Patent Application
20240291201
This application is based on and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-027283, filed on Feb. 24, 2023, with the Japan Patent Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
The present invention relates to a connector.
A connector disclosed in JP 2020-126714 A includes a housing and a lever, which is disposed so as to be rotatable between a temporary lock position (initial position) and a lock position (fitting complete position) with respect to the housing. The lever includes a plate-shaped cam plate portion (arm plate). The cam plate portion has a cam function for fitting with the partner connecter and promoting fitting with a partner connector in the process of rotation from the temporary lock position to the lock position. The cam plate portion includes, on the inner side of a U-shaped slit, a cantilever-shaped elastic piece, which can elastically deform in a thickness direction. The elastic piece is locked by the housing at the initial position and restricts rotation of the lever to the lock position. The means for holding the lever at the temporary lock position with respect to the housing is disclosed in JP 2003-036926 A and JP 2022-154811 A.
In JP 2020-126714 A, for example, when the lever is in a separate state before being attached to the housing, if an object or the like is caught by the elastic piece and the elastic piece elastically deforms in a reverse direction unintentionally, an elastic force of the elastic piece may deteriorate. As a result, there is a risk that the elastic piece cannot appropriately exhibit the original lock function for locking the housing at the temporary lock position.
In view of this, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of improving reliability in holding a lever at a temporary lock position with respect to a housing.
A connector according to the present disclosure is a connector including a housing that can be fitted to a partner connector, a lever disposed so as to be displaceable between a temporary lock position and a lock position with respect to the housing, and wherein the lever has a plate-shaped cam plate portion that is to engage with the partner connector, and is configured to promote fitting with the partner connector in a process of displacement from the temporary lock position to the lock position, and the cam plate portion includes a locking portion that protrudes from a first end portion in a thickness direction of the cam plate portion in the thickness direction and is locked by the housing at the temporary lock position, and a hole-shaped hollowed portion disposed on an opposite side to the locking portion with respect to the first end portion in the thickness direction, at an intermediate portion in the thickness direction.
According to the present disclosure, a connector capable of improving reliability in locking a lever at a temporary lock position with respect to a housing can be provided.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.
First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.
(1) A connector according to the present disclosure includes a housing that can be fitted to a partner connector, and a lever disposed so as to be displaceable between a temporary lock position and a lock position with respect to the housing, and wherein the lever has a plate-shaped cam plate portion that is to engage with the partner connector, and is configured to promote fitting with the partner connector in a process of displacement from the temporary lock position to the lock position, and the cam plate portion includes a locking portion that protrudes from a first end portion in a thickness direction of the cam plate portion in the thickness direction and is locked by the housing at the temporary lock position, and a hole-shaped hollowed portion disposed on an opposite side to the locking portion with respect to the first end portion in the thickness direction, at an intermediate portion in the thickness direction.
With the above configuration, due to the first end portion in the thickness direction of the cam plate portion elastically deforming toward the hollowed portion, the locking portion can be locked to the housing, and the lever can be locked at the temporary lock position. Since the hollowed portion has a closed loop-shaped cross section, a case in which the first end portion in the thickness direction of the cam plate portion elastically deforms excessively can be avoided. Accordingly, the above configuration can improve the reliability in holding the lever at the temporary lock position with respect to the housing. Note that a hole shape means a hole having a closed loop-shaped cross section that is closed in a peripheral direction.
(2) It is preferable that the hollowed portion extends in the intermediate portion in the thickness direction, and a first end in an extending direction of the hollowed portion is open in a thickness surface of an outer periphery of the cam plate portion.
According to the above configuration, when the hollowed portion is formed using a mold, the first end in the extending direction that is open in the thickness surface of the outer periphery of the cam plate portion serves as the molding opening, from which the mold can be pulled out. Therefore, with the above configuration, the hollowed portion can be easily formed through molding.
(3) It is preferable that the lever includes a lock arm that is to be locked by the housing or the partner connector at the lock position, and the lock arm extends in a direction parallel to the extending direction of the hollowed portion.
With the above configuration, the lock arm can be formed using a mold that is pulled out in the same direction as the mold for forming the hollowed portion, preferably, the same mold as the mold for forming the hollowed portion. Accordingly, with the above configuration, the lever can be formed without using a complex slide mold.
