The invention relates to a connector.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-151682 discloses a connector with male and female housings that are connectable to each other. A rotary lever is mounted on the female housing for rotation between an initial position and an end position. The male housing includes a receptacle and follower pins project on outer side surfaces of the receptacle. The rotary lever has an operating portion and two legs extend from opposite ends of the operating portion to define a U-shape. The legs are provided with cam grooves into which the follower pins are insertable. Further, the legs are provided with two pairs of holding projections. Each holding projection is deflectable and deformable in a plate thickness direction of the leg in a U-shaped slit formed in the leg. When the rotary lever is at the initial position and at the end position, the holding projections are locked resiliently to held portions provided on a cover that covers the rear surface of the female housing.
The rotary lever is kept at the initial position and the receptacle is fit shallowly to the female housing when connecting the housings. Subsequently, a force is applied to move the rotary lever toward the end position. A force of sufficient magnitude will cause the holding projections and the held portions to unlock from each other so that the rotary lever can be rotated to the end position. The follower pins slide along the cam grooves as the rotary lever is rotated to produce a cam mechanism between the rotary lever and the male housing so that a connecting operation of the housings proceeds.
Locking or engaging margins between the holding projections and the held portions are determined in the plate-thickness direction of the legs when the rotary lever is at the initial position. Thus, it is difficult to ensure large locking margins due to structural restrictions. For example, the locking strength of the holding projections may be reduced if the connector is miniaturized and the rotary lever may not be held reliably at the initial position.
The invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to enhance locking strength of an operating member at an initial position.
The invention is directed to a connector with a housing that is connectable to a mating housing, and an operating member that is displaceable between an initial position and a connection position with respect to the housing. The operating member is configured to generate a cam action with the mating housing as the operating member is rotated. The cam action produces a connecting operation of the housings. A lock receiving portion is provided on an outer surface of the housing. The operating member includes a plate-like arm configured to cover the outer surface of the housing. A resilient piece projects along a plate surface of the arm and is provided on an outer edge of the arm. The resilient piece restricts a displacement of the operating member from the initial position to the connection position by resiliently locking the lock receiving portion. However, the resilient piece is pressed by an unlocking portion of the mating housing and unlocked from the lock receiving portion to allow displacement of the operating member to the connection position. The resilient piece is shaped to deflect and deform in a direction along the plate surface of the arm when pressed by the unlocking portion.
When the operating member is at the initial position, the unlocking portion of the mating housing presses the resilient piece and causes the resilient piece to deflect and deform in the direction along the plate surface of the arm to be unlocked from the lock receiving portion. Thus, the operating member can be displaced toward the connection position. A locking margin of the resilient piece with the lock receiving portion is determined in the direction along the plate surface of the arm. Thus, a degree of freedom in setting the locking margin is high and a sufficiently large locking margin can be set. As a result, the locking strength of the operating member at the initial position can be enhanced.
Note that an operating member of an embodiment described later has an assembled position in addition to the initial position and the connection position. However, the operating member need not have the assembled position. Further, the operating member described later includes a rotating mechanism configured to rotationally displace the operating member between the assembled position and the initial position and a sliding mechanism configured to move linearly and to displace the operating member between the initial position and the connection position. However, the invention can use either the rotating mechanism or the sliding mechanism to displace the operating member between the initial position and the connection position.
The resilient piece may be in the form of a beam supported on both ends coupled to a body part of the arm. According to this configuration, external matter such as a looped wire is less likely to be caught by the arm and the deflection strength of the arm portion can be enhanced.
The operating member may be movable linearly along the housing from the initial position to the connection position. One of the housing and the arm may include a support shaft and the other may include a linearly extending long groove. The support shaft is insertable into the long groove to be slidable in contact with the long groove. The support shaft may include a jaw and the long groove may include an engaging edge configured to contact the jaw in an opening direction of the arm. When the operating member moves linearly with respect to the housing, the long groove and the support shaft slide on each other to guide a movement of the operating member. At this time, the engaging edge of the long groove comes into contact with the jaw of the support shaft, thereby suppressing an opening deformation movement of the arm. As just described, a function of guiding a movement of the operating member and a function of restricting opening deformation of the operating member are realized by the long groove and the support shaft, and a member such as a cover configured to cover the arm of the operating member is not necessary on an outer side of the housing. Thus, a degree of freedom in molding the lock receiving portion disposed on the outer surface of the housing is enhanced.
