JPS634164Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention relates to a connection structure of an optical connector that connects optical fiber cables, and more specifically, the invention relates to a connection structure of an optical connector that connects optical fiber cables. The present invention relates to an optical connector device.

(Prior Art) As is well known, an optical connector is a device for connecting optical fiber cables, and a pair of optical connectors are usually attached to each other in a so-called snap-fit structure. FIG. 6 shows the basic structure of a snap fit in an optical connector. One of a pair of optical connectors 1 is provided with a snap claw 3 and the other is provided with a snap recess 5. It is known that one of the two is used as an elastic arm 7, and the engagement of the snap fit is released by pressing the elastic arm in the direction of the connector housing 9.

The snap-fit structure in optical connectors is
In addition to the single-piece structure shown in FIG. 6, a so-called double lock structure in which a pair of locks are provided on both sides of the housing 9 as shown in FIG. 7 is known. In this case, the snap recess 5 is made into an elastic arm part 7, unlike the case in which the snap claw 3 is made into an elastic arm part 7 in the single unit shown in FIG. Also, in the case of a double lock structure, as shown in FIG. 8, the snap claw 3 is an elastic arm 7, and the other optical connector is provided with a snap check claw 11 that engages with the snap claw 3. is also known.

In this specification, among the constituent parts of the above-mentioned snap-fit structure, the term "snap pawl 3" and "snap recess 5" are used to include all known paired structures generally used in so-called snap-fit fastening structures. Therefore, the snap check claw 11 shown in FIG. 8 is included in the concept of the snap recess 5. Of course, the snap recess 5 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is provided with a member having the same function as the snap check claw 11. Further, the elastic arm portion 7 is an elastic member provided with a snap claw 3 or a snap recess 5 at an appropriate location, and is provided integrally with or separately from the connector housing 9, and is capable of pressing the main member toward the connector housing. Therefore, it is used in the general meaning of something that releases the engagement of a snap-fit.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) In this type of optical connector, the ferrule into which the end of the optical fiber cable is inserted and fixed is made into a floating structure in order to avoid transmission loss due to axis misalignment and to prevent dust. At the same time, structures are beginning to be adopted in which this is pressed with a coil spring or the like to apply contact pressure to the end surfaces of the optical fibers.

However, in the case of such optical connectors with a pressure welding structure, whether it is a single snap-fit structure or a double-lock structure, if one of the elastic arms is pushed by an unexpected external force, the connector will come off. Therefore, there is a risk that the end face of the optical fiber may come off, resulting in increased transmission loss.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and it solves the above drawbacks by improving this type of optical connector with a snap-fit structure and separately providing a locking mechanism to prevent disconnection. It could have been removed.

That is, the present invention provides an optical connector with a snap-fit structure of this type, in which a guide groove is formed on the connector housing, and a lock member that is regulated by the guide groove and is movable in a predetermined direction is installed.
The lock member has at least a part thereof as a rigid support part, and the support part is provided so as to protrude and retract from the lower part of the elastic arm part, and the support part of the lock member is provided at the lower part of the elastic arm part. The gap between the elastic arm and the support when they are located close to the
The amount of movement of the elastic arm portion is smaller than that required to release the engagement. In addition, in this specification,
When the support part of the lock member is located close to the lower part of the elastic arm part, it means that even if the elastic arm part exists above the support part, the part of the elastic arm part corresponding to the support part is empty. It is used in a meaning that excludes cases where it is a body or a hollow such as a recess. Conversely, even if the elastic arm exists above the support and the support moves while maintaining an equal distance from the elastic arm, the location of the elastic arm corresponding to the support When there is a cavity or a depression such as a recess, a positional concept is used in which the support part approaches or separates from the elastic arm part.

To explain the detachment prevention mechanism of the present invention using a conceptual configuration diagram, in FIG. 1, a locking member 15 having at least a part of a rigid support portion 13 can be retracted from the lower part of the conventional elastic arm portion 7. Provided for. The movement of the locking member 15 is restricted by a guide groove 17 formed on the connector housing 9. That is, since the guide groove 17 is provided, the support portion 13 of the lock member 15 can be appropriately positioned under the elastic arm portion 7 as required. In this sense, the guide groove 17 includes not only a so-called concave groove, but also a groove that can restrict the movement of the locking member 15, such as a pair of raised protrusions.

Since the amount of movement H required for the elastic arm portion 7 to release the engagement is constant for each optical connector, even if the elastic arm portion 7 is pushed by an unexpected external force, the amount of movement H is When the support part 13 of the lock member 15 is located close to the lower part of the elastic arm part, the gap T between the elastic arm part 7 and the support part 13 is set to an unreasonable value of (T<H) so that the gap T is not insufficient. It is designed to satisfy the formula.

The above relationship between the gap T and the amount of movement H applies not only to the relationship at the end of the elastic arm 7 as shown in FIG. It goes without saying that when the arm portion 7 is made to protrude and retract at an appropriate position below the arm portion 7, it is provided so that (Tn<Hn).

(Example) The optical connector device of the present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated example. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same components as in the conventional example.

