center of the left and right side walls 11c and 11d of the cylindrical body 11, and an L-shaped flexible arm is provided between the pair of slits 13 and 13. Locking means) 14 are integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of flexible arms (locking means) 14, 1
Projections (locking portions) 15 each having a trapezoidal cross section are integrally formed on the inside of the distal end of each of the projections 4, and a tapered surface 15 a is formed at the rear of each projection 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of stoppers 16 for regulating the amount of forward projection of the male connector 20 are provided at the center of the upper surface of the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10 and the front edges of the inner surfaces of the lower walls 11a and 11b. , 16 are integrally formed. And
A clearance is provided around the entire circumference between the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10 and the hood 22 of the male connector 20 described later, and the hood 2 of the male connector 20 is provided in the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10.
2 is slidably supported. That is, male connector 2
0 and the female connector 30 when the mating is completed.
Reference numerals 0 and 30 are slidable downward on the door panel 50 side with respect to the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10 in the fitted state.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 6, the male connector 20 includes a housing 21 having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 21a accommodating female terminals (terminals) 27, and a hood 22 covering the housing 21. It is composed of The base 21b of the housing 21 is assembled by press fitting or the like while being centered on the base 22b of the hood 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hood 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape from upper and lower walls and left and right side walls, and functions as a guide for the holder 10 and the female connector 30. A pair of slits 23 are formed in the center of the left and right side walls of the substantially square cylindrical hood 22, respectively.
An inverted U-shaped flexible member having an engagement hole (engaging portion) 25 between each pair of slits 23, 23 which is engaged with and disengaged from the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10. The locking pieces (locking means) 24 are integrally formed. The width of each of the flexible locking pieces 24 is set to be larger than the width of the projection 15 of each of the flexible arms 14 of the holder 10. Left and right side walls (side walls) 11c, 11 near the respective flexible arms 14 of the cylinder 11
d can be freely contacted.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 is engaged with the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20, the male connector 20 projects a predetermined length from the holder 10 and It is arranged to wait for the fitting of the connector 30. That is, the protrusion 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and each flexible locking piece 2 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20
The retraction of the male connector 20 with respect to the holder 10 is restricted by the engagement of the male connector 20 with the engagement hole 25 of 4, and the standby state of the male connector 20 at the time of this engagement is the engagement / disengagement work position of the two connectors 20 and 30. I have. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, stopper receiving portions 26 are integrally formed at the center of the base side of the upper and lower walls of the hood 22 of the male connector 20, respectively. Then, the projections 15 of each flexible arm 14 of the holder 10 and each flexible locking piece 2 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20
4 and the cylindrical body 11 of the holder 10
The stopper receiving portions 26 of the hood 22 of the male connector 20 are respectively locked by the respective stoppers 16 of the male connector 20.
Is restricted. further,
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, an electric wire 28 constituting the wire harness W is connected to the rear side of each female terminal 27 of the housing 21 of the male connector 20 by press contact or crimping.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 to 6, the female connector 30 has a base 31 side in a block shape having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 31a for accommodating male terminals (terminals) 37. The front side is formed as a rectangular tube-shaped hood portion 32 which is integrally formed with the base portion 31 to expose each male terminal 37. When the hood 32 of the female connector 30 is engaged with the two connectors 20 and 30,
And between the hood 22 and the connectors 20, 30
Are electrically connected to each other. The flexible arms 1 of the holder 10 are provided at the front center of both outer surfaces of the hood 32 of the female connector 30.
4 and the holding means for holding the engagement state of the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the male connector 20 and each of the holders 10 at the time of completion of the mating of the two connectors 20 and 30 and at the time of disengagement. A projection 33 serving also as a holding release means for releasing the locked state of the projection 15 of the flexible arm 14 and the engagement hole 25 of each flexible locking piece 24 of the male connector 20 is integrally formed. Each of the protrusions 33 is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape, and has a tapered surface (locking surface) 33a on the front side and a tapered surface (release surface) 33b on the rear side.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to 10, the switch unit 40 includes a switch 41 and the switch 41.
Female connector 30 fixed via a board (not shown)
And a metal square that is attached to the upper side of both sides of the switch 41 by screws or the like, and locks the switch 41 attached to the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim (other body to be attached) 60 to the door trim 60. And each of the plate-shaped leaf springs (lock means) 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting clearance t 'between the switch 41 of the switch unit 40 and the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60.
The clearance t between the cylinder 11 of the holder 10 and the hood 22 of the male connector 20 is set to be larger than that (t> t '). Also, as shown in FIG.
A waterproof sheet 51 is attached to 0.