An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to
The mating housing 12 is made of synthetic resin and includes a rectangular tubular receptacle 13 that is long and narrow in the lateral direction, as shown in
The housing 10 is made of synthetic resin and includes a housing body 16, as shown in
Cylindrical support shafts 18 project in laterally central parts of both upper and lower surfaces of the housing body 16. Four circumferentially spaced jaws 19 protrude radially from a tip of a cylindrical part of each support shaft 18. Each jaw 19 is rectangular in a plan view, and the jaws 19 are arranged at intervals of 90□ to the front, rear, left and right of the tip of the cylindrical part.
As shown in
As shown in
As described later, the resilient locks 25, 26 have a function of locking and holding the operating member 11 on the housing 10 in a movement restricted state, and define a first lock 25 (right side of
As shown in
As shown in
An excessive deflection restriction receiving piece 31 projects above the horizontal part of the excessive deflection restricting piece 29 on the surface of the separation wall 23. The excessive deflection restriction receiving piece 31 is at a predetermined distance from and parallel to the excessive deflection restricting piece 29. The resilient lock 25, 26 is deflected and deformed up and the excessive deflection restricting piece 29 contacts the excessive deflection restriction receiving piece 31 from below to prevent further deflection of the resilient lock 25, 26. Thus, even if the resilient lock 25, 26 is caught by external matter, such as a looped wire, the resilient lock 25, 26 cannot be turned out and broken. Note that, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The operating member 11 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a coupling 36 and two arms 37 projecting parallel to each other from ends of the coupling 36 to define a U-shape, as shown in
The operating member 11 includes a rotating mechanism and a sliding mechanism. The rotating mechanism is configured to displace the operating member 11 rotationally from the assembled position to the initial position with respect to the housing 10 to gradually increase a laterally projecting amount toward the initial position. The sliding mechanism is configured to displace the operating member 11 linearly in the lateral direction along the housing 10 from the initial position to the connection position to gradually decrease the laterally projecting amount toward the connection position. Further, a movement path of the operating member 11 can be selected from a first movement path (see arrow A of
The coupling 36 is a plate extending in the vertical direction and an operator can grip the coupling 36 by the fingers.
As shown in
A linearly extending long groove 39 is provided in an area of the body of each of the arms 37 behind the cam groove 38. The long groove 39 penetrates through the arm 37 in a plate thickness direction and is arranged along the lateral direction when the operating member 11 is at the initial position and the connection position. The support shaft 18 is inserted into the long groove 39 and slides in contact with an engaging edge 44 of the long groove 39 to guide a moving operation of the operating member 11 when the operating member 11 moves between the initial position and the connection position.
The long groove 39 receives the support shaft 18 at an end 41 distant from the coupling 36 (see
As shown in
As shown in
A bottomed escaping groove 47 is provided in an inner surface of a plate that connects the body part and the coupling 36 in each of the arms 37. The escaping groove 47 is arranged at the same position as the long groove 39 in the front-rear direction, extends in the lateral direction and is open on the front end edge of the plate of the arm 37. The lock projection 27 of the resilient lock 25, 26 is inserted into the escaping groove 47 to be allowed to escape when the operating member 11 moves between the initial position and the connection position.
A resilient piece 48 is provided on one 37 of the arms 37 and projects laterally toward the coupling 36 along a plate surface of the arm 37 from an outer edge of the body part. The resilient piece 48 is curved to form a U-shaped beam with both ends coupled to the body of the arm 37, and is thinner than the body of the arm 37. A claw-like locking projection 49 projects forward on a tip part of the U-shaped central part) of the resilient piece 48 in a projecting direction.
Next, functions of the connector are described.