(4) It is preferable the cam plate portion includes a cam groove that extends from an inlet that is open in the thickness surface of the outer periphery of the cam plate portion, the cam groove is configured to receive a cam pin of the partner connector from the inlet at the temporary lock position, and cause the cam pin to fit to a groove surface in the process of displacement, the first end portion in the thickness direction of the cam plate portion defines the inlet side of the cam groove, and a second end in the extending direction of the hollowed portion is open on the inlet side of the groove surface of the cam groove.
With the above configuration, since the first end portion in the thickness direction of the cam plate portion where the locking portion protrudes defines the inlet side of the cam groove, the elastic force of the first end portion can be easily adjusted using the cam groove. Also, a second end in the extending direction of the hollowed portion is open on the inlet side of the groove surface of the cam groove, and thus the rigidity of the groove surface can be decreased, and the stability (steadiness) can be improved when the cam pin is received on the inlet side of the cam groove.
(5) It is preferable a dimension in a width direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the hollowed portion and the thickness direction is larger on the second end side in the extending direction than on the first end side in the extending direction.
With the above configuration, when the hollowed portion is formed through molding, the mold can be easily pulled out from the first end in the extending direction that is open in the thickness surface of the outer periphery of the cam plate portion, thus making it possible to improve the mold releasing property. Also, with the above configuration, the hollowed portion can be accurately formed.
Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but rather is indicated by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.
As shown in
The partner connector 90 includes a partner housing 91 made of a synthetic resin, and a plurality of partner terminal fittings 92 made of a conductive metal and that are to be attached to the partner housing 91. As shown in
As shown in
The housing 20 is made of a synthetic resin, and includes a housing body 21, and a fitting cylindrical portion 22 that surrounds an outer periphery of the housing body 21, as shown in
As shown in
The housing body 21 includes a plurality of cavities 24. The terminal fittings 80 are respectively inserted and housed in the cavities 24. The terminal fittings 80 are restricted from coming out forward by a front mask 25 attached on a front surface side of the housing body 21. Also, the terminal fittings 80 are restricted from coming out rearward by a retainer 26 attached on a side surface side of the housing body 21.
Terminal fittings 80 are made of a conductive metal, and each include a connection portion 81 to which a tab 94 of a partner terminal fitting 92 can be inserted and connected. The terminal fittings 80 are crimped and electrically connected to core wires of wires 100 in the rear of the connection portions 81. Also, the terminal fittings 80 are crimped to rubber plugs 85 fitted to the wires 100. The rubber plugs 85 are inserted into a cavity 24 together with the terminal fittings 80, and seal between the wires 100 and the housing 20 in a liquid-tight manner.
As shown in
As shown in
The lever 40 is made of a synthetic resin and includes a coupling portion 41 extending in the left-right direction, and the cam plate portions 42 that respectively protrude from the left and right end portions of the coupling portion 41 as shown in
The coupling portion 41 is positioned with the plate surface facing in the front-rear direction. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Each cam plate portion 42 includes a hole-shaped hollowed portion 56 in the intermediate portion in the thickness direction thereof. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The lever 40 is formed using a mold (not shown). At this time, the lock arm 46, the hollowed portions 56, and the recesses 55 are formed using molds that are configured to be removed in a diagonally upward direction toward the rear side, preferably, the same mold. With respect to the hollowed portions 56, the first end 58 that is open in the thickness surface in the outer peripheral rear end of the cam plate portion 42 is a mold opening, and the mold can be pulled out from the first end 58. Accordingly, a complex slide structure is not required when forming the hollowed portions 56.
As shown in
In this state, the hood portion 93 is fitted to the fitting space 23 of the housing 20. As shown in
The peripheral surfaces of the leading end portions of the cam pins 95 are interposed between the upper and lower groove surfaces of the introduction portions 51. Here, due to the openings in the hollowed portions 56, the rigidity (hardness) of the groove surfaces on the upper side of the introduction portions 51 is decreased. And thus, the cam pins 95 can be prevented from rigidly coming into contact with the upper groove surfaces of the introduction portions 51, and can be steadily and stably inserted into the introduction portions 51.
While the base end portions of the cam pins 95 are inserted into the insertion portions 28, the releasing portions 96 that are continuous with the base ends of the cam pins 95 are also inserted into the insertion portions 28, and come into contact with the locking portions 54. The first end portions 57 are pressed by the insertion portions 28 and are elastically deformed toward the hollowed portions 56 (outward in the left-right direction). The locking portions 54 are displaced toward the hollowed portions 56 together with the first end portions 57 to release the locked state of the locking portions 54 and the locked portions 29.