According to the connector fitting / removing structure of the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the male connector 20 on the wire harness W side arranged on the door panel 50 and the door panel 50
When connecting to the female connector 30 of the switch unit 40 side attached via the door trim 60 to the
A waterproof sheet 51 is attached to the door panel 50, and then a wire harness W is wired to the door panel 50 from above the waterproof sheet 51, and then a door trim 60 is attached to the door panel 50 on which the wire harness W is wired. After attaching the female connector 30 of the switch unit 40 to the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60, the female connector 30 and the male connector 20 connected to the end of the wire harness W are fitted.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the male connector 20 on the wire harness W side is attached to the door panel 50 via the holder 10, and the male connector 20 is placed on the switch mounting hole 61 side of the door trim 60. When the switch unit 40 is mounted in the switch mounting hole 61, the female connector 30 on the switch unit 40 and the male connector 20 on the wire harness W are fitted. These two connectors 20, 3
0 to 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. As shown in FIG. 4, in the initial state in which the female connector 30 is fitted to the male connector 20, the male connector 20 is in a projecting standby state by the holder. 10 is held by the engagement state of the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 and the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the male connector 20. As shown in FIG.
During the fitting of the female connector 30 to the female connector 30, each of the flexible locking pieces 24 of the male connector 20 is elastically deformed outward by the pressing force of each projection 33 of the female connector 30, and
The engagement between the projection 15 of each flexible arm 14 and the engagement hole 25 of each flexible engagement piece 24 of the male connector 20 is more reliably maintained. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the fitting of both connectors 20 and 30 is completed, each projection 33 of female connector 30 enters into engagement hole 25 of each flexible locking piece 24 of male connector 20. As a result, the above-mentioned locked state is released and the mated connectors 20 and 30 are connected to the holder 10.
Slide down inside. When the sliding is completed, as shown in FIG. 6, the switch 41 mounted in the switch mounting hole 61 of the door trim 60 is locked by the elastic biasing force of the leaf spring 42, and the mounting of the switch unit 40 to the door panel 50 is completed. I do.

As described above, the male connector 2 is attached to the holder 10.
0 is slidably provided, and after the female connector 30 is fitted to the male connector 20, the two connectors 20, 30
When the mating is completed, the door panel 50 is
The lower connectors can be slid freely so that the connectors 20 and 30 can be easily fitted together, and the fitting of the connectors 20 and 30 can be easily confirmed to improve workability. Can be done. Further, since it is not necessary to draw out the electric wires 28 constituting the wire harness W, it is possible to prevent the electric wires 28 from being caught and to reliably prevent poor connection and disconnection of the electric wires 28.

Further, the holder 10 is formed in a square tube shape,
The two connectors 20, 30 fitted in the rectangular cylindrical holder 10 are slidably provided, so that the fitted connectors 20, 30 are linearly slid to the lower side of the door panel 50 side. The door panel 50
The time required for the work of mounting the device on the vehicle can be greatly reduced. Further, the switch 41 attached to the female connector 30 is attached to a switch attachment hole 61 provided in the door trim 60, and the switch 41 attached to the switch attachment hole 61 is attached.
Of the door panel 50 and the door trim 60, both connectors 20,
30 can be absorbed, and generation of abnormal noise due to vibration or the like can be reliably prevented.

According to the above-described embodiment, a metal leaf spring is used as the locking means. However, the locking means may be constituted by another elastically deformable member. In addition, it goes without saying that the connector fitting / removing structure can be applied to other than the vehicle door.

[0025]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the female and male connectors can be easily fitted together, and the fitting of the two connectors can be easily confirmed. Workability can be improved. Further, since it is not necessary to draw out the electric wire, it is possible to prevent the electric wire from being caught or the like, and to reliably prevent poor connection or disconnection of the electric wire.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, both the fitted connectors can be slid linearly toward the object to be mounted, so that the time required for the operation of mounting the connector to the object can be greatly reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to absorb the mounting play of the female and male connectors between the mounted body and another mounted body, and to reliably generate abnormal noise due to vibration or the like. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state before fitting of a female connector and a male connector used for a connector fitting / removing structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hood of the male connector.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state before the two connectors are fitted to each other.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an initial state of fitting of the two connectors.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the two connectors are being fitted.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the connectors have been completely fitted.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle door adopting the connector fitting / removing structure.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state before the female and male connectors of the connector fitting / removing structure employed in the switch of the vehicle door are mounted.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view when the fitting of the two connectors is completed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state where the switch mounting of the vehicle door is completed.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional vehicle door.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Holder 20 Male connector (one connector) 30 Female connector (the other connector) 41 Switch 42 Leaf spring (locking means) 50 Door panel (attached object) 60 Door trim (other attached object) 61 Switch mounting hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. One of a female connector and a male connector is attached to an object to be mounted in a standby state protruding via a holder, and the other connector is connected to the one connector from the one connector's projection standby direction. In the connector detachable structure, the connector is slidably provided in the holder, and after the other connector is fitted to the one connector, the two connectors are brought into a fitted state. A connector fitting / removing structure, wherein the connector is slidable toward the attached body with respect to the holder. 2. The connector fitting / removing structure according to claim 1, wherein the holder is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the fitted connectors are slidably provided in the cylindrical holder. Characteristic connector fitting / removal structure. 3. The connector fitting / removing structure according to claim 1, wherein a switch attached to the other connector is attached to a switch attaching hole provided in another attached body, and attached to the switch attaching hole. The connector is configured to be lockable by a lock means.