The operating member 11 is separated from the housing 10 for transportation to a connector assembly site. The terminal fittings are inserted into the cavities 17 of the housing 10 at the connector assembly site and then the operating member 11 is assembled with the housing 10 at the assembled position (see
The lock projection 27 of the first lock 25 is inserted into the guide groove 46 of the arm 37 when the operating member 11 reaches the assembled position. At this time, the lock projection 27 contacts a front end part of the guide groove 46 to restrict a rotational displacement of the operating member 11 in a direction away from the initial position (see
Subsequently, the operating member 11 is rotated about the support shafts 18 that have been inserted into the ends 41 of the long grooves 39 to move in a clockwise direction of
When the operating member 11 reaches the initial position, the first lock 25 is displaced resiliently in a return direction and the lock 27 is transferred and inserted into the other end 43 of the long groove 39 from the guide groove 46 (see
When the operating member 11 reaches the initial position, the locking projection 49 of the resilient piece 48 is arranged for laterally contacting the rear end of the rib-like part of the lock receiving portion 32, thereby restricting movement of the operating member 11 from the initial position toward the connection position (see
In the above state, the receptacle 13 of the mating housing 12 is fit shallowly to the housing 10 and the cam followers 14 enter the cam grooves 38 (see
The operating member 11 then is moved linearly toward the connection position (side where the second lock 26 is located) along the first movement path. In an initial stage of moving the operating member 11 toward the connection position, the arm 37 slides on the lateral slope 28 of the lock projection 27 and the first lock 25 is deflected and deformed inwardly. When the operating member 11 is moved further toward the connection position, the lock projection 27 enters the escaping groove 47 and escapes so that the first lock 25 is returned resiliently to a natural state.
In the process of moving the operating member 11 along the first movement path, the support shafts 18 are displaced relative to the long grooves 39 in a direction away from the ends 41 and the jaws 19 at the front and rear sides of the support shafts 18 slide in contact with the engaging edges 44 of the long grooves 39 from outside. In this way, a movement of the operating member 11 is guided. Further, in the process of moving the operating member 11, the cam followers 14 of the mating housing 12 slide in contact with the edges of the cam grooves 38, a cam mechanism acts between the operating member 11 and the mating housing 12, and the connecting operation of the housings 10, 12 proceeds with a low connecting force. During this time, the arms 37 of the operating member 11 may deform out and away from the outer surfaces of the housing body 16 due to connection resistance. However, the engaging edges 44 of the long grooves 39 contact the front and rear jaws 19 from inside to restrict expanding movements of the arms 37. As a result, the arms 37 cannot deform and detach from the housing 10.
In a stage immediately before the operating member 11 reaches the connection position, the tip of the arm 37 in a moving direction slides on the lateral slope 28 of the lock projection 27 of the second lock 26 and the second lock 26 is deflected inward. When the operating member 11 reaches the connection position, the second lock 26 is displaced resiliently in a return direction and the lock projection 27 is inserted into the end 41 of the long groove 39 from inside (see
On the other hand, a situation may arise in which the operating member 11 cannot be moved along the first movement path due to an interfering object to the right side of
In this case, the operating member 11 is inverted vertically and the coupling 36 is arranged on a left side of
Subsequently, the operating member 11 is rotated counterclockwise about the support shafts 18 from the assembled position toward the initial position. When the operating member 11 reaches the initial position, the lock projection 27 of the second lock 26 is inserted resiliently into the other end 43 of the long groove 39 from inside and the engaging edge 44 of the long groove 39 contacts the lock projection 27 from the front to restrict a return displacement of the operating member 11 to the assembled position. Further, the plate of the arm 37 on the other side (side where the resilient piece 48 is not provided) is stopped in contact with the rear end of the stopper 35, thereby restricting any further rotation of the operating member 11 beyond the initial position (see
Subsequently, the housings 10, 12 are connected shallowly and the cam followers 14 are inserted into the entrances of the cam grooves 38. The resilient piece 48 then is pressed by the unlocking portion 15 and deflected rearwardly to move away from the lock receiving portion 32, thereby enabling the operating member 11 to be moved to the connection position. Subsequently, the operating member 11 is moved linearly toward the connection position (side where the first lock portion 25 is located) along the second movement path. When the operating member 11 reaches the connection position, the lock projection 27 of the first lock 25 is inserted resiliently into the end 41 of the long groove 39 from inside and contacts the end 41 of the long groove 39 in a direction opposite to the return direction to the initial position, thereby restricting a return movement of the operating member 11 to the initial position (see
As just described, roles of locking functions of the first and second locks 25, 26 at each of the initial position and the connection position are reversed when the operating member 11 is moved along the first movement path and when the operating member 11 is moved along the second movement path, but the locking functions themselves are the same.
As described above, each of the following effects can be achieved according to this embodiment.
Since the operating member 11 is rotated from the assembled position to the initial position and the laterally projecting amount of the housing 10 is suppressed at the assembled position than at the initial position, the operating member 11 is less likely to interfere with external matter intruding to a lateral side of the housing 10 at the assembled position. However, a transition is made from the rotating operation by the rotating mechanism to the linearly moving operation by the sliding mechanism at the initial position. Therefore, the operating member 11 does not stay long at the initial position and is less likely to interfere with external matter at the initial position. As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the operating member 11 is moved inadvertently from the initial position to the connection position or broken due to interference with external matter.