3 to 5 show the present invention implemented in a double-lock snap-fit structure, and the conventional example shown in FIG. 7 is provided with a locking mechanism for preventing slippage. Therefore, in this embodiment, the snap recess 5 is formed into an elastic arm 7, and a movement amount H is required to release the engagement in the elastic arm.

Furthermore, the connector housing 9 has a sideways T in the figure.
A letter-shaped guide groove 17 was formed, a protruding fixing part 19 was provided at the center of the right end thereof, and protruding bulges 21 were integrally molded above and below the fixing part. The guide groove 17 will be explained by dividing it into a horizontal guide groove 17a and a vertical guide groove 17c based on the fixed portion 19.

The locking member 15 is made of a plastic member having an operating portion 23, a pair of locking spring portions 25 connected to the operating portion, and a supporting portion 13 connected in an L-shape to each locking spring portion. By moving the operating part 23 within the horizontal guide groove 17a, the support part 13 moves laterally in the vertical guide groove 17c, and is relatively separated from the elastic arm part 7 at the snap recess 5, but not at the snap recess 5. They are relatively close together in some places. Furthermore, the proximity and separation caused by the movement of the support portion 13 is made more noticeable by the presence of the fixed portion 19. That is, when the operating portion 23 is located on the left side of the horizontal guide groove 17a, the base end portions 27, 27 of the pair of upper and lower supporting portions 13 are in contact (FIG. 3); When moved to the right, the fixed portion 19 will be interposed between the base end portions 27 of the support portions 13, so each support portion 13 will move closer to each elastic arm portion 7 (FIG. 4). As mentioned above, in this state, (T<H) is satisfied between the gap T between the elastic arm part 7 and the support part 13 and the amount of movement H required for the elastic arm part to release the engagement. . Therefore, the movement of the elastic arm portion 7 is restricted, the engagement in the elastic arm portion is ensured, and disengagement is prevented.

Also, at this time, each base end portion 27 of the support portion 13 is in a state of riding over the protruding bulge portion 21, so that
This bulging portion 21 prevents the support portion 13 from moving to the left. In this case, since the support part 13 remains in that position unless the operating part 23 is forcefully moved to the left, the above-described prevention of dislodgement is further ensured.

When configured as in the above embodiment, in the double-lock snap-fit structure, one operation can prevent the snap-fit from coming off at two locations without providing a separate mechanism for preventing the snap-fit from coming off, and the support for preventing the snap-fit from coming off can be performed in one operation. Since the structure has a fixing function, an extremely reliable structure for preventing the optical connector from coming off can be obtained.

In the embodiment, the guide groove 17 was formed integrally with the connector housing 9, but in the present invention, the guide groove 17 and the locking member 15 attached thereto are made as separate units, and these can be added to the conventional optical connector as an option. Needless to say, it is also intended to be installed as a.

(Effects of the invention) As explained above, the present invention provides an optical connector with a snap-fit structure in which a guide groove is formed on the connector housing, and a locking member that is regulated by the guide groove and is movable in a predetermined direction is attached. The lock member has at least a part thereof as a rigid support part, and the support part is provided so as to protrude and retract from the lower part of the elastic arm part, and the support part of the lock member is provided at the lower part of the elastic arm part. Since the gap between the elastic arm and the support section when the elastic arm is positioned close to the support section is made smaller than the amount of movement required for the elastic arm to release the engagement, the elastic arm is prevented from being pushed by an unexpected external force. It is now possible to avoid the situation where the snap-fit is disengaged even if the snap-fit is disengaged. As described above, according to the present invention, there is no risk of an increase in transmission loss due to accidental disconnection of the connector as in the prior art, and an extremely reliable optical connector connection structure can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 2 are conceptual diagrams of the present invention;
Figures 5 through 5 show examples of the present invention implemented in a double-lock snap-fit structure. Figure 3 shows the lock OFF, Figure 4 shows the lock ON, and Figure 5 shows the X-X of Figure 3. The sectional view taken in the direction of arrows and FIGS. 6 to 8 are partially cutaway side views of an optical connector having a conventional snap-fit structure. 1...Optical connector, 3...Snap claw, 5...
Snap recess, 7... Elastic arm, 9... Housing, 13... Support part, 15... Lock member, 17
...Guide groove, H...Movement amount, T...Gap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] Among a pair of optical connectors that are connected with a snap-fit structure, one has a snap claw and the other has a snap recess, and either the snap claw or the snap recess is used as an elastic arm, and the elastic arm is used as the connector. In an optical connector device in which a snap fit is released from engagement by pressing toward the housing, a guide groove is formed on the connector housing, and a lock member that is movable in a predetermined direction while being regulated by the guide groove is attached, and the lock member teeth,
At least a part thereof is a rigid support part, and the support part is provided so as to protrude and retract from the lower part of the elastic arm part, and the support part of the lock member is located close to the lower part of the elastic arm part. 1. An optical connector device characterized in that the gap between the elastic arm and the support when the elastic arm is moved is smaller than the amount of movement required for the elastic arm to release the engagement.