From the above state, the lever 40 is rotated toward the lock position. In the process of the rotation, the cam pins 95 slide on the groove surfaces of the cam grooves 49, and the hood portion 93 is deeply inserted into the fitting space 23 of the housing 20. When the lever 40 reaches the lock position, the lock arm 46 elastically locks the lock protrusion 32, the rotation of the lever 40 with respect to the housing 20 is restricted, and at the same time, the housing 20 is held by the partner connector 90 in the fitted state. The cam pins 95 reach the back end side (the opposite side to the inlets 52) of the cam grooves 49. The terminal fittings 80 are electrically connected to the partner terminal fittings 92.
According to the first embodiment, the lever 40 and the locking portions 54 are displaced toward the hollowed portions 56 to release the locked state of the locking portions 54 and the locked portions 29, and the lever 40 becomes capable of rotating from the temporary lock position to the lock position. The hollowed portions 56 each have a hole shape (a cross-sectional shape closed in the form of a loop in the peripheral direction) at intermediate portions in the thickness direction of the cam plate portions 42. Accordingly, the locking portions 54 and the first end portions 57 are unlikely to catch on foreign matter and the like, and thus a case where the first end portions 57 elastically deform excessively can be avoided. Accordingly, with the configuration of the first embodiment, the reliability in holding the lever 40 at the temporary lock position with respect to the housing 20 can be improved.
Further, the first ends 58 of the hollowed portions 56 are open in the thickness surfaces in the outer peripheral rear edges of the cam plate portions 42, and the mold can be pulled out from the first ends 58 using the first ends 58 as the opening for unmolding. Specifically, since the hollowed portions 56 extend in the same direction as the direction in which the mold for forming the lock arm 46 is pulled out, no complex slide mold needs to be used when forming the hollowed portions 56.
Also, the first end portions 57 where the locking portions 54 protrude define regions on the inlet 54 side of the cam grooves 49, and thus the elastic force of the first end portions 57 can be readily adjusted. Further, since the second ends 59 in the extending direction of the hollowed portions 56 are open in the groove surfaces of the introduction portions 51 of the cam grooves 49, the rigidity of the groove surfaces can be decreased, and thus the stability (steadiness) of the cam pins 95 disposed at the introduction portions 51 can be improved.
Further, the width dimension on the first end 58 side in the extending direction of the hollowed portions 56 is larger than the width dimension on the second end 59 side, and thus the mold can be easily pulled out from the first ends 58 in the extending direction, making it possible to improve the mold releasing property.
Further, the hollowed portions 56 each have a closed loop-like cross sectional shape at the intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the cam plate portions 42, and thus, the width dimension of the hollowed portions 56 can be easily changed within the range of the cam plate portions 42, making it possible to increase the degree of freedom in shape as shown in the second to fourth embodiments described below.
As shown in
The width dimension (reference sign W in
As shown in
The width dimension (reference sign W in
As shown in
The width dimension (reference sign W in
The first to fourth embodiments disclosed herein are exemplary in all respects and should be construed as being not limitative.
In the first to fourth embodiments, the lever 40 is a rotation lever that rotates between the temporary lock position and the lock position with respect to the housing 20. Contrary to this, according to the other embodiments, the lever may be a slidable lever that slidingly and linearly moves between the temporary lock position and the lock position with respect to the housing.
In the first to fourth embodiments, the lever 40 has a bridge-like plate shape having the coupling portion 41 and the pair of cam plate portions 42 (not shown in the second to fourth embodiments). Contrary to this, in the other embodiments, the lever may be formed by a single plate that is constituted by a single cam plate portion.
In the first to fourth embodiments, the hollowed portions 56, 56A, 56B, and 56C have a rectangular closed loop-like cross section at the intermediate portions in the thickness direction of the cam plate portions 42 (not shown in the second to fourth embodiments). Contrary to this, in the other embodiments, the hollowed portions may have an oval cross section, preferably an oval closed loop-like cross section in the surface direction, at intermediate portions in the thickness direction of the cam plate portions.
In the first to fourth embodiments, the cam grooves 49 are open in the inner surfaces of the cam plate portions 42 and closed on the outer surface side of the cam plate portions 42. Contrary to this, in the other embodiments, the cam grooves may be open in the inner and outer sides and extend through the cam plate portions in the thickness direction.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-027283 | Feb 2023 | JP | national |