Further, the arms 37 of the operating member 11 are not covered from outside by members, such as conventional covers. However, the expanding movements are suppressed by contact of the engaging edges 44 of the long grooves 39 with the jaws 19 of the support shafts 18 to prevent detachment from the housing 10. Omitting the conventional covers avoids enlargement of the housing 10. This is ensured by the arrangement of the operating member 11 in a state exposed on the outer surfaces without being covered by the housing 10.
Further, the operating member 11 is moved linearly from the initial position to the connection position and one of the first and second movement paths can be selected depending on an installation situation and usefulness is enhanced. In addition, the locking means for keeping the operating member 11 at the initial position and the connection position are realized by the first lock 25 and the second lock 26, and four locking means corresponding to each movement path and each position are not provided. Thus, a structure can be simplified. In this case members such as the conventional covers configured to cover the operating member 11 are not present on the outer surfaces of the housing 10, and a mold removal structure in molding the first and second locks 25, 26 on the outer surface of the housing 10 needs not be complicated.
When the operating member 11 is moved linearly with respect to the housing 10, the engaging edges 44 of the long grooves 39 slide in contact with the support shafts 18 to guide a movement of the operating member 11. The long grooves 39 guide a movement of the operating member 11, restrict a movement of the operating member 11 by being locked by the resilient locks 25, 26 and suppress the opening deformation of the operating member 11 by causing the jaws 19 of the support shafts 18 to contact the engaging edges 44. Thus, as compared to the case where each function is individually provided, the structure of the operating member 11 can be simplified.
The resilient lock 25, 26 restricts a displacement of the operating member 11 in the direction opposite to that from the assembled position toward the initial position by locking the lock projection 27 to the front end of the guide groove 46 when the operating member 11 is at the assembled position and restricts a displacement of the operating member 11 in the return direction from the initial position to the assembled position by locking the lock projection 27 to the other end 43 of the long groove 39 when the operating member 11 is at the initial position. Thus, the operating member 11 is locked and held to the resilient lock 25, 26 both at the initial position and at the assembled position and it is not necessary to provide the locking structure for each of the initial position and the assembled position. Therefore, the structure can be simplified.
Further, the unlocking portion 15 of the mating housing 12 presses the resilient piece 48 when the operating member 11 is at the initial position so that the resilient piece 48 is deflected and deformed in the direction along the plate surface of the arm 37 to be unlocked from the lock receiving portion 32 and the operating member 11 is in a state displaceable toward the connection position. In this case, a locking margin of the resilient piece 48 to the lock receiving portion 32 is determined in the direction along the plate surface of the arm 37. Thus, a degree of freedom in setting the locking margin is high and a sufficiently large locking margin can be set. As a result, the locking strength of the operating member 11 at the initial position can be enhanced.
Further, the resilient piece 48 is a beam supported on both ends coupled to the body of the arm 37. Therefore, external matter, such as a looped wire is less likely to be caught by the arm 37 and the deflection strength of the arm 37 can be enhanced.
The lock receiving portions 32 to be locked by the resilient piece 48 are provided on the outer surfaces of the housing 10 and members such as the conventional covers are not present on the outer surfaces of the housing 10. Accordingly, a mold removal structure in molding the lock receiving portions 32 needs not be complicated.
Other embodiments are described below.
Contrary to the above embodiment, the support shafts may be provided on the inner surfaces of the arms of the operating member, the long grooves may be be open in the outer surfaces of the housing and the support shafts may be inserted into the long grooves from outside to be slidable in contact with the long grooves.
The long grooves may have a bottomed shape.
The shape and the number of the jaws on the support shaft are arbitrary and the escaping recesses may be provided to correspond to the jaw portions.
The housing may include a wire cover to cover the rear surface of the housing when the wires connected to the terminal fittings are pulled out rearwardly of the housing. Thus, the support shafts, the lock receiving portions and the resilient locks may be provided on the wire cover.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-107551 | May 2016 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20140242821 | Suzuki | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20150162698 | Hara | Jun 2015 | A1 |
20160172788 | Iida | Jun 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2003-151682 | May 2003 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170346222 A1 | Nov 2017 | US |